BFS Beyond

(Did you mean a different Beyond?)

The BFS Beyond was a UK fanzine produced by the British Fantasy Society (BFS) in the 1940s. It was so-called in BFS publications and Futurian War Digest likely to distinguish it from the Cosmos Club's The Beyond which was its apparent inspiration. Its actual title may have been simply Beyond.

First floated in British Fantasy Society Bulletin #6, the idea was a fiction fanzine produced in a short run (sources say five or six copies whereas The Beyond was single-copy) and circulated around members of the Society. Bulletin #9 announced

The first issue of this epoch-making publication is on the way under the editorial guidance of E. Frank Parker

... and again solicited written and artistic contributions. #10 contained an 'Editorial Manifesto':

The amateur fantasy magazine to be produced on behalf of the BFS is close to completion. To give the latecomers a final chance the editor is placing 'deadline' for receiving contributions to this issue at one week after the publication of this Bulletin. Please don't delay if you've got any material to submit, otherwise it may have to be held over for a second issue at some indeterminate date in the future.

Some members who wish their names to appear on the Circulation Rotas have already intimated as much. The others are urged to do so at once. The earlier names are received by the Editor the higher up on the rotas will they figure. Last comers will be last on the lists.

No.1 will definitely contain stories by Mike Vinter, Roy Johnson, Peter Hawkins, Bob Gibson, Syd Bounds and D. R. Smith and, probably, J. K. Aiken. All types of fantasy will be included. Art work may be expected from Bob Gibson, Jack Banks, Don Houston, Bruce Gaffron and Harry Turner.

Bulletin #14 in January 1944 makes clear that the magazine had appeared and been circulated, and solicited contributions for a second issue.

In Fan Slants #2, Gus Willmorth described a copy, presumably the first:

The cover is an excellent fantasy of faces in prisms – somewhat the effect that one gets on looking into a prismic mirror except that each facet of the prism does not reflect a complete picture as does a mirror – tho faces are made up of prism angles, this by Turner, with whose excellent work in VoM and ToW and other British fan publications you are no doubt familiar. The interior has some fair illustrations as well as some of a more amateur nature. Not having read the stories – although in the future I shall be on the mailing list and have that opportunity – I cannot say just how they are. Contributors include Peter Hawkins, and Aiken, such is the depth of my knowledge concerning the contents. It is gigantic for a fan mag, there are some 125 to 140 pages which would make mimeographing it a tremendous task. Since there are only six copies put out per issue needless to say they are collectors items.

Parker had to step down as editor, and Arthur F. Hillman took over. Bulletin #20 in January 1945 reported that the second issue was being circulated. It contained nine stories of which bulletin editor D. R. Smith said:

all worth reading, most of them making up for deficiencies of style and planning by the freshness they bring as compared with the rather standardised staleness of the standard prozine tale. It is definitely an improvement on the previous issue, and does not disgrace the standard established by the prototype published by our friends at the Cosmos Club.

Bulletin #24 in December 1945 noted that #3 'is now on its way round the rota of those interested' but says nothing about it contents other than that it 'includes a couple of neat little stories by our Mr Chandler'. There were presumably no further issues as the BFS dissolved in 1946.

The British Fanzine Bibliography says the BFS Beyond was produced 'in an edition of five copies only'. It's not known if any survive.

Issue	Date	Pages	Notes
1	August 1943	146	edited by E. Frank Parker
2	December 1944	?	edited by Arthur F. Hillman
3	1945	?	edited by Arthur F. Hillman, final issue

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Publication

1943—1945

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