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Ask HN: Does anyone have scans of these missing PC Plus issues (1991–1993)?

125 points by billpg ↗ HN
I'm looking for copies of these issues of PC Plus magazine please.

1991-Nov, 1992-Jan, 1992-Mar, 1992-Apr, 1992-Jun, 1992-Jul, 1992-Oct, 1993-Jan.

This was a popular PC magazine in the UK, and one of its highlights was Wilf’s Programmer Workshop, a regular column full of programming puzzles, challenges and reader submissions.

At one point, he ran a contest around quines (programs that output their own source). I sent in a tongue‑in‑cheek entry, a batch file that used PKZIP to “compile” code into PKZIP.OBJ (instead of .ZIP) and then ZIP2EXE to “link” it into an EXE. The result was an executable that unzipped itself back into a source file. He was amused enough to mention it near the end of his column, though he noted it didn’t quite qualify for the contest since I hadn’t written PKZIP myself.

I found scans of his section on archive.org, including the issue where he announces the contest, but I couldn't find my particular contribution. I've narrowed it down to the eight issues listed above that are in the right time-frame.

If you have any of these issues (paper or PDF), could you please check Wilf’s section near the back and see if my submission is mentioned?

Thanks!

24 comments

[ 4.7 ms ] story [ 60.4 ms ] thread
jfil
I looked around for you - the best I could find is a listing for the magazines at the British Library at https://www.bl.uk/. It appears that they have a copy of all the issues and they are available by request for physical viewing.
trollbridge
This can be a pain, but we’ve done the same thing at the Library of Congress. In theory, they have access to every digital book published, too.
dandelionv1bes
If you’re in the UK this is quite an easy solution. The library is right by two large train stations and you can sign up same day for a card.
reedf1
I'm busy the next few days but I could clear an afternoon to check this out. I live nearby.
billpg
Thanks very much. That’s a generous offer. If you do find time to check, I’d be grateful. I’ve narrowed it down to eight issues that aren’t in the archive.org scans. My submission was mentioned near the end of Wilf’s column, just before the usual sign-off and the postal address in Bath.

(You might meet PaulRobinson while you're there, looking for the same issues!)

Thanks again for even considering it. Much appreciated! My email address is my HN username at gmail.

reedf1
Hi billpg - did you get these in the end? I'll make time for this if not.
PaulRobinson
I regularly go to BL and had planned to go in the next couple of weeks, except I just got an email suggesting a strike might mean there are limited facilities available from Monday for a couple of weeks.

That said, I'm happy to go and try and pull those copies (it's sometimes hard to get physical copies), and send the OP scans of his contributions (if they're in there!), when I go in mid-late November.

OP - if this is a useful help to you, let me know and we'll find a way to connect!

billpg
Hello there! I had sent this HN submission in a few weeks ago and I thought it had disappeared off the "new" page with only one comment. I came back on today and happened to notice some activity and HN had reposted my piece five days ago.

I have since contacted the British Library and they have the eight issues I was looking for, but I live way up north and it would take a little planning and spending whole day to get there, but if you'd be willing to do that, yes please. I've narrowed it down to these eight which are in the right timeframe and are missing from the archive.org collection. I do remember my mention was right at the end of that month's column, right before the usual sign-off and the address in Bath to send in contributions.

My email address is my HN username at gmail.

PaulRobinson
I have emailed you, so if you haven't seen that, check your junk folder.
billpg
Thank you. I've written back.

(Short version of email: Yes please!)

jen20
PC Plus in the days of Paul Stephens (RIP) and Dave Pearman was hands down the best computing managazine around. I believe I have every issue from -1994-2000 with the exception of Feb 97 (long story) but these ones predate me sadly.
afavour
Haven't heard that name in years! Thanks for a trip down memory lane. I was always more of a PC Format reader than PC Plus but would buy any of these magazines I could get my hands on and devour them. A simpler time...
stavros
> he noted it didn’t quite qualify for the contest since I hadn’t written PKZIP myself.

Why? Had the other entries written GCC/LD themselves?

roflchoppa
oh wow! back in August of 2005, I was on a trip to the UK and found a magazine that was talking about Counter-Strike hacks, and I think it was published by PC Plus,

I could be wrong but man I want to find that magazine now.

radial_symmetry
This post is proof that I truly do not understand what it takes to get to the front page of HN
ta1243
For the 120th (10 year) issue, I think in 1996, they had a "what will computers look like in 10 years time" article.

I'd love to see that.

iam-TJ
Have you checked out the The National Museum of Computing (TNMoC) archive. Last time I was there they had a rather good magazine collection going back to the early 1980s. It may be worth a call. I see they have an (incomplete) online catalogue:

https://www.tnmoc.org/library-archive

rasz
mmm PC Plus, UK mini version of Computer Shopper, 300 pages of product listings with prices to lust over.