Mir Fantastiki

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Mir Fantastiki, April 2006 issue with druids as the main topic

Mir Fantastiki (World of Fiction, or "Мир Фантастики" in Russian) is a science fiction and fantasy mounthly magazine published in Russia since September 2003 and distributed in major ex-USSR countries via trade net and postal subscription.

Along with lesser known "Esli" ("If", or "Если") magazine, Mir Fantastiki is considered to be the main (and most popular) Russian periodical edition covering almost every form of science fiction and fantasy activities: books, films, games etc.

Its editorial office is situated in Moscow. The official motto is: "Fantasy and science fiction in all their aspects".

Mir Fantastiki is the holder of the international title "Best magazine", awarded at Eurocon-2006.

1 Sections
2 Controversy
3 Technical information
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Sections

There are 7 general sections in Mir Fantastiki:

1. Book Row - calendar of releases, reviews, interviews, convent reports, biographies, recommended reading.

2. Videodrome - news, upcoming films, reviews, anime section, list of national VHS and DVD releases, recommended films.

3. Game Club - computer/board/LARPG games reviews.

4. Gates of the Worlds - reviews of the most popular fictional universes, interviews with illustrators and artists, "bestiary" articles on fictional beasts, genre's FAQ, humorous "Top 10" of various fictional things.

5. Time machine - articles dedicated to future tech, great events and persons of the past, "what if" historical research, "arsenal" section about weapons and military tactics.

6. Tech Sum - reviews of the morden hi-tech market (biology, medicine, electronical devices).

7. Fun Zone - 2-3 short stories, anecdotes, jokes, reader's contests, crossword, comix page.

[edit] Controversy

Among older SF fans Mir Fantastiki is considered to be glossy and thus unserious. They are quite conservative about the image of the fiction itself, and share a generally erroneous vision of Mir Fantastiki as that of a magazine that addresses itself only to teens.

During the Soviet period there was almost no fantasy literature/films. Science fiction (as almost any other sort of literature) was quite popular, but visibly politicized. Its main purpose was simple: scientific education and cultural propaganda. Western fiction was scarce and severely censored.

Following the discovery of "ex-unreliable" foreign SF and fantasy after the end of the Cold War, Russian fiction became more entertaining and less academic. Due to that tendency, Mir Fantastiki usually publishes both classical (educational) and entertainment articles, gaining major acknowledgement throughout ex-USSR space and even abroad. At the same time, a small number of orthodox fans still prefer the complexity and high-mindness of the "Esli" magazine.