Starlog Returns After 17-Year Hiatus with Nov. 13 Release

Starlog magazine will publish a new issue on Nov. 13, marking its return after a 17-year absence. The last edition went to print in April 2009, a period when J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek was weeks from release and Robert Downey Jr. was filming Iron Man 2. George Lucas was also years away from selling Lucasfilm to Disney at that time.

The publication launched in 1976 with a cover dedicated to Star Trek. It built a reputation for providing reliable news and interviews on geek culture. Editors also pioneered coverage of Star Wars, chronicling rumors circulated one year before the original film opened. The original run lasted 33 years and produced 374 issues, totaling more than 25,000 pages.

Annalee Newitz, a founding editor of io9, serves as editor in chief for the revival. The new format will release one issue per year. While maintaining a focus on film and television, the magazine will expand into futurism. The cover, designed by Gabriel Yeganyan, reflects this shift. The opening story in issue No. 1 examines the viability of humans farming crops on planets outside of Earth.

Newitz stated that science fiction and fantasy provide a sandbox to reimagine the world. She described the magazine as an invitation to play along while honoring the fannish legacy of the original publication. The goal is to bring the brand into the future with hopeful, awe-inspiring, and scientifically grounded explorations of where humanity could go next.

Fangoria Holdings is behind the revival. The company also owns Fangoria and Gorezone. The announcement of the return came earlier this year. The new package includes a podcast hosted by Jordan Hoffman, a veteran journalist who has contributed to The Hollywood Reporter. A weekly newsletter called Lodestar will also accompany the magazine.

Co-owner Tara Ansley noted that Starlog documented science fiction across film, television, books, technology, and culture during its original run. Ansley said the line between science fiction and the real world has become difficult to separate 50 years after the launch. She emphasized that while technology changes, the most compelling questions remain about people, how they live, what they create, and the future they want to build.