PARKER, E. Frank and AIKEN, John (1913-1990) (ed.). The Beyond/Beyond. [London: N.p., c. 1942-1945].

THE ONLY COPIES EVER PRODUCED OF UNIQUE WWII-ERA BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION FANZINE.

9 issues (of 10, lacking issue number one), 4to. Original wraps (rubbing, binding split on select issues). Provenance: Forrest J. Ackerman (1916-2008), American editor, magazine publisher, and science fiction author; acquired by the present owner directly from Ackerman.

In early 1940, science fiction fan E. Frank Parker donated his extensive collection of science fiction books and magazines to National Fire Service firefighters stationed at the Paint Research Station of Teddington, London to help them occupy their downtime. Though the gesture was initially met with derision, enough became fans to form the Paint Research Station Science Fiction Library (PRSSFL), a club in which members traded books, drew illustrations, and even wrote short fiction. A monthly newsletter featuring snippets of these stories soon followed, and shortly afterwards Parker, with assistance from his friend John Aiken, edited and printed the first issue of The Beyond, the sole copy of which was passed through mail and hand to hand and then returned to the editors with comments and criticisms. Word about the publication spread quickly, with The Futurian fanzine writing in its February 1943 issue that “this is no mere fanzine as the name might imply, but…an absolutely unique effort.” Plans were made to continue and even expand publication when management of the Paint Research Station, feeling that the PRSSFL was a distraction from the very real war going on around them, began to crack down on the group. This marked the end of Beyond after only ten issues, all of which saw only one copy of each printed (Hansen, THEN: Science Fiction Fandom in the UK 1930-1980, p.67). The second issue as included here was displayed at the Museum of Science Fiction (now the Museum of Popular Culture) in Seattle from 2004-2011. SCARCE: We trace no records of this fanzine reaching the market in any form.