The Journal of Omphalistic Epistemology

The The Journal of Omphalistic Epistemology (or JoE) was an Australian fanzine for the serious discussion of science fiction created by John Foyster. It began as Exploding Madonna, in 1968 with a very limited printing (6 issues) to a small group of science fiction authors and fans. It was then published as the JoE (3 issues between 1969 and 1972) and then as a joint publication with Bruce Gillespie's SF Commentary in 1972 and 1973. Issue 19 of SF Commentary (1971) reprinted all issues of both Exploding Madonna and JoE in it's special "John Foyster Edition"SF Commentary, #19 - Internet Speculative Fiction Database.
This zine won the 1970 Ditmar Award for Best Australian Fanzine.
== ContentsSummary Bibliography - John Foyster, The Internet Speculative Fiction Database ==
=== Exploding Madonna - Issue 1 - April 1968 ===
* No, This Is Not ... • essay by John Foyster
* Although I Do Not Hope to Turn Again ... • essay by John Foyster
* Some Necessary and Sufficient Reasons • essay by John Foyster
* But Why So Secret? • essay by John Foyster
=== Exploding Madonna - Issue 2 - July 1968 ===
* In a Few Words • essay by John Foyster
* Writers of the Purple Page • essay by John Foyster
* Short Subjects • essay by John Foyster
* Another Reason? • essay by John Foyster
* Punch Up • essay by John Foyster
* When to Sessions of Sweet Silence ... • essay by John Foyster
* Re-Condemned Reading: The Year's Best Science Fiction No. 1 • essay by John Foyster
=== Exploding Madonna - Issue 3 - October 1968 ===
* Is Anybody Listening? • essay by John Foyster
* Reading • essay by John Foyster
* Re-condemned Reading • essay by John Foyster
* I Lied with Figures for My Country ... and Found? • essay by John Foyster
*  Letter (Exploding Madonna 3) • essay by Franz Rottensteiner
*  Letter (Exploding Madonna 3) • essay by Sten Dahlskog
*  Letter (Exploding Madonna 3) • [Letters: James Blish] • essay by James Blish
*  Letter (Exploding Madonna 3) • essay by Samuel R. Delany [as by Chip Delany]
=== Exploding Madonna - Issue 4 - January 1969 ===
* The Budrys Case • essay by John Foyster
*  Letters • essay by John Foyster
=== Exploding Madonna - Issue 5 - January 1969Dates provided by the Internet Speculative Fiction Database; Exploding Madonna, 1969 ===
* Untitled ("Rehashing some of the things I said in my first letter to John Bangsund ...") • essay by Samuel R. Delany
* Foyster Here ... • essay by John Foyster
*  Letter (Exploding Madonna 5) • essay by George Turner
*  Letter (Exploding Madonna 5) • essay by Bruce Gillespie
=== Exploding Madonna - Issue 6 - April 1969 ===
* All Change! • essay by John Foyster
* Australian Awards Nominations • essay by John Foyster
* Mr Budrys and the Active Life • essay by Franz Rottensteiner
*  Letter (Exploding Madonna 6) • [Letters: James Blish] • essay by James Blish
*  Letter (Exploding Madonna 6) • essay by Sten Dahlskog
*  Letter (Exploding Madonna 6) • essay by Franz Rottensteiner
*  Letter (Exploding Madonna 6) • essay by Harry Warner, Jr.
=== JoE - Issue 1 - July 1969 ===
* The Incoherent Fumbler • essay by John Foyster
* Chewing Gum for the Vulgar • essay by Franz Rottensteiner
* An Approach to Science Fiction • essay by George Turner
=== JoE - Issue 1 Supplement - August 1969 ===
* Poland: Science Fiction in the Linguistic Trap • essay by Stanisław Lem
* The Ten Commandments • essay by Stanisław Lem
=== JoE - Issue 2 - October 1969 ===
* The Negative Judgement – Mr Atheling Errs • essay by John Foyster
* A Note in the Hand Is Worth Two in the Purse • essay by John Foyster
* Oku – No – Hosomichi by Matsuo Basho: A Note on Oku's Narrow Paths • essay by John Foyster
* Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger (1913-1966): An Incomplete Chronological Annotated Bibliography • essay by John Foyster
* Review: Celestalia by A. L. Pullar • review by John Foyster
=== JoE - Issue 3 - January 1970 ===
* Lint • essay by John Foyster
* 2 • Fragments of an Interview with J. G. Ballard • interview of J. G. Ballard • interview by Robert Lightfoot and David Pendleton
* 4 • Sturgeon's Sadism • essay by George Turner
* 8 • Robots in Science Fiction • essay by Stanisław Lem
=== JoE - Issue 4 - February 1972 ===
=== SF Commentary, #27 / JoE - Issue 5 - June 1972 ===
* The Fauve Thighs and Finagles of Mr. B • essay by uncredited
=== SF Commentary, #32 / JoE - Issue 6 - February 1973 ===
* 2 • Editorial (SF Commentary 32) • essay by Bruce Gillespie
* 3 • This Fanzine Began as a Footnote • essay by John Foyster
** The entire fanzine is a series of 100 quotes of varying length concerning the nature of science fiction, from a variety of authors and critics, selected and excerpted by John Foyster from cited essays and publications.SF Commentary, #32 / The Journal of Omphalistic Epistemology, #6 - Internet Speculative Fiction Database
=== SF Commentary, #34 / JoE - Issue 6 (Part 2) - May 1973 ===
* [2] • Editorial (The Journal of Omphalistic Epistemology, #6 part 2) • essay by John Foyster
** The entire fanzine is a series of 96 quotes (numbered 101–196, continuing the sequence from JOE #6) of varying length concerning the nature of science fiction, from a variety of authors and critics, selected and excerpted by John Foyster from cited essays and publications.SF Commentary, #34 / The Journal of Omphalistic Epistemology, #6 (part 2) - Internet Speculative Fiction Database
* [43] • Very Short Notes • essay by Bruce Gillespie
== References ==
Category:1968 Zines
Category:Science Fiction Zines
Category:1960s Zines
Category:1970s Zines