Starstone

Starstone is a Darkover fiction and non-fiction fanzine edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Walter Breen. 
The fiction was gen, non-explicit het, and occasional non-explicit slash.
It was the fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and art offshoot of Darkover Newsletter and created after the newsletter began holding contests for poems, stories, and essays.
==The Second All-Darkover Zine Published==
Starstone was the second all-Darkover zine published. Jumeaux preceded it by three months. 
While "Starstone" had been announced way back in March 1976, it may have rankled Breen, Bradley, and the Friends of Darkover, that another Darkover zine was completed three months before their own publication. 
The first public comment by Bradley and Breen about "Jumeaux" included their offer to put some of the material of the first issue of Jumeaux in Starstone, as "Lynne probably wouldn't want to be swamped by orders." [1] It is unknown, if Holdom took them up on this offer.
 
==Its Relationship to MZB's Pro Books==
Many of the stories were in "Starstone" were reprinted in the DAW Books anthologies, and were generated by three Darkover Short Story Contests.
==Choosing the Title==
The zine's title comes from a crystal with the ability to enhance telepathic powers if used correctly. Touching the stone causes damage to the person attuned to it. 
Early on, a fan suggested the name "Airillin."
It was Jacqueline Lichtenberg, however, who named this zine. In the third issue of Darkover Newsletter (January 1977), she wrote: 
==Its Beginnings==
The idea for this zine series was first mentioned by Walter Breen and Marion Zimmer Bradley in 1976. 
Bradley and Breen called the content of "Starstone" "apocryphal stories," and compared its inevitably to the fan activity that "has been going on for some years now in Star Trek's various parallel universes."
From Breen in March 1976: 
 
From Bradley in August 1976: 
A comment in January 1977 in Darkover Newsletter #3: 
Under production in August 1977: 
Still in the works in September 1977: 
In January 1978, Bradley had this announcement: 
==Much Content Generated by Writing Contests==
Some of the content of "Starstone" were the results of several writing contests. 
See Darkover Short Story Contests.
See Adventures in Reading Darkover Stories Without Having to Write Them First..
==Fast Out of the Gate, Then a Slowdown==
The first three issues were published in 1978, the fourth in 1980 and the last issue in 1982. There were plans to publish a sixth issue, but this did not occur.
The delay in publishing the fifth issue was blamed on the rising cost of paper and of other printing supplies, a common demon (along with the cost of postage) at the gate for many print zines. But the slower publication frequency of the last two issues was also just as influenced by the fact that the professional DAW Anthologies began appearing regularly starting in 1980. This meant that much fan-generated content now had a place to land in a pro book, one that provided a bigger audience, increased status, and a little cash.
==Issue 1==
Starstone 1 was published in January 1978. The first issue was 69 pages with card covers. there is also a "revised expanded edition" out there, one that contains 121 pages It was edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley and Walter Breen and published by Thendara House Publications.
The interior art was by Catherine Shore, Diana L. Paxson, Juanita Coulson, Rita Freidin, Susan Fisher, Walter Breen.
Fans who came to the collating party for this issue got it for $1.01. a statement by Jacqueline Lichtenberg in Darkover Newsletter #11 
* Darkover Summer Snow by Eileen Ledbetter (4)
* Darkovan Exile, poem by Diana L. Paxson (25)
* A Meeting in the Hyades, short story by Marion Zimmer Bradley, with author's notes (also published as a separate chapbook, and in Andúril (first published in 1962, but written in 1954 or 1955. In this first manifestation of Darkover, the world is called Valeron and the Comyn are called the Seveners. This story's background is similar to another of MZB's early story, one published in 1954 in a zine called "Ghuvna," called "Adventure in Charin.") (26)
* Fragment from THE SPELL SWORD by Paul Edwin Zimmer (The excerpt here is NOT in the final text of the book, and includes a fight scene; her brother contributed such scenes to other books by MZB.) (40)
* A Bump in the Night (poem) by Everett Avila (42)
* Aging on Darkover by (article) by F. L. Wilkinson (43)
* Adjustment by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (45)
* Lament of a Comyn Keeper (poem) by Cynthia McQuillan (47)
* The Keeper's Price by Lisa Waters and Marion Zimmer Bradley (reprinted in "The Keeper's Price," a DAW Books anthology, also in the pro book "Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover" (1993)) ("Covers the sufferings Hilary Castamir underwent trying to become a Keeper, and reveals the backstory of why Callista agreed to remain sexually immature." Valerie's review, August 21, 2014, on Goodreads)
* Field Notes on Intimate Relationships by Marci Segal (58)
* In Our Next Issue by Marion Zimmer Bradley (69, same as the inside back cover)
Image:starstone1TOC.jpg|TOC from issue #1, signed by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Image:starstone1inside1.jpg|art from issue #1, Diana Paxson, a page from Darkover Summer Snow
Image:starstone1inside2.jpg|art from issue #1, Rita Freidin
Image:starstone1inside3.jpg|art from issue #1, Diana Paxson
Image:starstone1inside4.jpg|art from issue #1, Juanita Coulson, from "A Meeting in the Hyades"
Image:starstone1inside5.jpg|explanation of "A Meeting in the Hyades" by MZB from issue #1 
Image:starstone1inside6.jpg|art from issue #1, Juanita Coulson, from "A Meeting in the Hyades" 
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1===
==Issue 2==
 
Starstone 2 was published in June 1978 and contains 71 pages. 
It was published by Thendara House Publications.
Art by Amy Falkowitz, Diana Paxson, Terri Windling, Signe Landon, Walter Breen, Amy Harlib, and Patricia Munson. Other graphics by Susan Fisher, Rita Freidin, Linda MacKendrick, Stella Nemeth and Joan Verba.
In March 1978, fans were invited to collate this zine: 
From the first page of the zine: 
From the inside back cover: 
MZB wrote a very lengthy editorial which focused on professional writing and amateur writing. For more on this essay, see Why Should I Encourage People to Write Darkover Stories?. This is an excerpt: 
* To Our Readers and Contributors by Marion Zimmer Bradley (4)
* full-page flyer for the first Darkover Short Story Contest (6)
* Ski the Hellers! by Linda MacKendrick (7)
* There is Always an Alternative by Patricia Mathews (reprinted in "The Keeper's Price," a DAW Books anthology) (8)
* A Psychological View of Darkovan Sexual Behavior, non-fiction by Janet Prato (13)
* Lira's Waltz (poem) by Wendy Reed (19)
* Late Summer Meeting by C. McQuillin (21)
* Chieri Lament (poem) by Marion Zimmer Bradley (25)
* Bredini by Penny Ziegler (26)
* Amazon Fosterlings' Rhyme (poem) by Martha Brummett (33)
* The Tale of Durraman's Donkey by Eileen Ledbetter (reprinted in "The Keeper's Price," a DAW Books anthology) (34)
* Soliloquy: Leonie Hastur (poem) by Rhonda Hill (42)
* Dyan Ardais and the Ethical Problem, non-fiction by F.R. Wilkinson (44)
* Darkover: My Unknown World (poem) by Patricia Williams (48)
* The Gift "The title was a very common one among beginners (My first Darkover fanzine story carried that title, despite Marion Zimmer Bradley's wise advice to me to change it; had I known such a title was a cliché, I would have"). -- from Verba in Boldly Writing by Joan Marie Verba (reprinted in Contes di Cottman IV #2) (49)
* Betrayer and Betrayed by Linda Frankel (59)
* Incident on Vainwal by Ernest Fitzwilliam (64)
* The Lesson of the Inn by Marion Zimmer Bradley (reprinted in "The Sword of Chaos, and Other Stories," a DAW Books anthology, also in the pro book "Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover" (1993)) (68)
* Letter to Hilary by Marcia Ristow Blank Crystals (letters) (77)
* Blank Crystals, possibly letters of comment (79)
* In Our Next Issue by Marion Zimmer Bradley (81)
 
Image:starstone2inside1.jpg|inside art from issue #2, Diana Paxton
Image:starstone2inside2.jpg|inside art from issue #2, Terri Windling
Image:starstone2inside3.jpg|inside art from issue #2, Walter Breen
Image:starstone2inside4.jpg|inside art from issue #2, Signe Landon
Image:starstone2inside5.jpg|inside art from issue #2, Terri Windling
Image:starstone2inside6.jpg|inside art from issue #2, Amy Harlib
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2===
==Issue 3==
 
Starstone 3 was published in December 1978 and contains 121 pages. Art by MZB, Walter Breen, Patricia Munson, Diana Paxson, Dorris Quinn and Anji Valenza. The back cover is blank.
It was published by Thendara House Publications.
From the flyer: 
According to a last-minute editorial by MZB, this issue has many printing problems, was a financial burden, and its creation caused its staff to use a lot of swears (like "turkey," and what appears to be "damn."). See Printing Problems, Money Problems: Issue 3.
* The Rescue by Linda McKendrick ("We receive more stories about the Free Amazons that any ohter subject and most of them are serious attempts to attack grim questions of Social and Sexual Importance. But this one is sheer fun -- a delightful romp which, in its own way, is as serious as any of the rest.") (4) (reprinted in The Keeper's Price)
* A Princess on the Doorstep by Patricia Mathews. (The author of "There is Always an Alternative") a story in issue #2 turns her attention to the Hastur Wars in the feudal times preceding the true Ages of Chaos, and a fugitive princess.) (16)
*Encounter in the Snow by Cynthia Anderson Frazer (What became of Lori, Judith Lovet's daughter by a chieri? Does she ever meet her alien father, how, and when? We are asked that often. Ms. Frazer gives a touching answer.") (24)
* Exile, poem by Cynthia McQuillin (27)
* Parting Gift by Elfrida Rivers ("Elfrida Rivers" is one of Marion Zimmer Bradley's pseuds, as well as the name she used in the Society of Creative Anachronism events.) (28)
* Search for Yesterday, poem by Sharrie n'ha Verana/Sherry Kramer (not Sherry A. Schmidt as per the original printing) (33)
* Storm on Dammerung by Ernest Fitzwilliam ("The longest story we have ever published -- really a novelett. In "Planet Savers." Regis Hastur promises Jason, 'We'll climb that mountain together some day,' and in this story, Earnest Fitzwilliam tells how they do it -- and what happens.") (34)
* Sociological Impact... by Cynthia Anderson Frazer (55)
* Vai Dom by Diana Paxson (One of the questions most frequently asked about Darkover is "How did a technilogical society landing on Darkover become transformed into a feudal society?" Diana Paxson, whose professional competence is writing educational programs for culturally differentiated children, addresses herself to this question -- and illustrates it herself.) (56) (reprinted in "The Keeper's Price," a DAW Books anthology)
* Song of the Sharra Rebellion, poem by Sherry Kramer (not Sherry A. Schmidt as per the original printing) (67)
* The Other Planet Savers by Fortunately Anonymous, translation and commentary by Walter Breen See :File:Starstone1insidebackcover.jpg. ("Note: The German translator of The Planet Savers (1962) took it for granted that he could add material to lengthen the book for publication overseas. MZB was unimpressed when she discovered this (the edition had a, to her, inexplicable illustration of characters caught in a net), and ultimately decided to add such a scene in Star of Danger (1965). Breen here translates that original scene in this issue. (This episode is also recounted in A Darkover Retrospective, published first in Fantisiae, a fanzine, and later in an omnibus edition of The Planet Savers and the Sword of Aldones (1980)." -- The Friends of Darkover: An Annotated History and Bibliography by Catherine Cooke (68)
*All the Winners! (82) (list)
* Adventures in Reading Darkover Stories Without Having to Write Them First. (MZB's detailed and LONG critical commentary about the 34 (out of about 150 entries, many did not fulfill the qualifications of the contest) stories in the contest, was originally titled on the flyer: How Not to Write a Darkover Story) (She notes: "Many of the entries in the contest were not professionally salable at all, even some of the prizewinners," but she goes on to praise a number of them.) (84)
** Journey To Newskye by Mary Frey (first place tie) (It was fourteen-year old Harryl's first visit to Newskye with Grandfather and he was excited. What was it that made Grandfather so special, so different from other men?) (also in Contes Di Cottman IV #8) (13 pages)
** A Simple Dream by Penny Ziegler (first place tie) (103) (reprinted in The Keeper's Price)
* Magda Takes the Oath, Diptvch by Diana Paxson (110)
* After Dammerung (poems), Lerrys Ridenow, tr. by E. Fitzilliam (120)
* DAW Announcement (an ad for Gregg Press Books, a limited edition press house that had produced some Darkover books in hardcover, when previous editions had been limited to paperback) (131)
Note: this was on the flyer, but not in the zine:
* The Hawkmaster's Son by MZB (What changed Kennard Alton from the light-hearted youngster of "Star of Danger" to the embittered cynic of "Bloody Sun" and "Heritage of Hastur"? What drove a wedge between him and his sworn brother Dyan Ardais?) This story, instead, appears in the pro book "The Keeper's Price."
Image:starstone3DAW.jpg|announcement about DAW and fanfiction, also see Darkover Short Story Contests 
Image:starstone3contest.jpg|contest winners
Image:starstone3inside1.jpg|inside page from issue #3, Anji Valenza 
Image:starstone3inside3.jpg|inside page from issue #3, Dorris Quinn
Image:starstone3inside4.jpg|inside page from issue #3, 
Image:starstone3inside5.jpg|inside page from issue #3, 
Image:starstone3inside6.jpg|inside page from issue #3, 
===Printing Problems, Money Problems: Issue 3===
When this issue was printed a second time in August 1979, it included the notation on the inside front cover that the two poems on pages 33 and 67 were NOT by Sherry Schmidt but by Sharrie n'ha Verana/Sherry Kramer. The name was not corrected, however, in the second printing's table of contents.
The first printing also had its problems. MZB explains on a page, not mentioned in the table of contents, what these printing errors were, and warns readers that the zine is in financial danger:
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3===
==Issue 4==
 
Starstone 4 was published in 1980 and contains 97 pages, also with card covers. The front cover illustration is by Terri Windling, the back cover by Fiona Zimmer.
The interior art is by Kevin Reeder, Pat Munson, and Walter Breen.
This issue is published by Friends of Darkover.
* The Fall of Neskaya by Roger Bermingham, art by Kevin Reeder and Pat Munson (9)
* Choices by Cynthia Anderson Frazer (9)
* Esa Yllana (poem) by Rhonda Hill (13)
* Awakening by Eileen Ledbetter (14)
* Comyn Lord (poem) by Paula Hurst (24)
* Blood of a Beast by Patricia Mathews (25)
* Duty by Melinda Anne Holley (29)
* The Dimover National Athem, song by Phil and Jo Wayne and Cindy McQuillin, art by Walter Breen (30)
* At Nevarsin: Valdir and Valentine by Mary Frances Sambreno, second prize in the Short Story Contest (32)
* The Chieri Grove (poem) by Paula Crunk (42)
* Cross-Rough by John Hopfner (a Special Mention Story) (43)
* Farewell to Caranon by Jonathan Shipley (55)
* Suicide is Painless by Patricia Mathews (65)
* Brother Search by Mary Frances Zanbreno, poem (67)
* Judith's Sont, words and music by Linda von Braskat-Crowe, graphics by Walter Breen (68)
* A Change of Heart by Patricia Partridge (70)
* Di Catenas, poem by Sharrie n'ha Verana (83)
* A Gift of Words by Marci Segal, illustrated by Patricia Munson (84)
* Firiel's Lament, poem by Dusti Wiebe, graphics by Walter Breen (95)
* Callista's Song by Judy Gerjuoy (96)
* art credits (96)
* Darkover Short Story Contest, inside back cover
==Issue 5==
 
 
Starstone 5 was published in March 1982 and contains 58 pages. Art by Signe Landon (front cover), Kevin Reeder (back cover), Jane Fancher, Amy Harlib, Laeili Williams, Diana L. Paxson.
This issue is published by Friends of Darkover.
The editorial: 
* Editorial by MZB (1)
* Clingfire by Jane Brae-Bedell (2)
* Test of Honor by Phillip Wayne (11)
* Journey's End by Paula Crunk (14) (reprinted in Contes di Cottman #11)
* Beyond Honor by Cynthia McQuillin (22)
* Crossover by Cynthia Anderson Frazer (34)
* Genesis by Ernest Fitzwilliam (37)
* Master of Laynier by Patricia Mathews (43)
* This Much at Least by Joan Marie Verba (reprinted in Contes di Cottman IV #15) (50)
* information about the third Darkover Short Story Contest (inside back cover)
 
Image:starstone5inside1.jpg|inside art from issue #5, Laeili Williams
Image:starstone5inside2.jpg|inside art from issue #5, Amy Harlib
Image:starstone5art3.jpg|inside art from issue #5, Jane Fancher
Image:starstone5art4.jpg|inside art from issue #5, Diana L. Paxson
== References ==
Category:Non-fiction Zines
Category:Darkover Zines
Category:1970s Zines Category:1980s Zines