regular reader of my review be probably get sick of I mention Kage Baker , but I have to credit she for get I to try a lot of thing that I would not normally try if she have not be a part of they . Asimov 's Science Fiction magazine be another time where this be the case . while I have buy Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine every month for a while now , I would also check Asimov 's to see if it have a Baker story . if it do , I would buy it . what I have find , however , be that I have enjoy most of the other story in the issue I have buy as well . thus , from now on I will be buy it every month too . much like Fantasy & Science Fiction , Asimov 's contain mostly science fiction story of various length -lrb- short story , novelette , novellum -rrb- along with a couple of column and some cartoon . the difference between the two be that Asimov 's contain no fantasy -lrb- though some of Mike Resnick 's story have a fantasy feel to they -rrb- . however , the magazine like to concentrate on character-based science fiction , so you will not see a lot of `` technology first , character second '' story in the magazine . personally , I think that be a good thing as hard science fiction turn I off . if you be more into the hard science , you may find stuff in here to interest you , but there be a good chance that you will not . occasionally , there will be guest editorial -lrb- they print George R.R. Martin 's Guest of honor speech from Worldcon in the October\/November issue -rrb- . there be always a `` on book '' column , sometimes write by Paul Di Filippo , sometimes by Peter Heck . the author use this column to recommend book that you may not have come across . Robert Silverberg open each issue with a `` reflection '' column that can cover everything from space exploration to idea on story-writing . James Patrick Kelly occasionally be feature with a `` on the net '' column , examine various science fiction web site and other online activity . unlike Fantasy & Science fiction , there be often some poetry include as well . finally , there be a calendar of upcome convention that cover the world so you can always find someplace to go if you need to get together with a group of fan . the bread and butter of the magazine , though , be the story . each story have a introduction from the editor -lrb- currently Gardner Dozois , though that will change to Sheila Williams with the January issue -rrb- , which may explain the genesis of the story , or just tell we how long it be be since that author have appear in Asimov 's . one of the thing about Asimov 's that be different be that it often serialize story that will eventually appear in book form . Allen M. Steele 's Coyote series have be serialize over the last couple of year with all of they be collect in two book -lrb- coyote from a couple of year ago , and the upcome Coyote rise -rrb- . also , Charles Stross ' Accelerando have be feature in recent issue . the one drawback to this be for reader who only pick up the occasional issue . for instance , `` Survivor '' in the October\/November issue do not really mean a lot because I have miss everything that come before it . it do reward regular reader , though . Asimov 's have many writer who write almost exclusively for that magazine , or at the very least the author submit they story to this magazine for first refusal . my favorite , Kage Baker , only seem to appear here , with only one story that I know of appear in realm of Fantasy . Allen M. Steele be another . Robert Reed seem to be feature everywhere -lrb- I swear that guy be churn they out like he be a machine -rrb- but he be feature a lot in Asimov 's . the magazine be bind just like Fantasy & Science fiction , however the cover be thin paper rather than thicker stock , so it will tear a bit easier . this do have the advantage that you can sometimes leave it lie open for reading -lrb- though this only work if you be toward the middle of it -rrb- . it also mean it can be roll up if necessary . the only other fault I have with it , and this be strictly a personal thing , be that the story do not always grab I as much as they do in Fantasy & Science fiction . this be mainly because I be more into fantasy than science fiction , so this certainly would not be the case for everyone . while the hit and miss ratio vary from issue to issue , I can say that I have never skip a story in the magazine . again , that be a benefit of short fiction . you be not go to waste a lot of time on they . if I have to choose between the two magazine , I would definitely choose Fantasy & Science fiction . however , Asimov 's be certainly good enough that it be easy to make room for both of they . plus , by pick they both up , I feel like I be do my part in keep short fiction alive . it be only a small part , but every little bit help . David Roy