''Black Gate'' is a fantasy

magazine A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...

published by

New Epoch Press New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz (South Korean band), The Boyz Albums and EPs * New (album), ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartn ...

. It was published in glossy print until 2011, after which it shifted online.

History

First launched in October 2000 using the slogan "Adventures in Fantasy Literature," ''Black Gate'' primarily features original short fiction up to

novella A novella is a narrative prose fiction whose length is shorter than most novels, but longer than most short stories. The English word ''novella'' derives from the Italian ''novella'' meaning a short story related to true (or apparently so) facts ...

length. It also features reviews of fantasy

novels A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itself ...

, graphic novels, and

role playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal a ...

products. This is supplemented by columns and articles reflecting on fantasy literature's past as well as the occasional interview. Every print issue contained the comic ''Knights of the Dinner Table: Java Joint'' by Kenzer & Company of Knights of the Dinner Table fame. Much of the fiction is by lesser known or new authors, but noted contributors have included Michael Moorcock, Mike Resnick, Charles de Lint and Cory Doctorow. As a semi-regular feature, ''Black Gate'' reprinted rare adventure stories from earlier decades or work from more recent years that the editors feel has been neglected. For instance, issues featured serialized

Tumithak Charles R. Tanner (February 17, 1896 – 9 January 1974) was an American science fiction and fantasy author who wrote in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Tanner's first short story was "The Color of Space", published in ''Science Wonder Stories'' ...

novels from

Charles R. Tanner Charles R. Tanner (February 17, 1896 – 9 January 1974) was an American science fiction and fantasy author who wrote in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Tanner's first short story was "The Color of Space", published in ''Wonder Stories, Science ...

. While officially a quarterly publication, the print version was never produced on a reliable schedule. Its 15th and (to date) final issue was published in 2011; however, it continues to produce new online content.

Critical response

On its debut, ''Black Gate'' received strong reviews in '' Locus'' and elsewhere, many citing the sheer size of the issues (usually 200+ pages) and the high production values. This has proved quite ambitious, though. Various production problems have led to publication less frequent than the intended quarterly schedule. While John O'Neill made a public commitment to readers and advertisers to get production back on track, the magazine never achieved a reliable quarterly release. In 2008, Judith Berman's story "Awakening" in ''Black Gate'' #10 was a finalist for the

Nebula Award The Nebula Awards annually recognize the best works of science fiction or fantasy published in the United States. The awards are organized and awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), a nonprofit association of profe ...

Editors

* John O'Neill, 2000 to present * Howard Andrew Jones, 2006 to present

References

External links

* * {{Isfdb series, title=Black Gate Defunct science fiction magazines published in the United States Fantasy fiction magazines Irregularly published magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 2000 Magazines disestablished in 2011 Magazines published in Chicago Quarterly magazines published in the United States