Herne's Stepchildren

Herne's Stepchildren is a Robin of Sherwood letterzine. It contains Letters of Comment, ads, articles, and occasional poetry and fiction. It replaced the letterzine Quarterstaff. There were at least ten issues.
==Proto-Issue==
Herne's Stepchildren 0 was a "proto-letterzine, ur-letterzine, what-have-you." It was published November 1989 and contains 8 pages.
* a fan writes about a "new Robin, "one that will be in an upcoming movie: "Does a different Robin disappoint me? While I'm a big fan of both MP and JC, a new Robin does not put me off. In fact, I actually like how they've handled a change of actors. In a backward manner, this sounds like history's Robin. Fact and legend have blurred so much no one can e sure if there ever was a RH, who he was, if the legends of several men have been fused into one myth and so forth. Also, before seeing my first RoS episode, I never thought anyone could ever fill Errol Flynn's shoes, and I've loved both actors' work, so I am VERY hopeful."
* there are three flyers: The Ezekiel Project, Loxley, and The Outlaw's Guide to Sherwood
==Issue 1==
Hernes's Stepchildren 1 was published in December 1989 and contains 25 pages. The front cover is by Christine Haire, the back cover is blank.
* there appear to be about 15 subscribers
* the editors says she has gotten this letterzine in the mail on the very last possible day before the holiday rush
* Letters (4)
* Banned from Duxford, filk by Ruth Dempsey ("to the tune of Banned from Argo by the incomparable Leslie Fish") (8)
* Robin Toon: The Legend According to Warner Brothers, article by Patti Heyes (9) (about "Robin Hood Makes Good" (1939), "Rabbit Hood" (1950, and "Robin Hood Daffy" (1958))
* Always Fading, story by Nancy Bain (11) (part one)
* listings, photos, cons, clubs, zines (19)
* includes a flyer for The Outlaw's Guide to Sherwood, Anglofans Unlimited, Apocryphal Albion
* a fan complains that her local television station "butchered" the re-runs, and she praises Showtime for showing the episodes in full
* a fan writes that she got hooked on RoS when friends lent her some tapes: 
* the editor encourages fans to write Showtime to: 
==Issue 2==
Hernes's Stepchildren 2 was published in Jan/Feb 1990 and contains 32 pages.
* there appear to be 29 subscribers
* Letters (4)
* A Little Bird Told Me (news) by Christine Haire (13)
* A Piece on the Mysterious Earl Ranulf of Chester by Cindy Fairbanks (15) (article)
* The Convent Song of Marion by Gaelena Shekely (17) (filk)
* Thoroughly Modern Robin Hood by Cat Sebastian (19) (humor)
* Always Fading (fiction, conclusion) by Nancy Bain (20)
* listings, cons, zines, and stuff (30)
* the editor writes: 
* the editor comments on comments by Richard Carpenter in Starlog about the show's happy ending: 
==Issue 3==
Hernes's Stepchildren 3 was published in March/April 1990 and contains 38 pages. The front cover is by Barb Johnson, the back cover graphic by Jean M. Pellerin. 
* on the front cover: "(the better-late-than-never or this-is-starting-to-be-a-pattern issue)"
* it a appears there were 33 subscribers
* want ads (3)
* letters (4)
* Nottingham, filk by Gaelena Shekely (15) (tune: Capernaum as sung by Jean Redpath)
* Tales of Robin Hood by Clayton Emery, a review by Ruth Demsey (16)
* A Little Bird Told Me, news by Christine Haire (17)
* Travelling in Nottinghamshire by Lin Wood (18) (an article about visiting some Robin of Sherwood places in the UK)
*more from the little bird (news) (22)
* A Letter from Our Honorary Foster Father (23) (a letter from Kip Carpenter: he mentions some projects he's working on, he says there will be no season four of RoS and that Praed and Connery aren't going to be in the film
* Robin Hood and the Stranger, part one, fiction by Nancy Hutchins and Judth Covington (24)
* listings of cons, clubs, zines, stuff (32)
* photos and clippings (35)
* there is some chat about what constitutes a happy ending
* some fan write in that "Showtime," the rat, has indeed edited some RoS episodes
* a fan writes that she was: 
==Issue 4==
Hernes's Stepchildren 4 was published in June 1990 and contains 36 pages. The front cover is by Scavella, the back cover is blank.
* letters (4)
* Lilith by Gaelena Shekely (18)
* Robin Hood and the Stranger, part two, fiction by Nancy Hutchins and Judith Covington (19)
* listings: cons, clubs, zines and stuff (34)
* there appear to be 46 subscribers
* a fan responds to an earlier fan's remark that RoS fan fiction is too much "pathos": "The first several pieces of fan fiction I read were well written, thoughtful, detailed, feeling, meaningful, and very solemn. I did start to fear that RoS fans as a whole must be a very serious lot! However, I have since obtained many more 'zines, and the mix of seriousness to humor is out there!"
* regarding the seriousness of current RoS fan fiction, a fan writes: 
* about non-happy ending: 
* a fan comments about fan fiction in a letter that generates a lot of comments later: 
==Issue 5==
Hernes's Stepchildren 5 was published in August 1990 and contains 36 pages. The front cover is uncredited (drawn by Scavella), the back is a list of subscribers. 
* Letters (4)
* Castle Black (a 13th century ballad)
* A Little Bird Told Me: Acting Credits for Michael Praed and Mark Ryan, compiled by Christine Haire (27)
* Robin Hood and the Stranger, part 3, by Nancy Hutchins and Judith Covington (29)
* a letter from Sherri Strain, Touchdown Productions, in which she explains about the problems with the competing Robin of Sherwood films (37)
* listings for cons and stuff (39)
* includes a supplementary bonus insert "A Brief History of the de Briouze (or Briouse, or Barose) Family" by Cindy Fairbanks 
* a fan writes: "Slash in general (and in this particular fandom) is boring and somewhat insulting to the spirits of [the] characters."
* a fan comments on slash: "Slash is a definite blight on fandom. But as long as people continue to buy it -- fans will continue to write it. Fortunately, we don't have the extent of the problems other fandoms do. So, let's try and keep it that way."
* the editor writes, apparently in response to a letter in the last issue regarding the pointlessness of fanfic and to another letter that was uncharacteristically critical (in this fandom) of some specific fanfic and well as other things: 
* a fan writes: 
* another comment on this subject: 
* a fan comments on an earlier fan's letter: 
* a fan disagrees with another fan on her dismissal of fan fiction and writes at great length to tell her so; she ends her letter with one point of agreement, though: 
* a fan attempts to explain slash to other RoS fans: 
* a fan responds to the Alexander/Hephaistion idea: 
* a fan writes on the hot topic: 
* a fan writes a letter that sums up a lot of comments in this issue regarding a letter in the previous issue regarding the character of Tuck and religion:
==Issue 6==
Hernes's Stepchildren 6 was published in January 1991 and contains 30 pages.
* Letters (3)
* Wolf's Head, poem by Gail Molnar (17)
* So You Want a Wedding? Okay, story by Gini L. Hefty (18)
* Robin Hood and the Stranger, conclusion, story by Nancy Hutchins and Judith Covington (21)
* the centerfold is a copy of the cover of a 1988 book by Donald Carrick called "Harald and the Great Stag"
* this issue has a handful of black and white photos taken at Visions '90
* a fan comments that the prevalence with get 'ems in fan fic only reflected aired canon 1960s shows: Dr. Who and such
* the editor writes: "Issue 6, supposed to be November 1990 and now it's January 1991, go figure"
* a fan is skeptical: 
* the fan who wrote the letter criticizing the writing of fanfic (calling it plagiarism) says she is relieved to hear Kip Carpenter is "no problem with fans using his characters" and that: 
==Issue 7==
Hernes's Stepchildren 7 was published in March ("really April, who do we think we're kidding") 1991 and contains 32 pages. The front cover is uncredited, the back is a list of subscribers. 
* there are 84 subscriber addresses listed
* Letters of Comment (3)
* On Writing Robin Hood (from "The Outlaws of Sherwood") by Robin McKinley (20)
* The Morning After (a bawdy piece, read at your own risk) by Lady Anonymous (22)
* Zine Review: Peers of the Realm, see that page (22)
* Should Have Taken that Left Turn at Odessa (a -- well, see for yourself, and let us know what you think) by Alma Weisswald (26)
* a fan writes that she enjoys Robin of Sherwood fandom (also Beauty and the Beast and Twin Peaks) but that she doesn't go to conventions due to time constraints, and that "I tend toward solitary fandom due to some horrific experiences with internal squabbles with clubs."
* another fan says the character Mark is gay because the actor said so at Scorpio
* fans write in with complaints about what they've seen and heard about the Kevin Costner Robin Hood movie: Costner's too American, Morgan Freeman too black (and is called a Moor, "for lack of imagination"), the movie is too Hollywood, Costner is dressed in too much leather...
* many fans agree that writing fan fiction is a step towards writing pro fiction, "training wheels" of sorts
* a fan attempts to explain slash: 
* a fan explains why she thinks a character on the show was gay: 
* another fan debates the gayness of Philip Mark: 
* more on Mark's sexual preferences: 
* about fan fiction as being only one part of fandom, it is: 
* on the acceptability of fan fiction: 
* and the age-old fannish topic of feedback: where, when, how -- 
==Issue 8==
Hernes's Stepchildren 8 is not dated though the editor calls it "post-con" (1991?). It contains about 25 pages. The front cover is by Scavella, the back cover is blank.
* Letters (4)
* Beginnings Endings by Gail Molnar (poem)
* Marion at Huntingdon by Carol Burrell and Gini Hefty (filk)
* Terry Walsh's Blues by Lady Anonymous (poem)
* Robin-in-the-Hood by Julinda Watson (poem)
* ads start at page 19
* there are 80 subscribers listed
* there is a review of the Costner Robin Hood movie: "It's too-stupid-to-live in laces, hilariously inept in others, anachronistic, overacted, underacted -- and actually emotionally involving from time to time.... It's a shame the movie had just about nothing to do with Robin Hood, but you can't expect miracles."
* the letters are slim in this issue, and mostly talk about Robin Hood history
==Issue 9==
Hernes's Stepchildren 9 is undated (1992) and contains 22 pages. The front cover is by S. Foley, the back is a list of subscribers. 
* the editor calls it the "Second Annual Too-Late-For-Anything-But-The-Second-Anniversary-Of-The-Founding-Of-Rome Issue" and thanks "all the folks who have been so supportive during the various crises, and thanks to all for being a shield against the villains and the not-very-nice-people of the world"
* there are 82 subscribers
* fans discuss Robin Hood history, discuss episodes, and complain about the inaccuracies of the Costner movie, "Prince of Thieves"
* there is some discussion about fan writers remaining fan writers rather than going pro: "For some people, like me, when you HAVE to do something, no matter what it is, it's not fun any more. Depends on the person, but it's not always a good idea to turn your hobby into your business"
* another fan comments on going pro: 
* a fan answers another fan's question about fanon vs. canon: 
==Issue 10==
Hernes's Stepchildren 10 was published in Solstice (June) 1992 and contains 28 pages. The front cover is uncredited, the back is a list of subscribers. 
* there are 87 subscribers listed
* Convention and Zine Listings (2, 25-27)
* Letters (10)
* Miscellaneous Missals (21)
* Clippings & Stuff (24-28
* Members & Addresses (28)
* the editor writes: "To make up for our previously pathetic publication schedule, we've extended subscriptions by a couple of issues. Of course, we'd like everybody to sign up for another year! Thank you to all who've already renewed -- Herne Protect!" -- the editor lists the next four issues' publication dates, but there is a pretty good possibility that issue #10 was the last issue
* this issue has much discussion about "what makes Robert tick?"
* a flyer for the third annual Alan-A-Dale Bad Ballad Bonanza & Free Verse Freestyle contest, results were to be published in the next issue of Herne's Stepchildren
* this issue has a full-page flyer announcing the sale of the four-hour video tape of Son of Herne's Con, see that page
== Possible Issues== 
In issue #10, the editor proposes these future issues, though it is likely they never got off the ground.
* Hernes's Stepchildren 11 right after Weekend in Sherwood which that year was in July.
* Hernes's Stepchildren 12 October 1992. 
* Hernes's Stepchildren 13 Dec/Jan 1993. 
==References==
 
 
Category:Robin of Sherwood Zines
Category:1989 Zines
Category:1980s Zines
Category:1990s Zines