Southern Star

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Zine
Title: Southern Star
Publisher: Rebecca Hoffman and M.A. Carson (S.T.A. South Carolina), (in 1986, T'Kuhtian Press had permission to copy and distribute these zines/parts of these zines)
Editor(s):
Date(s): 1975-1979
Series?:
Medium: print zine
Size:
Genre:
Fandom: Star Trek: TOS and other, see article
Language: English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Southern Star is a gen Star Trek: TOS anthology of art, fiction and occasional non-fiction.

It was edited by Rebecca Ross Hoffman "(T'Ribekah, the beloved Vulcan)" and M.A. Carson "(Kar-sun, the well-hated Klingon)."

It ended in 1979, but in 1987, there was a proposal to reprint and continue it. See image at the right.

Pre-Order Statement

From the fifth issue:

PLEASE NOTE: It is the policy of THE SOUTHERN STAR to give first priority to pre-orders. Never will we sell out a zine run at a con and force those who ordered ahead to wait for reprint. We need your continued support to much to treat you in such a manner.

Its Birth Announcement

From The Halkan Council #6 (March 1975): "... I've got a new zine for you, my zine. It's called The Southern Star, and it's not just a Trek zine -- although we do have Trek in it. We've also got straight science fiction and a bit of horror. Issue one is out, and we're in the planning stages of issue two. That will have a good deal more Star Trek in it, but not all of the stories will be Enterprise-oriented... Need I say more? Oh, the price on issue one is $2.00 for a 100-page zine."

The Special Edition that Never Happened

In Scuttlebutt #13, the editors proposed a special edition called The Southern X-Posure: "We are looking for stories of good quality writing and plotting, which explore all the fascinating areas of Trek not usually printed in a general audience zine. However, we are avoiding K/S gay stories like a horde of plagues! Slated for publication after SS #5 goes to press. So, as the Klingons would put it, submit!"

A Fan Remarks

SOUTHERN STAR offers a very mixed bag of Trek-wares: puzzles, word games, grafitti, and contemporary science articles enliven its pages, but its main atrraction is a diverse selection of fiction which introduce new . . characters, explore relationships on other starships, and look more closely at the Klingons. A Klingon-English dictionary is another unique fea ture of this zine. Moreover, SOUTHERN STAR prints straight sf and horror stories in addition to Trek-fiction. [1]

Issue 1

cover of issue #1, M.A. Carson -- "Actually, the face was rather well done. But the top of the head was the wrong shape." -- from a LoC below
the single illo from issue #1, Rebecca Ross
1987 reprint proposal

Southern Star 1 was published in January 1975 and contains 100 pages.

The pages are printed only on one side, and the binding is poor, something several readers complained about in the following issue.

From Hoffman's editorial:

The Southern Star is an outgrowth of a science-fiction club based in Greenville, South Carolina. We are also affiliated with Star Trek: Again! a Star Trek club out of Sandpoint, Idaho, and we represent the South Carolina branch of that particular organization. However, our interests are not confined solely to the realm of Star Trek.

When originally conceived, The Southern Star was to be representative of all the varying interests of our club. We had planned to showcase certain aspects of these interests in each of the various issues, but it has not worked out that way. After spending quite some time in an effort to "hustle", as you humans say, stories, articles and art to fit with our original plans.

I finally decided it was a near-impossibility. It was, to state the matter mildly, an unrewarding "hassle" with several notable exceptions. It is no easy task to put a zine like this together with just five writers, no artists, and two editors - and as a result, we have had to "blow our own horns" quite a lot, as the expression goes, using several pieces of material from each contributor. As it is, this zine has been assembled on a shoe-string, and in too short a period of time - and I wish to thank everyone who contributed to this project in any way, most especially Mr. Nathaniel Eugene Caine, owner of Systems Services. Without his unselfish assistance, we would most likely not have gotten The Southern Star into production.

I absolutely refuse to attempt to pre-plan another issue and try to locate material to fit. The contents of any future issues are up to the readers. All contributions will be welcomed, both in art and literature. If all goes well with this premier issue, we will have others - and if there is enough interest, we may even have a continuation of our Star Trek feature story, "A Shadow of Greatness.

  • A Vulcan's Eye View, editorial by "T'Bibekkah" (1)
  • A Klingon's Eye View, editorial by "Karsun" (2)
  • A Shadow of Greatness by Rebecca Ross (4)
  • The People and Holding Wonder by Ann Bagley (30)
  • Scenes We'll Never See by B. Boss (31)
  • Yippie by Vicki Kirlin (32)
  • Phaser Fire, review by Rebecca Ross of Star Trek Showcase, see that page (50)
  • Please Do Not Staple, Fold, Mutilate or Spindle by M.A. Carson (52)
  • Star Logs, review by Rebecca Ross (55)
  • The Klingon Korner by M.A. Carson (57)
  • November 1949 -- The Hegemony of "Astounding" by J. Faile (58)
  • Changing Times by M.A. Carson (original science fiction) (61)
  • Daughters of the Sun by Rebecca Ross (63)
  • To My Son Randall: To Be Opened on the Occasion of His Twenty-First Birthday by M.A. Carson (original science fiction) (78)
  • Remember My Ghouls, poem by Rebecca Ross (original science fiction) (82)
  • Oona by Ann Bagley (83)
  • Night of the Rat by Rebecca Ross (original science fiction) (91)
  • Make Amy, Too by Ann Bagley (original science fiction) (97)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

The article on Zenna Henderson was very nice, but I thought the televised version of The People was pale and insignificant next to her People books.

"A Shadow of Greatness" by Rebecca Ross wasn't bad, but I would have liked to see the Jivaarl world of cat people developed more. Star Trek stories lately have been running very true to form. Just once I would like to read about an alien that was so ugly and so alien that no one could understand their motives. Perhaps another Carlos, the Medusian, but so utterly alien that no one could understand them. Or even the first meeting with the Medusians; surely the ambassadors would have gone insane at first.

"Please Bo Not Staple, Fold, Mutilate or Insult" wasn't too bad, but again typical and has been done before. But then again, I think that's a problem we all have. So many ideas have been used before, that it is hard to come up with new situations. Most of the science fiction and horror stories really didn't turn me on, although the stories do show that the authors have talent. In fact, I, would say all the writers have a degree of talent. The only story I object strongly to is "Night of the Rat." If you watch the TV show, "The Wild, Wild West," you would know that the story is too close to an episode called . ..darn, checked the TV Guide and find it doesn't have a name. I just viewed it Sunday night, so I know what I'm talking about. Clock to open the door to the rats' cage at midnight, rats carrying the Plague, all right down to the deserted Southern mansion. Sorry, Rebecca, but that one just ain't original.

I would say my favorite story, and no, I'm not going to pick my own, would be a tie between "Daughters of the Sun" and "Make Amy, Too". But I think that "Daughters" could have used more work to be effective. And once again, we have the humanoid life form that hardly comes across as being alien.

Over all, I would say you have a good first issue.

The writer of "Night of the Rat" responds: "Well, the truth of the matter is that it is. I wrote that story several years ago before I ever saw a "Wild Wild West" episode. It came on when I was in college and I never saw the show until it ran in syndication here, and that was a couple of years after it went off the network. When I saw that particular episode and compared it to my story, I sat there and cussed the paint off the walls. It's really weird, but the stories are so alike, yet one was not influenced by the other. The really ironic part is that the title of my story is the same as the title of the TV episode. Talk about coincidence! [2]

"A Shadow of Greatness" is marvelous. As a loyal, devoted Spock and Sarek fan I find it refreshing to see that someone can I write a good story with Vulcans in it.

"Yippie" was a touching story, and Yipple sounds adorable. When he was first mentioned, I fell in love with him partially because of his cute name.

As for "Please Do Not Staple, Fold, Mutilate or Insult", it is a riot. It gets better every time I read it. Now for "The Klingon Komer". I love it!

"Daughters of the Sun" is a masterpiece. What else can I say?

The section of the horror stories is fantastic. Now, that's the kind of horror story I never can get enough of. Also the kind I'd hate to read alone at night. I used to love vampires because of "Dark Shadows" and "Oona" has really done justice to a vampire by making him a fiend.

To sum the zine up in one word - Impossible! It really is great! [3]

You know I'm not strictly a Trekfan though I enjoy most Trek material. You have a well-balanced zine, and the quality held up in no matter what genre. In order of preference:

1. The Hegemony of Astounding
2. Yippie
3. Night of the Rat

You will receive many kudos on the whole thing, but perhaps from another editor, you might prefer criticism.

I liked your "Shadow of Greatness", and it almost nosed out "Yippee". But I nit picked it. Most distressing to me was the fumbling intelligence and drive of Sarek. To me, Sarek has always been nearly omnipotent. It hurt me to see him third-rate. I also thought Kirk was more "boyish" than he should have been. I would[n't] let him command a Starship! The other characters held up well.

I also don't care much about the cute captions under the photos. Might appeal though, to some of your younger readers.

Saddest of all was the binding. The pins just wouldn't hold that many pages and the zine kept exploding in my hands. I'd much rather have less material and be secure in the reading.

But mind you, Rebecca...an entirely magnificent first effort. [4]

The fiction isn't bad but the art isn't too good. Sorry. I liked the Star Trek novella but methinks Sarek was a trifle over-emotional in spots. Glad Amanda got a chance to do something more than being wifey. [5]

I liked it, felt it was a very good nine, especially for a first effort. I sort of enjoy the two the two of you, meaning yourself and Mac, doing editorials as a Vulcan and a Klingon.

I am assuming that the cover was supposed to be Spock -- it wasn't bad, but wasn't good, either. Actually, the face was rather well done. But the top of the head was the wrong shape.

I liked your characters, and the story itself, "A Shadow of Greatness". My major criticism is that I think you were a little off in the character of Sarek. Remember, he is a full-blooded Vulcan, an Ambassador, which means, among other things, that he knows how to keep his cool in the most irritating happenings. And he is married to a human. Anyway, I think he got too upset too often (or showed it too much) with Amanda. and Mariah. Another thing. Because of who and what he is, he is at peace with himself, has all the self-confidence he needs, and thus knows what he wants and where he is. He has the famed "Vulcan serenity". So he would, in the places where you say he almost does things, like smile. He does in "Journey to Babel."

Ah yes. Good old Korax really blew it that time, didn't he?" I would like to see more in the area of your "Shadow of Greatness". I am fascinated by people who have non-human ancestry.

I enjoyed Vicki Kirlin's story, though I was also depressed by it. (I felt so sorry for Yippie and the decision he made at the end - and I am extremely fond of sentient lizards.)

I generally agree with your reviews of both the LOG books, and of SHOWCASE. And, if you don't have Showcase II, get a copy ; if there are any left). It's better than SHOWCASE I.

Mac's "Klingon Korner" was quite enjoyable. It could be e beautiful foil to something like the zyeto quotes that Jacqueline Lichtenberg has running through the KRAITH CREATOR'S MANUAL. Also loved the "Editor's Trials."

"Changing Times" was okay ~ a little bit of a twist, there. I'm not sure how much I liked "To My Son Randall". I think we've seen an awful lot of this sort of thing before.

Poetry has problems - but then, I'm no poet!

I'm not usually that much of a horror fan, but I rather enjoyed Ann Bagley's "Oona". (I do like - if one can use that word - vampires. I've always thought that Spock-with-fangs. Would be about the most far-out in ' several meanings of the phrase - vampire you'd ever see. *shiver*,)

"Night of the Rat' GAAHH!! (How could you end it that way?)...

Oh, that reminds me of one other criticism I had. Sometimes your descriptions get out of hand. You seem to put down more than is necessary, and you also seem to string phrases together into too long a sentence. (I noticed this is "Shadow of Greatness", and "Night of the Rat".)

I am also a Zenna Henderson fan, have all of her books - she's one of the few writers who can bring me to tears - and I did enjoy Ann's review, and her very Hendersonian story at the end of the zine.

Now some very general comments and questions. If possible, try two sides of the page next time. (It looks more professional and costs less in postage, etc.) But you may have your own reasons for doing otherwise.

Question: how'd you do the photos? They look like they were xeroxed - not too bad a job for the purpose they were used, (Oh those captions! I was in hysterics.)

In general, I'd say that SOUTHERN STAR was well-done and I think a lot of what I liked was the variety of stories. You and the others are already pretty good writers, and I'd say that you will, in all probability, improve as you continue doing SOUTHERN STAR. I am looking forward to receiving the second issue. Good luck with it! [6]

Issue 2

front cover of issue #2, Ron Juge -- portrays Neil Armstrong with a Klingon beard
back cover of issue #2, Katy Wolfe

Southern Star 2 was published in February 1976 and contains 189 pages. "Little Known Facts About the Space Program..." is on the front cover.

It is a Klingon issue.

  • Empire-ical Perspective (editorial) by M.A. Carson (i)
  • Logically Speaking (editorial) by Rebecca Ross Hoffman (i)
  • Errand of Mercy: II (1)
  • Scenes We'd Like to See in the Star Trek Movie (1)
  • Potpourri (2)
  • Essay on the Possible Evolution of Spock's Unemotionalism by M.A. Carson (article) (3)
  • The "Lost" Weekends by Sharon Emily (article, Marooned Among the Stars: review of Space 1999) (5)
  • Nexus by M.A. Carson (8-13, 149-161)
  • Short Outlined History of the Human Race by Lawrence Fury (article) (14)
  • A Story only a Klingon Could Love by Ann Bagley (18)
  • A Parting of Ways by Amy Falkowitz (21) (reprinted in The Time of Surak)
  • The Penultimate Mary Sue Story by M.A. Carson (24)
  • Gone Before by Vicki Kirlin (article) (25)
  • An Open Letter to the Editor and the Women in Spock's Life by Sharon Emily (letters to Spock from Zarabeth, T'Pring, Leila, and Amanda) (28)
  • Photon Torpedoes (book review column) by Rebecca Ross (a review of Star Trek Lives!, see that page) (37)
  • The Choosing by Rebecca Ross (39)
  • word find puzzle by Steve Thompson (60-A)
  • I Think I'm Going to be Space-Sick, maze by M.A. Carson (60-B)
  • Helling Frequencies (letters of comment on issue #1) (62)
  • Will the Real Count Dracula Please Bare His Fangs by Rebecca Ross (66)
  • Night Terror by Linda Cappel (Horror vignette.) (70)
  • Future Shock by Paul Gadzikowski (71)
  • Kolaar, the Soft by C.A. Wiggins 83)
  • Trials and Tribble-ations by M.A. Carson (95)
  • They Call the Wind Mariah by Rebecca Ross (101)
  • Three Haiku for the People (121)
  • "Amok Time" Sidelights by Rebecca Ross (123)
  • Klingon Korner (124-A)
  • Crossword Puzzle (124-B)
  • The Fanzine Conglomerate by Sharon Emily (article) (proposal for joining forces at the con tables) (125)
  • a review of Spock Enslaved, see that page (127)
  • War Game by M.A. Carson (130)
  • The Games Some People Play by Rebecca Ross, p. 136-147
  • Amok Time: II by M.A. Carson (148) (reprinted in The Best of Pon Farr)
  • Galactic Graffiti (162)
  • Crew List of the USS Enterprise, appendix
  • The Klingon Dictionary by M.A. Carson, appendix (23 pages) (article, may have been also published as a standalone with art that does not appear in this zine)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

[Cartoons, amusing little twisted vignettes from the series, riddles, and so forth are sprinkled through the zine. Missives from a Romulan spy aboard the Enterprise are scattered between stories. And there is a puzzle section.]
  • Nexus / Rand, now a lieutenant serving on a small survey vessel, and Klingon Kel end up stranded together on an uninhabited planet after a deadly battle between their ships. The struggle to survive does wonders for cross-cultural friendship.
  • Short Outlined History of the Human Race / Trek timeline
  • A Story Only a Klingon Could Love / Parting scene between a Klingon officer and his wife of 15 years, who is about to be executed for the purification of the race.
  • A Parting of Ways / Parting scene between Vulcan brothers, one of whom has joined a brotherhood of Surak, the other clinging to the warrior culture.
  • The Penultimate Mary Sue Story / Mary Sue encounters Spock - all over the ship.
  • Gone Before / Graceful death of an aged dragon.
  • Letters to Spock from Zarabeth, T'Pring, Leila, and Amanda - which by an astounding coincidence have been dropped onto the author's bed by a transporter malfunction in an alternate universe.
  • The Choosing / Starship Republic story; no main characters. Biologist Thera is being pursued by the bellicose, bigoted, and all-around objectionable communications officer Keel. She is much more interested in the Vulcan physicist, Saraith, which causes Keel to become violent. Things come to a head when the three are included in a landing party attempting to return a baby dinosaur to its home planet - and end rather too tidily with the villain racing off suicidally into the jaws of a plesiosaur. The dinosaur was amusing, if contrived.
  • Will the Real Count Dracula Pleaes Bare His Fangs / Game show has a last-minute subsitution
  • Night Terror / Horror vignette.
  • Future Shock / Reporter Kolchak of Night Stalker encounters the strange case of a shooting with a strange weapon that melts much of the victim rather than putting holes in him. After some research in a former girlfriend's Star Trek collection, he realizes that the killer was a Klingon, and Kirk and Spock have traveled to his own era in pursuit. When he confronts them, they beam him up (along with Darvin), and eventually discover that the Enterprise bunch has not just traveled in time but slipped into an alternate universe (oh, those handy ion storms - they explain so much!). Each party, it transpires, is fictional in the other's universe.
  • Kolaar, the Soft / Klingon power struggles and the transformation of the unusually "soft" and artistic Kolaar into Kolaar the Rock.
  • Trials and Tribble-ations / Events aboard Koloth's ship Skyclaw immediately after our guys transport the tribbles over to them. Points for physiological explanations of just why Klingons detest tribbles (the frequency of the critters' chitters throws their nervous systems into disarray) and tribbles detest Klingons (Klingons stink to tribbles). Also points for smugly happy ending - Koloth has to pay exorbitantly at the nearest planet to have non-Klingons sweep the ship and beam all the tribbles downplanet to give to delighted children.
  • They Call the Wind Mariah / This series of stories postulates that Sarek has two young women in his household as wards, step-sisters Miranda (human) and Mariah (human / Jivaarlan hybrid). Felinoids and telepaths are remarkably populous in Trekfic; Mariah is both. Devious Korax has taken Sarek and Mariah prisoners as part of a plot to provoke war and become emperor, and carried the hostages off to Kyron, where Kang is in charge of the Klingon outpost. When Korax attacks Mariah, her useful telepathy uncovers the plot. She convinces Mara, Mara convinces Kang, and Kang calls in Kirk, who has pursued the raiders. Rescue is effected, and Korax summarily executed.
  • "Amok Time" Sidelights / Alternate vision of the episode, in which Chapel looks after Spock on the way to Vulcan.
  • The Fanzine Congolomerate / a proposal for joining forces at the con tables
  • Phaser Fire (fanzine reviews) / Reviews Spock Enslaved by Diane Steiner
  • War Game / Our heroes and a party of Klingons find themselves mysteriously equipped with outdated but effective weapons and proceed to wipe each other out. Again and again and again. Fortunately (or hideously?) they are on the Amusement Park Planet, where Ensign Jameson and a Klingon buddy are amusing themselves.
  • The Games Some People Play / A young human lieutenant addicted to practical jokes is assigned to a mostly-Vulcan ship.
  • Amok Time: II / alternate ending; Kirk has killed Spock in the challenge; he takes T'Pring to spite her. [7]

Issue 3

front cover of issue #3, Ron Juge
back cover of issue #3, Katy Wolfe

Southern Star 3 was published in May 1977 and is 50 pages long.

The art is by Ron Juge, M.A. Carson, Mark Wallace, Michael Smith, Heather Firth, Virginia Lee Smith, Doug Herring, Pat Bradshaw, Jude Huntsberger, Tracy Scheinkman, Bill Hudson, Katy Wolfe, and Steve Fisher.

  • Logically Speaking (Editorial Horse Manure) (2)
  • The Empire-ical Perspective (Editorial Sat Thank) (2)
  • Carmilla by Rebecca Ross (reprinted in Berengaria #5) (3)
  • Letters from Spurt (7)
  • Three Fragments from Romulan History by Leslie Fish (also in Universe Beyond #2 and Sehlat's Roar #4) (8)
  • Pre-Reform Vulcan Love Song, poem (10)
  • It Brings On Many Changes by Paul Gadzikowski (reprinted in Starbird) (MASH) (11)
  • Saga of the Enterprise, poem (14)
  • Letters from Spurt (15)
  • Spock the Barbarian by Tim Johnson (Spock's reaction to an overdose of cordrazine.) (15)
  • Death With Dignity by Jean Lorrah (18)
  • The Quest Begins (a Mariah story, non-Enterprise Federation story) (19)
  • Phaser Fire, zine reviews (23)
  • Encounter by M.A. Carson (26)
  • The Sighting by Deborah A. Murphy (26)
  • Letters from Spurt (26)
  • Death Comes At Midnight by Shirley Emerson (Dracula) (27)
  • Once Chosen by Rebecca Ross (32)
  • Letters from Spurt (36)
  • Old Klingon Sayings by David Lubkin (36)
  • Zenna by Ann Bagley (37)
  • Letters from Spurt (39)
  • Reprise by Jacqueline Bielowicz (41)
  • Meeting of an Extraterrestrial by Steve Thompson (41)
  • Klingons for Fun and Profit, poem (41)
  • Golden Child, poem (41)
  • Amok Time III by Rebecca Ross (Mirror story) (41)
  • Eye by M.A. Carson (43)
  • The Sighing of the Desert Winds by Kathy Resch (given no page number in the table of contents)
  • The Klingon Dictionary, part II (given no page number in the table of contents)

  • from issue #3, M.A. Carson

  • from issue #3, Mark Wallace

  • from issue #3, Pat Bradshaw

  • from issue #3, Pat Bradshaw

  • from issue #3, Heather Firth

  • from issue #3, Heather Firth

  • from issue #3, Doug Herring

  • from issue #3, Tracy Scheinkman

  • from issue #3, Katy Wolfe

  • from issue #3, Mike Smith

Issue 4

Southern Star 4 was published in March 1978 and contains 100 pages.

The editor was Rebecca Ross, the co-editor was M.A. Carson.

front cover of issue #4, Ron Juge
back cover of issue #4, Hans Dietrich

The art is by Katy Wolfe, Mike Smith, J. William Hudson, Carrie Rowles, March Wallace, Paul Gadzicowski, Hans Dietrich, Ron Jute, Steve Fisher, Sheila, Ann Marie Kitz, Shari L. Kaiafah, Janice K. Hrubes, and M.A. Carson.

There were 400 copies in the first printing.

From an ad in Saurian Brandy Digest #13:

A History of the Romulan Empire by Leslie Fish. The Only Truth I Know Is You by Ann Marie Kitz, takes a totally different look at the human hating General Urko. The Unicorn - by Deborah A Murphy - What would happen if James T. Kirk came face-to-face with a Clydesdale size unicorn aboard the Enterprise? Read, and enjoy. Spock on Black - When Spock meets a 20th century black dude standing on a street corner, Spock takes a linguistics course he never knew existed. Farewell - by Kit Vee, Bite The Bullet by Terry Kelley, The Burglar Over India by Stephen Langford, The Closet by Deborah A. Murphy are a few of the many shorts we have this time around, as well as poetry, cartoons; and filksongs by M,A. Carson.

  • Logically Speaking (Editorial: Sehlat Shit) (1)
  • The Empire-ical Perspective (Editorial Sat Shit) (1)
  • The Physiological Roots of Andorian Culture, article by Leslie Fish (1)
  • The Only Truth I Know Is You by Ann Marie Kitz (Planet of the Apes) (7)
  • The Unicorn by Deborah Murphy (21)
  • Spock on Black, poem by Sheila Dickerson (25)
  • The Closet, poem by Deborah A. Murphy (26)
  • Farewell, poem by Kit Vee (26)
  • The Burglar Over India by Stephen Langford (27)
  • Bite the Bullet by Terry Kelley (28)
  • Hailing Frequencies (letters of comment( (30)
  • Lani by Ann Bagley (34)
  • You Will Work Together by Mary A. Carson (40)
  • A Token of Esteem by J. Thomas Ross (the sequel to this story is "The Final Card" in issue #5) (41)
  • Photon Torpedoes, book reviews by Ann Bagley and Rebecca Ross (48)
  • Disruptor Fire, movie review by J. William Hudson (49)
  • Day of the Hawk by Michael B. Smith (49)
  • Cevalan Raid by Mattie Jones and Marilyn Ambos (51)
  • Costume Ball (55)
  • The Leirion by Dianne L. Menesini (57)
  • Phaser Fire, Fanzine Review by Rebecca Ross (64)
  • Pathathon by Vicki Kirlin (67)
  • The Klingon Poem by Jo Ann Vanden Berg (71)
  • The GX Factor by Jim Peurifoy (73)
  • Captain of Infinity by Julie Lee (75)
  • To Christine, poem by Cindy Simons (75)
  • The Long Twilight, poem by Mike Bubrick (75)
  • Untitled Poem by Cindy Simons (76)
  • Uhura -- Freedom by Mike Bubrick (76)
  • Mirror, Mirror II by Michael B. Smith (76)
  • Turnabout Intruder II by Cindy Sirmons (76)
  • Trekkin' Top Twenty Five by Michael B. Smith (76)
  • Report on an Alien Visitor by Michael B. Smith (78)
  • Starfleet General Orders (78)
  • Dov Day Afternoons by M. A. Carson (Dov is a werewolf... he meets up with vampire Carmilla, an original character in some Berengaria fics) (81)
  • A Slow Day in Rec Room Four by M.A. Carson (84)
  • The St/Sf Songbook by Mark Wallace (87)
  • The Klingon Dictionary by M.A Carson (95)

  • from issue #4, M.A. Carson

  • from issue #4, Leslie Fish

  • from issue #4, Hans Dietrich

  • from issue ##4, Ann Marie Kitz

  • from issue #4, Michael Smith

  • from issue #4, Hans Dietrich

  • from issue #4, Mark Wallace

  • from issue #4, Katy Wolfe

  • from issue #4, Katy Wolfe

  • from issue #4, Carrie Rowles

  • from issue #4, Katy Wolfe

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4

See reactions and reviews for Summary of the Physiological Roots of Andorian Culture.

Lots of shorts, mostly ST, some SF & media stuff, many rather juvenile efforts. High spot is plenty of pretty amusing cartoons.
  • The Only Truth I Know Is You / Planet of the Apes story
  • The Unicorn / Romp. As Enterprise awaits inspection, an Eathen (Klingon-like) crewman magically calls a very large unicorn from a bottle of whiskey - which proceeds to escape and trap the captain.
  • Spock on Black / rather pointless dialogue of Spock with a 70's jivin' dude.
  • Farewell / Kirk dies horribly burned in shuttle explosion, Spock melding & mourning.
  • The Burglar Over India / Skylab crew see a gremlin stealing their service module. Echoes of TZ's "Incident at 30,000 Feet."
  • Bite the Bullet / Gandalf vignette.
  • Lani / Lani, Uhura, & Spock are trapped in a cavern after a quake, Spock deep in healing trance, the rest of the landing party dead. Enterprise is unable to cut through the rock of the planet and after 30 days is ordered away. Fortunately they return just as the survivors surface and Lani is being eaten by a bear. Some nice scenes, but weak plotting.
  • You Will Work Together / Vignette: after the war, Kirk has the Enterprise back - and is working for the Klingon empire, in a twist to the Organian promise.
  • A Token of Esteem / Spock saves the only survivor of a Klingon landing party from a carnivorous plant, placing her under a life-debt she insists on repaying. Pretty standard stuff.
  • Cevalan Raid / Rather dull little battle story.
  • The Leirion / Poorly written and plotted tale of ill but otherwise magically empowered aliens abducting McCoy, Spock and Uhura to treat them.
  • Pathathon / Non-Trek. Story of a looping nightmare.
  • The GX Factor / Another somewhat flat war story - dealing with new engine.
  • Mirror, Mirror II / snippet; McCoy doesn't make it onto the transporter, and Spock refuses to let Kirk retrieve him
  • Turnabout Intruder II / snippet; Captain Lester & Christine tut-tut over Kirk's fate in an insane asylum
  • Dov Day Afternoons / Dov is a werewolf, apparently Carson's ongoing creation; here, he meets up with vampire Carmilla (of Berengaria #5[8]

Issue 5

cover of issue #5, Heather Firth
back cover of issue #5, Julie Lee

Southern Star 5 was published in October 1979 and contains 100 pages.

The front cover is by Heather Firth, back cover is by Julie Lee, and interior art is by Michael B. Smith, Dawnsinger, Julie Lee, Miriam Amos, Chuck Hart, Janet Meehan, Amy Harlib, and M.A. Carson.

It was edited by Rebecca Hoffman, co-editor was Cindy Simons, associate editors were M.A. Carson and Faith Carson.

From an ad in The World of Dark Shadows #27:

A DARK SHADOWS story by Donna Chisholm titled "Masque", illustrated by Janet Meehan. Al so includes STAR TREK fiction, with a Mirror Universe look at the "Balance of Terror" episode, a story based partially on the pro novel "Price of the Phoenix", and much more. Some excellent art rounds off this issue-- oh, yes--there is the next installment of the Klingon dictionary for those of you inclined to travel long distances…

From the editorial:

As to futures, there will definitely be a SOUTHERN STAR #6. We had originally planned our next publication to be THE SOUTHERN X-POSURE, our x-rated edition. However, when I got to typing, I realized that we were grossly over-stocked with SS submissions. We even had to scrag our review columns, but they'll be in SS#6, which will come out just as soon as we can get it into production. If you are interested in SS#6, please send a SASE. Don't wait on this one, for SS#6 will have little time lag.

After SS#6 will come either THE SOUTHERN X-POSURE, or an x-rated novel by Rebecca Ross. She is able to write many things on many levels, and this novel - which is not a part of her ECHOES FROM THE PAST universe - is a hard-core romance, patterned after a certain type of historical romance presently popular. She is also working on the sequel to ECHOES, tentatively titled ECHOES IN THE MIRROR, which will probably be ready for publication after SOUTHERN X-POSURE and her aforementioned novel are done.

We are still open for submissions for THE SOUTHERN X-POSURE. We are looking for good writing and interesting plots, and we do have one restriction: we are not publishing any Kirk/Spock gay stories. Other than that, feel free to follow your flight of fantasy.

Also from the editorial, which is commentary about things that happened at Schuster Star Trek Conventions/1978 Atlanta Schuster Star Trek Convention the year before. For more about this fandom rift, see Interstat #10, #11, and #12:

... your editor has a tendency to speak her mind, which on occasion causes disagreements. I don't mind a good dust-up, but last year at Atlanta, I spoke my mind over TV about the practice of autograph selling. My contention was that it was a rip-off to be told in con fly- ers that William Shatner would be at the con for autograph sessions, then to learn at the con that in order to get the autograph, you had to fork over $8.00 for his record album.

Well, after that newscast on Saturday night, I was verbally assaulted by a mannerless fanatic in the hotel's restaurant, and she continued to harass me all day Sunday. I later took this story to INTERSTAT, (a fan letterzine) to put the situation before other fans and let them know just how barbarous some of the so-called 'fans' can act.

It should have ended at that point, however, in an editorial of another zine, I have been obliquely accused of taking this childish person to task - not because of the way she acted - but because she is strongly identified with the K/S gay experiment now being foisted on Fandom. I know some of these people are pretty insecure, but using one's writing as a shield is ridiculous. I do not know if this attitude is a general consensus among the pro-gay faction, or if it is only indicative of the person making the comments. I don't know if the person who tried to push me around at Atlanta feels this way.

I do know this: criticisms of a person's actions should have no connection with the material that person writes. There was no attempt made to cow that female, much less drive her out of Fandom (none of us has that much power, thank God! Only she can drive herself out). But an effort was made to show her that a) she cannot cow others, b) everyone has the right to express their opinions whether she agrees with those opinions or not, c) if she must act in such an undisciplined, vicious manner, she cannot expect the recipient of such treatment to take it silently, and d) that there are those who won't hesitate to let the rest of Fandom know just how crude some people can be.

I do not believe in sacred cows, and each and every one of us is responsible for his or her own conduct. Just because a person is a K/S devotee does not exempt her from criticism of her actions, nor should it. These people deserve no special consideration because of what they write; nobody does. If they - or their friends - cannot accept justified criticism for what it is without retreating to

a cop-out of "I've done nothing wrong - she just doesn't like what I write" then they need to look very closely at their own motivations and grow up!

  • Logically Speaking (Editorial) (2)
  • Computing - Dear (Editorial) (3)
  • Illogically Speaking (Editorial) (4)
  • KISS OFF the Enterprise by Wanderingchat ("The Original members of KISS gain their Marvel comics powers and find themselves guests of sorts on the U.S.S. Enterprise during it's first five year mission under Capt James T. Kirk. A little known adventure in classic Treklore, until now.") (5)
  • City of the Wise Ones by Lizette Leveille (22)
  • The Final Card by J. Thomas Ross ("The sequel to the popular TOKEN OF ESTEEM (SS#4). When Martina goes back to the Klingon ship after her unexpected stay aboard the Enterprise, she finds that while the ship's captain and her close friend Karn believes her outlandish story, he treats her as though she were lying.") (26)
  • Ads (34)
  • Dorothy Bypasses Oz (to go to the Con) by Michael B. Smith (35)
  • Lament of the Retiring 350 by Michael B. Smith and J. William Hudson (36)
  • Soul of the Starship by Julie Lee ("James Kirk awakens from oblivion to the reality that life has been only fiction, provided by the man who created him - and Kirk is not a man. He is a computer,")(39)
  • Hailing Frequencies (Letters of Comment) (53)
  • Ads (54)
  • Balance of Terror/Reverse by Rebecca Ross ("This is the first of Miss Ross' MIRROR/MIRROR adatations of several major episodes, depicting the events of "Balance of Terror" as they happened aboard the ISS Enterprise.") (a story based partially on the pro novel Price of the Phoenix) (57)
  • Lament of the Tired Selectric by Michael B. Smith (65)
  • It's the Moon by R.M. Schutter (66)
  • A Portfolio of Illustrative Fantasy Art by Chuck Hart (71)
  • Masque by Donna Chisholm (Dark Shadows) (75)
  • Only in a Fairy Tale by Karen E. Moody (92)
  • C'est La Guerre by Eddie McKnight (95)
  • Ni Var, poem by Gene S. Delpenia (reprinted in Still Another K/S Zine) (96)
  • The Klingon Dictionary - Part IV by M.A. Carson (97)

  • from issue #5, Michael B. Smith

  • from issue #5, Michael B. Smith

  • from issue #5, Michael B. Smith

  • from issue #5, Michael B. Smith

  • from issue #5, Dawnsinger

  • from issue #5, Julie Lee

  • from issue #5, Julie Lee

  • from issue #5, Julie Lee

  • from issue #5, Chuck Hart

  • from issue #5, Janet Meehan

Special Edition: Echoes from the Past

Echoes from the Past is a Special Edition of "Southern Star."

There was to be a sequel to this novel to be published in 1988 called "Echoes of the Mirror."

References

  1. ^ from Time Warp #1
  2. ^ from a LoC in issue #2
  3. ^ from a LoC in issue #2
  4. ^ from a LoC in issue #2
  5. ^ from a LoC in issue #2
  6. ^ from a LoC in issue #2
  7. ^ Halliday’s Star Trek Zinedex (TOS) - Title Index, Archived version
  8. ^ Halliday’s Star Trek Zinedex (TOS) - Title Index, Archived version
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