Locus (magazine)

{{short description|Monthly magazine on the science fiction and fantasy publishing field}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox magazine | image_file =  | image_size =  | image_alt = | image_caption = | editor = Liza Groen Trombi | editor_title = | previous_editor = | staff_writer = | frequency = Monthly | circulation = | category = | company = | publisher = | founded = {{start date and age|1968}} | country = United States | based = Oakland, California | language = English | website = {{URL|locusmag.com}} | issn = 0047-4959 }} '''''Locus: The Magazine of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Field''''', founded in 1968, is an American magazine published monthly in Oakland, California. It is the news organ and trade journal for the English-language science fiction and fantasy fields.<ref name="independent-2009">{{Cite news |last=Clute |first=John |author-link=John Clute |date=2 September 2009 |title=Charles N. Brown: Sci-Fi enthusiast and founder of 'Locus' magazine |at=Obituaries |work=The Independent |location=London, England |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/charles-n-brown-scifi-enthusiast-and-founder-of-locus-magazine-1780253.html |access-date=4 April 2011}}</ref> It also publishes comprehensive listings of all new books published in the genres (excluding self-published).<ref>Aversa, Elizabeth. Miller, Cynthia J. Perrault, Anna. Wohlmuth, Sonia Ramirez. {{Cite book|url={{Google books|xZNxDwAAQBAJ|page=161|plainurl=yes}}|title=Information Resources in the Humanities and the Arts, 6th Edition|page=161}}</ref> The magazine also presents the annual Locus Awards. ''Locus Online'' was launched in April 1997, as a semi-autonomous web version of ''Locus Magazine''.

==History== Charles N. Brown, Ed Meskys, and Dave Vanderwerf founded ''Locus'' in 1968 as a news fanzine to promote the (ultimately successful) bid to host the 1971 World Science Fiction Convention in Boston, Massachusetts. Originally intended to run only until the site-selection vote was taken at St. Louiscon, the 1969 Worldcon in St. Louis, Missouri, Brown decided to continue publishing ''Locus'' as a mimeographed general science fiction and fantasy newszine. ''Locus'' succeeded the monthly newszine ''Science Fiction Times'' (formerly ''Fantasy Times'', founded in 1941), when ''SFT'' ceased publication in 1970. Brown directed ''Locus'' as publisher and editor-in-chief for more than 40 years, from 1968 until his death at age 72 in July 2009.<ref name=independent-2009/><ref name=SFE/>

''Locus'' continued subsequent operations, with then executive editor Liza Groen Trombi succeeding Brown as editor-in-chief in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 July 2009 |title=Charles N. Brown, 1937–2009 |url=http://www.locusmag.com/News/2009/0 |access-date=4 April 2011 |website=Locus Online}}</ref> The magazine is now owned by the '''Locus Science Fiction Foundation''', a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Working to Promote and Preserve Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror |url=http://www.lsff.net |access-date=18 March 2015 |website=Locus Science Fiction Foundation}}</ref>

''Locus'' publishes:<ref name=SFE/><ref name=booklist/><ref name=locus-about/> * News about the science fiction, fantasy, and horror publishing field—stories about publishers, awards, and conferences—including "The Data File", "People & Publishing" (rights sold, books sold, books resold, books delivered, publishing news, promotions; people news and photos about vacations, weddings, and births), and obituaries * Interviews with well-known and up-and-coming writers (and sometimes editors and artists), usually two per issue * Reviews of new and forthcoming books, usually 20–25 per issue, by notable SF critics including Gary K. Wolfe, Faren Miller, Nick Gevers, Jonathan Strahan, Adrienne Martini, Russell Letson, Gwenda Bond, Stefan Dziemanowicz, Carolyn Cushman, Karen Burnham, and Richard A. Lupoff plus short fiction reviews by Gardner Dozois and Rich Horton<ref name="Staff">{{Cite web |title=Staff |url=http://wptest.locusmag.com/category/staff/ |access-date=2017-09-18 |website=Locus Online |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Reviews Index">{{Cite web |title=Index to Locus Magazine |url=http://www.locusmag.com/Magazine/ReviewsComplete.html |access-date=2017-09-18 |website=Locus Online |date=September 6, 2017 |language=en-US}}</ref> * A bimonthly commentary column by Cory Doctorow * Reports from around the world about the SF scenes in various countries * Listings of US and UK books and magazines published (monthly), bestsellers (monthly), and forthcoming books (every three months) * Convention reports, with many photos * Annual year-in-review coverage, with extensive recommended reading lists and the annual Locus Poll and Survey * Letters and classified ads * '''''The Locus Index to Science Fiction''''', compiled from the magazine's "books received" column.<ref name=SFE/><ref>{{cite web |editor1-last=Brown |editor1-first=Charles N. |editor1-link=Charles N. Brown |editor2-last=Contento |editor2-first=William G. |title=Table-of-contents |work=The Locus Index to Science Fiction |url=https://www.locusmag.com/index/0start.htm#TOC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250814081620/https://www.locusmag.com/index/0start.htm#TOC |archive-date=2025-08-14 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==''Locus Online''== '''''Locus Online''''' (founded in 1997)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Locus Online: About the Website |url=https://locusmag.com/aboutlocusonline/locus-online/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417133401/https://locusmag.com/aboutlocusonline/locus-online/ |archive-date=2019-04-17 |website=Locus Online|date=September 5, 2017}}</ref> is the online component of ''Locus Magazine''. It publishes news briefs related to the science fiction, fantasy and horror publishing world, along with original reviews and feature articles, and excerpts of articles that appeared in the print edition.<ref name=SFE/> Information for Locus Online is compiled and edited by Mark R. Kelly.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0HKKC-RJJWMC&q=locus+online&pg=PT19 |title=The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Eighth Annual Collection |date=July 5, 2011 |publisher=St. Martin's Publishing Group |isbn=9781429983068 |editor-last=Dozois |editor-first=Gardner}}</ref> In 2002, Locus Online won the first Hugo Award for Best Web Site.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2002 Hugo Awards |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2002-hugo-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729043106/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2002-hugo-awards/ |archive-date=2019-07-29 |access-date=May 2, 2010 |website=Hugo Award |date=July 26, 2007 |publisher=World Science Fiction Society}}</ref> It was nominated again in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005 Hugo Awards |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2005-hugo-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629061712/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2005-hugo-awards/ |archive-date=2019-06-29 |access-date=November 25, 2019 |website=Hugo Award |date=July 24, 2007 |publisher=World Science Fiction Society}}</ref> Longtime short-fiction reviewer Lois Tilton quit ''Locus'' in January 2016. She stated that editors had deleted material from her reviews that they deemed inappropriate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Glyer |first=Mike |author-link=Mike Glyer |date=January 10, 2016 |title=Lois Tilton Leaves Locus Online |url=http://file770.com/?p=26987 |website=File 770}}</ref> ''Locus'' later clarified that the edits were not intended to be made to work already published, but rather going forward, to future reviews. None of her past columns were changed, she was paid for the unpublished work, and the relationship ended amicably.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Glyer |first=Mike |date=January 11, 2016 |title=Locus Responds to Tilton Departure |url=http://file770.com/locus-responds-to-tilton-departure/ |access-date=December 30, 2020 |website=File 770}}</ref>

==Locus Awards== {{main|Locus Award}} Awarded annually since 1971, the Locus Awards are voted on by the readership of ''Locus'' magazine.<ref name=SFE-locus-award/> Developed initially as a reading list for the Hugo Awards,<ref name=SFADB-locus/> they have since come to be considered a prestigious prize in science fiction, fantasy and horror literature.<ref name=latimes-2018/><ref name=guardian-2016/>

==Science Fiction Awards Database== {{main|Science Fiction Awards Database}} Known previously as the Locus Index to SF Awards, the Science Fiction Awards Database (SFADB) is an index of science fiction, fantasy and horror awards compiled by Mark R. Kelly. It is often more up-to-date than the awards' own websites (according to ''The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction''),<ref name=SFE/> and has received praise from editors and authors of SF.<ref name=orion/><ref name=walton-2018/>

==Recognition== ''Locus'' has won many Hugo Awards, first the Hugo Award for Best Fanzine, and then in 1984 when the new category "Best Semiprozine" was established. As of 2012, ''Locus'' won the award for "Best Fanzine" eight times and for "Best Semiprozine" 22 times during the category's first 29 years. In 2012 "Best Semiprozine" was redefined to exclude all small, independent genre magazines as "professional publications" if they had either "(1) provided at least a quarter the income of any one person or, (2) was owned or published by any entity which provided at least a quarter the income of any of its staff and/or owner" and this included ''Locus''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hugo Award Categories |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-categories/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507072831/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-categories/ |archive-date=2011-05-07 |access-date=2017-04-05 |website=Hugo Award |publisher=World Science Fiction Society}}</ref> There is no longer a "Professional Magazine" Hugo Award and was replaced in 1973 by the current "Best Editor".<ref name=SFE/><ref name=SFE-hugo/>

==See also== * List of literary magazines

==References== {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name="SFE">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Locus |encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction |publisher=Gollancz |url=http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/locus |access-date=September 11, 2021 |author-link=Peter Nicholls (writer) |editor-last=Clute |editor-first=John |edition=3rd |author2=David Langford|author1-last=Nicholls |author1-first=Peter |author2-link=David Langford |display-editors=etal}}</ref> <ref name="SFE-locus-award">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Locus Award |encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction|publisher=Gollancz |url=http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/locus_award |access-date=September 11, 2021 |editor-last=Clute |editor-first=John |edition=3rd |author-last=Langford |author-first=David |display-editors=etal}}</ref> <ref name="SFE-hugo">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Hugo |encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction |publisher=Gollancz |url=http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/hugo |access-date=September 11, 2021 |editor-last=Clute |editor-first=John |edition=3rd |author1-last=Langford |author1-first=David |author2=Peter Nicholls (writer) |author3=Cheryl Morgan |display-editors=etal}}</ref> <ref name="booklist">{{Cite web |last=Kleckner Keefe |first=Karen |date=September 23, 2011 |title=Web Crush of the Week: Locus Online |url=https://www.booklistreader.com/2011/09/23/backlist/web-crush-of-the-week-locus-online/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607132259/https://www.booklistreader.com/2011/09/23/backlist/web-crush-of-the-week-locus-online/ |archive-date=June 7, 2020 |website=Booklist |publisher=American Library Association}}</ref> <ref name="locus-about">{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://locusmag.com/aboutlocusonline/ |access-date=September 11, 2021 |website=Locus Magazine|date=April 21, 2010}}</ref> <ref name="SFADB-locus">{{Cite web |title=Locus Awards |url=https://www.sfadb.com/Locus_Awards |access-date=21 February 2021 |website=Science Fiction Awards Database |publisher=Locus Science Fiction Foundation}}</ref> <ref name="latimes-2018">{{Cite web |last=Schaub |first=Michael |date=June 26, 2018 |title=Locus Award winners include N.K. Jemisin, Victor LaValle and John Scalzi |url=https://www.latimes.com/books/la-et-jc-locus-awards-20180626-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> <ref name="guardian-2016">{{Cite web |last=Flood |first=Allison |date=June 27, 2016 |title=Locus awards go to Ann Leckie, Naomi Novik and other stars |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jun/27/locus-awards-go-to-ann-leckie-naomi-novik-terry-pratchett-neil-gaiman-george-rr-martin |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> <ref name="walton-2018">{{Cite book |last=Walton |first=Jo |title=An Informal History of the Hugos |publisher=Tor Books |year=2018 |page=571 |chapter=Conclusion |author-link=Jo Walton}}</ref> <ref name="orion">{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2013 |title=In Praise of.. The Locus Index to Science Fiction Awards |url=https://www.sfgateway.com/sf-awards/2013/03/13/in-praise-of-the-locus-index-to-science-fiction-awards/ |website=SF Gateway |publisher=Orion Publishing Group}}</ref> }}

==External links== * [http://www.locusmag.com/ Locus Magazine (official website)] * [http://www.sfadb.com Science Fiction Awards Database]

Category:Locus (magazine) Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States Category:Speculative fiction magazines published in the United States Category:Hugo Award–winning works Category:Magazines established in 1968 Category:Magazines published in California Category:Mass media in Oakland, California Category:Online magazines published in the United States Category:Science fiction magazines published in the United States Category:Speculative fiction websites Category:Entertainment trade magazines Category:Listings magazines Category:1968 establishments in California