Bio:Andrew Andrews

Andrew Andrews Ogre Magazine Editor and Publisher 1979-1987 True Review Newsletter Editor and Publisher 1989-Present

It all comes down to choices In his eighth grade high school English class, Andrew had a choice: Obey the teacher and read the less-than-compelling assigned story in his regulation textbook, or turn to the back of the book and read “The Gift,” a beautifully wrought tale by Ray Bradbury. He chose Ray.

Much like the essay by Harlan Ellison, “How Science Fiction Saved Me From A Life of Crime,” Andrew was saved from a life of boredom by choosing to submerse himself in the worlds of Bradbury, Clarke, and Asimov in his school years.

His official reviewing began while working on his high school sophomore journalism project, a newspaper called SCIENTIFICTION (in homage to Hugo Gernsback, founder of AMAZING STORIES Magazine). SCIENTIFICTION was published the week of Jan. 3, 1977, where Andrew chose to dip his pen into the SF inkwell and write his first essays, such as “Magazines for the Future” or the “Science in Science Fiction.”

OGRE Magazine, his first fanzine (and the seed of True Review), was published at Temple University in spring 1979. OGRE 1 featured his first editorial, “Feeling NOT At Home Opposite NGC 224, and Wondering Why I’m Not Over There In the First Place, Or How to Read and Write a Fanzine.”

OGRE continued to publish into the mid-1980s, when a choice had to be made -- continue the all-purpose SF and Fantasy magazine or pursue his real love: simply writing reviews.

After a decade of contributing reviews to a variety of other review journals, including the Dick Geis-edited SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW, FANTASY REVIEW, ANTITHESIS (as review editor of ANTITHESIS Magazine, Andrew published the reviews of now-famous author Kevin Anderson), 1985, and other magazines, he decided to create his own review newsletter. The result, TRUE REVIEW, debuted in April 1989 (printed and distributed in December 1988).

Today, after 27 years in the publishing industry, when he isn’t working on the next issue of True Review, Andrew consults with startup publications and occasionally hits the street as a freelance writer/photographer.

Andrew received a bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism from Temple University School of Communications and Theater in 1982. His formal training came from the street. His domestic training comes from his wife Debra, who continues to challenge his choice to beam himself into the SF universe and read endlessly while avoiding earthly chores such as vacuuming. Alas, he continues to choose books!

In April 1989, TRUE REVIEW began as an eight-page stapled fan magazine, produced using the first version of desktop publishing software and sent to publishers by regular snail-mail. The concept originated from a review (long since forgotten), in which the reviewer stated the comments were nothing but a "true blue review." With those three words, True Review Editor and Publisher Andrew Andrews went to work at the Millersville Pa. University Computer Science Lab in December 1988 to put together the very first "paste-up" of True Review 1. OTHER AMERICAS, a collection of stories by Norman Spinrad, published in 1988 by Bantam Spectra, was our first review, one of 27 featured in that first issue. Several design changes took place over the years, notably to the nameplate of issue number 21 in April 1994. Another design change came about in October 1997 with issue number 35. Our first Website-only True Review appeared with issue 65 in August 2006.

From its beginning in April 1989 until August 2006, True Review was located in Ephrata, Pa. at two locations: 110 Buchland Rd. and 37 Circle Rock. In July 2008, we moved to "The Sweetest Town on Earth", Hershey, Pa. with issue 70 originating from our current Hockersville Road location.

Today, TRUE REVIEW appears on the Web, with hyperlinks sent to online subscribers and publishers via e-mail notice. We've expanded our book reviews from science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery to include biography, self-help, young adult, children's, and others types of fiction and nonfiction. From time to time, we also feature author interviews. Over the past 20 years, we've been blessed to talk to some of the best (Dan Simmons, Bruce Sterling, Connie Willis and Octavia Butler some to mind).

Finally, as the mood and opportunity strikes,we'll also feature reviews of new films.

See www.truereviewonline.com

Updated by Andrew Andrews 7/29/11.