In this episode, we’re on another Flashback, this time to September 1981 and Amazing Science Fiction Stories. By the late 1970s, the famed first science fiction magazine had hit new lows, cutting costs and corners until it became primarily a magazine of reprints. In 1981, a new editor was at work attempting to regain the glory years. But money was still tight, circulation was down, and advertising wasn’t setting records. As a result, some old habits were dying hard. Still, in this issue you’ll find the inescapable Harlan Ellison, both writing and being written about, and some top class stories once you make it past the filler. Plus, a column predicting the amazing future of fiber-optic communications gets some things right but some things very, very wrong.The Back Half at Substack Get full access to The Back Half at seanbugg.substack.com/subscribe

And here we are with the third episode of The Back Half podcast and other episode of “Flashback,” examining the science fiction, fantasy, and horror writing that shaped me as a kid. This time I’m looking at the August 1981 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine. I also dig a little deeper in the “why” behind this project. There are some serious topics in here but I promise we’re all going to have fun doing this!Interested in the magazine and authors discussed? Here’s a list of resources for you to peruse:Publications:Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine: www.asimovs.comAsimov’s, Aug. 3, 1981 contents list: https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?59137+cAuthors:Harlan Ellison: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlan_EllisonBarry B. Longyear: https://www.barryblongyear.comJerry Pournelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_PournelleMildred Downey Broxon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mildred_Downey_BroxonSteve Rasnic Tem: https://stevetem.comMartin Gardner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_GardnerBob Shaw: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_ShawJ.P. Boyd: https://isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?11389Hank Simpson: https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?11516Jeanne/Joanne Mitchell: https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?11517Somtow Sucharitkul/S.P. Somtow: https://www.somtow.comF. Gwynplaine MacIntyre: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._Gwynplaine_MacIntyreDona Vaughn: https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?11518Michael Kube-McDowell: http://alternities.com/wp/ Get full access to The Back Half at seanbugg.substack.com/subscribe

I’m back with the second episode of The Back Half podcast, this time a "Flashback" to the November 1982 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine. Content warning: Disturbing mental imagery of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.In other, less fraught topics, I cover the kindly science fiction editors of my youth; George R.R. Martin being playful; and why you should read “The Postman” even though Kevin Costner screwed the movie up. Original post at The Back Half, complete with L. Ron Hubbard's ad for Battlefield Earth: "Dispatches from the Cold War" Get full access to The Back Half at seanbugg.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the first episode of The Back Half podcast, kicking off with an audio version of my piece on The Word for World Is Forest for those of you who prefer getting your words aurally. There’s more to come and in the near future I plan to bring in some guests to help expand and explore on these topics even more. The Back Half is a reader-supported publication. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for reading The Back Half! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to The Back Half at seanbugg.substack.com/subscribe