The Halkan Council/Issues 11-19

Issues 01-10 · Issues 11-19 · Issues 20-27

Issue 11 (October 1975)

cover of issue #11, Larry Heller

The Halkan Council 11 was published in October 1975 and contains 14 pages. The editor says, "Congratulations all around -- we finally found an electrostenciller. Please send interior artwork."

WAHF = 48, printed letters = 17.

• Jacqueline Lichtenberg comments on the editor of Spock Enslaved!'s letter from issue #9, bringing up Kraith:

  There is one writer who will get somewhere one day, who knows how to seek and take criticism, and how to verbalize her thoughts without getting in to a hair-pulling dogfight. Her comments on Vulcan dignity however leave me confused a bit. I think/feel that he is using the term 'dignity' where she should be using 'false pride' or 'arrogance.'... I wrote something similar years ago in connection with Kraith -- that if you encroach on a Vulcan's central identity core, you are taking your very life in your hands -- that this and this alone would be a 'logical' reason for killing.

• This issue reported on a fandom event, Gene Roddenberry's phone call to the August Party convention [a 35-45 minute phone call]: "... had a remarkably accurate summary of the plot of Star Trek: The Motion Picture."
• there is more fannish discussion on Spock's mother and her emotionalism
• there is fannish discussion about the rising popularity of Kirk in fandom. One fan suggests:

  I suspect that one reason many people who were originally rabid Spock fans are 'changing over,' is because they were attracted to the isolation and mystique of the television character. Now, if they are into the zine scene , they have probably been bombarded with poorly, written, sensationalist, and often unsophisticated lay-Spock stories. There IS NO MORE mystique. Everything that could happen to Spock seems to have happened. His character has been OVER exploited, and the typical Spock fan may feel jaded, or even repulsed by this plethora of over drawn drama. Kirk, on the other hand, has not been dealt with nearly so extensively. Here lies fallow ground for the seeds of a story. Of course, very soon we may well have another unfortunate genre of lay-Kirk stories, as well.

• another fan suggest a different reason for Kirk gaining stature in fandom:

  As times change, so do people, their values, their needs, AND their heroes. Spock was born of the turbulent sixties, an alienated-alien, lonely, proud and by virtue of his mixed heritage, a nonconformist. He was the one who stood out as truly a 'stranger in a strange land.'... Now, with the mellowing influence of time calming our recollection of that wild decade, Kirk, drawn from the heroes of yore, regains a nostalgic glow. He is, after all, the TRADITIONAL hero/daddy/king figure; a nice, safe, comfortable WASP, just like Robin Hood, the Lone Ranger, and Horatio Hornblower. The self-alienation is no longer dominant.

• there is more fannish discussion on the origins of Vulcans, some fans think reptiles, one male fan talks of Vulcans and the possibility of Vulcan as being desert reptiles. He ties it in with Spock's "apparatus" and the urinary tract
• there is more fannish discussion on whether McCoy broke the Prime Directive when, in the episode "Friday's Child", he forced Eleen to bear her child
• one of the editors of The Sensuous Vulcan has something to say about content and hints at slash, the very first mention in Star Trek/media zine print: see its main article
• a fan would like to see Star Trek return... as a radio program
• a fan writes an extremely lengthy analysis of "Amok Time"
• there is fannish discussion on whether Vulcans have puberty
• a fan writes that:

  older fans who claim special privileges are obviously boors, and deserve nothing of the sort. Older fans possibly deserve some respect, on the theory that their opinions of the show are based on longer study (and the uncut first broadcasts), but that's about all.

• a fan complains:

  I hope that if we get our live action series resurrected that we'll have an episode with Uhura working the con (note I did not use the word 'manning'), and Chapel doing something more than pining for Spock or filling prescriptions. I'd like a female guest star who's not interested in either usurping the position of or bedding down with some member of the crew! I'm disgusted that all the women the Enterprise crew came up against seem so one-dimensional. They are hollow and lacking in credibility, with very few exceptions. We have the femme fatales with their groping parasitic lovesickness.. the ice maidens who are eventually defrosted by Kirk... the automatons, the ignorant.

• a review of Menagerie, see article
• a review of Tal-Shaya #2, see that page
• a review of Warped Space #1-#8, #8 mostly, see that page
• a review of Warped Space #6, see that page
• a review of Hartlines #2, see that page

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 11

Outstanding letters in this issue include:

Jacqueline Lichtenberg discusses a bit of philosophy on Vulcans and touches on a thing or two that she's included in Kraith.

Lynn M. Lango has some information about the Star Trek movie. Rusty Hancock has some interesting ideas concerning what type of society might have built the Big E in comparison to ours. Linda Deneroff suggests a ST radio program. Ruth Berman retorts some comments from the previous issue concerning the question of a Vulcan matriarchy and the question of whether McCoy broke the Prime Directive in "Friday's Child." Nancy Cleveland has some very thoughtful comments concerning the importance that has been afforded to Kirk and Spock in fanfic. Claire Gabriel has a detailed rebuttal of some parts of a previous letter, concerning "Amok Time."

Finally, Paula Smith has some provocative ideas on Vulcan physiology.

The remainder of this issue is comprised of 3 fanzine reviews.

An interesting issue, recommended.

Issue 12 (November 1975)

cover of issue #12 Richard Ciccarelli

The Halkan Council 12 was published in November 1975 and 14 pages.

WAHF= 16, printed letters = 19.

• The editors report their circulation had reached 150
• It contains one of the earliest uses of the term "Kirk/Spock" (relating specifically to a slash relationship) in Connie Faddis's review of Grup #4:

  Diane Marchant wrote an article on the Kirk/Spock homosexual love affair premise that’s been buzzing around fannish conversations for at least a year. The idea is an interesting permutation, but Diane’s argument fails to convince because she failed to document her evidence thoroughly, and there’s a tone of 'dirty old broad getting her rocks off, heh heh' that distracts from the argument and debases the premise.

• an advertisement announcing the publication of the gen zine Contact also uses the term "Kirk/Spock", but not in relation to slash in a sexual sense but in referring to a close emotional relationship
• there is much more detailed, scientific fannish discussion about Vulcan origins and genetics
• an admitted new fan writes:

  I've corresponded with a few choice editors, who shall remain nameless, who say, 'LoCs' begged for.' So, I write one, usually complimentary as I can always find something good no matter how bad. If comment on a piece of poor artwork, or illegible print... or offer ideas I get back SCATHING letters; 'Who are you?... You're new to this, You don't know what you're talking about.' Wow. They're really depressing. Isn't there some way of knowing who's really looking for a LoC and who's actually looking for a pat on the back? This makes me afraid to be honest. There is a

  caste system in fandom, however shady. And it these people who continue to divide and make the rules.

• a fan writes:

  What's a 'first generation' ST fan? Is there a rift between older fans and newer ones? I don't see such a rift. Am I blind. I can well understand personality rifts or gaps between people with different interests in ST fandom. People suffering from terminal Spock Shock aren't going to be interested in technology freaks, perhaps. Someone deeply into the the philosophy and detail of Kraith isn't going to be interested in a lengthy discussion with someone who's most profound statements are, 'I LOVE ST! I LOVE SPOCK'S EARS!!!' But, be reasonable; give the newby a chance to learn and grow in Trekdom and he/she will find his/her level of interest... I think most older fans are willing and eager to help a newby who's really interested in Trekdom to get involved. Don't ST trufen really have an evangelistic streak when it comes to their favorite subject?

• a fan speculates on the rumored movie: "No matter what he [Gene Roddenberry] does, fandom will be beyond it."
• a fan writes at great length about women at Star Trek:

  ...the appeal of ST fandom is 90% to females...Most of us are women, and in the 1970's women are beginning to find out who we are and what we want, and say so. Now, I'm certainly not saying that Roddenberry should write a script that is a polemic for women's lib! But... it is that wistful longing [expressed by other fans] to see Uhura take the conn, or a positive female guest star do something besides fall in love with Kirk, Spock or another regular... Other issues are important to women besides equal pay for equal work, and they show up in fanfiction with surprising regularity. [She goes on to discuss/compare/contrast] ...two landmarks in ST fanfiction which no one would ever take for women's lit.

• a fan suggests that, as she also explained in a letter to T-Negative #29, that: "... in ST telepathy becomes a kind of substitute for the sex that NBC would not allow."
• a fan responds to another fan's suggestion that Star Trek would make a good radio show:

  Some of the show's finest moments were visuals -- the fights, the chases, the ship battles, the special effects, the loves scenes -- all of which were devoid of dialogue.

• another fan thinks a radio show could be good, but now that fans have television, they'd never go for it
• a fan says that while Star Trek isn't perfect in its portrayal of women:

  There's room for improvement, particularly with Chapel. But even at their most traditional, the women in this 1960's creation are doing something besides worrying about ring around the collar. And that puts them way ahead of a large segment of the 1970's TV women.

• there is a short update on the planning of SeKWester*Con
• a fan says of Star Trek Lives!:

  [It] is an incredible mixture of overblown philosophy, pretentiousness, hero-worship, and just plain 'whoopee-gosh-wow.'... For 202 pages (I'm excluding Joan Winston's delightful chapter on the first New York Con and the last chapter), the authors babble on and on and on unendingly about the joys and wonders and depths and complexities of Star Trek. I know that we all feel this same fascination or we wouldn't even be in fandom. But to display this obsession in such blind adoration, in such painfully explored detail in a professional publication is offensive.... [She is also horrified by the chapter on fan fiction, complaining that all the stories emphasized sex.]... I have no objection to sex, to participating in it or writing about it. But when three people sit down to write about fandom... and end up giving thousands and thousands of readers a warped view of what we are and where our interests lie, that I can and do object to.

• a fan writes that some of the "professional cons," Chicago Con specifically, have made a lot of money, that, in the end, the fan-run cons will prevail as they are more human level and interesting
• a review of Grup #4, see that article
• a review of T-Negative #28 and #29, see that article
• the editors end with:

  The end HC's twelfth issue we'd like to tie up a few loose project mentioned in past issues. The 'After' zine Sheryl Przybylski proposed in HC #9... is a very good ieda. Unfortunately, high school students have limited free time; we couldn't handle another zine.... Elecro-stenciled interior artwork has proved too expensive for us because it takes up valuable loc space. Interior artwork which we have already accepted will be printed in upcoming issues...

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 12

14 pages mimeo'd with a very good offset (pencil sketch?) cover.

Interesting letters in this issue include:

More speculation on good ole' Spock's genes... I hope his genes are made by Levis, 'cause they're getting awfully worn out in HC by now. This and other Spock/Vulcan letters are discussed by Paula Smith, Karen Fleming, Jean Lorrah Lisa Wahl, and others, bringing a total of 9 letters out of 19 that have something to do with the topic... yawn!

Linda Chappel perhaps does have an interesting letter not in the "lone trekker in the wilds" bit she dangles before us, but the question she raises in the very last paragraph.

Patrice Cullen, Laurraine Tutihasi, and Mandi Schultz discuss 1999 which I can almost assuredly predict will continue to be a topic of discussion.

Sharon Ferraro has a shortened version of the very same thing I printed in this zine last time.

Jean Lorrah also talks about ST, fandom, and females. Other letter-topics range from good to moldy-oldies.

There is a very good zine review of Grup 4 by Connie Faddis and two reviews of T-N 28 & 29 by Karen Fleming.

This issue rates an okay, gang, like I said, the cover's good.

Issue 13 (December 1975)

cover of issue #13, Signe Landon

The Halkan Council 13 was published in December 1975 and contains 14 pages.

[WAHF]] = 23, printed letters = 25.

• a fan says, she half-expected to see feathers, rather than hair, on Spock's chest when he had his shirt off in the episode "Patterns of Force"
• Ruth Berman, tries to explain the difference between two terms:

  Fanfiction is serious fiction in which you would sell to a professional [specifically SF] market... Faanfiction is fiction about fandom; occasionally it is serious fiction about what it is like to be a fan... but most often it is satiric criticism of fans or of science fiction put into the form of a story. And most fiction in sf fanzines is faanfiction, because straight sf of any merit can be sold, leaving only botched work to be fanfiction. In STzines, there is effectively no professional market... and so there's been enough good serious ST fanfiction to make readers willing to put up with the bad stuff to get at it... Then, too, since even the bad ST fanfiction (or perhaps it's ESPECIALLY the bad ST fanfiction) deals largely in the wish fulfillments of the women writing them, the women among ST fans reading them can get a certain amount of morbid pleasure out of them, where a male reader gets no pleasure at all.

• Jean Lorrah says she and [S F] are going to hold a discussion called "Feminism in Treklit" at SeKWester*Con, and that since she has been out of active fandom for a few years, requests that people send her examples of stories for her to read. She will pay postage for any zine or pay for the xerox charges.
• there is much more detailed scientific discussion of Vulcans and genetics
• fan supposes that the movie will be a disappointment to fans, but it will provide interesting material to discuss and write about
• a fan who speaks Russian says Chekov's accent is terrible and that the character must have some sort of speech impediment
• In a LoC Gerry Downes stated:

  Re: the possible homosexual involvement in the Kirk/Spock relationship…one of the nicest things in ST was its portrayal of a love relationship between two men without implying that they were gay. Make no mistake about it, friends, these two men love each other, and also make no mistake, their feelings do not find expression in sex... Neither one needs sex with the other to reinforce the relationship. They couldn't get any closer to each other than they already are.

• there is an update from APOTA about some upcoming events where Gene Roddenberry is speaking (14 events in five weeks at colleges and universities)
• there is much discussion about the a letter in a previous issue about McCoy's and Spock's relationship and the pros and cons of emotion
• a fan describes a visit to Leicester, England and the "Second British ST Con" (September 20-21, 1975, James Doohan was the only star, there were about 500 attendees) program cover here
• a fan is looking for "contributions for a tape zine called 'Sound Trek.'... Normal ST wouldn't turn out too well (none of my tape-pals sound much like Spock or Kirk) but there are many stories to be set in ST's universe that don't involve ST characters... I'll supply the voices."
• results from the poll sent out in issue #10: number of respondents: 31; Average age of HC readers: 29 years, median age: 23 years; most heard about the letterzine through recommendations; average number of people reading each copy of HC: 3 readers; there was a direct correlation between conventions attended and fanzines collected (9 out of 31 respondents had never been to a con)
• The Star Trek Fan Fund is holding a mail auction of a complete set of Menageries (#1-#8) and a set of The Halkan Council (#1-#12)
• a review of Berengaria #5, see that page
• a review of Menagerie #7/8, see that page
• a review of some issues of Spectrum, see that page

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 13

Another good offset cover.

One of the major topics of discussion in this issue is the relationship between Spock and McCoy that Mary Manchester discussed in HC#12. This is tackled by G.M. Carr, Pat Gildersleeve, C.L. Robertson, Eileen Roy, and Karen Fleming.

Other intriguing letters this time around include an enlightening piece distinguishing "fanfiction" from "faanfiction" by Ruth Berman. Joan Verba and Eileen Roy battle the subject of Terra-Vulcan genetics again; and another technical theme is traveling at relativisitic speed near light, by Debra Own, who describes for us the "starbow."

Pat Gildersleeve also has some interesting comments to add about the Kahswan and Mandi Schultz extends a helping hand to fans having trouble with dealers.

There is a very short (one paragraph) con report on the Second British ST Convention, a zine review of Berengaria V, two reviews of Menagerie 7 & *, and one of Spectrum.

This issue has a few good bits of philosophy sprinkled throughout and is, as always, recommended.

Issue 14 (January 1976)

cover of issue #14, L. Heller

The Halkan Council 14 was published in January 1976 and contains 16 pages. It is the last 8.5 x 11 sized issue.

WAHF = 15, printed letters = 20.

• a fan submitts a letter: " ...I've reached the conclusion that there is a mental bond between Kirk and Spock, not like that between mates -- at a much lower level than that -- by there, nevertheless. I don't have any evidence for this, but it seems reasonable -- Spock has been in deep telepathic contact with Kirk a number of times, and it seems quite possible that some residue of that contact is left; that it isn't completely severed... and besides, I like the idea!... I based a drawing for a folio in Connie Faddis' Interphase #2 on this [that Kirk is a latent telepath] idea..." She also suggest a number of story ideas based on this thought, including the idea that: "... There are some lovely possibilities for a really raunchy Grup-type story, too. Like when Kirk is in his cabin, doing what we assume he usually does (in Grup, anyway), does Spock sense THAT? Does he suddenly find himself feeling a bit horny?..."
• there is much more discussion on the genetic origins of Vulcans
• a fan writes a long letter about linguistics, Japanese, Swahili, and such and says Uhura's full name would be Upenda Uhuru; she also writes that she is finding the new Technical Manual and the Blueprints disappointing in content and clarity
• a fan is incensed that other fans are being ripped off dealers at cons and at over-priced cons in general:

  I'm sure we all shudder when we stop to think about the sheer amount of $$ we put into our collections of ST memorabilia. Yes, I know it's for love or whatever, but it's still $$$... There are dealers at all the cons selling garbage... [such as] very poor quality offset or litho photographs... I stood and talked to dealers who have admitted that... Trekkies will buy anything and they are out for the big bucks. [She says she is canceling her plans for any large-scale effort to counteract what she sees as rip-off artists] ... And so dear friends, that's it. I'm going back into the sunset I came from; no more mainstream fanac, no more mighty honking, all the zine publishing plans cancelled (tho perhaps a little writing if there is any interest in the work Cheryl Rice and I are doing), and no more wondering how much more aggravation I can take before my ulcer perforates my stomach lining. Oh, I'll still be here, for whatever it's worth, and if you have any problems I'd like to hear from you (SASE for godsake, the postage is killing me already), and I really will try to help. But the large scale crusade has fallen apart before it even started. Think about that the next time you're ready to complain about something.

• a fan complains about:

  The Elitist Cult... We've created it ourselves out of our own stupidity, largely. As long as we continue backpatting and genuflecting to the supposed BNFs and treating them like they're so all-fired important, they're going to contiune to act that way. Sure, a lot of them have been instrumental in the Revival... but listen, kids, we're the ones who've been writing all those letters... don't we get half the credit? I'm utterly disgusted with all the little cliques that have sprung up, issuing edicts as to who is in and who is out, who to deal with, who to boycott, who's important this week, who's passe... We are all important, right down the line, the flashy zine eds to the lowly mortals who subscribe.

• a review of Interphase #2, see that page
• a review of Warped Space #12
• a review of Menagerie #7/8, see page
• a listing of conventions

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 14

This month's cover, by Larry Heller, is well drawn and is in good offset but is personally blase because of the subject involved. If you enjoy pulps or like Tarzan/Jane mentality literature you should like this just fine.

Halkan's readers are still enfatuated [sic] with Spock/Vulcan, and if you are excited by this you should be able to find stimulating material in each issue. However, since this seems to be a recurrring [sic] and standard topic in HC by now I'll take the initiative to ignore most of these and discuss the newer themes.

There is a very short but intriguing paragraph by Signe Landon that questions the idea for a "really raunchy Grup-type story." Well, if that's where your head is at... uh, sorry.

Betty Herr raises a short, but very valid inconsistancy [sic] in Kirk's history. Melissa Bayard has very interesting thoughts indeed on conventions and fandom and on gofers. She manages to raise some intriguing questions for us all.

Mandi Schultz parades a number of self-condemning faults before our eyes in a letter which somehow left me feeling that the other letters in this issue were weak, and feeble by comparison. On the opposite side of this spectrum is a totally incomprehensible letter from Kathy Penland. It is littered with multi-syllabic words and magniloquent philosphic [sic] ooze...none the less, I didn't finish reading it and couldn't understand why it was even included.

Finishing up this ish is a review of Interphase #2, another of Warped Space #12 "and yet a third review (two were included in HC #13) of The Logical Conclusion. On the last pages there is,a consisting and more information on the First Fan Fund. Although this isn't a particularly epic ish of HC, it remains interesting. Recommended.

Issue 15 (February 1976)

cover of issue #15, Gee Moaven

art from issue #15, Marty Siegrist

The Halkan Council 15 was published in February 1976 and contains 20 pages, mimeo offset. The issues from now on are digest-size.

WAHF = 17, printed letters = 20.

• from the editors:

  Whatcha think? Whatcha think? Huh, huh??! Do you like our new format? This month Shril didn't get eye-strain and wasn't walking around with corflu-blue hands from typing stencils and Snad's arm didn't fall off from cranking El Mim -- Hooray!

• a fan takes issue with with another's letter, asking "if there was a mind link between Kirk and Spock, why did Spock assume Kirk was dead in the episodes "Amok Time" and "Tholian Web.""
• a fan says she writes lots of LoCs to zines. The ones printed in SF zines get her a free issue, the ones to ST ones don't and sometimes only get her a reply from the editor. She thinks this may be because SF editors are "usually on an ego trip" and want to get their names out there so they can "go pro," and that ST editors seem to be balancing the books okay and are satisfied with the number of copies sold. She notes that ST cost two to four times more than SF zines.
• Boldly Writing notes that there were discussions about the rise "of professionally-run conventions, which were drawing attention from the fan-run conventions, and, in some areas, even competing with them by scheduling....on the same weekend." One fan writes: "Who is this Al Schuster anyway. Has any other fans had any dealings with him? What kind of cons does he produce? I mean, are they really Star Trek Conferences or Conventions intended for local fans, or is it some kind of non-fan money-making scheme to trade on Star Trek's more commercialized aspects by preying on the local kids?"
• a fan notes that on the most recent list of APAs, there are no Star Trek APAs. "I guess there isn't an ST APA because most ST fans don't know what an APA is or how it works and they get enough fan contact through the mails."
• a fan comments about BNFs and a previous letter that was critical of them:

  My first reaction is who is she talking about? Every BNF I know (and I know quite a few), is the very example of a 'fannish' fan -- considerate, polite, easy to talk to, easy to get along with. None of the BNFs I know consider themselves self-important. None are egotistical or elitist in any way. In fact, ALL of the BNFs I know frown on such behavior... You bet your life I do a lot of backpatting of BNFs. Most write damn good fiction and publish damn good zines, and have done a heck of a lot to promote ST fandom, make ST fandom acceptable, and do everything they can to welcome ST fans to the fold and encourage new talent. ST fans as a whole give credit where credit is due, and I am not about to take anything away from the BNFs I know who have done so much for ST and ST fandom. Their reputation and their fame are well-deserved; they earned it.

• a fan says she could write a 1000-page ST novel but no one would be able to afford the postage to be able to read it
• a review of Alternate Universe 4 #2, see that page
• a review of Despatch #25, see that page
• a review of "Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual," of "Star Trektennial" #6, several reviews of "I Am Not Spock"
• there are some convention updates of "Star Trekon '76," "Mudd's SuperCon," (June 4-6 in Memphis, Tenn), "HoustonCon '76/Star Trek '76," The August Party (July 30-Aug 1, University of Maryland), "Tol-Con 1" (July 30-Aug 1, Toledo, Ohio), and "Bi-Centennial-10" (Sept 3-6, Staten Island, NY)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 15

This is [one of the first two] issues to come of the Halkansas offset press. To those of you with eye problems who were happy with the standard type size in mimeo - too bad... another zine gone reduced print. This does allow HC to print more letters & use more pages than before, so the advantages at least balance out the bad points.

#15's is cover by Gee Moaven of Kirk & Spock, a good illo but a trifle two-dimensional.

Interesting letters include one by Laurraine Tutihasi about a few differences in style a habits between SFen and Strekfen. G.M. Carr asks the question: Who is Al Schuster anyway? Joan Verba discusses BNFs & stardates. Finally Vicki Kirlin raises an interesting question about people who make money off of ST fans.

Issue 16 (March 1976)

The Halkan Council 16 was published in March 1976 and contains 20 pages, reduced.

front cover of issue #16, Linda Cappel

WAHF = 25, printed letters = 17.

• a fan does an extensive linguistic study of Nimoy's speech patterns in "I Am Not Spock" and writes:

  I just can't believe that Nimoy carefully prepared those dialogues for grammatical analysis. But if he didn't, they were written by two different people, or are a transcription of genuine dialogue between two different people... Nimoy has chose the right title for his book. He is not Spock. But Spock is... Leonard Nimoy.

• a fan determines that the "Star Fleet Technical Manual" has used a great deal of material, word for word, from the U.N. Charter. "The original one, no less, before the amendments of 1965 and 1968. He even used the same numbers for members of the Councils as set up in 1945..."
• there is much discussion on how old Kirk was when he became a midshipmen and where he was born
• a fan asks if Romulans go through pon farr
• there is a lot of talks about cons: pro vs. fan-run small ones, which cons were considered a rip-off and why... one fan comments that the por cons have the money to bring in the stars and the goodies, but only a fancon will "cater to you as a fan. Only at a fancon is everything arranged for YOUR convenience, rather than that of the press and star..."
• a fan says The New Voyages fails because it tries to be too many things to too many people and doesn't do any of them well
• there is a con report called "A Personal Glimpse of the Star Trek Convention" by Jacqueline Lichtenberg
• there is a wonderful photo section (the centerfold) of many fans at a con
• a review of Rigel #2, which creates a bit of a dust-up in issues #19 and #20/21, see that page
• a review of Flight of the Phoinix #1, see that page
• two reviews of The Other Side of Paradise, see that page

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 16

This is [one of the first two] issues to come of the Halkansas offset press. To those of you with eye problems who were happy with the standard type size in mimeo- too bad.,.another zine gone reduced print. This does allow HC to print more letters & use more pages than before, so the advantages at least balance out the bad points.

The cover by Linda Cappel [is] of Spock...an interesting theme but it only rates about fair. Inside Fern Marder describes why the Tech Manual's "Articles of Federation" are so familiar. Ruth Berman has an interesting response to Laurraine Tutihasi's letter from HC #15. Sharon Ferraro sticks up for big cons. The centerfold (?) of thish contains pics from TSTC 76. Paula Smith eats her words from a year ago concerning pro-published Trekfic. S.Jacqueline Lichtenberg gives a personal con report. The usual features fill the ends of both issues.

Issue 17 (April 1976)

cover of issue #17, Signe Landon. Art depicting Zarabeth from the TOS episode "All Our Yesterdays"

inside art by Connie Faddis

The Halkan Council 17 was published in April 1976 and contains 20 pages.

• art by Connie Faddis, Laurraine Tutihasi, Connie Faddis (cover)
• there is more speculation on Kirk's background, his family and origins
• a fan asked how much editing was appropriate for submissions to a letterzine. She wrote:

  I note from having seen a copy of some of the COMPLETE, undiluted letters sent to HC, that there has been some editing by 'youz guys, that indicates, to me, a vehement attempt to tone down or confrontations. I'm not sure that's the fairest course to pursue for HC. What is a letterzine for, in the long run? Entertainment, certainly -- but also a service to fandom. Except for obviously libelous statements or inane repetition or rampant illogic, you have an obligation to print controversial letters IN TOTO -- otherwise you risk modifying the logic of the writer's argument, and compromising their positions. I don't think you need to be overly concerned that controversy, including statements with which you disagree, will hurt you or HC. Your readers should be quite capable of recognizing the opinions expressed in the letters as solely the responsibility of the authors." The editors responded, "Neither of us, until receiving Connie's letter, was aware that any contributors were dissatisfied with the quality of our editing...we retain the right to edit out statements which could be detrimental to ST fandom or revival... If you have a complaint about our editing of your letter, please tell US! We don't want HC turned into pablum because people aren't willing to tell us directly they're dissatisfied. Halkan is your zine and your voice. Help us keep it that way -- COMMUNICATE!.

• a fan says:

  I don't think that ST fandom should have to apologize for its differences from sf fandom. We are what we are and we should do things the way we want to do things.... [She adds that she was] surprised when I found out that sf zines don't print fiction.... I think that Trekzines are probably just as much an ego trip as their sf counterparts... I'm a little appalled at some of the zine's prices -- appalled to the extent that I don't take chances on zines.

• a fan ponders Klingons:

  Klingons have always puzzled me. On the ST series, they were just 'handy enemies' to cause trouble and/or heighten the suspense. Surely, they must have a reason fro being so 'barbaric.' They're not stupid... just violent. My speculations are that they have been treated badly by the Federation, and the other races, and have been left with the poorest planets in the galaxy. The ONLY way to be recognized is to fight and conquer. People in our society today are trapped in the same situation.

• fan writes:

  I deplore the things that are happening in connection with this proliferation of conventions: the rivalry and competition generated by scheduling on the same dates or same location, overcrowding, poor organization and planning... All these spell bad news for fans, fandom, and the entire Star Trek movement. With star and film fees zooming, fan discontent rife, and ill will rampant, I suggest some drastic changes are called for. So long as there are both professional and amateur cons, a way desperately needs to be found to allow them to co-exist peacefully, in a manner that allows fans to receive maximum benefit.

• a fan speculates on religion:

  Why isn't' there a chaplain aboard the Enterprise? Thought the Big E must be efficiently run, surely they can allow for religious observance and spiritual counseling? The only mention of anything vaguely religions was in 'Balance of Terror' and in there the captain presided over the wedding and scenes in the chapel were shot is such a way that the viewer could not see any religious symbols... I can't imagine that Christianity (or any other religion for that matter) would be outdated in the future, especially in space travel.

• two fans want to know about the legality of film clips:

  For the past few months we've been trying to shed some light on the filmclip legality. Anyone who has tried to investigate this himself knows that most everyone has their opinions about it, but very few people have any facts... Paramount's legal department might at first seem to be the logical choice to start, but after a few letters from them, you get the feeling that either THEY are mixed up, or are deliberately trying to mix US up. [they talk of Lincoln Enterprises' confusing activities and statements in the catalog]... We are also interesting in knowing the distinction between an activity that Paramount will not license and one that is illegal.

inside art from issue #17 by Laurraine Tutihasi

• a fan says:

  My only criticism of HC [The Halkan Council] would be to remind everyone we need a large dose of humility from those who gripe that the fans are so far beyond the series that it [the movie] will be a disappointment. It may disappoint a few hundred zine addicts, but those millions of people who write to Paramount and NBC aren't asking for Kraith, they want the original. And to tell the truth, I haven't run across any zine stories that can top the original. Some of them may be better written and plotted than the individual episodes, but few of them come anywhere near capturing the fundamental attraction, the suffusion of disinterested love, and the respect for the courage, endurance and intelligence of the human race... 'Plato's Stepchildren' showed us what can happen to the noblest mind, and intellect when it divorced itself from everyday life, and took on an elitist air; learn from it!

• a fan asks:

  Who is the one who originally came up with the 'Vulcan' terms 'Lashe d'oro V'suka' (live long and prosper), 'Paskak V'doro Lashe' (peace and long life), and 'Pastaklan Vesla' (peaceful thoughts)??? They've been floating around for several years, and no one seems to know.

• Charles Spano, one of the authors of the Star Trek pro novel Spock, Messiah! submitted a letter. (Boldly Writing says "he was the first author of a Star Trek pro novel to have a letter published in a letterzine.") Spano writes of being on a panel at a con, about the book, "Spock, Messiah" and writes:

  At the con someone asked me if I had read any ST fanfic and I answered honestly -- no. But I did mention that Halkan Council was the one and only ST zine I get and I enjoy it very much. I'm impressed by the way the contributors go into so much detail and thinks so much about the nuances and implications of ST.

• Jean Lorrah writes a letter that was later published in Ambrov Zeor #1, along with an exchange with Jacqueline Lichtenberg, (see Male Chauvinism in "House of Zeor" for more:

  I've just read House of Zeor by Jacqueline Lichtenberg. The novel grabs me at gut level, and I respond whether I want to or not. However, I would like to make two comments; first, the theme is presumably that mankind cannot survive if we continue our "us and them" mentality. Yet the novel perpetuates that mentality in two ways. First it is the old men versus women; despite the inclusion of Evahee, the women in the novel are there to provide children, to be raped, or to be killed. I could expound further on this, but I think almost anyone can see it if he looks for it, and the most obvious example is in the last pages, when Hugh is ready to hand Aisha over to Klyd if he wants her (and Klyd's attitude is ambiguous; he might have accepted her if she hadn't fainted). Yes, I know this is supposed to be an example of the new relationship between the men, but really! The second example is that, in trying to show that the relationship between Hugh and Klyd is not homosexual, Lichtenberg goes to the extreme of introducing a homosexual, Narvoon, and creating another "us and them" between the straight Simes and him. Second, I would like to pose a question: why is it that women writers write about close relationships between men instead of close relationships between women? LeGuin, Bradley, Lichtenberg, and all of us fan writers who have lovingly detailed the Kirk-Spock relationship. Anyone want to suggest why we do this? After all, experience should tell us that when men in real life become close to one another, they shut us out (and Hugh is willing to hand Aisha over to Klyd . . .).

• a fan writes that she is disturbed with the turn HC is taking:

  The last few issues have been somewhat of a disappointment. You seem to be featuring more and more letters which are dealing exclusively with fan activities -- cons, feuds, fanzines, dealers, etc, and less with opinions of different episodes (What-if McCoy had to choose between Kirk and Spock's life... What if Spock went into pon farr and no one was around but Jim Kirk...etc...) which characterized so much of your earlier issues. Newsletter zines are the greatest service to fandom around, and a natural method of stimulation and creation of ideas we've got. Please, don't get so caught up in the awesome Joy of Fandom itself that you lose sight of your original goals.

• there is a con report for the Star Trek Convention 1976 in ?

Issue 18 (May 1976)

cover of issue #18, Joni Wagner. Drawing of T'Pring

The Halkan Council 18 was published in May 1976 and contains 20 pages.

• cover by Joni Wagner, other art by Marty Siegrist, Gennie Summers and Elizabeth Marshall
• the editors are adamant that they don't give away any copies, even to contributors
• the editors report that an "anonymous benefactress" made it possible for them to both fly to Kalamazoo for SeKWester*Con:

  The panels got into much of the discussion Halkan has been fostering -- only these were live; unedited (and at the times UNRESTRAINED!) versions of the LoCs we've been printing: it was marvelous to see the interaction which time lapses and the printed word have prevented.

• the editors made some suggestions to writers that would up their chances of getting their letters printed: "We'll admit it right now: we tend to get feisty if not allowed to do what we what with the zine. (Amateur egos, and all that...)."
• the editors say there has been a great response to the Star Trek Fan Fund ($180 was raised at SeKWester*Con) but that "the lack of candidates has been simply underwhelming."
• a fan responds to a letter in the previous issue:

  ... "What if Spock went into pon farr and no one was near but Jim Kirk..." somehow forces me to bring up the question that's been driving me nuts but that I'm too prudish to ask. What if 'Amok Time' and 'Turnabout Intruder' occurred simultaneously?

• a fan says she has come into Trekdom late and is frustrated about the already out-of-print zines.:

  Being a librarian makes me think of a ST fanzine library -- like Memory Alpha... I mentioned an idea of requesting permission and copies of out-of-print ST fanzines to reprint them so fen will not be forever deprived of these 'classics' of ST literature to [name of fan]. She had not heard of anyone doing it and suggested I mention it to the Halkan Council readership to get the idea circulated and maybe someone would get interested. Maybe the editors of these marvelous zines and gracious authors would be so kind as to grant legal permission, loan copies of their zines, give advice, encouragement, etc. This would not detract from the value of the original edition, because there are always those who want the first editions anyhow. I can type and mimeo a bit, but am otherwise inexperienced. I am willing to work on it -- I have a proofreader all lined up and a couple of friends think it would be a good idea. What do you think?

• a BNF writes about her SeKWester*Con experiences, about all the fun she had and the opportunities to talk with other actifen about writing stories "with ST settings but on themes which are away from the mainstream of Treklit up to the present... there are dozens of people working on each of the themes we thought so peculiar! It's the whole Star Trek "Oh, thank God, I'm not ALONE!" syndrome all over again. Moreover, not once did I hear anyone object to any of the themes in self-righteous terms. Of course I heard, "No, I just can't see it that way," followed by explanation and constructive criticism, but there was no "Freak! Pervert! Sensationalist!" She goes on to add:

  Now, I must also apologize for falling into the female chauvinist pattern at SeKWester*Con. Gentlemen, my apologies -- a number of us women treated you the way truck drivers treat waitresses. It was unintentional, at least on my part -- ... considering I had just been writing about this very thing in Night of the Twin Moons, I am ashamed, and promise I will never fall into that condescending attitude again. It wasn't vengeance, you know -- it was the taste of power, because women ran the Con, outnumbered the men, and were mostly older and therefore bolder than the men, and were mostly writers who use words as weapons, while most of the men were there as artists, who need pen and ink to fight back. Power corrupts -- and friends, did I ever learn THAT lesson at S*Con. Please forgive me.

• a fan writes of what she perceives to be the difference between the material in Star Trek: The New Voyages and the like, and fanzines. The:

  official" ST products had the stipulation that the "books must end with the Enterprise intact -- like aired episodes... and as [a BNF] points out, much of the really good fan literature finishes off the five-year mission...it now becomes clear why many people's favorite stories are simply inedible [for professional collections]. And for the general public, which you and I are not, that may be a necessary restriction. Many people cannot accept the end of something they like. Arthur Conon Doyle was forced to revive Sherlock Holmes, and we haven't grown up much since the Victorian times -- look at the revival of The Bionic Woman. Trekkies might be very much confused at a collection of stories in which, say, Spock married Christine in one story, was single in the next, but Kirk died, and died himself in a third in which Kirk was very much alive. Those three stories might very well appear in one fanzine, but I don't think they'd make it in a general collection...

• a fan writes:

  HC fills a great void that existed previously in ST fandom; that is, there was no forum through which fans could discuss fandom. SF fandom, in comparison, has APAs and many fanzines though which SF fen can discuss SF fandom as well as SF literature. Until, HC, we ST fen had to rely on less efficient and slower methods of discussing fandom such as LoCs in the zines, personal letters, and con gatherings. Now that we have HC, I couldn't be more thrilled. Fandom NEEDS self-analysis and self-criticism. Fandom NEEDS to be discussed among fans, to give it direction, meaning and purpose. Without this, fandom either becomes non-existent, or becomes the chaotic 'fandom' of the 'trekkies' and I definitely do not want to happen to ST fandom.

• an author says that the editing of her piece:

  "Ni Var" in The New Voyages was an "ill-advised hatchet job by the author, not the editors. (The story had to be cut drastically to meet the publisher's specifications [and she didn't have the time due to RL issues])... This is a mistake I will not make again. A piece of fiction is an organic unity that cannot be tampered with very much and still retain its internal consistency. The New Voyages version of 'Ni Var' is an excellent example of what happens when this prime directive of fiction writing is is violated... The FACTS are these: (1) I made some of these changes myself. (2) Again, due to time constraints, I gave the editors my unqualified permission to publish their edited version of my story sight-unseen by me. When I did this, I assumed in my own mind FULL AND COMPLETE RESPONSIBILITY for the results... For those of you have expressed sympathy and/or indignation to me personally over what was 'done to' my story, I can only say: please stop. [She goes one to make an unusual request]: It's my wish that 'Ni Var' not be mentioned again in the discussion currently going on in fandom regarding the changes made by the editors of New Voyages. Changes were made -- by me, then the editors, eventually by the publishers.

• a fan writes:

  It seems obvious that part of the reason why women writers find it difficult to write about lady heroes, and close relationships between women instead of men, is simply that it's hard to break out of ANY established tradition. We've all grown up with certain kinds of hero figures, certain kinds of characters we've thought of as interesting and important -- and our culture saw to it that most of them were men, because they were the movers, shakers and doers.

• a fan apologizes for giving away the ending in her review of "Born Yesterday" in Rigel #2
• review of Federation Graffiti #1, see that page
• review of T-Negative #30-31, see that page
• review of Sol Plus #2, see that page
• review of Warped Space #15, see that page

Issue 19 (June 1976)

cover of issue #19

The Halkan Council 19 was published in June 1976 and contains 20 pages.

• The editors announced that they had graduated from high school and that they would be going to college in different states:

  Editing over a distance of some 3000 miles will be a challenge... We may skip the October issue while we accustom ourselves to campus life, but after that we plan to continue publishing according to schedule.

• a fan feels some zineds are charging too much for postage and pocketing the difference:

  Many fans are legit about P.O. money but the few who aren't should be treated accordingly. The pro cons, the stars, and may others are looking for more wasy to get more $$ -- is it spreading?

• a fan describes Susan Sackett

  ...I chaired a one-day con last fall, and one of my guests as Gene Roddenberry's secretary. Susan Sackett. She's young, appealing, energetic, and very committed to ST and her boss. After the con I wrote her, sent her news of my club Puget Sound Star Trekkers), occasionally talked on the phone and got news of the movie... Susan edits the Lincoln Enterprises newsletter - Star Trektennial News, has gone to other cons since mine, and is just as much a fan as a secretary. Okay. Well, I talked to her after Harlan Ellison was on Snyder's Tomorrow show, and she said, "I wish I knew what Harlan had said, we've gotten all kinds of letters about that show," so I lent her my tape. Now why did I have to send her my personal copy? Why didn't she get her own from ABC or Tom Snyder? After all, it was about ST, and Gene Roddenberry is Star Trek. Why wasn't he automatically sent his own copy? The next time I talked to Susan, I asked her just what kinds of ST publications, directories, newsletters, clippings, fanzines, articles, and so forth she did have. "Practically nothing," she said. And went on to explain that although she received a salary from Paramount and the office rent was paid, that Gene got no salary as yet and there certainly was no sort of budget for ST publications, products, or any other thing that was a spin-off from Roddenberry's dream... I can only imagine that this condition exists because of omission through ignorance. Anything that looks suspiciously like a manuscript because of the size of the envelope probably would get by with a letterhead in the corner, or the title of the publication and "complimentary copy" on the front. Susan Sackett, Star Trek Paramount Studios, 5451 Marathon St., Hollywood CA 90038.

• a fan asks:

  In a conversation with a zine editor she told me that it's common practice for zine editors to tack an add-on charge of about $1 to zine prices to pay for printing the next issue. Do you know if this has become standard practice? It's unfair to make a reader pay part of the cost of reprinting... or pay part of the cost of the next issue which for one reason or another the reader may not get. Is this one reason why zine prices are going up?... A zine editor's goal should be to get as good a zine as possible to the readers at as low a cost as possible. If finances are a problem for an editor, there are ways of resolving the problem other than socking it to the poor reader.

• a fan says she enjoys the fan fiction far more than she does the show on the screen
• a fan gives some con tips and explains good manners in asking panelists questions, one being don't walk back to your seat until after your question is answered
• a fan says "the Sime Series is not a male chauvinist series. Nor is it a women's lib series." She says if you want to discuss this further, to contact Elisabeth Waters.
• a fan says Klingons are so violent is because they haven't matured yet: "The Klingons will learn, just as we did and continue to. Give them a couple of thousand years and we might be friends and allies."
• there is an lengthy explanation and plea from a fan about the National Central Bureau and the WSA Program
• a fans says: "'Amok Time' made a very exciting individual episode, but trying to fit it into Vulcan society as a whole is doomed to failure. It just creates more problems than it solves." She cites the possibility of Vulcan males finding their intended mates unsuitable and what their options were in that case
• a fan proposes a "best of" Reader's Digest-type of fan fic zine, one that reprints the best fiction and comes out quarterly
• a fans says she isn't going to work at the big cons anymore, that "they are dying, if not dead already. There is nothing new, nothing being created -- only maggoty dealers burrowing into the nearly dead corpse. There aren't even fanzines for sale at big cons anymore."

• a fan scolds a reviewer (though she doesn't mention the fan or the zine) for "giving away" an ending to a story in her review. She is probably referring, however, to a reviewer in issue #16 regarding Rigel #2
• there is a long, long letter by a science fiction fan about the origins of fandom and of fanzines, a letter meant to educate Star Trek fans about their origins in the science fiction community and to explain the importance of communication
• a review of A Handful of Snowflakes, see that page
• a review of Stardate: Unknown, see that page
• a review of Sol Plus #2, see that page
• a review of Night of the Twin Moons, see that page
• a review of Menagerie #9, see that page
• there are twelve con announcements

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 19

Cover is one of the better portraits I've seen of Gee Moaven's.

Interesting letters in thish include: important points raised by Caroline Carrock on overcharging postal fees on zines and by Karen Fleming on charging fans for the cost of printing future issues of zines. Sharon Emily has a short and heated piece to say about reviewing and Mandi Schultz describes to re-opening of the complaint department idea.

Germaine Best has a little to say about fanfic, and Mary Schmidt goes on about fandom, most of which most people already knew about before reading it. Klingons, Romulans, and pon farr get a going over again in a few spots and perhaps the single most important issue raised this time around is in a letter by Richard Schultz which discusses SFandom- the origination of fanzines and a few other items. Really an interesting letter and one all fans should be familiar with.

Following up the letters are reviews of 5 fanzines, a small list of con up-dates, and a few small mentions & trivial editorial matters. This is probably one of the most interesting of recent issues of HC. Recommended.