MSU’s collection includes a handful of zines dating back to the 1940s, modest numbers for the 1950s and 1960s, and a large number from the 1970s. This pattern of distribution reflects an increase in the popularity of fan publishing in the 1970s, as well as donations donations from several MSU alums who were avid science fiction fans and active in zine publishing during that period.

Zine authors discussed much more than science fiction in their publications, reflecting their distribution to a limited group of friends and acquaintances. Many shared personal news, thoughts on current events, and travelogues. Other zines aimed to increase their readership, and evolved to become more like commercial publications. These “semi-pro” (semi-professional) zines might take advertising, sell subscriptions, or use substantial editorial time to compile news from the field.

Like amateur zines, however, semi-pro zines were generally a labor of love: they might generate enough revenue to cover printing and postage, but not enough for the editor to quit their day job.