Difference between revisions of "The Beyond"

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''(Did you mean a [[Beyond|different Beyond]]?)''
 
''(Did you mean a [[Beyond|different Beyond]]?)''
  
'''''The Beyond''''' (some issues titled '''''Beyond''''') was a [[UK]] [[fanzine]] produced by [[E. Frank Parker]] and [[John Aiken]] between 1942 and 1946. Each issue was produced as a single copy to be passed from hand to hand.
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'''''The Beyond''''' (some issues titled '''''Beyond''''') was a [[UK]] [[fanzine]] produced by [[E. Frank Parker]] and [[John Aiken]] between 1942 and 1946. Each issue was produced as a single copy to be passed from hand to hand<ref>Although one source, cited below suggests there may have been six copies.</ref>.
  
Its genesis came in 1940 when Parker created the [[Paint Research Station Science Fiction Library]] as a magazine chain. Many of the staff at the Station, located in Teddington, west London, served in the National Fire Service and he thought this would keep them 'from thinking too much about beer during the long and often dull duty-hours<ref>This and other quotes taken from Aiken's account of the club in the ''[https://fiawol.org.uk/FanStuff/THEN%20Archive/WtBk.htm The Whitcon Booklet]'', 1948.</ref>'. This resulted in the creation of a thriving group, a precursor to the [[Cosmos Club]].  
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Its genesis came in 1940 when Parker created the [[Paint Research Station Science Fiction Library]] as a magazine chain. Many of the staff at the Station, located in Teddington, west London, served in the National Fire Service and he thought this would keep them 'from thinking too much about beer during the long and often dull duty-hours<ref>This and other unattributed quotes taken from Aiken's account of the club in the ''[https://fiawol.org.uk/FanStuff/THEN%20Archive/WtBk.htm The Whitcon Booklet]'', 1948.</ref>'. This resulted in the creation of a thriving group, a precursor to the [[Cosmos Club]].  
  
 
As the original magazines became tatty some of the members of the group tried their hand at writing. They first issued a monthly news-sheet called ''[[Memo Sheet]]'' which ultimately grew into ''[[Cosmic Cuts]]'', with the more substantial ''The Beyond'' appearing roughly quarterly from 1942. It featured fiction, some at [[novelette]] length, poetry, articles, and a correspondence section 'famed for the quality of its mud and the force and aim with which this was slung'. About two dozen writers appeared  within its pages during its run and almost as many artists.  
 
As the original magazines became tatty some of the members of the group tried their hand at writing. They first issued a monthly news-sheet called ''[[Memo Sheet]]'' which ultimately grew into ''[[Cosmic Cuts]]'', with the more substantial ''The Beyond'' appearing roughly quarterly from 1942. It featured fiction, some at [[novelette]] length, poetry, articles, and a correspondence section 'famed for the quality of its mud and the force and aim with which this was slung'. About two dozen writers appeared  within its pages during its run and almost as many artists.  
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  The 'Paint Research Station Science Fiction Library' have an extremely interesting activity in the production of their '[[Official organ|organ]]' ''The Beyond''. This is no mere fanzine as the name might imply, but to our knowledge, an absolutely unique effort. [[Fantasy]] fiction written by the members themselves is incorporated, together with original illustrations, into a one-copy publication of a very high standard indeed. As there are no problems of [[duplicator|duplicating]], [[stencilling]] and paper-supply, the size can be prodigious and thus allow for full development of authors ideas. The second (and current) issue contains no less than 104 closely typed 4to pages, almost all devoted to seven stories; for the nonce anonymously written; two of which are quite up to pro-mag standard. As you might expect, full opportunity for criticism and comment is given in a real readers section – the 'Back of Beyond', wherein readers actually write their letters to the editor – this section and an editorial comprising the department. The illustrations are interesting, not as high a standard as the stories, on the whole, yet withal commendable indeed, and the format of the whole production is practically excellent.
 
  The 'Paint Research Station Science Fiction Library' have an extremely interesting activity in the production of their '[[Official organ|organ]]' ''The Beyond''. This is no mere fanzine as the name might imply, but to our knowledge, an absolutely unique effort. [[Fantasy]] fiction written by the members themselves is incorporated, together with original illustrations, into a one-copy publication of a very high standard indeed. As there are no problems of [[duplicator|duplicating]], [[stencilling]] and paper-supply, the size can be prodigious and thus allow for full development of authors ideas. The second (and current) issue contains no less than 104 closely typed 4to pages, almost all devoted to seven stories; for the nonce anonymously written; two of which are quite up to pro-mag standard. As you might expect, full opportunity for criticism and comment is given in a real readers section – the 'Back of Beyond', wherein readers actually write their letters to the editor – this section and an editorial comprising the department. The illustrations are interesting, not as high a standard as the stories, on the whole, yet withal commendable indeed, and the format of the whole production is practically excellent.
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[[Gus Willmorth]] described a copy in ''[[VOM]]'' #30:
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The cover is an excellent fantasy of faces in prisms – somewhat the effect that one gets on looking into a prismic mirror except that each facet of the prism does not reflect a complete picture as does a mirror – tho faces are made up of prism angles, this by Turner<ref>Presumably [[Harry Turner]].</ref>, with whose excellent work in ''VoM'' and ''[[ToW]]'' and other British fan publications you are no doubt familiar. The interior has some fair illustrations as well as some of a more amateur nature. Not having read the stories – although in the future I shall be on the mailing list and have that oppurtunity – I cannot say just how they are. Contributors include [[Peter Hawkins]], and [[John Aiken|Aiken]], such is the depth of my knowledge concerning the contents. It is gigantic for a fan mag, there are some 125 to 140 pages which would make mimeographing it a tremendous task. Since there are only six copies put out per issue<ref>Willmorth's contention that there were six copies per issue is at odds with editor Aiken's description of it as a 'full-size one-copy magazine'.</ref> needless to say they are collectors items.
  
 
Parker had to retire into [[pseudonym|pseudonymity]] 'as a result of attacks of a particularly unaesthetic character by certain authorities at the Paint Research Station'. The final issue, #10, appeared in summer 1946. #11 was planned but never completed. Copies of the fanzine were exhibited at [[Whitcon]] in 1948.
 
Parker had to retire into [[pseudonym|pseudonymity]] 'as a result of attacks of a particularly unaesthetic character by certain authorities at the Paint Research Station'. The final issue, #10, appeared in summer 1946. #11 was planned but never completed. Copies of the fanzine were exhibited at [[Whitcon]] in 1948.

Revision as of 05:00, 22 May 2024

(Did you mean a different Beyond?)

The Beyond (some issues titled Beyond) was a UK fanzine produced by E. Frank Parker and John Aiken between 1942 and 1946. Each issue was produced as a single copy to be passed from hand to hand[1].

Its genesis came in 1940 when Parker created the Paint Research Station Science Fiction Library as a magazine chain. Many of the staff at the Station, located in Teddington, west London, served in the National Fire Service and he thought this would keep them 'from thinking too much about beer during the long and often dull duty-hours[2]'. This resulted in the creation of a thriving group, a precursor to the Cosmos Club.

As the original magazines became tatty some of the members of the group tried their hand at writing. They first issued a monthly news-sheet called Memo Sheet which ultimately grew into Cosmic Cuts, with the more substantial The Beyond appearing roughly quarterly from 1942. It featured fiction, some at novelette length, poetry, articles, and a correspondence section 'famed for the quality of its mud and the force and aim with which this was slung'. About two dozen writers appeared within its pages during its run and almost as many artists.

J. Michael Rosenblum described the second issue in Futurian War Digest #26, February 1943:

The 'Paint Research Station Science Fiction Library' have an extremely interesting activity in the production of their 'organ' The Beyond. This is no mere fanzine as the name might imply, but to our knowledge, an absolutely unique effort. Fantasy fiction written by the members themselves is incorporated, together with original illustrations, into a one-copy publication of a very high standard indeed. As there are no problems of duplicating, stencilling and paper-supply, the size can be prodigious and thus allow for full development of authors ideas. The second (and current) issue contains no less than 104 closely typed 4to pages, almost all devoted to seven stories; for the nonce anonymously written; two of which are quite up to pro-mag standard. As you might expect, full opportunity for criticism and comment is given in a real readers section – the 'Back of Beyond', wherein readers actually write their letters to the editor – this section and an editorial comprising the department. The illustrations are interesting, not as high a standard as the stories, on the whole, yet withal commendable indeed, and the format of the whole production is practically excellent.

Gus Willmorth described a copy in VOM #30:

The cover is an excellent fantasy of faces in prisms – somewhat the effect that one gets on looking into a prismic mirror except that each facet of the prism does not reflect a complete picture as does a mirror – tho faces are made up of prism angles, this by Turner[3], with whose excellent work in VoM and ToW and other British fan publications you are no doubt familiar. The interior has some fair illustrations as well as some of a more amateur nature. Not having read the stories – although in the future I shall be on the mailing list and have that oppurtunity – I cannot say just how they are. Contributors include Peter Hawkins, and Aiken, such is the depth of my knowledge concerning the contents. It is gigantic for a fan mag, there are some 125 to 140 pages which would make mimeographing it a tremendous task. Since there are only six copies put out per issue[4] needless to say they are collectors items.

Parker had to retire into pseudonymity 'as a result of attacks of a particularly unaesthetic character by certain authorities at the Paint Research Station'. The final issue, #10, appeared in summer 1946. #11 was planned but never completed. Copies of the fanzine were exhibited at Whitcon in 1948.

Remarkably give the single copy nature of The Beyond, all but the first issue ended up in the collection of Forrest J Ackerman and were offered for sale at auction in 2024.


Publication 19421946
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  1. Although one source, cited below suggests there may have been six copies.
  2. This and other unattributed quotes taken from Aiken's account of the club in the The Whitcon Booklet, 1948.
  3. Presumably Harry Turner.
  4. Willmorth's contention that there were six copies per issue is at odds with editor Aiken's description of it as a 'full-size one-copy magazine'.