At this point, I believe that it is traditional to welcome everyone to the first issue of our new publication, Darwin's Evolutions, with effusive thanks to our contributors and everyone who has helped get this pipe dream out from inside my cranium into practical existence. "Traditional" also covers this missive, the obligatory opening note from the magazine editor.

Other than that, I think "traditional" goes right out the door on its keester.

Let me be up front here: Darwin's Evolutions, A Journal of Speculative Fiction is a complete shot in the dark based on impressions and insights garnered from a swath of like-thinking minds in the SF community. There are multiple assumptions being tested by this publication. The first is that stories should be selected by how entertaining they are, not by some obscure literary standard or politically correct issue-content benchmark. Second, we are gambling that, via the free-content distribution model of the internet, if we provide a quality product that people enjoy some finite percentage of those people will respond by supporting us with donations, especially if we practice transparency about the production costs and our goals.

Beyond those two big assumptions, there are a host of myriad other decisions we are making from layout to file type to content management et cetera ad nauseum. The big things, though, are the stories we choose and whether or not we do a good enough job that people will toss us change to keep going.

I am not going to make any great claims of editorial omniscience. Perfection never suited me and I accept that change is an integral part of existence. I and my staff have put a lot of effort into this first issue and I am already quite proud of what we have managed to accomplish. Things might have to be adjusted, formats revised, functionality added but, frankly, this issue and every one that follows is an accomplishment worth savoring. Honestly, how often do we, as human beings, get the opportunity to bring our daydreams into reality?

With that, get comfy, grab your beverage of choice, and flip the page (virtually or literally, your choice). We hope you enjoy your time with us.

Welcome to our worlds.