Customer Reviews

Fantasy & Science Fiction, Free Exclusive Digest

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I guess none of the previous reviewers paid attention when they subscribed to the magazine since the confirmation page tells you not only your next billing date but also the amount (which for this magazine is free). I know this to be true because I subscribed today August 2nd and was given a billing date of August 16th and a billing amount of $0.00. If you choose the extended version however be aware that it does cost money unlike this shorter version of the same magazine. Additionally you can go at anytime to manage your subscriptions to find out your billing date and also the amount. Really disappointing that people who read enough to own a kindle could not read enough to figure this out on their own. Oy Vey! I think this is a great idea Amazon, looking forward to a mystery version next!

Please read description before leaving negative comments. It clearly states that the free version is a digest, and there is a full version available for $12 a year. There is no deception here.

The subscription is free: HOWEVER, it's part of Amazon's subcription system, which apparently gives you a 14 day free trial BEFORE 'charging' you the price of the subscription, which is nothing. So don't get all bent out of shape, it's just weirdly worded. They aren't trying to cheat you. They're trying to get you to subscribe to the free version to hook you, so you'll WANT to pay for the extended version. Simple enough, right?

I have been a long term print subscriber to this magazine. While at this point I don't want to pay to get the kindle version (since I still have issues left on my print subscription), I do like getting the non fiction, and the reviews sent to my kindle for free. I have found many great authors by reading the reviews in F&SF.

To those who are confused, this is the FREE version of the magazine. There is no scam or trick. Amazon just words their descriptions to say 14 day free trial. If you look closely, the amount you will be "billed" after the 14 days is 0.00. Of course the content is limited, but this free version is simply to give you an idea of some of the content in the full magazine (which costs $12 for a year). That is a VERY good price for this magazine. Trust me, once you have read an issue or two you will be hooked.

As for the stories you will find, some are by authors that you will recognize, some are from writers who specialize in short fictions, and some are new writers. The big names might be what initially draw you to a magazine, but some of the best stories are from people you would have never heard of if you didn't start reading short fiction. If you love science fiction and fantasy, you owe it to yourself to at least try the free trial of the full version. At the very least you should subscribe to this free version.

I used to subscribe to this, but I didn't have the time to read it anymore. Now I can sample the magazine for free, then decide if I want to buy the extended edition.

Scary that people who read DON'T read... :) Everybody has an off day I guess...

I used to subscribe to the hard copy and it was always great. Just ran out of time for it and didn't renew.

I might go for the well described, not free, $12.00 a month Extended version, which is not free like this digest version, but costs money, as opposed to this Digest version, which is free... and doesn't cost anything... and is free. Really. And it's a Digest version. Free... OK, I'm done now :D

Not minutes after the link to the F&SF FREE Exclusive Digest was posted on the blogs, trigger-happy reviewers wannabe started leaving low scores protesting the lack of clarity about the price of the FREE item and subscription. The reviews sounded more or less like this: "Woe unto thee, Amazon, for daring to give me FREE content calling it FREE, setting the item price to ZERO and the subscription price to ZERO! I am confused: thy had to provide me with a giant F R E E tattoo on my butt, so that I could once more read the magical four letters before plunging my head in."

The rest of us meanwhile downloaded the mag and were already reading it. There is lots to like in this clever foray in digital content delivery by one of the most eminent SF mags: first, well, it's FREE. Second, all the departments are there: the book reviews and anticipations, and Lucius Shepard's cranky and spot-on movie reviews, that just by themselves justified my download. We also get a novelette from the issue to read, and of course the option to get more, all in the recently improved Kindle periodical format which I happen to like a lot: easy and quick to navigate, clear, not intrusive in the actual reading.
What could F&SF improve on?
1) Offer a *teaser* for the stories we are NOT reading.
2) Subscription is at a ridiculously low price (compared with the competition): but not everyone likes the commitment. What about offering also to buy the single issue, and putting that link right after the teasers mentioned above: here's what you are missing out on! Buy a single issue at $1.99 or subscribe and get it for half that price: a clear winner!

Overall: great job, Amazon, and don't forget to work on that tattoo for the next similar initiative.

The free digest is so handy--the reviews and such are well worth the money I'm spending on this free digest. I know I'll get billed $0.00 a month, but I don't care! After 14 days, the $0.00 will come from my account but I shouldn't worry--I always have at least that in there. I wish Amazon would offer more of these.

I like the idea of a free digest. Although I know it's a marketing manoeuvre, the content appears to make it worthwhile in this case, especially if you like science fiction and want to keep up on the latest books, articles and so on.

As for those who are upset because they think Amazon is going to charge them for this 'free' digest, I say "Keep Reading", because reading books, magazines, news papers, instructions, etc., is a great way to learn the meaning of all those difficult new words like 'free' and 'digest' and so forth.

Cheers!

Looks like a good deal to me: excellent preview (and a sample) of each issue so I can decide if I want it.

Good deal for them: costs little to nothing to produce and should increase paid sales.

(If you can't figure out the offer, science fiction probably isn't a good reading choice.);-}