Broadly Speaking

Well, it continued to grow on me until it became an obsession. I would have to take out my old copies of The Broadsheet and have a look at them. It wouldn’t be easy because I was not sure exactly where they were. I thought I would have to haul out several heavy trunks and go rummaging through them, and I really wasn’t looking forward to that. Then I suddenly remembered that a while ago I had made a document, What Is in the Box, where I had catalogued the contents of my bins so that I could avoid just such troublesome tasks. Perhaps it would provide me a clue to the exact whereabouts of the copies. I looked it up and, sure enough, found the place there and was able to put my hands on it in minutes. Thank you, Past Me. Sometimes you’re not such a dullard, after all.

My troubles weren’t over, however. After several transfers from place to place over the years the pages had got rather mixed up and needed sorting. My dating and pagination hadn’t exactly been what it should have been, and I spent several hours sorting things out. Even now I not quite sure if I have everything correct. Certain sections seem to be missing. The whole wad of papers suffered some damage during the Great Termite Devastation. But, as the doctor might say, “It’s BETTER than it WAS.”

I find on examination it did indeed start as The Broadsheet of Fantasy Literature, then changed to The Broadsheet of Fantastic Literature, before finally settling down to The Broadsheet of Imaginative Literature. Much of the space was filled with Faces of Fantasy Authors, Fantasy maps, known fantastic poetry, weird notes and anecdotes, and my own editorial maunderings. I have made a list noting any original writing and the author; where no author is cited (such as for the Book Reviews) you can assume that it was me. So. January 1985 to May 1986. It was a time. No releases in the summer months of June, July, and August, I notice.

 

January 1985 (First Issue)

10 Most Recommended Single Fantasies

Book Review: The Talisman, by Stephen King & Peter Straub

10 Most Recommended Serial Fantasies

10 Best Children’s Fantasies

February 1985 (Second Issue)

Book Review: Crewel Lye, by Piers Anthony

The Worst Fantasy Novels That I’ve Read

Robert of Randleston: Part One, by Wylie Reeves

Poem: Pegasus, by Kathleen Moore

Poem: Expatriates of England, by Bryan Babel

March 1985

“Ring-Day” Celebration

April/May1985 (Fourth Issue)

Book Review: Isaac Asimov’s Magical Worlds of Fantasy #3: Cosmic Knights

Robert of Randleston: Part Two, by Wylie Reeves

September 1985

The Books of Autumn: A Review

(Short Story) The Goblin, by John Babel

Call of Cthulhu: A Game Review, by Alan Peschke

October Issue 1985

Book Review: The Iron Tower Trilogy, by Dennis L. McKiernan

(Article) A Grimm Look at Werewolves, by Alan Peshke

November 1985

Book Review: In the Suicide Mountains, by John Gardner

Book Review by Alan Peschke: The Illuminatus! Trilogy, by Robert Anton Wilson

Dead End Circle, by Alan Peschke

December Issue 1985

(Poem) The Answer, by Bryan Babel

(Short Story) Grandpa’s Tale: An Elfin Christmas, by Alan Peschke

January 1986

Book Review: The Witches, by Roald Dahl

The Broadsheet Volume 2 Number 1 (January) 1986

A Short History of Fantasy

Book Review: The Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis

Short Story: Villa de Vaca, by Alan Peschke

February 1986

Book Review: The Long Lays of Beleriand, by J. R. R. Tolkien

Obituary: Frank Herbert

Apotheosis, by Alan Peschke (Short Story)

The Invocation of the Crystal, by Alan Peschke (Poem)

March 1986

‘Ring-Day’ Celebration Honored

Book Review: Homunculus, by James P. Blaylock

A Word About Woses

Short Story: The Sentinel, by Alan Peschke

April 1986

Faces of Fantasy: William Shakespeare

May 1986

Book Review: Merlin’s Booke, by Jane Yolen

Book Review: Little, Big by John Crowley

Editorial About Fantasy and Wargaming

Undated

A Short but Useful Guide to Analyzing Fantasies