The Journal of Omphalistic Epistemology

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Zine
Title: The Journal of Omphalistic Epistemology (JoE); previously Exploding Madonna
Publisher: John Foyster
Editor(s): John Foyster
Date(s): 1968-1973
Frequency: irregularly
Medium: Print
Fandom: Science Fiction
Language: English
External Links: The Internet Speculative Fiction Database/Exploding Madonna;
The Internet Speculative Fiction Database/JoE
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

The The Journal of Omphalistic Epistemology (or JoE) was an Australian fanzine for the serious discussion of science fiction created by John Foyster. It began as Exploding Madonna, in 1968 with a very limited printing (6 issues) to a small group of science fiction authors and fans. It was then published as the JoE (3 issues between 1969 and 1972) and then as a joint publication with Bruce Gillespie's SF Commentary in 1972 and 1973. Issue 19 of SF Commentary (1971) reprinted all issues of both Exploding Madonna and JoE in it's special "John Foyster Edition"[1].

This zine won the 1970 Ditmar Award for Best Australian Fanzine.

Contents[2]

Exploding Madonna - Issue 1 - April 1968

  • No, This Is Not ... • essay by John Foyster
  • Although I Do Not Hope to Turn Again ... • essay by John Foyster
  • Some Necessary and Sufficient Reasons • essay by John Foyster
  • But Why So Secret? • essay by John Foyster

Exploding Madonna - Issue 2 - July 1968

  • In a Few Words • essay by John Foyster
  • Writers of the Purple Page • essay by John Foyster
  • Short Subjects • essay by John Foyster
  • Another Reason? • essay by John Foyster
  • Punch Up • essay by John Foyster
  • When to Sessions of Sweet Silence ... • essay by John Foyster
  • Re-Condemned Reading: The Year's Best Science Fiction No. 1 • essay by John Foyster

Exploding Madonna - Issue 3 - October 1968

  • Is Anybody Listening? • essay by John Foyster
  • Reading • essay by John Foyster
  • Re-condemned Reading • essay by John Foyster
  • I Lied with Figures for My Country ... and Found? • essay by John Foyster
  •  Letter (Exploding Madonna 3) • essay by Franz Rottensteiner
  •  Letter (Exploding Madonna 3) • essay by Sten Dahlskog
  •  Letter (Exploding Madonna 3) • [Letters: James Blish] • essay by James Blish
  •  Letter (Exploding Madonna 3) • essay by Samuel R. Delany [as by Chip Delany]

Exploding Madonna - Issue 4 - January 1969

  • The Budrys Case • essay by John Foyster
  •  Letters • essay by John Foyster

Exploding Madonna - Issue 5 - January 1969[3]

Exploding Madonna - Issue 6 - April 1969

  • All Change! • essay by John Foyster
  • Australian Awards Nominations • essay by John Foyster
  • Mr Budrys and the Active Life • essay by Franz Rottensteiner
  •  Letter (Exploding Madonna 6) • [Letters: James Blish] • essay by James Blish
  •  Letter (Exploding Madonna 6) • essay by Sten Dahlskog
  •  Letter (Exploding Madonna 6) • essay by Franz Rottensteiner
  •  Letter (Exploding Madonna 6) • essay by Harry Warner, Jr.

JoE - Issue 1 - July 1969

  • The Incoherent Fumbler • essay by John Foyster
  • Chewing Gum for the Vulgar • essay by Franz Rottensteiner
  • An Approach to Science Fiction • essay by George Turner

JoE - Issue 1 Supplement - August 1969

  • Poland: Science Fiction in the Linguistic Trap • essay by Stanisław Lem
  • The Ten Commandments • essay by Stanisław Lem

JoE - Issue 2 - October 1969

  • The Negative Judgement – Mr Atheling Errs • essay by John Foyster
  • A Note in the Hand Is Worth Two in the Purse • essay by John Foyster
  • Oku – No – Hosomichi by Matsuo Basho: A Note on Oku's Narrow Paths • essay by John Foyster
  • Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger (1913-1966): An Incomplete Chronological Annotated Bibliography • essay by John Foyster
  • Review: Celestalia by A. L. Pullar • review by John Foyster

JoE - Issue 3 - January 1970

  • Lint • essay by John Foyster
  • 2 • Fragments of an Interview with J. G. Ballard • interview of J. G. Ballard • interview by Robert Lightfoot and David Pendleton
  • 4 • Sturgeon's Sadism • essay by George Turner
  • 8 • Robots in Science Fiction • essay by Stanisław Lem

JoE - Issue 4 - February 1972

This fanzine is also known as Altjira #4 (February 1972), which Foyster regarded as the 4th issue of the Journal of Omphalistic Epistemology. It consists of all the reviews he wrote for the magazine Vision of Tomorrow.

 [4]

SF Commentary, #27 / JoE - Issue 5 - June 1972

  • The Fauve Thighs and Finagles of Mr. B • essay by uncredited

SF Commentary, #32 / JoE - Issue 6 - February 1973

  • 2 • Editorial (SF Commentary 32) • essay by Bruce Gillespie
  • 3 • This Fanzine Began as a Footnote • essay by John Foyster
    • The entire fanzine is a series of 100 quotes of varying length concerning the nature of science fiction, from a variety of authors and critics, selected and excerpted by John Foyster from cited essays and publications.[5]

SF Commentary, #34 / JoE - Issue 6 (Part 2) - May 1973

  • [2] • Editorial (The Journal of Omphalistic Epistemology, #6 part 2) • essay by John Foyster
    • The entire fanzine is a series of 96 quotes (numbered 101–196, continuing the sequence from JOE #6) of varying length concerning the nature of science fiction, from a variety of authors and critics, selected and excerpted by John Foyster from cited essays and publications.[6]
  • [43] • Very Short Notes • essay by Bruce Gillespie

References

  1. ^ SF Commentary, #19 - Internet Speculative Fiction Database
  2. ^ Summary Bibliography - John Foyster, The Internet Speculative Fiction Database
  3. ^ Dates provided by the Internet Speculative Fiction Database; Exploding Madonna, 1969
  4. ^ Internet Speculative Fiction Database - JoE, Issue 4 - Notes
  5. ^ SF Commentary, #32 / The Journal of Omphalistic Epistemology, #6 - Internet Speculative Fiction Database
  6. ^ SF Commentary, #34 / The Journal of Omphalistic Epistemology, #6 (part 2) - Internet Speculative Fiction Database
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