I’ve been spending the last several days writing the introduction to the volume of Society and Space papers for the Sage Environment and Planning collection. It’s been fascinating to go over the journal’s back issues, yet again, and trace the story of the journal. Some of the introduction is given over to a discussion of the papers included in the volume, but the bulk of it is a history of the journal and the kinds of aims it had and has, and the debates that have taken place within its pages. Many people – editors, publishers, contributors, readers – have contributed to that story, but four stand out: Michael Dear, Gerry Pratt, Nigel Thrift and Derek Gregory. I was well aware of the legacy when I took over as editor in late 2006, but doing the work for this introduction has further reinforced this.

In 1999 Michael Dear wrote a piece in praise of Pion founder John Ashby. It has this wonderful picture.

Society and Space editors and Pion staff 1985. Left to Right: Derek Gregory, John Ashby (Pion founder and journal publisher), Michael Dear, Jan Schubert (now Pion Editorial Director), Nigel Thrift.

Back in 2007, following Judith Butler’s lecture celebrating our 25th anniversary at the San Francisco AAG, Michael, Gerry, Nigel, Jan and I went for lunch. We took photos for posterity at what was the only time the five of us had been together in one place. Unfortunately the camera that had the photos was lost so no record exists. We will have to do that again sometime. Perhaps in 25 years time someone will be interested in seeing it.