Implosion

Implosion is a Star Trek: TOS gen personalzine/letterzine that lasted one year. 
The editor sent it out free to whom she chose, and asked that it not be advertised in other zines. "Implosion" featured critical fanzine reviews by H.O. Petard, and was a zine of hotly-contested opinions, both with those who had letters published in it, and for those who heard about it but didn't receive copies. 
==The Editor's Description==
From an ad in The Halkan Council #23 (January 1977): 
The editor writes in The Halkan Council #26/27 (September 1977) that "Implosion" is: 
From the editorial in issue "Implosion" #2: 
From the editorial in "Implosion" #6 (July 1977) : 
==Subjects Discussed, No Holds Barred==
* complaints about zines and fannish material ordered but never received
* writers and artists wrote of the zines where their material had been rejected
* complaints against other fans' behaviors, actions, and opinions
* whether HOP's reviews are valid, appropriate, destructive, cruel ...
* the price of zines
* whether Interphase was worth the cost
* whether zine publishing is elitist
* the trend of copyrighting filks and fanzines and how that was not fannish
* many, many, many comments, pro and con, about Diamonds and Rust
* the amount of fannish crap for sales at pro cons
* how to educate the neofans
* the letters had plenty of complaints about of all sorts of things, who-said-what-to-whom-and when, lots of name calling, and put downs
* there was much ranting by the editor about various things
==Issue 1==
Implosion 1 was published in December 1976. 
* the editor writes of The Premise: 
* a review of Alternative: The Epilog to Orion by H.O. Petard 
* other unknown content
==Issue 2==
Implosion 2 was published in January 1977 and contains 16 pages.
==Issue 3==
Implosion 3 was published in February 1977 and contains 12 pages.
* a letter from Leslie Fish taking a detractor of Alternative: Epilog to Orion, H.O. Petard, to ferocious task for bad review -- an excerpt: 
* a rebuttal from H.O. Petard that takes Leslie Fish to ferocious task in retaliation -- an excerpt: 
* the editor of Implosion scolds fans for continuously buying what she considers "over-priced shit" from dealer and various hucksters
* a review of Off the Beaten Trek #2, see that page
* a review of Alnitah #1, see that page
* a bit from a letter by Paula Block saying that Diamonds and Rust was indeed a Mary Sue, something that the editor discusses some more
==Issue 4==
Implosion 4 was published in March 1977 and contains 14 pages.
* the editor writes: 
* there is much detailed content on the editor's trials and adventures at the post office
* the editor says she gave a copy of Alternative: Epilog to Orion to a gay friend to review and this is the report back: 
* the editor is "deliriously happy" that she has received no further comments on Alternative, a zine she can't stand; she also says she sent it to her first boyfriend, a gay man, who thought it had some "human moments" in it, but for the most part thought it was badly written, poorly illustrated, and silly. "And that...definitely, is MY last word on ALT." 
* the editor apologizes for not sending much mail out to friends lately and lists a variety of personal reasons. One of them is her "wretched typewriter".
* a fan writes in at great length about not getting the 28 pieces of art she'd sent to a zine publisher almost a year and a half after the zine had been published: 
* a fan writes in the role of a zined and says that many fans are too impatient, that zine editors put out zines in their time, as a hobby: 
* Rusty Hancock writes a lengthy essay entitled, "In Defense of Diamonds which argues that while the main character has some elements of a Mary Sue, she isn't one. She writes extensively on what is, and is not, a Mary Sue.
* the editor writes: 
* it contains a review of Beta Niobe Revisited, see that page
==Issue 5==
Implosion 5 was published in April 1977 and contains 12 pages. 
* the editor writes about Delta Triad #3 
* a review of The Castaways, see that page
* a review of R&R #2, see that page
* a review of The Other Side of Paradise #2, see that page
* a sort-of review, mostly justifying, sort-of, the price for the Interphase zines 
* a pointed essay by Paula Smith about the evils of sloppiness, poor editing, laziness of writers and zineds, and specifically which zines are worth the price they charge; it is an essay that ruffles many feathers and ignites conversations of both of readers of "Implosion" and with other fans who heard of its content 
* a denial that H.O. Petard is Paula Smith
* the editor refuses to print anything more about Alternative: The Epilog to Orion, saying she is sick of the whole thing
* a long, long essay that explores and explains that the author of Diamonds and Rust has "peopled the stories with favorite performers," that the characters, at least physically, resemble a real life actors of the time. Chantal is based, physically on the actress Cornelia Sharpe. "I willingly admit [the author comments on the essay later] that Cornelia Sharpe couldn't act her way out of a paper sack but all I need is her exterior."
==Issue 6==
Implosion 6 was published in July 1977 (though appears to have started being typed in May 1977) and was 16 tightly-packed, legal-sized (long) pages. 
It has remarks from Linda Cappel, Joanna Cantor, Melissa Bayard, Cheree Cargill, Jackie Bielowicz, Joan Verba, Melinda Shreve, Ron Frantz (as a representative of WSA), L.A. Gailand, Bev Clark, Sue Nierenberg, Connie Faddis, Jan Rigby, and Beth Nugteren.
There was MUCH discussion about the power and responsibility of reviews, about Diamonds and Rust, a kerfuffle over Delta Triad regarding opinions and art, and zine production choices. 
This issue contains a reprint of "As Seen Through Terran Eyes: The Serpent in Fandom's Eden" by Rich Knobloch that was previously printed in "Jinna Clan Journal" (March 1977). The topic of this essay how fandom used to be very open and sharing and now, fans are beginning to copyright their fanworks and control who can print them, panelists at cons are not allowing people to make audio tapes of their presentations, "Gordon Dickson and Andrew Offut become very circumspect about their actions as SFWA presidents in a panel at a con," and there is the rise of for-profit science fiction cons. 
This issue contains a long essay by Rusty Hancock called "There is No James Kirk." The topic is fans' various opinions and creations regarding many different character studies of Kirk.
This issue contains a long essay by Schultz titled: Who Are Rice and Schultz and Why Are They Writing All These Nasty Things, or, We Never Promised You a Rose Garden.
The editor says that the zine is taking a personal toll on her health and that it will be taking hiatus: 
==References==
Category:Star Trek TOS Non-fiction Zines
Category:1976 Zines
Category:1977 Zines