Science Fiction Monthly was a British science fiction magazine published from 1974-1976 by New English Library. It was notable as the only UK science fiction magazine at the time.
The characteristic feature of the magazine was its large page size, roughly equivalent to a broadsheet newspaper and the fact that it was published as a loose leaf magazine. This format enabled poster-size reproductions of science fiction book jacket illustrations to be a major part of the magazine. Featured artists included Bruce Pennington, Chris Foss, Tim White, David A. Hardy and Josh Kirby. The magazine also ran feature articles on artists, reprinted some vintage magazine covers at its large page size, and ran two art contests which yielded over twenty works by new artists. The editors were Patricia Hornsey (1974–1975) and Julie Davis (1975–1976).
Science Fiction Monthly was primarily designed to appeal to a teenaged readership, and this, combined with the attractive posters, ensure that very few complete copies of the magazine survive. Most issues were taken to pieces and used as posters.
As well as stories, the magazine contained series such as "Modern masters of science fiction" by Walter Gillings.
The publisher, New English Library (NEL), also issued binders for the magazine. These were an attractive dark purple in colour. A complete set of the magazine (as published), occupies slightly less than the available space in three of the binders.
The magazine sales were disappointing with circulation dropping from around 100,000 to 20,000 and in 1976, after only 28 issues, the magazine metamorphosed into "SF Digest".
Read more about Science Fiction Monthly: Re-Launch As "SF Digest"
Famous quotes containing the words science, fiction and/or monthly:
“He is not a true man of science who does not bring some sympathy to his studies, and expect to learn something by behavior as well as by application. It is childish to rest in the discovery of mere coincidences, or of partial and extraneous laws. The study of geometry is a petty and idle exercise of the mind, if it is applied to no larger system than the starry one.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)
“We can never safely exceed the actual facts in our narratives. Of pure invention, such as some suppose, there is no instance. To write a true work of fiction even is only to take leisure and liberty to describe some things more exactly as they are.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)
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That tips with silver all these fruit tree tops
Juliet. O, swear not by the moon, th inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.”
—William Shakespeare (15641616)