Zine World: A Reader's Guide to the Underground Press

Zine World: A Reader's Guide to the Underground Press is an independent publication which covers independent and underground media. It reviews mostly zines, but also books, comics, newsletters, videos and spoken word recordings. The material it covers is generally available directly from the publishers rather than through larger commercial outlets, and each review includes ordering information and other specifics (such as whether or not the item is free to prisoners, or the publisher's policy on barter). Its news section covers free speech issues and other topics of interest to the independent publishing community. It has published essays from Karl Wenclas, Jeff Somers and other prominent underground writers.

The magazine was launched as Zine World in the 1990s by Doug Holland as a more opinionated alternative to Factsheet Five, but has continued publishing since its larger competitor's disappearance in 1998. In 1999, it changed its name to A Reader's Guide to the Underground Press, and eventually began using both names. It was once widely decried (in its own letters section, on the Usenet group alt.zines, and elsewhere) for running gratuitously negative reviews (particularly from departed contributor Joe Gallo), but is now less controversial. It now publishes roughly once a year. Since Holland stepped down in 2000, Jerianne Thompson has acted as editor and supervised the all-volunteer staff.