Discover Britain

This magazine DISCOVER BRITAIN used to be called REALM. It is large format, slick, good photographs and stories but a bit slimmer (by about 20%) than a similar publication, BRITAIN "The official magazine" which used to be "IN BRITAIN". However! DISCOVER BRITAIN (REALM) has as much content and less advertisement than IN BRITAIN & may also be less pricey depending on what offer you can find.

Octane

Octane is so far above the mainstream car magazines that it is hard to know quite where to start. First, while enjoy an occasional flip through Automobile, Car and Driver, etc., they are all basically the same reviews of the same cars -and while it may be interesting to someone to know that the brake rotors are larger on the 2010 Mustang/Camaro/Z-car than they were on the 2009, ultimately it's hard to wallow in it month after month.

Octane covers an appetizing range of motoring topics, with an emphasis on sporting cars from all eras. You will read about historic competition cars, classic sports cars that you might want to buy and actually drive, and get exposed to a massive number of events from tours to shows, auctions to amateur racing. Mixed in are a smattering of modern car reviews, product and book reviews, brief buyer's guides to featured attainable older cars (Porsche 928 this month) a column on watches, biographical sketches and so on.

Refreshingly, the editors seem to speak from experience -I believe editor Robert Coucher has a Jag XK120 coupe. Octane benefits from an enthusiast's voice and feels less corporate. If you want a publication to tell you the most practical car to buy for the daily grind, you might want Consumer Reports. Octane is more about indulging your passion for cars.

On the downside, being a UK publication, it's on the bloody expensive side for those of us in the States. I also find the market section too broad-brush to be directly useful -Keith Martin certainly has that covered better. Finally, for U.S. subscribers, there is a length advertising section in the back that features items for sale in Europe, so while it's an interesting glance-through, it is less relevant than it might be, considering transport and shipping costs.

But, that aside, it's a dependably good read and a handsome magazine. While I toss the others in the recycle bin after a few days, Octane tends to be a long term keeper. There is a special kind of joy to the older sports cars, and Octane captures it nicely.

This magazine is excellent magazine, so much beter than the equivalent U.S. magazines. Articles are well writeen and informative -it's one of U.K. magazines I look forward to each month and have never been disappointed. If you this "Octane" plus "Classic and Sports Car' and "Motor Sport"you will have all the inormation you will ever need about Motor Sport and classic cars.

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Deer & Deer Hunting (1-year)

I placed my order and within three weeks I had received my first copy in the mail.

Now that's fast service for a magazine subscription. Great articles for the deer hunter. I am starting my third year reading this magazine it has great articles and illustrations and it is solely on deer hunting. A Good buy for the money. A++

This magazine does have decent content, which is why I subscribed in the first place. As an admitted Whitetail junkie I count on good magazines to help me make it through the long off season to October. This magazine is great...when I actually receive an issue. Today is April 8th. Amazon has my order date as December 2nd. The first and only issue I have received was the March 2012 issue. The address label affixed to that issue said my subscription terminates in December 2012. Sooo, I won't get a January or February 2013 issue? I called the subscription office and left a message about a month ago and haven't heard a response. So, last week I called again and the lady who answered the phone got irritated with me because her department doesn't handle subscriptions. She gave me a different number to call and, when I did, nobody answered...again. I won't be renewing my subscription.

Update: 11 April 2012

I finally heard back from their customer service and they have, at least, made an attempt to fix the situation. They've changed the expiration date to January 2013 and resent the June issue. We'll see if it actually makes it to my mailbox.

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Backpacker (1-year auto-renewal)

I'm new to Backpacker [1-year], but so far find it to be a great magazine. Here's a little of what to expect:

-info about lots of places to go hiking around the world

-hiking and camping equipment reviews

-hiking skills and tips (i.e. recipes, survival skills...)

Some people may get irritated with the ads, but for me, they keep me on top of the latest useful hiking products.

With great pictures and human interest articles to boot, its one of the best hiking magazines I know of. Also recommend The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution if this annoying foot condition interferes with your hiking. Happy trails!

This magazine used to be a great resource for hard core bakcpackers with articles about transcendent survival stories and epic backpacking opportunities all over the world. In the past couple years they have changed their format drastically and have focused on "regional" editions and over the top gadget and gear coverage for total gear-wonks.

Don't get me started on the useless monthly section entitled "Social Climber" where people write into to ask what's socially acceptable on the trail with regard to fashion and things of that nature. You are backpacking for crying out loud...who cares?

It seems to have lost some of its humanity and original vision. I have subscribed to this mag for about 10 years and I used to be able to read it cover to cover, now I am lucky if there is one or article worth reading.

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Like other reviewers have said, the content has gone downhill from informative articles on gear and places to go, to garbage that has nothing to do with backpacking. They sell out to gear companies, endorse shady gear companies ie: Big Sky, and the writing style almost requires you to have a.d.d. to read it ( tons of very short blurbs and "tips" thrown all over ).

To top it off, they have been sending me threatening letters to pay for issues they sent me after my subsription ended and I didn't renew it.

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This publication has gone to an assumed automatic renewal with no choice by the subscriber. Since I didn't agree to this arrangement I didn't bother to respond. The next thing I knew, I was receiving a collection notice.

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Over the past several weeks I have received up to three calls per day from Backpacker urging me to renew my subscription "now!". The frequency and tone of these calls have crossed the line into obnoxious harrassment. A number of the calls have occured minutes after I hung up on the previous call. I am letting my subscription end and am not renewing due to this rude and intrusive treatment from Backpacker. This is coming from someone who has been subscribing to the magazine for well over ten years!

Note that there is no Masthead on the magazine to tell the reader the structure of the organization, nor is there any contact point via e-mail except on the website and that is to Customer Service. I am sure all inquiries to Customer Service are given prompt attention when they are critical of Customer Service.

If this is Backpackers new method of securing subscription renewals, I am better off without it!

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Cloth Paper Scissors

My wife loves this magazine, so I thought I'd buy her a subscription for her birthday. The price here at Amazon (as of May 17, 2005) is nearly 60% above the subscription price offered on the pull-out cards in the magazine.

Go to the magazine's web site and subscribe there. You'll save big over Amazon's price.

Cloth Paper Scissors is without a doubt the BEST magazine out there for mixed media artists. The magazine articles are beautifully done; lots of "how-to's"; easy to understand directions and dynamite photos.

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The magazine's title captures the essence of each issue, which comes loaded with inspiration and practical how-to's. There's a good balance between emerging and professional artists and techniques. Each issue includes:

> Musings

> Now Read This

> The In-Box (mail)

> Popping the Question (topical)

> Who did this? (featured artist)

> The Workshop (technique)

> I Made This (readers' projects)

> Classifieds & Index

Additional techniques, artist profiles, and the results of readers' challenges round out the "Features" section of each issue. (QuiltingArts.com provides images of back issues along with the table of contents.)

CPS is printed on high grade paper with clean layouts and crisp, full-color photos. Highly recommended for anyone working in collage, fabric arts, and altered art. Subscription price is about 15% off the single issue price of $7.95/each.

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This is a great zine to have if you love art, like to look at art, want to learn how to do the art--or just love mixed media art, paper art, or sewing projects, etc. You cannot go wrong. It is beautifully photographed, well organized and just special. I love this magazine so much I have kept every issue and refer to them often. You will too.

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Bravo to the folks at Quilting Arts, LLC, for another wonderful magazine! As with the inspiring Quilting Arts Magazine, Cloth/Paper/Scissors is filled with well-organized information about techniques, interesting articles about artists, etc., all beautifully photographed on quality paper. Well done!

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InStyle (1-year auto-renewal)

Hello, first off, I'm a dad and I got this magazine to add to other subscriptions for my daughter as she went from the tweens to the teens to help introduce her to styles and products in the marketplace.

Oddly enough, I have benefited a lot being able to recommend many of the products advertised therein to her (we used a Neutrogena face wash this week that actually worked!) and to have some idea what to purchase as gifts for other family members, etcetera.

As clothes and cosmetics become more and more expensive it helps to be able to make an informed decision the first time you buy and I enjoy giving many of the products as gifts for birthdays, Christmas, and surprises.

The magazine portrays some glitz but really appears to be excellent in its articles, advice, and the products it advertises (editor: cigarette ads are the exception).

Having run the gauntlet of women's and girls magazines and read all of them that my daughter subscribed to growing up for content and to discuss ideas with her, I recommend this for women and teens.

Be sure to order from Amazon, as I had major problems trying to give a gift subscription from InStyle's website as their site placed the order when I did NOT complete the order process and billed my friend instead of me and instead of being a surprise it was a month of wasted time back and forth with e-mails cancelling subscriptions and all the while they stated that I should notify so-and-so if I was displeased, but so-and-so NEVER got back to me, what a total mess!

Be careful with auto-renewal option. Just received auto-renewal for 1 year at the rate of $29.95 ! NOT a good deal on 2nd year.

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I ordered this subscription in mid December and still have not received my first issue. I would love to say I love the product though!

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I bought my first issue of InStyle two years ago and its gone downhill imho. The article titles on the front typically have absolutely nothing to the article itself, like what to wear now does not explain what to wear now nor does it point you in any general direction. The only plus side to the magazine is that it features bargain prices on clothing every once in a while. The pairings of clothing they put together used to be great, very wearable for the daytime and for most people not in a fashion business. Now it seems as if they've tried to mimic the weirdness that you see in Lucky magazine.

Another plus is the makeup and hair section, they do a good job showing what the newest trends in makeup are with a wide range of prices and products. FYI skintones are also factored in.

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Not only is this magazine a fun read, but also informative. It gives great ideas on what to wear, what make-up or skin products are the best, the latest hot spots and fun places to go, and great ideas for gifts and parties. The interviews and articles are informative and fun, but my favorite section is when they let you in on a celebrity/prominent person's party or get together. They give you all the details as well as some recipes of items they serve so you could recreate it if you wanted to. I like it so much I actually bought the InStyle Party book! This is a great magazine!

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Andromeda Spaceways

This magazine has to have one of the most original and coolest titles I think I have ever seen: Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine. It might be reason enough to subscribe by itself.

As other reviewers have noted, the covers are usually colorful and original. The magazine focuses on the humorous, lighter and less serious type of science fiction and related genres. I say, good. There is already so much of the darker stuff out there. The world can use more magazines like this to balance us out.

If you like science fiction, give this magazine a try!

I've read many issues of this magazine. It offers a variety of stories but often tends to go for the lighter, funnier side of science fiction. It makes a good read if you like short stories written in a similar style to Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams or Robert Rankin. Highly recommended!

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Classical Fighting Arts

Along with "Journal of Asian Martial Arts" (JAMA), this is one of only two historically serious martial arts periodicals that I know of. While JAMA has more of an academic overtone and prints articles on a wide variety of subjects, CFA is more engaged in the dirty work of digging up and reporting primary source material and has a narrower focus. My main criticism of CFA is that it has an overwhelming amount of advertising, but I buy it anyway because it is the only place to get certain information and because I value the work that its contributors do.

Please note that the other 3-star reviewer did not really review this magazine.

As a martial artist practicing kenpo karate, kali and jujutsu, I find the historical reference articles published in this magazine to be superb.

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I read 'Classical Fighting Arts' for years, ever since they first switched from the name 'Dragon Times,' and though there is much to admire in CFA, such as the interviews with Okinawan karatedo masters and articles examining the evolution of karatedo since the early 20th Century, I often find more to disdain in this magazine than to enjoy.

Much of the magazine attempts to look like a scholarly study of the classical and historical Asian martial arts, but with just a little closer of a reading, the shoddiness of much of the scholarship, as well as an overzealous sense of Okinawan nationalism, shows through.

Shortly before CFA began printing its articles on glossy pages, I stopped reading it when the magazine took three of their bi-monthly issues to print a single article that meant to discredit the existence of 'chi' or 'ki,' what many people believe to be a kind of energy found in the body. I make no argument for chi's existence, but though the article outlined many examples to disprove chi in kung fu or ki in aikido, the writer chose not to address acupuncture or any of the other methods of chi used in healing that your insurance company covers, i.e. believes in. In other words, the magazine took three issues to tell the part of the story that would make kung-fu and aikido look bad, leaving the rest of the story untold.

I recently gave the magazine another chance with their Summer 2009 issue, and the shoddy scholarship let me down again. An article on Chinese martial virtue, 'wude,' attempted to dismiss the individualism of Chinese martial arts fiction with the single historical example of the Red Spear Society, a rural militia from the early 20th Century that was steeped in a Confucian concern for the group.

Though the article takes the time to describe the 'Wu Lin' of martial arts fiction and even uses the term 'swordsman,' the writers choose to completely ignore the Chinese term for swordsman: 'xia,' a word used to describe the type of fiction ('wuxia') they use for examples of false wude. Xia was also an actual class of rogue warrior described in 'The Records of the Grand Historian' one of the Four Chinese Classics by Sima Qian (145 or 135-86 BC).

This is basic stuff in Chinese history. To say that individualistic swordsmen never lived in China is to say that gunslingers never lived in the Wild West. There are historical records of both. To discredit the wude of xia with reference to an obscure, rural militia is agenda-driven scholarship, akin to the type of nationalistic propaganda written by Nazis in the 1930s.

I'm not Chinese, nor do I study classical kung-fu. Over the years I have really really tried to like this magazine (that's what the second star is for) but the petty nationalism, and sometimes blatant racism (read anything printed in CFA on Tae Kwon Do) consistently prevents me from liking or recommending this martial arts magazine.

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F1 Racing - England

This British magazine is a little (well, more than a little)pricey but it's an excellent, high quality review of F1 events, people, and races. It arrives in the US about one race late -so it's not the best place to get the "news," but the editorial staff does a great job staying on top of current F1 developments, rule changes, driver changes, and other controversies, so it still feels very current.

Overall it has the look, feel and content of a big budget production. Very good editorial content and great photos.

The magazine is great! It hits the news stands in the U.S. a FULL MONTH before the subscription arrives so don't bother. I have a year (maybe 2 subscription) and I don't bother waiting for it anymore. The previews are then 2 weeks after the races are run. It's really appaling and it seems there's noone accountable. Typical really..... Great magazine. Windsor and The Bish know their stuff! Just get it at the newsstand

KS Malibu, CA

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Good writing, excellent photography, and a sense of humor characterize this stylish magazine. It is a must for any hardcore F1 enthusiast; and you have to be hardcore to pay $72 for a subscription in the US! This is not really a magazine one goes to for all the current F1 news (there's a bajillion websites where you can find that stuff); instead it provides in-depth coverage of political and technical issues as well as interviews with star drivers, team bosses, etc. I generally receive my copy a week or two after it is released in Britain; this is rather slow, but considering that the mag reaches most US newstands a month late, it's not so bad. The only criticisms I have of the magazine are that the editor-in-chief, Matt Bishop, seems to be a bit of an egomaniac who spends a bit too much time writing about himself in his pieces and interviews. This rather annoying approach is emulated by some of the magazine's writers as well. Overall, though, this magazine is a prize and worth its steep price.

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I bought this and I've got the July issue but the September issue is already on the newstand. You are always 2 issues behind the newstand. What a ripoff! They must buy the bulk leftover unsold newstand magazines and ship them third class to have them arrive so late. Go to the newstand if you want it. There is absolutely no customer service to complain to either. They won't give you an email or a phone number.

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Formula 1 is the pinacle of Motor Sport and this magazine is the pinacle of motor sport journalism. It includes indepth reports on everyone and everything related to F1. It will give you a much deeper and wider understanding of the sport. This is a great magazine that I have read cover to cover each month for about 2 years now. My only complaint is that it arrives about 2 weeks after it's publication in England, but it is worth the wait.

Rt Book Reviews

Do you love a good historical romance or a bit of science fiction? Romantic Times Book Reviews is a dream magazine for the book lover or reviewer. Whether you are looking for a book on romance, mystery, the paranormal, erotica, inspiration, urban fantasy, or science fiction, you will find it here. As a dedicated bibliophile, I look forward to each monthly edition with it's wide array of articles, and reviews of the latest upcoming books. Editions are about 135 pages of wall to wall reading and browsing. It doesn't get any better than that!

If there's too many books and just not enough time, this magazine is definitely for you! I look forward to every issue for updates about favorite authors and information detailed enough to help me make selections on purchases before they hit the shops. I frequently go directly from RT to Amazon with my selections for the month.

It's like having the luxury of an in-depth menu before ordering a fabulous meal. I love it, can't do without it, and would definitely recommend it to a friend!

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I read romantic times magazines for the plot synopsis and reviews of upcoming titles. Part of me wishes the editors would focus more on romance and less on general fiction and other subjects (I have no interest in children's books or articles about cover models).

I don't usually agree with the reviewers ratings for books. I think I have different taste, but I do enjoy reading them anyway. Sometimes the covers are poor or uninspired. They could use a re-design.

4 stars.

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This is one of the few magazines I have not stopped subscribing to as I have moved more and more into doing all my product research on the Internet. This magazine has expanded greatly over the years from its beginning of only reviewing romance novels. It has separate sections for almost every genre of popular fiction, and all its reviews are online as well. Subscribers have many perks on the website, including blogs for readers as well as aspiring writers.

Highly recommended!

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I love this magazine since I am a romance author however it was ordered May 24 and I still have not started receiving my magazines. I'm sure that when I do I will be quite satisfied with them.

Auto Motor Und Sport

Assuming you can read German, then "auto motor und sport" is simply an amazing publication there is nothing else like it. Come to think of it, Japanese car magazines are perhaps better but few outside Japan can read them.

This magazine presents and tests cars that few in the US will ever see thanks to our arrogant Federal regulations. The test standards in this magazine make US publications look childish; e.g. a vehicle's 0-60mph time is not the end-all, be-all performance test... no wonder American cars are the way they are...

In other words, this is not for NASCAR fans, but for those who appreciate tests of vehicles done from the perspective of the world's most demanding drivers Germans this is the perfect magazine.

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