Bewildering Stories: Editorial

Growing Mindfully

by Jerry Wright and Don Webb

I'm sorry, Professor Webb. My brain is full. May I be excused?

--Jerry

After that bang-up job you’ve done with the Heinlein and Oltion novels in the Reading Room, Jerry, you deserve a break. No one is going to keep you after class, much as we enjoy your company!

Let me help out here by continuing on a more reflective note. I have some questions for our readers.

I think Bewildering Stories is really remarkable: we not only publish fiction, articles, poetry, reviews, etc. that are by turns amusing, thought-provoking and useful, we do it week in and week out. And we do it not by taking the “bottom of the slush pile” or, on the contrary, by putting on airs; rather, I like to think, our policy of encouraging writers is a success. And we have been complimented on our prompt replies. What do you think, everyone?

I’ve seen many other literary websites, and I never cease to marvel how pretty and “reader-friendly” Bewildering Stories is. Is that your impression, too? Do you have some ideas about how things might be done differently? Or would you prefer something else?

I think we deserve more public recognition than we get. The Analog and Asimov’s forums don’t pay much attention to our content; that’s why I post a link to the “Readers’ Guide” there every Monday. Some may find us beneath their notice; others may take us for granted. What do you think our public image is, readers? Do we even have one?

Finally, what do you think of the Readers’ Guide? I enjoy writing it, and the audience I have in mind is primarily but not exclusively the first-time visitor. I try to keep it as short and yet as descriptive as possible. As the old saying goes, making things simple ain’t easy. But what do our readers think? Is it helpful or at least entertaining? A nice touch? Or is it superfluous at best and annoying at worst?

In short, Bewildering Stories would like some feedback. We’re fishing neither for compliments nor for criticism. Is no news good news? Maybe it is, but we don’t want to become or even seem complacent. If something seems to be working well, we’d like to know what to keep. If you have suggestions for improvements, we’ll be glad to listen. As we so often say, please write!