Dark Between the Stars

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Zine
Title: Dark Between the Stars
Publisher: Bill Hupe [1]
Editor(s): Kristy Merrill
Date(s): 1989-1993
Series?:
Medium: print, zine
Size:
Genre:
Fandom: Blake’s 7
Language: English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Dark Between the Stars is a gen and het Blake's 7 fanzine.

The stories by J. Kel are continued here from the zine Input.

General Reactions and Reviews

Mixed stuff, but not only do they have some good stories and illos, but some of the poets can actually write! (Sorry, most poetry in zines doesn't deserve to be called poetry).[2]

I've seen one issue of Dark Between the Stars which was middling. [3]

Issue 1

Dark Between the Stars 1 was published in 1989 and contains 134 pages.

front cover of issue #1 by Vicki Brinkmeier, the back cover is blank

The art by Vicki Brinkmeier (front cover), Denise Loague, Randym, Cindy Brown, Michelle Douglas, Dineh Torres, and Wilma Douglas.

  • Editor's Page by Kristy Merrill (iii)
  • Nancy Lynn Hayes, "Death-Shadow, fiction by ("Avon is the prisoner of Commander Sleer, and her psychostrategists are programming him to be Blake's assassin, if he survives.") (1)
  • Waiting, poem by Teri Sarick (13)
  • The Turning Point, fiction by Sheila Paulson (14)
  • The Room, fiction by Adrian Morgan and Brendan O'Cullane (reprinted in Double Vision) (24)
  • Ballad of Blakes 7 (Or 5, Or 9 Or...) by Cathy Errickson (filk, John Brown's Body) (26)
  • Goblinfruit, fiction by Aravis Katheryn DelClare (28)
  • He Once Was a True Love of Mine by Nancy Lynn Hayes (filk, Scarborough Fair) (64)
  • Blake's Seven Trivia Quiz by SueLynn Carroll (65)
  • Blake's Chickens, fiction by Helen Sargeant (66)
  • Kerr Avon, haiku, by Michelle Douglas (72)
  • Brotherhood, fiction by April Schowyrs (73)
  • The Empty Chair, poem by Michelle Douglas (78)
  • White Water Danger
    • Introduction (79)
    • Torrent, fiction by CarolMel Ambassador (80)
    • River of Danger, fiction by Claudine Vissing (103)
  • Bright 7 by Teri Sarick(filk, White Christmas) (116)
  • Fledgling, poem by CarolMel Ambassador (117)
  • Weep, Servalan, fiction by Todd Parrish (118)
  • Blake's Seven Actors Index by Aravis Katheryn DelClare and Sherry Lassiter (121)
  • Blake's Seven Episode Guide (list of eps; no synopses) (133)
  • Contributor Information (134)

  • inside page from issue #1

  • inside page from issue #1

  • inside page from issue #1

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

There's some non-explicit het action in this issue, the first of 5. In "Death-Shadow," Avon is forced to serve Servalan until he is saved and reunited with his true love Cally. In "Goblinfruit," not only does Lord Avon make it with Meegat, but Vila and Gan are also entertained by local ladies. All are observed from the cynical pov of Jenna. Fans of dark A/B may like "The Room," a short (2 pp.) PGP A-B chiller. The opening sentence: "The madman walked down the stairs carrying the dead man in his arms." The Actors Index is a fun guide to those familiar faces (not just the regulars but the guest stars as well) who keep turning up on various other British shows.[4]

Issue 2

Dark Between the Stars 2 was published in 1990 and is 199 pages long.

front cover of issue #2 by minds-i-view
back cover of issue #2

The art is by minds-i-view (front cover) and back cover (reprinted form Chronicles Annual), Cindy Brown, Anja Gruber, Wilma Douglas, RandyM, Melody Rondeau, Denise Loague, and cki Brinkmeier.

  • Letters of Comment (iv)
  • The Only Alternative: For Avon and Servalan, poem by Michael Macomber (26)
  • Invictus, fiction by Jenn Fletcher ("Jenna has an encounter with Avon after he has killed Blake.") (1)
  • Dusty Death, fiction by Lorna B. ("Something is happening in the unused Hold B3. The door slid aside and allowed it unlimited access to the ship and unsuspecting crew.") (27)
  • Failed Orbit, poem by Ann K. Schwader (38)
  • Survival, fiction by April Schowyrs (40)
  • Vila's Song, poem by Sue-Ann Hartwick (44)
  • Medicinal Purposes, fiction by minds-i-view (45)
  • Tenderly: For Avon and Anna, poem by Michael Macomber (52)
  • The Angel of Death, poem by Michael Macomber (53)
  • Baby-Sitter, fiction by RandyM (54)
  • Fireside Thoughts, poem by Melissa Mastoris (60)
  • Peace of Mind, fiction by Helen Sargeant (61)
  • Argument, fiction by Jenn Fletcher (64)
  • Idealist, poem by Michael Macomber (65)
  • Double Breakdown, poem by Ann K. Schwader (66)
  • Daydreamer, fiction by Teresa Ward (68)
  • Rewriting the Legend, poem by Ann K. Schwader (69)
  • Shore Leave, fiction by Camiy (70)
  • Destiny's Edge, poem by minds-i-view (78)
  • Atacama, fiction by April Schowyrs (80)
  • Alien, poem by Sue-Ann Hartwick (86)
  • Transition, fiction by Teresa Ward (88)
  • Gauda Prime: Never Tell, poem by Michael Macomber (91)
  • Participant, fiction by CarolMel Ambassador (92)
  • Companions for My Death, poem by Melissa Mastoris (96)
  • Crucible: A Post-Gauda Prime Novella; Part One: Genesis; Part Two: Legend; Part Three: Prophecy, fiction by Michelle Douglas ("Avon found no consolation in the cave. "Damn you, Blake, for trusting me." And another voice that occasionally haunted his dreams pierced his thoughts.") (98)
  • Contributor's Information (216)
  • Parting Shots, by Kristy Merrill (218)
  • Slate Gray, poem by Michael Macomber (unknown page)

  • from issue #2

  • from issue #2

  • from issue #2

  • from issue #2

  • from issue #2

  • from issue #2

  • from issue #2

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

The highlight of this issue, IMO, is the lovely art by minds-i- view, one of my favorite fan artists. There's also a nice nonexplicit A/C by the same person in her role as author. According to the "Contributors Info," she's an Aussie who now (well, at least as of 1990) lives in Florida.[5]

"The Good, the Bad, and the Unique" (A blatantly prejudicial, biased non-review of some recent zines.) Before going on, please read this disclaimer. I admit that this considers zine stories for only three things: if they are fair in characterizing Tarrant (The Good) if they greatly misunderstand, malign, or ignore Tarrant (The Bad), if they have some refreshing premise or twist (The Unique). I will not comment on quality of good writing and will ignore or pan stories that are better written than some of "The Good" ones. All ratings are based on my own personal impressions, tastes, and interpretations.

  • [The Good]: Baby-Sitter by Motooka -- a teenage Vila has a run in with an Alpha brat
  • [The Good]: Daydreamer by Ward -- Tarrant's special relationship with Liberator
  • [The Good]: Tarrant art by Motooka
  • [The Bad]: Crucible by Michelle Douglas -- yet another Avon-Vila RPG [6]

Good-sized zine with excellent quality throughout. Easy to read print. Good variety of stories, humorous and serious, long and short, and several good poems. One post-GP novella was particularly outstanding. [7]

Issue 3

Dark Between the Stars 3 was published in 1991 and contains 199 pages.

front cover issue #3, Cynthia Brown
back cover of issue #3

Fiction:

  • Michael Macomber, "School Days" (12 pages)
  • Lorna B., "Visionary" (15 pages)
  • P. Weaver, "Reunion" (16 pages) (A post Gauda  Prime novel. Avon must find Vila.)
  • P. Weaver, "Aristo"
  • J. Kel, "Pattern of Infinity: The Auron Comedy" (part 4 from a series continued from the zine Input) (45 pages)
  • Cami, "Unknown Waters" (21 pages) (Tarrant and Cally are attacked by a creature in water.)
  • minds-i-view, "The Wall" (4 pages)
  • Teresa Ward, "My Brother's Keeper" (6 pages)
  • Leigh Moto'oka, "Sacrifice and Betrayal" (6 pages)
  • D.J. Waters, "The Biggest Little Fraud" (48 pages) (Avon meets Anna Grant.)

Nonfiction:

  • Kristy Merrill, "Parting Shots"

Poetry:

  • C.T. Cap, "Orbit"
  • Melissa Mastoris, "Shattered"
  • Melissa Mastoris, "Gan's Views on Orac"
  • Michael Macomber, "Star One"
  • Michael Macomber, "Brittle as Bone"
  • Melissa Mastoris, "Final Act"
  • Michael Macomber, "Five Days"

Art:

  • inside page from issue #3

  • inside page from issue #3

  • inside page from issue #3

  • inside page from issue #3

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

[The Pattern of Infinity]: I agree with your assessment of the serial - It's very good. I actually got 'hooked' on Part 4, despite the fact that neither Blake nor Avon appears in that chapter and that it's mostly based on Children of Auron, one of my least favourite episodes! After that, I just had to go back and read the earlier instalments. The story is high-quality science fiction, as well as being high-quality B7, a relative rarity In my experience and not something I insist upon either, but delightful when it happens.[8]

[zine]: J. Kel's "The Pattern of Infinity," which started in "Input", picks up here. There's more art by minds-i-view, including a two- page spread of the first-season crew, and a half-page A/C vignette by her. Tarrant fans should note that this issue has several good stories featuring Tall and Toothy.[9]

Issue 4

Dark Between the Stars 4 was published in Fall 1992 and contains 206 pages. It has a full-color cover by Darren Albertson; the flyer notes: "a quarter finalist in the L. Ron Hubbard's Illustrator's of the Future contest."

cover of issue #4, Darren Albertson
1995 flyer for issue #4

The art is by Darren Albertson (front cover) (a quarter finalist in the L. Ron Hubbard's Illustrator's of the Future contest.), Anja Gruber, Annie Hamilton, Linda Garlick, ORmAC, Cynthia Brown, Leigh Moto'oka, Vicki Brinkmeier, Derrin, Richard Jackson, Todd Parrish, and minds-i-view (back cover).

  • A Greater Truth, fiction by M.L. Pennington ("The appalling conclusion was inescapable. Someone had tampered with the records, and therefore, the collective memory of the New Republic. Ensor has been misremembered. Even worse, it undermined the credibility of the Libary. If this book, how many others? Doubt thundered around him. Suddenly every little question, every unresolved controversy, every insignificant detail accumulated over a lifetime of scholarship assumed titanic proportion. Deryl felt the ground tremble as an edifice of confidence crumbled.") (1)
  • In the Shadow, poem by Catherine Salmon (16)
  • A Christmas for Avon, fiction by Rebecca Donahue (18)
  • Pre-Generation, fiction by Marian Mendez (Star Trek: TOS crossover) (22)
  • Prelude to a Promise, poem by Sondra Sweigman (50)
  • Aftermath, poem by Sondra Sweigman (52)
  • Of Friends and Foes, fiction by Claudine Vissing (""At least Norin did show up," pointed out Vila as he tried to follow a still angry Avon. "After the way you threatened her she had every right to forget she ever knew us. She doesn't owe us anything." Avon turned back on Vila with a snarl, stopping the thief in mid-stride. "Thanks to her little errand the Federation may already have their teleport system working. I hope you can hold onto your sympathy for Norin when Federation troops materialize on the flight deck and kill all of us."") (54)
  • Blake by Sondra Sweigman (filk, Vincent, by Don McLean) (87)
  • Aftermath at Gauda Prime, fiction by Rebecca Donahue (88)
  • Auronar's Children, poem by Todd Parrish (93)
  • Obsession's Second Chance, fiction by Catherine S. (94)
  • The End, fiction by Alan Moravian (98)
  • The Life of His Epoch, fiction by J. Kel (part five of "The Pattern of Infinity" which began in the zine Input) ("Good Lord, Avon! A prisoner again. Never innocent of the state of incarceration (never innocent period), yet he found it this time to be particularly jarring. For one of the few times of his life, words like "unfair" and "embarrassing" occurred to him. The guards who roughly escorted him with measured stomps and the medical personnel who examined him crudely seemed to have not the slightest idea who he might be, or if they did, were utterly indifferent. They scarcely seemed to be able to stifle their contempt.") (101)
  • Cally's Last Thoughts, poem by Melissa Mastoris (145)
  • The Vampire, fiction by Rebecca Donahue (146)
  • On the Edge, poem by Todd Parrish (152)
  • Proximity, fiction by CarolMel Ambassador (""Too bad you'll never live long enough to realize your full potential," Sleer mused as she turned from Ugine and the prisoners. A smile still dawned her features. Sleer knew her mutoid would be waiting for her when she arrived back to headquarters. He, at least, never questioned her orders. Even the thought of him encircling her within his firm and demanding embrace made her eager to return home. For who in the universe could boast of possessing the most famed rebel that had fought against the Federation as her personal guard and protector? The fact that the famed Roj Blake was now a mutoid programmed to her specifications was a lesson worth learning by any enemy.") (from "The Trophy Series") (154)
  • No Winners, poem by Melissa Mastoris (170)
  • Suspicion, fiction by P. Weaver (182)
  • Not Just a Delta, poem by Melissa Mastoris (188)
  • Loyalty, fiction by P. Weaver (189)
  • Rebellion, poem by Todd Parrish (206)

  • from issue #4

  • from issue #4

  • from issue #4

  • from issue #4

  • from issue #4

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4

My favorite thing in this issue is the pair of A-B poems by Sondra Sweigman, with the very nice acompanying illos by Cynthia Brown.[10]

Issue 5

cover of issue #5 by Richard Jackson

Dark Between the Stars 5 was published in Fall 1993 and contains 127 pages.

flyer for issue #5

The art is by Richard Jackson (front cover), Linda Garlick, Todd Parrish, Vicki Brinkmeier, Anja Gruber, Cynthia Brown, Leigh Moto'oka, and minds-i-view. Summary from Bill Hupe: "Episode 5 of Pattern of Infinity; "Avon turned back on Vila with a snark, stopping the thief in midstride. Thanks to her little errand, the Federation may already have their teleport system working. I hope you can hold your sympathy for Norin when Federation troops materialize on the flight deck'. Someone has tampered with the collective memory of the New Republic. Sleer programms Roj Blake as a mutoid, and much more."

From the flyer: "And episode 6 of The Pattern of Infinity (J Kel): Sarkoff views Servalan's demands as intolerable but sees no choice but to accede to them. Avon and he are planning a final negotiating attempt when the Federation attacks, even before her deadline is complete. Lindor, now in a state of war, and there is no time use the nanotechnology alternative. Sarkoff resigns, his daughter standing beside him, having decided she could never leave the one man she truly loves ... And so episode 6 begins.

  • The Choice, fiction by Sondra Sweigma ("Servalan allows Blake to choose the manner of his death".) (reprinted in The Way Forward: Crusades of Blake) (iv)
  • Dying Wish, poem by Catherine Salmon (5)
  • Who's the Boss, fiction by Alan Moravian (6)
  • Reunion, fiction by Rebecca Donahue ("Cally meets up with Avon's brother.") (9)
  • Avon Confronts Blake, poem by Orion Kovacs (24)
  • Avon's Story, fiction by Catherine S. Story is broken into five parts: "The Longest Day," "Long Day Into Night, "Waking Nightmare, When the Dawn Breaks, and Sunlit Shadows, fiction by ("Avon must choose on Terminal: only 22.7 hours of power left, and Blake will die without 40 hours of life support.") (26)
  • When Illusions Shatter, poem by Catherine Salmon (34)
  • Snorkles by Orion (45)
  • Edge of Destruction, poem by Melissa Mastoris (52)
  • Beloved Stranger, poem by Melissa Mastoris (59)
  • Snorkles by Orion (65)
  • Partners, fiction by CarolMel Ambassador (66)
  • Blake by Sondra Sweigman (corrected version, reprinted from #4; filk, Vincent, by Don McLean) (68)
  • Under the Skin, fiction by Alan Moravian (S3; Ta) (70)
  • Shadow of a Man, poem by Robin White (73)
  • The Outbreak, Alicia Ann Fox fiction by (74)
  • Harmless, poem by Melissa Mastoris (76)
  • Facade, fiction by Orion Kovacs (78)
  • You... and... I, poem by Orion Kovacs (80)
  • One Possible Explanation, fiction by Robin White (81)
  • Walls, poem by Robin White (82)
  • Snorkles by Orion (84)
  • Lucky 7 Minus 1 Equals 13, poem by Alicia Ann Fox (85)
  • Of What Devils Hid the Stars, fiction by J. Kel (possibly part 5 of a series that began in Input) (86)
  • Only... Avon, poem by Robin White (128)
  • Snorkles by Orion (129)
  • Zine ad

  • from issue #5

  • from issue #5

  • from issue #5

  • from issue #5

  • from issue #5

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5

See reactions and reviews for The Choice.

[zine]: This is a juicy issue for A-B fans. I especially like the first story, "The Choice." I found it very haunting. Catherine Salmon's A-B saga is also very slashy.

"Under the Skin" is a strange dream-story; it could almost be adult in content, perhaps.

Avon and Soolin are a couple in "Partners." [11]

References

  1. ^ as per Judith Proctor's Blake's 7 page
  2. ^ A brief review of the zine by Kathryn Andersen at Katspace
  3. ^ from AltaZine #2 (1996)
  4. ^ from a review by Sarah Thompson at Hermit.org
  5. ^ from Sarah Thompson at Hermit.org
  6. ^ by Carol McCoy in On the Wing #2
  7. ^ from Aspects #10 (Winter 1991)
  8. ^ from Horizon Letterzine #4 (November 1992)
  9. ^ from Sarah Thompson at Hermit.org
  10. ^ from Sarah Thompson at Hermit.org
  11. ^ from Sarah Thompson at Hermit.org
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