Broadsword

Zine
Title:	Broadsword
Publisher:	David Robinson & Richard Prekodravac
Editor(s):
Date(s):
Medium:	print, online
Fandom:	Doctor Who
Language:	English
External Links:	online previously alt
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Broadsword is a gen Doctor Who fanzine of articles, reviews and some fiction that was published in Australia. It began as a print zine and became an online zine in 1995. Its title is a reference from Paul Cornell’s "No Future. This zine is dedicated to New Adventures. Broadsword was known for using different layout for each issue and continually reinventing itself.

"Summary from the publisher, "Doctor Who fanfic. Web page for Broadsword, the Fanzine of the New and Missing Adventures, Doctor Who fanzine. Broadsword is a small fanzine that focuses on the only new source of Doctor Who stories, the New and Missing Adventures. This site is the metaphysical extension of the original dead tree format."

Issue 1

Broadsword 1 was published in 1995.

Issue 2

Broadsword 2 was published in 1995.

Reactions and Reviews: Issues 1 and 2

Broadsword (the reference is from Paul Cornell’s No Future) is dedicated just to the New and Missing Adventures. Small in size, but some brilliant writing and a razor-sharp look. Highlights were the debates and the pull-out posters. These two editors can write – you’ve got to get this one! Rating: • • • 1/2 & • • • • 1/2

Issue 3

Broadsword 3 was published in 1995.

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

Continues the fine early tradition of this zine, and at twice the size of the first two issues! Includes a Paul Cornell interview and a weird story by David Golding. Quality down a tad, but very good nonetheless. Rating: • • • • out of five.

Issue 4

Broadsword 4 was published in 1995 and contains 8 pages. Highlights of this issue are an extract from Professor Bernice Summerfield’s diary courtesy of Paul Cornell and the debate on whether fans make good Who writers.

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4

Yet another well wicked cover, and a beautifully laid out zine this is. Highlights of this issue are an extract from Professor Bernice Summerfield’s diary courtesy of Paul Cornell and the debate on whether fans make good Who writers. But with only eight or so pages, the editors will have to be very careful to ensure that the reviews and previews don’t swamp all the original stuff. (There is now an on-line version of Broadsword at http://modjadji.anu.edu.au/steve/broadsword which includes the Virgin guidelines on how to write New and Missing Adventures—great stuff!) Rating: • • • 1/2 out of five.

Issue 5

Broadsword 5 was published in 1995 and contains 20 pages. It includes a lengthy interview with Nigel Robinson, articles on science in science-fiction and the character of Ace, reviews of all the latest books, and much other silliness. There is also the updated prelude to the Left-handed Hummingbird which was in issue 82 of The Sonic Screwdriver.

• Editorial
• Switch in, switch on, switch off Travels Without Destination
• Prelude: The Left-Handed Hummingbird
• Return of the Living Dad
• Interview with Nigel Robinson cyberWoods
• The 1995 Sgloomi Po Awards
• Time Paradox's
• Epilogue: Passing Thoughts Sky Pirates!
• Zamper The Menagerie
• System Shock
• The Sorcerer's Apprentice
• Invasion of the Cat-People Happy Endings
• Who was Ace? (conclusion)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5

The latest edition of this great fanzine (and why does Mr Broadsword Editor dislike that word so?) is A5 in format, in keeping with their policy of change and innovation in layout. I’ve always found that format attractive, and this is no exception. Enclosed in its twenty pages (it keeps growing!) is a lengthy interview with Nigel Robinson, articles on science in science-fiction and the character of Ace, reviews of all the latest books, and much other silliness. There is also the updated prelude to the Left-handed Hummingbird which we first saw in issue 82 of Sonic (yikes, that was a long time ago!). A great zine – just make those pictures a bit lighter, thanks! Rating: • • • • (out of five)

Issue 6

Broadsword 6 was published in 1996 and is "The Transit Special."

• Prologue
• Controversy by Matthew Sadler
• [Delete Where Applicable] by Richard Prekodravac
• Switch In On Off
• Transit: the Review by Louise Dennis
• British Arrogance by David Robinson
• The Cyberwoods
• In[Tua] by Lance Parkin
• Who Killed the Brigadier by David Golding

Reviews

• Toy Soldiers by Paul Leonard reviewed by David Robinson
• Millennial Rites by Craig Hilton reviewed by David Robinson

The 1995 Sgloomi Po Awards

• Voting Form

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 6

And now to Broadsword. Issue 6, the Transit special, seems to have been liberated by Australia Post, so we’re having a look at its successor. Still one of the most styled and cute zines around, my favourite bits were the rather tongue-in-cheek tribute to Terrance Dicks by Paul Cornell, David Golding’s little piece on having his NA proposal rejected by Virgin, and the couple of pages on Justin Richards. Another three and a half Time’s Crucible’s haters out of five.

Issue 7

Broadsword 7 was published in 1996.

• LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
• SWITCH IN, ON, OFF
• HAPPY ENDINGS
• VIRGIN REJECTS
• JUSTIN RICHARDS INTERVIEW
• THEATRE OF WAR RESPONSE
• SHAKEDOWN
• JUST WAR
• LORDS OF THE STORM
• DOWNTIME
• DICKS-O-MATIC
• TIME CRUCIBLE RETRO
• NEW ADVENTURES POETRY
• DECALOG 3
• THE DECALOGS
• AUSTRALIAN DECALOG
• INDEX OF 1995 BROADSWORD

Issue 8

Broadsword 8 was published in 1996.

• Retrospective: The War Trilogy
• Cat's Cradle: Warhead
• Ben Aaronovitch: an interview with the author of Transit and The Also People
• Switch In On Off

Reviews

• Warchild by Andrew Cartmel reviewed by Bruce Greenwood
• The Man in the Velvet Mask by Daniel O'Mahony reviewed by Richard Prekodravac
• Sleepy by Kate Orman reviewed by David Goldling
• The English Way of Death by Gareth Roberts reviewed by David Robinson
• Mystery Review by David Becker

Poem

• Ode to Orman

The 1995 Sgloomi Po Awards

• Winners

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 8

Broadsword is up to issue 8, which has a focus on the Warhead/lock/child trilogy, an interview with Ben Aaronovitch and a rather, er, interesting piece by Patrick Porter on his adulation of Kate Orman. The writing remains at a hiigh standard, and this zine is still a must-have. I’d like to know, however, what deluded souls actually voted for Sky Pirates! as the best NA of the year. Four and a half Sgloomi Pos out of five.

Issue 9

Broadsword 9 was published in 1997. It has the layout of a comic and has some sort of a pop-up thing in the middle.

• Editorial, News
• Switch in on off
• BBC Books addresses

Prelude

• God Engine

Retrospectives

• Warlock
• NA Consciousness

Cyberwoods

• Sgloomi Po Awards

• Presence of the Daleks

Virgin Rejects

• Book of Lists

Fiction

• Sabbatical

Reviews

• Death and Diplomacy
• The Eye of the Giant
• Happy Endings
• The Sands of Time..
• Sgloomi Po's reviews

Prelude

• Return of the Living Dad

Is this the last page?

• Virgin Worlds........
• What the hell's going on?

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 9

Issue 9 is layout in some ways as if it was a comic—fun! This is one of their best issues yet, chocka with articles, chaotic layout and silly things. I dunno about the pop-up thingy in the middle, though. Four-and-a-half months to go till the Beeb takes over, out of five.

Issue 10

Broadsword 10 was published in 1997.

• Cat's Cradle: Witch Mark by David Robinson
• New Companions - Samantha Jones
• GodEngine by Craig Hinton reviewed by Richard Prekodravac
• Virgin's World Writer's Guidelines
• Doctor Who - The Novel of the film by Gary Russell reviewed by David Robinson
• Killing Grounds by Steve Lyons reviewed by Andrew Kaplan
• BBC Guidelines
• Six Weeks Before by Richard Prekodravac
• Warchild by Steve Leahy
• The Room With No Doors - Back Cover Blurb
• Christmas on a Rational Planet reviewed by David Golding
• The Scales of Injustice by Gary Russel reviewed by Alex McHugh
• Return of the Living Dad by Kate Orman reviewed by Richard Prekodravac

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 10

...they devote considerable space telling us about the new companion Samantha Jones for the BBC’s range of books (which I reckon should be called the Now Adventures and the Missed Adventures, just to really piss off Virgin). This issue is a bit flat, however, as apart from the obligatory reviews and some news, there’s bugger-all else to capture the attention. Oh well, I hear the next issue has at least half-a-dozen interviews! Issue 10 gets two-and-a-half collaged covers out of five.

Issue 11

Broadsword 11

Fiction

• isthunzi intsomi by Richard Prekodravac

Interviews

• Paul Hinder, aka Paul Leonard, interview
• John Blum interviewed by Richard Prekodravac
• A small snippet with Kate Orman
• This is John Peel interview by Jade Otyemnota
• Marty Day interview by Richard Prekodravac
• Dan Blythe interview by David Golding and Richard Prekodravac
• Neil Penswick interviewed by David Golding
• Jim "Bloody" Mortimore interviewed by Richard Prekodravac
• Dave Stone interviewed by Richard Prekodravac

Reviews

• Damaged Goods by Russell T. Davies reviewed by David Golding
• Cold Fusion by Lance Parkin reviewed by Diziet Sma
• Bad Therapy by Matthew Jones reviewed by Jade Otyemnota

Issue 12

Broadsword 12

• extract from the diary of Bernice Summerfield - from The Dying Days by Lance Parkin
• pp 8 & 9 of The Dying Days by Lance Parkin - The eighth Doctor's first meeting with Benny
• X-over - The X-Files scene that was cut.
• Writing The Dying Days - Lance Parkin writes about the origin of The Dying Days, the telemovie and Virgin's last days.
• Interview - Lance Parkin : David Golding and Richard Prekodravac interview Lance about his work for Doctor Who

Reviews

• The Speed of Flight by Paul Leonard reviewed by Alex Mchugh
• The Plotters by Gareth Roberts reviewed by David Robinson
• Burning Heart by Dave Stove reviewed by David Golding
• Etemity Weeps by Jim Mortimore reviewed by Richard Prekodravac

Quick Review

• The Devil Goblins form Neptune interlude 6 by Kieth Topping and Martin Day reviewed by Richard Prekodravac
• The Room with No Doors by Kate Orman reviewed by David Golding
• Upcoming books: details about books from Virgin Publishing and BBC Books
• Content details: address for submission and writer's guidelines
• Obfuscate photographed by Barbara Robinson

Fiction

• The Agents by Richard Prekodravac - This story continues the arc which began in issue 10 with Six Weeks Before, and continued in issue 11 isthunzi intsomi

Graphics

• Richard Prekodravac - Virgin years Images from 6 years of the most unique Doctor Who series- Andrew Skilleter (Genesys), Fred Gambino (The Dying Days, Tony Masero First Frontier, Original Sivu. Jeff Cummins Wachld) Peter Elson (Transit)
• Mark Jones - Xznaal - Ice Warrior sketch
• Richard Prekodravac - The Dying Days movie poster
• Barbara Robinson - Pauline Hanson at Mardi Gras

Issue 13

Issue #13 front cover

Broadsword 13 was published in June 1997.

Interviews

• Rebecca Levene
• Tony Masero
• Matt Jones
• Mark Morris

• Future Book Releases
• Broadsword Details
• Index of issues 7-12
• Contact Details
• Sgloomi Po awards winners

Fiction

• The Death of Shadows by Richard Prekodravac
• Schrodinger's Botanist by lan McIntire

Book Blurbs

• On No It Isn't
• Dragons Wrath
• Behind the Sun
• Ship of Fools

• Down
• Decalog 4
• Decalog 5
• The Eight Doctors
• The Devil Goblins from Neptune 24
• Vampire Science
• The Murder Game

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 13

The editors find yet another page orientation to use (which, unfortunately, doesn’t quite work. They’re going to run out of different layouts soon!) and fill it with even more interviews (editor Rebecca Levene, artist Tony Masero, and writers Matt Jones and Mark Morris) plus a couple of stories. As I’ve said many a time, if you have any interest whatsoever in the New or Missing Adventures and their BBC counterparts (the Now and Missed!), this zine is a must-get. This issue grabs three-and-a-half abrupt TARDIS appearances out of five.

Issue 14

Broadsword 14 was published August 1997.

General

• Editorial by Richard Prekodravac
• Upcoming issues by Richard Prekodravac
• Inveigle by David Golding
• Internet Adventures by Rebecca Dowgiert
• Labyrinthe Fields of Experience by Christian O'Brien

New Books

• Virgin releases
• BBC releases

Fiction

• Model Train Set by Jonathan Blum
• Bohemian Rhapsody by Rebecca Dowgiert
• Footprints of the Soul by Susannah Tiller
• Schrödinger's Botanist (part II) by Ian McIntire
• Virtual Reality Story by David Golding
• The Death of Self by Richard Prekodravac

Reviews

• The Device of Death by Christopher Bulis reviewed by David Robinson
• The Dark Path by David McIntee reviewed by Richard Prekodravac
• A Well-Mannered War by Gareth Roberts reviewed by Grant Watson
• The Room With No Doors by Kate Orman reviewed by Richard Prekodravac
• Lungbarrow by Marc Platt reviewed by Jonathan Blum
• So Vile a Sin by Ben Aaronovitch and Kate Orman reviewed by David Golding
• The Dying Days by Lance Parkin reviewed by David Golding.

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 14

Broadsword continues on strong, this time with a few big chunks of fiction, three of which are absolute must-reads—indeed, it’s a great shame that none of the BBC books so far have come anywhere near Jon Blum’s depiction of the Eighth Doctor in his tale "Model Train Set". Can but hope for the future, we guess! Overall, though, a tad disappointing give the previous standard set by Broadsword. Continually re-inventing oneself can be a difficult task!