A Long Way Home (Star Trek: TNG zine)

For similar titles, see The Long Way Home.

Zine
Title:	A Long Way Home
Publisher:	Orion Press
Editor:
Author(s):	Jo-Ann Lassiter
Cover Artist(s):	M.J. Millard
Illustrator(s):	no interior illustrations
Date(s):	1993
Medium:	print zine
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TNG
Language:	English
External Links:	Orion Press
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

front cover by M.J. Millard, back cover is blank

sample page

A Long Way Home is a gen 106-page Star Trek: TNG novel by Jo-Ann Lassiter. It was edited by Mindi French.

Summary

While on a backwater world, Picard and the crew of the Enterprise are startled to find Captain Walter Keel of the U.S.S. Horatio alive and well. Unfortunately, also on the planet is an enemy who is equally alive and well and still interested in the conquest of the galaxy.

Publisher's Note

This zine had a long editorial by Randall Landers that was a response to some rumors he had heard:

Recently, someone told me that Pocket Books was going to shut down all Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation fanzines. Another person told us that Paramount was going to sue anyone who produced a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine fanzine. The source both of those individuals cited was a Pocket Books editor, one who is actively involved in the production of the Star Trek pro-novels. They supposedly decided that fanzines violate their license with Paramount, and that we represent some sort of threat to their pocketbooks (good pun, eh?).

Well, first I was deeply pissed off. Who are these people anyway? What right do they have to shut us down? After all, Star Trek fanzines have co-existed with Bantam, Ballantine, and PocketBooks for over twenty-five years! Then, I go to thinking that these people must be absolutely crazy! A good Star Trek pro-novel will sell 200,000 to 300,000 copies. We have slightly less than a thousand readers on our mailing list They have 200 to 300 times the number of readers, and I assure you that most people who read zines also read their books. How can I be considered some sort of threat? Geez! Finally I was filled with such apathy. Let them try, I said. We've existed for as long as Star Trek has. Its creator embraced fanzines, and fanzines have helped keep the interest in Star Trek. It's a sort of mutually beneficial symbiosis. And if they want to shut us down, you'll be seeing me Oprah, and Phil, and Dave, and Montel, and Sally, and Joan, and wherever else I can go and let everyone know our side of the story.

Fanzines exist because we can tell stories that the show or the novels cannot. We can dwell on characters more than they can. They have to entertain some 25,000,000 viewers and 300,000 readers. All we have to do is entertain 1000 fans. We're no more a threat to Star Trek's licenses than we are to the man in the moon over Rigel VII. We're an alternative for those who want more than what Pocket Books is putting out. We're an outlet for those who want to develop characterization and write short stories (neither of which are on Pocket Book's agenda). We are a group of talented individuals who want to entertain others. Is that so bad a a thing? I think not.

But, right now, we're only talking about hearsay and rumors and the displeasure of a few people in high places. Does this mean that all fanzine presses are about to receive cease and desist orders? No, it doesn't. But it does frighten me, as it should frighten all fans. After all, if they shut down fanzine presses, what's doing to be next? Fan-run conventions? Filk songs? Artwork? Clubs? Yes, if they shut down fanzines, fandom will die.

So be afraid, be very afraid.

Reactions and Reviews

What can I say but..(brace yourself; I’m about to gush again)...ECSTASY!! ECSTASY!! ECSTASY!! LOVE IT! LOVE!!! LOOOOVE!!!!/Teeeerific!!Suuuuperb!! Faaaantastic!! MAGNIFICENT!! EXCEPTIONAL!! W0NDERFUL!! SENSATIONAL!! INCREDIBLE!! PRIMO!! The Best!! The Greatest!! The Creme de la Creme of Picard stories!! Jo-Ann Lassiter came up with a real WINNER. I just loved every word, every page of A Long Way Home. It is just the type of story I have always wanted to read about Picard, but never have until now. Now, as I have said before, I am a BIG Picard fan. and this story really took me to the heights of ecstasy. Please tell Jo-Ann Lassiter that I think she did a FABULOUS job on A Long Way Home, and I think she’s just the VERY, VERY BEST fanzine author around. Ah, yes, I do. I really, really do. Thank you, Jo-Ann. for writing A Long Way Home. Thank you, ORION PRESS, for publishing it.

PocketBooks just doesn't have anything like A Long Way Home ...Speaking of which, my sister Linda and I read your letter on the first page of A Long Way Home about PocketBooks wanting to shut down Star Trek fanzine publishers and fanzines. We want you to know that we totally agree with you, and you have our support Linda and I are with you all the way.

...Linda and I hope ORION PRESS keeps going strong from now until the 24th century. Thank you very much, and may you LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!!