Starlog is marking its 50th anniversary by returning as an annual, 100-page magazine that pairs franchise coverage with stories about real science and emerging technology. Starting with the 2026 issue, its Editor-in-Chief will be Annalee Newitz, a science journalist, acclaimed science-fiction author, and io9’s founding editor.
The relaunched magazine will look beyond imaginary worlds. In a statement, Newitz described the approach: “Science fiction and fantasy give us a sandbox to reimagine our world. And Starlog is your invitation to play along. We’re honoring the fannish legacy of the original magazine and bringing it into the future with hopeful, awe-inspiring, and scientifically grounded explorations of where humanity could go next.”
The first issue’s celebration of 60 years of Star Trek connects with the magazine’s beginnings: Captain Kirk and Spock appeared together on Starlog’s first cover in 1976. Another feature will explore the politics behind Dune. The real-world futurism coverage includes orbital space farming and robotics, alongside other subjects that haven’t yet been specified.
Starlog co-owner Tara Ansley framed that mix around potential futures and human choices: “Fifty years after the magazine first launched, the line between science fiction and the real world has become increasingly difficult to separate. Technology may change, but the most compelling questions have always been about people. How we live, what we create, and what kind of future we want to build.”
For more than thirty years, Starlog occupied a central spot in geek culture, supplying news and interviews on topics such as Doctor Who and Star Wars before that coverage was easy to find online. As the internet grew, the magazine’s fortunes fell. Its last issue appeared in 2009, before Stranger Things, Game of Thrones, and most of the MCU arrived.
Starlog’s mid-century modern logo and retro-futuristic lettering will remain in place. Nerdist welcomed both the preserved design and the publication’s return, describing Starlog as a staple of geek culture that helped bring nerd culture into view. The magazine’s current editorial direction connects that past with a question about how imagined futures relate to the world people are building.
Orders for the revived magazine’s first issue are open through Starlog’s website.
