Universal Translator/Issues 21-32

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==Issue 21 (1984)==
Universal Translator 21 was published in January/February/March 1984. 
* it had 700 subscribers
* a fan writes a personal statement that says even though she and another fan have the same address (and are, in fact, sisters), she is not responsible for her actions.
* a fan writes in with another of the ever-increasing complaints about zines paid for but not received, a different fan ed writes in and explains why her zines have been delayed, another fan writes that even though she was told she could take over the editorship of The Mos Eisley Tribune, she has received neither communication or materials from the previous editor to do so, and another fan ed writes in to thank others for their patience after she lost her mailing list for The Princess Tapes. Two more fans write in to warn others about ordering from two different semi-pro outfits
* two fans write in and announce their marriages to other fans
* a review of Broken Images, see that page
* a review of Alnitah #12, see that page
* a review of Syndizine #2, see that page
* a review of Masiform D #13, see that page
* a review of Zottly's Zine, see that page
==Issue 22 (1984)==
Universal Translator 22 was published in April/May 1984. It contains no zine reviews.
* a zine publisher writes a personal statement explaining and dissolving the relationship of Phoenix Press and Sarpeidon Press with a fan named [M C], also known as [B B]: "Should Ms. [C] create her own publication, we want everyone to know that Sarpeidon Publicatins and Phoenix Press will not be affiliated with her or her publication."
* a zine ed takes issue with a letter in a previous issue of UT, saying that the transfer of the zine, The Mos Eisley Tribune was not completed through fault of her own but through fault of the letter writer, and therefore the "arrangement has been scratched." She is returning all money owed. She also complained that "I had not been told MET would be incorporated into another zine until I heard it from third parties." She adds "No other zine or individual has permission to publish MET -- or MET material-- without permission from the author or artist." 
* one zine ed writes her apology on the lateness of her publication, and adds, somewhat jokingly, somewhat not: "Who's the joker who sent the post card asking about funeral arrangements? Cute, real cute... Will you guys call off the hit man?"
* a fan has a long, long personal statement scolding zine editors for poor communication: "In the past several issues of UT, I've read a number of letters from people dealing with the problem of ordering zines with their hard-earned money and receiving nothing. I find such letters enlightening that other share the same problem with that zine as I do, but I find those letters boring. Each issue, it's the same old crap. Although others may find them boring also, this month, you're going to hear the same old crap from me..."
* there is a long, long personal statement section from a zine ed (also in Datazine 329) in which she responds to multiple complaints in "Datazine" and numerous letterzines regarding to zines fans have paid for but have not received. She cites poor health, problems with the originals for at least one zine (Naked Times #4/5) being lost at the printer, and says she just plain: 
==Issue 23 (1984)==
Universal Translator 23 was published in June/July/August 1984.
* the editors say they have received many LONG letters from fans regarding zines for which they have paid and haven't received: 
* a fan writes an open letter to zine editors and fan writers, one which is also printed in Interstat #80, requesting some thoughts and feedback on the subject of tape recording stories from fanzines: 
* there is a personal statement from the editor of Universal Translator, also printed in Interstat #80 and Southern Enclave #4, which takes another editor/fan to task regarding D'Alliance Open Letter: 
* one fan writes of the response she received from requesting her monies returned from fan, [J H], and the letter she wrote in the previous issue of Universal Translator regarding the zines Twin Suns: {{Quotation2|On May 3, 1984, I reveived a very rude letter from one M.J. Barrowman-Harper accusing me, in effect, of contributing to the demise of [J H]. ... Although I'm sorry to hear that she is gone, I hardly think my letters requesting the return of my money or the delivery of my zines could have caused her death... I make no accusations but leave you to draw your own conclusions... [The editors include this: "We have reason to believe Jani Hicks is alive and well and living in California." This letter was later reprinted in Southern Enclave #4, see that page
* a fan writes of her anger over David Gerrold's actions at the U.F.P. Convention in Manchester, England, a convention he had volunteered to attend: 
* illustrating the often volatile and messy world of zine publishing, several zine eds write in and explain the delays in their zine's publication. Some zines that have been postponed are The Steele Files, Naked Singularity, Parallax Ring, Command Decision, Sublight Reading, No Peaceful Roads Lead Home, Academy, The Adama Journal, to name a few; several fans have written in to complain of zines not delivered to them. Some of them are Enterprise Incidents, Obsession, To Invite the Night, Black Star, Before the Glory, Courts of Honor...; several zine eds write in to declare their separation from other zine eds. Some include the creators of Contes di Cottman IV, Organia, "Liberated Libido," materials regarding STMA publications, zines from [D W]...
* a review of Jumeaux #6, see that page
* a review of Contes di Cottman IV #5, see that page
* a review of Vault of Tomorrow #5, see that page
* a review of It Takes Time on Impulse #2, see that page
* a review of Fear No Evil, see that page
* ad for Pen and Pencil
==Issue 24 (1984)==
Universal Translator 24 was published in October/December 1984.
* a fan writes in and complains of a chain letter she has received from someone who subscribes to UT. This chain letter is denounced. The editors also stress that UT never uses fans' addresses for anything other than sending out the adzine.
* the editors do a bit of scolding and explaining about subscription rates, telling subbers they can't send too much money in ahead of time: 
* a fan writes a personal statement regarding Organia and her former co-editor: 
* a zine ed writes: 
* a zine ed writes in and says that it: 
* a zine ed writes in and says that the characters in her zines, Firebird: The Phoenix and Song of Caprica contain: 
* several fans respond to an anonymous flyer that was distributed at the last Shore Leave. This publication listed what was supposed to be a bunch of dead-beat zine eds, and it was full of inaccuracies and personal vendettas, and complaints about the flyer's creator's fiction being turned down in zines. One of the fans who complained about the distribution of this anonymous flyer wrote: 
* a zine ed has this personal statement: 
* [R S], a fan who was pretty much burned at the stake for writing a fairly cheery letter announcing that she would not be refunding deposits (her debt was 32 deposits, each for $2.50 for a total of $80) for her defunct zine, writes a letter and says she is slowly paying folks back their deposits for the zine, "D'Alliance' which never got off the ground. She explains some of the circumstances, mainly that of complete unemployment and desperation, and says: 
* a zine ed, Leslye Lubkin (formally Lilker) writes this personal statement: 
* a fan, Sandra Necchi, writes to complain that her letter to Interstat has been censored: ...
* a review of Grip #17 ,see that page
* a review of Mind Meld #1, see that page
==Issue 25 (1985)==
Universal Translator 25 was published in January/March 1985.
* there is an announcement that fan Beth Nugteren and several other people on the way to a SCA function had been killed in an accident caused by a drunk driver
* there are numerous personal statements from zine eds explaining why their zines are late (some reasons: vandals breaking into cars, very personal medical problems, financial difficulties, children doing badly in school, moves to different states, starting school and new jobs, a born-again Christian printer with a vendetta against slash, poorly behaved typewriters...)
* one fan writes a detailed letter about zines from a very well-known and active press she's been waiting six years for despite dozens of requests and SASEs she has sent
* the feud between J.R. Janoski of Gemini Press and I Joan Kokalus continues in letterform
* Barbara P. Gordon writes a personal statement that takes another editor to task for accepting a story and some art for a zine, then holding onto it for two years, then telling her it wasn't going to be used. The material was also never returned to Barbara. She writes: "...It has been nearly half a year since Cynthia last wrote, and it seems obvious that she has no intention of returning the manuscript, SASEs, or the money she owes me... To other potential Final Frontier contributors, I therefore counsel extreme caution..."
* one of the co-editors of Organia, [B L], writes a letter in response to the one in the previous issue of UT. In part: "I refuse to make a spectacle of myself and carry on needless discussion."
* the editor of Jundland, Too writes that due to the pressures of school and a new job, she will be unable to continue publishing the letterzine and will be returning the remaining subscription monies
* a zine ed writes that the zine, Diverse Dimensions, was no longer available from Dobie Cat Press: "Due to personal differences and professional commitments, Mary Jo Blythe, Karen S. Eaton, and I are no longer associated with 'Diverse Dimensions'/Dobie Cat Press. DD can be ordered from Jeannie Deem [address redacted]. Tongue in Cheek is now under my sole ownership."
* a fan writes in complaint of another fan's letter about her in the previous issue, and says that she indeed mailed the zines the other purchased. This fan lodges her own complaint against other fans for not sending her the zines she, in turn, purchased. She also writes: "The thing is there are few rip-offs among fandom. It's the constant bickering and what-not that makes it seem like more. The rip-offs have been relatively minor, but the complaints have given fandom a bad name, and many have fled ST fandom because of it. Not just complaints over zine issues though; the single-minded fear of change has been the contributing factor." She does not elaborate on this last bit. 
* Susan Garrett gives her permission for fans to make tape recordings of her fiction under certain circumstances, one of the earliest examples of a form of blanket permission to podfic: 
* Vel Jaeger comments on the ugly anonymous flyer that was distributed at Shore Leave: 
* Randall Landers writes a personal statement that says he knows some professional dealers are selling (though apparently not making copies) issues of his zine, Stardate, at cons for outlandish amounts: 
* Della Van Hise writes further of her attempts to get back on a publishing schedule. She cites one problem with the second part of Naked Times #4/5: 
* a review of Resolutions in Time, see that page
* a review of Echoes, see that page
* a review of Decades: 1760-1800, see that page
* a review of TREKisM at Length #1, #2, #3, see that page
* a review of Starwings #2, see that page
* a review of The Fifth Year, see that page
==Issue 26 (1985)==
Universal Translator 26 was published in Spring 1985.
* there are a large number of short, but humble letters from zine eds begging forgiveness for late zines
* there fewer letters than usual from disgruntled fans looking for the zines they have paid for
* a fan has the first mention, in Universal Translator, of computer communication. "I am interested in contacting ST fans who are computer users and subscribe to CompuServe. Contact me through EMAIL to set up a mutual time on a conference channel. My ID number is 74506.2574."
* Caren Parnes announces she wants to make: 
* a review of Vault of Tomorrow #7, see that page
* a review of The Sourdani Journal, see that page
* a review of Knightales, see that page
==Issue 27 (1985)==
Universal Translator 27 was published in July-September 1985.
* a fan has parted ways with another fan and is no longer associated with "Rebel Spies Press" and a zine called "Tyderium." "I wish her luck in the future."
* a fan says she figures six months is about an average wait time for zines ordered through the mail to arrive, and writes that she has waited far, far longer for The Kidnapping, The Human Adventure, and Courts of Honor
* a zine ed apologizes, saying the the last page of In Triplicate is missing from the first 200 copies of the zine. "If you send me an SASE, I'll send you the page."; she gives her deepest apologies 
* there is a letter from Randall Landers explaining that his zine, Stardate under Stardate Press, will no longer be published because FSA Gaming Corporation (a Paramount company that makes a Star Trek role-playing game) has used their title and format for a magazine of their own. Landers has contacted his lawyer but was advised he really could do nothing. He expresses his extreme regret at having to give up a zine he's worked on for six years and hopes that fans will support his new zine Orion
* a zine ed is trying to return deposits to the seventeen people who are still owed; her trailer burnt to the ground and she lost everything including. "Oh, God! the freshly printed and compiled issue [of 'Blurbzine' #3]"
* a zine ed offers to be a go-between for fans wishing to communicate with some other fans who only write under pen names. "Due to the sensitive nature of their jobs, it is impossible for these contributors to receive mail directly." She lists the pseuds: Cassandra Smythe, Megan Carter, Lynlee Brice, Crissandra Scott, and Anton Ferrar. "If you wish to write to any of these authors, please send the sealed letter to Empyrean Publications, and I will forward it."
* there is an announcement in personal statements about a fan who has recently passed away. "She was involved in many fan projects at the time of her death, but her parents were unaware of her fannish activities. As a result, much mail that was sent to Cheryl since her death was returned to senders. However, her parents are now aware of the situation and would like to request anyone who had Cheryl working on projects for them to please contact them. Things are being sorted out, and hopefully everything will be sent to the proper owners."
* the editors write that they received a letter "...that serious disturbed Linda and me, and more we think about it, the angrier we get. The gist of the letter was two-fold. First, that we censored ads by either failing to print as as received from editors or by failing to carry ads for particular subjects/people. Second, that as a result of these failings, we would soon be of no use to fandom. The question of whether or not UT is of any use to fandom is one that each editor and subscriber must answer for her/himself. I would like to address the accusations of censorship." She explains that UT does not carry ads for professional materials as there is plenty of other outlets for those products. Of the accusation that UT declines to print fannish ads of any sort, they write this is not the case. "If you feel that we are discriminating against your ad/s, please check to see if you remembered to renew your ads according to our ad-renewal policy. If you still believe you have followed this policy and your ads are not being published, please check with us to see if the Post Awful has been at it again."
* there is a long letter regarding The Great Australian Radio Show Fiasco from a fan who has asked to remain anonymous -- This letter writer goes on to warn other fans against submitting work to an Australian slash zine as the interviewee was the co-editor of a zine published there. The letter was also printed in Datazine #36 and Not Tonight Spock #9, and the text of the entire letter is here: Open Letter to the Editors of All K/S Zines & All Other "/" Media Zines: 
* a review of The Faces of Time #2, see that page
* a review of The Pawn of Leptos, see that page
* a review of Delta Triad #5 and #6, see that page
==Issue 28 (1985)==
Universal Translator 28 was published in October/December 1985.
* a fan, feeling "uncomfortable, embarrassed, and morally compromised by the association of my name with a project which is being run with so little regard for the common decencies of fandom", says a zine ed is taking too long to distribute her zine to those fans who have pre-paid; the writer says she will make xerox copies of her novel for those who have not received their issues of Saurian Brandy Digest #36; this same letter is printed in Datazine #37
* a zine ed says she has discovered that pro dealers are selling pirated copies of her zine, The Klingon Joke Book; "If all the people at Shore Leave who told me they already had my zine had bought legit copies, I'd be reprinting."
* a fan makes a push to get Universal Translator on the Hugo Award ballot
* a zine ed, using a rare fannish opt-out procedure, writes a personal statement to Leslie Fish: "All attempts to contact you for reprint permission on one of your stories have failed. If we do not hear from you by November 1, 1985, we must assume that you don't care, and we will proceed."
* as usual, several zine eds apologize for delays, and several fans write in complaining of zines they've paid for and not received
* Jacqueline Lichtenberg writes in and says that two small bits of text were left out of her story in Quastar ("Dushau") from pages 191 and 194; she proceeds to add those missing thirty-five words in a personal statement
* a fan writes a personal statement about another fan -- in part: "You were once a friend of mine. At least I thought you were. Or supposed friendship lasted what, eight months, back in 1982. During that time you borrowed zines from me." These zines, as well as a video tape "of the first four space shuttle flights" have not been returned, and the fan wants them back...
* several fans have written in and complained about how long it's taking for them to receive Courts of Honor; Syn Ferguson also has a letter explaining that "Courts of Honor" has gone to the printer, that the final price is considerably higher but that those who pre-ordered "are asked, but not required to make up the difference; she also says that Gayle F has "generously offered to bring out a limited second printing with new cover art. The cost is $25.00, is in line with the zine's classic stature, and any profits will go toward COH's deficit."
* a fan writes about the death of Toni Cardinal-Price and adds some fond memories of how they met and how much Toni meant to her
* the editors announce the death of Sara Campbell
* a review of Moon Phases #6, see that page
==Issue 29 (1986)==
Universal Translator 29 was published in January/February 1986 and contains 42 pages. 
* a fan gafiates due to pregnancy
* there are the usual number of complaints about late zines, both by editors and by buyers
* a zine ed writes that her former zine partner has absconded with all the money and continues to do so by continuing to accept money for a zine she doesn't have; the current editor is continuing to fill the orders because "You paid for them, and have a right to receive them, no matter who got the money." And she adds this message for her former friend: "Congratulations, [J D], on the slickest hijack since D.B. Cooper It's a pity you don't care enough about the people who ordered Impact to mail their zines before you spent the money. You've got a great cover, though. Who would suspect that underneath that charming exterior is a thief and a liar? Of course, ripping me off wasn't much of a challenge, since I trusted you completely -- kind of like shooting fish in a barrel, wasn't it? You really should wear a bell around your neck, dear -- it's only fair to the rest of us."
* it was in this issue that Universal Translator, like Datazine had done earlier, started separating Star Trek zines into gen and K/S; "I'd appreciate it if the editors of all 'slash' zines, of whatever fandom, would help out by letting me know if I've missed an identification. Also, I am looking for a short 'slash' ID for The Professionals
* two fans are holding an auction of fannish goods to raise money for Toni Cardinal-Price's family
* the compiler of Annual Zine Fan Survey writes: 
* a well-known fan artist, Barbara P. Gordon, writes: 
*a review of Courts of Honor by Flora Poste
* a review of Storms #3, see that page
* a review of Gateway #2, see that page
* a review of The Kuryakin File, see that page
* a review of T'Mera, see that page
* a review of To Invite the Night, see that page
* a review of Daring Attempt #1 and #3, see that page
* a review of Mind Meld #2, see that page
==Issue 30 (1986)==
Universal Translator 30 was published in April/June 1986.
* the personal statement section is fairly short, represented mostly by a handful of zines demanding their paid-for zines from publishers
* a fan reviews the pro book, Killing Time and concludes with: 
* a fan complains about receiving flyers for a group called "Star Trek Fans for Peace": 
* a fan warns other fans about [D D]: 
* a review of As I Do Thee #2, see that page
* a review of Naked Times #7, see that page
==Reactions and Reviews: Issue 30==
==Issue 31 (1986)==
Universal Translator 31 was published in July-September 1986.
* the editors explain that "all things considered (given the usual state of the Post Offal), I'm amazed that UT has never before had a snafu like we had with the last issue; those subscribers with last names beginning with A, B, and early Cs never received their copies, replacements were sent
* the fan who had spent at least a year, perhaps more, typing up The Weight has had to resign her duties due to health problems; she adds: "My best wishes go to whomever Lori finds to complete the typing. It's a zine that deserves to be made available again..."
* six fans write a personal statement: "Re: COURTS OF HONOR: Although it is very premature to announce ways, means, prices, and printing dates, we would like to assure all who have ordered COURTS OF HONOR that we are determined to see it in print and generally available as soon as possible. To that end, we ask anyone who ordered COH and did not receive it, and is still interested in obtaining it, to send a SASE (no money yet, please) to [address redacted]. If you send a SASE for a new order, please indicate same in your correspondence. New orders include the following situation 1) You never ordered COH from Syn Ferguson 2) you asked for and received a refund 3) you received the copy you ordered and want another one. What we are doing is a rescue effort. We cannot be responsible for Syn's debts. We cannot give you a refund of money you paid her. However, if enough people still want to order, we hope that we will be able to take into account those who ordered originally and how much they've paid to date. We understand we can't be fair to everyone, but we're going to try to be fair to the majority. As soon as we know precise details, all SASEs will be mailed out. Print run will be based on the number of orders we receive, and it will be necessary, no matter how we actually handle the pricing, to have a significant number of pre-orders to go to press. We're each chipping in what we can afford. In spite of that, it won't be enough unless we have order money up front. We know you've been burned; we're asking for your trust."
* most of the letters are from fans demanding they get the zines they paid for, one calls anyone who takes pre orders a "crook," and one last letter at the end asking if "anyone knows where Syn Ferguson is?"
* there is a long, long, very angry letter from a fan who feels she has been "kicked in the teeth" by Courts of Honor: 
* Syn Ferguson herself has this personal statement: 
* a review of Dreams of the Sleepers, see that page
* a review of The Fifth Hour of Night, see that page
* a review of Naked Times #8, see that page
* a review of First Time #5, see that page
* a review of Daring Attempt #4, see that page
* a review of More Missions, More Myths #2, see that page
* a review of Likely Impossibilities, see that page
* a review of Knightales #2, "Knight Templar," see that page
* a review of Xenozine #2, see that page
==Issue 32 (1986)==
Universal Translator 32 was published in October/December 1986. It was the last issue. 
* in this zine, there were 42 K/S and 160 non-K/S zines advertised. 
* a review of Kista, see that page
* a review of Command Decision, see that page
* there is a letter from Bill Hupe regarding a survey that Intergalactic Trading Post had done about the reliability of buying fanzines through the mail; he says that most buyers are usually satisfied and that it appears that there are just a few bad apples spoiling the bunch
* and yes, there are the usual amounts of letters from fans complaining about these bad apples...
* a fan writes a suggestion to other fans regarding "Courts of Honor" -- she suggests contacting their local postal inspector and suing Syn Ferguson for mail fraud
* another fan writes in that "...from what little I've heard, 'Courts of Honor' sounds good, and it shouldn't be lost to the anger and disappointment which others, understandably, have expressed"; she offers "her support to those who are trying to salvage what I feel is a worthwhile project."
* a zine publisher, Entropy Express, says she is closing up shop and blames zine piracy: 
* from The Gang of Six regarding Courts of Honor: 
The editors write: 
==References==
Category:1984 Zines
Category:1985 Zines
Category:1986 Zines