I went out on a date on Friday night with a girl who, it turned out, works for a partwork publishing house. I soon realised I was familiar with the concept of partwork publishing, I just hadn't realised that was what it was called.

Partworks are those collectible weekly or monthly magazines that build over time into a larger reference volume. They often have have cover-mounted 'giveaways' and the first issue is usually heavily-discounted to get people hooked.

Romantically the evening was nothing to get too excited about, but it did get me thinking about those magazines, and the very next time I was in the local newsagents I couldn't help having a good dig around on the lower shelves to see if I could find any of the publications she had mentioned.

It didn't take me long to find her latest title: Germs & Microbes — "a fascinating weekly publication that builds into a definitive work of reference on hundreds of types of viral and bacterial pathogens".

Issue 1 was only £2.99 (usual price £5.99) and included a free scale model (in colourful, high-quality plastic) of the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium, better known in its infamous, antibiotic-resistant form, MRSA.

I found more partwork titles by the same publisher — including Knives, Forks & Spoons (builds into a complete six-setting cutlery canteen over 24 weeks) and Pebble Collector (free display case with Issue 1) — but was soon distracted by some of the other niche magazines on offer.

Here are three of my favourites together with tempting extracts from their contents pages:

Whistling Magazine

"The weekly publication that caters to all levels of whistlers, from seasoned professionals to those trying whistling for the very first time."

• Wolf-whistling — Is it real whistling or just a tuneless imposter?
• Speaking Volumes — We find out how many decibels the average whistle registers, and ask the important question: just how loud is too loud?
• Whistle While You Work — Interviews with ten people, from builders to shepherds, who rely on whistling in their professional lives
• Whistle & Hum 08 — A preview of next month's exhibition at Earls Court and exclusive interviews with two of the keynote whistlers

The Stalker

"The magazine for surveillance professionals and casual obsessives alike."

• Cyber-stalking — Is this the beginning of the end for traditional stalking? We talk to four experts.
• Watching Through Rose-Tinted Binoculars? — Is your target really worthy of your attentions, or is it time for a change? Seven sure signs that it's time to ditch your current target and upgrade
• Holidays: Your Choice Or Theirs? — We tackle the tricky question of whether you should follow your target on their trip abroad, or plan a vacation of your own
• Tech Corner — Our propellerheads take you step-by-step through the process for uploading your covert footage to YouTube, and show you how to make sure only you and your target have access

Hiders & Seekers

"All the lastest news, gossip and techniques from the exciting world of Hide & Seek."

• Does Size Really Matter? — Many of the world's greatest hiders have been five feet tall or less, but is size important, or is it really true that "it's not how big you are, it's where you hide yourself"?
• Red Hot Hiding Places — We look at all the lastest trends and ask: is "under the bed" the new "in the wardrobe"?
• Ask The Pros — "Quick and dirty or slow and thorough?" Three times WHSA champion seeker Bob Wallace answers this and other questions sent in by our H&S readers
• "My 60° Hell!" — We talk to a man who hid in a washing machine and lived to tell the tale
• Rules & Regulations — We look at controversial proposals from the NHSA to impose a maximum one hour seeking time and find out what this could mean for endurance hide and seek competitions...