What Lightspeed Magazine does

Lightspeed Magazine is a privately held digital science fiction and fantasy magazine founded in June 2010, published monthly under editor and publisher John Joseph Adams. The magazine operates as a multi-format publication: free online fiction and nonfiction, podcast/audio narration of stories by professional voice actors, paid ebook subscriptions and individual issues, trade paperback print editions, and themed special issues under the Destroy Science Fiction! sub-brand (Women Destroy Science Fiction!, Queers Destroy Science Fiction!, People of Colo(u)r Destroy Science Fiction!). It maintains SFWA-qualifying professional market status and pays 8 cents per word for original fiction, drawing contributions from both established authors (e.g., Robert Silverberg, Stephen King, Nancy Kress, Ken Liu) and emerging voices.

The underlying technology is a web-based content platform with integrated audio distribution via Megaphone-powered RSS feeds to iTunes and Spotify. Writer submissions are managed through the Moksha online portal (developed by Matthew Kressel / Sunray Computer, LLC). Content is delivered in ePub, Mobi, and PDF formats through the magazine's direct storefront and third-party retailers including Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Apple iBooks, Kobo, and Weightless Books.

The business model combines multiple low-friction revenue streams targeted at individual consumers: recurring ebook subscriptions (monthly and annual tiers), $4.99 individual ebook issues, trade paperback sales, discounted bundles, website display advertising (via [email protected]), and podcast advertising. Community engagement is driven through a weekly newsletter with a free ebook incentive, an official Discord server, and Facebook and Twitter/X accounts. The customer base comprises science fiction and fantasy readers, genre writers seeking professional publication, and genre industry professionals; the company is headquartered in Exmouth, United Kingdom, with global digital distribution.

Name

Lightspeed Magazine

Legal name

Lightspeed Magazine

Website

https://lightspeedmagazine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lightspeed Magazine is a privately held digital science fiction and fantasy magazine, founded in 2010 and edited by John Joseph Adams. It publishes monthly original fiction, podcasts, ebooks, and special issues for genre readers and writers, monetizing via subscriptions, individual issue sales, advertising, and trade paperbacks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Fiction & Fantasy Digital Magazine

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Book Publishers (51313)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Syndication & RSS/Feed Publishing Platforms (MPACAIAF)

Keywords

• Science fiction magazine
• Fantasy fiction publishing
• Digital short fiction
• Audio fiction podcast
• Ebook magazine subscription

Headquarters

HQ city

Exmouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ebook Subscriptions: Monthly or annual digital subscriptions providing access to all magazine content in ebook formats.
2. Individual Ebook Issues: Single issue sales of ebook editions at $4.99 per issue, available in multiple formats (ePub, Mobi, PDF) and through various retailers.
3. Trade Paperbacks: Physical paperback editions of selected issues and collections sold through the website.
4. Podcast/Audio Content: Free podcast distribution through RSS, iTunes, and Spotify, likely generating revenue through podcast advertising.
5. Bundles and Ebook Collections: Bundled ebook packages offering multiple issues or themed collections at discounted rates.
6. Advertising: Display advertising on the website, with dedicated advertising inquiry contact ([email protected]) and an advertising page with rates and specifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lightspeed Magazine is a monthly digital science fiction and fantasy magazine that publishes original short fiction, fantasy stories, and flash fiction, along with author spotlights, interviews, and book reviews. Content is distributed free online with premium access via monthly/annual ebook subscriptions, individual ebook issues sold at USD $4.99, podcast narrations of stories, trade paperback editions, and themed special issues dedicated to underrepresented voices in the genre.

Product overview

Lightspeed Magazine is a monthly digital science fiction and fantasy magazine founded in June 2010 and published by Adamant Communications under editor John Joseph Adams. The magazine operates as a multi-platform publication offering free online reading of fiction and nonfiction, premium podcast/audio story adaptations, eBook issues for sale, trade paperback print editions, and themed special issues under the Destroy Science Fiction! brand. The portfolio also includes an eBook store for individual and bundle purchases and the Moksha online submission system for writers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lightspeed Magazine (Monthly Digital Magazine) A monthly digital science fiction and fantasy magazine offering original short fiction, fantasy stories, flash fiction, and award-nominated works available for free online reading, with premium subscription access to full content.
• Lightspeed Magazine Digital Subscription Monthly and annual digital subscription providing access to all magazine content in ebook formats (ePub, Mobi, PDF).
• Lightspeed Magazine Podcast Audio/podcast adaptations of magazine stories featuring professional narrators with variable duration tracks available via streaming on iTunes and Spotify, and direct download via RSS.
• Lightspeed eBook Issues Individual magazine issues and story collections available for purchase in ePub, Mobi, and PDF formats at USD $4.99 per issue through direct sales and major ebook retailers including Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Weightless Books, Kobo, and Apple iBooks.
• Trade Paperbacks Print paperback editions of selected magazine content and themed collections available for purchase through the magazine's direct store.
• Bundled eBook Collections Bundled collections of magazine issues and themed story collections offered at discounted pricing for readers seeking comprehensive or themed coverage.
• Destroy Science Fiction! Special Issues Special themed issues including Women Destroy Science Fiction!, Queers Destroy Science Fiction!, and People of Colo(u)r Destroy Science Fiction! featuring fiction and nonfiction celebrating underrepresented voices in the genre.

Quantifiable outcome

• SFWA-qualifying professional market status

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Beneath Ceaseless Skies: Online fantasy short-fiction magazine publishing original stories on a biweekly schedule. Comparable to Lightspeed in focusing on a single speculative-fiction subgenre with a professional-pay model and online reading plus ebook distribution.
• Analog Science Fiction and Fact: Monthly SF/fact magazine publishing original short fiction with a primarily print subscription base. Same professional SF market and short-fiction focus as Lightspeed, but with a more traditional hard-SF editorial slant and lighter digital presence.
• Strange Horizons: Long-running online SF/F magazine publishing weekly original fiction, poetry, and articles, with podcast versions of stories. Same target market as Lightspeed with an online-first, donation- and ad-supported model.
• The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction: Historic SF/F magazine founded in 1949 publishing original short fiction across SF and fantasy. Same SFWA-qualifying professional market model and reader demographic as Lightspeed, but with a longer print-publication tradition and different distribution mix.
• Asimov's Science Fiction: Long-established SF/F magazine publishing monthly original short fiction, with a primarily print subscription model. Comparable to Lightspeed in editorial category and pay rates, but with deeper print legacy and weaker digital/audio distribution.
• Nightmare Magazine: Sister horror/dark-fantasy magazine also edited by John Joseph Adams with the same digital subscription, ebook, podcast, and trade paperback model. Direct sibling operation sharing editorial and distribution infrastructure with Lightspeed.
• Uncanny Magazine: Online SF/F magazine publishing original fiction and poetry, with audio/podcast versions of stories. Targets the same SFWA-qualifying writer pool and SF/F reader base as Lightspeed, with similar subscription and digital sales monetization.
• Clarkesworld Magazine: Monthly online SF/F magazine publishing original short fiction and nonfiction, with a free online model and podcast editions. Directly comparable to Lightspeed in format, target audience, and revenue model (ebook/print sales plus ad-supported online reading).

Broad incumbents

• Tor.com: Macmillan-owned SF/F publisher and online magazine publishing original short fiction, novellas, and reviews, with a much broader portfolio and significantly larger traffic. Comparable in publishing short SF/F fiction online but with far greater resources and brand reach.

Regional players

• Subterranean Press: Specialty publisher of limited-edition SF/F/fantasy books, anthologies, and collections. Comparable to Lightspeed in serving the same SF/F enthusiast base with curated content, but operating primarily in print collectibles rather than monthly digital issues and podcasts.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lightspeedmag
• Facebookfacebook.com/lightspeedmagazine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lightspeed Magazine