The Strange, Strange Case of the Missing Weird Tales Subscription
For Christmas last year, my mother-in-law Jill gave me a gift subscription to Weird Tales, the current incarnation of one of the original genre magazines, the very magazine that launched the careers of H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, C.L. Moore, Ray Bradbury, and countless others. Needless to say, I was thrilled by this thoughtful present, particularly since I couldn't find Weird Tales at any of my local booksellers, and I hoped, by reading the magazine once touted as “the Unique Magazine,” to gain a grasp on the sort of fiction they currently publish, and perhaps even submit a few stories, hopefully getting my professional writing career moving in a positive direction.
Fast forward six months. Even though Jill's check has long since been cashed, and though the Weird Tales website has indicated the release of multiple issues, and announced the bringing of a new editor, Ann VanderMeer, into the fold, I still haven't received a single issue. Over the last half year, Jill has spoken to the magazine's publishers, Wildside Press, multiple times, and has been reassured just as many times that the issue was being taken care of, and that the magazine was being mailed immediately.
Yesterday, Jill attempted to contact the magazine's publishers again, and when her call connected instead to an automated system “asking for an access code,” she e-mailed them, forwarding me a copy of her message. In the e-mail, Jill informed the folks at Wildside Press that she was “beginning to wonder if you all really are publishing anything,” and asked that they “PLEASE have someone contact me within 24 hours with a response.” In abject frustration, she wrote “What more can I do? Do you care? Can I at least get my $24 back if you have no intention of making good on the subscription?” As of now, approximately twenty-three hours after Jill sent this message, we still haven’t heard anything.
So what happened? Did Weird Tales fall into a hole? Were they eaten by a dhole? Is the weirdest tale of all that the magazine never really existed? Perhaps, but all I know is that, due to this experience, I can’t, in good faith, currently recommend Weird Tales, its parent company, Wildside Press, or their products, to anyone.
“The Unique Magazine” in more trustworthy times. November, 1933 cover.
UPDATE (6/27): Wildside Press Magazines General Manager Stephen Segal has contacted me and graciously offered to take care of the problems. His reply is included in the comments section. Thanks, Stephen, for making things right.
Fast forward six months. Even though Jill's check has long since been cashed, and though the Weird Tales website has indicated the release of multiple issues, and announced the bringing of a new editor, Ann VanderMeer, into the fold, I still haven't received a single issue. Over the last half year, Jill has spoken to the magazine's publishers, Wildside Press, multiple times, and has been reassured just as many times that the issue was being taken care of, and that the magazine was being mailed immediately.
Yesterday, Jill attempted to contact the magazine's publishers again, and when her call connected instead to an automated system “asking for an access code,” she e-mailed them, forwarding me a copy of her message. In the e-mail, Jill informed the folks at Wildside Press that she was “beginning to wonder if you all really are publishing anything,” and asked that they “PLEASE have someone contact me within 24 hours with a response.” In abject frustration, she wrote “What more can I do? Do you care? Can I at least get my $24 back if you have no intention of making good on the subscription?” As of now, approximately twenty-three hours after Jill sent this message, we still haven’t heard anything.
So what happened? Did Weird Tales fall into a hole? Were they eaten by a dhole? Is the weirdest tale of all that the magazine never really existed? Perhaps, but all I know is that, due to this experience, I can’t, in good faith, currently recommend Weird Tales, its parent company, Wildside Press, or their products, to anyone.
“The Unique Magazine” in more trustworthy times. November, 1933 cover.
UPDATE (6/27): Wildside Press Magazines General Manager Stephen Segal has contacted me and graciously offered to take care of the problems. His reply is included in the comments section. Thanks, Stephen, for making things right.