A diary-like zine, with a style of writing that is interesting to say the least. Information is given without much in the way of rhetorical flourishes, but there just seems to be a feeling of detachment from the events of Sean s life, a feeling which never truly goes away. This is not to say that it is hard to get into the zine, but that there is a nagging voice at the periphery of one s mind throughout, wondering exactly how one can break down this barrier and know what it is truly like to be Sean. There is a certain amount of transquility to Sean s life that is interesting to read about, since usually there is a great amount of quick-paced action and anger, even in the most personal of zines. The anger that marks a great deal of zines really comes into play during Sean and Malinda s erection of an anti-war sign in their yard. The sign (obviously) gets ripped down after only a few days, but the lengths gone to tear it down just are impressive the way Sean describes it, the sign was strongly secured with several piles of bricks . Even more compelling than the narrative during the issue has to be the zine reviews that litter the last few pages of the zine, showing that Sean has a sense of unity amongst the zine scene that a number of individuals would rather chuck for derision and scenster (not zinester) bullshit. A good, varied read that really cements Thoughtworm’s claim as one of the strongest personal zines currently on the market.
Rating: 6.8/10
Thoughtworm #10 / $2 / :25 / 28M / Sean Stewart, 1703 Southwest Pkwy, Wichita Falls TX 76302 / http://www.thoughtworm.com / Reviewed 12 July 2005