Ethel the Aardvark

Zine
Title:	Ethel the Aardvark
Publisher:	Melbourne Science Fiction Club
Editor(s):	Michael Wauchope (founder), LynC (latest editor)
Organizer(s):
Author(s):
Cover Artist(s):
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Type:	clubzine
Date(s):	1985-
Topic:
Medium:	print and online
Frequency:
Fandom:	science fiction
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Language:	English
External Links:	MFSC website, via Wayback Oct 28/22 eFanzines.com
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Ethel the Aardvark is the club zine for the Melbourne Science Fiction Club. The first issue was published in 1985 by Michael Wauchope, who named it after a book in the Monty Python skit, The Bookshop Sketch. The most recent issue was released in March 2024.

Ethel the Aardvark is the MSFC’s club magazine. It is published six times a year and is free to members. It is also available by subscription, and we participate in fanzine trades.

(The fanzine collection in our library is also impressive, and provides an excellent insight into the world of fandom for those brave enough to investigate it.)

Ethel includes:

News – about the club and from the wider world of SF Fandom Reviews – submitted by Ethel readers Letters – to the editor Feature articles – submitted by more wordy fans Artwork – from the more artistic fans

As you can see, we do rely on people voluntarily submitting material for the magazine. To keep the quality at the heights to which we have become accustomed we encourage all members to demonstrate their talent in a submission.

 

Over the 40 years the zine has been published, it has had a number of editors, including:

Michael Wauchope | James Allen | Louise Angrilli | Sue Ann Barber | Alison Barton and Jon Swabey | Ian A. Chapman | Damian Christie | Paul Ewins | Ian Gunn | Nalini Haynes | Christopher Johnstone | LynC | Edward McArdle | Paula McGrath | Murray MacLachlan and Natalie MacLachlan | Emilly McLeay | Richard Mordern | KRin Pender-Gunn | Sam Rooney | Peter Ryan | Alan Stewart

The zine has won the Ditmar Award for Best (Australian) Fanzine twice in 1990 and 1994. It has also won the Australian Science Fiction Media Awards in 1991, 1992 (three-way tie with The Captain's Log and Just Alice), 1993, 1994 and 1996. It was also nominated but did not win in 1995.