Seldon's Plan

Seldon's Plan is a gen Star Trek: TOS and Science Fiction club zine for Wayne Third Foundation. It is also called "Seldon's Plan Newsletter."
The zine ran for fifty-one issues.
==A Love Hate, Mostly Hate Opinion of Star Trek==
Like all science fiction fans of the time, the massive influx of fans and their interest in what had been "pure" science fiction zines and cons, and then branching off into their own worlds, was a bit overwhelming.
"Seldon's Plan" was edited for a time by Laura Trise Basta, and she brought her love of Star Trek to the zine series.
The editors of "Seldon's Plan" included some Star Trek content early on, knowing full well it brought in readers and interest. But most of the zine subscribers were either anti-Trek, or were disinterested. 
In the December 1971 issue, the editor wrote: 
In the March 1975 issue, the editor imagines a scenario in which another fan infiltrated a Star Trek fan club meeting: 
== V.1 N.1 (Issue 1) ==
Issue 1 v.1 n.1 was published in December 1969.
 
== V.1 N.2 (Issue 2) ==
Issue 2 v.1 n.2 was published in January 1970.
== V.2 N.2 (Issue 10)==
Issue 10 v.2 n.2 was published in April 1971.
==V.3. N.4==
published 1971
It was edited by Cy Chauvin.
==V.3. N.5==
It was edited by Cy Chauvin.
1971, 26 pages
==V.4. N.1==
Seldon's Plan v.4 n.1 has a front cover by Randy Bathurst, back cover by Terry Austin, and interior art by Laura Basta. 
The editorial is by Guy Snyder, who states that he "was stuck with filling this space because Laura, the editor, has better things to do. I don't mind, I like to brag, but it's getting harder each issue to think up ideas as to what to put down here."
* News (3)
* Club Notes (7)
* Quest of the Golden Spock (9)
* Damnet (13)
* Galactic Workshop (14)
* just plain BULL (17)
* Red Eye (24)
* Starlight, Starflight (23)
* Chaos Year III (25)
* Monologs (26)
* Assorted Art (30)
===Reactions and Reviews: v.4 n.1===
==V.4. N.3==
Seldon's Plan v.4 n.3 was published in December 1971 (last issue of the year) and contains 50 pages.
Editor: Laura Trise Basta, Managing Editor: Guy Snyder, writers: Carol Lynn, F.L. Reiss, Cy Chauvin, and Margaret Basta. The art is by Randy Bathurst and Guy Snyder.
* Editorial Comment (see the previous issue for comments by Locus and "Seldon's Plan's" editor's response) (1)
* a letter of comment by Garry S. Mattingly (co-editor along with Ken Keller, editor, of the official newsletter of the Kansas City Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, (KaCSFFS), entitled X-RAY DELTA ONE) (2)
* Index (4)
* Club Notes (minutes for several monthly meetings, about an average of 13 people in attendance) (5)
* News (8)
* Red Eye, commentary about commercialization of fandoms, Star Trek, SCA (11)
* Cryptogram by Fred Reiss (13)
* A Doll Aged, fiction by Guy Snyder (18)
* Creative Anachronism, a letter explaining tournaments (23)
* just plain BULL, book and television show reviews (24)
* Damnet, poem, not credited (33)
* CHAOS year III, editorial by Laura T. Basta (35)
* Box, fiction by Laura T. Basta (36)
* Galactic Workshop, essay by Guy Snyder (topic is writing) (43)
* Fearless Fan Editor, metafiction by Randy Bathurst (45)
File:Seldonsplan4-3-1.jpg|from v.4 n.3, Randy Bathurst
File:Seldonsplan4-3-2.jpg|from v.4 n.3
File:Seldonsplan4-3-3.jpg|from v.4 n.3
File:Seldonsplan4-3-4.jpg|from v.4 n.3
==V.4 N.4==
Seldon's Plan v.4 n.5 was published in June 1972 and contains 32 pages. It was edited by Laura Basta. 
* The Letters To SPN (7 pages)
* The News (3 pages)
* The Cryptogram Answered (3 pages)
* Red Eye (1 page)
* Club Notes (1 page)
* Star Tracks 1 (3 pages)
* Just Plain Bull (review of Star Trek 5) (2 pages)
* Star Trek Rumor Mill (4 pages)
* The Chekov Syndrome (2 pages)
* The Lone Ranger and Tonto Versus The Starship Enterprise (3 pages)
==V.4 N.5==
Seldon's Plan v.4 n.5 was published in June 1972 and contains 34 pages. 
It is a special Star Trek issue, with fiction and a list of zines.
The editor was Laura Basta.
==V.5 N.1==
Seldon's Plan v.5 n.1 was published in 1973 and contains 48 pages. It was edited by Laura Basta.
The art is by M. Andres, Terry Austin, Randy Bathurst, C. Lee Healy, Mick Kurcharski, Jeff Schalles, Cara Sherman, and Janice.
* The News (2)
* Club Notes by Carol Lynn (6)
* A Rose is a Rose is a Rose..., fiction by Frederick L. Reiss (8)
* Chaos Year IV by Laura Trise Basta (This is a long, thoughtful essay about women's power and place in science fiction, and the world. It is interspersed by many pithy misogynistic quotes in the side columns.) (9)
* He, fiction by David Lillard (19)
* Kraith Fragments by Jacqueline Lichtenberg ("For those interested in anything Vulcan, the Lichtenberg in depth exploration of the Vulcan race is an interesting alien treatise. Her stories, novels and essays have appeared in fanzines too numerous to mention. Kraith Collected 1 and III plus the Kraith Writer's Guide are available from: Carol Lynn (until July) [address redacted] or Debbie Goldstein [address redacted] The fanzines are offset.") (22)
* just plain BULL, book and movie reviews (two of them are by David Gerrold: When Harlie Was One, and The World of Star Trek, see that page) (24)
* And They Shall Beat Their Swords by Peter Loranger (32)
* Damnet, Grass, poem by Laura Trise Basta (39)
* Pyre, fiction by Laura Trise Basta (41)
* Space Cadet Pledge (48)
Image:seldonsplan5-1-1.jpg|from v.5 n.1
Image:seldonsplan5-1-2.jpg|from v.5 n.1
Image:seldonsplan5-1-3.jpg|from v.5 n.1
Image:seldonsplan5-1-4.jpg|from v.5 n.1
Image:seldonsplan5-1-5.jpg|from v.5 n.1
Image:seldonsplan5-1-6.jpg|from v.5 n.1
 
==V.5 N.3==
Seldon's Plan v.5 n.3 was published in June 1973 and contains 48 pages.
==V.6 N.1 (whole 33)==
Seldon's Plan 33 (v.6 n.1) was published in December 1973 and contains 38 pages.
It has "The Return of Seldon" on the cover. This may have to do with the gap between issues, and there being a new editor. There is also talk in this issue of renaming the zine, but that did not occur. 
It was edited by Gene Mierzejewski, and is his first.
Associate Editor: Cy Chauvin. Art Director: Todd Bake. Contributing Editors — Lea Roffey, Rancid J. McCleever, Al Azif, James Venturini, Carol Lynn.
The art is by Todd Bake, James Venturini, Randy Bathurst, Cy Chauvin, and Gene Mierzejewski.
From the editorial: 
Some club changes are afoot: 
The editor described one of this zine's contributors, starting with a description of her body: 
The zine is about to critique the work of David Gerrold: 
The editor wrote about some upcoming conventions including Discon (Worldcon), a relaxacon planned for February 1974 by a fan club at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and Datcon "to be held as soon as we can get enough beer money together. Pro guest of honor will be the editor of this 'zine. Fan guests will be anyone who chips in for the booze and/or pretty, young femfans who are dying to meet, an almost-pro and would do anything for him. See us around the holiday season for more information. Note: David Gerrold will not attend the latter three cons, so feel free to come."
* Holiday Greetings, Art Credits (2)
* Mutterings, editorial by Gene Mierzejewski (3)
* To Jonathan Livingston Pigeon, poem by Lea Roffey (6)
* From the Idiot's Desk, Confession by Gene Mierzejewski (meta fic starring Gene and Watergate) (7)
* Astrology for the Millions by Lea Roffey (tru-fax) (10)
* Clubfoot by Carol Lynn (club news) (13)
* When I Was a Child and He Was a Child, fiction by Lea Roffey (14)
* Kelly Freas Interview conducted by Gene Mierzejewski (true-fax) (17)
* David Gerrold on the Dissection Table, critique by Cy Chauvin ("Portions of this article have previously appeared (in a different form) in Vector and Amazing Stories, copyright 1973 by Malcolm Edwards, copyright 1973 by Ultimate Publishing Company, Inc.") (20)
* To WHV, poem by Lea Roffey (28)
* In Memoriam: Doc Simms, obituary by Rancid J. McCleever (29)
* Dead Tree Dept., book reviews (31)
* Ads & Stuff (37)
File:Seldonsplan33-1.jpg|from issue #33, Frank Murray (not listed in the art credits)
File:Seldonsplan33-2.jpg|from issue #33
File:Seldonsplan33-3.jpg|from issue #33, James Venturini
File:Seldonsplan33-4.jpg|from issue #33, Randy Bathurst
File:Seldonsplan33-5.jpg|from issue #33, Todd Bake
==V.6 N.2 (whole 34)==
v.6 n.2 was published in 1974.
The editor was Cy Chauvin.
== V.6 N.3 (whole 35)==
Seldon's Plan v.6 n.3 was published in June 1974 and contains 56 pages. 
It was edited by Cy Chauvin. 
The art is by Roberta Brown, Randy Bathurst, Stephen Fabian, Sheryl Birkhead, Todd Bake, John Benson, Mike Symes (reprint), Terry Austin, and Unknown.
 
* Editorial: With My Finger on the My Typewriter by Cy Chauvin (lots of description about the Ann Arbor Relaxicon, Mead-Con, and Minicon in Minneapolis, also a lot about his car being attacked by David Gerrold fans) (2)
* The Science in Science Fiction by James Blish (This article was originally given as a speech before the Cambridge University SF Society in England, and printed in QUICKSILVER 2, April 1971; copyright (c) 1971 by Malcolm Edwards) (10)
* Brunner & Lovecraft: A Comparison in Fantasy by Joe Sanders (18)
* Eating Roasted Bug-Eyed Monster: Some Views of a Novice SF Writer by Guy Snyder (excerpts from his Ann Arbor Relaxicon Keynote Speech) (24)
* When Words Collide, letters (long, long letters agreeing with Chauvin's negative critiques of David Gerrold's writing, some fans coming to Gerrold's defense, and several book editors that took issue with poor reviews of their books...) (30)
* Dead Tree Department, book reviews by Cy Chauvin and Margaret Basta (one of them is a long review for James Tiptree Jr.'s "Ten Thousand Light Years From Home" - the reviewer refers to Tiptree as male) (44)
* Mutterings by Gene Mierzejewski (55)
File:Seldonsplan6-3-1.jpg|from v.6 n.3, Mike Symes
File:Seldonsplan6-3-2.jpg|from v.6 n.3
File:Seldonsplan6-3-3.jpg|from v.6 n.3
File:Seldonsplan6-3-4.jpg|from v.6 n.3, Stephen Fabian
== V.6 N.4 (whole 36)==
Seldon's Plan v.6 n.4 (whole no. 36) was published in September 1974 and contains 46 pages. It was edited by Cy Chauvin. Todd Blake was the art editor. John Benson was the circulation manager.
This issue is a Discon special. 
The front cover is by Terry Austin, interior art by Todd Blake, John Benson, Randy Bathurst, Roberta Brown, Wayne McDonald, Cy Chauvin, Frank Murray. The back cover is supposedly by Mike Gilbert, only the back cover is blank. 
It contains many, many letters of comment. Some of the writers: David Gerrold, James Tiptree, Jr., Ursula LeGuin, Paul Walker, Sheryl Smith, Don Ayres, Darrell Schweitzer, Jeff Smith, Wayne McDonald. Some of the WAHF were Joanna Russ, Guy Snyder, J. Hunter Holly, and many others.
The letter from David Gerrold is the longest: it addresses many fans' previous letters regarding his alleged male chauvinism, his alleged ineptitude, his alleged ego, and his alleged use of too much sex in his books.
From the editorial: 
* Editorial by Cy Chauvin (Some topics: Laura Basta and Jacqueline Lichtenberg are not "just" Star Trek fans, some comments regarding Trek fans and Science Fiction fans, a short autobiography on Cy's writing career, a reminder that this zine is a group effort.) (2)
* Interview with Greg Benford by Cy Chauvin (6)
* The Two Perspectives by Angus Taylor (15)
* Critical Mass, an article about the differences among "Trekkies," "STrekkies," and science fiction cons, and conventions, by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (18)
* Sexism and Science Fiction, article by Laura Basta (22)
* When Worlds Collide, letters (28)
* Dead Tree Department, book reviews by Cy Chauvin (41)
==V.7 N.1 (Issue 37)==
Seldon's Plan v.7 n.1 was published in Feb/Mar 1975 and contains 54 pages. 
It was edited by Cy Chauvin.
The art is by Terry Austin, Todd Bake, John R. Benson, Sheryl Mirkhead, Philip Foglio, Wayne MacDonald, and Frank Murray. 
About a fanzine depository in libraries, Sharing the Wealth: 
The editor also talks about his starting a local apa in Detroit called MISHAP (the Michigan Society of Amateur Publishers). Part of the reason for forming the apa was that SELDON'S PLAN no longer seemed much of a clubzine anymore: 
 
* Editorial (contains lengthy comments on the panels at DisCon II, a con report for Kwest*Con, a con report on Wondaycon, and lots more) (2)
* SF and The Left Hand of Darkness, interview with Darko Suvin (This discussion-interview with Darko Suvin was conducted by Cathleen Toiny and Madlyn Ferrier of Thomas More Institute, Montreal, on March 20, 1973. Copyright 1973, 1975 by Darko Suvin. The editor wrote: "LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS, sf, and related subjects. It has the clarity and readabilty of an informal discussion, and at the same time much of the insight of an analytical essay. It is one of the most interesting pieces I've read on LeGuin in a long time. Hopefully, I'll get more items like this.") (6)
* Share the Wealth by Roger Sween (18)
* Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails: The Ideal SF Writer by John Foyster (21)
* Dead Tree Department, book reviews by Cy Chauvin and Robert Werner
* When Words Collide, letters (38)
File:Seldonsplan37-1.jpg|from issue #37
File:Seldonsplan37-2.jpg|from issue #37
File:Seldonsplan37-3.jpg|from issue #37, Frank Murray
File:Seldonsplan37-4.jpg|from issue #37, Terry Austin
==V.7 N.2 (Issue 38)==
Issue 38 was published in March 1976 and contains 44 pages.
It was edited by Cy Chauvin.
==V.7 N.3 (Issue 39)==
Issue 39 was published in June 1976 and contains 64 pages.
It was edited by Cy Chauvin.
==V.7 N.4 (Issue 40)==
Issue 40 was published in September 1976 and contains 36 pages.
It was edited by Cy Chauvin.
 
Image:seldonsplan40front.jpg|front cover of issue #40
Image:seldonsplan40.jpg|from issue #40
==V.7 N.5 (Issue 41)==
Issue 41 was published in September 1977 and contains 64 pages.
It was edited by Cy Chauvin.
==V.7 N.6 (Issue 42)==
Issue 42 was published in May 1978.
It was edited by Cy Chauvin.
==(Issue 46)==
Issue 46 was published in December 1979 and contains 30 pages.
The editor was Brian Earl Brown.
==V.11 N.1 (Issue 47)==
Seldon's Plan 47 was published in December 1980 and contains 30 pages.
The editor was Brian Earl Brown.
File:Seldonsplan47front.jpg|front cover of issue #47 by Mike Kucharski
File:Seldonsplan47.jpg|from issue #47
==V.11 N.2 (Issue 48)==
Issue 48 was published in October 1982
The editor was Brian Earl Brown.
File:Seldonsplan48front.jpg|front cover of issue #48 Charlie Wise
File:Seldonsplan48-1.jpg|from issue #48
File:Seldonsplan48.jpg|from issue #48 Kent Johnson
==V.11 N.3 (Issue 49)==
Issue 49 was published in May 1983 and contains 44 pages.
It was edited by Gregg Trend.
== References ==
Category:Star Trek TOS Zines
Category:Science Fiction Zines
Category:Club Zines
Category:1969 Zines
Category:1970s Zines
Category:1980s Zines