A Collection of Dreams

Zine
Title:	A Collection of Dreams
Publisher:	Mkashef Enterprises/Pon Farr Press
Editor(s):	Alexis Fegan Black
Date(s):	1985, 1986
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:	online flyer
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1985 issue, front cover, Wendy Rathbone, used as interior art, too

front cover by Ann Crouch, 1986 edition

back cover of the 1986 edition, Vel Jaeger

A Collection of Dreams is a 124-page slash anthology of short fiction & poetry based on the 'Dreams of the Sleepers' universe by Alexis Fegan Black.

Ann Crouch is the front cover artist. Vel Jaeger is the back cover artist. Interior art by Chris Soto, Chiya, Shellie Whild, Gayle F, Wendy Rathbone, and Dragon.

Part of a Series

• Dreams of the Sleepers
• The Fifth Hour of Night
• Daybreak
• A Collection of Dreams

Two Editions

There are two editions: 1985 and 1986. It is unclear if the cover is the only thing that differs between them, or if there is a difference in content as well.

Editorial

Well... what's an editorial for other than to express personal opinions? Actually, it's for giving the readers some insight into the zine, which is what I'd also like to do. A COLLECTION OF DREAMS is a collection of short stories, poetry, vignettes and artwork set in the DREAMS OF THE SLEEPERS universe.

First, I'd like to say that I'm very flattered there has been so much interest in this universe, and to personally thank everyone who contributed to ACOD. The stories and poetry have been especially inspiring, to the point that I'm really looking forward to working on DAYBREAK—the third and most likely final chapter in the DOTS Universe. The story in this zine entitled DAYBREAK is actually the prologue, to the novel - which I'm hoping to finish this winter. Er... maybe it's just psychological, but I can't seem to write in the freezer-frame-of-mind in the middle of a summer heatwave. *Sigh* So... while DAYBREAK is certainly a "strange" story, I'm hoping that it works, and that it will give you a basic idea of what's ahead in the third novel.

Many people have written to ask, "Do they get out in the third novel?"

Well... telling would be cheating, but I can promise at this point that it will not have an unhappy ending and that it will not be an ambiguous ending. It will be in black and white and will hopefully tie up loose ends and reunite old friends. It will also introduce new characters as you will see in DAYBREAK, and, with any luck, will rattle a few possibilities around in the mind. Since the third novel is not yet written, I am very interested in feedback on DAYBREAK and on the zine in general. Let me hear from you with any ideas, comments or suggestions.

I would also like to say in this editorial space that I have been very pleased to meet so many fans during this summer, particularly at THE 20th ANNIVERSARY CREATION CONVENTION in Anaheim in June, and at SHORE LEAVE in Baltimore. It's really nice to talk to fellow K/S-ers and to share new ideas on all fronts. It seems that the K/S "movement" is growing - something which I suppose we could thank a certain someone who put a certain something in his "professional" hardcover book. Before that "editorial comment" on K/S appeared, we were basically a very underground group, but I'm rapidly discovering that K/S is downright appealing to a lot more people than this certain someone might have imagined when he sat down at the typewriter to "blast" the K/S ladies". Anyway, it's been a very pleasant experience meeting new friends and gettinq re-acquainted with old ones.

Also, on a different subject, I have decided to try a new K/S-oriented letterzine. I would like to try an approach somewhat different than NOT TONIGHT, SPOCK, though the fine quality of NTS makes it difficult not to adopt a few of their ideas. Since K/S fandom \s growing, I've felt for a long time that we could use as many informative publications as are feasible. Tentatively, the title for this new zine is ON THE DOUBLE, and I'm currently accepting ads (free to fanzine editors) letters of comment on any K/S-related subject, and—especially - reviews of K/S fanzines.

I am hoping that the readers will want to become involved in a publication like this, and that I'll hear from some of you with suggestions, letters and what-have-you. At this point, I am hoping to make ON THE DOUBLE a reader-participation zine, similar to an apa, but open to any K/S fan at any time. Current.listings of K/S zines will be included, as well as any items of interest the readers care to include. No pub date for the first issue yet, though SASES are being accepted and kept on file.

Contents

• A Collection of Dreams, poem by Alexis Fegan Black (1)
• Still Crazy After All These Years, editorial (3)
• Some Lonely Place, poem by Natasha Solten (5)
• The Island, vignette by Robin Hood (6)
• Ice Slave, poem by Wendy Rathbone (8)
• Forbidden Trees by Jenny Starr (9)
• Toward the Sun, poem by Alexis Fegan Black (14)
• Answers in the Darkness by Dovya Blacque "(Samantha shook her head. 'That’s impossible. You couldn’t have talked to Mickey yesterday…” Her voice trailed off, her expression drew dark. “Why?” Kirk pressed gently. “Why couldn’t I have?” Samantha stared into empty space. “Mickey’s been… gone for four years. One of the ‘missing’. She was down here, visiting. You know, she always was wandering off without telling me where she was going. It was up on those hills… about where I see you and… Spock'.") (15)
• As Shadows Stand, poem by Wendy Rathbone (43)
• The Last Day of Summer, poem by Natasha Solten (44)
• Even Dreams Do Not Last Forever, poem by Donna Rose Vanderlaan (47)
• Human Sacrifice by Keith Donovan (50)
• Sentinel, poem by Robin Hood (56)
• Ice Dream, poem by Dovya Blacque (57)
• Oasis, poem by Carlin Rae Thorne (58)
• The Break by Greta Foulard. “Do you project a… a realistic depiction?” Now that Spock was into the question, he couldn’t figure out how to tactfully phrase it. He ventured to glance up into the amused hazel eyes. Finally Kirk took pity on the poor Vulcan. “What you’ve seen is what I’ve got.” He giggled at his own slang. “Indeed.” Spock was well-pleased with it, too.
• The Night, vignette by Diane Tessman (60)
• The Break by Greta Foulard (61)
• Butterfly Dream, poem by Alexis Fegan Black (78)
• The Tear, poem by Carlin Rae Thorne (80)
• Daybreak by Alexis Fegan Black (“You see, Captain, Mister Spock,” the curly-haired leader of the survivors said softly, “we essentially used fiction as a mold for this… crew, I guess you’d call them. At least… we thought it was fiction at the time.” Captain Jack paused, then took a different course. “I take it Cele’s told you about Serin?” Kirk nodded. “Telepahtic suggestion to complete the illusion?” “Sort of,” Captain Jack concurred with a light laugh. “Serin tries harder than ayone, but he just isn’t a Vulcan… and he’s certainly not a telepath.” “Like I said, Captain Kirk,” the girl-child, Cele, interjected, “Serin can go through the motions but he can’t fly the plane.” She shrugged. ‘But the rituals seem to help the others… and, besides, they’re fun, too.” “Rituals?” Spock inquired. Cele nodded, her gray eyes wide. “Sure… you know. Witchy stuff.” She winked. Spock’s brows lifted. Cele rolled here eyes with a laugh. “Spells and potions and mind melds and dances in the moonlight-all the kind of stuff you’d find on another planet.” Her tone said that Spock should have understood, shouldn’t have been so stiff-in-the-ass-dense. “You know,” she repeated fervently. “Magic.” “Magic is a human term applied to something which is not easily understood,” Spock countered logically. Cele’s lips puckered to a pout. “Then I suppose it was magic that brought you here, huh? Magic that dragged you back in time to create us, and forward in time to find us? Is that what you’re calling magic?”) (81)
• First Light, poem by Alexis Fegan Black (124)

Sample Interior Gallery

• 

  1986 edition, inside front cover, Chris Soto—a lovely long-haired Spock

• 

  1986 edition, inside back cover, Chris Soto—an equally-lovely long-haired Kirk

• 

  1986 edition, sample text

• 

  1986 edition, Wendy Rathbone, used as the cover of the 1985 edition, as well as for interior art

• 

  1986 edition, Shellie Whild

• 

  1986 edition, Gayle F

• 

  1986 edition, Dragon

• 

  1986 edition, Dragon

Reactions and Reviews

This zine is a collection of short stories, poetry, and art set in the time-frame of the editor's Dreams of the Sleepers universe. I'll admit that when I ordered this zine, I wasn't expecting too much -- as it's difficult if not impossible for other writers to work in the limitation of another's universe. But I was was pleasantly surprised to discover that ACOD contains several new ideas and some extremely poetic re-hashings of the now-established situation. 'The Island' is an excellent insight into the despair often associated with the DOTS universe, yet as with the original novel, this short vignette also shows hope for the characters through a poignant and touching style. 'The Night' has a similar format and fell, and these were among my favorites in this zine. 'Forbidden Trees' is told in dialogue form, and is touching, humorous, heartbreaking, and uplifting all at the same time. Highly recommended. 'Answers in the Dark' was another finely-written story which introduces new characters into the situation, and which gives the reader a chill with some of the twists and unexpected turns. 'Human Sacrifice' is another chilling little vignette, told in the 'I' form from Kirk's point of view. An eerie 'what-if' piece dealing with Starfleet's possible involvement in the entire scenario. The two stories which I didn't personally enjoy were 'Even Dreams Do Not Last Forever' and 'The Break.' While both were well-written, I just didn't get the 'feeling' I've learned to associate with Ms. Black's DOTS universe. 'The Break' did, however, offer a 'what if' situation that Ms. Black may have to content with in the next novel. My favorite piece in the zine was 'Daybreak.' While the second novel in this series, 'The Fifth Hour of Night' was less chilling than the first, 'Daybreak' picks up the pace once again and offers some startling possibilities. Once again, the reader is treated to the mind-bending idea of 'What if Star Trek never existed?' And now that is does exist, the reader begins to wonder his/her responsibility to the future has become. We are told that 'Daybreak' is a prequel to the third (and final) novel in the DOTS universe, and it that third novel is as well-done as this short story, I can't wait to see how it all turns out. The poetry in ACOD is excellently written and, often, nicely illustrated. I was particularly impressed with 'As Shadows Stand,' 'Ice Dream,' "Butterfly Dream,' and 'The Tear.' The artwork in ACOD is basically unremarkable, though the front cover, as well as the inside front and back covers beam special mention for their neatness and the feeling they captured. All in all, I found ACOD to be an enjoyable read -- humorous at times, often chilling, always thought-provoking. But, as a warning, this zine should only be ordered by those who have already ready read Dreams of the Sleepers and/or The Fifth Hour of Night.