Zine World
Zine World: A Reader's Guide to the Underground Press is an independent publication that covers independent and underground media. It reviews mostly zines, but also books, comics, newsletters, videos and spoken word recordings.
Details
The material it covers is generally available directly from the publishers rather than through larger commercial outlets, and each review includes ordering information and other specifics (such as whether or not the item is free to prisoners, or the publisher's policy on barter). Zine World also covers news concerning abuses against free speech and other topics of interest to the independent publishing community. It has also published essays from Karl Wenclas, Jeff Somers, and other prominent underground writers.
The magazine was launched in the 1990s by Doug Holland as a more opinionated alternative to Factsheet 5, but has continued publishing since its larger competitor's disappearance in 1998. It was once widely decried for running gratuitously negative reviews (particularly from departed contributor Joe Gallo), but is now less controversial. It now publishes roughly three times a year.
Several writers on staff have gone on to write and edit as professionals, including Heath Row and Michael Jackman. Jerianne Thompson acts as editor and supervises the all-volunteer staff.