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
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
Contact: editor@neufutur.com