Issue #1 Notes - If - E - Zine

Introduction
When I published the first issue of If – E – Zine I was twenty-six years old. I’ll be
thirty-two this December. Then the Iraq War was a mere five months old; now it’s five
years old, on-going with no end in sight and a political hot topic. Then Georgia was a free
democratic state; four days ago they were invaded by Russia. Then I lived two blocks
from the beach in Maui and loved barbequing ahi steaks; now I live in one of the most
impoverished, violent cities in the nation and consider myself lucky in I’m able to buy
jelly to go on my peanut butter sandwiches.
Through it all has been If – E – Zine (among other things). This ezine has
expressed my fears and joys. It has given life to the places I’ve lived and the people I’ve
met. It has inspired me to work on other projects. It has been very personal yet very
public. Lastly, it has been fun.
I hope to say that again, five years from now.
If – Errata: The Official Fan’s Guide to If – E – Zine features notes about the
content of the first twelve issues from the first five years of If – E – Zine.
First up we take a look at the art that has graced the covers of those twelve issues.
I originally published the ezines as simple clickable web pages and included notes on the
cover art. I stopped doing around the fourth or fifth issue. I describe the cover art here,
their meanings and inspirations.
Next up is notes about the stories that have appeared in the ezine. This gives an
unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at what inspired the stories of If – E – Zine.
Then comes a map of Protuculus, the world in which our sword & sorcery hero
Zalam lives in. It’s a primitive map, but it should give you a better idea of the geography
that Zalam travels through.
After that is a multitude of notes about the universe of The Sarge. Included in
these notes is a listing of military ranks and weapon schematics.
The last feature is an article called Getting’ Iffy in which I discuss the origins of
Iffy the Ifreet, If – E – Zine’s new mascot!
Enjoy If – Errata.
Thanks to all my fans and friends for five great years,
~ Charles Shaver
editor & creator of If – E - Zine
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