Neil Clarke, editor da Clarkesworld: "I see the recent chaos as the catalyst for much-needed change. It’s forcing the industry to grow and catch up with technology" (entrevista)

Dentro do panorama internacionais das revistas de fantasia e ficção científica, a Clarkesworld conseguiu tornar-se numa referência em poucos anos - um feito notável sobretudo pelo momento em que o conseguiu fazer, quando os modelos tradicionais de revistas se encontrava em declínio e o espaço digital, onde esta publicação se posicionou com sucesso, ainda era uma incógnita. Em entrevista a R. K. Troughton para o blogue da Amazing Stories, o editor da Clarkesworld, Neil Clarke fala sobre a criação desta revista, sobre o sucesso que alcançou em tão pouco tempo (e os prémios que recebeu), e sobre o panorama actual do género nas suas diversas vertentes. Alguns excertos:

R. K Troughton / Amazing Stories: (...)You started Clarkesworld Magazine in 2006 while the science fiction magazine industry was still struggling to avoid extinction. Since then, the magazine has grown into one of the most recognizable names in science fiction and has received numerous nominations and awards. During that time, your readership has skyrocketed. Looking back on these last seven years, what has gone according to plan and what has surprised you? 

Neil Clarke: I wouldn’t say they were headed towards extinction, but the industry was certainly unhealthy. Print magazines were bleeding subscribers and online magazines were failing left, right, and center. It was clear that we couldn’t succeed doing things the old way, so we started small and adjusted our plans on the fly. We’re always shifting and adapting, but surviving is both the biggest accomplishment and the most surprising thing that has happened. Oh and winning three Hugo awards, I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around that. My childhood heroes have those rockets. Never dreamed I would.

(...)

RKT/AS: Science fiction originally found its voice with the rise of magazines nearly a hundred years ago. At each step, editors have held the reins, influencing what is considered science fiction and what makes it before the public eye. The names of editors who have helped guide us to 2013 include Hugo Gernsback, John W. Campbell, Frederik Pohl, Michael Moorcock, Ben Bova, Gardner Dozois, and so many more. Recently, the gatekeepers have lost some control over the industry with the rise of self-publishing and the electronic revolution. How do you see this evolution of the publishing industry from then until now?

NC: I see the recent chaos as the catalyst for much-needed change. It’s forcing the industry to grow and catch up with technology. It has also provided them with a way around some of the troublesome distribution and warehousing issues. The biggest benefit, however, has to be the increasing opportunities for readers to discover new voices from all over the world.

RKT/AS: What do you see ahead for the science fiction publishing industry?

NC: The impact of technology is going to continue to upset the cart. The smart people will survive and the ones that try to hide their head in the sand will be paved over. I don’t think big publishing will be destroyed by the hordes of self-publishers, but the dynamics will change and eventually they’ll learn to take advantage of one another’s strengths. Expect a lot more work in the field to be done by freelancers or service companies.

(...)

A entrevista completa pode ser lida no blogue da Amazing Stories.

Fonte: Amazing Stories