Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 48 — page 106: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

First in a new series on fan groups everywhere The London Circle by H.J.C. No matter what anyone says about the London Circle —and some have said some most uncomplimentary things —it exists. Tenuous, amor- phous, aimless and proteus, it yet is there for all to see and join. No other club can be joined so easily. All you have to do is walk into the saloon bar of the Globe Tavern, Hatton Garden, London, E.C.1. Mind you, no one will tell you you have become a member. There will be no ceremonies, no rituals. You will be treated just like anyone else who happens to drop in, except that someone may mention science fiction to you. The London Circle has no officers, no dues and no obligations or responsibilities. ' They, it, we, you meet every Thursday evening at the Globe for the sole purpose of being friendly in good company with stimulating conversation and mellowing refreshment. 105 Nobody goes out of his way to make newcomers welcome. Everybody pulls his own weight. Everybody “gets in on” conversational groups that interest him—and then drifts to other groups to find out what the blazes these queer-looking types are get- ting excited about. Everybody gets his horizons broadened and his judgments narrowed. For those who just can’t sit still and talk there are always haggling groups trying to get rid of back numbers or trying to acquire them, or just hag- gling for the mere love of it with no intention of buying or selling. Books, too, are there for sale or barter. Quite a lot of this literature is science fiction. But maybe the most definite characteristic of the London Circle is its freedom from the Over-serious approach to science fiction that categorises and stigmatizes one or two provincial set-ups. Here there conmicloooks.conn