New Worlds

Post by **johnriley1uk** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:45 pm

My collection of New Worlds continues to grow nearer to completion.

NW was the premier UK SF magazine, starting its life in 1946 under the editorship of John Carnell. It got interesting, and my collection starts, with its move to Compact SF under the new editor Michael Moorcock. Then sysnonymous with the free-thinking and radical new SF of the 1960s it continued as a paperback book format until issue 172.

Issues 173-201 are the A4 magazine issues of the late 1960s, and these pushed back the boundaries to such an extent that one issue was pulped (the rare issue 180, which I now have) and W H Smith declined to distribute it. Questions were asked in the House of Commons.

When the Arts Council withdrew their support, Michael Moorcock continued to finance it as he could, but it was doomed to fold.

My collection is complete from 142-172 and I now have all but 6 from the 173-201 run.

They wouldn't make my maiden aunt blush these days, but in its time this was cutting edge stuff. When the set is complete I intend to read them again.

This is actually a repeat of the post on my site, but I wanted to share it here with the larger audience! I'm using my own site as a running commentary on various things on its forum, but no doubt it will get some traffic soon as I'm leaving my details here and there on the web.

Andy · Post by **Andy** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:04 pm

I remember doing a section on New Worlds during the SF module at Uni - there was some really good stuff there and I would read more.

Am I curious as to where have you been finding them John and what has been the average price you have been paying?

Post by **johnriley1uk** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 2:27 pm

Some have not been cheap, as much as £20 per magazine. Others have been more realistic, as little as 99p!

I am keeping mu sources quiet until the collection is complete, but soon I may have spare copies as well if everything works out.