Darkover Newsletter/Issues 11-20

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==Issue 11 (not dated, likely March 1978)==
Darkover Newsletter 11 is undated and contains 26 pages. It was edited by Ted Bryan.
* The editor of Jumeaux says "I still have about 65 copies of JUMEAUX lying around, and while I couldn't quite take a surging demand per se, I could use a few orders." This is a rather classy response to the comments in the last issue in which the editor had stated in a sly assumption, coupled with an ulterior motive: "Lynne probably wouldn't want to be swamped by orders, so we're trying to negotiate to reprint the Darkover items in STARSTONE."
* There are about 25 letters from fans, and the editor writes that while this issue of the newsletter went over the allotted 16 pages, they still had 2.5 inches of unprinted letters. "If we continue having upwards of 600 subscribers, we can afford this length, otherwise not."
* The regular feature by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, "The Keeper's Tower" will no longer print updates on Councils in the newsletter. (She notes there are 59 Councils registered, 39 of them Chartered). That part of the column took up too much space. Fans will have to write a fan named Wendy who is now in charge of that stuff. "The Keeper's Tower" will continue, but will include current news instead.
* A fan addresses Walter Breen in a letter discussing "machismo," and Breen replies at great length about machismo and digestive tracts.
* A fan named Wendy "has volunteered to become the publishing arm of DWel (Darkover Welcommittee), and thus needs lots of volunteer helpers. If you live in the Bay Area, please contact Wendy if you have time to help her out. The less "publishing" work MZB has to do, the more writing she'll get done." -- a fan named Gai Oyoumich is the DWel person in charge of the pen pal list and in getting fans in touch with each other. A few issues later, this fan resigns from this volunteer duty.
* Jacqueline Lichtenberg, the fan now in charge of Council registration and accountability, asks "I am now asking for all Councils to report the news of their doings to me for the Keeper's Tower report. I'd like to know how many meetings you've held, what you did at them, whether you publish, whether your Council letter is available to outsiders, how many RR loops you are running, and any other fan interests you have." MZB interjects that each Council had better have at least one subscription to this newsletter.
Fans were invited to collate the second issue of Starstone: 
A fan defends Star Trek, a fandom that Bradley almost uniformly sniffs at: 
A fan ponders her attraction to Darkover, and some female writers of the time: 
No long lines for this Arkansas Star Wars fan: 
This issue's editor, some rules, some promises of ice cream: 
Ted Bryan writes of how the printed letters are selected, and talks of trying to protect Bradley form having "another heart attack": 
Next time there's a party at Bradley and Breen's house (or at Greyhaven), bring more food, and less kids to have to yell at: 
There is an amazing con report, actually a set of two letters (one by a fan, and one by Bradley), that foreshadow The Marion Zimmer Bradley Fanfiction Controversy, see Darkovans Invade Boskone! for the whole thing, excerpts below:
Bradley responds: 
A fan scolds other fans: 
A fan comments on some remarks by Bradley by way of a letter from "Lesbian Connection" in the last newsletter: 
What is feminism:
A fan comments on Joanna Russ' book We Who Are About To..., and Bradley says, "Right on, Sister":
==Issue 12 (May 1978)==
Darkover Newsletter 12 was published in May 1978 and contains 26 pages. It was edited by Ted Bryan.
* The editor warns that "about 15-17 letters we get at Box 72 come rubberstamped OPENED BY ERROR. ALL have contained cheques but none cash -- which looks distinctly suspicious, especially as only about half of any given day's mail contains remittances. We think it probable that Mrs. or Ms. Error has been holding some of our mail up to a 500-watt bulb for obvious purposes. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED."
* There are updates on the printing status of several Darkover fanzines.
* Bradley writes a letter about her trip to England, and extensively her health problems there (herpes simplex, "full-fledged trigeminal neuralgia" which in the past she treated with "low doses of gin").
* A fan writes a long proposal for a Darkover Kennel Club for fans to register and talk about dogs.
* Several fans asked about cats on Darkover.
* Keeper's Tower has some Council Reports.
* A fan writes a con report called "Darkover at Balticon (March 1978).
* There is an ad for SPWAO (Semi-Pro Writers and Artists Organization) started in March 1977, had 60 members by that December, run by Chet Clingan and Robert Medcalf, dues $2 a year.
* A fan says she is going to T-Con dressed as a Free Amazon: "I look a fine dignified old lady (60 and retired) swaggering around in my full-length pseudo-fur cape (sort of fat, but not 13, at least [reference to the "fat 13-year olds in capes" comment in earlier issues]), my unborn-animal skin tunic (knee length), my soft leather boots (courtesy Montgomery Ward's bedroom slipper section), 'coarse linen' blouse, with my various pouches on my plain man's belt—containers for money, tape recorder, camera, complete with a pair of hunting knives..."
There is an announcement about the first Darkovercon to be held. It will be on July 9, 1978 in Brooklyn, NY at Borough Park YMHA
Jacqueline Lichtenberg describes Star Trek fandom and cons (and some of her comments are addressed in issue #17/18), and gets not one, but two plugs in for fan-created universes: 
==Issue 13/14 (August/September/October 1978)==
Darkover Newsletter 13/14 is the "Laran Issue." It was published in August/September/October 1978 and contains 46 pages.
It was edited by Jan Malin and Marion Zimmer Bradley. Graphics by Walter Breen, Joan Verba, Jan Malin and as otherwise credited (Doris Quinn, Pat Munson, Susan Fisher, Diane Morris). Uncredited graphics are by Cello-tac transfer type. Logo by Walter Breen. " Our thanks to Joyce Fickies for typing a considerable amount of the RELAYS."
On the front "cover" -- "The Waterfall at Alderan" by Doris Quinn.
This issue is unique in that has as table of contents, and is more like a zine, than a newsletter.
Ted Bryan, the former editor, is reported to have gone away on a "lengthy foreign tour" and may or may not return to work on the newsletter.
This issue has much discussion by fans of the appropriateness of the discussion of feminism in this newsletter, as well as comments about Bradley's new book, "Stormqueen!."
* Editorial (for all our new rates and policies)
* Information (for old and new subscribers about costs, other zines, clubs) (5)
* Laran: Facts and Fancy, article by Gary Beene (7)
* Update: Darkover Concordance "The latest word as we have it now. Note this!" (8)
* The Ardais Curse, article by Patricia Mathews, except below (9)
* Memorandum from the Crystal Chamber by Marcia Ristow and Crystal Chamber Council (10) (about the "Visit Scenic Darkover" bumper stickers: "It seems that MZB has a blue travel bag on which WB had written "Visit Scenic Darkover" with felt pens. A comment was made that this would be good to put on a bumper sticker. Wendy Reed called around to various printers to find out how much one bumper sticker would cost and discovered that ten would be cheaper. After finding this out, [Wendy] asked MZB if maybe others would be interested in bumper stickers. Thus began "The Great Bumper Sticker Project".") (10)
* a lengthy, descriptive account of the collating party for Starstone #2, a blow-by-blow account including the refreshments (champagne sherbet, punch, chicken), how the kitchen table had to be dismantled, who exactly was there and what time they arrived, and what the dinner conversation was about (dogs) (11)
* Of Animals and Laren by T'Pat (more discussion on the animals on Darkover) (14)
* Keeper's Tower Report by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (16)
* a humorous, but negative con report of Archon II by Paula Crunk, see below (18)
* Laran by Any Other Name by Ted Bryan (our ex-editor looks at other fantasies) (19)
* The Psychophysics of Laran by Frank R. Wilkinson (23)
* Relays (letters) (28) (many talk of the place of the discussion of feminism in the newsletter)
* Darkover Trivia Quiz (38)
* About Starstone (40)
* Letter from MZB (Marion tells us something about her travels past and future) (45)
The editors illustrate that they are sticklers in the area of finance, plus free issues for some people -- like prisoners, and friends of Bradley: 
More about finances: 
Update on the beleaguered Darkover Concordance: 
From the article, "The Ardais Curse," by Patricia Mathews, in which homosexuality is defined as a "very standard vice for aristocrats.": 
A fan, Paula Crunk, writes a tongue-in-cheek description of her Darkover council, describes a hypothetical terrible con, and ends with negative remarks about Archon II. Bradley herself adds a rejoinder: 
A fan offered up an outline of a Darkover story, and Bradley gave him encouragement: 
Bradley comments on a fan's description of costuming at the last Darkover Grand Council Meeting and says: 
The editor tells a male fan who is tired of all the "Free Amazon ecstasy that: 
A male fan complains about all the feminist talk in the newsletter: 
A male fan comments: 
A male fan comments: 
A fan comments on professional writers and fanzines, about the possible theft of ideas from fans, and about Bradley herself: 
A fan comments on writing fanfic and permissions: 
The editor comments: 
==Issue 15/16 (December 1978)==
Darkover Newsletter 15/16 was published in December 1978 and contains 28 pages. It was edited by Walter Breen, MZB and Janet Malin, Old Uncle Tom Cobley.
* Included in this issue is a two-page dense survey, the results were to have been "tabulated and analyzed in a future Friends of Darkover newsletter. In the next issue, it is announced that the fan who administered the survey had moved (not just once, but twice!) and provided a new address. This likely was a major obstacle to this survey ever being used for anything at all. (A fan in spring of 1983 asked: "Whatever happened to the Darkover survey??? I filled it out and returned it. I know I wasn't the only one. What were the results?" from Darkover Newsletter #27)
* Included is a flyer for the Darkover Concordance, now to be published by Pennyfarthing Press in April 1979
* There is an annoucement for Darkovercon #2 as well as a full-page flyer, see that page
* A fan says she is not a fan of the exclamation point in the title of "Stormqueen!"—Bradley responds: "Er-uh—blush— simper— it was mine. I do silly things sometimes. Now it's in print I can see how silly it looks; my only excuse is that it seemed a good idea at the time. MZB."
* Bradley lists the cons she will be at and has this comment: "In May I will be in Phoenix for the Leprecon (smaller and more fun than Iguanacon, but what wouldn't be?"
* There is a letter from Andre Norton: "I am so pleased that you have found my works interesting and enjoy reading them. The same is true of your Darkover books as far as I am concerned. I have the full set in the original pbs—have kept them for years since they first came out." She also talks about witchcraft, and said she finds "The Sword of Shannara" a "dreary disappointment."
* A fan writes of a Murphy's Law's-riddled visit MZB had at her house: It was called "The Copper Yo-Yo Award, or, How 3 People Drove 2 Cars 160 Miles to Move 1 Person 40 Miles"
* There are many fan letters (one describes his visit to OKon in his Darkover costume), see that page
* It was noted that: "This coming year will mark the fourth year of the existence of the Friends, and the third for our Newsletter. It has grown from a six-page leaflet costing and sent by MZB to a few of her closest friends, to a huge magazine selling for a dollar an issue (but we are, just barely, breaking even, praised be the Blessed Cassilda) and with an auxiliary magazine, STARSTONE, now in its third issue. We have indeed come a long way."
* The "Keeper's Council" by Jacqueline Lichtenberg has much Darkover Council information, but also heavily cross-markets her own Kraith and Sime~Gen fandom: professional works and fanworks.
* Bradley's brothers are mentioned: "January '79 will mark the release of a non-Darkover book, sequel to HUNTERS OF THE RED MOON, by MZB and Paul Zimmer. (Yes, he is her brother. She has two, BOTH of whom write science fiction; the other, who writes under the name Jon de Cles, appeared most recently in SWORDS AGAINST DARKNESS #3.)"
Bradley writes: 
Bradley says she now has her mail screened by Jan, her co-editor: 
There is an direct attempt to organize the fandom, plus getting fans to do a lot of public relations work: 
There is a letter by Juanita Coulson that addresses some points of Darkovans Invade Boskone!, which had been published eight months earlier: 
A fan who lives in Arkansas writes about the dreadful atmosphere there for science fiction fans: 
A fan has chides some other fans about sex, and the Bible: 
Speaking of sex, a fan warns others regarding their "starstones," and it's probably not the psychic danger they envisioned: 
From one disappointed fan who would like to avoid conflict: 
A hopeful letter from a fan in Wisconsin: 
A fan writes about SCA and SF: 
A fan attempts a project, and is told Bradley would not give her approval for it: 
A fan has a proposal, and gets shot down by a bit of snobbery, or some tongue-in-cheek teasing: 
One of the topics in Bradley's Letter from MZB is awards, ones that mean something, ones that don't, her enduring bitterness about losing the Hugo Award -- (hopefully, the "Balrog" award made up for this!) : 
Bradley has another encounter with fire (See Her Health, and Death for other incidents): 
Bradley, and fans, struggled with the ephemeral state of paperbacks, longevity, and legitimacy. In this issue of the newsletter, there was a flyer for "Gregg Press," which appeared to be a solution. These new issues also carried "new approved and authentic maps of Darkover," something Bradley had scored in the past, and continued to scorn for many years after these were published: 
==Issue 17/18 (Spring 1979)==
Darkover Newsletter 17/18 was published in Spring 1979 and contains 28 pages. It was edited by Jan Malin.
* About the survey in the last issue? It was announced in this issue that the fan who sent it out has moved not once but twice, and this has snarled up the whole thing. It is hoped, however, that the results can be published in the next newsletter "this Fall." A fan in spring of 1983 asked: "Whatever happened to the Darkover survey??? I filled it out and returned it. I know I wasn't the only one. What were the results?" -- from Darkover Newsletter #27 )This statement also illustrates that the next planned newsletter was in six months.
* Randall Garrett is seriously ill, too ill for cards or anything else. Because of this, the performance of Free Amazons of Ghor that was to have happened at Westercon has been canceled. Yes, the skit was cancelled, but Walter Breen and Bradley still ended up attending Westercon. A fan recounts how they got stuck in an elevator, something that Bradley later sued the hotel about, claiming the incident caused her to suffer a heart attack: "Well, Marion Bradley has sued the Sheraton for emotional distress. She claims she had a heart attack in the elevator, and the experience was so devastating that she was late on a contract for the first time in her life, which harmed her professional reputation." So -I- got deposed, and the case eventually settled out of court. As it turned out, the lawsuit had not been Marion's idea, or Walter's, but that of their two companions, who dropped out of the suit as soon as it had been filed, and refused to be deposed. It looked to me as though, once they realized what serious trouble they could get into, they scurried for cover, and left MZB dangling in the wind. But Walter, who was incredibly gregarious, just found the experience of being deposed to be delightful -- here were people -- asking him questions,- and writing down everything he said. He turned on the charm, and had a wonderful time." See more of Loren MacGregor's comments at Westercon and Religion and Politics (was Re: AKICIF: Regional descriptions) (Jan 22, 2000). 
* There is a very detailed description by the first Darkovercon by the fan (Judy Kopman who says she is now Judy Gerjouy), see Darkovercon
* There is a script for the Midwinter Ceremony, complete with candle instruction, see image here
* There is an ad by Hourglass Productions for the purchase of cassette tapes of the Darkovercon panels and the play (Free Amazons of Ghor) performed there.
The Letter from MZB explains why things have been late, Walter Breen is on crutches, another BNF is seriously ill, there are some car accidents, some cats pass away, and MZB feels over-extended: 
The editor lists many woes as to why various Darkover zines and publications are late: 
Bradley reports on a number of illnesses and accidents: 
A fan, Barbara Wenk, takes another to task for a letter in the previous issue where she asserted that Star Trek cons were mainly run by men "with feminine help: 
Bradley describes a book she has signed a contract for that appears to be "The Mists of Avalon" though she refers to it with a different title: 
There is a detailed con report for Darkovercon West, see that page for more: 
Jacqueline Lichtenberg talks about an interview: 
A fan wonders where other fans get all the time, and her comments are a scold as well as an illustration of priorities and focus: 
A fan is horrified by the behavior of some fans: 
==Issue 19/20 (October 1979)==
Darkover Newsletter 19/20 was published in October 1979 and contains 28 pages. It is unclear who was the editor.
* a one-page, strict warning to subscribers to keep in touch or they'll not get the newsletter any more
* there is a flyer for the Third Annual Darkover Grand Council Meeting
* A fan said: "I started THE SWORD OF ALDONES, but didn't like it." And Bradley answers: "I don't like SWORD OF ALDONES either!"
* Bradley said she felt the unwelcome weight of responsibility: "I strongly believe that the purpose of sf is to ask questions (or to make us ask questions of ourselves), not to find answers. When people thinkI am trying to solve problems by saying "this is how we do it on Darkover," I get frantic."
* Bradley has an idea for Hourglass Productions. When a fan asked: "Maybe Friends or someone, could do a tape of the language as per the DARKOVAN LANGUAGE REVIEW and sell it? Anyone interested? I bet there would be a few others out there, almost as isolated as I am, who would jump at the idea!" Bradley replies: "Sometime next year Hourglass tapes will do a Darkovan pronounciation tape.")
There is a flyer for "Fantasy Worlds Midwinter Festival" Feb. 16-17, 1980, Finnish Brotherhood Hall, Berkeley, CA. NOTE: This is a con that melds both Fantasy Worlds Festival AND Darkover Grand Council Meeting, and it is where two cons begin to diverge: 
Bradley writes about selecting stories for the DAW Books anthology, "Keeper's Price," and there were complications—one story Bradley read and would have chose was too much like one she had planned (!), and one chosen story had to be eliminated because Bradley lost the fan's address: 
It is announced that the Darkover Concordance has finally been brought to public publication: 
Jacqueline Lichtenberg, who in the last issue, suggested that Star Trek cons were run by men apologizes for her remarks, and gets a plug in for her professional book series: 
The Letter from MZB is one that addresses Darkover fandom, this newsletter as a publicity organization, why Bradley keeps the newsletter going, her role as a spiritual leader/teacher, and why she feels it is all worth it: 
A fan addresses comments made in Darkovans Invade Boskone!, a letter written to Bradley in March 1978 about Bradley taking advantage of fans, and the professional dangers of being too close to one's fandom. An excerpt, see "Darkover Invades Boskone!" for more: 
A fan writes a letter with many detailed and sensible suggestions for creating a complete and concise Bradley and Darkover bibliography and fandom resource. Bradley reacts with: 
A fan writes: 
==References==
Category:Darkover Zines
Category:1978 Zines
Category:1979 Zines