I want to take this opportunity, the first issue of 1994, to
express my thanks to the readers who have gone above and beyond to help these Strange
New Worlds to blossom and grow. I was going to save these thank you's for the
anniversary issue in April, but I've had such positive response that I just couldn't wait.
To Charles in New Jersey who says he always moves Strange New Worlds
to the front of the rack when he sees it in bookstores -- thank you. To Patrick in Florida
who asked to see the manager when told his local store didn't carry us -- thank you. To
those who phoned and wrote to enquire what category Strange New Worlds falls under
for Hugo award consideration -- thank you. (For future reference, or for those still
completing your nominations for these annual science fiction awards, Strange New Worlds
qualifies as a semi-prozine.) To everyone who sent such great suggestions and comments --
thank you. To my Grandmother and cousin Carol and great-aunt Margaret, who don't always
understand science fiction, but subscribe anyway -- thank you, thank you, thank you.
When I began publishing this magazine two years ago, I had hoped that
my efforts would strike a responsive chord with fellow collectors and science fiction
fans. I never expected so much enthusiasm. Thank you, one and all!
We are starting the new year with several new additions. I hope you
noticed the spiffy, color cover. We will be running full-color covers from now on, while
still keeping the images framed within our traditional brilliant blue. In this issue's
center-page spread is another first: a book excerpt. The charming book Yesterday's Tomorrows offers a look at the vibrant,
innovative, and often exploitative movie posters of the 50s and 60s and the films that
they promoted. In this excerpt the author discusses posters as collectibles, and how the
market for these images from the past is evolving.
By the time you read this , the "second season" of television
has started. Once again, Hollywood is trying to catch the attention and the imagination of
science fiction fans. Mid-year replacements include the long-awaited, much promoted Babylon
5 and Tek War. These join the survivors from the beginning of the season: X-Files,
seaQuest DSV, and Lois and Clark, The New Adventures of Superman. Science
fiction has become big business. Each studio and network is rushing to position themselves
to take advantage of the void soon to be created by the departure of Star Trek: The
Next Generation, the most popular syndicated show currently on television. Amazingly,
networks are allowing new, low-rated science fiction shows the chance to find their
audience before relegating them to cancellation oblivion.
Remember last season's Space Rangers? You had to be quick to
catch this campy space opera. CBS unceremoniously dumped it after only four airings. The
quirky little series would never have challenged the Star Trek ratings machine; but
given time the show might have developed a following. Space Rangers was silly
science fiction that laughed at itself. As the networks finally take science fiction and
science fiction fans seriously, I hope we do not start taking ourselves too seriously.
There is still room for pure silliness in this genre.
Jo Davidsmeyer
Publisher
