The latest issue of the Paperback Fanatic arrived in the post today. This digest-sized 86-page publication contains a wealth of fascinating information and some astounding full colour illustrations. The main attraction for me this time is an article on two very different but truly iconic British horror writers, Charles Birkin and R. Chetwynd-Hayes, including reproductions of most of their paperback book covers. Not far beind is a history of two major SF magazines from the 60s and 70s, Galaxy and If, with some fascinating behind the scenes details of their ups and downs and eventual closure under editors Horace Gold (who famously rejected Flowers for Algernon because writer Daniel Keye wouldn't change the ending to a happier one), Frederick Pohl, Ejler Jakobsson, Jim Baen, and finally Hank Stine.
Other articles which I haven't yet had chance to read are the early pulps of future best-seller Martin Cruz Smith, Confessions of a Sex Researcher and Robert Bloch covers, together with regular features.
Well worth every penny.
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