Beast Beloved Tales
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Beast Beloved Tales |
| Publisher: | Tunnel Press |
| Editor(s): | Lisa Stubblefield (first two issues), Lynne Turley and Lisa Stubblefield (third issue) |
| Date(s): | 1989-1990 |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | digest-sized |
| Genre: | het |
| Fandom: | Beauty and the Beast (TV) |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Beast Beloved Tales is a het digest-sized Beauty and the Beast (TV) anthology.
It contains no inside art.
From an ad:
You've been demanding more romance, and Beast Beloved Tales is determined to continue supplying it! These digest-sized fanzines contain stories of an extremely romantic nature (but nothing sexually explicit) — some with Catherine as Vincent's companion, others featuring another woman (horrors! but how intriguing).
Vincent and Lena, and What is Romance?
The author advertised the second issue as such:
These digest-sized fanzines contain stories of an extremely romantic nature (but nothing sexually explicit) featuring the on-going relationship between Catherine and Vincent. (Please note, BBT 2 is the only one of its kind in that it features Lena in a non-romantic role with Vincent.)
At least one fan complained that the continuing storyline with Lena and Vincent was, in fact, very romantic. Stubblefield addressed this topic in the editorial of the second issue of From the Tunnels:
Vincent is special to us all for various reasons. It seems we all have our own ideas as to what the ‘Romance’ really is. But one letter in particular struck me forcefully as to just how different our views may be. I’d like to share it with you in a paraphrased version.
A woman wrote to me concerning a flyer which stated, in essence, that Lena appeared in a ‘nonromantic’ role in Beast Beloved Tales 3 [1]. She claimed that the various scenes in the zine that had Lena touching Vincent in rather intimate places could hardly be called 'non-romantic.’ She supposed that I had had many complaints about my ‘romantic' Lena/Vincent zine because of the above blurb that I had placed in my flyer.
...o.k.... This isn’t another raking over the coals for ‘insensitive’ fans. When I offer a zine to you, I’m honestly just another fan who presents her viewpoint. I expect to find those who disagree with me... it goes with the trade. But this fan letter raised a question in my mind that goes beyond disagreements. It raises a critical point about the ‘romance’ of the show that I need to understand. And I need your help to do that. O.k.?
Here goes. The fan feels that the love Lena felt for Vincent and the subsequent physical lengths she went to to impress him with that love was ‘romance.’ My question is: What constitutes romance? Is it sex?
Is it fondling one’s partner in the hopes that gratification will be found for oneself, irregardless of the partner’s hopes and dreams? Vincent and Catherine, at the time that Lena appeared in the Tunnels, had never consummated their relationship. Had not even kissed yet, I think. Yet we say that theirs was a beautiful ‘romance.’ The question that comes to my mind after reading the above fan’s letter was, if romance is sexual, then can we truly say that Vincent and Catherine’s relationship was a romance? We all fell in love with a non-romantic show in that case.
In bringing you From The Tunnels and Beast Beloved Tales, the emphasis has been placed on this couple’s (C&V) relationship, with warm snugglies fitted into the niches and chinks. Now, I hope that you, the fans of this beautiful show, will give me your answer to the question: What is romance - sex, or the discovery of another individual? I’d very much appreciate your help in this.
The Joe Maxwell Storyline
The storyline in which Joe Maxwell and Edie King meet Vincent is continued in the story, "McCavity." which is in From the Tunnels #1. "McCavity" includes this introduction by the author:
Note: Not too long ago, I co-wrote the first issue of a small zine called Beast Beloved Tales with Kim Prosser. Among the many neat things that happened in that zine was the betrothal of Catherine and Vincent. Our Catherine was pregnant by the time she and Vincent decided he must meet the people that were important to her world if they ever hoped to have a life together.
They arranged to have a masquerade and invited all of Catherine's friends, including Joe and Edie. In the course of the evening, Joe and Edie discovered Vincent’s physical “uniqueness” to be real. Edie came to accept him with no reservations...Joe had a bit more of a problem with it. The end of the story found a tentative truce between Joe and Vincent....
It seemed too good a chance to explore Vincent’s relationship with Catherine’s “world” to let the story end there. So Joe comes back to finish his introduction to this beautiful, gentle soul... and to witness the extent of Vincent’s love for the one woman in his life.
Issue 1
Beast Beloved Tales 1 has the subtitle: "Dreamers." It was published in October 1989 and has 64 pages.
The entire zine was reworked by authors and was included in From a Whisper to a Roar as "Here Kitty, Kitty".
This is a novelette in two parts. In part I, Catherine discovers Vincent's need for a twice-yearly, total body haircut. To ease his shame, Catherine volunteers to perform the ritual in her apartment. One thing leads to another and Vincent and Catherine consummate their love. In part II, Catherine discovers she's pregnant and holds a masquerade party to introduce Vincent to her friends. A very unsympathetic Joe Maxwell puts in an appearance.[2]
Issue 2
Beast Beloved Tales 2 has the subtitle: "Dream of Her Soul." It was published in January 1990 and has 63 pages.
From the Qfer:
Short stories including one which continues the 'Vincent meets Joe' story from BBT-1. Vincent's jealousy overwhelms him when Catherine is forced to spend 3 months in Providence working on a case with Elliot Burch. Before she leaves, Vincent and Catherine fight over his refusal to move their relationship to the physical plane. During Catherine's absence, Lena and Vincent become very friendly.[3]
From a flyer:
Please note, BBT 2 is the only one of its kind in that it features Lena in a non-romantic role with Vincent.
Issue 3
Beast Beloved Tales 3 has the subtitle: "All That Glitters". It was published in April 1990 and has 62 pages.
This zine continues the storyline from BBT-2 and includes Paracelsus. Vincent is captured by Paracelsus and tricked into believing that Catherine has left him and that Paracelsus now controls the Tunnel World. Catherine risks everything to find Vincent.[4]