Below the Belt (Beauty and the Beast zine)

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Zine
Title: Below the Belt
Publisher: The Helpers Network UK
Editor(s): Jaqui Clarke & Gwen Lord
Date(s): 1990-1995
Series?:
Medium: print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom: Beauty and the Beast (TV)
Language: English
External Links:
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Below the Belt is a gen and adult het Beauty and the Beast (TV)anthology of fiction, art and poetry.

According to an ad in Tunnel Talk, it is the first British adult fanzine one dedicated to the show.

Issue 1

cover of issue #1, Helen Charlotte Hill

Below the Belt 1 was published in November 1990 and contains 122 pages.

The art is by Helen Charlotte Hill, Mary Stuten, and Carol Stevenson.

From the zine: "This fanzine is for those who wished the relationship between Vincent and Catherine to step over the threshold of the first and second season into what should have been."

From the zine: "This fanzine will not knowingly be sold to persons under the age of 18 years."

Most of the short stories in this volume are set within the time frame of the first and second seasons; however, two stories do deal with events of the 3rd season. One is an alternate story line, the other is a SND. Explicit sex is contained within as most stories deal with Catherine and Vincent's first time. [1]

  • Foreword by Jacqui and Gwen (ii)
  • Below the Belt by Sandra M. Deville (ii)
  • Those That Sink in the Sea by Janet M. Aspinall (1)
  • Shining Journey by Mary Moulden (11)
  • Poem by Sandra M. Deville (40)
  • The Game by Gwen Lord (41)
  • Merging by David A. Crowther (44)
  • Belated Anniversary by Shirley Black (45)
  • Ode to Beauty by Unknown (possibly not a fan) (52)
  • Father Said I Shouldn't -- But I Did! by Sandra M. Deville (53)
  • How to Seduce a Lion by C. Leason (56)
  • The Birthday Gift by Pauline Marshall (57)
  • To Ourselves Release by David A. Crowther (66)
  • Special Moments by Sam Brookes
  • My Feeling for Vincent by Ann Rideout (75)
  • Monday Night -- With Ice Cream by Kassandra (76)
  • The Whispering Heart by Sandra M. Deville (78)
  • Instincts by Jade (83)
  • A Queen for a Night by Janet M. Aspinall (86)
  • If I Loved You by Louise Hyde (93)
  • Another Barrier Crossed by Gillian Aubrey (94)
  • A Fairy Tale by Helen Charlotte Hill (96)
  • Patience Rewarded by Chrissy Kempster (99)
  • A Love That Was Meant to Be by Spring (103)
  • The Chains of Love by Janet M. Aspinall (105)
  • No Turning Back by Pauline Marshall (111)
  • The Lonely Among Us by Louise Hyde (113)
  • The Return by Jade (114)
  • Spirits Complete by David A. Crowther (119)
  • A Helping Hand by Spring (120)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

This hot item is not for the prudish, but if you enjoy bawdy poetry, sexy short stories, and steamy artwork, this is the zine for you. A delightful surprise. [2]

Issue 2

Below the Belt 2 was published in February 1992 and contains 147 pages.

front cover of issue #2, Gerda Eecklaert
flyer for issue #2

The cover is by Gerda Eecklaert and there is one interior illo by Jane Curtis.

From the typist, Edna Wilson:

This is my first foray into typing out fanzine stories - and I enjoyed every second of it, It seems I have been holding up the publication of Below The Belt 2 so, if anybody out there wants to lynch anybody, it's me you want - not Jacqui or Gwen. My apologies to anyone who has been chomping at the bit, but now it is at last in your grasp, I just know you will ENJOY!!!

  • Foreword by Jacqui, Gwen, and Edna Wilson (ii)
  • Daisies in the Morning by Amber James ("Catherine is plagued by nightmares involving Elliot Burch and Paracelsus. One of these brings Vincent to her side in the middle of the night, and he is overwhelmed by their mutual desire, and of course, he stays. A lovely sexy read.") (1)
  • The Fear Inside by Jade ("Who is behind the mask Vincent's bride wears?") (9)
  • Tuesday - And Hot Chocolate Fudge by Kassandra (22)
  • Anything is Possible by Shirley Black ("A look at what really happens in the cave."_ (24)
  • Massage of Love by Avril Bowles ("Vincent was tired and he was dirty, so Catherine - in her wisdom - decided what he needed was a massage to relive all those aches and pains.") (28)
  • Only Beauty, poem by Katrina Relf (33)
  • No Turning Back by Pauline Marshall ("A story of their "first" time. Catherine goes Below exhausted and at Father's suggestion goes to rest on Vincent's bed whilst he is working. Vincent takes a shower and returns to chamber to find Catherine asleep -- where he would most like most to find her. The inevitable happens, of course, but sensitively told.") (34)
  • Vincent, poem by Sandra M. Deville (36)
  • The Rest is Love by Janet Kilbourne ("It was too late to be afraid now. Just who had Catherine brought back to life? Vincent? Or the beast?") (37)
  • Journey Into Their Dream by Jade ("At last, Vincent and Catherine share the dawn on her balcony.") (41)
  • Beyond the Tapestry by D. Yates ("Holding her wrists to his lips, he kissed them, then examined the bruising. 'Am I truly forgiven, Catherine?'") (47)
  • Vincent by Joyce Murray (57)
  • April Showers Bring by Kathi Edrington ("Vincent helps Catherine overcome her fear of thunderstorms and having taken a walk and getting caught in the rain, he is then forced to get out of his wet clothes.") (58)
  • The Greatest Need by Janet M. Aspinall ("Vincent tells Father of his wonderful new happiness and all the joy Catherine brings him, but the joy is overshadowed with the sense of blood... her blood.") (64)
  • Passion, poem by Joyce Murray (79)
  • The Best Laid Plans by Spring (" Catherine's plan to get Vincent into her bed are going well, until he finds out about her little plan.") (80)
  • Resurgam by C.A. Chaplin ("Vincent is very angry when he finds Father, Catherine, and Joe have all met up. Why haven't they told him?") (84)
  • More Than Just a Kiss, poem by David A. Crowther (95)
  • Tonight by Michelle Kafafi ("The reader is led to believe that Vincent has come to Catherine in her dreams, when in fact it is Vincent dreaming alone in his chamber -- his waking thought: "Tonight... maybe tonight.") (96)
  • Wild Side by June Smith ("Strange things are happening within the bond. Both can slip into each other. Catherine is fully aware of it, but Vincent has no idea. As she embarks on a journey deep Below, she becomes aware she is not just with Vincent, and that there is another person who wants her.") (98)
  • Lovers by Jade ("Vincent takes Catherine Below following the death of her father. Find out what really happened when it was time to say, 'Goodnight.'") (125)
  • A Momentary Lapse in Reason by Sandra M. Deville ("Catherine is stunned, she can hear Father and Vincent Below. Yet she is in her apartment.") (130)
  • The Most Special Moment of All by Sam Brookes ("The Tunnels were so quiet at this time of night as she made her way to a certain chamber.") (139)
  • Prophecy of Love, poem by Sally-Ann Inkel (146)
  • Fulfilled, poem by Katrina Relf (147)
  • Happy Birthday Vincent by Sally-Ann Inkel (147)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

More sassy, saucy stuff. [3]

Issue 3

Below the Belt 3 was published in December 1995 and contains 82 pages.

front cover of issue #3, Rosemarie Hauer

The art is by Rosemarie Hauer and Stephen Carlton.

Now it must be said that we are looking for submissions for issue four, so if you feel like being raunchy and a little daring. get it down on paper and send it to us! Remember, we can only put out fanzines if we get the contributions.

Those of you interested in submitting work, please, if you don't use a typewriter or word processor, please write neatly and clearly otherwise we waste a lot of time communicating to check what exactly has been written. If you wish to submit work on disk, we accept 3.5" floppy disks in WordPerfect, Word, or ASCII format.

In the meantime, we wish you a happy read and, as always, if you have any comments on our fanzines, especially nice ones, please drop us a line and let us know, so we can pass comments on. There's nothing quite as nice as receiving a compliment about something you've written. It makes all the effort, sweat, blood and tears you've suffered seem worth while and it gives you an internal glow and the enthusiasm to write some more, so please do let us have your comments.

Well that's enough from us, we know you want to get on and get reading! Don't forget though, too much of a good thing can make your eyesight bad.

  • Foreword by Jacqui and Gwen (ii)
  • For Thy Street Love Remember'D by Gwen Lord and D. Yates (1)
  • No Limits by Christine Cunningham (12)
  • G-I-Z-M-O Spells Trouble by Christine Cunningham (23)
  • Born Out of Love by Christine Cunningham (31)
  • My Paradise, poem by Mandy Hawthorn (40)
  • Roundtrip, poem by Kassandra (41)
  • It Fits! by Amber James (42)
  • Unspoken Love - Father and Mary, poem by Mandy Hawthorn (43)
  • Under the Grill by Sandra M. Demille (44)
  • The Making of the Man by Erin Chalmers (47)
  • The Nature of the Beast 1 and 2 by Jade (53)
  • Inevitable Transition by Jackie Skalski (73)
  • Together by Sue Evans (82)

References