In addition to excerpts from dozens of zines, the authors offer how-tos for would-be zinesters on raising money, distribution, the pros and cons of collaboration and more.

Zine culture, more than most previous cognates, is an inherently shattered culture — it's only defining characteristic being that it has no defining characteristic. But just now, some of the shards are heading uptown — and it doesn't seem to mean that they're leaving anything, their principles or even their continued participation in zine and alt culture behind.

Former and continuing zinesters like Munroe and Lynn Crosbie are signing on with big publishers (HarperCollins and Doubleday, respectively) and early reports suggest they're not dumbing down or straightening out for the privilege.

For three years, 1989-91, Janice was art director for Factsheet Five, a sort of megazine that listed and reviewed hundreds of zines and acted as a clearinghouse for zine fans, called zinesters.