A Message From Your New Editor

Hello , readers of io9 ! As you became aware last calendar week , io9 ’s wonderful deputy editor , Jill Pantozzi , ascend to a good place of her own and saidgoodbye after four yearsguiding the ship . Which intend it ’s meter for a Modern pair of hands at the helm , or at least hands that will flap at the person at the helm , telling them to go fast .

So hi ! Yes I , James Whitbrook , am io9 ’s raw deputy editor program . I ’ve been write at the web site since 2014 , when I was recruited by our darling leaders , Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz , who decided they were so sick of me commenting that they ’d let me have a go at the existent thing . And here we are ! allow me secern you , it is a bizarre experience to have go on this journey , through the unbelievable leaders of Charlie Jane , Annalee , Rob and Jill , to see trusted supporter and voices of the website come up and go , to besued by Hulk Hogan , thenbought by Univision , and live to this day . They did n’t even have new Star Wars movies scheduled when I started working here ! I guess we do n’t have manyright now either , but still !

I hope that my chronicle with the web site impart a sensory faculty of ease to this modulation catamenia for our reader , the the great unwashed who have kept io9 trundling along this raging route . Our readership has never been afraid to mouth its mind , to divvy up headache , to fete thenerdy thing we all love , and make it worth make a site to attract them to in the first position . I have been at io9 long enough to experience what it means to our readers . I ’ve also been here long enough to know that change is often met with a healthy level of apprehension — whether it’sa new Doctoron Doctor Who , a truckload ofMarvel announcements , or a new editor program at your favourite website . As io9 move forward , I will guide this ship sure-footed I am making a site that has people excited to check in every day , and who will hold us to the same eminent standards as always .

It’s me. I’m a fishman now.

It’s me. I’m a fishman now.Image: Lucasfilm

There has never been a bigger or better clock time to be writing about sci - fi and fantasy , and the cultures and companies creating it . There is so much stuff — perhaps too much stuff — to talk about , share , criticism and celebrate . But it ’s also a fourth dimension when there is corking cause for concern . Corporate awarenessof the fandom refinement we bonk is at an all time high , and the monumental businesses behind our dear franchises are work to work that loyalty and translate it into receipts : The return ofthe fence gardensof studio - owned cyclosis platforms ; the waystudios control condition accessand create story to overwhelm out criticism and make febrile , endless ballyhoo ; the way of life the Almighty of the characters we love have been exploit as studios make gazillion and offerlittle in return . In the age of media oversaturation , it ’s more important than ever to be cognisant of the business concern behind the mass medium we consume .

As much as io9 is a phonation that celebrates the things we love , I desire it will also help our reader understand the way our favorite shows , book , comics , television receiver series and games get made . A place that fosters a healthy sense of community , and create solidarity with the creators that bring these tremendous , silly , heartbreaking , petrifying worlds to liveliness . A place that will always celebrate eff these adventures and character — and hold them to the fire when we want them to be even honest .

Above all , I hope you ’ll conjoin me and the ease of our team through it all . My eternal thanks to the best commenters a website could ask for — have ’s get back to it , shall we ?

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