Saturday, February 05, 2005
Next stop...
I was over at It's All One Thing and read that Will Shetterly and Emma Bull, a couple of my favorite fantasy authors, were trying to name a new cat. One of the names under consideration was Maximilian, and as soon as I read that I flashed on Max, the cigar-chomping mascot of Twilight Zone magazine.
Twilight Zone was my first real introduction to short fantastic fiction. I came across the November 1981 issue in the magazine rack at the drugstore in the fall of 10th grade, not too long after it began publication. After that, I never missed an issue, and I still have them all (except for one issue from 1986 that my then-boyfriend borrowed and never returned; but I think I've got his first-or-second printing of Callahan's Crosstime Saloon around here somewhere. Considering how much easier it is to find TZ on eBay, I think it's a pretty good trade).
Some of the best names in science fiction, fantasy, and horror published in TZ. Just look at the list of authors from the first two issues: Harlan Ellison, Robert Sheckley, Joyce Carol Oates, George R.R. Martin, Tanith Lee, Joe Haldeman, Robert Silverberg, George Clayton Johnson, Spider Robinson, Roger Zelazny... and many others. Besides the short stories, there were articles about movies and TV shows, as well as a TZ episode guide. There were creepy cartoons by Gahan Wilson.
TZ was a class act all around. In the picture above, you'll note that they were asking for items with references to the Twilight Zone. I sent them a news clipping once, when I was in high school. I didn't get a poster, but they did send me a neat postcard with Max on it, telling me that they weren't going to use my clipping. I was as happy with that as I would have been with the poster.
I haven't found a lot of information about Twilight Zone online. There's a great bibliography here, and I keep intending to do a searchable annotated one, because I'm sure that many of the stories never made it into anthologies, and it would be great for interested readers to be able to get them, maybe through interlibrary loan, or on eBay. Maybe after the redesign... and the long-promised Dell Mapback database... and the redesign of my other blog... :-)
I was over at It's All One Thing and read that Will Shetterly and Emma Bull, a couple of my favorite fantasy authors, were trying to name a new cat. One of the names under consideration was Maximilian, and as soon as I read that I flashed on Max, the cigar-chomping mascot of Twilight Zone magazine.
Twilight Zone was my first real introduction to short fantastic fiction. I came across the November 1981 issue in the magazine rack at the drugstore in the fall of 10th grade, not too long after it began publication. After that, I never missed an issue, and I still have them all (except for one issue from 1986 that my then-boyfriend borrowed and never returned; but I think I've got his first-or-second printing of Callahan's Crosstime Saloon around here somewhere. Considering how much easier it is to find TZ on eBay, I think it's a pretty good trade).
Some of the best names in science fiction, fantasy, and horror published in TZ. Just look at the list of authors from the first two issues: Harlan Ellison, Robert Sheckley, Joyce Carol Oates, George R.R. Martin, Tanith Lee, Joe Haldeman, Robert Silverberg, George Clayton Johnson, Spider Robinson, Roger Zelazny... and many others. Besides the short stories, there were articles about movies and TV shows, as well as a TZ episode guide. There were creepy cartoons by Gahan Wilson.
TZ was a class act all around. In the picture above, you'll note that they were asking for items with references to the Twilight Zone. I sent them a news clipping once, when I was in high school. I didn't get a poster, but they did send me a neat postcard with Max on it, telling me that they weren't going to use my clipping. I was as happy with that as I would have been with the poster.
I haven't found a lot of information about Twilight Zone online. There's a great bibliography here, and I keep intending to do a searchable annotated one, because I'm sure that many of the stories never made it into anthologies, and it would be great for interested readers to be able to get them, maybe through interlibrary loan, or on eBay. Maybe after the redesign... and the long-promised Dell Mapback database... and the redesign of my other blog... :-)
permalink posted by The Vintage Reader @ 4:42 PM 
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Aggh. Now I'll be wanting to rummage through the basement to dig up all my old copies of TZ magazine. I don't have 'em all, but I've got a goodly number of them, including the first issue.
TZ was an excellent magazine while it lasted, offering an easier-to-read format than the old pulps (with much better graphics!) - and a great selection of authors.
BTW, I found your site via "Thrilling Days of Yesteryear." Credit where credit is due, and all that.
TZ was an excellent magazine while it lasted, offering an easier-to-read format than the old pulps (with much better graphics!) - and a great selection of authors.
BTW, I found your site via "Thrilling Days of Yesteryear." Credit where credit is due, and all that.
I've noticed that the stories--and the paper--age pretty well. Most of them are still creepy, but not crumbly. :-) And you're right, some of the illustrations were very nice, particularly the covers.
Thanks for stopping by--Ivan's link to VR made my day!
--the vintage reader
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Thanks for stopping by--Ivan's link to VR made my day!
--the vintage reader
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