Southern Seven/Issue 005
Southern Seven is a long-running gen Blake's 7 anthology of art, fiction, and poems.
See more at Southern Seven.
Issue 5 Part One
Southern Seven 5 PART ONE was published in 1989 and contains 408 pages. It contains 24 pages of LOCs.
The front cover is by Karen River ("Legend") and the back cover is by Leah Rosenthal ("Resistor"). The interior art is by Leah Rosenthall, Suzan Lovett, Samantha Hayman, Adrian Morgan, Brendan O'Cullane, Theresa Buffaloe, Laura Virgil, and Mariann Howarth.
Issue 5 was bound in two issues because it was too big to bind as one zine. It functions, however, as one zine, with the table of contents for both issues solely in the first issue. The letters of comment were also solely in the first issue. The numbering of the pages for part one picks up after the numbering for part one.
From the editorial:
As usual, the Letters of Comment section is quite full and contains lots of juicy comments about the stories in previous issues of the zine as well as comments on the series and fan fiction as a whole. My thanks to those of you who took my advice and tried to offer honest, constructive criticism rather than niggling complaints and personal attacks. Shame on those of you who still insist on treating the authors and artists herein with rudeness. All of the contributors have worked hard to bring you this zine and I hope you'll always bear that in mind, whether your opinion of the end result is good, bad or indifferent. I will warn you that there are a few letters this time which are rather nasty, but it has always been my policy to print everything that zines in regarding the zine, without editing. One more note: as I've told you previously, if you write to me with comments on the zine, you must tell me you don't want your letter printed, if that is the case, and you must tell me at the time you send the letter. Don't write to me months after the fact and expect me to be able to pull your letter. This is a large zine and, consequently, it is in production for many months before it appears in print. Once the layouts are done, they are done, and I will not go back and change them simply because someone changes their mind months after the fact. Enough said? Again, thank you to everyone who wrote in; I always enjoy bearing from you.
I'm going to mention one other thing that affects the zine, and then I'll let you get on with enjoying it. Leigh Arnold of Van Nuys, CA has been telling all and sundry via her self-styled "Public Service Announcement" that I have been served with a "cease and desist notice for libel, slander and harassment." [1] This is a blatant out and out lie. Neither I nor my zines have been served with any kind of legal papers whatsoever and her insistence and publication that I have amounts to libel and harassment in itself. I can only hope that of you out there realize the ridiculousness of her claim. If I had been served with legal, enforceable documents, this zine would not exist. On the advice of my lawyers, I have changed my copyright disclaimer in the front of the zine. Please read it carefully.
[snipped]
This issue is specially dedicated to Linda Terrell. Without her integrity and courage, I wouldn't have made it through the last few months. Besides, in a way she's responsible for inspiring me to get this done so quickly. She certainly convinced me I wasn't leaving this fandom no-way, no-how, no-time until was good and ready. Thanks, Linda. This one's for you...
- Editorial (5)
- Letters of Comments (6)
- Recontres by Shoshanna (30)
- Random Thoughts by Teresa Ward (32)
- The Seventh Rebel by Bryn Lantry ("Blake counted Zen as part of his crew…but how did Zen feel about being made a member of the Cause.") (reprinted in Enarraré #8) (33)
- Rationalizations by Teresa Ward (41)
- Rogue Avon by Jeff and Mary Mutoid (42)
- Retribution by Jeanne DeVore ("Travis seemed to know the mutoid who was chosen as his “friend” in the episode Duel. Perhaps he knew her very well, indeed.") (44)
- Devotion by CarolMel Ambassador (52)
- Jealousy by Kate Daniels (53)
- All the World's a Wallet by Bryn Lantry (59)
- A Rebel's Revenge by Sue Williams ("Blake is determined to carry out a planned strike against the Federation, even after the loss of his rebel contact…and Avon may have to pay the price.") (60)
- Diurnal by Shoshanna (77)
- Sober Thoughts by Laura Virgil (82)
- If I Were In Your Shoes... by Teresa Ward (89)
- Gan’s Revenge by Jacqueline Taero (94)
- Renunciation by Bryn Lantry (96)
- So Perish Unbelievers by Elizabeth Jarvis (99)
- Dirge for a Dreamhead by Bryn Lantry (102)
- Until You Get It Right by Barbara T. (103)
- King of Death by Pat Nussman (104)
- A Boy Called Mary Sue by Dee Beetem and Renae Ransdorf (106)
- Song by Bryn Lantry (110)
- The Days of Miracle and Wonder by Jeff Morris (111)
- Pledge by CarolMel Ambassador (113)
- Fate's Final Act by Linda Knights ("A fever sends Avon into the world of dreams where he sees a vision of the future…a future he will do anything to change.") (reprinted as a standalone zine) (135)
- By the Last Sun (Star One) by Bryn Lantry (144)
- Out of the Tomb by Barbara T. (146)
- Shadows by Tammy Riden (15)
- Shadow of Some Unseen by Colette Bolech & Kathy Martin ("Avon and Vila are temporarily stranded and are forced to take shelter in a mysterious house…with an even more mysterious, if beautiful, owner.") (151)
- Alien Eyes by Jacqueline Taero (171)
- Blake -- After Star One by Teresa Ward (172)
- Drifts of Sand by Mary Gerstner (174)
- Pool by CarolMel Ambassador (176)
- Rumours With A View by Vickie McManus (177)
- Last Call by CarolMel Ambassador (194)
- Feelings by Alyns Lawchilde (195)
- The Passing of Youth by M. Saavedra (196)
- Tarrant by Teresa Ward (200)
- It Just Ain’t My Style! by Kathy Hintze (202)
- It Wasn’t All Lies by Jane Carnall (208)
- Doubts by CarolMel Ambassador (209)
- Thought in the Night by Teresa Ward ("The death of Deeta leaves Del Tarrant considering many things and perhaps even Vila can help.") (210)
- thirty-seven zine flyers!
from issue 5, pt.1, Suzan Lovett
from issue 5, pt.1, Suzan Lovett
from issue 5, pt.1, Leah Rosenthal
from issue 5, pt.1, Leah Rosenthal
from issue 5, pt.1, Picasso
from issue 5, pt.1, Picasso
from issue 5, pt.1, Samantha Hayman
from issue 5, pt.1, Leah Rosenthal
from issue 5, pt.1, Suzy Molnar
from issue 5, pt.1, Adrian Morgan
from issue 5, pt.1, Theresa Buffaloe
from issue 5, pt.1, Laura Virgil
from issue 5, pt.1, Theresa Buffaloe
from issue 5, pt.1, Adrian Morgan and Brandon O'Cullane
from issue 5, pt.1, Leah Rosenthal
from issue 5, pt.1, Leah Rosenthal
from issue 5, pt.1, Leah Rosenthal
from issue 5, pt.1, Laura Virgil
Issue 5 Part Two
Southern Seven 5 Part Two was published in July 1989 and contains 410 pages. The front cover is by Leah Rosenthal ("Bizarro Legend") and the back cover is by Leah Rosenthal ("Bad Delta").
It has interior art by Suzan Lovett, Leah Rosenthal, Theresa Buffaloe, Maryann Jorgensen, Samantha Hayman, Mary Gerstner, Laura Virgil, Adrian Morgan, Suzie Molnar, Daphne Ann Hamilton, Vicki Brinkmeier, Brendan O'Cullane, Mariann Howarth, Katrina Larkin.
Issue 5 was bound in two issues because it was too big to bind as one zine. It functions, however, as one zine, with the table of contents for both issues solely in the first issue. The letters of comment were also solely in the first issue. The numbering of the pages for part one picks up after the numbering for part one.
- De Mortius by Pat Nussman and Jacqueline Taero (214)
- Queen of Fires by Pat Nussman (216)
- The Center of the Circle by Sheila Paulson ("Matters take a different turn on Terminal when it turns out Blake really was there…and the crew of Liberator manages to rescue him.") (218)
- The Southern Seven Writing Contest (235)
- Companions for Your Watch by Elizabeth Jarvis (240)
- Going Down by Brendan O'Cullane and Adrian Morgan (reprinted in Double Vision) (243)
- Out of Orbit by Lynne Alisse Witten (245)
- For Each Man Kills by Jane Carnall (247)
- No Way Out by Laura Virgil (248)
- Repent in Haste by Sophia Mulvey ("Soolin doesn’t necessarily trust Avon and his crew, but her attempt to consider her decision to join them could prove fatal.") (253)
- Refugee by Pat Nussman (264)
- The Least of Many Evils by Alyns Lawchilde (266)
- Broken Wings by Mary Gerstner ("Cally survived Terminal, unbeknownst to her fellow rebels, but at what cost?") (269)
- A Nightmare a Day Keeps the Doctor Away by Angina Panucratis (282)
- The Testing by Vickie McManus (283)
- Mr. Avon's Neighborhood by Kim Wigmore (284)
- And Then There Was One by April Giordano (281)
- Last Sight by Adrian Morgan and Brendan O'Cullane (290)
- Where Lies Madness by Barbara T. (crossover or fusion with The Prisoner) (291)
- Finale by Pat Nussman (292)
- Counter Point by Mary Alice Wuerz (294)
- Legends and Dreams by Meg Garrett (207)
- Post G.P. Letter by Nova Salsh-Klabe (309)
- Dust to Dust Return by Dee Beetem (310)
- Fireside Thoughts by Janet Walker (313)
- The Result of Standard Conditioning and Reality Adjustment in the Case of 8/110 by Adrian Morgan and Brendan O'Cullane (314)
- Empty Chairs by Janet Walker (315)
- Betrayal by CarolMel Ambassador (316)
- Deliverance by Susan Boylan (317)
- Reunion by Tammy Riden (321)
- THE LOG OF THE HELLHOUND—BOOK V (322)
- Guns And Butter by Katrina Larkin & Susanne Tilley (now Katz) ("Bev and Dayna run into unfriendly Raldeeni and Avon is forced into an uneasy alliance with one of Tarrant’s old smuggling partners, Lew Brody, in order to save them.") (The Log of the Hellhound Book V) (325)
- Wicked Ways (356)
- Flesh and Blood (375)
from issue #5 n.2, Suzan Lovett, depicting a scene From the Log of the Hellhound
from issue #5 n.2 Suzan Lovett. A fan said: "...the Lovett illo for "Center" was marvelous. (Don't know if it was meant to echo the Kluge cover on POWERPLAY 5 or not, but it's a great visual metaphor, either way." [3]
from issue #5 n.2, Suzan Lovett, William Bodie and Ray Doyle fan casted as original characters in Hellhound Universe: "I love Lew Brody — the illos are great, as is the Lovett portrait of Dafydd and Brody standing together. Both are interesting characters, people that I'd be willing to read more about no matter who they look like." [4]
from issue #5 n.2, Leah Rosenthal (challenge illo to prompt a story)
from issue #5 n.2, Leah Rosenthal (challenge illo to prompt a story)
from issue #5 n.2, Theresa Buffaloe
from issue #5 n.2, Leah Rosenthal (challenge illo to prompt a story)
from issue #5 n.2, Laura Virgil
from issue #5 n.2, Adrian Morgan
from issue #5 n.2, Adrian Morgan
from issue #5 n.2, Leah Rosenthal
from issue #5 n.2, Samantha Hayman
from issue #5 n.2, Katrina Larkin
from issue #5 n.2, Katrina Larkin
from issue #5 n.2, Adrian Morgan
from issue #5 n.2, Theresa Buffaloe
from issue #5 n.2, Laura Virgil, reprinted in color in #12
from issue #5 n.2, Theresa Buffaloe
from issue #5 n.2, Mariann Howarth
from issue #5 n.2, Leah Rosenthal
from issue #5 n.2, Theresa Buffaloe
from issue #5 n.2, Leah Rosenthal
from issue #5 n.2, Daphne Ann Hamilton
from issue #5 n.2, Leah Rosenthal
from issue #5 n.2, Katrina Larkin, "Dafydd Kildragon" (fan-casted Ray Doyle)
from issue #5 n.2, Theresa Buffaloe
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5
Issue 5 was bound in two issues because it was too big to bind as one zine. It functions, however, as one zine, with the table of contents for both issues solely in the first issue. The letters of comment were also solely in the first issue. The numbering of the pages for part one picks up after the numbering for part one.
[The Days of Miracle and Wonder]: There are a handful of stories I've written that I can look back on and be able say, "That was good." This is one of them.
I wrote it for the Scorpio Writing Contest. Scorpio was the B7 convention of the mid-80's, the one you did not miss if you could help it. I cranked this out at the last minute and sent it in, wondering if it was any good. When The Redhead and I arrived at the hotel, I was almost immediately accosted by the judge of the contest. "I've got a bone to pick with you!" she announced rather hotly. When I meekly asked why, she grinned. "I had the winner of the contest all decided, and then your submission came in!" That was my acknowledgement that yeah, it probably was a pretty good story.
The title of course comes from Paul Simon's "The Boy in the Bubble". Actually, the story idea is from the lyrics: "It was a slow day/And the sun was beating/On the soldiers by the side of the road/There was a bright light/The shattering of shop windows/The bomb in the baby carriage/Was wired to the radio". Something about this stuck with me the first time I heard it, and its echoes can be heard in the story, or at least I think so.
A few people have asked if I was royally ticked off when I wrote it, because there is an aura of anger in it. I think it was just the idea that all we ever really saw of Blake's rebellion was his view and Servalan's--never the people who were affected by their actions, the innocents on all sides who suffered as a result of Blake's cause. That's especially why Demmedich is in there -- a good man, a good soldier who is in a really lousy situation and is trying to make the best of it. I wanted someone in there who would show that not all Servalan's armed forces were soulless goons (that view annoyed me almost as much as Roddenberry's Federation officers being Boy Scouts). I always meant to bring Anton and Sallier back in another story, but never managed it. Shuckydarn. [5]
[zine]:...there were so many excellent stories — SOUTHERN SEVEN has been and hopefully always will be a magnet for those.
"Fate's Final Act" by Linda Knights sets up the reasons behind its alternate future in a really clever way. I was fooled easily by the appearance of the 4th series characters. The story was determined to fool me every time I started to get pessimistic about its ending. [6]
[zine]:I borrowed SOUTHERN SEVEN 5 from a friend and wiped out most of fall break reading — then promised that this time I'd write you a LoC, since I do enjoy reading other peoples' comments, so here we go.
First of course — yes, it's big, isn't it? etc. — no problem since you divide it into two manageable-size volumes, plus four covers for the price of two! The River was excellent as always — I do love her groups-with-a-connected-theme designs, and Leah's parody was dead an as usual. If we can't have Bizarro stories—sniff-wimper, at least you still give us goodies like the "Bad Delta" and "Gan's Revenge" and the Avon-Tarrant-Blake set in vol. 2. I also think her serious stuff's getting even better — the p. 97 Blake, the p 145 Blake-Avon, and the KILL THE DEAD illos. (I did feel the KTD poems didn't say anything that the book hadn't already — and better, but that may be a minority opinion.)
Nice to see a LOT of short (2 pp. max) stories this time. It shows how much a good writer can put across briefly but well, or give an old theme a new twist or point of view. Lots of good ones — my favorites had to be "Recontres," "Shadows," "Drifts of Sand," "De Mortuis," "The Testing," "And Then There Was One," "Legends and Dreams," and [Barbara T's] two pieces. In fact her Avon-as-The-Prisoner was also the funniest thing in the zine, absolutely priceless, but then this issue's humor had to rate "average" at best I'm afraid — to my taste. (I like my humor dry with a twist — no ice, no exploding cherries no whipped cream.) I did have a small problem with "Empty Chairs" as a story because the power is all in the song — you could have just printed that as a poem and let the spirit of B7 fill in the overtones. Also, wouldn't the Federation have long since banned anything as incendiary as LES MIS in the first place??
My favorite longer-than-2-pages story had to be Sheila Paulson's "The Center of the Circle" but then I like all her stuff going back to "For a Few Credits More" — consistently credible characterizations and total control of that thin line between B7 and "oh come on now." Also, the Lovett illo for "Center" was marvelous. (Don't know if it was meant to echo the Kluge cover on POWERPLAY 5 or not, but it's a great visual metaphor, either way.)
Other favorite longer stories: "Fate's Final Act" with the delicious Lovett p. 127 of Avon (the Blake-Avon pair was too touchy-feely for my taste — and WHAT happened to Avon's eyelashes?), "Rumors With a View" (somebody else who noticed that Anna came closer to toppling Servalan's empire, without causing total chaos, than Blake or anyone else managed to do!), and "No Way Out" (she's got the tone of the episode dead on — very nice). Obviously, I like "alternatives" but also really liked "Jealousy" for an entirely different reason. It neatly makes a point I've been trying in vain to explain to a friend — slash exists only in the eyes of SOME beholders. (Well, Blake just might be gay — one short kiss with a cousin doesn't tell much, but then he's really "married to His Cause," right? Well? But Gan and Avon and Vila and Tarrant — no way. Men are colleagues or friends or associates, period.)
HELLHOUND probably deserves a LoC all on its own but here goes nothing! I do not believe its premises: Avon's unrequited lust for Blake and the suicide attempt, but there's this neat Sf/fantasy thingie called "willing suspension of disbelief” that seems to be handling things...so far. (Actually, with 4th season Avon, suicide would have resulted if he'd blown Servalan away — the troopers would have obliged. As for his being bi, the HH character's written as not really sexually interested either way. He just goes with the flow really, and Steffi's his current bedtime teddy bear as far as we can tell.) The thing that has become a problem for me is Avon's increasing mushy-mindedness and willingness to just follow Blake and accept his plans rather than criticize and improve them. In HH 5, he doesn't force Blake to decide about destroying the hospital ahead of time, AND doesn't point out later that if Blake doesn't, Servalan will, and leave a bigger, nastier mess, and blame it on Blake besides. (And she does! She, at least, is just what 4th season led us to expect.)
The other real problem is one HELLHOUND shares with B7 episodes — when you've got intelligent main characters, you have to give them "idiot attacks" to cover weak points in the plot. Like f'rinstance, Jamial Blair... Super-cautious Avon brought his casual pick-up on board the ship??? Why? So Vila could see them together. Why? Because the gay bar scene is not anyplace Vila would be interested in going. Or Dafydd's terribly-convenient-for-Servalan homing device... Neither doctor noticed the scar? Neither doctor noticed the lump on the X-ray? Orac never noticed the homing "bleep"? Nobody asked Orac far a hard copy of the Mutoid Modification Manual? (Somebody's got to train the surgeons...) COME ON PEOPLE...but seriously, all will be forgiven if somebody (Avon? you still awake in there?) shifts his brain out of neutral long enough to consult Orac, request a list of homing device frequencies, and which mutoids they're attached to, and who owns/employs those mutoids. WHY? well, that somebody might just turn the trick and track down Servalan through her Controller, mightn't he??! Please?
Seriously — for real, if I didn't like it, I wouldn't criticize, and I did love "In The Dark" and Katrina's cartoons and "Writhing Lawn Sprinklers." Also I did like/still like the original illos style, and also most of the "other" illos, especially Leah's, Adrian Morgan's b/w cut-out style, and Theresa Buffaloe's. (The only below standard one was [Gayle F's] in HH 4.)
There were a few things in the zine I could have lived without — the vampire story (since I'm not into the vampire/succubus stuff), the bash-Wesley story (since there are 20 zillion ST:TNG fans out there to do things like that), and the "Rogue Avon" thing. OK, OK, the illo was effective satire (you expect that with Leah), but the poem/parody was terribly weak. (I hate to say it, but, yes, I could do better— unfortunately; too, perhaps that I didn’t loathe the book affected my funny bone?) I am a bit curious about one thing — the pseudonym cop-out. Do you think anybody really cares at this point?
One last gripe — and yes, I'm afraid it's...Grammar. DAMN is a verb. DAMNED (also damnable, damnably) are modifiers. Bryn Lantry — "as damn sensitive," "I'm damn concerned," "a damn useful tool" — and Linda Knights — "too damn well" and "so damn much hope" — seem to have a problem with this. (So does Linda Terrell.) I've given up on boldly split infinitives, but this "damn" thing is damned annoying to me. At least you don't print "dammit" instead of "damn it"—thanks for that. (By the way, that "damn"-ed comment is also a hint to you writers — if you write it correctly, Annie won't have to put up with people like me writing nagging notes like this to her!) [Well, I'm going to respond to a few things in this letter. "Dammit," I most certainly do print "dammit." Probably because it is perfectly acceptable to do so. You are, of course, correct in saying that "damn" is a verb. However, when writing fiction, especially in dialogue, the tendency is to write the way people talk. People often say "I'm damn concerned," etc. whether it is proper usage or not. I'm sure my writers will work on their grammar as soon as you work on your excessive use of "dashes" and "parentheses." As for the authors of "Rogue Avon," they did not use a "pseudonym cop-out." It was written by Jeff & Mary Morris who are well-known to their friends as Jeff & Mary Mutoid of BIZARRO fame. Furthermore, if they had wished to use a pseudonym for anything they wrote, that would be their business and none of yours. There are writers in these pages who consistently use pseudonyms and no one has accused them of "copping-out." Editor.][7]
[zine]:Well, I've had a bit of a change of heart about the LoC's in SOUTHERN SEVEN, as the batch in #5 were a lot less aggravating. Could it be that the idea has started to catch on that, just because an interpretation of the characters is different does not automatically mean it's wrong? There were some points of view addressed in this issue that I definitely don't agree with...but so what? I can always write my own.
Oh, and thank you to all the people who commented so nicely on my poem, "Recovering." I was sort of leery of reading the LoC's this time because of expecting that poem to be very negatively received — if it was mentioned at all. So that was a very pleasant surprise. And I'm glad some others appreciated Leah's illo for it. Kind of amazing that the artwork in these zines is underappreciated. Oh, sure, everyone likes the "pretty pictures," but they don't excite nearly as much comment as the fiction, and yet sometimes a visual interpretation can be even more powerful than words. I was a little disappointed that this issue had mostly portrait art, yet even those can have something to say — like that series Leah Rosenthal has going, showing each of the crew with a totem symbol. Neat idea. But maybe the lack of comment is because a piece of art is less easy to pin down; a piece of fiction tends to say exactly what it means, but I have an idea that our visual interpretations are something that is unique to the individual, and perhaps it's harder to express those perceptions.
Nice to see everyone represented in this issue, too; we do tend to forget some characters. The pieces with Travis I were well done, exploring some of what was hinted at in the man. Of the villains on the series, the first Travis was the most successful, in that he had a little more dimension? He hadn't completely lost his humanity — or his mind, as Travis II and Servalan do. A "good" baddie should evoke some sympathy, and that's one thing Servalan never does. (The HELLHOUND Servalan positively makes my skin crawl, especially now she's teamed up with that mutoid controller.)
And Gan! Somebody remembered poor Gan — and very nicely too. Jacqueline Taero's "Gan's Revenge" was good for a gentle giggle (always enjoy her poetry); and Elizabeth Jarvis' "So Perish Unbelievers" was a welcome look at the man behind the gentle giant.
Oh, and Zen got to star in a story. Wasn't sure how Bryn Lantry would pull that off, but she managed it. But then Zen is my favorite of the three computers; actually get a little misty eyed every time I watch Terminal, and Bryn did a good job of capturing the...well, personality, for lack of a better word...of Zen. Now what would a story from Slave's perspective be like?
The pieces that clashed with my own view of things B7 were some poems by Bryn Lantry and Pat Nussman. Nothing wrong with them, except that I just cannot see Blake as ever, seriously, being in a suicidal frame of mind. The poems are good, but the ideas presented don't work for me. Now if Pat or Bryn want to tell me how they arrive at their visions of a suicidal Blake, I'd listen.
"Dust to Dust" by D. Beetem is in a similar vein: nothing wrong with the story, except that it is completely contrary to my view of how it might be after Gauda Prime. I can buy Blake angry, have written him that way, but the idea of him being out to kill Avon afterwards does not go down well. But if it's Dee's point of view, so be it. Be kind've silly to throw a fit because half a dozen or so pages of a 400 pg. zine express viewpoints which don't agree with me.
There's so much to single out for positive comments... Loved Pat Nussman's KILL THE DEAD poems; Jeff Morris' "The Days of Miracle and Wonder" was an interesting view of things from the civilian point of view.
I don't see Blake as a terrorist, but there are usually more than one side to things — and in B7 especially nothing was ever black and white. "Rumours with a View" by Vicki McManus worked much better than I'd thought; now I don't have a lot of use for Anna/Sula/Bartholomew -- but what the heck: what's fanfic for if not asking what if? Several short pieces by CarolMel Ambassador, more of Jacqueline Taero and Teresa Ward's poems; "Drifts of Time"; "The Passing of Youth"...
Stand out pieces: "Fate's Final Act" by Linda Knights may be my favorite of the whole zine. I don't insist that every story revolve around Blake and Avon, but when they are center stage it's a pleasure to read something that echoes my own views. Now if only "Star One" really had ended that way...
Oh, and some lovely artwork: Suzi Lovett's illo on p. 122 is good for the warm fuzzies. I always expect something good from Sheila Paulson (even if I'm not familiar with the fandom she's writing in, she makes me interested in the characters), and "Center of the Circle” was up to expectations. Nice that Tarrant and Vila got sane good moments, too. "Repent in Haste" by Sophia Mulvey is the surprise of this bunch. To be honest, Sophia's past work has not rated too highly with me, but this story was really good; Avon and Soolin sounded just right.
Meg Garrett's "Legends and Dreams" was just about perfect: if they are all dead on GP — and in the "reality" of B7, I do see it that way—that's the way it should be; gave me a very good feeling. And then Janet Walker got me all misty eyed with "Fireside Thoughts" and "Empty Chairs." But there was a pick-me-up of sorts with "Counter Point" by Mary Alice Wuerz (and I'm glad Suzie Molnar's illo of Avon haunted by Blake found a home there); Mary Alice has been one of my favorites for quite awhile, due to a 5th season series of hers that's been running in another zine. This one is a little more downbeat, but good all the same.
Oh, and this here thing called LOG OF THE HELLHOUND... Well, it's sort of in a category all by itself, isn't it? I keep thinking it's about peaked, that there won't be any more surprises...and wouldn't you know it, each book is a little better than the one before, spinning out just enough to sustain interest, but leave you a little hungry for more when it's over. Katrina and Susanne have woven a very tangled web (and I sometimes feel in need of a scorecard to keep track of everyone and how they relate to each other) but I love stories like that. Heck, I write stories like that, favorite kind of pro SF is of the world building sort, where you can see and hear and touch and taste and smell the story; the richness and complexity; and that's what HELLHOUND is. If you can't take HELLHOUND as B7, take it as world building space opera; either way, I've never come across anything else that assures I'll buy the zine it's in, no matter what else cones with it.
Now where's the next issue...? [Rebecca, you raise some interesting points! I'd love to see a story from Slave’s point of view. Why don’t you write it for us!? It’s great that you don't allow the stories that "conflict" with your point of view to bother you, but also try to bear in mind that the themes running through those stories don't always automatically even reflect the points of view of their authors! Leah and I have often written stories portraying characters differently than our "favorite" way. For instance, in "Last Stand" Tarrant was portrayed as a Federation double agent. Yet no other story we've ever written has portrayed Tarrant as a double agent. You've got to be flexible when you write, as much as when you read these stories, else everything starts to get pretty boring! Editor.][8]
[zine]:My copy of SOUTHERN SEVEN #5 arrived in the mail yesterday and I have just now cane up for air. Whew! To say it was loaded would not even begin to describe it. It was so FULL of stories, artwork, and poetry that if I tried to comment on everything that I liked my printer ribbon would have a serious shortage of ink before I got the letter printed!
However I do feel lead to content on a few things, starting with the covers. I can not begin to describe the feelings Karen River evoked with "Legend." And the other covers and the frontispieces are vintage Leah. (That's vintage as in "excellent" not old.) Plus her cartoons throughout hit the funny bone; I particularly liked pages 16, 81, 268, 293, and 306.
And thanks for the various poems and artwork on KILL THE DEAD. I finally got to read the story far the first time last weekend and Leah's drawings and the poems fit so beautifully.
The LoC's can at times be as interesting to read as the stories. To Katrina: I never thought of Marc as anything but a child molester, (i.e. his comment on Morten being "a little long in the tooth." At eighteen?!) Please follow Gale Good's suggestion as to a genealogy. PLEASE! And a nice bit on page 26 as well.... "Doyl" is Irish-Gaelic and means "Dark Strange" in case anyone's interested.
Stories that stand out: "Jealousy," "A Rebel's Revenge," "Sober Thoughts," "If I Were in Your Shoes...," "A Boy Called Mary Sue," "Shadow of Some Unseen" — I like vampire stories, "It Just Ain't My Style"—Vila with curls?!?!? "Mr. Avon's Neighborhood"—Over-Rated Asinine Computer? So that's what Orac means.
"Orbit" alternatives: I continue to be amazed by all the variations. (Particularly since I weigh 73 kilos myself. [I really do!]) I think my favorite out of this bunch was "Out of Orbit' by Lynne Alisse Witten. (Do you gotta ask why?)
Poetry and Artwork: this was up to the usual high standards and I noticed a few new names amongst the artists. Bravo, everyone! There wasn't one I didn't like.
LOG OF THE HELLHOUND continues to be a highly visual and addictive experience. And I was pleased to discover my suspicions were correct about the identity of Vila's "rescuer" on GP; it was Lew Brody. Brody is so over the top, I could really fall in love with him. (Garden variety? Not bloody likely, sweetheart!!) And Karl Deca gives me chills all up and down the spine.
Well I guess that's it for this time 'round. And once again my thanks far all the hard work, folks, it is greatly appreciated.[9]
[zine]:SOUTHERN SEVEN 5 arrived safely, both of it, and as usual, full of good things. The loc pages are becoming an institution in themselves — have you considered starting a new zine to deal with them? They already have their own artwork, cocs (cartoons of comment, darl, what d'you think I mean?) the HELLHOUND Tarrant, Vila and Blake, Couch Rebels, the two Bizarroid cartoons, and Dafydd, Blake, and wall-stuck Avon.
The covers are wonderful. I spent a week (well, a couple of hours) working out all the mutual references.
Enjoyed "Recontres"; an interesting pre-1st season story. Liked Stannis calling Tarrant "infant.” (Hey, Shoshanna, what happened to Celo?) I also liked "Diurnal”; it's refreshing to read a story about the relations between some other triple than the standard of Blake, Avon and Vila.
"The Seventh Rebel" is an unusual exploration of Zen's psyche — of Zen as alien intelligence, and Jenna's own relationship with Zen. What happens when the ship deserts the crew? Hmm. I also liked Bryn's poems, especially "Renunciation," and "By the Last Sun."
I snickered happily over the "Rogue Avon" filksong and cartoon. Also over the "Delta icon" on page 76. Also "I've got my eye on you” on page 81. (Am I getting younger or are the jokes getting older?)[...]
"Jealousy" had the most brilliant beginning and the most irritating ending, of any story in this zine. Good analysis of class differences (though I am beginning to wish that someone beside HELLHOUND would mention that there are other grades besides Alpha and Delta). Nice exploration of Vila's background, which tidily knots in most of what Vila's mentioned about his past. But the ending still niggles at me...
"Sober Thoughts" is an excellent unusual-slant-on-a-stereotype story, and very neatly done; providing Travis with family, medical problems (apart from the ones we all know about), a sense of humor somewhere above the blow-'em up level—characterization above and beyond Kill-Blake. Very funny, too. (Villa rental...aack.)
Jacqueline Taero's poetry is excellent, as expected, but "Gan's Revenge" (and Leah's adorable illo) was most unexpected. (Snicker.)
"Until You Get It Right" has an unforgivably high level of appropriate, and appropriated, quotes per square inch. What happened to "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship?" Barbara? "Where Lies Madness" is mean. It's good, but it's mean. Would you like to be trapped in the Village with Avon, or for that matter, Blake?
"Out of the Tomb"; plain, in key, conversational fencing. A thoughtful extension of the episode. I like the taking-for-granted that Cally is — as she put it once — not quite human. I like the image of two aliens meeting in the middle of nowhere.
The only thing I can think of to say about "Pledge" is that Jenna Stannis is not, has never been, and will never be, a lady smuggler. Good grief.
"Shadow of Some Unseen" was a good Vila/Avon vampire story. I wonder why so many of these stories that I’ve read recently make Vila the vampire? Alliteration, or a desire to give Vila the dominator's role for once, or an interesting twist on Vila's dependency on Avon? I always thought Avon looked more vampiric, myself.
I appreciated "Rumours with a View"; a good, well-thought-out characterization of Anna Grant. (But it would have gone in SOUTHERN COMFORT, wouldn't it, if the partnerings had been Avon and Blake, or Avon and Vila? Hmm? Let's not get gay.)
I giggled wildly over the cover for "The Vila Restal Memorial Angst and Post-Alternate Orbit Wallow Section" (And he was such a good, forthright, honest thief, too...) The things we put that poor thief through to get our kicks, really, I'm tempted to report us to the RSPOC (Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children) or maybe the PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals)...
"Companions for Your Watch" was a tear-jerker, but really very good; I always felt that Cally and Avon and Vila had some kind of rapport between the three of them that Tarrant and Dayna, perhaps simply because they were the newcomers, were shut out from.
I loved "Out of Orbit." I just wonder if Avon could really have skinned out of all his clothes that fast? Dear Goddess, Kerr Avon must be skinny under that weight of leather and little metal studs.
And I appreciated "No Way Out" very much; a real alternate solution, and thrown in for interest a picture of how the rest of the crew might have reacted if Avon really had thrown Vila out the airlock for keeps. I think I liked "A nightmare. Roj Blake, Roj Blake." Bizarre. But then, what isn't? An entire story written in a single sentence. Not even a paragraph, and if a paragraph is an emotional unit, what is a story that is less than one e.u.? (Avon!) Or could one include the title? Hmm.
I'm not sure that Blake would fit into Valhalla. Heavy drinking and eating by night, go out and get slashed to hits during the day? Still, "Reunion" is neat.
I'm beginning to think that I can't cope with HELLHOUND. This is probably because I seem to have missed a couple of episodes. Still, it's brilliantly written; maybe I can catch up on it when it all comes out in one magazine, sometime in the possible future.[10]
[zine]:Thank you for the tribber's copy of SS #5. You really outdid yourself this time around. Haven't read it all yet; I've gotten to the saturation level where I can ration the stories out, (these
two today, those two tomorrow) instead of tearing through the whole zine in one sitting. Yes I did read SS #1 in one sitting even though it took me most of my day off. Ah — the good ole days.
I've liked most of what I've read especially "The Center of the Circle," "It Just Ain't My Style," "Fate's Final Act," "Jealousy," and "Legends and Dreams."
Some of the shorter stories are pure gents like "Drifts of Sand," "Thoughts in the Night," "Companions for Your Watch," "The Testing" were especially poignant or thought provoking, and "Mr. Avon's Neighborhood" was a real chuckle.
Slightly disappointing were the HELLHOUND stories this time around. Perhaps I had difficulty appreciating the "Lew Brody" character since I've never seen THE PROFESSIONALS but the stories seemed to lack the spark and tension of the previous installments.
The artwork was beautiful especially the pieces by Lovett and Virgil and Theresa Buffaloe's illos are always well done. My favorites — as usual with SS — are Leah's BIZARRO cartoons, especially Tarrant and Avon on pg 268 and Blake and Travis on pg 81.
A SS story contest is an interesting idea. I'll have to give it some thought.[11]
[zine]:So there I sat, finally cleared things out of the way. The next FA isn't due far over a month; the 25 or mare rolls of film are sorted and copies put into complimentary albums? I've 16 old books on Napoleon to read and another bushel of "Pros” stories waiting. Wow. Ain't life grand?
Then SS #5 arrived — oh, help. So here I sit, reading SS #5, and reading SS #5 and reading....yeah.
I like studying Old Boney, but I got my priorities. Besides, Annie'll threw the book at me and when it's a SS, you're in danger of permanent damage. So I opt for permanent enjoyment.
Generally: I very much enjoy, even prefer, the short-short stories; the 1-3 pagers which strike like a hawk while you're looking right at them. And a story which starts "Avon stood over Blake's body..." Wow. the Good Old Days is now.
HELLHOUND is ever my primary favorite and one of my biggest reasons for buying SS. By the way, I'll fight Dayna for Lew Brody! (And I'll buy a HH t-shirt if you'll put Lovett's Brody on it! )
Loved "Rambo Rogue Avon"! Leah always has that certain "bite" so essential in cartooning. In fact, I thoroughly approve of the way you fill your zine pages with cartoons, even in the LoCs section. But what warped mind came up with a "Picasso Tarrant"! Shudder.
Also like 4th season B7 when they play up Soolin. I like Soolin portrayed as the cool, deadly mercenary (a good mercenary stays bought...)
By the way, you missed a PR opportunity when you didn't tell Gale Good that there is a "Further Adventures of" 'Vila' the fire lizard in SOUTHERN COMFORT called "Random Access." I actually even toyed with the idea of doing another "Further Adventures of" but I promise nothing!
Liked the motivation and characterizations in "Center of the Circle” by S. Paulson. Nice to read a B7 story in which Tarrant is NOT made out to be the dolt and fool and jerk but, rather, the impetuous yet loyal and dependable comrade-in-arms he always was and which too many overlook. I like a firm Tarrant characterization. I mean, lock to our own original astronauts and some of the folly they pulled. But when the job was on the line, they pulled it together and did it right. I see little different in Tarrant.
Wow to Bryn Lantry's "Seventh Rebel." Leave it to Bryn to carry off the metaphysical with Zen. Zen deciding to BE a rebel!? Never thought about it that way before. But isn't that what fan fiction is all about?
"Days of Miracle and Wonder"—good. About time someone did an "aftermath" story on what survivors had to put up with after Blake struck and went his way. That was never addressed in the series.
Teresa Ward's "Tarrant" poem—thank you.
Over all, I found some of the stories seemed to take on a very cynical tone toward Blake. Vila's the same, usually. So are Cally and Avon. But authors seem to be returning to the somewhat "scathing" presentation I used to see all too much of in my early—1984 B7 reading (that, or it was "St. Blake"). Are we come another circle? However, the best part of all this was that most of the stories had Blake in them! Frankly, I do not enjoy most of the PGP "Further Adventures of Avon and Vila." Then too, we went through a "cycle" of that, Blake is back in "his" stories now. And I always prefer B7 with Blake IN it, even if he is a cynical, manipulating, lying, bastard (as opposed to that other cynical, manipulating, lying, bastard...)
In response to [Lee V's] LoC: If someone is incensed and doesn't want to "buy” your zine lest they be seen as — gasp! —"supporting" you, that's their loss, isn't it? But, we know no B7 fan is denying themselves reading Annie's zines. As sure as the Post Office will raise the price of a stamp, [Lee V's], Arnold, et al, read their friends' SS zines, or have friends buy the "boycotted" zine. Boycotting means not spending money on a product to show your disfavor. Having a friend spend your money on the product doesn't count. Well, that's the way it's being explained in California. Just as I know that what is written in the FA "somehow" gets back to Paul and Janet and whoever else is "boycotting" it. So why the Big Act? In fandom, especially, boycotting other fans is self-defeating. I never boycott — if I don't buy a zine it's because I can't afford it. I'm very selective in my zine buying.
It's been said among the "opposition" that Annie and I and Leah can't possibly be having any FUN in B7 fandom anymore while they are. Well, I don't spend my days always having to make sure I speak or write to "only the right people" or always being careful that I say or write "only the right thing" to neos or strangers or boycotting people because the "right people" said to. Or, even, wondering if my friends are saying the right things to the right people. Whose life is it, anyway? Or did 1984 come early this year? I speak to whom I please, and say what I please within sensibility. I'm not looking over my shoulder. This isn't The Federation yet; that's the kind of "Non Think" which Blake was fighting.
There are some very silly people in fandom, then there are the ones who get the jobs done. And keep their promises.
Looking forward to at least as many more SS zines as it will take to finish the HH saga. [Things are even sillier than you think, Linda. I have read in another B7 editor's zine that people have actually (recently, even!) given her ultimatums regarding who she can or can not publish and have, furthermore, objected to the fact that their submissions were placed in close proximity to submissions of people they didn't approve of! Have you ever heard of anything sillier! The editor in question was rightly upset! As for HELLHOUND, I promise that the entire series will be published by me, come hell or high water. SOUTHERN SEVEN #7 is already bursting at the seams and HELLHOUND, BOOK VII is in my hands. In fact, later on in this issue, I will be advertising for submissions for SOUTHERN SEVEN #8! (And, yes, there are "Further Adventures" of HELLHOUND. I already have one in hand!) Editor.][12]
[zine]: SOUTHERN SEVEN 5 arrived on Saturday, drool, drool. Needless to say my nose has been stuck in it every free moment since then. Unbelievably, it appears to be your best yet. How do you manage to keep improving on perfection? Thank you heaps and gobs for all your hard work producing these excellent, zines for voracious readers like me.[13]
[zine]:I've reread all of HELLHOUND so far. There's a lot of detail that I missed on the first read-throughs. I'm thinking particularly of the way Avon flinches or twitches at the word "bastard" even when it's not directed at him or meant in an insulting way. These characters breathe.
I'm not sure how I felt about the Raldeeni in the last installment. They seemed a bit wimpy because they were disposed of so easily. The crew of the HELLHOUND had more trouble with Vashti, and she wasn'tsupposed to be the scourge of the universe. Undoubtedly Rackan Gant will be meaner and tougher.
Although the wardrobe has settled down lately and I too found the descriptions distracting in the first few books, it creates a lasting image. This has no doubt been helped by the HELLHOUND art, most particularly Theresa Buffaloe's. Considering the totally "blah" clothing worn in the Domes in "The way Back," I can see rebels and social misfits adopting the loudest, flashiest clothes they could find.
Of all the stories in the various SOUTHERN SEVENS, I think the ones which stick in my mind the most are the ones written around songs, like "Through These Walls" and "Home by the Sea," mostly because both songs are on one of my commuting tapes. I'm horrible with story titles, but those two I remember. In general, all the stories are good, with a high number outstanding.
In the #5, my favorite Orbit-alternative was "No Way Out." I admit, I like a happy ending every now and then. Also outstanding were "Fate's Final Act” — a good build-up to a alternative ending idea. The artwork reproduced well, especially the Lovett's, but it's a shame the type on the other sides shows through in the large white areas. I suppose it's simpler than stamping "intentionally blank" across blank backs of illos, and saves a tree or two. By the way, what are the chances of printing the titles of the art somewhere, like the table of contents? One of the attractions of art shows is finding out the imaginative titles on some of the pieces, but I for one can't make every con. Keep up the good work — most pro novels have typos more frequently than SOUTHERN SEVEN. [I'm afraid I really can't help you out with the titles of artwork. Mostly, because I rarely know the title of a piece of art. Furthermore, most artists of my acquaintance never "name” a piece of art until the night before an art auction! The only reason they give in and name it then is because the art show requires every piece of art to have a title. So, you see, most of the art I publish is nameless. Editor.][14]
[zine]:I enjoyed SOUTHERN SEVEN #5 just as much as the previous four. My favorite stories this issue are: "The Center of the Circle” by Sheila Paulson. She is one author I can always count on for a top-notch story. And she isn't of the "Avon is God" school of thought, so at least, in her stories, other characters get treated decently. Good on ya, Sheila.
I also enjoyed "Retribution" by Jeanne DeVore. Very interesting! And "A Boy Called Mary Sue" was excellent! That's something I'd like to see on ST:TNG.
What to say about LOG OF THE HELLHOUND? As of now, as I write this letter, I've not read the stories in BLAKES DOUBLES #2, so I came into the series in SS #5 a little lost on what's happened, but it is still fascinating. Doyle as Blake's nephew?! Well, they both do have sorta untamed hair...is Tarrant perhaps related, too? Just kidding, I think. Now, I must compliment Samantha Reyman on her beautiful artwork. Hi, Samantha! I hope this is only the beginning of a long career of contributing art to zines!
However — all is not rosy in SS5. I found "Rogue Avon" by Jeff and Mary Mutoid, and the accompanying artwork, to be a bit malicious toward a certain actor/author. Also, some of the Letters of Comment didn't really seem to be Letters of Comment to me. I refer to those concerning people who pulled submissions from your zines. Since they are not actually commenting on any issue of SS at all, their letters really have no bearing in the LoC column. And, I don't really think a zine is the place to continue the "Never-say-die" controversy. I could subscribe to newsletters if I wanted to keep hearing about what is over and, will hopefully, be soon forgotten. I buy a zine to read and enjoy; I can do neither as long as that old issue is still raising its head. Let's keep the zines fun and enjoyable, and the Letters of Cement column far just that: letters of comment. Now, I will say that I do enjoy the SOUTHERN SEVEN zines, although I do not agree with you on a lot of things. But I can continue to enjoy a good zine, as long as it stays a good zine. And I hope yours do. [Thank you far the comments, Teresa! You are, of course, entitled to your own opinion regarding "Rogue Avon,” but I would like to know where in the illustration and/or filk a "certain actor/author" is ever mentioned. The picture and the filk are based on a fictional character called Rogue Avon and a "certain actor/author" is never mentioned or portrayed. If you feel that politics have no place in the letters of comment, I have to wonder why you brought it up at all! As to the people who pulled submissions from SOUTHERN SEVEN #5, I felt it only fair that they be allowed to explain in their own words why their advertised stories would not be appearing in the zine and, furthermore, the artists who had already illustrated the works had a right to know why their efforts would not be appearing. I agree with you that Samantha Hayman is a brilliant artist, so welcome her back to the pages of SOUTHERN SEVEN in this issue! Samantha once pulled all of her lovely art from SOUTHERN SEVEN because somebody told her a lot of malicious lies about my zines. Thank goodness she took the time to find out the truth and has come back! Editor.][15]
[zine]:I tried to make this a short LoC. It didn't work. The zine was too fat and I had too much to say, but that's pretty much par for the course, innit?
"Recontres" — I'm a sucker for "prequel” stories, and this one was quite plausible: Jenna and Tarrant as "ships that pass in the night" literally I It also started a noticeable trend in this issue toward stories focusing on the lesser characters (people other than Avon, Vila, and Blake) such as "Retribution," "So Perish Unbelievers" (best Gan story I've read so far, it showed respect to him as a person), "Repent in Haste" (Soolin was very well-drawn in this one) and two Tarrant stories...good to see that the positive things about Tarrant have been remembered by others and given a place in fan fiction. The poetry also presented some good views of B7's less celebrated. I like this trend a great deal, myself.
"The Seventh Rebel" — I dislike "sentient machine" stories, a personal quirk. Therefore, I was surprised that I did like this story! Such a neat idea, so logically presented. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Jenna and Zen so believable, and deftly drawn.
"A Rebel's Revenge"—a well-plotted story with a "trash" at the end, my favorite flavor. I found Zara and her motivation quite honest, and found the premise that the Federation, although basically corrupt, could have some decent people caught up in it more realistic than the two extremes some writers insist upon: either everyone in the Federation is a nasty bad guy, or that they're really nice people and Blake is just "overreacting."
"Fate's Final Act"—given my wariness toward "pre-cognitive" stories (I mentioned this last LoC) I approached this one carefully, too; and found it to be well-written and strongly plotted, and even the bits that for the most part replayed "Star One” contained some new insights. Correct me if I'm wrong, though (I know you will!) but isn't the contention that it was one of Blake's bombs that destroyed Star One's control room an interpretation of "Fate's" author rather than an actual part of the episode, which really didn't explain how the Andromedans got in? Hindsight is twenty-twenty vision, after all, and the end of this one shows how one simple act could have changed everything.
In spite of not being nuts about ghost stories, I like vampire tales (werewolves, too!) and enjoyed "Shadow of Some Unseen." What a prize to dangle before Vila... superiority over Avon! How he must have wanted that at times.
"The Center of the Circle" read like the slam-bang opening of a new alternative universe, and I certainly found Servalan's little plot to keep Blake helpless worthy of her devious mind. There was enough tension between Blake and Avon to rake it interesting; enough new understanding to rake it real.
"Orbit" is like an awful gaffe you just can't explain away, maybe that's why we keep trying to! It's kind of the ultimate test of Avon...is he as pragmatic as he says, or can he make a sacrifice out of friendship? I lean toward the former interpretation, which is why I find the grimier "Orbit" endings more satisfying...i.e. "Going Down” and "For Each Man Kills." However, "No Way Out” neatly allows Avon to make a cold-blooded, rational choice and save Vila....no small feat. I laughed over "Out of Orbit," but seriously, 70 kilos is about 180 pounds, and no one (not even Mad Max) wears that much leather.
"Where Lies Madness?" — in spite of never having seen THE PRISONER (I hope to remedy this one day) I knew exactly where Kerr was when they told him he was number six. And when Blake showed up as seven....well, Satre did say "hell is other people."
Like "Fate's Final Act," "Counterpoint" shows how one simple act (in this case, sentence) could have changed it all. The "explanation" for "Orbit" in this one is the one I myself favor...Avon didn't look that hard, and the nicey-nice way he begged Vila to show his face certainly would have tipped anyone off to his intent. Interesting to read a story where both Blake and Avon need each other to hold onto their sanity and purpose.
Yet another depressing story from D. Beetem ("Dust to Dust Return"). Never mind, I liked it, down to the very nasty Blake. After all, it would surely take a saint to forgive Avon from blowing him away, and Blake ain't that.
Interesting: Avon Goes to Hell; Blake and Travis Go to Valhalla in "Reunion." Terrific!
As for art, all the regulars are in their usual glory, what more praise can be heaped on the heads of Laura Virgil, Leah Rosenthal and Suzan Lovett? I'm running out of superlatives for real new. The cover of volume I is absolutely stunning, and the cover of volume II...well, Leah, you must have heard our touching and tender "Song far Travis": "around the bowl and down the hole; go, Travis, go!" I'll take more stuff by Hayman, Howarth and Morgan any day, too! I really should say something here about the HELLHOUND art, because I don't have the addresses of all these people. Everyone of these artists adds something to the stories. Suzan Lovett's wonderful expressions and wild costumes, Adrian's art-deco style and wilder hair, Theresa Buffaloe's new do for Tarrant (how did she know what that jacket looked like?) not to mention Vila's earring. Laura Virgil is responsible far giving Vila Sonny Crockett's hair, and I love it...and re the Avon on page 353...if I could draw like that, I'd die a completely happy woman. Mariann Howarth did a great job with Avon's hair and he appears to have been working out, as well...they must have Nautilus on HELLHOUND. And Leah (thought I'd forgotten you, ehh?) I loved your illo on 361 (did you ever find a photo ref of Maurice Gibb?) and I've got to tell you this, although Susanne will kill me. She turned to page 369 (this was over the phone) and said "here's Servalan and George Michael (Nik) and...Randy Travis?" See she realized it was our good friend Robert Howard (Karl) and not an errant C&W singer, she was embarrassed, but hey, when I run out of rock stars, I'll have to move on to another kind of music, won't I?
Humor: What, no Biz...never mind. I loved "A Boy Called Mary Sue" (will Wes stand in the way at Gauda Prime? Hope springs eternal), "It Just Ain't My Style," "A Nightmare a Day," and "Mr. Avon's Neighborhood," ("Can you say 'betrayal'? I knew you could.") Loved Leah's cartoons...but you cheated, Leah, by not showing us Tarrant's open fly. (Susanne told me to say that!)
LoC Comments: First, I was terribly disappointed to read a number of letters from political animals who have axes to grind. If they want to call my continued submissions to SOUTHERN SEVEN a "political statement," let them. I know that I'm getting my stories into a first class zine with an editor who's always been fair and supportive and prompt with the tribber's copies. And is Paul Darrow really going around badmouthing fans, as Dee Dee Stewart implies? He should be ashamed. Enough said.
To those who wrote to offer their impressions of HELLHOUND. ..thanks far your support! (There's an idea for a commercial there...) Jeff, if you throw any issue of SOUTHERN SEVEN on that letter bomb, the size of the zine should protect you from the blast...a pillow will do just as well, since you probably wouldn't want to destroy the zine. Sorry about Stevie Nicks, but Jeanine Had to Go. Everyone seems to have an idea on who will go next...heh, heh, I ain't telling, but of course I'm serious about those future HELLHOUND scenarios! I'm writing choice "D" right now, and Susanne's handling (very carefully!) the werewolves, because they were her idea.
Since the "Avon's kids" debate seems to be heating up. I'll say that I have mixed feelings about it. I do feel that it "always being a boy" (although it isn't, is it? How about LAST STAND?) could be thought to be a sexist statement, as if boys were the more desirable sex. Also, it stretches credibility, because it ought to be a girl at least half of the time! As one of three daughters and the mother of a daughter, I don't think boys are superior to girls and resent people who do, but as a writer I much prefer to write male characters and find the father/son conflict much more interesting than the mother/daughter one. Also, there's that "Mary Sue" syndrome to contend with, and the fact that fan readers seem to much prefer male characters themselves. Compare the number of Jenna or Cally stories to the number of Avon stories, for an example. As for HELLHOUND, there will be daughters coming along, but no sex-change for Sevran.
Finally, you'd better tell Mr. Picasso that I am sick and tired of him trying to steal my interpretation of BLAKES SEVEN characters to gain himself a foothold in the fannish art world. If you want to be a great fan artist, Pablo, you'd better come up with an original idea (cubism, perhaps?) and perfect it on your own, if you ask me. [16]
[zine]: I wish to express extreme displeasure with your policy of forfeiting deposit if not claimed within a certain period. Once you accept a deposit that zine is sold and you are honor bound to hold it. The person is honor bound to send the balance at their earliest convenience. Perhaps "honor" is a term with no meaning in this world anymore. Nevertheless you do not throw out yours because someone else doesn't claim it. In the last two months doctor bills (something you understand) and the need to start a new checking account have played havoc with my already tight finances. This is the earliest point at which I am able to send you a check. Whether you wish it to appear so or not your policy reeks of arrogance and high-handedness. It is an insult to the people you [sic] have faithfully purchased your zine. If you have problems with people not claiming their zines do not accept their deposit. It is simply [sic] as that. Needless to say you will not receive another deposit from me. If I choose to buy from you it will be full price and at my convenience not a deposit to make your work easier. [I would like to take this opportunity to explain my policy of holding deposits far six to eight weeks following a zine's expected publication date. But first, I would like to say that if Sandra had written to me early on, explaining that she was having financial difficulties, I would have been more than happy to work out something with her. I have done so for others in the past and have even, in rare instances, given some fans free copies when they could not afford to pay. Sandra waited until the eight week time period had completely elapsed and then wrote me the above letter. (I did honor her deposit, by the way, even though she paid late.) My policy of limiting the hold on deposits came about a number of years ago due to fans who were abusing the practice. Some fans took six months to a year to pay for their copy, during which time I had other people willing to buy their copy which I had to turn away. I used to send out notices (at my own expense) to these people who didn't pay, sometimes as many as three times. More often than not, they would finally respond months later, only to tell me that they had bought the zine at a con (months earlier) and they wanted their deposit either refunded or transferred to another zine (hence my other policy of no longer allowing deposits to be transferred or refunded!) Sandra suggests that I not accept deposits from people who don't pay on time — well, how am I supposed to know they aren't going to pay until after I've already accepted their deposit? As to making things more "convenient" for me: if you pay a deposit you help finance the pre-publicity for a zine, the cost of supplies and screening art, and the cost of corresponding with contributors. You also increase my paperwork. When you pay the balance due on a zine in a timely fashion you are responsible far the zine making it to press. With each print run of a zine costing literally thousands of dollars, and even with me subsidizing the print bill, it would be impossible for SOUTHERN SEVEN to ever be printed if every fan drug their feet about paying. The printer will not wait for months and months to be paid while someone like Sandra decides whether or not they want to make things "convenient" for me! Editor.] [17]
[zine]: ...Speaking of illos, there couldn't have been two more perfectly matched covers than the two dueling versions of "Legend." This may have been the first instance of satirical art I've ever seen, and the two pieces actually complement each other.
And, while we're on the subject of satire, I loved the "Rogue Avon" filk and the accompanying illo. Somehow, the "Black Adder" music perfectly fits the situation, and the drawing is a scream. If you think about it, between Susan Matthews and Paul Darrow the Avon family seems to have a problem with eyeballs.
Personal favorites among the stories: HELLHOUND, of course, even as it gets so complicated that I wish I had a scorecard. (Now that I've seen THE PROFESSIONALS, Dafyyd and Lew are very — well, real.)
"Where Lies Madness" also piqued my curiosity — again, perhaps because of the reference to my beloved THE PRISONER. The entire "Vila Retsal Memorial Angst and Post-Alternate Orbit Wallow Section" was well done, including Vila's puppy-tears in the frontispiece. "Fate's Final Act" was a good hurt-comfort wallow (one of my favorite things), as was "Diurnal." And "Sober Thoughts" was a riot. How many times have we passed something that made us look twice: "Hey! Is that a reference to Blake's Seven? No, it's Avon Anti-Dandruff shampoo, not Anti-Delta..."
The art in this zine was particularly outstanding. If I were to list the individual pieces that struck me, this LoC would go on for days. Months, maybe. Leah's cartoons and serious illos were provocative, Laura's HELLHOUND Avon nearly gave me heart failure (and I'm a Vila fan, for goodness' sake!), Karen's cover was fabulous, Suzan's illos and portraits were remarkable, and Adrian is getting too outstanding for his own good. I'm glad to see Mariann Howarth hitting print in this fandom (hi', Mair),and a lot of other newcomers as well. I'm not mentioning Theresa Buffaloe's art after the way she drew me recently. Oh well, might as well -- I still think her drawings improved by leaps and bounds, even if she draws me in a -- never mind. Off the subject.[18]
[zine]: You SOUTHERN SEVEN #5 was a welcome relief to a summer that came and went with hardly any new zines being published. Two big books! Was I happy. (My mailman wasn't, something about a hernia.) Karen River's cover was beautiful, as always. Leigh is getting better and better as an artist. Tell her I'm jealous! And Suzi Lovett's artwork is always my favorite. What can't that girl do?
The stories were varied and well done and I can hardly wait for the next chapters of HELLHOUND. Well, I now have all 5 editions of SOUTHERN 7 and my book case is starting to cave in.[19]
[zine]: Lawdy, this one's a mother to lug around! Karen's front cover is magnificent, especially with Servalan standing in the shadows rather ominously. Leah's parody was devastating but affectionate at the same time, and the other covers were nicely done as well. Made a good omen for the inside contents.
Shoshanna's "Recontres" made a nice beginning; a lot of writers have speculated that Tarrant and Jenna had run across each other in one way or another, but I liked this one because it sounded so like Tarrant—in over his head but cocky enough to keep fighting even after he knows he's in trouble. Good to see Bryn Lantry's "Seventh Rebel" as well; no one ever considers Zen's point of view in all this, and the scenes with Jenna at the end were comforting and touching.
Laura Virgil's "Sober Thoughts" reveals what I've long suspected—the womn has a keenly-honed sick sense of humor. Let's see more of it. I liked the brief vignette "Pledge," showing the uneasy respect and equality that Avon and Jenna shared. It's something that flickered occasionally on the show but never was explored too deeply. And while "Fate's Final Act" had to be read carefully so as to avoid confusion, Linda did a fine job of handling the "Avon's Dream of the Future" quite well, especially the constant foiling of Avon's attempts to change destiny up to the very end.
"Out of the Tomb" — Barbara was able to deftly handle the awkward confrontation of two people realizing how each feels about the other, and she did it in a wonderfully erotic manner. I also liked "Shadows," which only confirms my theory that sometimes it's the shorter stories that can convey the most meaning. Moving into the second section, I applaud Laura Virgil (again) for "No Way Out"—finally someone came up with a way to escape Malodaar that hasn't been done before.
"Mr. Avon's Neighborhood" — what can I possibly say? Between Laura's illo and the text, I was almost crying from laughing so hard! Moving on to more serious pursuits, Meg Garrett's "Legends and Dreams" was
handled with just the right touches of pathos and hope, right down to the last sentence. And I especially
liked "Reunion" — there's something so right about Travis being the one to welcome Blake to the afterlife.
The artwork was very well done, and it was nice to see some new names and styles cropping up in the pages. I especially want to single out Suzie Molnar, whose work continues to improve each time I see it. I loved her Travis illo in "Retribution."
Ah, now to HELLHOUND. You knew, I was going to complain that Katrina and Susanne were slighting Vila... then I recalled he had his moment last time. Then it was Morten...no, he's been cropping up here and there... then Servalan... no, she's in this issue... to my shock I realized just how subtly they've been mixing their characters in and out of the plot, making sure no one gets left out. I was hanging onto every word of this chapter of the saga from beginning to end -- I have a sneaking admriation for Lew Brody, who reminds me of a Han Solo without Lucasfilm Guidelines, and his crew mate Zara. Nice to see they've pissed the Raldeeni off as well - nothing like having two sets of enemies coming after you, is there?
The different art styles added a lot of contrast in peoples' perspectives of the HELLHOUND characters -- personally, I favor Katrina's if for no other reason than she's most likely got the best idea of what they look like, etc. But Theresa, Laura, Leah, and Adrian all knocked themselves out on this book. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Just want to mention that I liked all of the art and the stories, but what I mentioned above is what struck me most while reading. And now, if you don't mind, I'd like to make a statement on behalf of Mary and me: For anyone out there who feels that "Rogue Avon" is disrespectful and utterly demeaning of Mr. Darrow, his book, his dachshunds, etc,, I have only one thing to say, which was said best by Mr. Keith Richards: "Screw 'em if they can't take a joke. Thank you and good afternoon.[20]
[zine]: SOUTHERN SEVEN #5 was uniformly outstanding and my congratulations to you and the man contributors. There was one disappointment, I guess I've been used to four segments of HELLHOUND at a time so when I reached the end of "Flesh and Blood...At Least, I was crestfallen to realize that was the end of my HELLHOUND fix, temporarily. But on the super plus side, BLAKES DOUBLES #3 sounds positively delicious and has me salivating already. Also, I hope the "maybe" a Wortham and Rosenthal story for SS#6 is now a"definitely"; it's been too long.[21]
[zine]: What a great read! And the HELLHOUND series just gets better and better. I loved the vampire story; I, for one, would love to bite Avon's neck! [22]
[zine]: It's one of the most impressive zines I've ever seen. Putting it in two volumes was a good idea; I've never seen cento binding big enough to fit were all those pages put in one zine. The covers are excellent, one set serious (in style at any rate) and one not—my favorite on the BIZARRO cover is Gan under the anvil. The Bad Delta drawing is priceless — quite a sexy little dude as Leah's drawn him here. The K. River cover is astounding — it's one of those artworks you look at over and over. Marvelous! The style of Leah's "Resistor" is fascinating; delicate and powerful at once. I also enjoyed the double-layer title, or did I misidentify the schematic as a resistor?
I'm not sure why some people insist that HELLHOUND isn't "real" Blake's 7 — if we're being tiresomely Prime is 'real.' HELLHOUND is an intricate and fascinating nitpicking, nothing that's set post-Gauda universe and when I reach the end of the segment I'm reading reaction is usually "You can't stop THERE!" I liked Jeanine and was sorry when she was killed (I like Stevie Nicks, so there!), but the fact that, as in real life and on the show, people do get killed makes this universe stronger, realer (is this an English word?) perhaps than a number of others I've read. Stephanie is an interesting person; I don't see all the hoohah about how terrible it is that she's involved with Avon. Technically, she's Blake's shrink, and living with these people rather than just seeing him occasionally would tend to blur the lines of patient/physician more than just a little anyway; the daily life under battlefield conditions are not the norm and these people are definitely living an intense, dangerous existence.
I love Lew Brody — the illos are great, as is the Lovett portrait of Dafydd and Brody standing together. Both are interesting characters, people that I'd be willing to read more about no matter who they look like. Why do I think that Vila's brother isn't slated to come to a good end? I like the fact that the HELLHOUND Servalan is as cold, twisted and perverse as I always pictured her. Her tears and sad tales in "Sand" always struck me as simply more of her lies, if a lie that she's told enough that she believes it herself. Most people suffer a broken heart or two in their life, but it doesn't turn the majority of folks into power-hungry maniacs who consider torture, murder and genocide simply useful techniques to get done whatever is wanted at the moment. If her cloning scheme had succeeded, can you imagine the Federation (or whatever goes up in its place should the rebels succeed...) in 20 years when there are about a dozen Servalans, all just itching to get their fingers in the pie?
For not-a-real-LoC, this is going on and on, isn't it? Speaking of LoCs, that's the first thing I turn to in a zine. I love the things—hearing what other readers liked or didn't like is fascinating. Please don't delete them from future editions.[23]
[zine]: Congratulations on your best zine yet. SS #5 (both of *em!) is a merry trip through B7 fantasy land, I have but one gripe.
As the World's Most Ardent Terrick Fan, Iwas rocked, shocked, and horrified to discover that The Blond One was nowhere to be found. *Sniff* Can I console myself with the possibility that next issue will contain some Terrick stories? I think even 'Tales of Terrick' without The Obnoxious 7would be very successful. Can we hope for a Terrick zine or at least a Terrick t-shirt in future?
Back to the zine. First of all, that "Rogue Avon" filk by Jeff & Mary Mutoid was wickedly funny! The accompanying Rosenthal artwork was priceless; especially with the Cloud of Magellan putt-putting along in orbit, a little propeller sticking out of it. (Best explanation yet of how the Cloud got put where the asteroid belt should be in That Novel!) This art should've been the cover art for AVON: A TERRIBLE ASPECT. After all, cover art on a book is supposed to be evocative of the book's contents, is it not? And this drawing is.
Leah's artwork elsewhere in the zine is up to her usual high standards. I have noticed dramatic improvement in other artists' work over the past issues of SOUTHERN SEVEN. Keep those pens/paintbrushes/charcoal/what-have-you flying, y'all. Theresa Buffaloe did the best HELLHOUND artwork of the lot, I think. Do we have a closet punkette in our midst?!
Of all the stories I've read, I found "Companions for Your Watch" by Elizabeth Jarvis a very charming read, but for the sharp, appropriately unsettling ending. "Mr. Avon's Neighborhood" by Kim Wigmore is dastardly! What's next, Kim -- perhaps a warped version of "Sesame Street" from "Children of Auron"? The mind boggles... Shadow of Some Unseen" by Colette Bolech (say that five times fast) & Kathy Martin should not be read alone, at night. It's very subtle, very well done.
Of course, the most brilliant story of the lot is obvious. The technique, the pacing, the characterization, the humor, the atmosphere, all perfect. I'm referring of course to... "A Nightmare A Day Keeps The Doctor Away, But What Shall We Do With Mother? (Etc., etc.)" by Angina Panuratis (don't attempt that five times fast!). Let's have more from Angina, please!
I haven't read all the stories just yet...mundane life interferes and tears me away from SS #5 sometimes, more's the pity. Besides, I must watch how many stories I read at one time lest I be absorbed in the host! Keep bringing us SOUTHERN SEVEN and all your other zines, Annie. But next time, DON'T FORGET TERRICK!!!! PLEASE?! [24]
[zine]: It's big. It’s got lot's of nice letters (well, some not so nice), stories, poetry and artwork in it. I guess that covers everything. Bye for now. (Er, Annie, why are you coming after me with a kligat clutched in both hands? Well-l-l, if you're gonna be that insistent about it, perhaps I should go into a bit more detail...) Since this is such a monster of a zine. I'll just go over what I enjoyed and why. This doesn't mean that I didn't like what I don't comment on, just that this LoC is limited to two pages.
"Recontres" by Shoshanna Green — Cute young Tarrant the ex-Fed turned smuggler/pirate meets Jenna story. I admired Jenna for her understanding foresight. And, I could see this cocky youngster becoming the more “mature" Tarrant of the series.
“The Seventh Rebel" by Bryn Lantry — After Zen's sad farewell in "Terminal," I can well imagine the contents of this story. "Roguebo" by Bates Hotel (shouldn't that be "Motel"?) — My favorite piece in the whole entire zine.
May I lay claim to the bouncing eyeball? I did mention it in my review of "that" book in PRESSURE POINT. Anyway, I love everything about this drawing from the artiste's name to the Doubleday rocket to the propellered little bitty galaxy to the black hole/plot hole to the little moons all in a row to the leaky studded leather nappy to the nasty billboard to the Black and Decker serrated blade to the drippy rifle.
Did I miss anything? By the way, what are the bullets for and what are those strange things floating over Roguebo's head. Are they flies? Hmm, now that I think of it, those peaks in the background are particularly phallic-looking. Tsk.
"Jealousy" by Kate Daniels — The last paragraph wasn't really necessary, though it did make me laugh. I like the story itself for its idea of Vila's background and the subtle hints of Avon and Vila's friendship.
"If I Were In Your Shoes..." by Teresa Ward—I love the way the characters discuss their own fan stories—acting as characters in stories, yet being aware of it at the same time. Also cracked up at the BBC Manorial Rock Quarry in the drawing on page 92.
"Fate's Final Act" by Linda Knights—Terrific twist ending. One little change can make so much difference. , Aside—the cyber-surgeon's name was Lurgen, not Logan. All the artwork by all the artists who illoed this story was marvelous!
"Shadow of Some Unseen" by Bolech & Martin — Nice and spooky, as well as showing Vila and Avon's unspoken friendship. I'd liked to have learned more about Theora.
"White Space" by Leah Rosenthal on page 212 — I never knew that Blake was a zine ed. Is this another part of his past that he still doesn't remember?
"The Center of the Circle" by Sheila Paulson—Really enjoyed this story and the way Avon reacted to Blake. I also liked the way that both Vila and Tarrant were shown as human beings. Lovely illo on page 219. Will there be a sequel to the story? It calls for one.
Sigh. It's too late for me to enter the writing contest, but I do have bo mention that Leah's delightful little drawing on page 237 (with the flying body parts) reminds me of a bit of some Americana I saw the other night entitled "Flesh-Eating Mothers." If you weren't totally grossed out, you were laughing too hard to care.
"No Way Out" by Laura Virgil—And the title of this one reminds me of THE PRODUCERS, but that's another story. This story has an ending infinitely preferable to the one on the show, plus it's a nice people story.
"Cut Down To Size" (my own title, snicker) by Leah Rosenthal on page 268—Wa-ha-ha-ha!
"Broken Wings" by Mary Gerstner — A believable tale of a group of tired people — people who have given their all and only want to rest and recuperate.
"The Testing" by Vickie McManus — Yes, please.
"Mr. Avon's Neighborhood" by Kim Wigmore—Almost as good as Eddie Murphy, Terrific Tarrant in the illo.
HELLHOUND, Book V by Larkin & Tilley — It just keeps getting better and better. I just meant to skim through the story to refresh my memory and ended up reading all three stories all over again. I find Blake's nephew Dafydd (Davith?) to be a fascinating character. He not only has to overcome what was done to him physically but mentally, as well. If he comes out of this series both some and able to eat solid food, he's a better man them we all are, Gunga Din, I also like the friendship that is growing between Dafydd and Morten, the piano.
Getting Dafydd to play the guitar had to be a major breakthrough. Now, to get him to play Then there's "the" illo on page 339, William Andrew Phillip Brody and Sunshine the Wonder Mutoid. Brody is a good strong character with more than a little Han Solo to him. Fen Payne is another good character. I like the way he was strong enough to see through a programmed in hatred to the truth and how he tries to make up for the damage he did before he knew the truth. The counterpoint between Blake and Servalan is very well done — his unwillingness to kill innocent people in the hospital and her willingness to murder those same innocent people simply to make Blake look bad. To Blake, people are individual human beings with rights; to Servalan, people individually or in groups are fodder to be used for her own ends only. Getting back to Dafydd, the homing device idea was excellent—a good tie-in for all the characters.
I also think that Dafydd's reaction (after the fact) to killing the Raldeeni woman was well handled. The affair between Servalan and the controller gives me the crawls, but it shows the levels she will sink to to get what she wants. I was glad to see Jamial Blair and Thom escape. It just goes to show how repressive governments lose their best people through the government's own blind intolerant stupidity. The illo on page 374 is great! Aside from being a beautiful drawing, the expression of near jealousy on Avon's face is priceless. Blake is just relaxing and spending some time with the kid and Avon looks like he's ready to boot his own son across the room. I suppose the pose and expression could also be defined as "my sweat smells the best," too. I hope that things work out between Dayna and Morten. Poor Dayna. Then again, I want things to eventually work out between Blake and Avon, too. Sigh. They could both use a little Southern Comfort.
Great issue. When's the next one coming out?[25]
[zine]: You have some good artists. I specially wanted to thank you for one piece that has special significance. On one of my Avon poems, you included an illustration by Mariann Howarth. Oh, that delighted me. Mariann was one of the original members of Utah's Avon's Seven when she was attending BYU. I feel she has a great deal of talent and it delights me to have a piece illustrated by one of her works. I sure hope she keeps gracing fandom with her talents. Not enough good artists in the world.[26]
[zine]: I have lightly perused SOUTHERN SEVEN 5, partly because I wanted to save it for these long cold winter nights, and partly because I have been reading all the other zines I got at Brits in Space, saving the best for last. Or course, I did read HELLHOUND. I don't have that much self-control. It is utterly wonderful, as usual. The other parts of the most recent SOUTHERN SEVEN I enjoyed are the portraits of the HELLHOUND crew by the new fan artist, Picasso. This guy is new to B7 fandom, but he is a hell of an artist. By the way, did he get the usual complimentary zine for his efforts? Where do you send them?
To the cemetery or his heirs? Helluva catch, though getting him for your zine. Seriously (relatively) those drawings had me rolling on the floor. To come across them while reading the LoCs all innocent and unsuspecting. And they are just as funny the second and third times around. Whoever did them (and I suspect Leah Rosenthal) captures his style wonderfully. This sort of thing is what makes your zines my favorite in the Blake's 7 universe, and I am discovering just how much ground that covers. I hope to be getting around to reading the rest of the zine soon, I've been trying to save it for a Christmas present or something like that. Now that I'm caught up, I have to wait for the next issue to come out so rationing is in full force to prevent severe withdrawal between issues.
I appreciate the HELLHOUND index. Maybe in the far future, when all is written, someone will be courageous enough to publish all the HELLHOUND Stuff in several telephone-book-sized volumes. Then we can show them to our grandchildren and say, "I collected HELLHOUND piece by piece, and it wasn't easy, but it sure was worth it." Reading it all at once might cause burnout, but oh, what a way to go!!!!![27]
[zine]: Leah's art. There is no really definitive description of her talent. There are good cartoonists and good pictorial artists, but not too often do you get both talents in one person. Leah can literally do it all. Her "Vila and Friend" on page 1is very touching, the identical expression of wary intelligence in both pairs of eyes.
[...]
"The Seventh Rebel": Yes, I like this story. I've often wondered just exactly how independent Zen actually was. He was often very selective in the information he passed on to the crew. I wonder how some of the episodes would have turned out if he had been given the right of veto over Blake's more hare-brained stunts.
I don't like Travis. He is a stinker and I really don't care how he got that way.
"Jealousy”: This is very good. Vila is as much of an enigma as Avon in many ways. I have read other stories that explain the contradiction between his grade and his intelligence. This is a very interesting one. Of course, the whole idea of a rigid system of grading human beings into categories gives me an acute case of the PIP. Possibly, because I have a realistic idea of where I would end up. And the Federation ripping kids away to "educate" them and then making sure they cannot go hone is too entirely possible. Just read up on the history of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' "Indian Schools" through the first half of this century, you will see exactly what Vila went through, education used not just as a means to impart knowledge, but as away to reculture a person to one that is supposedly "superior" to the culture to which he or she was born. And if I sound rather hot under the collar about this, I am remembering the stories my grandfather used to tell about his years at Carlisle after the Federal Marshals forcibly removed him from his grandparents' hone on the reservation in Oklahoma.
Laura Virgil's illos: I have been a fan of hers since early TREK days. She has become even better. The Blake on page 66 for example, lovely.
But..."Sober Thoughts”: Laura you ought to be ashamed! Fie on you, I never thought I'd see the day you would sink to puns! So, it's funny, that's no excuse.
”So Perish Unbelievers”: Yes. Very fine. Gan is too often overlooked as being the uninteresting brawn of the shew, with no thought to whether or not he has a single working brain cell. I always thought he made some very pungent remarks on the supposedly "brainy” members of the crew. And can you imagine having to live your life with that bloody implant in your brain, limiting your actions and your emotions? Well, Gan deserves better than that!
"Pledge": I always thought Jenna was rather more interested in Blake than she was in the rebellion. Too bad, cause he is married to his cause and will probably never even notice her existence unless he has a ship that needs to be flown somewhere.
"Fate's Final Act": Somewhere in the middle of this I lost track of which reality I was in. But Avon's solution to the paradox of trying to change history is good: don't abandon the Liberator and don't send anyone out in life pods. Put on the pressure suits and stick it out till the repairs are completed. Sounds sensible to me. Now how can you blend in "Aftermath” so that Dayna can join the crew? Also, what happens when Tarrant and the Feds come aboard and try to hijack the ship? A sequel would be greatly appreciated, please? The illo by Lovett on page 122 is beautiful. Her work reminds me somewhat of an early TREK artist, Alice Jones, though Alice usually worked in pencil instead of pen and ink. Still they have the same sense of delicate detail in their work. As I said, beautiful. The Adrian Morgan "Avon" on page 142 is also quite lovely. I cannot believe a man with such a nose could be so incredibly handsome, but he is. Weird. [All of Suzi Lovett's work is done in pencil, not pen and ink. Editor.]
"Shadow of Some Unseen": Vampire stories usually give me the cold grues. This one did it quite successfully, brrr!
BOOK II: Back to Leah's work. What a wonderful depiction of Avon, with a cobra yet! Again, the same "beware of me" expression on both faces. Leah, a suggestion, how about Avon as a pearly? Think about it, okay?
"De Mortius": Terminal did mark the beginning of Avon's downward spiral into madness, and it is only logical to suppose the death of Cally coming so closely after losing Blake and the debacle on Earth where he killed Anna led to his eventual self-destruction. And Avon does self-destruct, someone else may pull the trigger, but he put himself in front of the gun. It's too bad he ended up with a group of people who were not capable of understanding or controlling this. Vila saw what was happening, but didn't have the force of personality to interfere, Dayna admired him as he was, most of the time. To Tarrant he is competition for top dog and who knows what Soolin thinks.
"The Center of the Circle": A very good story that ends too soon. What happens after the Scourge lands? Hopefully the author is contemplating a sequel. Suggest it. Forcefully!
Somebody, please write a story to go with Leah's illo of Avon with the children. Especially those blond twins with the estimating look in their eyes. Also, I would love to know just exactly who Vila is chasing with the battle-ax and blood in his eye.
"Companions for Your Watch": A beautiful, emotionally effective story. I love short stories like this that pinpoint human relationships. Yes, I can see Vila being in love with Cally and never letting her know it.
However, all these post-ORBIT stories in a row are very hard on the emotions. Especially when the reader gets zonked with a funny one right in the middle. Really, 70 kilos of leather and studs.
Laura's story gives us a sensible way of solving the problem without anyone being spaced. Sometimes Avon ain't half-bright...like when he lets Orac manipulate him into doing something stupid.
"Broken Wings": I love stories that take a situation as given and then twists and rearranges it, reassigning the actions to different players. Very good. I can believe that Cally, Avon and Vila are ready to retire right about then.
"The Testing": Damn right, that's more like it. I've always thought Blake must have been looking to get himself shot.
"And Then There Was One": Well at least someone got something out of the mess. Hopefully, Avalon will know hew to use Orac to the best advantage. But what is Avon going to do new?
"Where Lies Madness": Okay, Blake and Avon on THE PRISONER'S island. What next?
"Counterpoint": Very good Alternate GP calendar of events. And of course, after Avon finally finds
Blake and can relax and let Blake take over the responsibility of running things, then Blake breaks down and Avon finds himself right back where he didn't want to be: in charge!
"Legends and Dreams": Sometimes you find an ally in the most peculiar places. And the legend will live on.
"Dust to Dust Return": A completely depressing story. More than one of these per zine could lead to an epidemic of the blues. And even Avon doesn't deserve that!
"Deliverance": The story continues, in the afterlife, yet. Okay, now what happens next? (Jeez, I seem to be saying that a lot!)
HELLHOUND: This is the reason I bought the zine. And I was greatly gratified to find the rest of the stories were also well worth the cost. But still HELLHOUND... HELLHOUND is spectacular, great, wonderful, superlative...etc. As you might suspect, I love it! In a way, this series of interlocking stories reminds me of an epic Leslie Fish wrote. THE WEIGHT was a monster when it was finished, or at least almost finished. She also tied in the separate events to music.
I like the illos by the author, they fit with the stories quite well. Of course, some of the ones being created by others are also very good. I rather expected Doyle to show up as the physical model for Dafydd, but Bodie as Captain Brody came as a bit of a surprise. However, after thinking about it, it fits quite well. Especially, Brody's attitude toward the femle half of the species, which echoes Bodie's quite well. However, if I hadn't been the recipient of several B/D zines lately, I would have no idea who those guys on page 339 were supposed to be. (Ain't tight jeans wonderful?) However, your artists need to talk to one another, page 341 shows the earring on the opposite ear. Sounds like Dayna may be getting herself ready to return to sexual relationships. Glad to hear she wasn't completely turned off. I was afraid her experiences would make her limit her life emotionally, and that is not healthy. I hope we have not seen the last of Thom and Jamial. I like both these young men and they have great potential. One thing, traveling with Brody, they won't be bored. Back to illos, Suzan's on page 374 is lovely too.
I had not meant this to became so unwieldy or lengthy. As one might expect, I have a bad habit of talking the same way I write.
Again, as I said before, I bought SOUTHERN SEVEN 5 mostly for the HELLHOUND portion, but I found the entire zine to be well written, beautifully illustrated and damn well put together. I am looking forward to #6... [28]
[zine]:Southern Seven 5: Published and edited by Ann Wortham. 2 volumes 1989. 408 pp Comb bound. Given its size and overall high standard, volume 5 of Southern Seven has to have something for everyone. The stories and poetry are helpfully arranged in roughly chronological order to cover the four series and post-GP. There are rather more stories based on series 3, 4 and PG than on 1 + 2. There is a mixture of action, comedy, and angst, a sizeable number being alternative universe. Personally I like angsty pieces best, and there weren't as many of them in this as in some other SS volumes, but what there were, were great. As far as I remember, having reached page 404 a couple of weeks ago, there is no particular emphasis overall on any one character. There are as usual with Southern Seven a lot of cartoons and pieces of artwork.
24 pages are devoted to letters of comment. Personally I find it very helpful reading comments on previous issues for the obvious reason that it helps me choose whether or not to order them. However if you think differently or have already got everything (lucky you) you may find it annoying to have the space taken up (but 24 out of 408 densely packed pages isn't that bad, is it?).
Volume 2 is post-Terminal and includes Book V of Log of the Hellhound which is over 80 pages long. If you like Hellhound this is fine. If you do not like it, 80+ pages of a zine is a lot to skip over.
All but one of the series 1+2 stories are relatively short with the exception of "Fate's Final Act" an intriguing and well thought out pre-Star One scenario. Of the short ones I particularly liked the exquisite "Companions for your Watch", which is about Avon, Cally and Vila shortly before Terminal, a Cally/Avon story called Out of the Tomb, and all the Orbit stories. Also "Rumours with a View ", which unusually has a happy ending for Avon and Anna, and for Cally and Vila. [29]
[zine]: Thank you for Southern Seven 5 -- well, the art was incredible and the variety of stories was great. I won't compliment Leah on her art: she must be tired of all the praise heaped on her. Laura Virgil is easily my second-favorite B7 artist. Her Vilas are so good and that cartoon to "Mr. Avon's Neighborhood" was a hoot. The author of that piece (Kim Wigmore) is, by the way, one sick puppy -- I like that in a person. I especially enjoyed the "Vila Restal Memorial Angst and Post-Alternate Orbit Wallow Section" with my vote for best theme piece being "Going Down." My favorite longer story was "Counter-Point." And I must admit to being quite intrigued by Hellhound. I certainly have no trouble calling this saga real "B7." Keep up the good work and the good fun! [30]
[zine]:Anyway, be that as it may, I did buy - and still own - quite a few B7 zines, mostly secondhand. This one came in two volumes, is a hefty 375 pages all told, and contains about the usual amount of good and bad. (One thing about zines, the editing meant that the pain seeing Your Heroes tortured by illiteracy wasn't there as much as it is on the web. Don't worry, in hindsight there were plenty of other pains to compensate)
And it had matching covers by Leah Rosenthal, who was a talented artist and great cartoonist (she did all the cartoons for the Bizarro set of zines, which I also love :) I love these two covers to bits, not least for that stunning Gauda Prime Blake (in some ways, that last version was my favourite Blake, and this picture shows why). But mostly because... the one is gorgeous, the other hysterical :) The combination makes me utterly happy, and if I had to cull most of my collection, they would be among the ones I'd keep. [31]
Notes
References
- ^ These are comments addressing some of the fall out of the Blake's 7 Wars.
- ^ bruinhilda.tumblr, November 6, 2016
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #7
- ^ Jeff Morris' notes on author's website
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #7
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #7
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #7
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #7
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #7
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #7
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #7
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #7
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #7
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #7
- ^ from a letter of comment in "Southern Seven" #7
- ^ reviewed by Chris Blenkarn in AltaZine #2, summer 1996; the review can also be read at Judith Proctor's Blake's 7 site
- ^ from an LoC in "Southern Seven" #8
- ^ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedsallymn