Science Fiction Monthly
Encyclopedia
Science Fiction Monthly was a British
science fiction
magazine
published from 1974-1976 by New English Library
.
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.
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 [2].
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 and in 1976, after only 28 issues, the magazine metamorphosed into "Science Fiction Digest", which had a smaller (bedsheet) format and no full-colour interiors, but was essentially the same magazine, intended now to become a quarterly publication. After one issue of Science Fiction Digest was published, NEL made a decision to leave the science fiction magazine market.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
published from 1974-1976 by New English Library
New English Library
The New English Library was a United Kingdom book publishing company, which became an imprint of Hodder Headline.- History :New English Library was created in 1961 by the Times Mirror Company of Los Angeles, with the takeover of two small British paperback companies, Ace Books Ltd and Four Square...
.
The characteristic feature of the magazine was its large page size, roughly equivalent to a broadsheet
Broadsheet
Broadsheet is the largest of the various newspaper formats and is characterized by long vertical pages . The term derives from types of popular prints usually just of a single sheet, sold on the streets and containing various types of material, from ballads to political satire. The first 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
Bruce Pennington
Bruce Pennington is a British painter, perhaps best known for his science fiction and fantasy novel cover art. Pennington's works have largely featured on the covers of novels of the likes of Isaac Asimov, Clark Ashton Smith and Robert A. Heinlein, adopting both science fiction and fantastical...
, Chris Foss
Chris Foss
Christopher "Chris" F. Foss is a British artist and science fiction illustrator. He is best known for his science fiction book covers and the black and white illustrations for the original editions of The Joy of Sex....
, Tim White, David A. Hardy
David A. Hardy
David A. Hardy , is the longest-established living space artist, having illustrated his first book in 1954....
and Josh Kirby
Josh Kirby
Ronald William "Josh" Kirby was an English commercial artist born in Waterloo, on the outskirts of Liverpool, Merseyside. He was educated at the Liverpool City School of Art, where he acquired the nickname Josh, which comes from having his work compared to that of Sir Joshua Reynolds...
. 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.
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 [2].
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 and in 1976, after only 28 issues, the magazine metamorphosed into "Science Fiction Digest", which had a smaller (bedsheet) format and no full-colour interiors, but was essentially the same magazine, intended now to become a quarterly publication. After one issue of Science Fiction Digest was published, NEL made a decision to leave the science fiction magazine market.