Electronic Male (newsletter)

Electronic Male is a gen Data/Brent Spiner newsletter with at least thirteen issues.
A fan in 1993 wrote: " A periodic updating of "Spinerisms" (which in itself is a must for Data/Brent fans!) by witty commentator Joyce McDonald. Contains con reports, info about the TNG cast, letters of comment, book and fanzine reviews, and even news about Data fans. Especially noteworthy for excellent tape-sharing operation for those wishing to view all of Brent's performances caught on tape.from Data Base v.2.0
==The Title==
Despite the possibility of the newsletter's title having something to do with the then-newfangled thing called "email," the title does not (at least according to a comment in issue #11) seem to be a pun on this new technology.
==One Zine Leads to Another==
From Joyce McDonald in the first issue:
==One Topic: Brent Spiner's Con Appearances, or Lack Thereof==
A number of the newsletters record the unhappiness of fans regarding Brent Spiner's no-shows at cons and perhaps less-than-diplomatic comments regarding fans.
Issue #7 is one example: it includes a photos of Spiner and the caption: "Can you believe it?!! It's really HIM... doing a convention!" That issue includes: "BRENT'S CONVENTION SCHEDULE!!! Save your pennies, folks, because here he comes!! Brent is doing SEVEN (count'em) conventions through September 1992, so just about all of you Brent-hungry folks can drink your fill. He's doing this to promote his album, SOOOO BUY SOME MORE!!!" The album is the recently released "Ol Yellow Eyes is Back."
==Issue 1==
Electronic Male News 1 was published in January 1990 and contains 7 pages.
* a LoC by Lana Brown
* a clipping from the December 5, 1989 Washington Post: "TV & Theater News: Tasha Returns to ST:TNG on February 19"
* some "Naked Now" episode-related limericks
* a clipping from the January 17, 1990 issue of Wall Street Journal: "New Generation of Trekkies"
* Starbase Indycon Report Features Sirtis, Barrett, & Vardaman by Diane K. McCarty "sent via subspace communications"
* Hi-Tech Overview: The Concept of "Downloading" by an uncredited fan
* review of "Strike Zone" by Peter David
* Convention News... Creation Con Tries Preferred Seating
* an update about Spinerisms
==Issue 2==
Electronic Male News 2 (v.1 n.2) was published in April 1990 and contains 12 pages.
* "'The Offspring' -- Possibly the Most Beloved Episode Ever" by Joyce McDonald ("April Fool's Day, 1990")
* many letters to the editor complaining about Creation Con and by default, Brent Spiner's appearance there—comments were mostly negative and had to do with money, hypocrisy, greed, access to the celebrity, disappointment in the celebrity's candidness... One sample excerpt: 
* "Spiner Recevies Two Minute Ovation at New York Convention," compiled by Leah Deyneka, uploaded by Tashana, and sent in by Nancy Jacobs -- "Wearing a black outfit and his gold wire-rim glasses, Brent Spiner made his first convention appearance at the Thanksgiving Creation Trek Con on November 24, 1989." (very, very long con report)
* "Headliners" by Melody Rondeau (cartoons)
* "Lana Goes to Hollywood" by Lana Brown ("Guess which artist from New Zealand got to go LA and meet and you-know-who? For the rest of us who will never be so lucky, she chronicled her visit...")
* an update on Operation Tape Share
* "Switching Channels? Look for Our Hero on These Shows"
* "DOES He or Does He NOT Have Emotions?" by Joyce McDonald and Mary Jane Keao (article)
* a LoC about "The Defector"
* a review of the tie-innovel by Jean Lorrah ("Survivors")
* a review of "Ensigns of Command"
* Michael Dorn at Bash Con (January 27–28)
* Contest for This Issue: "Who Can Write the Best Data Filksong" (includes a sample filk by B. Perry, to the tune of "Yesterday" by the Beatles "Tasha Yar")
File:electronicmale2-1.jpg|inside page from issue #2
==Issue 3==
Electronic Male News 3 was published in August 1990 and contains 8 pages.
* this issue is dedicated to Lana Brown and there is a short bio on her
* a paper copy for the Electronic Male Network
* letters to the editor
* Continuum: Spotlight on EM Networkers, tidbits about what fans are creating
* a con report for the Creation Cons in Los Angeles and Denver
* the editors of the newsletter are impressed with the variety fan-created stationery and ask for samples to be sent to them for teh contest: "Who Has the Best Designer Stationery?"
* some episode reviews
* A Visit to Paramount (and Guess Who's There?), article by Susan Lugiai
* interview with Eric Stillwell, conducted by Joyce McDonald at the LA Creation Con
* "Life's What Happens When You Have Other Plans, editorial by Joyce McDonald: from the editor: 
==Issue 4==
Electronic Male News 4 was published in December 1990 and contains 14 pages.
* the editor is a bit overwhelmed with RL commitments and two other fans are helping out: two of them are Becky and Mary Jane (Mary Jane is the local president of the new Science Fiction Cable Channel Fan Club)
* cartoons by Fran Wong
* there are many letters of comment, one from Eric Stillwell who thanks them for the interview but says his name was spelled wrong, one from Lana Brown who got her newsletter (in New Zealand) two months after it was sent, someone describing her computer set up, and much more
* an illo of "Desert Island Data" by Fiona Schofield, another illo of Data by Judy Bishop
* an illo by Brenda Perry that was previously printed in an issue of Grip, other small illos by her portraying Tasha Yar and Data from Grip and In a Different Reality
* cartoon by Sandra Cosimano, one by Lorna Hunter
* a con report for Converge #2 ("A fun convention, even without You-Know-Who"), see that page
* some photos of fans at the June 1990 LA Creation Con
* Diane McCarty announces the Android Owner's Manual and has a detailed submission request
* a report of Melinda Snodgrass' appearance at New Orleans Science Fiction and Fantasy Fair in June in New Orleans
* a filksong by Monika Feigl and Linda Munn called "When You Choose to Cruise the Stars" to the tune of Pinocchio
* updates on what the actors are doing, snippets from interviews and other sources
* an update on Spinerisms regarding size and cost, see that page
* "Additional Notes on "Yesterday's Enterprise" Episode" by Eric Stillwell includes some clarification of the interview in the previous issue
* a long interview conducted by Rebecca Zertuche of Nichelle Nichols, exclusive to the this newsletter
* about names and responsibility: 
* a fan writes: 
File:electronicmale4-1.jpg|inside page from issue #4
File:electronicmale4-2.jpg|inside page from issue #4
==Issue 5==
Electronic Male News 5 was published in February 1991 and contains 16 pages.
* illos by Lorna Hunter, Fran Wong, Lana Brown, Teresa Sanson
* many letters of comment, topics vary widely, reads like a modern-day fan forum/bulletin board
* A Cure for Trekism, by Joyce McDonald "with apologies to Vel Jaeger"
* Randy Quaid: "Just a Regular Guy" by Joyce McDonald
* Judy Bishop wins the best fan stationery contest
* a fan profile of Lynda L. Ciaschini
* Patrick Stewart: A Man with a Conscience, a con report by Nancy G. Hefka for a LaGrange/Starfleet con—focus on Amnesty International
* the editors address the Viacom Crackdown:
File:electronicmale5-2.jpg|inside page from issue #5
File:electronicmale5-3.jpg|inside page from issue #5
==Issue 6==
Electronic Male News 6 was published in July 1991 and contains 16 pages.
* illos by Teresa Sanson, Fran Wong, G. Wrubel, Christopher Simmons (a "computer illustration"), Sandra Cosimano, and Lorna Hunter
* lots of chatty LoCs
* Feelings, a poem by Sandi Almany
* a big ad for Brent Spiner's cassette tape
* a review of the tie-in book, "Metamorphosis" (Jean Lorrah's "Metamorphosis" "Falls into Horrendous Cliches")
* "A Klingon Called 'Sugar Cheeks'," a con report by Diane Collins for "Creation Salutes Star Trek" in Detroit—focus on Michael Dorn
* a con report by William McCullars for the "Trek-o-Rama Convention" in Charlotte, NC, featuring Marina Sirtis
* some very short comments about several zines: Imzadi #5, Eridani #5, Where None Have Gone Before #30, Galaxy Class #8, Swift Currents, Kiron III
* some photos of fans
* a fan talks about the phone: 
File:electronicmale6-1.jpg|inside page from issue #6
File:electronicmale6-2.jpg|inside page from issue #6
File:electronicmale6-3.jpg|inside page from issue #6, parody of a fan club
==Issue 7==
Electronic Male News 7 was published in November 1991 and contains 24 pages.
* there are some fan memorials to the recently-departed Gene Roddenberry
* a con report by Nancy G. Hefka for the October 1991 Creation Con, includes photos
* many cartoons by Fran Wong
* many very chatty LoCs
* a parody of a Lore fan club
* an article about computer viruses
* a profile of a fan
* photos of fans
* a reprint of a 1991 review from the Seattle Times of Spiner's album: "Ol' Yellow Eyes is Back"
* a fan's review of "Ol' Yellow Eyes is Back"
* a full-page ad for "Ol' Yellow Eyes is Back"
* 
==Issue 8/9==
Electronic Male News 8/9 was published in October 1992 and contains 37 pages. It has illos by Fran Wong, Charlotte Graham Clarke.
The staff roster lists 33 people.
* it is an issue that reveals, among other things, a lot of internal turmoil
* Send in the Clones: An almost totally true account of a weekend odyssey with E.M. and Brent Spiner," a con report by Denise Gary for Dallas TrekFest
* a review of Pulse of the Machine, see that page
* the first part of an untitled serial novel by Beverly Brock
* some ads for ST:TNG merchandise
* an "update" on the virtual Lore fan club (the club is a parody): "Since a secretary has not been appointed yet (Lore doesn't believe in the democratic process), a roll list hasn't been well kept. If you joined, but did not receive dishonorable mention, please let us know so that we can five you the notice you deserve."
* a report of a play in Orange County at the Don Walsh Auditorium February 15, 1992 that starred a bunch of ST:TNG actors: "A Play for Actors and Orchestra"—includes two photos and an entire transcript
* includes a form for members to fill out in order to update the Network
* the editor writes: 
* "about our rates:" 
* a staff member, Rebecca Z, writes: 
* the editor responds to Rebecca Z: 
* the editor writes: 
* a fan remarks on DS9: 
* the editor responds to a fan's remarks on DS9: 
* a fan is mad: 
* the editor addresses the mad fan: 
* another angry fan: 
* the editor addresses the angry fan: 
* a fan who works for the National Weather Service in Anchorage, Alaska writes: 
* the editor scolds fans regarding those fans who were poorly behaved at a con in which Brent Spiner recently appeared: 
File:electronicmale8-9-1.jpg|inside issue #8/9
File:electronicmale8-9-2.jpg|inside issue #8/9
File:electronicmale8-9-3.jpg|inside issue #8/9
File:electronicmale8-9-4.jpg|inside issue #8/9
==Issue 10==
Electronic Male News 10 was published in August 1993 and contains 12 pages.
* the letters in this issue are fairly placid
* illos by Fran Wong, Barb McNeese
* a con report for a con in Houston
* a con report for a Creation Con in LA
* Freedom, poem by Tanya Dean
* the editorial, broken two into two parts, due to lateness: 
==Issue 11==
Electronic Male News 11 was published in February 1994 and contains 14 pages.
* a con report for a con in Toronto
* some letters of comment
* the editor writes: 
* about communication by computer: 
==Issue 12==
Electronic Male News 12 was published in May 1994 and contains 17 pages.
* this issue contains a couple of fairly bland LoCs
* a con report for Dreamwerks, November 20–21, 1993
* two con reports for Trekcon in San Antonio, February 1994
* a con report for a con in Sacramento, CA (Red Lion Hotel, April 1, 1994)
* a fan writes: 
* the editor responds: 
* the editor includes a long reprint of something from America Online, and prefaces it with this: 
==Issue 13==
Electronic Male News 13 was published in February 1995 and contains 12 pages.
* a long letter from the editor about a falling out with another fan
* Brent Spiner on Prodigy
* some letters from fans
* a poem
==References==
Category:Star Trek TNG Zines
Category:Star Trek Actor-centric Zines
Category:1990s