The 7th Matrix exists to help raise awareness in SF&F fans about the tremendous amount of exceptional independent genre web series and short films available on the web. The site was founded in 2013 by Rod T. Faulkner, a lifelong fan of speculative fiction. Rod's interest in genre entertainment began as a child, with his watching syndicated reruns of the original Star Trek television series. His other interests include reading comic books (primarily independents) and epic SF&F novels, enjoying genre television, and exploring narratives in speculative fiction by marginalized groups. He also is a chocoholic, and eats more of it than the law should allow.