Albedo One

Albedo One is often credited as holding the position of the "longest running Irish magazine of speculative fiction" [3] and has been billed as "Ireland's answer to Interzone.

[6] The magazine stated [7] that its "definition of what constitutes SF, horror and fantasy is extremely broad" and that it liked "to see material which pushes at the boundaries", a fact that was remarked upon by readers and reviewers.

These columns were often noted for their "opinionated" [11] or controversial stance on genre matters,[12] with that in issue 31 of Albedo One being described as "a deliberately provocative rant" by one reviewer.

The event was also notable in that Albedo One was placed ahead of other well-known magazines such as Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet, Postscripts and Apex Digest.

[17] The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, noted that "Recent issues have boasted a printed cover, but the magazine still contains a black-and-white photocopied interior" and could "from the purely aesthetic point of view, benefit from some enhanced production values".

But where are comparable titles like Tony Lee's The Zone, Chris Reed's ever-stylish Back Brain Recluse, or the unforgettable Critical Wave?"

[18] One reviewer commented of issue 25, 2002, that "It has a certain charming loopiness of type design and layout reminiscent of Pagemaker output from the early 1990s, but the stories certainly are strong.

"[2] However, in a possible response to criticism, the magazine attempted to increase its production values, with full colour covers, in a perfect-bound A4 format and DocuTech printed greyscale interior, from issue 28 (2004) onwards.

One reviewer stated that "if you're flatulently full with the fluffer shorts of pedestrian writers going through the motions, a dose of Albedo One #29 is the perfect antidote.

"[16] A review of issue 33 on BestSF stated of the magazine that "It's not quite up to kicking Interzone's arse, but as the redoubtable English mag takes strides forward under its new leadership, Albedo One is keeping up with the pace and is at least in sight of those coat tails, if not in grabbing distance.

"Box of Delights", edited by John Kenny features 16 spine-chilling tales of love and death from such authors as Mike Resnick, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Steve Rasnic Tem, Don D'Ammassa and Priya Sharma.