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From Joe Gilbert's Southern Star in the '40s, to Lee Hoffman's Quandry in the '50s, Atkins' various projects in the '60's, through Charlotte Proctor's Anvil in the '80s, the South has had a long, proud history of top-notch fanzine activity. Below I've listed some information on the higher profile genzines being published with reasonable regularity these days. For information on clubzines, newsletters, et al., see the Regional Survey, Part III.
First issue: 1993
To date: 5 issues
Mission: A serious fanzine designed to be of interest to the
fannish male. (He knows that's ridiculous, but that's what he
wants to do....) Inspired by Esquire.
Average page count: Over 100.
Submission info: talk to Guy first. Wants to have stuff live up
to the Challenger name.
Subscriber info: PO Box 53092, NOLA, 70153.
Regular features: Challenger
tribute to a Southern female SF fan of note whose body
he craves
Address: P.O. Box 53092, New Orleans, LA 70153.
First issue: 1982. (While living in Chattanooga in the '70s, they
published the much-loved Chat.)
To date: 19 issues, 3 Hugo awards.
Focus: Gentle, humorous coverage of "things fans do" with an
emphasis on fannish history, worldwide.
Average page count: About 50.
Submission info: Talk to Richard & Nicki first.
Subscription info: The Nov. 1996 issue was available for $4.
Write for back issue prices and availability. Letters and e-mails
of comment or a fanzine in trade will get you a copy of the next
available issue.
Regular features: "Tales of Adventure and Medical Life" by Sharon
Farber--absolutely hysterical, imho. "Through Time and Space with
Forry Ackerman"--reminisces. Regular contributors include Dave
Kyle, Swede Ahrvid Engholm and Walt Willis. Long letter col.
Excellent illos from Southern artists Charlie Williams, Brad
Foster, Sheryl Birkhead, Peggy Ranson, Teddy Harvia and
others.
Address: P.O. Box 1350, Germantown, MD 20875, USA. E-mail:
lynch@access.digex.net.
Website:
http://www.fentonnet.com/smithway/m_front.html.
![[IMAGE: FOSFAX Logo]](hbpg107.gif)
The first editor of FOSFAX, for 32 issues, was Bob Roehm. The first 19 issues were mimeographed, generally one sheet, and came out about two weeks to a month apart, from 18 November 1973 to 3 March 1975. FOSFAX was a newsletter, with meeting announcements and some additional news. There were few reviews, nearly all by Bob himself. Issues 20 through 32 were printed, and usually larger than the first 19. There were many reviews and articles by people other than the editor, usually Phyllis Ann Karr, Joseph Major, or Grant McCormick. But FOSFAX began showing up less often; there were only 5 issues in 1976 and 2 in 1977.
In June 1979, Shelby Bush III took over the editorship, starting with a second issue 32. Mostly these were 2-4 pages, but some were larger. Bob Roehm was the main contributor of both reviews news; Jack Young was also a major contributor, and there were others. Shelby did 20 monthly issues (through issue 51).
The next issue was by Keith Asay in March 1982. Keith did 23 issues, quitting after issue 74 in January 1984. He got plenty of letters and many other contributions as well, the most variety of any editor yet. Most of his issues were digest-sized. He included more artwork than the previous editors (though Bob Roehm occasionally printed photographs).
After Keith Asay departed, Keith Chike took over on a temporary basis, putting out 5 one-sheet issues from March through August 1984. These were just news (not always correct).
Bruce Gardner took over in time to do a Special Rivercon issue that year; it was small (4 pages), but this gradually increased. In September 1985, we resumed numbering the issues with number 95. His early issues were in very small print, causing complaints from those lacking access to a matter enlarger. (The last was an "April Fools" issue.) This changed with the May 1985 issue, and we began to get a trickle of letters. Bruce did 26 monthly issues, gradually increasing in size.
After Bruce departed, Joseph Major took over as "first among equals" in a "fanzine put out by a committee" for 4 issues. There were no structural changes.
I took over editing FOSFAX with issue 111 in January 1987, and have done it ever since. We quickly went to a two-column format. The type size steadily decreased to the current 9-point type. (We will not go any smaller.) FOSFAX was still monthly, but increasing overseas readership, and questions of time and money, eventually led to a decline to bimonthly and (for a while) quarterly, as the size ballooned to 60 pages or more. Joseph Major has been the biggest of a large pool of contributors.
Janice L. Moore became co-editor with the October 1988 issue (#132). In January 1993 (#163), Elizabeth Garrott took over as co-editor after the Moores moved to Boulder, Colorado.
Officially, FOSFAX is the clubzine of FOSFA, the Falls of the Ohio Science Fiction and Fantasy Association. At first the club paid for all or part of the cost of the zine (I don't know the details). During Bruce's editorship, Grant McCormick took over the financing (we printed it on his company copier). FOSFAX then was small with few recipients. Grant later lost his job with the convenient copier; he and I now share the expense.
The basic pattern (an editorial, articles and reviews from various people, letters, and some news) was set by Keith Asay. Bruce Gardner added a parody section (we recently did a parody zine, Phosgene). Elizabeth added a co-editorial; there are other regular features as well. The letter column has grown to represent about half of a typical issue at present. FOSFAX still pays as much attention to science fiction and fannish topics as ever, but they tend to get overwhelmed by the rest.
FOSFAX is approximately bimonthly, costs $3 an issue or $12 for a subscription, and is available for "the usual." The address is Box 37281, Louisville, KY 40233-7281.