Science Fiction, Popular Culture & Media Studies Collections
Science Fiction
The Science Fiction Collection, from its inception in 1974, has been characterised by a close and longstanding relationship with the Australian science fiction community. The Collection is of national and local significance and it contains a number of rare and unique items related to Australian science fiction fandom.
The collection consists of science fiction literature and supporting materials including science fiction, fantasy and horror novels by local and international authors, comics, graphic novels, memorabilia and ephemera, magazines and fan publications (fanzines).
Brian Aldiss Collection
Brian Wilson Aldiss (1925-2017) was an English writer and anthologies editor, best known for science fiction novels and short stories.The collection consists of several issues of magazines containing articles or stories by Aldiss and uncorrected proof copies of several books.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Brian Aldiss Collection, QB 18, Special Collections, Geoffrey Bolton Library, Murdoch, Western Australia.
Faster Than Light Radio Show
The Faster Than Light Radio Show was hosted by Grant Stone and broadcast between 1978 and 2012. Grant interviewed many Australian and International authors, editors and film-makers during the show. He also provided a review and analysis of popular culture.
The show was recorded and produced in the audio studios at Murdoch University, for broadcast on 6UVS-FM (now RTR-RM). It was syndicated nationally in Australia and also to New Zealand from the early 1990’s.
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Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Faster Than Light Radio Show, QB 11, Special Collections, Geoffrey Bolton Library, Murdoch, Western Australia.
Leigh Edmonds Collection
Leigh Edmonds was a founding member and editor of the Australian and New Zealand Amateur Publishing Association (ANZAPA) mailing. He was active in the Australian science fiction fandom community from the mid 1960’s to the late 1980’s.
The collection consists of organised files of Australian and non-Australian fanzines from 1968 to 1986, including an archive of Leigh’s publications and also his correspondence with other editors and publishers.
The collection also includes the IOTA e-fanzine published by Leigh to document his research into the history of Australian Science Fiction fandom.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Leigh Edmonds Collection, QB 34, Special Collections, Geoffrey Bolton Library, Murdoch, Western Australia.
Popular Culture
Film Tie-In Collection
The collection consists of four types of international film and TV tie-ins:
- Original novels which have subsequently been made into films
- Reissues of previous novels which have been adapted into films (repackaged with the movie logo and sometimes with different titles)
- Novelizations of film screenplays
- Novels based on films
The collection is comprised of approximately 2,100 items mainly from the 1980’s and 1990’s with a focus on Australian, American and British films and television shows.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Film Tie-in Collection, Q FT 791, Special Collections, Geoffrey Bolton Library, Murdoch, Western Australia.
Mills and Boon Collection
Judy Adamson, former archivist at Film Australia, collected the Mills and Boon Collection for over 30 years.
The collection consists of 3,700 paperbacks, mainly published post-World War 2.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Mills and Boon Collection, QB 13, Special Collections, Geoffrey Bolton Library, Murdoch, Western Australia.
20th Century Paperback Collection
The 20th Century Paperback collection contains samples of all the major US and UK paperback publishers and esoteric imprints from the 20th century that have long since disappeared.
The collection consists of approximately 2,000 titles by various publishers from 1940’s to 1980’s. The majority of the collection are Pan Books (now part of Macmillan Publishers).
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], 20th Century Paperback Collection, Special Collections, Geoffrey Bolton Library, Murdoch, Western Australia.
Popular Men’s and Women’s Magazines Collection
The collection consists of magazines that were sold ‘over the counter’ at Australian newsagents. The collection is particularly strong for material of the period 1965-1985. There are titles that could be considered offensive and some that have been on restricted sale in Western Australia. There is a strong sampling of Australian Women’s magazines from the 1930s to the 1980s.
The collection consists of approximately 400 titles in short runs and sample issues.
Poster Collection
The poster collection has a number of significant themes - emancipation posters from the early part of the century, anti-Vietnam posters from the 60s and 70s, gay rights, Aboriginal issues and national student union campaigns, as well as theatre, music, film and magazine posters. There are also a small number of book cover art prints.
The collection consists of approximately 2,000 posters.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Poster Collection, Special Collections, Geoffrey Bolton Library, Murdoch, Western Australia.
Media Studies
6UVS FM: An Audio History
6UVS FM was Perth’s first FM radio station. In 1979, Murdoch University became involved in the funding of the station. In 1991, the station was renamed RTR FM and operated by Arts Radio Ltd.
The collection consist of 13 sound tape reels of interviews used to compile the documentary programme "Play it again", an audio history of 6UVS FM.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], 6UVS FM: An Audio History, QB 6, Special Collections, Geoffrey Bolton Library, Murdoch, Western Australia.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Film Ephemera Collection, Special Collections, Geoffrey Bolton Library, Murdoch, Western Australia.
Original ABC Radio Drama Manuscripts
The collection consists of 17 original ABC original drama manuscripts.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Original ABC Radio Drama Manuscripts, QB 45, Special Collections, Geoffrey Bolton Library, Murdoch, Western Australia.
Play Scripts from TV Script Production Course
The collection consists of 16 play scripts of original unpublished works reproduced in limited runs and used for study by students of the Screen Production course at Murdoch University in 2002.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Play Scripts from TV Script Production Course, QB 22, Special Collections, Geoffrey Bolton Library, Murdoch, Western Australia.
Toronto Film Society Programme Notes
The Toronto Film Society programme notes provide background information and interpretative comment on the creative contribution of directors, writers, cinematographers, choreographers, etc., together with a summation of critics' appraisals where available and appropriate.
The collection consists of notes for Season 7 (1954/55) to Season 35 (1982/83).
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Toronto Film Society Programme Notes, QB 7, Special Collections, Geoffrey Bolton Library, Murdoch, Western Australia.
Ian Watts Collection of Witchcraft
Ian Watts (aka Simon Goodman) (1951-1991) was instrumental within the Australian occult scene during the 1970’s, being a catalyst for the formation of a number of groups (including the “Covanentus Quercus”), Pagan festivals and the Occult Reference Centre based in Canberra.
The collection consists of documents, books, newspaper clippings, tarot cards, post cards, personal correspondence, videos and audio cassettes.