From: nan@ertou.ucsc.edu (Nancy Ellman)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.uk
Subject: minireviews of (Re: Blakes 7 Fanzines)
Date: 16 Apr 92 15:16:29 GMT
Article-I.D.: ertou.NAN.92Apr16161629
Organization: /home/helios/nan/.organization
In-reply-to: ekho.bbs@cybernet.cse.fau.edu's message of 14 Apr 92 15:12:39 GMT


Over the past year and a half I have bought a fair number of these
zines, and, since it took me a while to find out which were the most
worthwhile, I thought I'd offer some opinions. 
(As a side note for those unfamiliar with the notation, "adult"
usually refers only to heterosexual situations. A lot of zines are
"slash" (also called "/", or in particular cases "A/B", "C/J") These
refer to same sex situations, eg. Avon and Blake, Cally and Jenna etc.)


   Gambit                 Jean Graham, 5417 Streamview Dr., San Diego, CA 
                          92105

For someone new to the zine world, I'd recommend the Gambit zines to
start out with.  They have a lot of stories most of which are very
good. They are cheap, typeset and well bound and, most importantly I
found when I was starting out, they are shipped promptly.



  Southern Seven    Ann Wortham, 1402 Allison Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
  Southern Comfort  
  Southern Lights   
  Last Stand at the Edge of the World

(She also publishes  Blake's Doubles, and is printing Destiny and
Different Destinies for some other editors)

These zines are generally quite good. I haven't read Last Stand at the
Edge of the World, but I am told it has won awards at cons. The only
problem is that Ms. Wortham is very overextended and the wait for her
zines can be quite long. I have never gotten anything in less than two
months and I have been waiting now for 6 months for my last order -
which I will probably try to sell off as soon as it arrives, as my
interested in the fandom has been waning.  (Anyone interested in
buying those or any of my zines, at 3/4 the original price can send me
email for a list.)  



   Raising Hell           Wendy Rathbone, 13101 Sudan Rd, Poway, CA 92064
   Resistance 

(She also published the single issue "Avon the Terrible"
as well as some fan novels including novella "Trust Like the Soul" by
Jean Lorrah. The latter is the story of what happens then Tarrant
mixes up the memory tubes on Ultraworld.)

These zines are pretty good. The binding isn't great (staples), but
the delivery is pretty fast and the prices are good.


   Oblaque                GBH Productions, 6048 W. Metropolitan Plaza, 
                          Los Angeles, CA 90036

These are all "/". They are very well written, but the stories are
heavy and tend toward bleak endings. I liked them a lot, but they may
not be to everyone's taste.



   The Naughty Bits       Jeff Morris, 1614 Grant Rd., Webster Groves,
                          MO 63119

(Also Banzine. The Naughty Bits is an adult zine. Both these zines
have stories about Dr. Who, Ghostbusters and Buckaroo Banzai. Banzine
also has stories based on the novel "Kill the Dead" by Tanith Lee, who
based the two main characters on Avon and Vila.)

These were both good zines, but since I was only interested in Blake's
7 stories, I didn't buy any more. 


   Destiny                Adrian Morgan, 431 West Barry, #122, Chicago, IL   
   Different Destinies     60657
   Live & Direct

The first two are being printed by Ann Wortham, not Adrian Morgan. I
don't know about the the third. I liked Different Destinies a lot. (I
am still waiting for Destiny ...) 


   Blake, Rabble and Roll Mysti Frank, 516 Shelby St., Lexington, KY 40505

I've read two issues of this zine. The first one was rather short, but
had a couple of good stories. The second one was better. 


Here are some zines that weren't mentioned in other messages. 


   Freedom City Gazette            Space Rat Press      
   Freedom City Winter Special     P.O. Box 422         
   Terminal                        Park Ridge, NJ  17656

These zines consist entirely of interviews of the actors, directors
and technical folk. They provide a lot of insight into the show.



   Down and Unsafe                 Kathy Hanson, 39 Marriotts Rd.
   Seventh Sector                  Cristchurch 9, NEW ZEALAND     

(In the US you can order from Chris Mars, 1575 A1A South #D7, St.
Augustine, FL  32084) These are short, inexpensive zines with good
stories. Seventh Sector usually contains a single fan novel. 


     Dr. Bellfriars Memorial Journal. Kathy Coy, 485 Hawkins Blvd.
                                      Copaigue, NY  11726

Another short, but inexpensive zine. 


   Avon Calling                    Denetia Arellanes        
   Avon Calls Again                429 North Chapel  Apt. E 
                                   Alhambra, CA  91801      

These are adult and "/" zines. Both very good. 


Some story  story authors I have found to be particularly good: Jean
Graham (the best I've read), Kathy Hanson, Shelia Paulson, and for
adult zines: Sebastian and Fay Glasgow. 


A good way to get a sense of the different zines when you are starting
out is to buy used. Ad-zines such as the GAZ (generic adzine)
published by Jennifer Hebert, 2115 Nell Street Houston, TX 77034-1314
list zine sales in the classifieds. Also Bill Hupe, (916 Lamb Rd.
Mason, MI 48854-9554) sells a lot of used zines. He also agents for
other editors, so many of the zines mentioned here may be bought from
him. And, as I mentioned above, I still have about a dozen used zines
I am willing to sell of. Email me if interested. 



Cheers,



 
--
----------------------------------------------------------------
Nan Ellman <nan@helios.ucsc.edu>
----------------------------------------------------------------