The Voice (Star Trek: TOS zine)

See also Voice (disambiguation) for more zines of this title.
The Voice is a series of five Kirk/Spock slash zines published by Village Press in the UK. Unusual for K/S fandom at the time, the zine series focuses on established relationship stories as told by Sheak, Rivers, Daniels and Rowes. There is also a strong emphasis on plotting and subtle character interactions, with little in the way of explicit sex scenes or purple prose. No AU or death. The whole series is known for a certain more literary quality of story. 
From an ad in Datazine #28: "K/S that's a little different -- no A/Us, no pon farr, no slaves, no death! Instead, stories with their roots in the series universe... emphasis on character and intriguing plots... an established relationship, its pleasures and problems." 
==General Fan Reaction==
In 1987, a Star Trek: TOS, Professionals, and Starsky & Hutch fan fan commented on established relationship stories in this zine, and another by Eva Stuart:
 
In 1991, a fan expressed her opinion not only on first time/established relationship stories, but also on cultural differences she saw:
Another fan commented in 1991: 
==Issue 1==
The Voice 1 was published in 1982 and is 77 pages long. 
From the editorial: 
 
* Book List (2)
* The Student by Eva Stuart (While Spock is teaching an academy course, a Vulcan student falls in love with him. Prequel: The Gateway of the King. Sequel: Tangled Skein) (3)
* Back of the Mirror by Anon (10)
* Pour Deguiser Leurs Pensees by Vivienne Rivers (As Spock considers his desire to bond with Kirk, they discover a son Kirk was unaware he had. Prequel: Mending Walls. Sequel: That Looks on Tempests) (11)
* That Looks on Tempests by Vivienne Rivers (Kirk goes undercover to get his nephew, Peter, away from a cult that is suspected of dealing drugs. Prequel: Pour Deguiser Leurs Pensees. Sequel: With the Crown Comes the Arrows) (27)
* Perversions of a Theme by Billie McIver (48)
* Opinions by Anon (49)
* The Legacy by Eva Stuart (Kirk and Spock are celebrating their one year anniversary when they are asked to help a past acquaintance, the young ruler of a Klingon planet. Prequel: The Still Centre Sequel: A Day in the Life) (50)
* The Birthday by Eva Stuart (On his 40th birthday, Kirk has a vision of a future birthday, one that could, but not necessarily will, happen.) (77)
File:Voice1-1.jpg|from issue #1, Ann Humphrey
File:Voice1-2.jpg|from issue #1, Vivienne Rivers
File:Voice1-3.jpg|from issue #1, Ann Humphrey
File:Voice1-4.jpg|from issue #1, sample text
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1===
==Issue 2==
The Voice 2 was published in 1983 and is 89 pages long. The illos are by Ann Humphrey and Vivienne Rivers. Limericks by Jan Barton. It contains an early mpreg story.
* The Pursuit of Love by Eva Stuart (On a planet seeded by the Preservers, Spock comes to understand and accept his love for Kirk as they study the Grecian society there. Prequel: Unto the Day) (1)
* With the Crown Comes this Arrow by Vivienne Rivers (Spock talks Kirk into returning to help the Scalosians, even though he is aware that his lover had slept with their queen. Prequel: That Looks on Tempests. Sequel: Loyalty Binds Me) (8)
* The Still Centre by Eva Stuart (To help a crewman framed for a crime, Kirk and Spock go undercover in a gay enclave to find the diplomat responsible for the frame. Prequel: The Visit Sequel: The Legacy) (24)
* The Third Alternative by Billie McIver (mpreg, Kirk wants to have a child so he talks Spock into letting McCoy do the procedure that will allow Kirk to carry one.) (43)
* Those Who Favour Fire by Vivienne Rivers (13 pages) (While on Organia, Spockʼs reaction to the mindsifter brings to the fore his feelings for Kirk, who, reciprocating the feelings, takes Spock as his lover. Sequel: With Cords of a Man) (54)
* Conflicts by Eva Stuart (Problems arise when Spock disagrees with Kirkʼs assessment of a planetʼs request for UFP membership) (67)
File:Voice2-1.jpg|inside issue #2, art by Ann Humphrey
File:Voice2-2.jpg|inside issue #2, art by Ann Humphrey
File:Voice2-3.jpg|inside issue #2, first page of The Third Alternative
File:Voice2-4.jpg|inside issue #2, art by Ann Humphrey
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2===
==Issue 3==
The Voice 3 was published in 1984 and is 89 pages long. Illos by Ann Humphrey and Caryl Sibbett. The graffiti "wall" is by Vivienne Rivers.
* The Gateway of the King by Eva Stuart (18 pages) (Sent back to ancient Egypt by the Guardian, Kirk must fix the change in history dealing with Alexander the Great. Prequel: A Day in the Life (or The Sun Rises). Sequel: The Student.
* A Day In The Life by Eva Stuart (15 pages) (Kirk spends the day on survey duty while Spock grapples with a problem presented by a security team. Prequel: The Legacy. Sequel: The Gateway of the King.) (In 1985, a story called "The Lion and the Lamb was published in "touched" #5. Author's Note in "touched": "The two characters of this story originally appeared in "A Day in the Life," in a K/S zine called The Voice #3 and although I hope this is self-contained, Asla's interview with Spock can be found there. I was always curious as to what Lt. Armscom and Ensign Traven said to each other afterwards and am very grateful to "touched" for letting me find out." There appear to be further stories in this series in later issues of "touched.")
* With Cords of a Man by Vivienne Rivers (8 pages) (On the first night back of the Enterprise after leaving Organia, Kirk and Spock set the parameters of their new relationship. Prequel: Those Who Favour Fire. Sequel: Mending Walls)
* Winter Storm by Eva Stuart (14 pages) (Waiting for a transport to take them to a conference, Kirk and Spock are arrested on a planet intolerant of same-sex pairing. Prequel: The Solution. Sequel: The Visit)
* Mending Walls by Kate Daniels (14 pages) (Kirk, still mending from the knife wound taken during the Babel conference, must send Spock to attempt the rescue of a kidnapped diplomat. Prequel: With Cords of a Man. Sequel:Pour Deguiser Leurs Pensees.)
* ...Time Followed by Eva Stuart 
* By the Book by Kate Daniels (13 pages) (Vulcanʼs disapproval of their bonding creates problems for Kirk and Spock whenever the need arises for them to be on that planet. Prequel: Honours Even Sequel: Jim's Little Secret)
* The Road to Hell by Vivienne Rivers (8 pages) (Spock is upset with Kirk for his actions regarding the Defiant and the Tholians. Prequel: Loyalty Binds Me. Sequel: Such Are the Gates of Paradise.)
File:Voice3art1.jpg|art from issue #3, Ann Humphrey
File:Voice3art2.jpg|art from issue #3, Ann Humphrey
File:Voice3art3.jpg|art from issue #3, C. Sibbett
File:Voice3art4.jpg|art from issue #3, the graffiti wall by Vivienne Rivers
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3===
==Issue 4==
The Voice 4 was published in 1985 and is 111 pages long. It has two pieces of art by Caren Parnes.
* The Visit by Eva Stuart (14 pages) (Kirk and Spock have been lovers for 18 months when they invite McCoy to their home. Prequel: Winter Storm. Sequel: The Still Centre)
* Jim’s Little Secret by Kate Daniels (5 pages) (Humor: After almost 6 years, Spock discovers that Kirk has a pleasant singing voice, a fact that Kirk has always hidden. Prequel: By the Book:. Sequel: For Spock.)
* Such are the Gates of Paradise by Vivienne Rivers (29 pages) (At Spockʼs instigation, he and Kirk go to Vulcan to try and resolve the conflict in their relationship. Prequel: The Road To Hell.)
* The Resolution by Eva Stuart (65 pages) (Kirk and Spock are ordered to attend the funeral of the Klingon emperor and the coronation of the new one. Prequel: Tangled Skein. Sequel: The Encounter.)
File:Voice4-1.jpg|art from issue #4, Caren Parnes
File:Voice4-2.jpg|art from issue #4, Caren Parnes
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4===
==Issue 5==
The Voice 5 was published in 1986 and is 93 pages long. The single piece of art is by Caren Parnes.
From the editorial: 
* Progress by Eva Stuart (23 pages) (Spock is chosen to lead the survey team that will decide the fate of a Vulcanoid planet that has almost destroyed itself. Prequel: A Dawn Shall Come. Sequel: The Choicest Gift) This story won a Surak Award. (3)
* He’s Got a Little List by Kate Daniels (17 pages) (McCoy is having problems adjusting to the command teamʼs new role as bondmates. Prequel: For Spock.) (26)
* Shield and Defender by Eva Stuart (20 pages) (As the second five year mission ends, Kirk and Spock must fight Starfleet politics to keep the ship and each other. Prequel: The Choicest Gift. Sequel: The Extremists) (43)
* To Be a Help Mate for Him by Frances Rowes (15 pages) (Already upset over almost sending Spock to his death, the situation on New Paris is too much like Tarsus Four for Kirk to deal with without his loverʼs help. Sequel: Their Solitary Way.) (62)
* A Dawn Shall Come by Eva Stuart (2 pages) (As Alexander dies, he remembers the two men who reminded him so much of himself and his own love, Hephaistion, who now waits for him on the other side. Prequel: The Encounter Sequel: Progress.) (77)
* Break Through on Wrigley's by Kate Daniels (4 pages) (The next on-set of Spockʼs pon farr finds him still with no bondmate, and reluctant to use Kirk again. Prequel: Last Night is the Night. Sequel: The Night Before.) (79)
* The Choiciest Gift by Eva Stuart (9 pages) (Sarek is chosen to help convince a non-member planet to join the Federation, the same planet that his son and Kirk call home. Prequel: Progress. Sequel: Shield And Defender) (83)
File:Voice5-1.jpg|art from issue #5 by Caren Parnes
File:Voice5-2.jpg|from issue #5, sample page
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5===
==References==
 
Category:Star Trek TOS Slash Zines
Category:1982 Zines
Category:1980s Zines