The Vorpal Sword

The Vorpal Sword is a gen Science Fiction anthology with some Star Trek content. It was edited by Michelle Malkin & Deborah Kogan. It was "available for 50 cents, contributions, or a LoC". 
For a list of similar zines of this era, see List of Star Trek TOS Zines Published While the Show Was Still On the Air.
==Issue 1==
The Vorpal Sword 1 was published in 1968 and contains 36 pages. The artwork is by Deborah Kogan.
From the editorial: 
* Contents (1)
* Intro (2)
*On Fandom by Harriett Kolochack (8)
* Filks by Mick Allister (5)
* Finder's Keepers by Michelle Malkin (6)
* Thespis Fens by Joanne Methos and Mick Allister (15)
* Sounds of the Editors at Work by Deborah Backover (18)
* Evolution in the Mind's Eye by Michelle Malkin (19)
* On Starships by Ron Stoloff (20)
* Review of 2001 by Ron Stofloff (22)
* Review of Brak the Barbarian by J.B. Post (24)
* Match-a-Fan Form by Deborah Kogan 25)
* Angus McThug by Mick Allister (27)
* Reducto ad Absurdum by Jeanne Methos (29)
* Rhyme of the Stranded Martian by Michelle Malkin (32)
* The Keys by Deborah Kogan (34)
* PhillyCon Notice (36)
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1===
==Issue 2==
The Vorpal Sword 2 was published in Spring 1969 and contains 50 pages. Art by Deborah Kogan, Vivian Potter (front cover) Marilyn Fishman, Sherry Kramer, and Paul Kessler.
* Contents (3)
* Song Sheet by Mick Allister (4)
* The Readers Fight Back (LoCs (5)
** The Night the Spaceship Exploded, to the tune of The Night They Invented Champagne 
** The Martians Arrived Today, to the tune of When Johnny Comes Marching Home
* Editorial (6) 
* More Facts on Fandom by Harriett Kolchak (about the care and feeding and treatment of BNFs) (7)
* See the Little Atom Bomb, poem by Michelle Malkin (9)
* The Letter by Kathy Sturgenor (original science fiction) (9)
* An Exobiologist Speaks Out by Sherry Kramer (13)
* Early A.M. Thoughts, vignette by Delores Green (13)
* The Negro and Science Fiction by Ron Stoloff (commentary on fans of color and fandom, mentions Baycon and the staging of H.M.S. Trek-a-Star) (16)
* Stars, poem by Deborah Kogan (20)
* Antithesis, poem by Deborah Kogan (22)
* Brave Old Worlds: A Brief Introduction and Survey of Victorian S-F, article by Marilyn Fishman (23)
* The Good Doctor's Missing Bowtie by Michelle Malkin (25)
* Thespis Fens by Mick Allister and Jeanne Methos ("Our story thus far -- Thespis Fens, son of the Westlands, saves a virgin lad from the sacrificial designs of the heathen Malkan tt1be. In revenge Debo Rah, High Priestess of the tribe, plans to offer up Thespis in place of the boy.") (26)
* Angus McThug by Mick Allister (29)
* The Science Fiction Year, article by D.C. Paskow (30)
* In the Grand Old Tradition by Darryll Schweitzer (32)
* Consilium: A Fan's Eye View of Star Trek (33)
** Star Trek Dedications (34)
** The Fascinating Leonard Nimoy, article by Kathy Surgenor ("I would like to extend my appreciation to Leonard Nimoy and Teresa Victor (Girl Friday To Leonard) without whose help, patience and this article would not have been possible.") (35)
** Ah, Sweet Madness, poem by Delores Green (37)
** Beauty is Only Skin Deep, fiction by Kathy Surgenor (38)
** blurbs and ads (48)
* Star Trek Fan Clubs (49)
* Logical and Ill Reasons for Buying this Fanzine (50)
Image:vorpalsword2-1.jpg| from issue #2
Image:vorpalsword2-2.jpg| from issue #2
Image:vorpalsword2-3.jpg| from issue #2
Image:vorpalsword2-4.jpg| from issue #2
Image:vorpalsword2-5.jpg| from issue #2
Image:vorpalsword2-6.jpg| from issue #2
Image:vorpalsword2-7.jpg| from issue #2
Image:vorpalsword2-8.jpg| from issue #2
===Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2===
==Issue 3==
The Vorpal Sword 3 was published in Winter 1970 and contains 52 pages.
It has art by Deborah Kogan, Sherry Kramer, Carol Grosso, Jackie Weeden, Kathy Surgenor, and Michelle Malkin.
* Fanzine Dedication (2)
* Contents (3)
* Editorial or Whatever (4)
* Henderson's Saucer by Donald Stanley (5)
* Some Thoughts on Comic Books by J.B. Post (10)
* I Had a Shadow by Dawna Snyder (12)
* Vorpal Sword Book Review by Ted Pauls (review of The Left Hand of Darkness) (12)
 
* Angus McThug: Case of the Uninvolved Ghost by Mick Allister (16)
* On "Bug Jack Barron" by Jack McKnight (17)
* Evening, poem by Deborah Krogan (17)
* The Battle, poem by Deborah Krogan (19)
 
* The Pen IS Mightier than the Sword by Ron Stoloff, John W. Campbell, and Philip Jose Farmer (excerpts from a letter exchange by these three authors, response to "The Negro And Science Fiction" from the previous issue) (20)
* Campbell and Philipp Jose Farmer (20)
* Consilium (Star Trek Section) ("This section is dedicated to Robert Bloch and David Gerrold for being so nice to the Star Trek fans at StLouisCon." "StLouisCon" is a reference to the 27th Worldcon. Gerrold remarks on this con in The Awful Offal in 1969. ) (25)
** An Illogical Trek or Whatever Happened to T'Pring, parody in script form by Michelle Malkin and Kathy Surgenor (also in Black Magic #1) (27)
** The Dead Planet, fiction by Mick Allister and Dee Leonard (34)
* Evolution in the Mind's Eye, poem by Michelle Malkin (45)
* The Readers Fight Back (LoCs) (46)
* Fandom Tomorrow, cartoon by Sherry Kramer (51)
* You Are Receiving this Fantastic Work of Technicolor Art Because (52)
Image:vorpalsword3-1.jpg| from issue #3, Carol Grosso
Image:vorpalsword3-2.jpg| from issue #3, Jackie Weeden
Image:vorpalsword3-3.jpg| from issue #3, Sherry Kramer
Image:vorpalsword3-4.jpg| from issue #3
Image:vorpalsword3-5.jpg| from issue #3, Kathy Surgenor
Image:vorpalsword3-6.jpg| from issue #3, Michelle Malkin
==Issue 4==
The Vorpal Sword 4
==References==
Category:Non-fiction Zines
Category:Science Fiction Zines
Category:Star Trek TOS Zines
Category:1960s Zines
Category:1970s Zines
Category:1968 Zines