This issue brings to an end SAGA's fourth year of publication. As I look back to 1986 and those first few issues going out to a grand total of 15 paid subscribers, it's hard to believe that this newsletter has grown almost tenfold in that time. Not only has readership grown considerably - each year I've lost a few subscribers but always manage to increase readership by year's end but the quality of articles submitted has gotten more impressive as well.

Above and beyond my associate editors I would like to thank Richard Davidson, Jamie Fish, Hal Thinglum, Scott Holder and Dave Ottney for their numerous submissions, without which each issue would have been much shorter. Appreciation is also due to those businesses which took a chance on spending their valuable advertising dollars by subsidizing SAGA this past year: Soldier World; Simtac, Inc; GAJO Enterprises; The Thistle and the Rose; Games, Crafts, Hobbies and Stuff; TPS Hobbies; OR Publishing and, of course, Howard Hues Paints. Without the financial support of these fine miniatures-related companies, SAGA would not be in existence.

Perhaps (note I don't say positively) you'll notice this issue is a bit bigger than usual. If I get enough material, I will expand the size of SAGA 4-8 pages per issue or more. I would like to have each issue be 58-62 pages in length, but without submissions, this will not happen. For that reason, I would like to recruit a new Associate Editor, responsible for keeping our readers abreast of Convention news and publications, both monthly and otherwise. I've never had any luck in the past with this, but maybe this year I'll get lucky. The 'Associate' will, of course, get a free year of SAGA as well as recognition from his peers. Any takers?

I received a lot of mail re: TACTICA. At this point, I feel I've made my point and feelings clear and, until a review of the TACTICA supplement (which Gary Comardo will tell us about next issue) comes forth, I don't wish to waste any more time or space on this. To each his own (but I still don't care for them).

By this time next month, my first publication from PALLAS ARMATA should be available in the U.S. This first of a series of ten booklets collectively entitled the Battles and Leaders of the Dark Ages series, deals with the campaign in Gaul between Attila and Aetius Flavius, 451 A.D. Included are a footnoted history of the campaign; background on the historical personages involved as well as their armies; maps; a lively battle description (based largely on contemporary accounts and an historical reconstruction of events); as well an chapters on replicating the campaign for miniatures and a battle scenario with army lists, etc. As a followup, I also included a painter's guide on 'uniforms', well as much of one as I could garner, anyway.

This first booklet, SAGA size, will be on sale for I think $5.00. depending on printing costs and the exchange rate from England, postpaid for SAGA subscribers directly from me. if you wish a copy, send me a check and I'll ship one out an soon as I have them. The next volume will be quite a bit bigger and deals with the campaign for England, 1066, same format, but with three battles instead of one and much more background material.

I've left this for last. It's time for most of you to resubscribe for another year. I regret that I have to raise the subscription price to $20.00/year ($25.00 for Canadian; $30.00 foreign air) for the year's six issues. It has been suggested that I go quarterly, but I don't like waiting three to four months for an issue of anything. SAGA will continue to be produced bi-monthly. Hey, somehow I get this thing out six times and an long as I got enough articles, this is not a problem. If there in a problem for anyone with the higher cost, drop me a line and I'll do what I can on an individual basis.

That's it for another year! Happy Holidays to you all.