Who You Know, What You Know, & How You Know It...

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Zine
Title: Who You Know, What You Know, & How You Know It...
Publisher: Hedonist Publications
Editor(s): Elaine Hauptman and Lucy Cribb
Date(s): August 1983, reissued in 1996 and agented by Bill Hupe
Series?:
Medium: print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom: Starsky and Hutch
Language: English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.
front cover by Ruth Kurz
back cover, Ruth Kurz

Who You Know, What You Know, & How You Know It... is a slash Starsky and Hutch 207-page fanzine. The front and back covers are by Ruth Kurz, borders by by Edmund V. Gillion, Jr. Other art is by Ruth Kurz, Debbie Milanian, Jean C., Nancy Broll, Marie A, Carol Davis, Maureen B., and Debbie Sontag.

The title comes from a scene from the episode, "The Game," in which Hutch bets his partner he can hide from him within the city limits for 24 hours without Starsky catching him, and Starsky replies that he knows his partner inside and out, and he'll take the bet because he knows, "...Who you know, what you know and how you know it!"

Its Submission Request and a First Use of the Virgule

The first place this zine is publicly mentioned is in an ad in Datazine #25. This ad is also the first use of the stand-alone virgule used for S/H outside of Starsky & Hutch fandom.

The ad reads:

This is a Starsky and Hutch relationship zine. Some of the stories contain explicit sexual situations, and some don't, but buyers should be aware that the "/" relationship is present. Age Statement Contest -- We figure age statements are boring but figure we gotta have one. So, we invite you to make up your own. We will refund $2.00 to the person who submits the best age statement (it can be funny, touching, erotic, silly, pathetic, whatever). Even if you don't feel like being creative, we still must have a statement that you understand the explicit nature of the material, and that you are 18 years of age.

  • a 1996 flyer which advertises the 1996 reissue of this zine

Permission to Copy

From the editorial page: "Once this zine is out of print we don't mind it being xeroxed for personal use or non-profit sharing, but it may not be copied in quantity and sold for profit."

  • the editors printed some examples of what fans submitted as their age statements, this is just a small sample, click to read

  • flyer

  • flyer

Regarding the 1996 Reissue

"Who You Know, What You Know, & How You Know It. Back by popular demand for the first time since it was published in 1983. This is a collection of sometimes romantic, sometimes funny, sometimes explicit, but always S/H relationship stories. This official publisher's reprint is a xerox copy from the original master with plastic spiral binding. $20.00. which includes first class US postage: $25.00 (in US funds) for overseas orders. This material is sexually graphic, contains homosexuality, and requires an age statement." - from Late for Breakfast #31

Table of Contents

one of the lovely title headers
From the 1984 filk songbook, Down to Earth, a song inspired by "A Place to Hide" as it was published in Who You Know, What You Know and How You Know It
another one

Gallery

This zine has extensive art. Below is a sample.

  • Ruth Kurz, winner of an Encore Award

  • Debbie Milanian, poem by Jean Chabot

  • Marie A

  • Carol Davis, winner of an Encore Award

  • Nancy Broll

  • "Private Eyes" by Maureen B., winner of an Encore Award

  • Marie A

  • Nancy Broll

  • Ruth Kurz

  • Jean C.

  • Maureen B.

Reactions and Reviews

See reactions and reviews for The Last Charade.

See reactions and reviews for The Other End of the Line.

[2001]:

[Promises, Promises]: I thought Lucy's story Promises, Promises is great; adored the part where Hutch lets himself into Starsky's place and discovers that he's been taking meticulously good care of the plants Hutch had given to him. Just a tiny detail that says so much: made me feel warm and happy inside. :) [1]

[1984]:

[zine]: (This is a "/" zine. It contains stories, poetry and artwork about two people who love each other and express it sexually. If you think it is offensive or in bad taste for people who love each other — regardless of race, creed, color, national origin or gender — to express that love physically, then please, do us all a favor -- don't buy it, don't read it, and don't bitch about it.)

WYK was much too long in arriving and I waited less than patiently for it to appear in my mailbox. After a difficult summer I was ready to be entertained by some new S/H. I was not disappointed.

The zine is attractive, clear and sharp with no extraneous white space and an abundance of good fiction and art work. I even like the press-type flowers and butterflies that decorated the interior pages. As a matter of fact, there was very little about this zine that I don't like.

"The Last Charade" by [Rosemary C]. I almost didn't read this story based on my opinion of [Ms. C]'s writing ability as demonstrated by her last effort, which appeared in Trace Elements. (I nearly always choose my reading material by author, reading my favorites first and then getting around to others if time permits.) However, Carol Davis' opening piece of art was intriguing enough to make me want to know what the writer had to say. I was pleasantly surprised. If there is an award for Most Improved Writer, it should go to [Ms. C], with special thanks to her editor — but then that's what editors are for. I felt she glazed over Andrew Brennan much too lightly —- I really wanted to know this guy better. Also, the year which passed between Hutch's relationship with Andy and the time of DIADP and S&H first time was done more or less in "the after they got out of the pit" school of writing, which is less than satisfying to this reader. While the story is not perfect, it was so far above [Ms. C]'s last endeavor, that she deserves recognition, encouragement, and demands for more stories.

"Certainty Enough" by Kris Brown and Kathy New is probably the weakest story in the zine--and I think the fault lies with the editors. These writers are new to us (at least as far as I know) and new writers make mistakes. I was rather disappointed to see the fundamental mistakes of point of view and pacing trouble this story because the editors had demonstrated more skill in editing other stories. Nonetheless, it is good to see new talent in this fandom and I hope the next endeavor by this team is better.

"A Place to Hide" by Lynna Bright seems to be the favorite of everyone I've talked to, and while it's not mine, the story has many good qualities. The characters are believable, they have matured, faced problems and reality, and the fact that whatever forces exist in this world have decided that Starsky and Hutch belong to each other and nothing or no one can change that. It's a nice story, with a comfortable feel to it, and one that I will read again and again.

"I Can't Tell You Why" by Jean Dayton is a short piece from Vanessa's point of view and it is one of the few pieces in this fandom that deal favorably with the ex-Mrs. Hutchinson. This character has always fascinated me and I'm always interested in seeing how writers deal with her. I understand why Starsky hates her, I even understand Hutch's feelings for the lady, but I don't under stand why most of fandom hates her so strongly. It was nice to see a piece in which Vanessa was able to tell her side of the story.

"It's A Dog's Life" by Alexis Rogers. Having met the real Alf, I can't help but like this story.

"The Other End of the Line" by Pam Rose is my favorite in the zine. God knows that Pam refuses to write by any of the rules that writers have used successfully over the past however-many-centuries that people have been writing fiction, and the problems that creates for me as a reader bugs me no end. Her strong suit is characterization, and try as she might, she doesn't seem to be able to screw that up. Pete intrigued me from his first appearance in "Alternate" when it was first published in the Phone Booth Stories, and I was pleased to see his further adventures in WYK. The thing I like best about Pete is that he is true to himself up to the last word in the story. He's realistic, charming, conniving, and adorable. I couldn't help but love him.

The artwork in this zine was a treasure. [Jean C.], as always, is one of my favorites. But the added bonus of Maureen Burns and Carol Davis really made the zine special.

The age statement was a howl and I'm glad the editors chose to include it. I think this is a terrific idea and hope it continues in fandom.

All in all, I liked this zine, even though stories like "Reply" and "Rue With a Difference" had me reaching for a red pen. I enjoyed reading it the first time and I have enjoyed going back and rereading many of the selections. It's definitely a zine worth the price.[2]

[1985]:

[Rue with a Difference]: I think one of the best explanations for S&H's reactions in D. I.A.D.P. can be found in Terri and Chris' "Rue with a Difference" from the zine W.Y.K... It fits in perfectly with the episode, and is a believable story. My own thoughts are similar. Hutch was falling in love with his partner and had to come to terms with those feelings. He tried to use the situation and his complacency about Blaine's bi-sexuality to help him reveal his true feelings to Starsky. Meanwhile, Starsky was fighting an inner battle with himself. He hadn't yet come to terms with his own new feelings for Hutch and the whole business with Blaine only seemed to complicate things. Both were so wrapped up in their own reservations that they failed to recognise the signs of their changing relationship in each other. [3]

[1995]:

[zine]: ...a very good zine that contains (among other great stories) "A Place to Hide" by Lynna Bright, a very excellent story about S&H becoming lovers about ten years after the series--and Starsky is married. It's an excellent story which has gone on with 3 sequels (one was published in a FIX and the other 2 were published separately also by April), but unfortunately she made it a little too close to the truth (Starsky not only has a wife named Lizbeth, but a little boy and a little girl) when she started writing the whole thing several years ago and now she's having a hard time writing an ending. There is light at the end of the tunnel, though, since there is a proposed zine of having several of the best writers in fandom writing their own endings to the stories. I, personally, can't wait.[4]

[2001]:

[zine]: I loved it. Read the whole thing in about a week, and particularly adored L. Bright's beautiful, bittersweet "A Place To Hide," and Rosemary's lovely "Last Charade." Once I'd devoured the 'zine, I prowled the internet in search of more stories. It didn't take me long to find Flamingo's wonderful slash archive, and from there... [5]

[2001]:

[zine]:All the stories a pleasure and Lucy Cribb's poetry - tiny treasures. Transgression was a gem. The Last Charade was a special favourite.

A Place To Hide (as a married woman I struggled with it as it fought with my really wanting the boys together and their first time in this story was heartfelt). Other End of The Line as sequel to Alternate was terrific.

Rue With A Difference was also grippingly different. [6]

[2001]:

[zine]:

Sounds like we enjoyed the same stories in this 'zine. :) Must agree on Transgression, and Lucy's poetry; I haven't seen "The Game" yet, but I still especially loved her two-part poem based on the episode, and Perspective, and Stakeout by 'Anonymous...' (I love poetry.) I also thought Lucy's story Promises, Promises is great; adored the part where Hutch lets himself into Starsky's place and discovers that he's been taking meticulously good care of the plants Hutch had given to him. Just a tiny detail that says so much: made me feel warm and happy inside. :) Last Charade is the very first S/H story I ever read, and also a definite fave for me, too. The depth of trust between them -- especially in the lovemaking scene -- is just breathtaking. And yes, I also really enjoyed Other End and Rue; both are on my "must re-read very soon" list.

As for A Place To Hide... well, I've been itching to talk about this story ever since I first read it, so I'm going to blather for a bit; hope no one minds. Everyone else here probably read it years ago, but it's all new to me... and what a story! It's one of those where I'm tempted to plunk it down in front of everyone I know and tell them they've got to read it. NOW. I just want to *share.* (Anyone else ever get that way about a story? <g>)

Similar to you,[K-L], I came away with some mixed feelings. It's such a difficult situation for all the characters, and the story offers little in the way of answers. From the moment that Starsky and Hutch finally acknowledge their love and real *need* for each other, any choice they make will be "wrong" to some extent. Acting on their feelings will, I think, inevitably destroy Starsky's marriage and Hutch's relationship with his girlfriend, and I also suspect that it could be damaging to one or both of their careers. "Just trying to live with it"(as I believe Hutch phrased it), might not be a whole lot better, though. It might be possible for them not to act on their feelings, but that wouldn't change the feelings themselves. The emotional fallout would be agonizing for both men, and I think in the end, it would destroy their other relationships anyway.

My impression is that the title, besides referring to the secluded weekend escape and to the eventual "solution" the guys arrive at, also refers to the way that Starsky and Hutch have both found "places to hide" from their feelings for each other. Isn't it interesting that Starsky's wife, Liz, seems to have an instinctive understanding of the undertow of the guys' relationship? At least, that's what I'm getting out of her "joking" comments that Starsky should really have married Hutch... (She's right, of course. ;) The men have obviously done a better job of hiding it from *themselves* than they have from anyone else. (Liz is such a well-written OC, IMO. Lynna manages to convey a tangible sense of her personality, a feel for the history of the relationship and the basis of the initial attraction, *and* a sense of why the marriage isn't working out -- all in such a brief, economical way. I'm... awed. :)

Of course the heart of the story, the thing that makes it so compelling for me, is the sheer *depth* of feeling between the guys, the passion that crackles or simmers below the surface of every interaction. It's tangible right from the first scene, where they're fumbling to bridge their estrangement from each other, and it just builds steadily from there. It's so touching to watch as their initial argument collapses into tentative plans to go fishing(!), and then, once they get together to actually pack and leave, they end up getting completely side-tracked in conversation; obviously just *being* together is more than enough. :)

I love how Lynna starts off by referring to them as "ex-partners," and then subtly drops the "ex" somewhere after the first couple of scenes, an eloquent testament to a partnership that runs so much deeper than simply having worked together as cops. And her dialogue and descriptions are stunning, particularly in the scene where they sit down and try and talk through their feelings rationally: "...like being homesick... lonely in a room full of people." And it's beautiful how making love is clearly so much more for them than just sex: "I want us to be -- inside each other so deep, just once, we wouldn't be hungry for each other any more." Mmmm, *gorgeous.* Dialogue that verges on poetry, but only because it's so brimming with emotion, so entirely credible and *real.*

*happysigh*

Did I mention how much I love this story? <G> I'm dying to read the sequels and find out what happens. And now I'll stop blabbing about it, at least for the time being... [7]

[2001]:

[zine]: As you said, even though these older stories are new to you, they still hold

a special place in the hearts of many of us long time fans. I have to say that the two I mentioned in what Alex said are two favorites of mine: The Last Charade by Ro and A Place to Hide by Lynna are what inspired me to write S/H. I still remember lying on my couch reading them, tearing up over both, and in anguish letting the zine fall to the floor. My (then) husband asked what was going on and I just said, "I give up, I *have* to write these characters!" I ended up dedicating Distant Shores to both Ro and Lynna for their inspiration as it was the first idea for a SH story I had, though it took me 6 more years to finish it and i wrote a lot of other stuff in the meantime.

All this discussion of A Place to Hide makes me hope that some of the newer writers out there will take up the challenge to complete its sequel A Place in the Sun. Lynna wrote part of it, then when we heard the news about PMG's family she couldn't go on with it since her Liz character, Starsky's wife, was so close to PMG's wife, Elizabeth. I published the unfinished story and with Lynna's okay issued a challenge to writers to finish the story -- I have had one submitted so far. And I seem to recall Flamingo mentioning she'd like to have a go at it. I think what's daunting is trying to finish anything started by Lynna... her skill can be intimidating and she's given so much plot stuff that it would be hard to figure out what to do with it, but hey,

I'm still hoping to get four or five more completions and plan to publish them whenever that happens. [8]

[2003]:

[zine]: A treasure chest -- “The Last Charade,” “Panic Among the Pines,” “It’s A Dog’s Life,” Pam Rose’s stories, and the piece de resistance “A Place to Hide.” [9]

References

  1. ^ quoted anonymously from Venice Place Mailing List (Jul 24, 2001)
  2. ^ from Between Friends #1 (1984)
  3. ^ from Shootout #11 (1985)
  4. ^ In 1995 Michelle Christian posted a review of the zine to the Virgule-L mailing list. It is re-posted here with permission.
  5. ^ from Venice Place, quoted anonymously (Jul 15, 2001)
  6. ^ from Venice Place, quoted anonymously (Jul 19, 2001)
  7. ^ from Venice Place, quoted anonymously (Jul 23, 2001)
  8. ^ from Venice Place, quoted anonymously (Jul 23, 2001)
  9. ^ from Venice Place, quoted anonymously (Aug 25, 2003)
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