The Holmesian Federation

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The Holmesian Federation is a gen digest-sized crossover anthology of Sherlock Holmes fanworks crossed with Star Trek: TOS and other science fiction and fantasy characters, including Doctor Who, H.P. Lovecraft, the Invisible Man, and Dracula. It ran for eight issues between 1978 and 1991.
One of these crossovers with Sherlock Holmes turned out to be particularly controversial, bringing quite a bit of attention to the zine. In the 8th issue, a 63-page novella had Holmes and Watson encounter Le Comte de Saint-Germain, the protagonist from Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's The Saint-Germain Cycle series (who was in turn based on a real historical figure). Yarbro sent Cease & Desist letters to the author and editor, leading to a drawn-out (and infamous) dispute. For more, refer to Controversy Regarding Issue 8 and A Matter Of Willful Copyright Infringement.
==From a January 1977 Ad==
== Contributors ==
Works appearing in The Holmesian Federation were generally credited under the real names of their authors. Among the authors contributing works to the zine were Dana Martin Batory, Ruth Berman, John C. Bunnell, Tina Rhea, and several other writers who were/are known for other fannish interests or who subsequently became professionally published authors.
Twelve short stories by Dana Martin Batory that first appeared in various issues of The Holmesian Federation were later republished as the commercial title The Federation Holmes: Casebook Number One: A Baker's Dozen of Sherlock Holmes – Star Trek Parodies.The Federation Holmes - A Baker's Dozen of Sherlock Holmes Star Trek Parodies. (Accessed 30 December 2009)
==Controversy==
This zine received quite a bit of attention in 1991, and became one of the flashpoints in discussions regarding media zines and copyrights. See Controversy Regarding Issue 8. For a similar discussion, see Marion Zimmer Bradley Fanfiction Controversy.
==General Reactions and Reviews==
==Issue 1==
The Holmesian Federation 1 (64 pages) was published in 1978, consisting of 7 stories as well as several poems, song lyrics, puzzles, and an essay.Holmesian Federation at Sherlock Peoria. (accessed 15 November 2009) The cover is by Gayle F and appears in a slightly different form on the first Interphase calendar in 1976.
The art is by Gayle F, Signe Landon, Clare Bell, and Vicki Wyman.
From the editorial: 
* poem by Frankie Jemison
* Editorial (2)
* It's Elementary by Melanie R (4)
* poem by Frankie Jemison (8)
* New Scotland Yard by Frankie Jemison (9)
* A Nostalgic Country of the Mind by Dana Martin Batory (10)
* Notes on the Persistence of Evil by Edgar B. Smith, M.D. (16)
* A Study in Harlots by Frankie Jemison (17)
* Puzzles by Catalina Mellon (21)
* Holmes Was a Vulcan by Priscilla Pollner (24)
* Role Model by Ruth Berman (29)
* Spock's Halloween by Frankie Jemison (30)
* At Waterloo by Frankie Jemison (55)
* Songs by Melanie R and Signe Landon (59)
* Two Old Friends by Eileen Roy (60)
* art by Gayle F, Signe Landon, Clare Bell, and V.M. Wyman.
File:holms1art1.jpg|interior art from issue 1, Clare Bell
File:holms1art2.jpg|interior art from issue 1, Signe Landon
File:holms1art3.jpg|interior art from issue 1, V.M. Wyman
File:holms1art4.jpg|interior art from issue 1, V.M. Wyman
File:holms1art5.jpg|interior art from issue 1, V.M. Wyman
File:holms1art6.jpg|interior art from issue 1, Signe Landon
==Issue 2==
The Holmesian Federation 2 (88 pages) was published in 1980 and contains 8 stories. Art is by Signe Landon, Gloria-Ann Rovelstad, Melody Rondeau, and Gordon Carleton.
From an ad in The Clipper Trade Ship #29: 
* The Mysterious Lodger by R. Merril Bollerud (1)
* Every Comes in Circles by Dana Martin Batory (18)
* Aphorism by Anonymous (29)
* Quadrumvirate by Dana Martin Batory (30)
* Of Course by Anonymous (45)
* Xenolith by Dana Martin Batory (46)
* Elementary, My Dear Gollum by John H. Watson, M.D., edited by Cathy Siemann (55) (reprinted from Palantir #1, a Sherlock Holmes/Tolkien crossover)
* The Adventure of the Missing Monolith by Eileen Roy (63)
File:Holms2art1.jpg|interior art from issue #2, Melody Rondeau
File:Holms2art2.jpg|interior art from issue #2, Gloria-Ann Rovelstad
File:Holms2art3.jpg|interior art from issue #2, Signe Landon
File:Holms2art4.jpg|interior art from issue #2, Gordon Carleton (reprinted from an unknown issue of Warped Space)
==Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2==
==Issue 3==
The Holmesian Federation 3 (80 pages) was published in 1982 and contains one story by Marguerite Krause. Art is by Signe Landon. On the cover: The Holmesian Federation Presents: The Adventure of the Vanishing Corpse.
File:Holms3art1.jpg|interior art from issue #3
File:Holms3art2.jpg|interior art from issue #3
File:Holms3art3.jpg|interior art from issue #3
File:Holms3art4.jpg|interior art from issue #3
==Issue 4==
The Holmesian Federation 4 was published in 1983 (second printing 1987) and contains 68 pages. The art is by Laura Virgil, Melody Rondeau, David Ackerman, and Merle Decker.
From the editorial: 
* Editorial
* The Color of Death by Dana Martin Batory (1)
* The Adventure of the Ancient Gods by Ralph E. Vaughan (10)
* The Case of the Scandalous Starship by Brad Keefauver (30)
* One Pipe Problem by Dana Martin Batory (46)
* Scott Must Die! by Brad Keefauver (53)
* After the Fall by Debra Doyle (55)
* art by Merle Decker, Signe Landon, Melody Rondeau, David Ackerman, and Laura Virgil (cover)
File:holms4art1.jpg|interior art from issue #4, Melody Rondeau
File:holms4art2.jpg|interior art from issue #4, Merle Decker
File:holms4art3.jpg|interior art from issue #4, Melody Rondeau
File:holms4art4.jpg|interior art from issue #4, David Ackerman
==Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4==
==Issue 5==
The Holmesian Federation 5 (78 pages) was published in 1984 and contains 4 stories.
* The Captive Bride by Dana Martin Batory (1)
* The Mechanical Pup by Dana Martin Batory (25)
* Return of the Wolf by Brian Garner (31)
* Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Frankie Jemison (76)
* art by Wanda Lybarger (cover), Melody Rondeau, Signe Landon, Theresa Buffaloe, Annette Taylor
File:holmesian5flyer.jpg|flyer for issue #5, printed in issue #4
File:holms5art1.jpg|interior art from issue #5, Annette Taylor
File:holms5art2.jpg|interior art from issue #5, Theresa Buffaloe
File:Holmesian fed 5 int by signe landon.jpg|interior art from issue #5, Signe Landon
==Issue 6==
The Holmesian Federation 6 (88 pages) was published in 1985 and contains 3 stories. The art is by Laurie Huff, Melody Rondeau, Helen Bookman, and Signe Landon.
From the editorial: 
* The Chalice of Skorr by Dana Martin Batory (1)
* Hyperchronicon by Frank Ramierez (15)
* The Adventure of the Crack in Eternity by Mary Frances Zambreno (27) (crossover with Doctor Who)
File:hfederation6-1.jpg|inside page from issue #6, Signe Landon
File:hfederation6-2.jpg|inside page from issue #6, Signe Landon
File:hfederation6-3.jpg|inside page from issue #6, Melody Rondeau
File:hfederation6-4.jpg|inside page from issue #6, Melody Rondeau
==Issue 7==
The Holmesian Federation 7 (92 pages) was published in 1987 and contains 5 stories. The art is by Signe Landon, Melody Rondeau, Tina Rhea, and Stefanie Hawks (spelled both "Stephanie" and "Stefanie" in this zine).
* Editorial Natter (inside back cover)
* The Adventure of the Unearthly Cat by John C. Bunnell (1) (Star Trek crossover)
* Watson Comes Through by Dana Martin Batory (25) (Star Trek crossover)
* Melissakrator by Frank Ramierz (38)
* Pas de Deux by Tina Rhea (45) ("A romantic look at what might have happened during part of the Great Hiatus, and I hope to be publishing more by her as well.")
* The Adventure of the Russian Faberge by Eileen Roy and Melanie R (67) ("Has a long history which is recounted at the beginning of the story. It has Moriarty, Mycroft, Lestrade, amnesia, Russians, and a diplomatic crisis - what more could one ask?")
==Reactions and Reviews: Issue 7==
==Issue 8==
The Holmesian Federation 8 (132 pages) was published in 1991 and contains 9 stories.
* cover (Gary Davis ("original art owned and lent by David Haugen")
* Letters from the Holmeses by Jan Lindner, illoed by Signe Danier (1)
* The Adventure of the Traitorous Lieutenant by Eileen Roy (6) (previously in The Paladins Affair #2 as "The Affair of the Empty House")
* The Interrupted Game by Dana Martin Batory, illoed by Melody Rondeau (14)
* The Adventure of the Spiritualistic Author by Eileen Roy, illoed by Signe Danler (23)
* Sherlock Holmes Sees Through 'The Invisible Man' by Robert F. Fleissner (29)
* The Grand Old Game by Brad Keefauver (34)
* The Fairy Thieves by Dana Martin Batory, illoed by Melody Rondeau (37)
* The Adventure of the Man Who Loved Bats by Lucy Westernra (Brad Keefauver) (55)
* The Adventure of the Gentleman in Black by Tina Rhea, the art is by Stefanie Hawks (63)
File:holmes8toc.jpg|altered table of contents for issue #8
File:holmes8-1.jpg|example page from issue #8, Signe Danier
File:holmes8-2.jpg|example page from issue #8, Melody Rondeau
File:holmes8-3.jpg|example page from issue #8, Signe Danier
File:holmes8-4.jpg|example page from issue #8, Melody Rondeau
== Controversy Regarding Issue 8==
The eighth (and final) issue of The Holmesian Federation included a 63-page illustrated novella titled "The Adventure of the Gentleman in Black" written by Tina Rhea about a case in which Holmes & Watson encounter le Comte de Saint-Germain, the protagonist in a series of novels by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro who, in turn, had based her character on the Count of St. Germain, a historical figure from the 18th century.
In the eighth issue of "The Holmesian Federation" editorial, editor Signe Landon stated that "Ms. Yarbro was not supportive of the idea of a story using her character", adding that "I think the story is too good not to be published, if only in this limited forum."
Shortly after it was published, Yarbro's lawyer was shown the zine at a party.
Very shortly after learning of the novella's publication, Yarbro contacted sent Cease & Desist letters to the author and editor. A protracted dispute ensued; Yarbro's account of the matter appeared in two 1992 consecutive issues of the SFWA Bulletin. See much, much more about this at A Matter Of Willful Copyright Infringement.
Some fans note that because the legal settlement terms prevented the editor and the author from further discussing the case that this "pretty much left Yarbro's presentation and interpretation of the matter in full possession of the field." comment posted in rivkat's LJ blog entry [nonfiction and touting] dated June 29, 2011; WebCite.
==The Federation Holmes (the hardcover reprint)==
Some of the stories were later republished in 2001 in hardback form under the title "The Federation Holmes." The book was written and edited by Dana Martin Batory, published by The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box and contains 173 pages.
Publisher's blurb: 
Table of Contents:
* Introduction
* A Nostalgic Country of the Mind
* Everything Comes in Circles
* Quadrumvirate
* Xenolith
* The Color of Death
* A One Pipe Problem
* The Captive Bride
* The Mechanical Pup
* The Chalice of Skorr
* Watson Comes Through
* The Interrupted Game
* The Fairy Thieves
* Zindernuff's Treasure
* Publication History
==Reactions and Reviews: The Federation Holmes==
==References==
Category:Star Trek TOS Gen and Het Anthology Zines
Category:Sherlock Holmes Zines
Category:1978 Zines
Category:1980s Zines
Category:1991 Zines
Category:2022 Featured Articles
Category:Crossover Zines