Published by punk rock kids, Riot Grrrls, science fiction fans and people on the fringe of mainstream culture, zines have formed a grassroots movement based on a long tradition of the Do It Yourself ethic.

“Notes From the Underground: Zines and the Politics of Alternative Culture,” by Stephen Duncombe, takes on the challenge of breaking down this unique and mysterious subculture, putting into perspective a style of publishing that defies journalistic convention.

With their cut-and-paste layouts printed on copy machines and stream-of-consciousness articles (rants), zines celebrate simplicity, randomness and disorder, some of the themes Duncombe emphasizes.

The book chronicles the history of zines and their impact on both underground and popular culture.

Loaded with pictures, excerpts and comics from zines of all types, “Notes From the Underground” provides readers not only with information, but with a pictorial and visual account of the world of underground zines.

The author fits into an unlikely category. As a university professor with roots in the punk rock scene of the 1980s, Duncombe provides a surprisingly serious discourse about a casual topic, and he does in a way that will captivate everyone from veteran zinesters to the most clueless of novices.

He interviews American and international zine publishers, asking them about their reasons for publishing and their personal world views.

The personality of zine publishers comes alive in a strikingly vivid way.

Zinesters represent the highest form of counter-culture. They reject the status quo and mainstream consumer magazines, opting to publish what they believe is a more real medium of communication.

Though the author rambles on to the point of redundancy at times, he succeeds in his goal of documenting the zine, inspiring readers to get out there and launch their own zines — to trade in their inhibitions, write what they feel and stick to the DIY ethic.

4 Stars

Rating based on a 5 Star scale.