I’ve been following the controversy with Galaktika with particular interest because there are a number of SFWA members involved. My thanks to A. G. Carpenter for graciously sharing what they found out. In the process of talking to people, I dropped Istvan Burger a mail because I had these questions:
Would all writers be paid, preferably without their having to contact Galaktika?
Would all translators be paid? (my understanding was that the same lack of payment has happened with them.)
For any online stories, would authors be able to request that the story be taken down?
Would a process be put in place to ensure this never happens again?
Here’s the reply:
Dear Cat,
I’m writing on behalf of Istvan Burger, editor in chief of Galaktika.
We’d like to ask authors to contact us directly to agree on compensation methods. You can give my email address to the members. mund.katalin@gmail.com
The short stories were published in a monthly magazine, which was sold for two months, so these prints are not available any more. So Authors don’t need to withdraw their works. As we wrote in our statement, there is no problem with novels, as all the rights of novels were paid by us in time.
Also let me emphasise again that all the translators were paid all the time!
You can quote my reply. Thank you for your help!
Best regards,
Katalin Mund,
Manager of Galaktika Magazine
Next week SFWA will be sending Galaktika a list of affected SFWA members who need to be compensated. If you’re a member whose work was published in Galaktika and want to make sure you’re on the list, please drop me an e-mail, message me, or leave a comment here.
Later addendum: I requested clarification about the magazine not being available for longer than two months since there seem to be digital editions for sale on the website, which would seem to contradict that statement. I was told that authors will be able to withdraw their stories from the electronic editions if they so desire.
I see that in December 2011 they published a collective Xmas piece “Presents of Mind” four of us (Connie Willis, Dan Simmons, Ed Bryant, Steve Rasnic Tem) wrote together (we each contributed a short) which was originally published in Asimov’s back in 1986.
“The short stories were published in a monthly magazine, which was sold for two months, so these prints are not available any more.”
This is a flat-out lie. Nearly ALL back issues are available for ordering on the publisher’s webshop, http://galaktikabolt.hu/. I checked, and every issue from the year 2015 is available now. (The original article on mandiner.hu was about the magazine’s 2015 issues.)
“Later addendum: I have requested clarification about the magazine not being available for longer than two months since there seem to be digital editions for sale on the website, which would seem to contradict that statement.”
Not only the digital versions are available, but the real, paper issues are too.
Cat, it was just drawn to my attention that a story of mine was printed without permission in Galaktika Magazine back in 2008. I will contact them regarding compensation. Thanks for the work you put into this. And, yes, I am a member of SFWA.
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"(On the writing F&SF workshop) Wanted to crow and say thanks: the first story I wrote after taking your class was my very first sale. Coincidence? nah….thanks so much."
~K. Richardson
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Round-up of Awards Posts by F&SF Writers, Editors, and Publishers for 2020
It’s that time again! Once again I have created this post for consolidating fantasy and science fiction award eligibility round-ups. If you are an F&SF writer, editor, podcast, or publisher working in comics, fiction or games, I hope you’ll let people know what you have that they should be reading. People on my Discord server have already been gently prodded about this.
Here are the previous such posts from 2017, 2018, 2019
Here are the guidelines that save us both work. It’s best if you e-mail me to add your name and link. I need to know your name, what categories you fit in, and the single URL that lets people find the works. Fair warning: If I have to click through multiple links in order to figure out your name and which category you should be put in, it will slow me down and make me cranky.
I strongly suggest that you do this in a blog post rather than on social media, for multiple reasons, including: it’s hard for people to find stuff on social media sometimes; not everyone has a social media account; it affects search engine optimization; and the fact that it’ll be easier for you to find it yourself later on. I can and do point at Twitter or FB posts if that’s all that people have, but I think they are shortchanging themselves when they do it.
If you tweet yours and tag me, there’s a good chance I’ll miss it somehow. Feel free to remind me in e-mail so I don’t miss it a second time.
Here are the SFWA recommended reading lists. These lists are the suggestions made by members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and represent pieces they found particularly read-worthy over the course of the year. Appearance on the list is NOT the same thing as a Nebula nomination.
What are the documents of Tabat? In an early version of the book, I had a number of interstitial pieces, each a document produced by the city: playbills, advertisements, guide book entries. They had to be cut but I kept them for this purpose. I hope you enjoy this most recent installment. -Cat
Addressed to Alberic, 23rd Duke of Tabat, Commander of its Navies and Armies, and Peace-Keeper in the fourth month of winter of Year 299 of Tabat’s Rule
We trust that this letter finds His Grace well. Because we are so keenly aware of the interest the Duke finds in our works, we have set aside a costly resource in the form of a skilled scribe, in order to furnish the daily reports His Grace requires, although the number of them may be better reduced to fit within our budget.
“Translation: give us more money and fewer demands,” Alberic, 10th Duke of Tabat snorted.
Our foremost researcher, Master Mage Faustino, has prepared quarters for the Manticore we spoke of. In this endeavor, he is assisted by the College’s own Sphinx, who has taken the Manticore under her figurative wing, and who evidences great interest in each and every proceeding having to do with her newly found friend.
“Gibbledy gibbledy gibbledy. They can never get straight to the point.”
Theories regarding the wellspring of the Manticore’s unwonted aptitude differ. Some credit the raising by the Beast Trainer (who is unfortunately no longer available, having perished in a recent training accident, and say that he perhaps bathed the egg in the light of certain salubrious stars, or introduced fluids designed to increase its intelligence while it was still an embryo, via the mechanism of a slender needle inserted through into the shell, such as Master Mage Faustino has recently attempted, perhaps with better results sealing the gap than he has experienced.
Still others credit the breeding, saying this is no true Manticore, but rather one adulterated with the blood of a more intelligent creature or a sport, such as Nature gifts us with from time to time. They propose various ways to investigate his parentage, whether through costly time mirrors or expensive rituals allowing the ghosts of his forebears to be questioned. Of course, we are extremely lucky here at the College of Mages of being the only establishment capable.
“Would it were not so! If they had rivals, I’d patronize them at ten times the cost just to be rid of these sniveling, timorous, mealy-mouthed and never certain, doddering old fools!”
Mage Rehallow (“That conservative old fart!”) continues to worry that its combination of mental faculties, magical potential, and brute force represent the vanguard of a new race of intelligent magical creatures that will undertake the overthrow of Humanity. (“The man’s been rowing that leaky rowboat of an idea since before I was born! At one point, he thought earth elementals were undermining the city and funding a revolution with plundered gems!”)
As always, (“There they go again!”) we have checked the signs and portents, using what we have learned of reading the future (“Reading my peach-colored rear!”) in order to reassure his Grace of the future happiness of his realm. (“Oh, this should be good.”) However, portents are cloudy and ominous at this time — events are in such turmoil that nothing can be predicted with accuracy. (“For once they’re right.”)
We urge his Grace to pay attention to ensuring that he and his surroundings are magically cleansed each hour (“More incense and muttering.”), that he adheres to the purifying diet prescribed by Magus Rehallow, (“Old fool!)” in order to avoid repetition of last week’s distressing events, and that each night where he lies down to take his repose, he focuses on the patterns, or mandalas, we have furnished or else take three drop of our prescribed elixir in a small glass of tepid — not hot! — milk.
On a final, lighter note, your Grace may recall the Fairy Champion Quickblade, who defended the Duke’s Honor in the last Spring Wars. He requests a boon of you, that you endow the College with a fund to ensure the hive is always supplied with sugar.
Master Mage Faustino, Diligent Scholar of the Fence of Illumination
“Feces of Illumination, them and their mysterious names! What’s the next letter then? Indeed? That one next, then.”
***
To Master Mage Faustino, Diligent Scholar of the Fence of Illumination
His Grace bids me tell you that under no accounts must any experiments be undertaken that in any way jeopardize the Manticore ““- if this slows down the investigatory efforts, then so be it.
As to the matter of the bill for the feed for the creature, it is His Grace’s understanding that the Circus known as the Moon’s Accomplice should be paying for that creature ““ it is an expense that they were already due to incur, and they are being paid well for the loss of their creature’s time, as well as being housed in prime territory within the Inner Walls of Tabat and allow to take in monies from the crowds there. Accordingly the Duke wishes to decline responsibility for this bill, but remains ready to pay the bills for the circus already agreed upon.
It is his understanding that the profits from the ship Saffron Bloom are to be split and that the ship is due to harbor soon. Is there any word of its arrival?
As to the Fairy, have it drowned in honey and sent to the Ducal Table for enjoyment. His Grace has had enough of insolent Beasts.
Scribe Hasten, for Alberic, 10th Duke of Tabat, Commander of its Navies and Armies, and Peace Keeper for the General Good
***
Love the world of Tabat and want to spend longer in it? Check out Hearts of Tabat, the latest Tabat novel! Or get sneak peeks, behind the scenes looks, snippets of work in progres, and more via Cat’s Patreon.
18 Responses
RT @Catrambo: Answers to Some Galaktika Magazine Questions: https://t.co/ZG6usEVDPL
I see that in December 2011 they published a collective Xmas piece “Presents of Mind” four of us (Connie Willis, Dan Simmons, Ed Bryant, Steve Rasnic Tem) wrote together (we each contributed a short) which was originally published in Asimov’s back in 1986.
“The short stories were published in a monthly magazine, which was sold for two months, so these prints are not available any more.”
This is a flat-out lie. Nearly ALL back issues are available for ordering on the publisher’s webshop, http://galaktikabolt.hu/. I checked, and every issue from the year 2015 is available now. (The original article on mandiner.hu was about the magazine’s 2015 issues.)
“Later addendum: I have requested clarification about the magazine not being available for longer than two months since there seem to be digital editions for sale on the website, which would seem to contradict that statement.”
Not only the digital versions are available, but the real, paper issues are too.
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RT @Catrambo: Answers to Some Galaktika Magazine Questions: https://t.co/ZG6usEVDPL
Sean Wallace liked this on Facebook.
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RT @Catrambo: Answers to Some Galaktika Magazine Questions: https://t.co/ZG6usEVDPL
Updated with an answer to the question of Galaktika  e-editions: https://t.co/o9UgIfAyyK
RT @Catrambo: Updated with an answer to the question of Galaktika  e-editions: https://t.co/o9UgIfAyyK
The answers that I’ve been able to ascertain about Galaktika Magazine and story payments: https://t.co/HVUqvXnsZM
RT @Catrambo: The answers that I’ve been able to ascertain about Galaktika Magazine and story payments: https://t.co/HVUqvXnsZM
RT @Catrambo: The answers that I’ve been able to ascertain about Galaktika Magazine and story payments: https://t.co/HVUqvXnsZM
RT @Catrambo: The answers that I’ve been able to ascertain about Galaktika Magazine and story payments: https://t.co/HVUqvXnsZM
Cat, it was just drawn to my attention that a story of mine was printed without permission in Galaktika Magazine back in 2008. I will contact them regarding compensation. Thanks for the work you put into this. And, yes, I am a member of SFWA.