A Piece of the Action/Issues 31-40

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==Issue 31==
A Piece of the Action 31 was published in October 1975 and contains 11 pages.
The "Strekfan's Guide to Worldcon" by Joan Verba: 
* this issue has, as usual, info on the movie and what the stars have been up to
* there is a full-page ad by Nova Enterprises for Star Fleet Technical Manual, a pro-book that sparked the sub-genre of fans and their interest in creating blueprints and other technical fanworks about Star Trek, and later other topics
* there is a full-page ad for Star Trek Lives, the last con in this series
* there is a short introductory piece on Worldcon called "The Strekfan's Guide to Worldcon" by Joan Verba
* some trivia by Cheree Townsend Cargill
* three con reports: 
** Philadelphia International ST Con, see that page
** Wondaycon #4, see that page
** Star Trek Chicago, see that page
* the mail room letters report: June—797, July—1053, August—252
==Issue 32==
A Piece of the Action 32 was published in November 1975 and contains 27 pages.
* a report on the 1975 issue of Time Magazine: one comment -- "Except for the repeated reference to "trekkies" (a label which most mature Star Trek fans object to), the article deals with Star Trek's popularity and fans intelligently." 
* news of what the stars are up to and the usual round-up of Star Trek mentions in the media
* ad for the United Friends of William Shatner, the official William Shatner fan club, president Maxine Lee Broadwater
* a collection of letters from fans commenting on Space:1999; most reflect the opening statement -- "Despite the fact that Space:1999 producer's avowed intention of aiming for his show to capture the Star Trek audience, early reactions to the series indicate that Star Trek has nothing to fear from comparison." It illustrates the rivalry between fans and their appreciation for their favorite show, even when said show had been off the air for years; this protectionism would only become more pronounced with the advent of Star Wars a few years later.
* a Star Trek word search puzzle
* a very short comment about August Party: "The convention brought out 940 people who thought they were the only ones who watched Star Trek. What a surprise they had when they found us all there also. We had slides, talks, movies, and get-togethers with these new fans and introduced them to ST fandom." 
* many, many con report for Palm Beach Con/Trek Con International
* the fan in charge of the pen pal department, Joyce Thompson, says she has several hundred applications to mail out
* art by Don Harden, Gee Moaven, Laura Virgil, Eric Schaefer, Cheree Townsend Cargill, Elizabeth Marshall.
* a report on the Gene Coon Memorial Fund
* a full-page ad for the Michigan State University Star Trek Club
==Issue 33==
A Piece of the Action 33 was published in December 1975 and contains 15 pages.
* a survey that was taken of more than 3000 TV executives and their families in which they state that ST is their third most favorite TV show ever
* news of what the stars are up to: some of it -- George Takei had lunch with the Emperor and Empress of Japan, Leonard Nimoy appeared at an auto show in New York...
* there are seven con announcements
* there is a con report for American Star Trek Convention (October 9–12, 1975 in Dallas)
* Bjo Trimble advertises a 28-page folio of Equicon's Futuristic Fashion Design Contest
* Jacqueline Lichtenberg tries some cross-marketing/added value thinking and writes that "ST fen planning attend SF Worldcon in Kansas City include Claire Gabriel, Joan Winston, and myself. Marion Zimmer Bradley plans to be there and many in the organization known as the Friends of Darkover feel there is a definite overlap of appeal between the Darkover books and ST. Getting involved in factions of sf fandom which would satisfy some of that longing for more-more-more ST is another reason for Strekfen to go to Worldcon."
* there is a fan profile of [M L D]: "[I] am a 47 year old, plump, grey-haired, old maid, afflicted with the least interesting of all perversions -- scholarship." She says she started writing Star Trek fiction because young relations had been asking her to write "some Star Trek episodes." She adds that two of her stories will appear in the upcoming Delta Triad.
* the editor notes that the "annual STW questionnaire" has been mailed to all volunteer workers
* the STW's booklet, Communication the Hard Way, published as a joint project with boojums Press and recently been revised and reprinted. The first 100 copies are sold out. The second edition has a cover by Doug Herring, and interior art by Phil Foglio. Contributors include Ruth Berman, Debbie Goldstein, Jeff Johnston, Devra Langsam, Carol Lynn, Paula Smith, Bjo Trimble, and Helen Young. The final draft was written by Sharon Ferraro.
* there is a new section announced for the newsletter—it is the "Editors & Artists Exchange"; its purpose was to help faneds and artists find each other; format would be a list compiled and updated by Laura Virgil; the STW stresses this "is NOT a distribution center for art and stories, but only a contact point."
* art by Laura Virgil, Elizabeth Marshall, Don Harden, Melanie Mayfield, Sandra Dennis, Pat Berry, Tim Estiloz, and Eric Schaefer.
* there are ads for Federation Trading Post and Nova Enterprises, the latter which advertises "I Am Not Spock"
==Reactions and Reviews: Issue 33==
==Issue 34==
A Piece of the Action 34 was published in January 1976 and contains 15 pages.
From the editorial by Helen Young: 
* many announcements for pro Star Trek and Sime~Gen books, as well as an increasing amount of mainstream Star Trek products and toys
* a description of six cons, and announcements for 12 cons
* several con reports
** the second British Star Trek Convention, see that page
** Starcon #4, see that page
** MiniCon #12 in Houston
** a Mini Trek Con in New York, see that page
* Jacqueline Lichtenberg asks other fans to let her know if ST fans would like some Kraith gatherings at cons
* a fan profile for Cheree Townsend Cargill
* an editorial by Helen Young defines the neutrality that STW must take on on controversial matters. This issue was addressed again in issue #61.
* a half-page ad for Spectrum and a full-page ad for The Goddess Uhura
* art is by Gee Moaven, Laura Virgil, Cheree T. Cargill and Alyce T. Unrein
==Reactions and Reviews: Issue 34==
==Issue 35==
A Piece of the Action 35 was published in February 1976 and contains 7 pages.
* an announcement that Benecia '76 has been cancelled
* art by Cheree T. Cargill and Robin Hill
* the editor thanks a number of fans by name for their contributions of stamps, cash, and one for sticky labels
* an announcement that the pro book, Star Trek: The New Voyages was soon to be published
* boojums Press brings the Klingon Empire Appointment Calendar back from the dead for a fifth printing
* a full-page description and announcement of the first Star Trek Fan Fund, sponsored by Halkan Council
* very short ads for fourteen ST zines, including one for one called The Naked Times (out of New York and not the slash one, Naked Times, published two years later)
==Issue 36==
A Piece of the Action 36 was published in March 1976 and contains 13 pages. This is the last issue published by Virginia Walker.
* Editor: Helen Young
* the mail room letter count: October = 496, November = 453, December = 659
* Movie news. (Production date set: July 15)
* a poll called the "Star Trek Motion Picture Script Opinion Poll"
* the STSTC has an update, mainly that there is no news regarding their campaign to have the ST movie retain all of the original cast
* Tomorrow Show Spotlights Star Trek, hosted by Tom Snyder
* News of the Stars
* a full-page letter by a fan who encourages other to write NASA and their representatives and "remind them our future is in Space. Don't mention Star Trek, must your concern and interest in the future of mankind."
* New Products, mainly toys
* Space: 1999 news
* Gene Roddenberry Lecture Tours, calendar
* Planetary publicity
* STW newsclipping service
* STW Directory of Star Trek Organizations
* a con report for Pittsburgh Star Strektacular (December 12–14, 1975), see that page
* a con report, this one for International Star Trek Convention (Jan 15-18, 1976, New York), see that page
* there are two very, very short con reports for International Star Trek Convention (Washington D.C., January 1–4) and Houston Mini-Con #13 (January 3–4)
* the editors thank Mego Corporation for their donation of "communicators," (transistor walkie talkies) making it easier for con volunteers to talk to each other (up to a quarter mile!)
==Issue 37==
A Piece of the Action 37 was published in April 1976 and contains 12 pages. The publisher of this zine is now Josi Williams, with associates KathE Donnelly and Karolyn Popovich.
From "Trekkers vs Trekkie": 
* Editor: Virginia Walker
* News of the stars: Leonard Nimoy as Sherlock Holmes, etc.
* a con report for The Star Trek Convention, NY (Feb 12-16), see that page
* there is a long review and reaction to the pro book, Star Trek: The New Voyages (see that page for details)
* there is a full-page ad for "I am not Spock"
* The Hole in the Deck Gang, a "central registry for gofers encourages fans to write it and apply
* Yellow Page updates
* Personnel updates
* Computing, Dear, by Cheree Townsend Cargill - quiz
* Trekkers vs Trekkie, by Terry Whittier 
* the mail room says it received 1360 letters in January, it is reported that the STW now has 130 volunteers
==Issue 38==
A Piece of the Action 38 was published in May 1976 and contains 14 pages. The editor announces that the fan readers of APOTA now outnumber the volunteers it was originally written for by 10 to 1, and that APOTA will now become more of a general newsletter and many of the usual sections will be discontinued; more detailed STW information for the 150 volunteers will now be sent to them on a separate mimeographed sheet of paper. The editor also says that after one issue, the new business manager (Josi Williams), has resigned and her duties pass on to Karolyn Popovich and KathE Donnelly.
* Editor: Helen Young
* Revival news: Filming for Star Trek Movie pushed back to late Aug or September
* News of the Stars: Gene Roddenbery's lecture tour and more; William Shatner did an commercial for Linn Technical College, plugging it by saying, "As an old friend of mine might have said, it would seem the logical choice." The editors note that they are discontinuing this "actors in the news" section as it is getting too big
* Profile: Grace Lee Whitney, by Bonnie Chardene in which the actress is described as "ultra-feminine and independent" 
* Book Announcements, Susan Sackett is doing a book of collected "interesting" fan letters she's received over the years
* Computing, Dear, by Cheree Cargill. Quiz
* The Ubiquitous Star Trek: ST mentioned in various media
* Con Notes, there are eleven cons advertised; Al Schuster announces that due to financial difficulties, plans for his Seattle convention have been canceled, there is a con report for Star Trekon (see that page), other short con reports for four other ones
* a fan reports on a con she hosted in Barranquilla, Columbia called "Star Trek Fiesta"; it was more of a house party and there were many children present, everyone stayed up all night, watched a play preformed by kids, and they had a meal at midnight "from other planets"
* there is an "ad" for The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
* STW Directory Announcements
* Joan Verba becomes the "Zine Acquisition Consultant"
* STW Needs Fan Support, by Helen Young; the article says that the STW needs more money but is unsure of how to get it; she suggests that fans who can step up and send in some donations and buy some more patches
* the mail room reports having received 1523 letters in March 1976
==Issue 39==
A Piece of the Action 39 was published in June 1976 and contains 14 pages.
* Editor: Virginia Walker
* News of the stars: Nichelle Nichols is the model figure for the heroine of a Gothic novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley
* Con Farr: Before and After: eight cons are advertised, there is one con report for Equicon (see that page)
* One Small Step, One Giant step; this is a long, long, detailed report, complete with photos, of the US Air Force Plant #42: Space shuttle Enterprise, see Star Trek Fandom and NASA
* there is a long article by Helen Young called, "The STW Table at Conventions." It discusses the rules, descriptions, and technicalities of running the organization's table at conventions
* the mail room reports having received 911 letters in April
* art is by Elizabeth Marshall, Laura Virgil, Ellen Vartanoff, and Robin Hill
==Reactions and Reviews: Issue 39==
==Issue 40==
A Piece of the Action 40 was published in July 1976 and contains 10 pages.
* Editor: Helen Young
* Book announcements: Spock Messiah and more
* Dear Grace Lee (advice column, Grace Lee Whitney)
* A Fan's Handy Guide to STW services (officers and their home addresses) -- there are twenty-one services listed
* there is a con report for Boston Star Trek, (April 16–19, Boston, MA), see that page 
* the editors thank about 28 fans for their donations of cash, stamps, and art for resale
* art is by Don Harden, Lorrie Vall (envelope art), and Cheree Cargill
==Reactions and Reviews: Issue 40==
==References==
Category:Star Trek TOS Non-fiction Zines
Category:1975 Zines
Category:1976 Zines