Death Ray (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Death Ray was a British magazine
devoted to science fiction
and fantasy
in all its forms, especially media-related topics and novels, but not containing fiction. It was published every two months, with the first issue going on sale in May 2007. Typical issues were 132 pages, perfect bound, on glossy paper.
, the ex-Future Publishing
staff member who was editor on some of that company's biggest titles, including Total Film
magazine and SFX
magazine, the dominant SF title. Death Ray is published by Blackfish Publishing
, Bielby's magazine company, based in Bath, UK.
At their launches in 2007 Death Ray and SciFiNow
, launched April 2007, were the first magazines in recent years to challenge SFXs dominance of the science fiction magazine market in the UK but neither has yet to approach SFX in terms of popularity or sales. (A UK version of the American science fiction magazine Starlog
was published for a couple years beginning in May 2000.) However, the magazine has been described by one source as wordier and offering greater depth than its two main competitors.
In August 2008, Blackfish Publishing announced it had been bought by Rebellion Developments
, the video game producer who already publish 2000 AD and Abaddon Books
. At that point, Death Ray changed to a new format (longer but quarterly) to allow Blackfish to launch other monthly special-interest titles such as Filmstar, though the title is now bimonthly.
In October 2009, it was announced that Death Ray was to cease production, with issue 21 being the last in its run.
, b) the name of the Martian 'heat-ray
' weapon from HG Wells' The War of the Worlds
(1898), c) the single issue story 'The Death Ray' from Daniel Clowes
' Eightball comic book, d) an Australian comic book from WW2 called The Death Ray, and e) issue 64 of Marvel Comics
' The Mighty Avengers, '…Like a Death Ray From the Sky!' (May 1969).
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
devoted to science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
in all its forms, especially media-related topics and novels, but not containing fiction. It was published every two months, with the first issue going on sale in May 2007. Typical issues were 132 pages, perfect bound, on glossy paper.
History
Death Ray was created by Matt BielbyMatt Bielby
Matt Bielby is the managing director and proprietor of Blackfish Publishing, a specialist magazine and internet publishing company based in Bath, UK. He is best known as a magazine editor, launching many successful titles in assorted markets during the 1990s, mostly on the subjects of computer and...
, the ex-Future Publishing
Future Publishing
Future plc is a media company; in 2006, it was the sixth-largest in the United Kingdom. It publishes more than 150 magazines in fields such as video games, technology, automotive, cycling, films and photography. Future is the official magazine company of all three major games console manufacturers...
staff member who was editor on some of that company's biggest titles, including Total Film
Total Film
Total Film is a British film magazine published 13 times a year by Future Publishing. The magazine was launched in 1997 and offers film, DVD and Blu-ray news, reviews and features...
magazine and SFX
SFX magazine
SFX is a British magazine covering the topics of science fiction and fantasy.-Description:SFX magazine is published every four weeks by Future Publishing and was founded in 1995. The magazine covers topics in the genres of popular science fiction, fantasy and horror, within the media of films,...
magazine, the dominant SF title. Death Ray is published by Blackfish Publishing
Blackfish Publishing
Blackfish Publishing is a magazine publishing company based in Bath, UK. Its first title is Death Ray, a science fiction and fantasy title.- History :...
, Bielby's magazine company, based in Bath, UK.
At their launches in 2007 Death Ray and SciFiNow
SciFiNow
SciFiNow is a British magazine published every four weeks by Imagine Publishing in Bournemouth, United Kingdom, covering the science fiction, horror and fantasy genres. It launched in April 2007...
, launched April 2007, were the first magazines in recent years to challenge SFXs dominance of the science fiction magazine market in the UK but neither has yet to approach SFX in terms of popularity or sales. (A UK version of the American science fiction magazine Starlog
Starlog
Starlog was a monthly science-fiction film magazine published by Starlog Group Inc. The magazine was created by publishers Kerry O'Quinn and Norman Jacobs. O'Quinn was the magazine's editor while Jacobs ran the business side of things, dealing with typesetters, engravers and printers. They got...
was published for a couple years beginning in May 2000.) However, the magazine has been described by one source as wordier and offering greater depth than its two main competitors.
In August 2008, Blackfish Publishing announced it had been bought by Rebellion Developments
Rebellion Developments
Rebellion is a British computer games company, based in Oxford, who are most famous for the first Aliens vs. Predator computer game. It has published comic books since 2000 and launched its own book imprint, Abaddon Books, in 2006.-History:...
, the video game producer who already publish 2000 AD and Abaddon Books
Abaddon Books
Abaddon Books is a British publishing imprint, founded in 2006. It is part of the Rebellion group of companies, along with publishing companies Solaris Books, 2000 AD, 2000 AD Graphic Novels, and Cubicle 7....
. At that point, Death Ray changed to a new format (longer but quarterly) to allow Blackfish to launch other monthly special-interest titles such as Filmstar, though the title is now bimonthly.
In October 2009, it was announced that Death Ray was to cease production, with issue 21 being the last in its run.
Structure
Regular sections of the magazine include: Heat Ray, a news section; New Gods, featuring interviews with current 'hot properties' in science fiction; Deep Thought, with opinion and 'think piece' columns; and Dark Stars, the name of the reviews section, particularly notable for its extensive coverage of books.Name
Bielby has said that the magazine's name is influenced by a combination of a) the name of the influential 1990s Californian music magazine Ray GunRay Gun (magazine)
Ray Gun was an American alternative rock-and-roll magazine, first published in 1992 in Santa Monica, California. Led by founding art director David Carson, Ray Gun explored experimental magazine typographic design. The result was a chaotic, abstract style, not always readable, but distinctive in...
, b) the name of the Martian 'heat-ray
Heat-Ray
The Heat-Ray is the primary offensive weapon used by the Martians in H. G. Wells' classic science fiction novel The War of the Worlds and its offshoots.- In the novel :...
' weapon from HG Wells' The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds is an 1898 science fiction novel written by H. G. Wells.The War of the Worlds may also refer to:- Radio broadcasts :* The War of the Worlds , the 1938 radio broadcast by Orson Welles...
(1898), c) the single issue story 'The Death Ray' from Daniel Clowes
Daniel Clowes
Daniel Gillespie Clowes is an American author, screenwriter and cartoonist of alternative comic books....
' Eightball comic book, d) an Australian comic book from WW2 called The Death Ray, and e) issue 64 of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' The Mighty Avengers, '…Like a Death Ray From the Sky!' (May 1969).