Comlink/Issues 41-50

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==Issue 41==
Comlink 41 was published in October 1989 and contains 20 pages. The cover is "Pleistocene on the Last Crusade for the Temple of Doom" by Bob Miller.
* the editor publishes the results of "The 1989 Readership and Star Trek: The Next Generation Survey": she sent out 114 and got back 38%, a much lower percentage than last year -- she blames the lower result on the fact that maybe fans aren't that interested in expressing their opinions of ST:TNG (which aren't included here). Note: these results and commentary were also reprinted in December 1989 in Eridani #6. The Questions:
**gender: male: 17.5%, female: 82.5%
**age: under 17: 0%, 18-24: 5%, 25-34: 50%, 35-44: 40%, 45-54: 2.5%, 55+: 0% 
**marital status: single: 57.4%, married: 37.5%, divorced/sep/widowed: 2.5% 
** if you are married, is your spouse a fan: yes: 20%, no: 12.5%
**hours spent on fanac per week: 0-7: 35%, 8-15: 32.5%, 16-23: 17.5%, 24-31: 7.5%, 32-39: 5%
**current annual income: $0-5,999: 17.5%, $6,000-9,999: 12.5%, $10,000-14,999: 7.5%, $20,000-29,999: 27.5%, $30,000+: 20%
** are you making videotapes of the ST:TNG to keep? : yes: 77.5%, no: 22.%
* a fan writes about fanzine's prices: "As to what constitutes a fair price, that varies so greatly, it's hard to know. New fanzines can cost between $5 and $20. Old zines I've seen priced from $10 to $40 depending on how rare or old they are."
* a fan asks: "Does anyone know what happened to the Star Wars Lending Library?"
* another fan is : "absolutely delighted that my assertion of the last 15 years that Spock's birth was unassisted by modern medical technology was made official."
* fan says that while he admires Gene Roddenberry for many things but "Some Trekkers have come to consider Gene a father figure of sorts... I believe that some folks expect too much from their media icons, and Gene is as mortal as the rest of us."
* a fan writes of ST:TFF: 
* another fan weighs in on the new ST movie: 
* a fan responds to an earlier letter in a previous issue: 
==Issue 42==
Comlink 42 was published in January 1990 and contains 18 pages. The cover "Starsong and Talltree" by Dafydd Neal Dyar.
* in this issue are two reviews by Debbie Gilbert on "Trekwar" and "Strike Zone"
* a fan comments on the latest Star Trek movie: "I won't go into detail about Star Trek 5 since other writers have pretty much covered the territory. ST5 had some delightful moments, but overall it was a tragic waste of money and talent. What's worse, Shatner's self-indulgence may have irreparable damaged ST's credibility. It's a shame the couldn't have quit while they were ahead with ST4." This is a opinion echoed by many fans.
* a fan echoes a huge fannish agreement that folks like William Riker far, far better with is beard: "Riker's popularity has increased greatly. He's much more relaxed, more approachable than last year. Could it be the beard?"
* lots of fans write that they would like to see a sexual affair between Wesley Crusher and Guinan in ST:TNG, something that, for this letterzine, feels quite racy, as its LoCers never, never talk about sex 
* a fan writes: "If William Shatner had really written Trekwar, we'd have heard about it long ago. Shater, Mr. Ego the Size of the Great Outdoors, would have blabbed about it before and during its writing. Shatner loves to toot his own horn. I though Trekwar was a typo. I'll wait for it to come out in paperback than get it at Strands for half price."
* a fan says: "I can't support the ST movie because there's so little there to support. It's just not a good movie, and I don't support not-good movies. It's just like I don't buy ST merchandise just because its ST merchandise."
* a fan comments on an earlier letter: 
* a fan writes about the difference in cost between sf and media zines: 
* Ming Wathne writes: 
==Issue 43==
Comlink 43 was published in April 1990 and contains 22 pages. The cover is an Alien Nation 1995 newspaper mock-up. 
* the editor is moving and assures fans that she will continue editing and publishing the letterzine while she is overseas
* this issue has a short article by Nancy Merckle called "Save Beauty and the Beast"
* illustrating how TPTB misread fannish messages, a fan says Paramount Studios believes the fifth Star Trek movie bombed because, 1) the actors were too old, 2) the Batman movie blew it out of the water, and 3) fans get enough Star Trek with ST:TNG on TV -- fans' comments in the letterzine have almost universally stated they didn't like the movie because it was a crappy script, Shatner's direction was awful, and the movie didn't honor the characters in any way
* a fan compares two letterzines' fan reaction to the fifth Star Trek movie: "One of the things I've noticed in reading letterzines is the 'attitude' toward Star Trek 5. I don't know if you get Interstat, but this letterzine is overall (not completely mind you) pro-Star Trek 5, while Comlink seens to be overall negative about it." The editor of Comlink responds: "In the eighteen years I've been in fandom and the almost nine years I've edited Comlink, I can generalize and say that a letterzine, as with any fan publication, is a reflection of the editor... I imagine that those people who disagree with what is being said in Comlink have packed up and left. This isn't to say Interstat is better than Comlink or vice-verse. We obviously have two different editorial policies, personal beliefs, and perhaps different readerships. All this does is make fandom a better place for all of us by allowing a forum for different sides of an issue."
* a fan speculates on fan campaigns and her favorite cancelled show: "I feel that the secret to a successful campaign to get a series revived rests on having a core of dedicated fans willing to devote the majority of their time to getting a series revived. In media fandom, that tends to be women. Apparently, while Max Headroom was a favorite among media fans, not enough women thought it worthy enough to save."
* a fan comments on copyrighting and fanzines and profit: 
==Issue 44==
Comlink 44 was published in August 1990 and contains 20 pages. The cover is "Holy Hanna-Barbera!" by Bob Miller.
* there is much more discussion about William Shatner's authorship (or more specifically, lack thereof) of the pro book "TrekWar"
* a fan uses a term: "Roddenbarrier," a word which describes the original creator of a text coming in after the fact and dictating changes, but changes that actually make the show/book/etc. WORSE; sadly, this never became a widely used term: "Yes, the writing [of ST:TNG] is much improved over last season although... I can still scope out the occasional Roddenbarrier. The tampering is usually minor, but it always clashes with a well-written script."
* there is an early modern fannish use of the word phile as a fannish admiration for a character: "I am not a huge Rikerphile, even I found it hard to see how Troi could get involved with that schumcky part Betazed when she had Riker around for casual sex and companionship."
* in this issue, the editor writes an essay about her temporary move to Iceland; it is called "Iceland: The Land of Fire and Spite" and it was originally in APA-VCR and updated and included in A Woman's Apa; she pretty much hates living in Iceland
* the editor is now publishing the letterzine from a U.S. Naval base in Iceland and has some special issues with postage: 
 
* a fan comments on one of the current debates: media and science fiction fandom: 
* a fan comments on the line between using a conglomerate's creation and a fan's creation in a transformational way: 
* a long-time fan writes a letter with a focus of the purpose of LoCs and reviews: 
==Issue 45==
Comlink 45 was published in November 1990 and contains 20 pages.
* this issue has a third season episode synopsis for ST:TNG
* one fan has sent Comlink's editor a survey by a graduate student that she hopes the editor will distribute. The editor writes: "As much as I'd like to run Cinda's survey, it's rather long, and I don't have the resources to do so. However, if you'd like to participate, send her an SASE. I've invited Cinda to write a short LoC about her research, and I hope she'll take me up on it."
* a fan comments on the recent set of letters from a disgruntled fan who has canceled her subscription to the normally very calm letterzine over what she felt was "Shatner-bashing"; she pleads for civility on the part of all parties, and in retrospect, gives a historical flavor to her comments: "C'mon, kid, we're not tearing down the Berlin Wall, we're not freeing South Africa, we're not even frightening Saddam Hussein."
* a fan writes in and complains of all the professionally produced Star Trek merchandise for sale: "Just say NO!!! to $90 videotapes, $20 hardbacks, $10 dolls, just say NO!!! to dealers charging $50 for our [own] zines."
* there are many letters in this issue commenting on the letter in the last issue on the purpose and value of LoCs/feedback/reviews
* regarding fan fiction reviews, a fan writes that when she wrote her two zines, The Genesis Aftermath and Descent into Darkness, she included in the zine reply forms to get feedback: 
* a fan comments: 
* a fan writes about the lack of LoCs lately: 
* the editor of Comlink ruminates on the quality of recent zines, one she thinks has gotten better, at least production-wise: 
* Ming Wathne gives an update: 
==Issue 46==
Comlink 46 was published in February 1991 and contains 24 pages. The front cover is by Zaquia Tarhuntassa.
* while the editor has asked for a moritorium on negative William Shatner comments as they're doesn't seem to be much more to say, some readers get in a few more comments; they compare him to a 'purring ham,' hate that he lied about writing 'TrekWars,' feel he used to try to do a good job but is coasting, is egotistical, and despise his Saturday Night Live "Get a Life" skit: "... the actor saying this has traded on Star Trek for most of his career. Get a life, indeed!"
* an ad in the back of this issue reads: refers to the "CORELLIAN ARCHIVES" as the "The National Fan Zine Library"
* the editor publishes the results of the "Third Season Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Fifth Comlink Readership Survey" results; she is unhappy that she only had a 39% return rate
* a fan defends FIAWOL: 
* a fan writes: 
* a fan remembers the emergence of fans of role-playing games at cons: 
* a fan writes in about acafandom: 
==Issue 47==
Comlink 47 was published in June 1991 and contains 20 pages. The front cover is by Zaquia Tarhuntassa. 
* a fan thinks there are less fanzines published due to demographics: "... the average age in fandom seems to be creeping up towards the mid-30s... and fanzine publishing is slowing down as more of the people engaged in it devote more time to family and job responsibilities."
* a fan comments on another question from an earlier issue: 
* a fan writes: 
* a fan explains how the VCR can revive a fandom: 
* a fan writes of the prejudice she has experienced, and how it relates to the tensions between media fans and science fiction fandom: 
* another fan comments: 
* a fan comments on the recent academic interest in fandom: 
* another fan isn't as accepting of this academic interest: 
==Issue 48==
Comlink 48 was published in September 1991 and contains 20 pages. The front cover is by Zaquia Tarhuntassa.
* there is a reprint of a public letter that was posted on the GEnie Bulletin Board in February 1991 by Brad Ferguson in which he dismisses his own pro book, "A Flag Full of Stars." He writes about how it was edited into something he doesn't even recognize: "I am stuck with this two-headed yet brainless mutant child who bears my name, and I do not like it at all. Not at all."
* a fan contemplates vocabulary: 
* a fan gives some advice: 
* a fan responds to the above statement: 
==Issue 49==
Comlink 49 was published in December 1991 and contains 26 pages. The front cover is by Zaquia Tarhuntassa.
* the editor asks fans to submit positive testimonials about fandom for the next issue, the 50th one "Fandom has done so much and means so much to me that it really saddens me when all we talk about are bad things. Sure, there's plenty to gripe and grumble about, but how about for issue #50, we all talk about some of the good things..."
* the editor publishes the result of "The Comlink and Star Trek: The Next Generation 1991 Survey Results"; she'd sent out about 90 of them and got a 44% return rate on them
* there is a con report for Fanderson '91
* there is a long letter from Lori Chapek-Carleton about the foul-ups at the last MediaWest*Con. They are investigating legal action as the hotel was a disaster in not honoring contracts and space: "The hotel's capacity for ineptitude seemed boundless."
* another fan writes a con report for MediaWest, also commenting on the rotten hotel; she also writes of other more positive things: "The convention itself was a lot of fun. I was on six panels, my favorite being 'Lust in Space: Intimate Relationships on the Enterprise.' I also attended four other panels. MediaWest is a showcase for new fanzines and there were plenty of them... The masquerade was interesting in that there were several historical costumes presented. You'd think no one would do historical at a media con. 'Best in Show' went to a couple dressed as Christopher Lloyd and Mary Steenbergen from Back to the Future III. They were wearing the 1890s costumes from the final scene in the movie."
* there is a con report for Creation Con's 25th Anniversary Star Trek Convention
* a fan writes that "a friend of mine attended a fanzine panel at this years Westercon. What she found extremely amusing was that panelists were all people for whom Lan's Lantern and File 770 are fanzines, while the audience was made up of people for whom Guardian and T-Negative are fanzines. The panelists wanted to talk about mimeos and the audience wanted to talk about Windows."
* fans continue to discuss the long-running topic of whether the ST: TNG uniforms had pockets
* a fan writes a long, long letter complaining about Creation Cons and their various policies and actions
* a fan comments that she has seen a message on the "Computer Bulletin Board Quantum-Link that both Richard Arnold and Susan Sackett were let go."
* there is much discussion over the "study of fandom" by academics; one strong belief is that only an academic who is also a fan is going to have any success with any sort of study: "You must have significant contact with fandom to understand its support system and information network... I would hate to imagine conducting research on fandom without having been a participant in some way. There are just too many insights that would be lost among the data and clinical observations, a significant concern for any social researcher."
* a fan asks: 
==Issue 50==
Comlink 50 was published in March 1992 and contains 24 pages. The front cover is by Zaquia Tarhuntassa.
* beginning with this issue, Allyson has help producing the letterzine from Linda Deneroff
* many, many fans write about what fandom means to them and the two main topics they talk about are 1) the friends they've made, and 2) it's a place they feel they belong
* the aca-fan (C G) who has been participating in the letterzine lately says she has received over 200 surveys from fan and hopes for at least 300 in total
* a fan loves this new trend of having little refrigerators in hotel rooms: "Those little hotel refrigerators ARE nice. We used to stack pizzas in them like compact disks and live off of them for the whole con. There's nothing like cold pizza for breakfast at a con!"
* a fan comments on a difference between ST: TOS and ST: TNG: "I can see that Kirk/Spock/McCoy are good friends and care about each other. That's not really noticeable on ST: TNG. Heck, when Riker was about to croak in 'Shades of Gray,' only Picard and Troi came by. Geez, couldn't someone else have dropped by, even if only to say, "Hey, if you die, can I have your trombone?""
* a fan writes that "Richard Arnold and Susan Sackett were fired after Gene Roddenberry died and there are no plans to replace them. We fans are the victim of our own success in that Paramount now feels they don't need a fannish liaison office."
* a fan complains: "I agree that sports fans get far more acceptance than SF fans. I've had a chance to see sports fanaticism first-hand with the 'Redskins Fever' this year... I'm tired of seeing all these interviews with die-hard football fanatics."
* a fan talks of Star Trek and computer bulletin boards and makes the first mention of the word "internet" and "email" in this letterzine: 
* a fan looks back on fandom: 
Category:Multimedia Zines