Scoundrel (Star Wars letterzine)
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Scoundrel |
| Publisher: | |
| Editor(s): | Joan Shumsky (used the pseud "Amy Forrest" as freely noted in Grip #12) |
| Type: | letterzine |
| Date(s): | September 1983-October 1986 |
| Frequency: | bimonthly |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | Star Wars |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Scoundrel is a Star Wars no-frills letterzine that was published shortly after the third film of the original trilogy was released. The title is a reference to the Han/Leia kiss scene in The Empire Strikes Back; Leia calls Han a scoundrel, and Han says she likes it.
From an ad: "A letterzine devoted to the SW saga. Features: Question Forum, Articles, Essays, Reviews, LoC's, Zine Listings and a Classified Section, plus a Consumer Corner. Published quarterly." [1]
One fan writes in the third issue: "First the world was created. Then George gave us a saga. Now you have given us Scoundrel to help figure out that saga. Chaos. Complete chaos. I love it. Keep up the good work."
Sections of the letterzine have been included on Fanlore with the publisher's permission.
The Issues: Summaries
See the subpages for details about individual issues, including quoted opinions and summaries of fannish views on topics then current:
Fan Discourse and Disgruntlement
In 1989, Kathy Agel, described what she saw as one of the reasons for the cessation of this zine:
A good friend was the editor of the STAR WARS letterzine SCOUNDREL. I say 'was', because she allowed the zine to fold due to the animosity and acrimony between two of the zine's contributors — animosity and acrimony that did, in fact, escalate into all-out war and drew quite a few of the zine's regular contributors into the fray. One of the aforementioned contributors - who shall remain nameless - has gone on to make trouble for a STAR TREK letterzine, and has also wrought mischief on countless hapless STAR WARS writers — including myself and quite a few more well-known writers in that fandom — with tactless reviews that somehow manage to make it into print. At any rate, I hope that type of 'interaction' won't afflict our fandom. And I doubt it will — Editor: Kathy Agel [2]
In another venue, this disgruntled fan, Sandra Necchi, wrote in 1984 wrote:
Yes, Joan Shumsky IS censoring. She recently censored an article I sent her which tried to refute the Church of Ford's argument about Luke's quest for his father being only personal. I discussed my own family s experiences in Brazil, since they're politically divided, and apparently she's a super right-winger. It was necessary to mention (in a line or two, no more) part of my family's opposition to US policy in our country and my own agreement with that position. She said she loved "her" country too much to allow that in her zine. Bizarre. Then she intimated no further articles or LoCs of mine would be welcomed in her zine. Plus she may be stealing three issues from me, since I sent her three pieces which she printed, and doesn't seem to realize she owes me contributor's copies for them. There are just some people out there who should NOT be publishing letterzines, period. I hear I'm not the only one she's done this to. [3]
Other Star Wars Letterzines
- Alderaan (February 1978 to August 1981) (morphed into the multimedia letterzine, Comlink)
- Bound by the Force (1982-1997) -- contains some mulifandom content
- Darkside (1994-1997)
- Jundland Wastes (March, perhaps June 1981 to September 1983)
- Jundland, Too (February 1984 to May 1984)
- Rebel Alliance (1993-1994)
- Scoundrel (late 1983 or fall 1986)
- Southern Enclave (1983 to 2000)
- Tusken Farms (1993-?)
References
- ^ Southern Enclave
- ^ comment in The Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea letterzine, Up Bubble #4
- ^ from K/S & K.S. (Kindred Spirits) #11