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The NewPages Zine RackReviews by Sean StewartNumber Twelve (Posted June 2, 2003)As a radical librarian known as the Street Librarian, Chris Dodge has worked tirelessly to bring zines to the attention of those who are unaware of their existence. It’s probably fair to say, at this point, that he spends more of his time promoting zines than publishing them. Because of this, it’s always a special pleasure to read one of Chris’s zines. This particular one consists of an eight-day journal that he kept during his travels along the Superior Hiking Trail in his current home state of Minnesota. Each day’s entry includes short descriptive phrases and sentences written about what Chris does and sees during his adventure. This is good nature/travel writing, distilled to the essence. At some points, I felt like I was right there behind Chris as he navigated a particularly steep stretch of trail, or next to him as he gazed out the window of his cabin at the latest visitors to the bird feeder out back. [5.5” x 8.5”, no price ($1-2?), C. Dodge, 2712 Pillsbury, #105, Minneapolis, MN 55408, curvyedge@yahoo.com] Issue #4 This is an interesting concept. It’s essentially a continuing split zine, in which one female editor and one male editor discuss issues of sexuality and gender. I’ve only seen one issue, so I’m not exactly sure how much the focus changes from one issue to the next. But this one is all about sexual “firsts.” It’s pretty personal, and somewhat graphic in nature, depending on your mindset and opinions regarding sex. Some of the topics covered include cross dressing, relationships with victims of past sexual assault, sex between people with the same gender identity, sexually transmitted disease (in this case, herpes), self-induced loss of virginity, orgies, orgasm, fisting and much more. I thought it was very well done, and the editors definitely had varied experiences that gave them a healthy mixture of perspectives to write from. You should probably email first to check on the address, because I think it might’ve changed. [5.5” x 8.5”, $3 to: Robnoxious, 2441 Lyundale Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55405, therobnoxious@hotmail.com] Vol. 6 No. 3 July 2002 Even though this issue is dated July 2002, it just recently was published. The journal is a little behind on its publishing schedule, partly due to changes in staff organizational structure. Counterpoise is decidedly not a zine, but this particular issue is all about zines. The publication is essentially a review journal for the independent press, although it includes feature articles in each issue, as well. It’s published by a collective based at the Civic Media Center and Library, an alternative library and meeting space in Gainesville, Florida. This issue includes over 100 zine reviews, an interview with a zine librarian, articles on travel zines, zines and feminism, and campus alternative papers, and a zinester resource guide. Some of the contents are reprinted from other publications, but it’s nice to see all of this information contained in one place. For librarians interested in starting zine collections, or adding to existing ones, this issue of Counterpoise would be a useful resource! [8.5” x 11”, $12 single issue, 4 issues for $45 (institutions), $35 (individuals), $25 (low income) to: Counterpoise, 1716 SW Williston Rd., Gainesville, FL 32608-4049, contact@counterpoise.info, www.counterpoise.info] #4 I’ve been reading John and Luke’s little publication for quite a while now, and it just keeps getting better and better. Each issue contains little stories told in the form of poetry (sort of) illustrated with the most bizarre drawings I’ve ever seen. I like to think of both the poetry and the drawings as being endearingly vulgar. The subject matter can be kind of uh...rough around the edges, but it’s all in good fun. I thought that this particular issue had some more serious philosophy lurking under the satire, and I enjoyed it. At any rate, Luke and John seem to have a lot of fun with Detrimental Information, and that’s what doing a zine should be all about. [3 ¾” x 5.5”, $1 or trade to: 1104 Minnesota Ave., Bemidji, MN 56601, anustooth@yahoo.com] #1 “Vegan cookbook and commentary.” John has produced a 68-page guide for people beginning to try a vegetarian diet, which he hopes to publish annually. Recipes take up much of the text in here, but John also includes a personal essay that answers many common questions about veganism. There’s also a short guide to vegetarian and vegan substitutes for certain animal products. Most of this addresses meat and cheese substitutes, which are fine if you want to go that route, but I’d say to skip that stuff and try the recipes. One of the best things about veganism, in my opinion, is learning how to cook differently, and expanding your range of recipes. Letting go of the tastes and textures of traditional meat, dairy, and eggs is part of this process. Anyway, I haven’t tried any of the recipes in here, but some of them look pretty good. My only complaint is that he’s not consistent in his instructions for cooking rice. He addresses this on the back of the zine in the “Tips” section, so I’d advise reading the rice tip first if you are unfamiliar with cooking rice. Overall, there’s a lot of information in here about veganism, more so than can be found in some vegan cookbooks. It’s quite an ambitious project, and well worth the cost. [5.5” x 8.5”, cash, stamps, or check made out to “cash,” $3 (U.S.), $4 (Can./Mex.), $5 (World) to: John Johnson, PO Box 8145, Reno, NV 89507] January 2003 #1 “For People who dig Parenting.” There has certainly been a rush of parenting zines lately! The first issue of this contributor-based one leads off with editor Stacey’s homebirth story and then continues on to cover topics such as family beds, breastfeeding, and nursery decorating. Also included are a couple of poems, reviews of other parenting zines, and one book review. Most of the zine is text, with a few photos and illustrations. Overall, Fertile Ground is a promising new addition to the parenting zine genre. [5.5” x 8.5”, $2, $8/year, PayPal, cash, or trades to: Stacey Greenberg, 2084 Court Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104, staleyg@yahoo.com] Eric Lyden edited this project that grew out of a feature in his zine, Fish With Legs. Fun facts are short little biographical details, and Eric usually publishes a list of his own fun facts in each issue of his zine. The concept kind of spread like wildfire in the zine community, or maybe just in one corner of it, and pretty soon other people were including lists of fun facts in their own zines. Eric eventually came up with the idea to compile an entire zine of fun fact lists from various contributors. This zine is the result of his efforts, and it has been an instant hit. For the most part, the lists are reprinted as Eric received them. The “facts” range from choppy phrases all the way up to extended paragraphs. Contact information and bios are included for all the contributors, most of whom also publish their own zines. Personal zine junkies should appreciate this! [5.5” x 8.5”, $2 or trade to: Eric Lyden, 224 Moraine St., Brockton, MA 02301-3664, ericfishlegs@aol.com] #5 I’ve been corresponding with Celia for probably about a year now, and so reading a new issue of her zine is almost like getting a letter in the mail. Common themes in her zines appeal to me, specifically ones such as nostalgia, aging, and thoughts on work. In this issue, she also reflects on the past death of her half brother who she never met, shares details of a newfound enjoyment of soccer (and unfortunate resultant injury), and offers some of her thoughts on Chicago. Celia's critical examinations of herself and her surroundings are endlessly fascinating and never fail to make me think. I Dreamed I Was Assertive is one of those rare lucid and relevant perzines that’s always a pleasure to read. [4.25” x 5.5”, $2 or equal trade, C. Perez, 2272 W. Leland, Apt. 3E, Chicago, IL 60625, perezeeb@yahoo.com] Issue 7 More of a magazine than a zine, Morbid Curiosity “focuses on TRUE first-person encounters with the unsavory, unwise, unorthodox, and unusual.” At well over 100 pages, this issue represents a years’ worth of contributions gathered by editor Loren Rhoads. Inside the attractive glossy cover, you can find stories of testicular injury, home removal of sebaceous cysts, voodoo, birth defects, and various medical adventures, as well as a healthy dose of book reviews on related topics. Well-reproduced black and white illustrations complement the text, which is divided into four broad subject categories. Some of these nonfiction tales appealed to me more than others, but overall this is an impressive collection and deserves a look. [8.5” x 11”, $6 (U.S.) or $10 (Overseas), checks to “Loren Rhoads,” to: P.O. Box 12308, San Francisco, CA 94112-0308, morbid@charnel.com, www.charnel.com/morbidcuriosity]
#3 I’ve never been to Baltimore. I’ve known people who lived there, and I’ve seen a few John Waters films, but never visited. So, as an outsider, it was interesting to read this compilation of personal anecdotes and reflections on Charm City. Editor William P. Tandy assembled a wide variety of submissions, including several of his own, ranging from encounters with colorful locals to observations of city life. I thought the high point was Kate Haas’s “Chaos,” a tale of teaching in an inner-city school, which was reprinted from her zine Miranda. I’d read it in her zine before, but it’s such a good story that I read it again in here. This entire issue of Smile, Hon was a pleasure to read, and I look forward to future issues. The editor is also looking for submissions of your stories about Baltimore. [5.5” x 8.5”, $3 to: Eight-Stone Press c/o William P. Tandy, PO Box 963, Havre de Grace, MD 21078, esp@leekinginc.com, www.leekinginc.com/esp] Vol. 15 No. 4 Winter 2002-03 “Journal of Anti-Racist Action, Research & Education.” This newspaper style publication has been publishing at least quarterly for the past fifteen years and has been entirely financed by readers and supporters. This issue of Turning the Tide is filled with news that definitely wouldn’t have been reported by the mainstream press. The cover article is a critical analysis on lessons learned from war, and the piece about the C.R.A.C.K. program, in which people struggling with drug addiction are offered $200 in exchange for becoming sterilized, definitely caught my attention. As a serious political paper addressing many different aspects of racism, this deserves a place in many academic and public libraries. [11” x 17”, $2 outside LA, $15 one year sub, free to prisoners, ISSN 1082-6491, Anti-Racist Action, PO Box 1055, Culver City, CA 90232, (310) 495-0299, ara-la@antiracistaction.us] |
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