Iceland review - 2007, Qupperneq 6

“The geographical position of Iceland – halfway between Europe and America – once earned
this large island the name ‘the Hermit of the Atlantic’. But the air age has broken the isolation
and Iceland is now one of the world’s air highways.” Iceland’s importance as one of the
world’s air highways has certainly not diminished since Gylfi Th. Gíslason, then Minister of
Commerce, wrote this foreword in the first issue of Iceland Review, published in the summer
of 1963. At that time, Iceland was still relatively unknown to the outside world, only 17,575
people visited our beloved island nation that year, and the contents of the first issue – stories
entitled “New Trends in Herring Fishing” and “They All Want to Try the Shark” – ref lect
this fact.
Today, almost 400,000 people visit Iceland annually. Foreign media coverage of Iceland
abounds and celebrities like Björk and Eidur Smári Gudjohnsen have placed the country even
more prominently on the world map. Iceland Review has developed accordingly; the days of
articles about herring and shark are mostly gone.
This issue is the first under a new editorship and thus it’s a nice coincidence that its theme
is “Born Again.” Although the magazine is far from being completely transformed, most of
its articles are connected with the ever-changing nature of the world. Sara Blask’s feature
addresses Iceland’s born-again Christians and their opposition to a new translation of the
Bible. Greg Bocquet heads inside Iceland’s labor market, which has been transformed in
recent years by the inf lux of immigrants, and Jonas Moody takes a look at Icelandic families,
including same-sex parents and interracial adoptions. Our planet is also undergoing dramatic
changes, and not for the better, as documented by Ragnar Axelsson’s photo series from
Canada’s Baffin Island.
Iceland has transcended its traditional identity, moving beyond Gullfoss and Geysir, the
midnight sun and northern lights. Finally the outside world is getting a more accurate picture
of the people who live, work, preach, pray and eventually die here. We hope to continue
publishing a more inclusive picture of our favorite island. I hope you will enjoy.
Sveinn H. Gudmarsson
Editor
Editor
Sveinn H. Gudmarsson
dEputy Editor
& picturE Editor
Páll Stefánsson
dEsign
Helga Gudn‡ Ásgeirsdóttir
staff WritErs
Sara Blask
Jonas Moody
Eliza Reid
contributing
WritErs
Greg Bocquet
WEb Editor
Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir
contributing
photographErs
Áslaug Snorradóttir
Ragnar Axelsson
Daníel Bergmann
Leó Stefánsson
contributing
illustrators
Inga María Brynjarsdóttir
Lilja Gunnarsdóttir
proofrEadEr
& copy Editor
Erika Wolfe
production
Helga Gudný Ásgeirsdóttir
color production
Páll Kjartansson
advErtising salEs
Ágústa Einarsdóttir
AnnuAl subscription (worldwide) usd 39.50 or equivalent in other currencies.
Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Submissions should be accompanied by a self-addressed envelope and an international money order to cover postage,
if return is required. No articles in this magazine may be reproduced elsewhere in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher. ISSN 0019-1094. Iceland Review
(ISSN:0019-1094) is published quarterly by Heimur hf. in Iceland and distributed in the USA by SPP 75 Aberdeen Road Emigsville PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid at
Emigsville PA. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Iceland Review P.O. BOX 437 Emigsville PA 16328-0437.
Publisher Benedikt Jóhannesson
Head Office
Heimur hf.
Borgartún 23, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland

Tel: (+354) 512 7575
Fax: (+354) 561 8646
icelandreview@icelandreview.com
Printed in Iceland by Oddi Ltd, Reykjavík
45.02
icEland rEviEW
irfrom thE Editor