Amra
Issue 24 1963
Cover Art by Ray Garcia Capella
Amra was a science fiction and fantasy fanzine devoted to the "Swords and Sorcery" genre published by George H. Scithers (1929-2010).
The first issue was published in January 1959, and was numbered 2.1, as Scithers had used the title on a previous venture. The final issue, number 71, was dated July 1982.
Amra was intially published in Stanford, California, then Arlington, Virginia, Alexandria, Virgina, Chicago, Illinois, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The term "Swords and Sorcery" first appeared in the pages of the zine, leading to the name for the genre exemplified by writers such as Robert E. Howard.
Contributors of writing included Dan Adkins (Sata Illustrated), Poul Anderson, Alicia Austin (Kevas and Trillium), Ruth Berman (All Mimsy, Dinky Bird, SH - sf Fanthology), Dainis Bisenieks, Redd Boggs (The Lovecraftsman), Anthony Boucher, John Boardman, Robert E. Briney (Cataclysm), John Brunner (Noise Level), Ken Bulmer (Science Fantasy News), L. Sprague de Camp, Catherine Crook de Camp, Ray Garcia Capella, Lin Carter (Spaceteer), John D. Clark, Buck Coulson (Yandro), Avram Davidson, Richard H. Eney (A Sense Of FAPA), W. Paul Ganley (Fan-Fare, Eerie Country), Jane Gaskell, Harry Harrison, C.C. Hebron, Frank Herbert, Dave Hulan (Pelf), Roy Hunt (The Alchemist), Fritz Leiber, Richard Lupoff (Xero, Horrib), Archie Mercer (Vector) and Beryl Mercer (Link, Oz), P. Schyler Miller, Michael Moorcock (Typo, Rambler), Bjorn Nyberg, Jerry Pournelle, E. Hoffman Price, P. Rasch, Robert Silverberg (Spaceship), Harry Warner, Jr. (Horizons), Ted White, and Roger Zelazny.
Covers were by Dan Adkins, Karen Anderson (Alif, Vorpal Glass, The Zed), George Barr, R. Barrett, Ray Garcia Capella, Jim Cawthorn, Alex Eisenstein, Robert E. Gilbert, (REG), Larry Ivie, Jeff Jones, Tim Kirk, Roy G. Krenkel, Alex Nino, George H. Scithers, BB Sams, Dennis Smith, Bjo Trimble (Shangri L'Affaires), and others. Illustrators included Alicia Austin (Kevas and Trillium), George Barr, John Boardman, Lin Carter, Jim Cawthorn, Philip Foglio, Frank Frazetta, Robert E. Gilbert, Eddie Jones, Jeff Jones, Tim Kirk, Roy G. Krenkel, Gray Morrow, Jim Nielson, Tim Powers, Ron Ross, Bernie Wrightson, and Jean Young (Garage Floor).
Amra won the Hugo Award for Best Fanzine in the years 1964 and 1968.
