SCIENCE FICTION MONTHLY

1. As Science-Fiction Monthly, Australian DIGEST-size magazine, 18 numbered undated issues, Aug 1955-Feb 1957, published by Atlas Publications, Melbourne; ed anon Michael Cannon. The fiction, reprintedfrom various US magazines, was mostly routine, but included some good work by Ray BRADBURY and others. The covers were reprinted from the same sources. A feature from \#12 was Graham Stone's column of commentary, Science Fiction Scene. 2. Name used by AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION in anearly manifestation, May-Aug 1951.3. UK magazine, tabloid-size (11in x 16in [280mm x 405mm]). 28 monthly issues Feb 1974-May 1976 (2 vols of 12issues, 1 vol of 4 issues), numbered, undated, published by New English Library; ed Feb 1974-Jan 1975 Pat Hornsey and Feb 1975-May 1976 JulieDavis. Born after the demise of NEW WORLDS, SFM - published by a paperback-book company which had a big sf list - was the only UK sf magazine of its time. It featured much full-page colour artwork, often in the form of pull-out posters, in an effort to find a teenage audience similar to that for pop-music magazines. Neither editor had previous experience of sf, and at first the quality of fiction was low, though it improved under Davis's editorship. From the beginning a feature was the number of well researched factual articles, review pages, news pages and interviews, with Mike ASHLEY and Walter GILLINGS regular contributors. Featured UK authors included Robert P. HOLDSTOCK, Bob SHAW, Brian M.STABLEFORD and Ian WATSON; reprints of well known US stories also appeared. The juvenile policy succeeded at first, but circulation dropped from above 100,000 to below 20,000. A plan to replace it with SF DIGEST was aborted. A spin-off book is The Best of Science Fiction Monthly (anth 1975) ed Janet Sacks.

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