Della Van Hise

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Fan
Name: Della Van Hise
Alias(es): Alexis Fegan Black, Della Hawks, Carlin Rae Thorne, Pagan Blue, and many more, see Pseuds
Type: fanwriter, zine publisher, concom member, writer of tie-in novels and profic novels
Fandoms: Star Trek: TOS, K/S
Communities:
Other:
URL: at AO3
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Della Van Hise was a prolific Kirk/Spock fanwriter who later published an official (and infamous) Star Trek tie-in novel, Killing Time.

As Alexis Fegan Black (and many, many other pseuds) [1], Della Van Hise wrote over fifteen novels, a multitude of novellas, poems, short stories, and vignettes. [2] [3] [4]

Van Hise's press for fanfiction is Pon Farr Press.

Some of her fiction was posted at AO3 starting in 2014. However, as of February 2017, the stories are no longer available apparently due to TOS violations.[5][6]

Van Hise passed away on March 3, 2021. [7]

Fan Reaction

1989

Alexis Fegan Black - No other author appears as often on my mental list of "most memorable and favorite K/S stories". She combines an excellent writing talent with the loving warmth that I admire most about K/S. I do get a little tired of all the metaphysical stories at times, and that makes me all the more appreciative when she strays to the more raw, erotic stories, such as "War Games" (OFF DUTY 1), and to a very fun read such as Things That Go Bump in the Night (NAKED TIMES 21). I believe my most favorite of hers are the DREAMS OF THE SLEEPERS series, Past, Present, and Always" (NT 7), and "A Time to be Born" (K/S COLLECTED). Where would K/S be without Alexis Fegan Black? [8]

Subtle? Della van Hise? In any other genre, the woman would have been called a pornographer (is that a word?).

This was from the days when XXX was a goal, for most of these women. Della never wrote a story that was suitable for my mother to read. (Of course, I didn't read much back then that *was.*) Everyone was punch-drunk back then, with the freedom to write whatever their little hearts desired. And, oh, Goddess, was there some bad stories back then.

At this point, I have to admit that I don't like bdsm, torture stories, S/M, or anything even faintly weird. H/C is as far as I'm willing to go. Della van Hise was into the mildly kinky stuff. Lots of h/c, graphic sex, bdsm, all that. But she was a fairly good writer.

There was a British zine, which name I can't recall at the moment, that printed stories with a harder X than Della did. Just one. She was the queen of the hard core K/S back then. IMHO, anyway.

As a guideline, most of Aunt Ruth's stories wouldn't have been publishable back then. They would have been too strong in tone. But for her day, Della was really rough. She could be considered the grandmother of the ASCEM. [9]

1997

From Jacqueline Lichtenberg:

The virtuosity shown here is only the beginning of a pyrotechnic talent unfolding into the hidden dimensions of the human and nonhuman spirit. [10]

2000

From pro writer and fan, A.C. Crispin:

Della van Hise once told a crowd at a Star Trek con that "The reason I and the other writers have to slash Kirk and Spock is that no woman is good enough for them."

She did not crack a smile.

I was sitting next to her, and did not smack her, which I felt was a sign of great restraint on my part. [11]

2021

Killing Time was, rather (in)famously, the novel that forced Gene Roddenberry’s hand in cracking down on overtly sexual elements in Star Trek novels.

[...]

Van Hise’s own later statements about the book are characterized mainly by a seething resentment of society’s and fandom’s treatment of slash writers, as well as a stubborn insistence that Paramount ripped off the novel’s plot for later works such as the 2009 J.J. Abrams film, which to her was a fact as simply and immutably true as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west (though her beliefs would probably have led her to question that as well). [12]

Some Troubles in the Early 1980s

There is a long, long letter in Datazine #29 (as well as in Universal Translator #22) in the personal statement section by Della in which she responds to multiple complaints in "Datazine" and numerous letterzines regarding to zines fans have paid for but have not received. She cites poor health, problems with the originals for at least one zine (Naked Times #4/5) being lost at the printer, and says she just plain "F----- Up. I can't make it any clearer than that... I hope this can be resolved as quickly and painlessly as possible for all involved. As I stated before, I DO intend to fulfill all commitments for back orders and current orders. We all make mistakes; unfortunately, mine have been more apparent than many... There really isn't much I can do other than apologize and reassure you that 'time will tell.' At this point, threatening letters aren't doing any of us any good. I honestly couldn't do anything more right now if I was under full-scale attack by Klingons, Romulans, Gorns, and Tholians. But as soon as the attack is over, I hope to prove to you that I'm not some dishonest evil alien."

In Datazine #32, Della had an update. She explained in detail which zines have been sent out, and which ones are still in the works. She mentioned she is having to re-do Naked Times #4/5 part two as her "born-again printer" had completely destroyed the original and the dummy copies after she had paid her bill in full. "It seems he overlooked that commandment about coveting and/or destroying his neighbor's property." She closed with a thank you to fans. "... thanks again to those who have written kind letters of support and encouragement over the last few troubled years. I look forward to being able to re-establish the trust and harmony we all shared in the past."

Many reviews of her zines in On the Double (~ 1987) go out of their way to praise how speedy the zines arrived.

Her Pseuds

[1987]:

One of the main reasons [I use several pseuds] is that I'm hopeful of publishing more professional books, and it seems that K/S is indeed frowned upon by some of the major publishing houses. Other reasons are that I enjoy reading honest letters of comment, and many letter-writers are more likely to give honest critique of a story if they don't know their letter is going straight into the hands of the editor/writer. I'd rather have honest negative criticism than insincere ego-boo so I'll occasionally toss in a story under a different pseudonym for that reason. [13]

[1987]:

Additionally, from my own personal experience, I have learned that it is seldom if ever wise to use one's true name on any material associated with K/S — particularly if one has any hopes of ever publish ing his/her work professionally. The wide-spread opinion is one of "Oh, nobody really cares that I write K/S", or "Paramount wouldn't hold it against me if I decided to do a professional STAR TREK book". Guess again. A lot of people are adamantly, rabidly opposed to K/S and to those who write, edit, publish, read or review it. And, as a personal note, Paramount sure as hell does care and can easily "hold it against" one. So while it's idealistically preferred to use one's "true" name or even one's most commonly used "fandom name", it isn't always practically sound for reasons which may never occur to the majority of people involved in K/S fandom. [14]

[2015]:

A couple of people have said to me over the years - "Gee, Della, do you think it's wise to publish your Quantum Shaman books and your erotica under your own name?" Who knows? In this new day and age of indy publishing, it seems that just about anything goes - and I can only say that anyone who is SERIOUS about their spiritual journey already knows that what we do isn't necessarily who we are. Then again, we are sensual and sexual beings because we are human beings, so I make no apologies for what I've written, nor for who and what I am.

I personally feel a writer should be able to do anything s/he wants, but because I also acknowledge that we live in a world of "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts" (two of the most dangerous words in the English language), I made the decision to publish Prince of Umberlight under my long-established pseudonym (which I've never kept secret), Alexis Fegan Black. Of course, now that I've told you, what's the point of a pseudonym? But I suppose some people worry more about the name on the cover than the content inside. *lol* It's a funny, funny world in which we live. [15]

Confirmed Pseuds

Della Hawks [16] Alexis Fegan Black, [17] [18] [19], Carlin Rae Thorne [20], Christopher Randolph [21], Pagan Blue, [22] Keith Donovan [23] Tracey Alexander, [24] Phaedra Merin Jones [25], Morgana October, [26], Janna Steele, [27], Seane Malone, [28], Janna Steele [29], and James Carlson [30]

Likely Pseuds

A.M. Berman, A.A. Gray, Brenda Joyce, C.C. Cain, C.D.M., Cassia Williams, David Alexander, Jamie Belle, Jamie Erin Mason, Jessica Eurlynne, Kalen Storm, Kaylan Storm, Kalindi Brown, L.M. Kincade, Lillian Dawn, Marilyn Lansford, Marina Alverez, Morgana Coldcreek, Peter Silverton, Rachel Abbot, Rachel Cavendish, Sabina Bauer, Samantha Stone, Scott Hunter, Sherri Hawke, Shauna Ann Mason, Sue Denim, Sybel Morgan, Syreta Knight, Tay Garian, Marilynn Lebo, D.J. Biehl, M.A. Hopkins, and others.

Note: some of these pseuds may also be Natasha Solten.

Zines In Which Della/Alexis Was Involved

The 25th Year | Against All Odds | Beyond the Veil | A Collection of Dreams | Coming of Age | Covert Action | Crossroads | Daybreak | Dreams of the Sleepers | Fever | The Fifth Hour of Night | Dreams of the Sleepers | Imaginary Lines | K/S Collected | Naked Times | Nova Trek | Oasis | Otherwhere/Otherwhen | Off Duty | Private Possessions | A Question of Balance | Psychic Storm... and other K/S stories | Speed of Light... & other K/S stories | Starry Seas, Earthly Planes | Styx and Stones | Taking Command | Time Out of Mind | Unholy Alliances | Vagabonds | Warlords | The Way Home | The Year of the Ram

Interviews

Example Works

Fanfiction

Meta by Van Hise

  • Alexis Fegan Black is Dead (some subjects: AO3's terms of service regarding advertising, fiction being removed, fandom as a disappointment) (February 2017)
  • The New Mediocrity (some subjects: disillusionment with writing, lazy writing, too much sex in fiction) (December 2017)

Further Reading

References

  1. ^ Robin Hood had about the same number (35); only Cinda Gillilan has more pseuds
  2. ^ Gay Romance Press, Publisher's of Exceptional Gay Erotica: The Artistry of Della Van Hise
  3. ^ description of the book "Ragged Angels" at Amazon
  4. ^ "Your source for the hottest Star Trek fan fiction and gay romance erotica! -- A Little Bit of History..." Archived from the original on 2022-01-09.
  5. ^ From her AO3 profile page: "Just wanted to let my reader fans from AO3 know that the self-righteous brats who run the joint have removed ALL of my works from the archive because it was their (false) accusation that I was "advertising." What it really comes down to is that they don't want REAL authors to provide even the smallest mention that they ARE real authors - no links to your blog, your Amazon page, or anything else." -- Alexis Fegan Black is Dead, Archived version. A similar statement can be found at her blog: Alexis Fegan Black is Dead, 25 February 2017.
  6. ^ Note that in 2016, a 20-year-old Australian fan also reported running afoul of AO3's strict no-advertising policy by linking to commercial activity: PSA: DON'T MENTION COMMISSIONS/PATREON ON AO3, tumblr post by whalehuntingboyfriends, 25 September 2016. (Accessed 26 June 2017.)
  7. ^ "public Facebook post". {{cite web}}: |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help)
  8. ^ from On the Double #10
  9. ^ by Ellen Lewis at K/S Slip in Pro Novel?, Archived version (August 17, 21998)
  10. ^ a blurb for Van Hise's original vampire novel, "Ragged Angels"
  11. ^ comments Announcing Sci-Fi Slash (scifislash.org), Archived version (October 21, 2000)
  12. ^ from RIP Della Van Hise; archive link by Jess (March 5, 2021)
  13. ^ from On the Double #3 (1987)
  14. ^ from On the Double #3 (1987)
  15. ^ Erotica: A Return to My Roots (February 19, 2015)
  16. ^ from official con info for Omnicon in 1976
  17. ^ The 2017 open letter to fandom entitled Alexis Fegan Black is Dead, after a fandom flounce on AO3.
  18. ^ the 2011 interview Interview with Della Van Hise (Slash Alexis Fagen Black)
  19. ^ on Archive of Our Own: "Yup, that's my real name - and I am the ghost inside the machine that is Alexis Fegan Black. Carlin Rae Thorne and several other K/S nyms whose names escape me at the moment." --Pseuds for AlexisFeganBlack
  20. ^ on Archive of Our Own: "Yup, that's my real name - and I am the ghost inside the machine that is Alexis Fegan Black. Carlin Rae Thorne and several other K/S nyms whose names escape me at the moment." --Pseuds for AlexisFeganBlack
  21. ^ "For those who have read ALL THAT WE SEE OR SEEM (originally published in STARRY SEAS, EARTHLY PLANES), and who might think the plot of DREAMS OF THE SLEEPERS similar, the editor would like to point out that Christopher Randolph and Alexis Fegan Black are 'one' -- quite literally." -- from Starry Seas, Earthly Planes (1984)
  22. ^ "Pagan Blue (yes, I have changed my fandom name one more time, and for personal reasons. Until I can think of a better one Pagan Blue is it, guys.) -- from Naked Times #19 (1988)
  23. ^ Keith Donovan and Nathan St. Germaine are linked on the Fanzines Plus website -- "TIME OUT OF MIND Publication date: 1985 164 pgs.- 2 column, very small print. Originally pubbed under the pseudonym, "Nathan St. Germaine & Keith Donovan", this is an alternate universe K/S novel by A.F. Black & Natasha Solten." -- STAR TREK FanZineS Gay Romance K/S Novels of Alexis Fegan Black, male/male, ship
  24. ^ by way of Stellar Gas and Enterprise Incidents
  25. ^ linked in Unholy Alliances
  26. ^ linked in Unholy Alliances
  27. ^ linked in Unholy Alliances
  28. ^ linked in Psychic Storm... and other K/S stories
  29. ^ linked in Psychic Storm... and other K/S stories
  30. ^ connected in Speed of Light... & other K/S stories, as well as at Fanzines Plus, the author's webpage
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