Ann Zewen
| Fan | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Ann Zewen |
| Alias(es): | |
| Type: | writer and zine publisher |
| Fandoms: | Star Trek: TOS |
| Communities: | |
| Other: | |
| URL: | some of her fiction is here |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Ann Zewen was a Star Trek: TOS and other Trek zine publisher (Orion Press) and writer. She passed away in 2003.
Publications
- Beyond the Farthest Star (author)
- Idylls (editor)
- No Cold Wind (author)
- Orion (con reports, review)
- Tantalus (editor)
Some Memories
A memorial page for Ann is here, Archived version
Some examples:
Whether in real life or when writing of a fictional funeral such as Orion Press characters have seen too many of, and certainly Ann wrote a few of those, I always think of the simple words : There Are No Words. Because there aren't. Or rather, there are none able to undo the grief. For Ann, those words came well before this loss. Under her guidance, those words made Sam Kirk more than just Shatner lying still on the floor with graying hair and a moustache. By her hand and the heart she put in them, those words brought Carol Marcus's unfortunate decision to exclude her child's father from his life out of the realm of shrillness and petty coveting to a much more comprehensible, very human failing. In many respects, she was the ideal wordsmith for the practice of keeping to screen canon while writing fanfic. Despite knowing that Sam will die, that Carol will allow panic to color her choice, or that the Orions are totally vile, under Ann's skill, when we arrive at where we knew we would, it still seems like the only way it could have gone. The path and not the goal is a good writer's target, and Ann hit it true every time. For her loss, there are no words, and there are reams of words, because she wrote them.
All I can say is that I am stunned. While I had lost contact with her after your listserve was closed, I still consider her someone I was deeply honored to know. She was always a worthy opponent in any discussion and more often than not, an ally, but even when we disagreed, I could count on her her argument being thoughtful and even-handed. I never remember Ann opting for the cheap-shot, something that is far too common in fandom. By horrible co-incidence, she died the same day, plus five years, that my mother did. I always honor my mother's death by evoking a Hittite ritual at sunset. I will name Ann's name as well, in hopes it speeds her safely to her next life which will, I hope, be a long, happy and healthy one. Please send my regards to Beki, who must be devastated by this horrible turn of events.
I was fortunate enough to know Ann as a friend, a fellow fan-fic writer and often times a kindred spirit, with whom I agreed more often than not. We spent a lot of time discussing fandom-related issues, including fan-fic. I think we respected each others' abilities and views, even when we disagreed. We shared a love of Kirk and Spock as well as zines, and when I first started my Kirk and Spock group, she was an eagerly supportive founding member, contributing as regularly as her job would allow, and I was honored that mine was one of the very few online groups that she made time for. The obit you posted just reinforces my view of her, and we will miss her in KirkSpockFriendsForever as well as in my new zine group. So again I express my condolences to her family, friends and everyone who knew her.
She is a tremendous loss to humanity. She was an incredible influence on me and Lynn Syck as writers and as a friend. We had many long conversations both at Shoreleave and on the phone. Ann had a great capacity to love and freely gave her time. I remember her being so very supportive when I lost my sister so many years ago. Her sensitivity and understanding taught me how to be a better person through her example.
As a writer, she was the best in my opinion. Her characters came alive in her stories, excellent tight writing. No Cold Wind was a wonderfully plotted story with interesting characters that stay in my mind to this day after all these years. Because she wrote with such depth of feeling in her stories, I felt that I knew her just a little better through them.
Ann will live on in my mind through her stories, her voice, and her touching examples of how to care for each other.