Beyond Orion

Zine
Title:	Beyond Orion
Publisher:	Trinary Systems Press
Editor(s):	Carol Hunterton, issue two by Hunterton, Carolyn Venino, and Lee Jaecks
Date(s):	1976-1977
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
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Beyond Orion is a gen Star Trek: TOS anthology.

front cover of issue #1, Gene Reynolds

back cover issue #1, Kevin Birnbaum

Issue 1

flyer for issue #1, from Warped Space #23

Beyond Orion 1 was published in August 1976 (reprinted 1977) and contains 104 pages, offset. Cover: Gene Reynolds; back cover: Kevin Birnbaum. Other art by Leslie Fish, Carolyn Verino, Stephen Gray, and Signe Landon.

From the editorial:

In attending conventions and talking to people about Star Trek and its fandom I have encountered those not only of middle age, but also some elderly folk who are as enthusiastic about the show as any thirteen-year old. What is STAR TREK's appeal to them? I have heard these people speak articulately about the hope for a future many of them will never see. Their interest in the show seems to reflect much the same hope that is evident in the interest of the younger ones. My belief is that part of the answer lies in gaps -- culture gaps, generation gaps, socio-economic gaps, and more. STAR TREK's fandom, and indeed, STAR TREK itself, bridge many of these gaps. At conventions, no matter what one's position socially, economically, or otherwise, all have All have at least one thing in common -- love for STAR TREK. On this basis, there is the first bridge.

• Beyond Orion by Lee Jaecks (Spock returns home to spend time with Amanda, dying of lymphoma.) (3)
• Never by Unknown (69)
• The Jelly Donut Memorandum, (or "Smucker's Time") by Lee Jaecks & Carolyn Venino (a play "dedicated to D.C. Fontana, in the hope that this will settle the question, once and for all, what Spock eats for breakfast," reprinted from Pastak #3, October 1976, also printed as a standalone, date unknown, also in Vulcan Irregulars #2 in 1977) (71)
• Computer Readout (77)
• One and One by Carolyn Verino (79)
• No Greater Monument by Lee Jaecks (reprinted from Tetrumbriant #11) (83)
• Mid-Summer by Carolyn Venino. Note says this story is an “interlude” to “Summer’s End, Pt. II” by D.T. Steiner in Metamorphosis #2. (96)
• The Zine Scene (103)

• 

  from issue #1, Gene Reynolds

• 

  from issue #1, Leslie Fish

• 

  from issue #1, Signe Landon

• 

  from issue #1, Carolyn Verino

• 

  from issue #1, Stephen Gray

• 

  from issue #1, Kevin Birnbaum

• 

  from issue #1, Gene Reynolds

• 

  from issue #1, Gene Reynolds

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

See reactions and reviews for Mid-Summer.

[zine]: [It is] half-spaced and double-spaced between the paragraphs. I wish editors would not do this. I will sacrifice my eyesight to my pocketbook at any time whatsoever. The lead story, 'Beyond Orion,' has to do with Spock's and Sarek's attempts to deal with Amanda's impending and then actual death. I wasn't able to decide if this was a terribly bad story written terribly well, or an extraordinarily good story written terribly badly. There are two shorts, an epilogue to 'The Cage.' by Lee Jaecks and an intriguing interlude to D.T. Steiner's 'Summer End' by C.M. Venino. There is poetry by Carolyn Venino, assorted cartoons and a computer memorandum to thoroughly silly play by Jaecks and Venino called 'The Jelly Doughnut Memorandum (or Smucker's Time)'. For a two-person zine, this isn't bad at all. P.S. a gorgeous cover by Gene Reynolds.

[zine]:

• "Beyond Orion" -- Spock returns home to spend time with Amanda, who is dying of lymphoma. He plays along with her need to see and treat him as a child in her last days. Sweetly sentimental, with rather emotional Vulcans attempting to allow Amanda to die in her way, not the Vulcan way. Odd subplot involves Sarek's nosy and self-absorbed aide intruding on the family.
• "The Jelly Donut Memorandum" -- “Amok Time” spoof, with Spock obsessing about jelly donuts.
• "Computer Readout" -- Trek jokes (the sound of punching a Vulcan on the nose? “T’Pau”)
• "No Greater Monument" -- Enterprise is called to retrieve Pike’s body from Talos; the Talosians, with no pets to care for anymore, commit mass suicide by causing Sulu to fire main phasers at them.
• "Mid-Summer" -- This one made no sense to me. Spock, ill, is running, trying to elude capture by Starfleet. Note says this story is an “interlude” in “Summer’s End, Pt. II” by D.T. Steiner in Metamorphosis #2.

[zine]:

Here is a real sleeper, folks, and a nice surprise at that. Every single piece within its covers would look good to outstanding anywhere else. Together, they make for a very enjoyable zine. The two major stories, both by Lee Jaecks, are excellent, both dealing with the death of two peripheral but important ST characters. They are cogent, credible and adult in their dealing with human (or Vulcan) grief. The title piece (more of a novella) "Beyond Orion," is powerful and intelligent, emotional but never slopping over. "NoGreaterMonument"is shorter, but just as good as "Orion." Carolyn Venino has a shortie, "Mid-Summer," which like Connie Faddis' "Confrontation" in IDIC 3 was written to plug a gap in one of Diane Steiner's works, this time "Summer's End" in METAMORPHOSIS. Highly recommended.

Rating: Graphics 5 Content 5 $Worth 4

[zine, 1977]:

One reviewer wrote: "Two of the stories are reprinted from other 'zines (TETRUBMRIANT 11 and PASTAK 3), and most of the stories were written by Lee Jaecks. The title story is the account of Amanda's lingering last illness and death, and is "in the KRAITH manner done."

"Mid-Summer," by C.M. Venino is a tie-in with D.T. Steiner's "Summer's End" (in METAMORPHOSIS 2). In all, this 'zine is a most attractive first effort, layout easy to read, interesting to the eye." Another reviewer said, "I couldn't agree more -- a very impressive first effort."

Issue 2

Beyond Orion 2 was published in July 1977, and is 104 pages long. Editors were Carol Hunterton, Lee Jaecks, and Carolyn Venino.

front cover of issue #2

back cover of issue #2

inside back cover of issue #2, Kevin Birnbaum, an example of Spock Smiles

flyer for issue #2 from Warped Space #26/27

The front cover: Gene Reynolds; back cover: Suzanne Kirwan. Other art by Kathy Carlson, Merle Decker, Gerry Downes, Barbara Miner, Gene Reynolds, April Valentine, Miriam Amos, Kevin Birnbaum, Stephen Gray, Virgina Jacobsen, R. Volker, Robert Lovett, P.S. Nim, and Bridget Rinaldi.

This issue is "dedicated to Beverly Volker nad Leslye Lilker for reaching out to us and making us one in the true spirit of IDIC. Which can say more than this rich praise -- that you alone are you?"

• For Cyrano by April Valentine (inside front cover)
• Editorial, Wit's End (2)
• Without Pomp or Circumstance by Leslye Lilker (Sahaj series, Spock turns his panic-stricken son over to Sarek and Amanda to raise.) (also in Sahaj Collected) (3)
• Perspective by Carolyn Venino (19)
• Aftermath by Toni Cardinal (21)
• All That Glitters by Roberta Rogow and Carolyn Venino (Klingons never turn the other cheek.) (also in I finally got... THE LAST WORD) (24)
• The Visitors by Mark Valco (46)

• Imitation of Life by Carol Hunterton (art interpretation) (51)
• The Seventh Year by Carolyn Venino (52)
• The Doleful Ballad by Roberta Rogow. filk of Tom Lehrer's "The Irish Ballad." Illustrated by Stephen Gray. Reprinted from Tetrumbriant (56)
• Descent by April Valentine (from the flyer: "...reveals the Kirk/Spock relationship at it tortured best." It is a tag for Tower of Terror, see below.) (62)
• Meditations by L. Jeanne Powers (71)
• Cosmic Lover by Tyrone Jones (75)
• A Traveler Between by Bev Volker (76)
• Beyond Orion by Bev Volker (80)
• The Last Uncharted World by Mariann Hornlein (81)
• And So To Bed by Carol Hunterton (art interpretation) (82)
• Progressions by Ellen Kobrin (84)
• To an Alien home by Jean Stevenson (87)
• Must I Remain Alone b7 Pete Kaup (art interpretation) (88)
• Night Vigil, poem by Carolyn Venino (90)
• Guardian Knot by Jean L. Stevenson (92)
• New World by Pete Kaup (102)
• The Zine Scene and Ads (103)

• 

  from issue #2, P.S. Nim for "Without Pomp or Circumstance"

• 

  from issue #2, P.S. Nim for "Without Pomp or Circumstance"

• 

  from issue #2, Suzanne Kirwin

• 

  from issue #2, Gene Reynolds for "All That Glitters"

• 

  from issue #2, Gene Reynolds for "All That Glitters"

• 

  from issue #2, Robert Lovett

• 

  from issue #2, Merle Decker for "The Seventh Year"

• 

  from issue #2, Stephen Gray for "The Doleful Ballad"

• 

  from issue #2, Miriam Amos for "Descent"

• 

  from issue #2, Barbara Miner for "Descent"

• 

  from issue #2, Kathy Carlson

• 

  from issue #2, R. Volker for "A Traveler Between"

• 

  from issue #2, Bridget Reynaldi

• 

  from issue #2, Gerry Downes

• 

  from issue #2, Virgina Jacobsen for "Guardian Knot"

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

See reactions and reviews for All That Glitters.

[zine]: Perhaps one shouldn't make a judgement on the basis of just two issues, but the editors of 'Orion' seem somewhat taken with themes of death and torture. As the Kirk-Spock relationship is to Contact, so is the Hurt/Comfort syndrome to this zine. Of the 23 pieces [in issue #2], nine deal with someone getting tortured, kilt, or both. Against that, exactly four stories are more than three pages long. There is not, in this issue at least, very much development even of the zine's chosen themes. Nevertheless, some of the stories are quite good, particularly the two Roberta Rogow had a hand in. 'All that Glitters' is a most enjoyable The-Enterprise-vs-yet-more-Klingon-sabotage, written with a pleasantly wide cast that is rather typical of Rogow; probably the best of the book. 'A Doleful Ballad,' a filksong reprinted from Tetrumbriant, makes a somewhat loose six pages, but is fun. Stephen Gray and Gene Reynolds' illos are great. Leslye Lilker has a Sahaj segment, 'Without Pomp or Circumstance.' It leaves a few things unexplained in my mind, but then, so does the whole series. It is sufficient as a story, and if you like the series, you'll find this one necessary. 'Decent' takes off where Jennifer Guttridge's 'Tower of Terror' in Tricorder Readings #2 and #3 stopped six years ago. If you caught that, there's not too much point in reading 'Descent'; it is a recap, plus Kirk Realizing What Spock Sacrificed. [The author] is a good writer of emotion -- see 'For Cyrano' in thish -- but this one missed the cosmic boat. [Issue #2] is an average zine, disappointing after the first issue. Expensive for what you get. Content - 3 Graphics - 4 $ Worth - 3.

[zine]: The second issue of a fine zine, and even more beautiful than the first. This includes the Sahaj story "Without Pomp or Circumstance" by Leslye Lilker accompanied by the fluid and graceful illos of PS Nim, the [April Valentine] Kirk/Spock friendship story "Descent", the perceptive poem "Progressions" by Ellen Kobrin and other work by Rogow, Venino, Stevenson, Volker, Toni Cardinal, Hornlein, and Hunterton. "Guardian Knot" by Stevenson examines the character of Sarek on different timelines, and illuminates one Vulcan who, for me, has always been a difficult man to understand. Sensitive thoughtful stories, and art that embellishes.

[zine]:

• "Without Pomp or Circumstance" -- Sahaj Series. Spock turns his panic-stricken son over to Sarek and Amanda to raise.
• "Aftermath" -- Vignette of Spock mourning Chapel's death.
• "All that Glitters" -- Captain Koloth plots revenge for the gift of tribbles, infiltrating Enterprise with gifts of his own which make the crew belligerent. Best bit is Uhura telling Kirk what he can do with his hailing frequencies.
• "Imitation of Life" -- Vignette of Kirk in a dream world, insane after witnessing Spock's death.
• "The Seventh Year" -- Sarek and Amanda. It's Time... no, not that Time. Cute.
• "The Doleful Ballad" -- Entertaining filk of Tom Lehrer's "The Irish Ballad." Illustrated by Stephen Gray.
• "Descent" -- Kirk watches over Spock, who is recovering from torture suffered to save Kirk. Standard H/C.
• "A Traveler Between" -- Kirk muses on Edith's sacrifice.
• "The Last Uncharted World" -- Vignette. Kirk and Spock head off to explore the afterlife together.
• "And So To Bed" -- Vignette. A new take on McCoy's divorce - and drinking - tracing them to impotence.
• "The Guardian Knot" -- Events of "Yesteryear" - and the return to "our" timeline - from Sarek's pov. Interesting premise, well-written.