The Alpha Centura Communicator

The Alpha Centura Communicator is a gen zine of multimedia non-fiction, a clubzine out of the University of New Mexico. There are at least 111 issues and it was published monthly.
Some issues contain media science fiction material such as Star Trek: TOS, Darkover, Star Wars...
==General Reactions and Reviews==
===1976===
===1979===
===1985===
==Issue V.1 N.1==
==Issue V.3 N.4==
The Alpha Centura Communicator V.3 N.4 was published in April 1978 and contains 12 pages. The size: digest. The artwork is by Nick Cutshall, Reg Foil, and Craig Chrissinger.
* Announcements (2)
* Letter to the Editor by Jack Speer (4)
* Significant Stardates (6)
* Science Fliction (6)
* Fiction: Shadows of Another World by bibeau (7)
* Science Article: Solar Eclipses by Lee Graham (11)
* Poetry: Darth Vader by Karen Osman (12)
* Fiction: Father to the Man by Jack Speer (13)
* Fiction: Owen's Fable by Owen K. Laurion (15)
* Fiction: Rumored Treasure by Craig Chrissenger (15)
* Book Reviews by James E. Wenger Jr., Robert Osman (books reviewed: "The Best of Trek" by Irwin and Love, "Splinter of the Mind's Eye") (16)
* Aliens Anonymous by Nick Cutshall (18)
* Ask Amanda, fictional advice column by "Amanda Grayson" (19)
==Issue V.3 N.5==
The Alpha Centura Communicator V.3 N.5 was published in May 1978 and contains 19 pages. The size: digest. It was edited by Owen K. Laurion. The art is by Reg Foil and Nick Cutshall. 
* June Announcements (2)
* Albuquerque SF Directory (3)
* 1977 Hugo Award Nominees (4)
* Significant Stardates (5)
* Science Fiction (5)
* Perspective: The Hynek Encounter, about hearing J. Allen Hynek speak, by Wendy King (6)
* Fiction: Magic Ninth by James Wenger (7)
* Perspective: An Interview with Glenn Kuller (Lt. Kuller worked at the Space Radiation Environmental Section at the Kirtland Air Force Base) by James Wenger (11)
* Letter to the Editor by Mary Lou Dodge, the subject is a review of the tie-in book Splinter of the Mind's Eye (14)
* Fiction: Owen's Fables by Owen K. (15)
* Fiction: Other Fables by Gait Johnson (15)
* Play Review: Wake Up to the Stars by James Wenger, includes photos (16)
* Recipe for Moonrock Cookies by Arlene Johnson (18)
* Science Article: Comets by Lee Graham (18)
* Ask Amanda, fictional advice column by "Amanda Grayson" (19)
* Alien's Anonymous (19)
==Issue V.3 N.6==
The Alpha Centura Communicator V.3 N.6 was published in June 1978 and contains 15 pages. The size: digest. It was edited by Owen K. Laurion. It has illos by Carlene Craft, Michelle Peterson, David Rusilko, and Randy Clark. 
* some announcements, including about the club's next meeting which includes some launching of rockets at the high school sports fields at Sandia High School
* a movie review by James Wenger of "Capricorn I"
* Dust to Dust: an Astronomer's View, article by Wendy King
* Twenty-Two Star Trek Clerihews, poems by William E. Dunning
* a Star Wars caption contest
* book reviews for "Time Storm" by Gordon Dickson, "A Spell for Chemelon" by Piers Anthony
* Chiron Mystery Deepens, article by James Wenger
* Astronomy, article by Lee Graham
* You Are Not Alone, poem by Moriah Caesonia/Michelle Peterson
* Owen's Fables, part four, by Owen K. Laurion
* Ask Amanda, fictional advice column by "Amanda Grayson"
* Other's Fables, part three, by Craig Chrissinger
* Aliens Anonymous, a column, this one about the ozone layer
==Issue V.3 N.12==
The Alpha Centura Communicator V.3 N.12 was published in December 1978 and contains 13 pages. The size: 7X9.
* there are several LoCs, some highlights: a fan who says the Nova Scotian fandom is heating up, another who is glad to trade zines and apologizes because her small child has ripped them all up, another who is hesitant to write a stranger as a fan's mom called her to berate her in the mistaken assumption that her Darkover club (Kirian Council) was a cult in Guyana, a letter from the head of the Avarra Council (Darkover), a letter from Roberta Rogow asking for help with the Trexindex and touting the "largest fanzine collection in a public library" -- the Paterson Fanzine Library
* a review of the Bakshi movie "The Lord of the Rings" -- "beautifully filmed" and "a triumph for Bakshi"
* The Captain, fiction by Galt Johnson
* part five of the graphic story, Leira and the Dragon by Carlene Craft
* On Property, poem by Wayne Leavitt
* Owen's Fables, part XIV by Owen K.
* Other's Fables by Craig Ghrissinger
* Amanda Asks, a fictional advice column by "Amanda Grayson"
* general club news for Albuquerque Science Fiction Society
==Issue V.4 N.3==
The Alpha Centura Communicator V.4 N.3 was published in March 1979 and contains 12 pages. The size: 7X9. The art is by Jeff Remmer, George Bates, Lynne Foster Joseph, David Forbes, Michelle Lindsey Peterson, David Rusilko, and Nick Cutshall.
The editor's grading system for zines received in trade: 
 
* Duel in the Temple, fiction by Wendy King 
* The Report Card, update on the "fanzine trading program," this zine is now being read on three continents, and the editor begins reviewing some of the zines he has received in trade; he includes his explanation of his grading system
* Leira and the Dragon, graphic story by Carlene Craft
* this zine has a listing of the club's zine library holdings
* a review of the science fiction zine "Anomaly" published in Florida
* a review of Grip #3, see that page
* Owen's Fables, fiction by Owen K.
* Ask Amanda, fictional advice column by "Amanda Grayson"
* Other's Fables, part three, by Craig Chrissinger
 Image:alphacent4-3-1.jpg| from v.4 n.3, page from the graphic story
Image:alphacent4-3-2.jpg| from v.4 n.3, sample inside page
==Issue V.4 N.4==
The Alpha Centura Communicator V.4 N.4 was published in 1979 and contains 28 pages. The size: 7X9.
* club news: thank you to managers of "the Eastdale Theatre for giving members of Alpha a free showing of Galactica and the Highland Theatre for the free showing of Alien. These two gentlemen also allowed us to set up a recruiting booth in their lobbies each night," and a report on the club's presentation at the Presbyterian Hospital the previous month: "Unfortunately, few kids were sick that day, and the audience wasn't large, but the show was extremely well put together."
* a description about the upcoming Bubonicon 11, sponsored by the Albuquerque Science Fiction Society -- some highlights:
** the costume parade excludes Star Trek and Star Wars costumes: "It's not that we have anything against such things, but it would be goring for the audience if we did allow those type of costumes. I mean, really, boys and girls, just how many Mr. Spocks and Princess Leias can you really take at one sitting especially since it will take place just before the movie on Friday night?"
** Orson Scott Card will be the Guest of Honor
** two films will be shown: The Mysterians and Phantom Planet
* long blurb about 15th Annual Propulsion Conference in Las Vegas June 18-20, 1979 (among other things, James Doohan will speak)
* Nebula Awards winners announced
* Hugo Award nominations announced
* several LoCs praising and picking at previous issues: one says the paper needs to be folded better, one discusses the Paterson Fanzine Library and its science fiction programming...
* Beyond Tomorrow, an article by Zoe Kirk about an exhibit at the International Space Hall of Fame in Alamogordo, New Mexico
* Message, Part III, Jack Speer's article about hidden messages in Star Trek episodes
* movie review of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
* book review of "Dark Wing" by Carl West and Katherine MacLean
* Cobalt Blue (A Death Mass), poem thing by Wayne A. Leavitt
* Other Eyes, a con report by Darlene J. Rutherford for Worldcon
* The Report Card, the editor gives grades to the zines he has received in trade
* a review of Enterprise Incidents #6, see that page
* Another "Other's" Fable, fiction by Scott Walker and David Gasser
* Flesop's Fables, fiction by Galt Johnson
* My Stories, fiction by Harriet Montilluer
* Owen's Fables, fiction by Owen K.
 Image:alphacent4-4-2.jpg| inside page from v.4 n.4, Jeff Renner 
 Image:alphacent4-4-3.jpg| inside page from v.4 n.4
 Image:alphacent4-4-4.jpg| inside page from v.4 n.4 
 Image:alphacent4-4-5.jpg| inside page from v.4 n.4 
==Reactions and Reviews: V.4 N.4==
==Issue V.4 N.5==
The Alpha Centura Communicator V.4 N.5 was published in May 1979 and contains 14 pages. The size: 7X9. The art is by David Forbes, Nicclai "Nasty" Alenikov, Michelle Lindsey Peterson, Scott Walker.
From the Skylab article, a national visualization experiment: 
* Suzy McKee Charnas will be the guest speaker at the June meeting in the Eldorado High School cafeteria: the subject will be "Feminism in Science Fiction"
* Ode from a Harassed Paladin, poem by Harriet Montilluer
* Message: Part Two by Jack Speer, second in a "series of articles on the messages embodied in nearly every episode of Star Trek. As Gene Roddenberry himself has stated, the science fiction of ST was often used as a camoflage for social commentary during the Vietnam War."
* an article about psychokinesis and directing Skylab to a safe place
* The Yellow Plague of Neptune (filk to the tune of "The Yellow Rose of Texas") by Greg Lay ("This dazzling ditty was composed for Alpha members to sing at Shakey's after meetings.")
* a list of zines received in trade, reviewed and grades are given
* a review of Menagerie #14, see that page
* a review of Spock #14, see that page
* a review of The Alpha Centura Communicator v.4 n.4 (yes, this zine, see this page)
* Myth-Story, fiction by Harriet Montilluer
* Ask Amanda, fictional advice column by "Amanda Grayson"
==Issue V.6 N.12 ==
The Alpha Centura Communicator V.6 N.12 (whole number 70) was published in December 1981 and contains 12 pages. 
* Star Trek news
* an article about the space shuttle
* a letters column
* reviews of the movies Time Bandits and Excalibur
==Issue 92==
 
The Alpha Centura Communicator (whole number 92) was published in November/December 1984.
==Issue 108==
The Alpha Centura Communicator 108 was published in 1986 and contains 8 pages.
This issue contains new, reviews and letters, plus artwork by David Heath, Jr. (four drawings), joan hanke-woods (Yoda), David Walkes, Ray Nelsor and Dan Durar.
==Issue 110==
The Alpha Centura Communicator 110 was published in 1987 and contains 8 pages.
==Issue 111 (v.33 n.1)==
 
The Alpha Centura Communicator 111 was published in 1988 and contains 8 pages. It was edited by Jack F. Speer.
This issue contains news, a Star Trek convention review, and more. Artwork by Mori (Mr. Spock cover), William Rotsler, Dave Garcia and Laura Beckley.
==Issue 113==
The Alpha Centura Communicator 108 was published in 1988 and contains 12 pages.
This issue contains news, reviews, a piece on creationism, and more. Artwork by Dave Garcia, Randy Clark, v, Rich Arnold, Debbie Stark, Laurel Beckley, Cathy Howard and Linda Leach.
==References==
Category:Non-fiction Zines
Category:Multimedia Zines
Category:1976 Zines
Category:1970s Zines
Category:1980s Zines