ASFFQ : 1990
The
year of the novel! If one noticeable thing emerges from the production
of 1990, it certainly is the number of science fiction or fantasy
novels offered by a vast variety of Quebec publishers, to which
are exceptionally added two French ones, Denoël and Le Seuil.
Never until now had there been such an output: 39 novels or novellas,
including 27 belonging to the science fiction genre and 12 to
the fantasy. A majority of those novels are in children's and
YA literature, a trend that has been becoming manifest these
few last years.
On the other hand, short fiction underwent a perceptible decline in 1990, with only 135 short stories published (59 science fiction texts, and 76 fantasy stories.) This decline was noticeable in the specialized magazines (33%) as well as in the collections or anthologies (40%). Only the non-specialized magazines maintained their production in absolute numbers.
Besides, the split between science fiction and fantasy always benefits the latter, which comes out on top (by so little!) only in specialized magazines. In short, if overall production has diminished, it cannot be attributed to the shrinking of either genre, their relative share (44% for SF, 56% for fantasy) being mostly the same as in the past years.
Over the years, the most reliable indicator is without doubt the number of authors who publish at least one original story during the year. There are 90 in 1990, among which 47 authors who are publishing for the first time in the genres we are concerned with. It is rather exceptional to see so many writers publish a first novel or a first story in SF or in fantasy.
Lastly, for reprints or translations, the trend favours long fiction. Thus, no less than 21 novels or tales were published in translation or reissued in a mass market format that gives a second life to books that were well liked when they were first published. Two authors popular with the YA readership, Denis Côté and Daniel Sernine, are at the top of the hit parade with respectively five and six novels.
Claude Janelle
| Original Production | Science Fiction | Fantasy & Horror | Total |
| Novels | 27 | 12 | 39 |
| Short stories in... | 59 | 76 | 135 |
|
21 | 33 | 54 |
| b) specialized magazines | 24 | 21 | 45 |
| c) non-specialized magazines | 14 | 22 | 36 |
| Reissues and/or translations | Science Fiction | Fantasy & Horror | Total |
| Novels | 17 | 4 | 21 |
| Short stories in... | 23 | 32 | 55 |
|
20 | 16 | 36 |
| b) specialized magazines | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| c) non-specialized magazines | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| Combined production | Science Fiction | Fantasy & Horror | Total |
| Novels | 44 | 16 | 60 |
| Short stories in... | 82 | 108 | 190 |
|
41 | 49 | 90 |
| b) specialized magazines | 27 | 26 | 53 |
| c) non-specialized magazines | 14 | 33 | 47 |
