Dead Reckoning
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Dead Reckoning |
| Publisher: | Nut Hatch/Entropy Press |
| Editor(s): | |
| Date(s): | 1986, 1987 (as two volumes), as one volume (1993) |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | print zine |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Professionals |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | Entropy Press flyer |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Dead Reckoning is a gen anthology of Professionals fiction.
The zine was originally published in two volumes, and at some point, Entropy Press issued both zines in one volume.
Original Issue 1
Dead Reckoning 1 was published in 1986 and contains 77 pages. The three stories, and some of the art, are by pseuds of Jane of Australia.
The art is by JJ Adams, Mike Adamson, Ruth Kurz, Dani Lane, and Kate Nuernberg.
[the editorial]:
A ZINE IN THE HAND...
...Is worth at least half a dozen ideas in the head, and this one is very much in the hand! It's not a huge zine, by the standards of some, which are the size of telephone directories — but it's not an expensive one either! That was the objective we had in mind at the outset, to do a zine that offered a lot of reading, nice graphics and art — and all that at a price you can actually afford to pay.
DEAD RECKONING is the result, and we're hoping (read: pestering) for some feedback from you! The big question is — will there be a DR #2? At this point, we really aren't sure. It depends on how well this issue fares, if people want another issue, and pressures of work on Ye Editor. The good thing is that a zine this size isn't so daunting a job to do: you don't have to make a big production number out of it, so the load of work on my stooping shoulders shouldn't preclude another issue, always supposing you folk out there want to read one!
Please do tell us your impressions of this issue; by all means, send a SASE (or, if you're out of Oz [Australia], a SAE and two International Reply Coupons), and when we really know v/hat's happening, we'll send the flyers! If you'd like to submit a story or art — again, please do, but on the understanding that the zine is only 'a maybe' at this stage... We'll know by about October or so if there will be a DR #2 (or not), so you might like to send a SASE instead, and join us in waiting to see what transpires!
I'd like to thank the contributors, whose work is a real treat — especially, I'd like to thank the artists from the USA, Kate, Dani and Ruth, who turned up trumps. The fiction speaks for itself: we thought there was space in this world for a non-"/" zine (a very rare breed!) that still catered to adults and offered value-for-your-zine-buying-buck; and of all the problems solved along the way, it was the zine size that turned out to be crucial. Aussie postal brackets are ludicrous. You can mail 259gms for $3.55 (airmail to the USA) and then it goes to 36.55 in a single bound. The trick is, you stop at 80pp, and by doing this, you get a zine that'll fly 'round the world fora 'ppd.' price under $10!
So: we'll put any SASEs you care to send on file, and by October or so we ought to know if there's enough interest in a non-"/" PROFESSIONALS zine, to make DR #2 come to pass. Our fingers are crossed, and we can't wait for the feedback, folks. Hint, hint!
But for now, to the right stuff...
- Colour Me Blue by Adam Jenson ("It may be 1982, and this may be London, but Doyle and Bodie are in for a shock they won't forget. There is a body on the steps below Ray's flat, and the investigation ordered by George Cowley leads 3.7 and U.5 into the twilight world of the slave trade. It's an industry,alive and kicking — with clients in the most surprising places.") (6)
- No Sneezing Matter by Peta Brock ("Right out of the blue, agent 3.7 has developed a terrible allergy; And the worst part about it all is, he's sure the cause of it's 4.5!") (50)
- Darkside by Jack Heston ("(This story takes place in the DOUBLE TALK universe) Bodie and Doyle have been agents of SHADO for some months. They're highly trained; they're very resourceful; and they're missing — somewhere on the surface of the Moon. Straker sent them to moonbase to look into the death of a key SHADO operative. Accident ~ or murder? And now, what has become of the pride of Cl-5?!") (crossover with UFO) (48)
interior page, artist is Kate Nuernberg
interior page, artist is Kate Nuernberg
interior page, artist is Kate Nuernberg
interior page, artist is Ruth Kurz
interior page, artist is Ruth Kurz
interior page (inside front cover), artist is Ruth Kurz
interior page, artist is Dani Lane
interior page (inside back cover), artist is Dani Lane
interior page, artist is Mike Adamson
interior page, artist is JJ Adams
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1
80pp, offset, A4 with a wonderful cover and illustrations that are truly memorable. I cherish my copy of this zine (borrow it over my dead body!) and didn't regret the fact that I retired back to bed in the mornings [personal info redacted] with a cup of coffee to read it, and thereby falling behind with my whole day. I didn't start off as a Proffs fan (I never even watched the show!)... I won't say I have watched even half the episodes, or anything like that. I am an old-time U.F.O. watcher so that the sequel to "Double Talk" which was a special issue that JJ put out a while ago (but it's still in print!) was my first interest. The idea of CI5 and Shado co-operating is 'fascinating' to quote a favourite Vulcan. And in "Double Talk" it was combined with adventure and characterisation and perked my interest.
Then I read the rest, borrowing videos of episodes' to catch up a little and I was hooked.
'Colour Me Blue' by Adam Jenson is really outstanding and shows a real appreciation of the characters in the show. It was, after all, my favourite, despite the piquancy of Bodie & Doyle having to solve a murder on the moon.
I'm glad the zine isn't '/'. Almost every other piece of fiction I've tried to scare up since, has been! They are sure sexy guys, but I can live with the action-adventure as well as the hot scenes. [1]
Original Issue 2
Dead Reckoning 2 was published in 1987 and contains 79 pages. It has three stories.
From a flyer: "Response to our first issue has been wonderful, and we're happy to say we're scheduling DEAD RECKONING #2 for Christmas 1986. Stories by Jenson, Heston, Sterling, plus art and hopefully photographs too. The zine will not carry "/" fiction but will address adult subjects with a rating of PG."
- Mandarin by Adam Jenson ...Cowley sends the partners overseas, to liaise with the Hong Kong police department during a particularly difficult case. There, Doyle meets Esther, and amid the danger and strife of the job they renew their old relationship.
- Lets Get Physical by Jane Sterling ... The shoe really is on the other foot, when it's Brian Macklin's turn to take the C15 physical, and a transpires, he's (shock, horror!) overweight! Cowley assigns Bodie and Doyle to trim him down!
- Full Circle by Peta Brock... years before, the maverick lawyer, Geraldine Mather, was intent on Cowley's downfall. Now, it's Mather whose life is in danger, and who must accept C15 protection. Her whole world view is under review, and Bodie and Doyle are in the hot-seat....and more. Art by JJ, Ruth Kurz, Danni Lane, Kate Nuernberg."
Combined Issue
Dead Reckoning as a combined issue had 180 pages. It was published in 1993. It has six stories.
Summary from the flyer: "Both the classic 1980s Professionals gen-zines under one cover! Featuring all the stories, all the art, in original format, with a new introduction and new cover, something like 165pp..."
From Sword of Damocles: "[The combined issue has] stories by Adam Jenson (that's uh, Jane's other pen name, incidentally), Peta Brock (that's Kathy's other pen name...)"
Summaries below are from a flyer:
- COLOUR ME BLUE by Adam Jenson ... Bodie and Doyle uncover a slave smuggling racket right in the heart of London, when a friend of Doyle's -- a beautiful Caribbean girl -- falls victim to this outrage.
- NO SNEEZING MATTER by Peta Brock ... Bodie returns from holiday to discover a potentially terrible fact: he's just become allergic to Doyle! Every time he sees Ray, he sneezes! Or is there more to it than this??
- DARKSIDE by Jack Heston ... Sequel to Heston & Jenson's best-selling "Doubletalk," which crossed The Professionals with Gerry Anderson's UFO. Set in the series universes of 1984, Bodie and Doyle, as recent recruits to SHADO, are posted to Moonbase to investigate the disappearence of personnel ... find alien blood where none should be ... and uncover a convoluted web of lethal intrigue dating all the way back to the Vietnam War!
- MANDARIN by Adam Jenson ...Cowley sends the partners overseas, to liaise with the Hong Kong police department during a particularly difficult case. There, Doyle meets Esther, and amid the danger and strife of the job they renew their old relationship.
- LETS GET PHYSICAL by Jane Sterling ... The shoe really is on the other foot, when it's Brian Macklin's turn to take the C15 physical, and a transpires, he's (shock, horror!) overweight! Cowley assigns Bodie and Doyle to trim him down!
- FULL CIRCLE by Peta Brock... years before, the maverick lawyer, Geraldine Mather, was intent on Cowley's downfall. Now, it's Mather whose life is in danger, and who must accept C15 protection. Her whole world view is under review, and Bodie and Doyle are in the hot-seat....and more. Art by JJ, Ruth Kurz, Danni Lane, Kate Nuernberg."
A Proposed Third Volume
In 1992, a proposed third volume was announced: "An anthology of stories, vary sexy and teasing, just-pre-B/D. Full info is not available at this time, but the zine is taking shape and a proper flyer will be done when possible. So far, it's looking gorgeous! Incidentally, space is left, and if anyone has a story that would fit, let's see it! Planned for March/April '93. so your deadline would be about February. Should be the same size/price as CMH #10." -- On the Double #25
It wasn't published.
- ^ from Double Play #2