Review: Ultraverse

by James Christopher Maddox

© Ultraverse Magazine

        Let's say you wanted to put out an E-zine of science fiction and fantasy with an easy access layout and with stories that promoted the two genres' best quality of fiction. Of course this zine of yours would have to be put together rather well, and have a most professional look; if it didn't then it would be written off as an amateur attempt–ambitious yet still ignorable. You couldn't skimp on the details of organization because this isn't a hobby. It's more like work than what you do to make money to eat on, and it wouldn't matter how difficult it got, because you were doing something that mattered. How inspirational.
        Say you have this dream.
        You're going to have to let go of it, because someone beat you to the punch.
        Let's apply a bit of an ergodic feel to this review as I ask you to open up the following link in a new window: www.ultraverse.us. [Editor's note: You can also do this later.]
        Right now you should be looking at the second issue of the third volume of Ultraverse E-Zine (and even if you're reading this after they've done their next update, some of the following content should still apply). You're going to click on the "about" link and find Chris Africa & Co.'s goals and find:
        • First, to become a paying publication. Donations will go entirely toward an account that is used to pay authors. (Chris Africa will continue to donate the cost of web hosting.) We are also running advertisements to this end. As of April 8, 2005, we have not received sufficient donations to pay each Ultraverse contributor at least $10.
        • Second, to publish only outstanding science fiction, fantasy and non-fiction. We may offer suggestions to help you improve your work.
        • Third, to promote outstanding SF&F web sites, even among our "competitor" sites. We want you to have a good science fiction and fantasy experience, wherever that leads you.
        • Fourth, to help our authors to become published in paying markets.
        • Finally, to maintain a highly usable and navigable web site, so that the maximum number of potential readers can use the site.

        These goals outline something more than just keeping the publication afloat. Reading through them, it becomes evident that there is more at stake than simply coming out with a magazine for writers to send their stuff to. We’ve long past the point where finding a place for fiction that is both respectable and paying has become an act of futility, as most magazines that allow beginning writers are not taken seriously and the ones that pay are for already established authors.
        Here, with Ultraverse, we find an even mixture of writers, both established and otherwise. To help keep a constant promotion to their contributors, their archives gives the reader the option of just browsing through an alphabetized list of authors and stories (this also includes a list of art that appears in the magazine).
        The five main categories of Ultraverse: Fiction, Scifimage, Poetry, Reviews, New Releases.
        Though fiction seems to be their bread and butter, the other writing forms should not be ignored. The reviews are honest, the images (from what I've viewed in the archives) are excellent, and the poetry is poetry.

        There's a place for authors to promote their work in the New Releases section. Even the links page gives readers a number of different sources for readers and writers alike to survey.
        When it comes down to it, Ultraverse isn’t just a reader’s magazine or a writer's magazine, it's also an editor's magazine. Doing the things that, I'd like to hope, all editors are setting out to accomplish: Promoting good writing, good zines, and good art.
        So, if it's your dream to make a zine like this, I'm telling you, it's being done quite well already. But keep working at it. Odds are, if you come up with something worthwhile, Ultraverse will link to you and welcome you to the world of publishing with open arms.

back