It is with deep regret that I must inform you that SpaceWays Weekly will be ceasing publication with Issue #178, January 26, 2001.

Since starting my new career as a truck driver, I have been working between 40 to 50 hours per week. Include the time spent sleeping, getting ready for work, and travelling to and from work and I end up with very little free time during the week. I find that while I have the time on the weekends to edit SpaceWays Weekly, I would prefer to spend the time doing other things, such as spending it with my family.

SpaceWays Weekly and its original paper version, SpaceWays, has been something that I have spent just over five years of my life working on. I had a dream, which I moulded and fussed over to bring into reality. It has always been a joy to me. I have thoroughly enjoyed the entire process of editing and publishing a magazine, working with the writers and artits and communicating with my readers. I worked hard at building a reputation for SpaceWays Weekly for good reading material, reliable delivery and honest business practices. I believe I have achieved that reputation. I believe that I have also achieved the respect and admiration of my peer group and the writers and artists I have worked with (I know this because they have told me so).

Someday I will once again take up editing, but for now I must pursue other things. Most of the website for SpaceWays Weekly will remain in place for historical content (i.e. list of published works etc.).

I will save my goodbyes until the final issue.

Sincerely,

Rigel D. Chiokis, Editor and co-creator
SpaceWays Weekly

Here are some of the many wonderful responses we received.

Wow, Rigel, talk about mixed feelings. I'm really sad to hear SW is going off into the sunset, but I'm also glad that it will give you the opportunity to have some much needed (and deserved) time with your loved ones.

And I completely agree with the assessment regarding the respect you've earned both editorially and otherwise. The zine world will be awaiting your eventual return. . . .

My best regards and respects,

Gene-Michael Higney

We're really going to miss your ezine, I know you know that. It's been one of the very, very best, in terms of quality and reliability and heart. Maybe someday you'll bring it back, when you've got more time to enjoy the process. In the meantime, enjoy your family. They're lucky to have you.

Terry

I want to tell you how much the work you and Ken have put in on this project is appreciated. Spaceways Weekly was before its time. Or maybe it could only have been wildly successful in a parallel dimension. (Sounds like a bad Star Trek "time rift" episode.) All my best.

Bob

I will miss Space Ways, but I can understand why you have to do what you have to do. Family (and LIFE) SHOULD come before hobby/supplemental work. My compliments on what you accomplished, and my best wishes!!!!!

Alex

I'm sorry, but I understand. I'll miss SpaceWays Weekly—lots of good stories and company, but I wish you and your family all the best.

Joy

I am really sorry to hear that, Rigel. I was looking forward to working with you again. I guess I didn't get my act in gear quickly enough. I will miss your zine.

Rie

Sorry to hear that (as an appreciative reader) but you're making the right choice. Good luck with your job and your family.

Andrea

I hate to see you break camp, but understand the situation. (Anotherealm is going from weekly to quarterly—you can guess what brought that about.) You have done a great service to the sf/f/h and general writing community. We all look forward to the day when you can return to the editorial chores you do so well. Best wishes for your continued success in all your endeavors.

Jean Goldstrom

I just saw this message, then ran over to Speculations and saw your post. I'm sorry to see SpaceWays close, as a writer and a reader. It's been one of the best out there. But I can certainly understand. God, I can understand. It seems someone is always after that most precious of commodities, time. And you have already given above and beyond.

I just want to say thanks. You bought my first story outside of children's writing, and I will be forever grateful for that. Thank you, and good luck in all things. And if you ever make it out to Montana in your travels, I hope I can repay the kindness.

Good luck, Rigel!

Justin

This is truly sad. I, for one, will miss the quality and depth of the stories in SpaceWays Weekly. I enjoyed reading them each week. Please accept my best wishes for your other adventures, but come back to us soon.

SpaceWays Weekly will hold a special place for me—you published only my 2nd story ever and my first online.

Good luck in the future.

Regards,
Carolyn

My heart is pausing between beats after reading your message. I somehow thought SpaceWays Weekly would just always be there, a fixture on the speculative fiction scene which would send high-quality fiction my way every Friday. It's to your credit and to Ken's that SWW was so reliable and so good, that the announcement of its demise comes as a shock.

And as both a reader and a writer, I hope you do pick up the editorial craft again someday. It's been a deep pleasure to work with you.

Best,
Paula L. Fleming

Rigel, I'm sad. I suppose because my only published story has been with SpaceWays, I feel the loss all the more keenly.

But as someone trying to balance a demanding full-time job with the love of SF, I can certainly understand the need to make some hard decisions.

As soon as you find time and energy to start a new project, you know there will be an early subscriber camped out and waiting in line to sign-up!

Sincerely, and with fondness,
Chris Lindsay

I'm sorry to hear about SpaceWays Weekly's departure. It saddens me to hear such an announcement. For over the time I have been a subscriber, I've enjoyed each and every issue. I commend you on your hard efforts for making this electronic magazine such a wonderful adventure filled with the best assortment of entertaining stories from many talented writers. I hope things will work out okay for you and that soon, once again, you will take the helm of the magazine that you have created.

Mr. George W. Wagner JR

Amid what I'm sure will be a flurry of emails, allow me to add my voice in thanking you for doing such a wonderful job with SpaceWays and letting you know that SpaceWays will be missed.

Best of luck in everything else you turn your hand to.

Yours,
Karl

I will sorely miss SpaceWays, but I do wish you and your family the joy of this extra time together.

Beth

Just to let you know that I will miss Spaceways greatly. However I understand your motive.

Glen

I certainly understand how life tends to intrude on even our dearest pastimes, and I know you consider what you did with Spaceways Weekly to be one of those, because it showed in the quality of the zine and in your dealings with us, the writers. I considered Spaceways Weekly a #1 market, and I will miss both submitting stories and receiving others' stories in my Inbox every week. I hope you'll delve into editorial waters again in the future.

Magee

SpaceWays might not have been a pro market in payment terms, but it was in every other way. Thank you and good luck.

Stephen D. Rogers

I'm very sorry to hear this, Rigel. Best of luck with all your future endeavors. It's been fun, and I've really enjoyed the magazine. You did good work.

Katriena Knights

I just read your announcement on the Rumor Mill about Spaceways Weekly folding. I can completely understand your reasons, family is important and can often provide a lot more support than the pixels on a computer screen. I want you to know that the e-zine field will be losing a shining example of what an e-zine can be when Spaceways closes its doors.

Raechel

When I saw your email in my inbox this morning I felt a cold chill. "Surely not," I thought, but there it was—the date of the final issue of SpaceWays Weekly.

I wholly understand your reasons. To tell the truth, I even expected it; SpaceWays must have consumed an enormous amount of time, and you did it all, and you did it well, and you did it on time, every week. The phrase 'hard work' is damning by its understatement.

I hate to see you go, but I can't let you leave without saying thanks. You should take pride in what you accomplished, Rigel—I've been at this game a few years now, I've dealt with editors all the way up and down the ranks, and you were tops. You put out a good product in a timely manner; you read and dealt with your submissions quickly and efficiently, and you handled acceptances and rejections with professionalism and aplomb. That, and your checks came on time and in full—man, there aren't a handful of editors who can say any of that with a straight face and a pure heart.

I'll miss the stories every Friday, I'll miss your kind words on submissions, I'll miss having a place for Mallara and Burn to call home. But that's okay—SpaceWays Weekly was a noble enterprise, run by a professional, and I'll always be proud I was a part of it.

You did a fine job, Rigel, from beginning to end. Take that as the high praise it is.

Sincerely,
Frank (and Mallara and Burn and Silicy and . . .)

That's too bad! Space Ways will be dearly missed. :(

But completely understandable. Sometimes life requires more of us than we have time for, and that's when some things have to be set aside.

I hope that someday you can again return to it.

Nikki Burris

This news came as a big shock, and I'm still reeling. Yet, I can understand the decision.

You and Ken have done a fabulous job with SpaceWays Weekly. You've helped a lot of writers get started. You've given support and encouragement to all the writers in your group. Losing SpaceWays Weekly will leave a big hole for a lot of us.

Your Kiwi friend,
Alyson

I've enjoyed Spaceways. Thanks for doing it!

Rich Schroeppel

I was sorry to hear that Spaceways is closing. You did very well in keeping the publication running for so long, and ensuring that the stories were of high quality.

Dr. David G. Stephenson

We're sure gonna miss ya! There aren't many editors around with your style and class!

Regards,
Dave Kuzminski

I'm so sorry to hear that SpaceWays is ceasing. I've enjoyed it.

I wish you well in the future, and hope that one day soon you will work in the field again.

Tracylea Byford

I’m sorry that you’re giving up the magazine Rigel. I looked forward to receiving it every week and was hoping one day to write for it. From what I saw you were a good editor. . . .

Frank Mikes

Thank you so much for publishing my stories. You deserve a lot of credit. Spaceways has certainly led the way into electronic publishing. I hope to see you back in action some day.

All the best
Eric Brown (Frederick D Brown)

I'm very, very sorry to see SWW go. It was a fine magazine. But I'm sure you'll be back one day with something even better. Thank you for brightening my reading week.

Best wishes
Karen

I'll be sorry to see SpaceWays go. But I'm sure there will be time again in future. And you're right—spending time with your family is far more important!

Lynda

I'm sorry to hear that you've been forced to give up Spaceways. It definitely gave me lots of pleasure. Friday's won't be the same until you return. Which I hope will be soon.

Best wishes,
Richard Dowling