Dear SHADIS,

First, the obligatory stroking of your egos... Your Magazine Rocks!

Second, as a relatively new reader (started collecting at #45) I have to ask where you got the name for the magazine and what it means?

Third, a quick story...

I am a big fan of SHADIS and also a subscriber to Steve Jackson Games' online magazine Pyramid. I have noticed several times during discussions with other Pyramid members (both in chat and on the message boards) that SHADIS keeps popping up. And it is always in reference to "What makes a great gaming mag?" or "What can we do better?" The answer often involves "...like they do in SHADIS..." or "Take a look at SHADIS." I have to agree with the comparison and thought that you guys would like to know some of the word of mouth advertisement you are getting.

Keep up the great work!

Oh... forth, my only major gripe is the paper stock that you guys use for the cover. PLEASE get a stronger stock! I have to be so careful with my copies and I don't dare put one in a backpack unless it is bagged. And in my search for back issues (I'm back to the early 20's! Woohoo!) I am forever running across copies that have covers torn at the staple, sometimes badly.

Thanks!

John Buczek

No, John... Thank you.

Someone that collects back issues. And I thought I was weird for buying old issues of Challenge for the maps. SHADIS comes from the name of the moon in the world of Alderac - a fantasy gaming creation by the original editor and publisher of SHADIS, Jolly Blackburn. In retrospect we wished he'd named it Dicelious, or Rant-A-Lot. Perhaps the world could have been named Death Stalker Studios, so AEG would sounded a little more deadly when it came collection time. S. John Ross is the online editor of Pyramid and we'd like to think he's a good egg - letting people talk about other magazines and such.

Now, does someone want to explain to John here about the covers...

Dear SHADIS,

I haven't received issue 51 yet... it must be the aliens, right? Obviously, neither you or the postal service could ever make a mistake... should I have received issue #51 by now?

Also, what was with the Runequest: Slayers article? It was basically a press release/advertisement with no actual information.

Andy

Avalon Hill was supposed to release a new role-playing game called Runequest: Slayers - a new world, a new system. But then they got bought by Hasbro' who took a couple of games from the pile and threw the rest away. Don't worry about it. Just enjoy the free map. If you ever find Civilization, Rail Baron, or Diplomacy, on a shelf in Toys R Us' with a Hasbro label, buy it and hope that Mattel° never buys Hasbro.

Dear SHADIS,

I've been reading for sometime now, and I like the magazine, but no stores in my area carry it. The post office doesn't seem to like me either, because when I subscribe they get chewed up and are unreadable. Please tell me that there is a game store in my area that carries your magazine.

David Thissle Portland, ME

Anyone else suffering from the "my store wont carry SHADIS" should write us and tell us who it is that needs a talking to. SHADIS magazine should be in every store, and on everyone's game table come wednesday night. Tell your friends to start buying their own and maybe your local store will order more than one.