I received my first Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine in the mail a couple of weeks ago – you know the one I’ve been looking forward to since May. Here are a couple of pictures of it:
Beautiful cover art, very exciting. And here’s the other side:
I have to wonder what could have caused that. It kind of looks like an animal took a bite out of it. Are there paper eating monsters out there that I haven’t yet encountered and somehow know nothing about? Or maybe someone needed to jot down a note and couldn’t find any paper and my issue happened to be within reaching distance. My first reaction was “How dare you Cliff Clavin!” I like to think that my mailman is Cliff from Cheers. I’ve never seen my mailman, which makes it easier to continue believing that he has a mustache, wears a blue uniform, is filled with useless/fabricated trivia, and spends his time off in a bar next to a guy named Norm. I’m not too upset about it though (I couldn’t stay mad at Cliff). After all, it’s the back cover and accidents happen. However, I do hope it isn’t an accident that is often repeated or else I might have to go back to getting the digital version. It pains me a little to see a great publication ripped apart like that. I’m just grateful the side with the cover art (not to mention my name and address) is still intact. I haven’t had a chance to read much of it yet. I’m currently reading a Terry Pratchett novel and I really need to read some more short stories before putting in my vote for the Hugos.
On a related note, does anyone have any suggestions for the best way to remove the address sticker from a magazine? Mine didn’t come off all that cleanly.
