The self-proclaimed "World's Greatest Neurozine" is a sharp mix of cynicism and optimism about where technology is headed. Editors Mark Frauenfelder and Carla Sinclair started bOING bOING in Boulder, CO, in 1988 - where it lived until moving to Los Angeles in 1992. Citing the seminal Factsheet Five as inspiration - in Frauenfelder's words, "the hub 'zine of the 'zine network" -bOING bOING began as a "magazine for high-tech neophiles with a sense of humor." Initially extracting its flavor from margin-walking movements such as cyberpunk and the Church of the Subgenius, bOING bOING continues to mutate.
"The only thing that we can say about the future of bOING bOING is that we intend to propel ourselves along the creeping tendrils of fringe culture," Frauenfelder said. "We like the edges, where new things pop-up fast. That's the fun of doing a magazine like bOING bOING. We never know what kind of sticky mind-virus will show up on our doorstep to readily infect our novelty-craving nervous systems."
In any particular issue, one might find music, 'zine and conference reviews as well as articles on artificial life, interactive media designers or robot builders who get grant money from the city of Austin, Texas, as well as . The October, '92 issue created a stir as it lampooned cult-fave rag Mondo 2000 in a delicious parody on the back cover and inside pages. Subscriptions: $14 from 818-980-2009.
ELECTRIC WORD
Nocturnal Powerbooks Prowl German Clubs
From Computer Bibles to Real Stories
A Report From the Creeping Tendrils of Fringe Culture
The Newspaper Industry Gets Its First R&D Lab
Lost In Japan? Not With This Gadget
Yeah, but will it improve the food? Get yer seat-back service here!
