The Strand

I recently received the first issue of the Strand Magazine, and I have to say that it is perhaps the best fiction magazine I have read in a long time. The issue I have is the holiday issue which has a new Rumpole of the Bailey story by Sir John Mortimer, a short ghost story by H.R.F. Keating, as well as fiction by Catherine Aird, Edward Marston, and Ed Hoch. They also had an interview with British writer Peter Lovesey as well as an article looking at Hercule Poirot, and Charles Dickens and Christmas as well as book reviews.

What is really fantastic about this magazine is that they are probably the only fiction magazine in large format that is colored. I combed through some used bookstores and found some back issues, they are also splendid. Those issues had interviews with Sir Peter Ustinov, Sir John Gielgud, Christopher Lee and David Suchet.

What did I like most about the StrandI can't say. I can only say it is a well rounded product that will appeal to the common reader as well as the discerning one. If you are tired of reading your stories in digest sized format and frequently getting disappointed by the quality, the Strand Magazine is a safe bet. I highly recommend it.

How good can it get? The Strand , seems to be jumping from strength to strength. I received issue 8, which was remarkable. The Strand publishes the finest short stories--the mystery stories are written by renowned award winning writers, who are at their best when they write for the Strand. The copy I have has fiction by Sir John Mortimer, in the shape of a Rumpole of the Bailey story; they also had fiction by new writers who I am sure we will hear more of in the future. They also had a very interesting interview with British actor Michael York; this was not he familiar article with tiny quotes but a vibrant Q & A format. They also had an interesting article about the spy genre-thank goodness they didn't overdo the James Bond link. I wish they had more book reviews, the ones they had were frank and candid though. All this reading made me buy all the back issues-don't ask them for the first issue, I am #1000 on my bookstores mailing list for the premier issue. The back issues show how the magazine is evolving and growing. Past issues had fiction by Peter Lovesey, H.R.F. Keating, Michael Gilbert, Bill Pronzini, Catherine Aird, Henry Slesar, and Ed Hoch. Most of the stories were a relief from the dumbing down that has been shoved down our throats by the media. They also had interesting interviews with John Gielgud, Peter Ustinov, David Suchet, and Christopher Lee. I also loved the articles they looked at various things from Jack the Riper, Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, Patricia Highsmith and Charles Dickens. I heard they have a special holiday issue coming out this Fall, I can't wait.

Years ago I thought that the fiction magazine was dead and buried-I am happy that the Strand has injected the life-force back into it.

Buy The Strand Now

I have to say I was surprised to find such great quality in a mystery magazine. Most magazines today are just filled with advertisements and relentless self-promotion; The Strand is really different. They have about eight stories per issue, by such writers as Ray Bradbury, John Mortimer, Peter Lovesey, and Edward Hoch. And these just aren't the mystery stories, which are time burners like in the stuff found in Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock Magazine. These plots are well constructed and will stay with you long after you read them.

The magazine looks stunning as well; each cover has that classic feel. Inside the pages are full sized, glossy, full color, and the illustrations are super.

The issue I have on hand has an interview with the original Nancy Drew author Mildred Wirt Benson. I looked at their website and in the past they have had interviews with Sir John Mortimer, Peter Ustinov, John Gielgud, Michael York, Ian Richardson, David Suchet, and Christopher Lee.

The articles are fantastic--they are not talking down to the reader nor are they like some of those overly turgid academic articles that analyze everything to death!

I love the Strand, may they live long and prosper.

Read Best Reviews of The Strand Here

Although the stories and interviews in The Strand are well worth reading, I think it is worth saying that there are not many stories per issue, and, at least in the case of John Mortimer's Rumpole stories, they are taken from forthcoming books. That being said, The Strand is worth the four stars I've given it, but I would describe it as a "coffee-table" magazine, if such a category exists, due to its glossy pages, large size format, and relatively low number of stories and interviews in content.

Want The Strand Discount?

I don't know what planet that guy is from who is saying below that he had to wait a long time, if he bought a pair of glasses he would notice that you have to wait for 12-16 weeks for every magazine you order from Amazon. I had no problem with that-I think the Strand is a unique magazine. With fiction by such great writers as Sir John Mortimer, Edward Marston, and great interview with actor Michael York. They also have fine articles one such article was about Hercule Poirot & Agatha Christie. They are doing a great job.

Save 43% Off