I've updated the Kaleidotrope subscriptions page, to help eliminate some of the confusion that maybe nobody but me was having with it.

Now you can purchase individual copies of the premiere first issue, as well as advance copies of the April 2007 issue and 2-year subscriptions. If, that is, you are so inclined.

One of the major impetuses (impeti?) for starting up Kaleidotrope was seeing some of the really great zines that were already out there. For me in particular, these included publications like Flytrap and Talebones and Electric Velocipede. But the biggest influence and inspriation of all, I think, was the consistently weird and wonderful Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet

It's been brought to my attention that LCRW is celebrating its ten-year anniversary. That's a little mind-boggling, but the success they've enjoyed couldn't have happened to a better publication. Check out this new issue, if you haven't already, or send them a little love.

I can only hope that Kaleidotrope survives a quarter of that long.

Even though it's pretty sparse right now (and not likely to change soon), and even though I've never been a big fan of their design, I've set up a MySpace page for Kaleidotrope. It's mostly just to let more people know the zine exists. Feel free to add me as a friend if you'd like.

A reminder, in case you needed one, that I am actively seeking submissions for the April 2007 issue. And copies of the the first issue are still available for purchase, if you'd like one. (I'm not above doing a small reprint, if demand warrants it.)

Sam Tomaino of SFRevu calls the first issue of Kaleidotrope "a very good inaugural issue." His focus is exclusively on the fiction in the issue, and he has kind words for many of the stories.

John Kuhn, whose poem "Near Sillustani" appears in the first issue of Kaleidotrope, had some really nice things to say about the final product:

Now, I'm not just saying this because my wimpy little poem is in there, and if you read two posts back, you know I'd be honest if I didn't like the 'zine. But--this magazine was VERY WELL-DONE. Wonderfully so! First of all, Fred Coppersmith has a wicked sense of humor. If you get the 'zine, be sure and read the little things you usually skim past, like the little box on the cover page with all the publication info in it. He slips little one-liners in there that are really funny. Make sure you check out the horoscope on page 42, too. I actually laughed audibly once. I'm very, very impressed...after the prior unfortunate experience with the unnamed "magazine", my faith in the small press is soundly restored. I'm proud that my work appears in this little 'zine. Card stock cover, lots of artwork, crisp black and white photos all over the place, the humor sprinkled in odd places, great use of space, great mix of fiction and poetry and an essay or two, fastidious editing and attention to detail. The fonts look fantastic. I haven't found a typo yet. And there's Bruce Boston, Kristine Ong Muslim, and Aurelio Rico Lopez--people I've read before. Kaleidotrope is a very professional-looking magazine, and it's just the first issue...I see a fine future for Fred Coppersmith...I hope he continues to publish this magazine for a long time to come!

My thanks to John for the kind words, and again to all my contributors, without whom this issue wouldn't have been possible.