Merry Christmas From All of Us at Black Gate
I woke up this morning the same way I have on Christmas morning for the last 18 years: to the excited screams of children telling Alice and me to get out of bad, Santa has come. Ten years ago, I thought I had only a few more years of this. Turns out teenagers love to shout on Christmas morning even more than toddlers.
Well, at least it got me up early. After all the presents were unwrapped, and we’d all snacked on Alice’s delicious Christmas quiche, I dropped by the Black Gate offices to pick up some review titles. It’s when the office is virtually deserted like this — lit only by the glow from the tiny tree the interns put on top of the filing cabinets — that I’m reminded of the early days, when BG was launched with all the hope and optimism in the world back in 2000.
We’ve grown tremendously since then. The print version is gone, but our staff, and our readership, has grown tremendously. Fifteen years ago Black Gate was a humble magazine with a tiny circulation. Now we’re a sprawling international collective of writers and artists working together to promote forgotten classics, celebrate overlooked modern writers, and promote each other.
2015 was a momentous year for us. We received our first Hugo Award nomination, and surpassed a million page views/month for the first time in our history. Over the years Black Gate has helped launch the careers of a great many talented writers, and that hasn’t changed since we switched to an online venue. Drop by if you’re interested in discovering some of the very best new and classic fantasy. I guarantee you, we’ll point you towards something that will delight you.
The engine of our growth has been you, the fans, who’ve enthusiastically spread the word about us. So thank you once again, from the bottom of our hearts. On behalf of the vast and unruly collective that is Black Gate, I would like to wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Continue being excellent — it’s what you’re good at.
Merry Christmas from someone who was a subscriber *before* the first paper issue came out! Thanks for all the great stories, etc.!
And the merriest of Christmases back to you, John. You give us all a gift with every post here, and it’s very much appreciated. Take a bow.
I failed to mention in the above comment that I, too was a print subscriber. I have those issues boxed up, awaiting their value to skyrocket (or not).
Once again, John, let me express my appreciation to you, and all the contributors for this fine blog, a daily stop for me. Long live Black Gate.
Merry Christmas back at y’all at Black Gate and all the posters here as well.
I like to think that the tiny value I add to the Black Gate discussion is due to the inspiration of both the great material posted here and the fine comments added by the Usual Suspects. Thanks to all, and especially to the Founder of Our Feast, Mr. O’Neill. Happiest of holidays, BG collective!
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/5004971-joseph?photo=435070
Merry Christmas!
> Merry Christmas from someone who was a subscriber *before* the first paper issue came out!
Allen,
No one is a treasured to us as our early print subscribers. You’ve been with us through thick and thin. You don’t know what your support has meant to us over the years.
So thanks for the great wishes, and I hope you had a marvelous Christmas!
> Once again, John, let me express my appreciation to you, and all the contributors for this fine blog
R.K,
Thanks! I wasn’t aware you were a print subscriber as well. Glad to hear it!
And I have plenty of back issues packed away in my garage. Like you, I’m waiting for them to skyrocket in value too. Any day now! 🙂
> Merry Christmas back at y’all at Black Gate and all the posters here as well.
Thanks Ape! Good to have you back with us.
> I like to think that the tiny value I add to the Black Gate discussion is due to the
> inspiration of both the great material posted here and the fine comments
Eugene,
I’ve come to accept that frequently the value of my posts comes almost exclusively from the comments. There are worse things than being the instigator of terrific discussions among erudite and knowledgeable commenters.
If that’s what I’m remembered for 30 years from now, that’s more than enough to make me proud.
> https://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/5004971-joseph?photo=435070
That’s a handsome bookshelf, Joe! And that looks like a complete stack of BLACK GATE magazines, given a position of prominence.
Thanks for your support over these many years. It is deeply appreciated. Merry Christmas back at you!
Merry Christmas, John, from (or to?) the Island of Misfit Toys!
Whoa, whoa, whoa. You can’t say “Christmas quiche and move on like nothing happened. Is this a special quiche that’s only made once a year, or is a standard variety that she might make at other times but this year she also made it on Christmas day? And what was said quiche?
The Christmas quiche is all gone. It was enormously yummy.
I read your question out loud to Alice, and here’s what she said:
“It’s a special Christmas quiche with red and green peppers. Off the record, half of it is cream, and the other half is swiss cheese, with a dash of paprika.”
I think this is the firs time I’ve ever published a recipe (or the bare outline of a recipe) at Black Gate. Enjoy!
Of course, peppers. An excellent and obvious choice for a Christmas quiche. Thanks!