Rallying Call

Rallying Call is a gen and slash Blake's 7 Roj Blake-focused, Gareth Thomas-focused 8-1/2 x 11 apazine.
In 1998, the "publication" schedule was November, February, May and August, with tribs due by the 1st of the month, but in actuality and like many APAs, an actual tight publication date for most issues appears unlikely.
The main APA was gen, and explicit het and slash of any rating was in a separate supplement that was sent to members who requested it. In 1995, there was much discussion about including these topics in the main APA, something that caused much discussion, some rift, and the decision by some members to leave.
Gareth Thomas, the actor who portrayed Roj Blake, was an honorary member and the gen APA contents were sent to him. Thomas himself never commented or contributed to the APA in a direct way.
Gareth's inclusion in the mailings became an issue when the discussion began in 1995 about combining all elements of the zine.The Robin of Sherwood publication, Cousins, is an example of a letterzine that, for better or worse, included much commentary from one of its producers/creators.
==The Title==
The title of the APA comes from the show: "BERCOL: My department has done all in its power to suppress information about Blake and his actions -- there is a total blackout on all reports concerning him -- but still the stories get out. They spread by word of mouth, by whispers, by rumour; each time the story is told it is laborated upon. Any damage to the Federation is attributed to Blake. The smallest incident is exaggerated out of all proportion until it becomes a major event. Blake is becoming a legend. His name is a rallying call for malcontents of all persuasions. He must be stopped."
==Off-Line Fannish Discussion at the Cusp of Online ==
In 1998, the collator remarked: 
But the relentless plod of technology spares no one. In 1999, the collator remarked:
In 2000, a fan wrote: 
===A 1994 Description===
==A 1998 Description==
==Fan Trib Titles==
Like in many apazines, fans often gave a title to their tribs.
 Image:rallyingcall15subzines.jpg| this example is from issue #15
File:Rallyingcall16subtitles.jpg|this example is from issue #16
==Gen and Slash Discussion==
At first, "Rallying Call" was a gen apa, with a adult het and slash supplement, possibly titled "Dangerous Liaisons." This supplement was sent to roughly 2/3 of the members.
In the spring of 1995, the main collator proposed combining the two. There was much discussion, with one out-spoken fan leaving due to this change.
The collator addressed this topic in 1998 on Lysator, as well as added some general further description:
=="Rallying Call" and "Lysator"==
This apa had a fair bit of overlap in membership and some content with the Blake's 7 mailing list, Lysator.
Some content:
* "Dysfunctional family" is a redundant phrase
* What Blake Knows
==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 1991 to at least 1998)
* Horizon Letterzine (1992-1998)
* Dandruff Droppings (apa, 1992-?)
* Battle Stations! (apa, 1994-not much longer)
* 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.
==Issue 1==
Rallying Call 1 was published in 1991 (February?) and contains 8 pages. The collator was Angela Reese.
==Issue 2==
Rallying Call 2 was published in 1991 (May?). The collator was Angela Reese.
==Issue 3==
Rallying Call 3 was published in 1991 (August?). The collator was Angela Reese.
==Issue 4==
Rallying Call 4 was published in 1991 (likely November) "... published four times a year (we're just wrapping up the first year, and have gone from eight pages to fifty)" -- a comment in The Neutral Arbiter #2 (September 1991) and contains 50 pages. The collator was Angela Reese.
==Issue 5==
Rallying Call 5 was published in (February?) 1992. The collator was Angela Reese.
==Issue 6==
Rallying Call 6 was published in (May?) 1992. The collator was Angela Reese.
==Issue 7==
Rallying Call 7 was published in (August?) 1992. The collator was Angela Reese.
* a fan asks if other B7 fans would like to write in a "Thieves World" shared universe
* "Vincent," a filk
* "Stageplay," a filk
* "A Cautionary Tale," a fic
* much more unknown content
==Issue 8==
Rallying Call 8 was published in 1993, perhaps January. The collator was Angela Reese, who announced she no longer would be the collator.
==Issue 9 (May 1993)==
Rallying Call 9 was published in May 1993 and contains 50 pages.
The collator was Angela Reese, despite her announcement in the last APA.
The APA has 13 members.
The zine is online here.
* "About a Rebel Crew I'll Sing," filk to the tune of Tom Lehrer's "The Irish Song"
* "A Womb of One's Own," fiction by Rebecca Ann Brothers (Jenna/Blake: Jenna and Blake have a baby, Avon gets to be the doting uncle) (het)
* "Non Omnis Moriar," poem
* "The Choice," fiction by Sondra Sweigman (het)
* "My Heart Leaps Up," a "birthday story for Lynn F. by Isis" (slash)
* "The Returning," poem
* "In a Sheltered Place," fiction by Rebecca Ann Brothers
* comments on the zine The Big B7 Zine, see that page
* comments on the zine Careless Whispers, see that page
* a con report for Visions '92, see that page
* a fan transcribes part of a question and answer session from Anglicon '88, and Gareth Thomas' answers to whether Avon was "crazy" in the fourth season
===Slash===
===General ===
==Issue 10==
Rallying Call 10 was published in 1993, probably July. The collator was Angela Reese.
The APA has 10 members.
* a poem, "Epiphany Too Late" by Rebecca Ann Brothers
* a poem, "Dark Water" by Sondra Sweigman
* "Living in Interesting Times," story by Elizabeth
* discussion of Teri White's story "Rogues" in the zine Roads Not Taken
* other unknown content
==Issue 11 (January 1994)==
Rallying Call 11 was published in January 1994 and contains at least 45 pages. The collator was Angela Reese.
The letters in it were written between October–December 1993. Deadline for next issue is March 31, 1994.
The APA has 12 members. Gareth Thomas is an honorary member, and the general APA was sent to him. The "Adult Supplement" was sent to 9 of those members.
The zine is online here.
The editor notes that the issue contains "two vastly different round robin continuations, lots of poetry and (my favorite) input from nearly all members."
* a fan says that her proposed APA Battle Stations! has been scrapped and is now the title of her "Rallying Call" trib
* "Reunion on Gauda Prime," filk to the tune of "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"
* "Roj Blake, the Rebel," filk to the tune of "Frosty the Snowman"
* "Exaggerated Rumours," fiction by Curtiss
* "Misapprehension," poem by Patti E. McClellan (reprinted from Gambit #10, June 1993)
* "The Saga of Blake and Avon: An Interplanetary Myth for All Seasons," poem by Sondra Sweigman
* "Coyote," poem
* "Phoenix," poem
* "TOTALLY TASTELESS FILK: to the tune of "Take Me Out To the Ballgame"
* comments on the zine Network, see that page
* a con report for Visions '93, it is a joint report by Amanda Rothman, Catherine Salmon, Sue Clerc, Karen Williamson, and Nicole Vifian that was posted to "one of [Lysator the electronic mailing lists] and the rest of us responded to the report" (this means the report is in chat form), see that page (This was also at Subject: Visions report on Lysator dated Dec 2, 1993, and printed in )
* the editor says her computer FreeNet problems are fixed and apologizes to people who did not get a reply to emails sent over the last few months
* a fan is thrilled to be typing her trib while in bed on a laptop: "Ahh, technology."
* comments on Hellhound, see that page
* one member says she has been distracted by landing her dream job, and due to her "having a another rather unique experience, in that a virtually dead (at least as far as I was concerned) former fandom is staging a revival. And I have been able to borrow uncut tapes of episodes I was missing, so have been busy with that as well. Starsky & Hutch, in case you were wondering."
=== Slash ===
===General ===
 
==Issue 12==
Rallying Call 12 was published in January 1995, a full year after issue #11.
The zine is online here.
There are 18 members. Sue Clerc is the new collator.
As of this issue, the adult discussion is no longer relegated to a supplement, but integrated into the main body of the apa.
A fan writes that “since we’re under new management, I decided to change the title of my trib. And as it’s been such a long time between isues, I’ll be revising and adding to those comments where necessary.”
* filk by Elizabeth B, We Three Blakes, to the tune of We Three Kings of Orient Are
* Aftermath, fiction (perhaps by Barbara F)
* there is a long essay by Sue C that analyzes Blake's 7 in relation to Joseph Campbell's "The Hero With a Thousand Faces" and heroism in general
* Parting Assessments, poem by Sondra A
===General===
A fan is unhappy with all the Blake-bashing in zines: 
A fan writes about the differences between Trek and B7: 
About the clone thing: 
Comments on bashing: 
Differences among fans of different characters, and wallow: 
Sex and Blake: 
Regarding canon tone: 
The quality of fanfic: 
A fan offers up the “Generic Blake Defense Form Letter,” which is a riff on The Generic Slash Defense Letter, something that had only been posted in working form that exact same month as this issue of the apa: 
Opinion about some art: 
Opinion about a story: 
H/C question: 
A fan's journey, and some comments on some fanfics: 
Introduction to the fandom and zines: 
===Slash===
 
 
==Issue 13 (April 1995)==
Rallying Call 13 was published in April 1995 and contains 82 pages. Sue Clerc is the collator.
There are twenty members listed, seventeen of which have contributions to this issue. Since there are now twenty members, there is no room for other members, and a waiting list will be created.
This issue contains a short fic called "Aftermath," a poem called "Fanatic," and two clippings about the play "Educating Rita."
Topics of discussion:
* a "Generic Blake Defense Form Letter"
* the article in the previous issue comparing Blake's 7 to Joseph Campbell's journey of the hero
* whether to include adult material and discussion in a separate supplement (or at all)
* one fan's desire to share copies of this apazine with Gareth Thomas
* how to bolster Blake's popularity among fans
* Suzan Lovett's art
* the relationships between H/C and slash
* why do fans like H/C
* seeing Gareth Thomas in the play "Educating Rita"
* various short comments about specific zines and stories
* longer comments about zines, art, and stories
** Careless Whispers, see that page
** Raising Hell, see that page
** Avon Calling #3, see that page
** Quest for Fire, see that page
** Songs of Experience, see that page
** Fire and Ice #2, see that page
** Oblaque #5, see that page
** Ghost and Program, see those pages
** Probability Square, see that page
** Those Who Favour Fire, see that page
** Mindfire, see that page
** Rebel Desires, see that page
** Bene Dictum #2, see that page
** Dark Between the Stars #5, see that page
===Suzan Lovett's Art===
 
===Adult Supplement, Sending the APA to Gareth Thomas?===
Many letters are addressed directly to the fan who dislikes the idea of having adult material and has threatened to leave the apa. These discussions are also entwined with comments about fan's comments in a previous issue about wanting to send this apazine to Gareth Thomas.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
===Hurt/Comfort===
 
===General ===
 
 
 
 
 
 
==Issue 14 (July 1995)==
Rallying Call 14 was published in July 1995 and contains 81 pages. The collator was Sue Clerc.
 
This issue has eighteen members (two down from last issue); thirteen of these members contributed. One of the two members that left was one who had large disagreements regarding the scope and content of the APA.
This issue has a reprint some updates about Blake's 7 news that was originally printed in Horizon Newsletter #32.
The informal Topic of the Month is discussion about the episode "The Way Back."
There are reviews and comments regarding these zines: Shades of Grey, The Chronicles #56/57/58, Love and Sacrifice, Log of the Hellhound, Careless Whispers, Jabberwocky, Star One, Down and Unsafe #5, The Mind of a Man is a Double-Edged Sword, Checkers, Whomsoever Holds This Sword, and others.
This issue reprints a copy of a letter by Bjo Trimble which proposes a fan campaign to have Gareth Thomas (the actor who portrayed Roj Blake) cast as the next Doctor in Doctor Who. The letter was also printed in the Several Unlimited club April 1995 newsletter. An edited version of it appears in Dreamwatch #9. A fan who comments on this letter is pleased that Bjo Trimble is a Gareth Thomas, but is grumpy about the fact that the letter spells his character's first name as "Roger" (rather than "Roj") as well as "Cadfae." Trimble's enthusiasm appears to be based on the fact that Thomas looks the part, was really nice to people at a con (especially nice to Trimble), and that he thought the part would be fun. See Open Letter by Bjo Trimble to Doctor Who Fans.
This issue contains the fic "Welcome to the London" by Elizabeth B. as well as "Aftermath" by Lorna P.
Several fans commented about MediaWest*Con, see 1995 MediaWest*Con Comments.
Several fans commented on the Oblique Publications zine series. See Reviews and Comments.
=== Slash and Het ===
===The Blake's 7 Wars===
See more about this topic at The Blake's 7 Wars.
=== Fanworks===
===General ===
==Issue 15 (October 1995)==
Rallying Call 15 was published in October 1995 and contains 77 pages.
At this time, there were nineteen members.
It contains some fanmade photocopied pictures and captions. Also a clipping from "Strange Worlds" with the headline "I really didn't understand everything that was going on..." plus some other unidentified clippings.
The Topic of the Month episode reviews were for "Spacefall" and "Cygnus Alpha."
This issue has a fan review of the pro book by Adrian Rigelsford called "The Making of Terry Nation's Blake's 7."
This issue has a 7-page monologue play written by Teri White called "Interview with a Monster." She said she wrote it with Gareth Thomas in mind. The main character is a man named Owain. Gareth Thomas apparently loved this play, as per a fan in the next issue. To read those comments, see 1995: Con Reports.
===The Blake's 7 Wars===
See more about this topic at The Blake's 7 Wars.
=== Slash===
===Fanworks===
===General===
==Issue 16 (January 1996)==
Rallying Call 16 was published in January 1996 and there are 71 pages. 
Sue Clerc is the collator.
The zine is online here.
There were nineteen members, and fifteen of them sent tribs. The next deadline is April 1, and fans were asked to make twenty-one copies of their tribs.
* the editor says bad weather has made this issue late as she couldn't get to the print shop
* the editor says the apa has gained a new member (someone she recruited in a stairwell at MediaWest*Con, but that another member has dropped out ("At least, I think she has. I haven't heard from her since a cryptic e-mail message several months ago.")
* the editor notes that the cost to her is $1.30 for the covers and envelopes, and $2.50 for the postage for each issue
* "Next up -- "Mission to Destiny" (10 entire minutes of Blake), "Duel" (hubba), and "Project Avalon" (Fun Fur-a-Rama)"
* a fan includes the lyrics to a song by Rush ("Time Stand Still"), saying it would make a good Blake vid
* some con reports for Visions '95, see that page
* "Aftermath," fiction WIP by Lorna Payne
* "Wind Up Toy" by Jacqueline Taylor
===The Blake's 7 Wars===
See more about this topic at The Blake's 7 Wars.
 
===Slash===
=== Fanworks===
===General ===
==Issue 17 (April 1996)==
Rallying Call 17 was published in April 1996 and 54 pages.
Sue Clerc is the collator.
The zine is online here.
There were nineteen subscribers, and tribs from fourteen of them. The next deadline was July 1, 1996 and fans were asked to make twenty-one copies.
* "More goodies this time! Joyce has generously shared her sticker collection with us all. There are 4 different pictures so we don't all have the same one on the opening page. Thanks, Joyce! Debbie has made gorgeous copies of our gorgeous Blake/Bodie drawing by Suzan Lovett, suitable for framing. Thanks, Debbie! Check out our MediaWest door for a larger (we only wish it was life-size) version"
* two poems, "Avon," and "Blake" by Elizabeth
* "In This Lonely Place," fiction by Rebecca
* con reports and comments for Escapade, see that page
===Slash ===
=== Fanworks===
===This Thing Called the Internet===
===General ===
==Issue 18 (July 1996)==
Rallying Call 18 was published in July 1996 and contains 40 pages.
Sue Clerc is the collator.
There are nineteen subscribers, and tribs from twelve of them. The next issue's October 1996, and there will be twenty-one subscribers.
The zine is online here.
* con reports for MediaWest*Con, see that page
* a very detailed, lengthy review of Beloved Adversary, see that page
* ten pages of primitively-photocopied screenshots and coupled with humorous phrases
* "Gold," fiction
===Slash===
===Fanworks===
===This Thing Called the Internet===
===General===
==Issue 19 (October 1996)==
Rallying Call 19 was published in October 1996 and contains 60 pages.
There were twenty subscribers, eleven of which had tribs in this issue. The deadline for the next issue was January 15, 1997, and the membership had risen to twenty-three.
Sue Clerc is the collator.
The zine is online [-zines/Blake%27s%207%20Rallying%20Call%2019%20%28APA%29%20%28Oct%201996%29/ here].
* "Two Angels, Falling," fiction by Elizabeth Breuer
* untitled two-page fic by Teri White
* "Kayn's Hands," fiction by Jackie (inspired by Beloved Adversary)
* "Dysfunctional family" is a redundant phrase, originally on Lysator, also posted at Adrenaline and Soma Powered Blake's 7 Pages
* a review of Blakesindex, see that page
* a review of Pattern of Infinity, see that page
* a review of Star Three, see that page
* a review of Southern Comfort #9.5, see that page
* a review of No Holds Barred #12, see that page
* extensive comments about Beloved Adversary, see that page
* this issue has an eight-page dense listing compiled by Sarah Thompson of explicit het and slash Blake's 7 zines; it's what becomes A Guide to Blake's 7 Erotica
===Slash===
===Fanworks===
===General ===
==Issue 20==
Rallying Call 20 was published in February 1997. The collator is now Terry Owens.
==Issue 21==
Rallying Call 21 was published in May 1997. The collator was Terry Owens.
==Issue 22==
Rallying Call 22 was published in August 1997. The collator was Terry Owens.
==Issue 23==
Rallying Call 23 was published in November 1997. The collator was Terry Owens.
==Issue 24==
Rallying Call 24 was published in February 1998. The collator was Terry Owens.
==Issue 25==
Rallying Call 25 was published in May 1998. The collator was Terry Owens.
==Issue 26==
Rallying Call 26 was published in August 1998. The collator was Terry Owens.
==Issue 27==
Rallying Call 27 was published in November 1998. The collator was Terry Owens.
==Issue 28==
Rallying Call 28 The collator was Terry Owens.
==Issue 29==
Rallying Call 29 The collator was Terry Owens.
==Issue 30==
Rallying Call 30 The collator was Terry Owens.
==Issue 31==
Rallying Call 31 was published in 1999. The collator was Terry Owens. It was also available as a downloadable PDF for members.
==Issue 32==
Rallying Call 32 was published in 2000. The collator was Terry Owens. The APA is now also on Onelist.
==References==
Category:Blake's 7 Gen Zines
Category:Blake's 7 Slash Zines
Category:1991 Zines
Category:1990s Zines
Category:2000 Zines
Category:APA