The Neutral Arbiter

The Neutral Arbiter is a gen Blake's 7 letterzine edited by Sherri Fillingham ("The Teal Aribiter") & Pat Nussman ("The Vandor Arbiter"). 
 
There are seven issues plus a final issue published as a special issue of Revel Times. 
The letterzine had three restrictions regarding discussion: no slash, no past quarrels, no personal attacks.
As of issue #2, the letterzine had 100 subscribers. Ironically, it was the growth and popularity of the publication that led, in part, to its cessation; the two editors could no longer keep up with the work of typing, mailing, and otherwise managing it as it grew and grew. 
The VAST majority of discussion in this letterzine is analyzation of the show, characterizations and motives, and canon. Excerpts below generally do not highlight these topics, but instead focus on the comments about fanworks and fandom.
==A Fan Q==
From the fifth issue: 
==Issue 1==
The Neutral Arbiter 1 was published in May 1991 and contains 15 pages.
Some topics discussed:
* was Blake a terrorist
* why was Cally so morose and disenchanted
* please, fellow fans, be nice to each other
* Servelan's motives
* Avon/Servalan, yes or no
* Tarrant's military background
* Del Grant: competent or doofus
* many off-hand comments regarding The Blake's 7 War that mainly talked about things "finally settling down"
* fan comments on the filk cassette Hip Deep in Heroes, and the zine The Bizarro Coloring Book
* comments by Linda Terrell, P.N. Elrod, and many others
==Issue 2==
The Neutral Arbiter 2 was published in September 1991 and contains 28 pages.
A fan mentions in it that there are 80 subscribers.
Some topics discussed:
* the "I've done it!" phrase that Blake says, and the controversy among fans as whether this makes him a terrorist or a freedom fighter
* is there a difference between how American and British fans see Blake's character
* were Tarrant and Avon friends
* who is to blame for Gauda Prime
* is killing a clone as bad as killing the original human
* the "disappearing" child molestation charges against Blake
* mind-reading as a topic in fanfic
* the perceived decline of active Blake's 7 fandom
* P.N. Elrod writes a lot about the Blake's 7 costumes she's worn at conventions
==Issue 3==
The Neutral Arbiter 3 was published in December 1991 and contains 30 pages.
Some topics discussed:
* Visions, the December 1991 con, see that page
* was the Blake killed a clone, and does this matter
* a mini-essay by P.N. Elrod, see HORK! You want ME to explain the difference between pro and fan writing??
* much about characterization and motivations
* much about the supposed decline of the fandom
* some discussion about the origins of Avon's allergies
==Issue 4==
The Neutral Arbiter 4 was published in March 1992 and contains 32 pages.
Some topics discussed:
* is Blake a terrorist, an ever-popular subject
* sharing your fannish life with mundanes and others
* the differences and similarities between Star Trek and Blake's 7
* fanfiction and deviations from canon
* is Blake-bashing an American sport
==Issue 5==
The Neutral Arbiter 5 was published in June 1992 and contains 38 pages.
Some topics discussed:
* the editors are pleased to announce the letterzine has tied with Horizon Newsletter for a Fan Q for best Blake's 7 newsletter
* the vast majority have renewed their subscriptions
* the editors report that the second issue of Threads Through Infinity has many submissions -- in the end, though, this zine was never published
* P.N. Elrod discusses why zine writing has made her a better pro book writer, and discusses her attempt to write a story crossing her original character (Jack Fleming in "The Vampire Files") in a Quantum Leap story in the zine Good Guys Wear Fangs -- note that three months later, she brings the hammer down on fanworks using her own works, and cuts loose from her own fanworksElrod was one of several pro authors who either brought the hammer down on or clarified their views on fanworks based on her books around the end of 1992. This was due to The Marion Zimmer Bradley Fanfiction Controversy. Some other authors who joined Elrod in 1992: Marion Zimmer Bradley, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Anne McCaffrey, and Mercedes Lackey. See the September 1992 Open Letter to FYI from Author P.N. Elrod.
* Linda Terrell publicly connects the pseud, London Bates to herself
* much about bashing characters
* the role of zine ed's and their requests
* Jean Graham contributes a lengthy "fanspeak" dictionary, explaining science fiction "slang" terms
 
==Issue 6==
The Neutral Arbiter 6 was published in September 1992 and contains 42 pages.
Some topics discussed:
* the editors ask, but don't require, future submissions to be on a computer disk, neatly handwritten, or typed double-spaced; they are having a hard time with the single-spaced typewritten letters
* the second issue of Threads Through Infinity is still on the books
* the deadline for the next issue of "The Neutral Arbiter" is November 15 
* P.N. Elrod writes that she has gone "loopy" over Forever Knight, says that her book, Red Death, is early finished and has been a "real bear" to work on, offers to tape episodes of "Forever Knight" for fans and send the tapes to them for cost, and offers to record old B7 tapes for a fan at cost ("We want to be VERY careful NOT to do this for profit! Copyright laws, y'know."); while Elrod puts a plug in for "that zine with my Quantum Leap-Vampire Files crossover story," her letter (while published in September 1992, the same month as her open letter: Open Letter to FYI from Author P.N. Elrod) was written shortly before or during the beginning of the entire Marion Zimmer Bradley Fanfiction Controversy and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and A Matter of Willful Copyright Infringement fall-out occurred 
* a fan plugs the commercial B7 episode tapes: good for vidding!
* Jean Graham includes a detailed chart of the characters in B7 and the people they have killed in canon
==Issue 7==
The Neutral Arbiter 7 was published in January 1993 (a month later than intended) and contains 32 pages.
Some topics discussed:
* the editors apologize for it being a month late: the main reason was the decision to end the letterzine: "Please don't let our depressing news keep you from submitting to our final issue. It will be a good chance to make your closing arguments, say goodbye, etc. Also, so that people can correspond after we're gone, we will print full addresses at the top of your letter if you so desire it. Just put your address at the top the way you want it to appear."
* the second issue of Threads Through Infinity has been canceled
* P.N. Elrod writes that the fourth issue of her zine, Avon: On-Line, is delayed due to her commissioned/work-for-hire job with TSR to write the "autobiography of their resident vampire, Count Strahd. I was the 1st name on their List of People to Ask... It's a commissioned novel, but I view it as being the same as any commissioned art: it may be someone else's idea, but I shan't stint on the experience!"
 
==The Last Issue==
Jean Graham took on the project of issuing the last issue of the letterzine (which had an original submission deadline of March 15, 1993).
It is unknown if this last issue was ever printed and dispersed.
In February 1994, Pat Elrod wrote: 
In May 1994, posted the following flyer to Lysator:
==Other Letterzines/Apas With Much Blake's 7 Content==
* Pressure Point (1987-1989)
* The Terra Nostra Underground (apa, 1989-1993)
* Liberation Letters (1991-?)
* The Neutral Arbiter (1991-1993, with a single 1994 outlier)
* Rallying Call (apa, early 1992 to at least 1998)
* Horizon Letterzine (1992-1998)
* Dandruff Droppings (apa, 1992-?)
* Battle Stations! (apa, 1994-not much longer)
* Strange Bedfellows (apa, May 1993-November 1997)
* The Way Forward (apa, 1995-ongoing)
* AltaZine (1996-1997)
 
Also see: List of Letterzines.
==Notes==
==References==
Category:Blake's 7 Zines
Category:1990s