Tantalus

Tantalus is a gen Star Trek: TOS and Star Trek: TNG anthology fanzine published by Orion Press and edited by Ann Zewen. 
It was first published in September 1990 and ran for eight issues until 1995.
The odd numbers of "Tantalus" were TNG zines, the even numbered issues TOS zines. 
In June 1999, TOS stories from previous "Tantalus" issues were reprinted in a "Tantalus Revisited" anthology. 
==Summary==
==Issue 1==
Tantalus 1 is a TNG zine and was published in September 1990. It contains 174 pages and five stories. Art by Steven Dixon, Christine Myers, and Julie Nosal. 
* editorial by Anne Zewan (2)
* By the Book by Chris Dickenson ("Set in the "second history" of the Yesterday's Enterprise episode, this powerful story explains the obvious antagonism between the Captain Jean-Luc Picard of that timeline and his first officer. It's not quite what you may think.") (3)
* Having Is Not So Pleasing a Thing, poem by Lori Scott (10)
* The Q is Silent by E. Brooks ("Commander Riker must face both life and death as he battles with the same illness that took his mother's life. Will he recover? Or is the price of survival too high?") (11)
* The Mark of a Warrior by Diane K. McCarty (28)
* Be Not Mad by Janna Stockinger ("Madness is perhaps the most terrifying concept faced by an intelligent mind, as Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew discover in this unusual story, which explores the unique and creative route Picard must follow in his quest to return to sanity, with a little help from his friends.") (37)
* Final Thoughts, guest editorial by Chris Dickenson (75)
Image:tantalus1flyer.jpg|flyer for issue #1
Image:tantalus1-1.jpg|from issue #1
Image:tantalus1-2.jpg|from issue #1
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1===
==Issue 2==
Tantalus 2 is a TOS zine and was published in May 1991 and contains 108 pages.
* From the Editor, an introduction by Ann Zewen (2)
* Field of Illusion by Sharon Pillsbury (3)
* Turn Back Time by Tina Schinella (27)
* The Vigil / The Vigil by Debbie Cummins (46)
* Going Home Again by Laurie D. Haynes (57)
* To Say Goodbye by Linda McInnis (86)
* Final Thoughts (108)
* art by Steven Dixon, Don Harden, Christine M. Myers, Julie Nosal and Tina Schinella
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2===
==Issue 3==
 
Tantalus 3 is a TNG zine and was published in September 1991 and contains 189 pages. Art by Barbara Caldwell, Kimberley Junius, Christine Myers, Steven Dixon, Adrian Morgan, and Julie Nosal. 
* From the Editor (2)
* Tantalizing Thoughts (4) 
* Lift Not Thy Hand by Janna Stockinger (6)
* All the Shiny Little Ponies by Kimberley Junius ("Continues the popular story, "9.37%," which appears in Idylls #5. But this time, all is not idyllic for Geordi LaForge and Leah Brahms and family.") (10)
* A Small Act of Courage by BEKi ("Gives us a unique perspective on death ... and on First Officer William T. Riker.") (55)
* Paths to Cross by Tanya Chang ("Takes a look at the conflicts between a C.M.O.'s duty to her ship and to her oath as a healer. (58)
* Voices by Andra Marie Mueller. Has the loss of Deanna Troi caused Will Riker to start "hearing things," or could it be ... ?") (89)
* A Pact With Lucifer by Mindi French ("Set on the Imperial Star Ship Enterprise, where women are little more than chattel--and often abused chattel at that. But things might not remain the same for long.") (112)
* The Hollow Sound of Honor by Natasha Mohr ("Gives us a glorious death for Tasha Yar, not the disappointing way from "Skin of Evil."") (120)
* Empty is the Shape of Silence by Jordan Trevor ("Picard fans, this one's for you.") (126)
* Wishful Dreams by Miriam S. Darnell ("Looks back at a very painful time for Deanna Troi and Will Riker, and shows how they might have made it through one of their darkest hours--with a little help from each other ...") (157)
* Too Much Time ... Not Enough Time by Jo-Ann Lassiter ("Takes another look at the aftermath of "The Best of Both Worlds," and suggests how Picard might have survived the terrors of life with the Borg, with a little help from his friends.") (155)
* A First Officer's Duty by Brenda Schaffer ("What if Picard hadn't survived his sojourn with the Borg? What if Riker had been forced to kill his captain? How would the first officer cope with that decision? This is one possible scenario ...") (185)
* Final Thoughts (189)
Image:tant3flyer.jpg|flyer for issue #3
Image:tantalus3-1.jpg| from issue #3
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3===
==Issue 4==
Tantalus 4 is a TOS zine and was published in April 1992. Art by Steven Dixon, David Lawrence, Christine M. Myers, and Julie Nosal (front and back covers)
* editorial (2)
* Tantalizing Thoughts (3)
* End Game by Mary Rottler and Lynn Syck (5)
* Rapids by CarolMel Ambassador ("Following the events of "The Return," Jim Kirk, Spock and the Enterprise are diverted to Betazed. An investigation into the disappearance of one of Captain Kirk's old friends place both Kirk and Spock in jeopardy. But their escape leads to even more potentially serious consequences and the discovery of a betrayal.") (28)
* Theories by Jill Thomasson (reprinted in 2018 in The McCoy Files #3) (58)
*Bad Luck Holiday by Carol L. Lance ("Captain Kirk, Commander Spock and Doctor McCoy truly understand the meaning of "Be careful what you wish for" as they fall victim to the Amusement Park planet's computer's interpretation of their wishes...") (74)
* Never to Forget, poem by BEKi (89)
* Mind-Brothers by Alinda Alaine (90)
* In Memorium (108)
==Issue 5==
Tantalus 5 is a TNG zine and was published in January 1993 and contains 152 pages. The art is by BEKi, Caldwell, Lawrence, and O'Quinn.
* Bleeding Heart by CarolMel Ambassador and Apryl Showers ("Shows one more reason Picard has for despising Q; Q plays a vicious mind game with Picard by impersonating Jack Crusher.") 
* Both Sides of the Mirror by BEKi ("A Mirror Universe tale, seen through the eyes of the first officer, Will Riker, in both universes.")
* Prisoner of Protocol by Cyndi Bayless Overstreet ("A look at how Data might cope with some unusual planetary customs.")
* Power Play by Mindi French
* A Time to Heal by D J Nicholson
* Playthings of the Mind by Janna Stockinger
 
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5===
==Issue 6==
Tantalus 6 is a TOS zine and was published in May 1993 and contains 112 pages. The cover is by BEKi. 
Art & illustrations by Toni Hardeman, Christine M. Myers, Sherry Veltkamp.
* From the Editor by Ann Zewen (2)
* Fire in the Lake by Ann Zewen (47)
* Alone by Laurel Ridener, Mary Rottler and Lynn Syck (48)
* Mind Net by Alinda Alaine (59)
* Hands of the Healer by Carole L. Miller (761)
* Final Thoughts by Ann Zewen (112)
Image:tantalus6-1.jpg| from issue #6
Image:tantalus6-2.jpg| from issue #6
Image:tantalus6-3.jpg| from issue #6
Image:tantalus6-4.jpg| from issue #6
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 6===
==Issue 7==
Tantalus 7 is a TNG zine and was published in October 1994 and contains 172 pages. The art is by BEKi (front cover), Leahie Steele, Margaret O'Quinn and Gabi Stone.
* From the Editor, an introduction by Ann Zewan (2)
* Tantalizing Thoughts (3)
* One to Keep by Jo-Ann Lassiter (6)
* In the Darkness of the Sun by Cyndi Bayless Oversetreet (12)
* Reactions by Gail J. Christinson (57)
* The Shackles of Memory by Mindi French (79)
* Crossover by Randall T. White, Jr. (88)
* Watercolors in the Rain by Cyndi Bayless Overstreet (116)
* Shadows of Heroes Past by Summer Jackson (123)
* The Fifth Light by Gail J. Christison (128)
* Final Thoughts (172)
 
Image:tant7-1.jpg| from issue #7
==Issue 8==
Tantalus 8 is a TOS zine and was published in January 1995 and contains 190 pages. The cover is by BEKi. The art is by Christine Myers, Margaret O'Quinn and Steele.
* From the Editor by Ann Zewen (2)
* Tantalizing Thoughts (LoCs) (3)
* A Minor Irritation by Holly Trueblood ("Spock gets an infestation of serious alien chiggers and Kirk and McCoy battle to save him from himself.") (5)
* The Voice of Time by Joanne Seward ("At an alien archaeological dig, Jim Kirk learns that opening an ancient tomb can be like opening Pandora’s Box as a voice from the distant past draws him backward in time. Can he resist?") (30)
* Complications by Jill Thomasson ("Spock & McCoy both suffer complications from Sarpeidon.") (56) (reprinted in The McCoy Files #2)
* Shattered Fortress by Eileen Curtis ("Klingons take revenge on Kirk by torturing Spock.") (68)
* Skin Deep by Holly Trueblood ("A laser scalpel malfunctions as McCoy is taking off Kirk's Romulan disguise, leaving Kirk disfigured and McCoy's operating hand unusable.") (86) 
* Not Light But Warmth by Lynn Syck and Mary Rottler ("Novella - in the aftermath of Babel, Spock reports both McCoy and Kirk for dereliction of duty, constructs a barrier to protect himself completely from letting emotions affect his judgment in future, and resigns. Kirk's health waxes and wanes with the barrier until Kirk's own anguish destroys it.") (116)
* Final Thoughts by Ann Zewen (190)
Image:tantalus8-1.jpg| from issue #8
Image:tantalus8-2.jpg| from issue #8
Image:tantalus8-3.jpg| from issue #8
Image:tantalus8-4.jpg| from issue #8
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 8===
==Tantalus Revisited==
 
Tantalus Revisited is a digest-sized TOS anthology that was published in June 1999 and contains 196 pages. It contains reprints from previous issues. The stories from Tantalus Revisited are also available as an online collection. 
* End Game by Mary Rottler and Lynn Syck ("A look at the ramifications -- physical, emotional and political -- of the events in "Amok Time."") 
* Alone by Laurel Ridener, Mary Rottler and Lynn Syck ("Jim Kirk and Leonard McCoy face the long night on Rura Penthe, each wrestling with his own demons and his worry about his friend.") 
* Not Light But Warmth by Mary Rottler and Lynn Syck ("A look at the aftermath of the "Journey to Babel" -- McCoy has done his medical magic. Sarek will live, as will Kirk, and all's right with their world. Or is it? Can a Vulcan first officer live with the fact that his captain risked life and his ship just to save the life of his friend's father? And can that captain live without his friend by his side?") 
* Fire in the Lake written by Ann Zewen ("A Mirror Universe story I wrote in an attempt to answer the question: What would have happened if Kirk and Company hadn't been able to return to their own universe at the conclusion of the events depicted in the episode "Mirror Mirror"? My thanks to BEKi who edited this story, and who provided so much artwork for TANTALUS.") 
* A Minor Irritation written by Holly Trueblood ("Mister Spock learns that there are some itches you shouldn't scratch.") 
* Skin Deep written by Holly Trueblood ("A follow-up to "Enterprise Incident," in which Jim Kirk is forced to consider the possibility of life without his celebrated good looks.")
==External Links==
*Tantalus Revisited online
*TNG stories online from Tantalus at the Eridani - Orion Press TNG Archive, listed by issue
==References==
Category:Star Trek TNG Zines
Category:Star Trek TOS Gen and Het Anthology Zines
Category:1990s