Inside our May/June 2023 issue
Thanks to You
It began with awareness that the world was changing—and, with it, publishing. That independent books were not a fad; that they were, in fact, doing work that was quite extraordinary. That they were worthy of recognition. These titles that pushed past traditional boundaries, that dared to address cutting-edge concepts, and that elevated voices at the margins: we wanted more.
Twenty-five years ago, Foreword entered a world both familiar and not. Instead of social media and its challenges, we had dialup, chatrooms, and AIM. Marriage equality felt like an impossibility still, and the US was not at war. When Foreword began, much of what we now take for granted was still confined to science fiction: the International Space Station was still under construction; now, we’re covering books that look toward colonies on Mars.
In 1998, the challenges of 2023 could only be guessed at. But Foreword’s founder, Victoria Sutherland, knew that independent books would do that work. That they would help to lead us forward. And that we could help readers who were seeking such information decide where to look.
This quarter century with you has been our honor—a dance of discernment, imagination, and daring, with thousands upon thousands of chances to wonder, learn, and grow together. This anniversary edition of our magazine comes to you as a celebration, but also in anticipation of all that’s yet to come. Here’s to those years of books ahead of us, and to the exciting, unimaginable stories they’ll tell.
Sincerely,
Michelle Anne Schingler
Editor in Chief
mschingler@forewordreviews.com
Michelle Anne Schingler
