SF Signal

The website was launched in 2003 by John DeNardo and JP Frantz after they noticed a lack of blogs focusing on science fiction. They decided to launch a blog where they could discuss science fiction and related genre writings, events and ideas that were interesting to them.{{cite web|title=Spotlight on: SF Signal|date=21 March 2014 |url=http://www.locusmag.com/Perspectives/2014/03/spotlight-on-sf-signal/|publisher=Locus Online|accessdate=5 May 2014}} As the website's popularity grew, they began to incorporate more original content and hired additional staff members as well as brought in new contributors. SF Signal published three podcasts: SF Crossing the Gulf,{{cite web | title=SF Signal: Crossing the Gulf Podcast, powered by Feedburner | url=http://feeds.feedburner.com/sfcrossingthegulf | accessdate=9 May 2014}} The Three Hoarsemen,{{cite web | title=SF Signal: The Three Horsemen Podcast, powered by Feedburner | url=http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheThreeHoarsemenPodcast | accessdate=9 May 2014}} and The SF Signal Podcast.{{cite web | title=SF Signal Podcast, powered by Feedburner | url=http://feeds.feedburner.com/sfsignalpodcast | accessdate=9 May 2014}}

In 2012 SF Signal won the Hugo Award for Best Fanzine. This marked the first time a fanzine won in its first year of contention and the first time an electronic fanzine of this type won the award.

In May 2016, DeNardo and Frantz announced the end of SF Signal because of the blog's increasing demands on their time.{{cite news|last1=DeNardo|first1=John|title=All Good Things...|url=http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2016/05/all-good-things/|accessdate=7 May 2016|work=SF Signal|date=5 May 2016|language=en-US|archive-date=20 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120020134/http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2016/05/all-good-things/|url-status=dead}}

It focused on topics in the science fiction genre such as literature, film, and artwork, but also addressed topics in other genres such as fantasy, young adult, and horror fiction.{{Cite journal|last=Storie|first=Dale|date=March 2007|title=Exploring the litblog: how literary blogging can be used to guide readers in the selection of new books|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1754-8845.2007.tb00808.x|journal=English in Education|language=en|volume=41|issue=1|pages=37–50|doi=10.1111/j.1754-8845.2007.tb00808.x|s2cid=144089133 |issn=0425-0494|url-access=subscription}} The site offered readers several weekly and monthly series such as book reviews,{{cite web|title=Recommended Reading by Professionals...|url=http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/tag/book-recommendations/|accessdate=9 May 2014|archive-date=20 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120020156/http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/tag/book-recommendations/|url-status=dead}} link roundups of author interviews and profiles,{{cite web|title=Tidbits|url=http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/category/tidbits/|accessdate=9 May 2014|archive-date=20 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120020123/http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/category/tidbits/|url-status=dead}} round table discussions on various topics (termed "Mind Melds"),{{Cite journal|last=Hill|first=Rebecca|date=October 1, 2012|title=Science fiction: is it still the "big ideas" genre?|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Science+fiction%3A+is+it+still+the+%22big+ideas%22+genre%3F-a0305082289|journal=Voice of Youth Advocates|volume=35|pages=348|via=The Free Library}}{{Cite web|last=Chase|first=Robert R.|date=April 2010|title=Science Friction|url=https://www.firstthings.com/article/2010/04/science-friction|access-date=2021-07-29|website=First Things|language=en}} links to currently free speculative fiction,{{cite web|title=Free Fiction|url=http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/category/books/free-fiction/|accessdate=9 May 2014|archive-date=20 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120020144/http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/category/books/free-fiction/|url-status=dead}} contests, and notifications of various events and things that the editors found interesting.{{Cite journal|last=Hollands|first=Neil|date=August 1, 2011|title=Sf/fantasy's epic journey: high fantasy makes a comeback, sf searches for a renaissance|journal=The Library Journal|volume=136|pages=20–25}}{{Cite thesis|last=Tidwell|first=Christy|date=2014-03-10|title=No Longer Estranged: Women, Science, Science Fiction|url=https://rc.library.uta.edu/uta-ir/handle/10106/24022|type=PhD Thesis|language=en|pages=105}}

File:Erna Brodber.jpg writer Erna Brodber.]]

SF Signal ran three podcasts during its run, The SF Signal Podcast, The Three Hoarsemen, and SF Crossing the Gulf. The SF Signal Podcast launched in August 2010 and covered topics related to science fiction, fantasy, and similar genres.{{Cite web|title=The SF Signal Podcast (Episode 001): Interview with Lou Anders|url=https://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2010/08/the_sf_signal_podcast_episode_001/|website=SF Signal|access-date=2021-07-30|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120020125/https://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2010/08/the_sf_signal_podcast_episode_001/|url-status=dead}} It was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Fancast in 2012 and 2013 and won the award in 2014.{{cite web|title=2012 Hugo Awards|url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2012-hugo-awards/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409193243/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2012-hugo-awards/|archive-date=2012-04-09|access-date=2012-04-09|publisher=World Science Fiction Society}}{{cite web|title=2013 Hugo Awards|date=22 December 2012 |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2013-hugo-awards/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906045317/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2013-hugo-awards/|archive-date=2015-09-06|access-date=2013-04-03|publisher=World Science Fiction Society}} The podcast ran for 322 episodes, concluding with the closure of the site in 2016.{{Cite web|title=The SF Signal Podcast (Episode 322): Jody Lynn Nye, Ramon Terrell and Josh Vogt on WordFire Press and Publishing|url=https://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2016/03/the-sf-signal-podcast-episode-322-jody-lynn-nye-ramon-terrell-and-josh-vogt-on-wordfire-press-and-publishing/|website=SF Signal|access-date=2021-07-30|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120020123/https://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2016/03/the-sf-signal-podcast-episode-322-jody-lynn-nye-ramon-terrell-and-josh-vogt-on-wordfire-press-and-publishing/|url-status=dead}}

SF Crossing the Gulf began recording in July 2012 and was created to focus on science fiction literature written by international writers, with a focus on Mexican, Chinese, and Caribbean literature.{{Cite web|date=2017-09-05|title=SF Crossing the Gulf|url=https://locusmag.com/sf-crossing-the-gulf/|access-date=2021-07-29|website=Locus Online|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=SF Crossing the Gulf (Episode 1): A Discussion of Ted Chiang's "Exhalation" and Others|url=https://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2012/07/sf-crossing-the-gulf-episode-1-a-discussion-of-ted-chiangs-exhalation-and-others/|website=SF Signal}} Authors discussed included Ted Chiang, Erna Brodber, and Curdella Forbes. The podcast ran on SF Signal for 18 episodes until the site went defunct in 2016. Around 2018 LocusOnline opted to archive the episodes of SF Crossing the Gulf created as part of SF Signal, as the original link to the series ceased to operate.{{Cite journal|last=Campa|first=Marta Fernández|date=April 2021|title=Contemporary Caribbean Authors' Papers: Record Keeping, Creative Practices and Preservation in the Digital Age|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2538404705|journal=Journal of West Indian Literature|volume=29|pages=121–145|id={{ProQuest|2538404705}} |via=ProQuest}} Locus also announced that hosts Karen Burnham and Karen Lord planned to create additional episodes to the series, which they would also archive.

The Three Hoarsemen was hosted by John E. O. Stevens, Fred Kiesche, and Jeff Patterson and focused on genre literature, media, pop culture, and events. The podcast had initially started with episodes 193 and 198 of The SF Signal Podcast during the summer of 2013,{{Cite web|title=The Three Hoarsemen|url=https://www.sfsignal.com/archives/category/columns/the-three-hoarsemen/page/2/|website=SF Signal}} and on August 23 of the same year the first episode of The Three Hoarsemen aired.{{Cite web|title=The Three Hoarsemen Ride!|url=https://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2013/08/the-three-hoarsemen-ride/|website=SF Signal}} The podcast ran for 34 episodes with SF Signal until the site's closure, after which The Three Hoarsemen began releasing episodes through The Incomparable.{{Cite web|title=Archive : The Three Hoarsemen|url=https://www.theincomparable.com/hoarse/archive/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=The Incomparable}}

During the site's run Denardo and Frantz served as its regular contributors. Other contributors included Steve Berman, Patrick Hester, and Rick Klaw. The site ran several podcasts that were hosted by Karen Burnham, Karen Lord, and Patrick Hester.{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.sfsignal.com/about-us/|website=SF Site}}

• SFX Blog Award for Best Literary Blog (2011, won){{cite web|title=SFX BLOG AWARDS 2011: The Results|url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/04/19/sfx-blog-awards-2011-the-results/|publisher=SFX|accessdate=5 May 2014}}
• Hugo Award for Best Fanzine (2012, won){{cite web|last=Davidson|first=Steve|title=Interview: John DeNardo of SF Signal|url=http://amazingstoriesmag.com/2013/02/interview-john-denardos-of-sfsignal/|publisher=Amazing Stories|accessdate=5 May 2014}}
• Hugo Award for Best Fanzine (2013, won){{Cite web|date=2012-12-22|title=2013 Hugo Awards|url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2013-hugo-awards/|access-date=2021-07-30|website=The Hugo Awards|language=en-US}}
• Hugo Award for Best Fancast (2014, won for The SF Signal Podcast){{cite web|title=2014 Hugo Awards|date=18 April 2014 |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2014-hugo-awards/|publisher=The Hugo Awards|accessdate=5 May 2014}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.sfsignal.com/}}

Category:Science fiction fanzines

Category:Science fiction websites

Category:Science fiction webzines

Category:Defunct websites

Category:Hugo Award–winning works

Category:Internet properties established in 2003

Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2016