Femspec

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Femspec is a feminist academic journal specializing in speculative fiction, including science fiction, fantasy, magical realism, mythic explorations in poetry and post-modern fiction, and horror. The first issue came out in 1999 under the editorial direction of founder Batya Weinbaum. Femspec is still publishing as of the winter of 2006. Information on past and current issues is available on the femspec homepage (http://www.femspec.org). Having lost our academic home in May 2003, we are increasingly cross-over and printing write-ups o all books and media received, as well as of events that feature creative works that imaginativeloy challenge gender such as intentional communities, performance events, and film festivals.

The journal's editorial history, as written by the original editorial group of the journal, follows:

The editorial group of Femspec grew as an outgrowth of the Science Fiction/Fantasy Area of the American/Popular Culture Association. We came together at a conference in San Antonio in April of 1997, discussed our experiences of non-feminist editorial practices by SF journals that were male-dominated, and the bias towards realism in journals that published feminist literary criticism or creative works. A group of us decided to found our own journal, the first issue of which appeared in September 1999; in the process of which, our organization grew. Our impetus came from the collectively perceived lack of attention to science fiction, fantasy, magical realism and supernatural works in feminist journals and audiences; the lack of consistently developed levels of feminism in science fiction criticism; and the inadequacy of magical realist publishing outlets and forums in the United States. The first issue was well-received and sold out in three months.