The science fiction podcast magazine StarShipSofa Aural Delights rang in a new Golden Age of Science Fiction by making publishing history.
Celebrating the show’s 100th episode, show host and editor Tony C. Smith unveiled StarShipSofa Stories Volume 1, an anthology of some of the finest stories featured on the show.
The book was released simultaneously in print-on-demand paperback (deluxe and standard versions) and a free downloadable ebook. This is absolutely the first anthology to present writers of this calibre without big publisher backing – from Science Fiction Grand Master Michael Moorcock to Hugo winner Elizabeth Bear and Nebula winner Jeffrey Ford to the SF writer who’s just bagged the £1,000,000 ten book deal Alastair Reynolds (that’s almost $2,000,000 in the USA), trust me you have never seen an anthology like this one before.
Speaking of seeing, that’s something you’ve got to do with this book. Don’t take my word for it – download the free ebook or flip through the pages for yourself at this super-cool online widget. This volume is an homage to the “tatty old paperbacks” of science fiction past, recapturing the visual wonder of the 1950’s pulp paperbacks that we all love so well. Original artwork sets off each story, rendered by top artists published by the likes of 2000AD and Neil Gaiman. Sprinkled liberally throughout are original vintage images and magazine adverts from the 1950’s. An homage to classic science fiction and a daring experiment in the publishing revolution, this is nostalgia nouveau and tomorrow today all in one package.
A great anthology and a bold exploration of the latest in publishing technology, everyone wins with StarShipSofa Stories Volume 1. New and established writers are reaching out to new audiences, sales and donations are being generated to support the show, and a remarkable world-wide community of science fiction fans is growing. Everyone is a winner! There is no doubt that StarShipSofa is leading the way for podcasts into a new and brighter future.
Posted by Tony C. Smith