NEW HOPE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW ON-LINE

A journal, now in its fiftieth issue, devoted to the genre of science/fantasy fiction. The main feature of this issue is a MEMORIAL to renowned writer, fan of the genre Sam Moskowitz. I first came across his name in mimeographed fanzines during WW2 and later in American Pulp magazines of which I was at the time, and up to their demise in the late fifties, an avid devourer. Several friends, fellow writers, people who knew and admired Sam record their reminiscences here.

Coming to the next feature in this particular issue, DAY OF THE PULPS, (the title saying it all) this is an adaptation of a speech given on the subject by Leslie F. Stone which again brought long dormant memories of those ingenuous days flooding back.

An in depth feature by H.R.Felgenhauer on the prolific UK poet/writer Steve Sneyd, followed by four of Steve's poems, plus more of the same from fellow UK poet Andy Darlington, help to enhance an issue, that some may find rather over drenched in items of nostalgia.

A veteran of the science fiction small press field, first published in 1943 and still going strong. It is a journal devoted to sf and fantasy, mainly the fandom element and this issue in particular seems to be strongly nostalgic for the formulative years of American sf fandom - the thirties and forties - and the people involved.

This is most notable in Sam Moskovitz' lengthy article THE RETURN OF HUGO GERNSBACK. This is a detailed memoir of Moskovitz' own involvment as editor in the launching of a new SF magazine just after the war, and his dealings with the father of sf, the legendary Hugo Gernsback. Equally interesting is a continuing series of memoirs from various writers and fans of Moskovitz himself, a man who became one of sf's major archivists and historians, as well as editor of many groundbreaking sf anthologies.

The rest of this large format magazine contains other articles about sf's past, a selection of poetry and book reviews. On the whole this is a fascinating read, though a little dry in style. The mag could benefit from some restyling - the single column text on A4 pages is hard to scan; a twin column would be easier on the eye and more space efficient. Illustrations are minimal and a few more here and there would make the mag much more attractive to the eye.

It should, nontheless, appeal to anyone interested in the history of early American sf.

To call FC a fanzine is a bit like calling a Rolls-Royce a car... The magazine describes itself in the following deceptively modest terms:

a journal devoted to articles, reviews, checklists and verse in science-fiction and fantasy

The bulk of the content is a series of scholarly articles about sf and fantasy, often of personal reminiscence, usually concentrating on the early years of the genre. The history, and personalities that shaped that history are given in detail — often in book-length articles seralised over several issues. You realise just how valuable this is once you consider that within the next ten or twenty years virtuall all direct contact with pre-WW2 writers and editors will be lost forever.

This issue has the second part of Sam Moskowitz' book-length account of his work with Hugo Gernsback, whose name is enshrined in the gernre's highest award. There is an extensive interview with veteran publisher and editor Robert A.W. Lowndes, one of who's poems, THE PEOPLE OF THE PIT is reprinted:

					But time has done
   A hideous thing; for, year by year, the carvings crumble; those
   Who dream have told in vain the horror that some day shall be.

FC has always been a showcase for poetry, and this issue is no different with, apart from the Lowndes reprint, work by Bruce Boston, Andrew Darlington, Steve Sneyd and Darrell Schweitzer, though I have to admit a real fondness for ADVICE FOR THE GALACTIC WARRIORS by Thomas Esaias:

	Be vigilant
	For the enemy has seen
	    Lucy, Gilligan
	    and The Brady Bunch.
	And knows our weaknesses.