Enter-comm

Zine
Title:	Enter-comm
Publisher:	Canadian Contingent Press
Editor(s):	Jackie Fulton, Marjorie McKenna, Maureen McKenna, Nancy Chapman, Sheila Hawley, Wendy Rockburn
Date(s):	1979-1986
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
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Enter-comm is a Star Trek: TOS anthology published in Canada.

flyer printed in Falcon's Flight #4

It is one example of a mostly and sort-of gen zine that touches on K/S in a way that thirty years later, some fans may describe as pre-slash.

Slash

In 1980, two fans included this zine in their list of K/S stories that they enjoyed.

We have read opinions on the K/S relationship. We believe the best K/S zine was by Susan K. James & Carol Frisbie. It was called Nightvisions. We wish other Trek writers would write these type of zines. We also like the fanzine from Canada called Inter Com [sic] It has a different kind of K/S. It has Kirk as a female. They took it from the episode Turnabout Intruder. That is the kind of K/S we like. So please, all those K/S writers out there — please start writing these type of novels and stories we have mentioned.

Issue 1

cover of issue #1

Enter-comm 1 was published in 1979 and contains 178 pages.

The art is by * P.S. Nim, Todd Hamilton, Kathy Carlson (her portrait of Janice Lester originally appeared in Naked Times #2), James Odbert, Brendan Hawley and Cameron McLeod.

• Prelude by Miles Coburn ("He wanted to dissuade Kirk from command... but... the desire for a starship was too strong.") (4)
• Sehlat by B.P. Hynes (22)
• Breaking Point by Wendy Rockburn ("Homeward bound from Babel, Amanda tells Kirk about a turning point in Spock's adolescence.") (23)
• Bright Dawning by Catherine M. Vye (30)
• Questions by Marjorie McKenna (31)
• The Morning After by Kandie Stripe ("McCoy's attempt to 'help' Spock after a night of celebration.") (32)
• Another Side to the Matter by Lyn Saunders (35)
• Do We Belong? by Nancy Chapman (44)
• Enterprise by Marjorie McKenna (45)
• James Doohan Interview (46)
• Through All the Weary Hours by Sheila Hawley (This appears to be, according to a review in The Clipper Trade Ship #30, a "sequel" with a different ending to "Bitter Sky, Winter Wind" by Virginia Green in Matter/Antimatter #1.) (50)
• For Auld Lang Syne by Wendy Rockburn ("Even a five year mission has to end sometime.") (reprinted in Computer Playback #5) (65)
• The End of It All? by Nancy Chapman (78)
• Time and Music by Abigail Waldren ("McCoy and the rest of the crew attempt to help Spock deal with the death of Jim Kirk.") (80)
• Land of Shadows by Doreen Brown (94)
• Parallell by Wendy Rockburn (103)
• "...and now for something completely different" by Sue S (This is the first part an authorized sequel to "Turnabout Alternative" in King Grope.)) ("Jim thought it over, picturing herself telling the Vulcan he was going to be a father. She couldn't do it.") (sequel is in the next issue) (104)
• Who Said, 'One More Time'!? by Todd Hamilton (127)
• Caption Contest (128)
• George Takei Interview (130)
• The Will of Kirk by Margaret-Anne Park (134)
• Starfleet Regrets by Sheila Hawley and Nancy Chapman (135)
• The Red Riding Hood Syndrome by Susan Smallpiece ) ("Spock's maternal grandmother visits the Enterprise.") (also published as a standalone zine) (137)
• Coming Home by Shawn Marks (166)
• Division by Marjorie McKenna (169)
• Absent Friends by Andrea Morton-Cummings ("Kirk and Sarek in their twilight years.") (170)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

Enter-Comm is produced by Canadian Contingent Press. They present a mixture of stories and articles, including a very funny piece called "The Red Riding Hood Syndrome."

Excellent mimeo, bound in sturdy covers, taped spine. Art ranges from silhouettes and funny cartoons to Todd Hamilton's beautiful portraits and P.S. Nim's find illos. All Trek, G-rated.

This zine ranges in content from long serious stories to interviews with Jim Doohan and George Takei. It also features one of my all-time favorite humorous tales, "The Red Riding Hood Syndrome", by Susan Smallpiece, which I thought had been previously published by a British zine, but no credit given here. This story features Spock's amorous human grandmother aboard the Enterprise as she sets her cap (as she would put it) first for the Captain, then for McCoy. So skillfully is the theme handled that it never degenerates into slapstick, just pure belly laughter from start to finish. EC #2 ($8.5) and $7.00) has a sequel involving a beautiful cousin of Spock's which is much less successful, though fun.

"Through All The Weary Hours", by Sheila Hawley is a sequel to the tragic "Bitter Sky, Winter Wind" in MATTER/ANTI-MATTER #1, and of course rescues Spock this time, but does so in an unrealistic setting. It purports to have Chekov and Sulu secretly beam down to the planet and succeed where the whole crew and all the ship's technology failed before. For one thing, nobody leaves the ship without the instrument tell-tales recording aid reporting on the fact, as we saw in a number of episodes, and for another, it is too highly coincidental for a mentally impaired Spock to suddenly gain back his mind just in time to save Chekov from the wolves. The writing also suffers from sentimentality and is broken up into short choppy segments.

"Time and Music" by Abigail Waldren offers a thoughtful approach to what would happen to Spock if Kirk died and he were left captaining the Enterprise.

The longest and most impressive story featured in this issue is "...And Now For Something Completely Different" by Sue Stuart, which is based on the possibility that Kirk could have lost his own body when Janice Lester dies in an aftermath of "Turnabout Intruder," and remains the captain of the Enterprise in hers. Naturally there is a romance with Spock, culminating in marriage — and the birth of twins! It's all done in great good humor, very inoffensively even if it does seem strange to keep referring to "her" as Jim. Thought provoking.

There are many short pieces, verses, and much humor, including hilarious jabs at inconsistencies in The Movie. Both issues 1 and 2 are available to date, and #3 is planned for September. A good buy for pure entertainment.

Issue 2

cover of issue #2

Enter-comm 2 was published in 1980 and contains 106 pages.

The art is by Pat Stall, Vida Hull, P.S. Nim, Merle Decker, Mike Verina, Monica Mitchell, Brendan Hawley, Cameron MacLeod, William (Bill) Smith, and Kathy Carlson.

• The Captain's Corporation by Helen Sneddon) (reprinted in Computer Playback #5) (4)
• Off-Duty, part 1 by Anne Snell (8)
• A Matter of Trust by Ginna LaCroix (also in Trek Encore #2) (12)
• No Beach to Walk On by Marjorie McKenna (30)
• Anniversary! by A. Bunker, Esquire (31)
• The Will of Landru by Crystal Ann Taylor (32)
• Boundless Love by Pat M ("Kirk closed his eyes. he couldn't bear to watch this final parting... From now on he was on his own.") (35)
• Poem, Boundless Love by S. Meek (61)
• Sailship by Marjorie McKenna (62)
• ST-TMP review (63)
• Sandpiper by Wendy Rockburn (65)
• The Test by Sharon Fall (79)
• One Finger Symphony by Eileen Roy ("McCoy helps a despondent Christine deal with her feelings about Spock.") (also in Warped Space #43 and Kraith Collected Volume #6) (80)
• Home Again by Jean Stevenson ("A reunion with Joanna told from her point of view.") (83)
• Beyond the Fringe by Anne Snell (reprinted from Enterprise Log Entries #15) (86)
• Addendum by Linda Grech (89)
• Difference That is No Difference by Sue aka The Android (sequel to "... and now for something completely different." This is the second part an authorized sequel to "Turnabout Alternative" in King Grope.) (91)
• Bones by Linda Grech (112)
• Survivor by Wendy Rockburn (114)
• The Wait by Marjorie McKenna (116)
• Miranda by A. Phyller (118)
• A Relatively Close Encounter by Susan Smallpiece ("Meet Angelica, another of Spock's relatives.") (119)
• Off-Duty, part 2 by Anne Snell (153)
• The Sky's the Limit by Abigail Waldren (157)

• 

  from issue #2, Brendon Hawley, caricature of Gene Roddenberry

• 

  from issue #2, Michael Verinia

• 

  from issue #2, Kathy Carlson

• 

  from issue #2, Merle Decker

• 

  from issue #2, P.S. Nim

• 

  from issue #2, Pat Stall, for "Difference That Is No Difference"

• 

  from issue #2, Pat Stall, for "Difference That Is No Difference"

• 

  from issue #2, Pat Stall, for "Difference That Is No Difference"

• 

  from issue #2, William Smith

• 

  from issue #2, Vida Hull

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

Enter-comm' is a delightful zine from the North Country, our Canadian neighbors. It is beautifully put together, with a certain slant towards K/S relationship stories, though not X or even R-rated, and it is obviously done with a great deal of love... Issue 2 contains several long and short stories, a sprinkling of vignettes, and some fine poetry. 'Difference That Makes No Difference' is the third in a series of stories which started in one of the Gropes. The premise: what would have happened to Kirk and Spock if Kirk had been forced to stay in Janice Lester's body? If one is able to suspend one's belief (something that is often necessary in K/S-oriented stories), the idea works very well. And the author writes quite well also. (A suggestion to the editors: if the series is to continue, it might be a good idea to synopsize what happened in the stories that are now out of print.) The accompanying Pat Stall illos are excellent. There is also a nice, gentle post-'Tomorrow is Yesterday' shore-leave story (with the rest of the bridge crew as well as Kirk and Spock). 'Standpiper' (where HAS this author been hiding?), doesn't pretend to be anything really deep or psychologically probing --just a soft story about friendship and companionship (yes, they are different.) The most powerful story in the zine is 'Boundless Love.' All I will say about it is that it concerns love and death. I don't want to give away any more than that. It's heartrending, and at the same time uplifting. Scattered throughout the zine are 'marginals' that will have you holding your sides with laughter. The 'Enter-Comm ST-TWP Awards' make certain astute, acerbic, yet loving, comments about our favorite movie. The artwork is general ranges from average to excellent, and the reproduction is good... The editors have done an excellent job, as has the typist. Aside from a few problems with knowing where to put the apostrophes and when to use single quotes (sorry -- a couple of pet peeves of mine, although the second may be due to cultural variations between our two countries), this is technically very well done, as well as having very satisfying content.

Issue 3

cover of issue #3

Enter-comm 3 was published in 1980 and contains 152 pages. This issue may have mild same sex themes.

The artwork is by Desire Gonzales, Barbara P. Gordon, Kathy Carlson, Gee Moaven, P.S. Nim, James Odbert, Richard G. Pollet, Maureen McKenna, and Gail LaBossiere.

• There But For the Grace by Wendy Rockburn ("A chance encounter with a Starfleet Captain who lost his two closest friends reaffirms Jim Kirk's appreciation of Spock and McCoy.") (4)
• Circles by Marjorie McKenna (12)
• Precious Friend by Jimmye Galli (13)
• The Walk by Desire Gonzales (14)
• Castaway by Mary Aldridge (15)
• If!, poem by C. Mallet (18)
• Ceremony on Troyius by Elizabeth Holden (19)
• Why?, poem by Gene S. Delapenia (22)
• The Time That Was by Mary A. Smith (23)
• Denouement by Sheila Hawley (40)
• Quest, poem by Catherine M. Vye (42)
• Things Have Changed, poem by Richard G. Pollet (43)
• In the Matter of the D'R-am-bri by Mary Aldridge (44)
• Miri's Paradise Syndrom by Jay Geagan, Sean Narum and Mark Klassen (52)
• A Battle Won by Desire Gonzales (53)
• Elisium, poem by Jimmye Galli (57)
• Odd Manv by Gene S. Delapenia (59)
• The Flight, poem by Ginna LaCroix (also in Trek Encore #3) (60)
• Argelian Interlude by Darien Duck (61)
• Beyond the Mirror (story and poem) by Linda Maclaren and Gina Martin (reprinted from Dreadnought Explorations #5) (67)
• A Fable by Gene S. Delapenia (82)
• A Lonely Night by Wendy Rockburn (84)
• The Wasted Time by Toni Cardinal-Price (87)
• V'ger, poem by Marjorie McKenna (90)
• Returns, poem by Victoria Clark (91)
• The Dictates of Conscience by Wendy Rockburn (92)
• Welcome Aboard, poem by Barbara Storey (99)
• Tribble Trek: The Trouble with Humans by S. Meek and Tina Pole (reprinted from Zenith #2) (100)
• Denial, poem by Jimmye Galli (104)
• Vulcan Sonnet: Legendary, poem by Elizabeth Holden (106)
• The Secret by Wendy Rockburn (107)
• Meeting Once, poem by Catherine M. Vye (109)
• Postscript by Abigail Waldren (110)
• Reunion, poem by Pat M (114)
• The Man in the Captain's Shirt by Wendy Rockburn (117)
• The Volcano by Elizabeth Holden (119)
• Rebirth in an Instant, poem by Toni Cardinal-Price (140)
• Nomad, poem by Richard G. Pollet (142)
• Some Small Way, poem by Desire Gonzales (143)
• Immortality, poem by Marjorie McKenna (144)
• Rainbow Connection by Andrea Morton-Cummings (145)
• To the Fallen One, poem by Catherine M. Vye (152)

• 

  from issue #3, Barbara P. Gordon

• 

  from issue #3, P.S. Nim

• 

  from issue #3, Gail LaBossiere

• 

  from issue #3, Gail LaBossiere

• 

  from issue #3, Gail LaBossiere

• 

  from issue #3, Gail LaBossiere

• 

  from issue #3, Richard G. Pollet

• 

  from issue #3, Kathy Carlson

• 

  from issue #3, Gee Moaven

• 

  from issue #3

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

ENTER-COMM is a good looking zine which shows care and skill on the part of the editors. The layout is attractive, there is a nice balance of stories and poetry, and the artwork is not too awful. When I first read this zine last sunnier, I found myself pleasantly satisfied and enjoyed it thoroughly. When I picked It up again, several months later to write this review, I discovered that I couldn't remember enough of it to do an adequate job and had to re-read practically the whole thing.

And, therein lies ENTER-COMM's biggest problem. From the front cover, which is neat but totally uninspired, through the artwork -- collectively mediocre (the one exception is Gee Moaven's illo on page 83 -- a beautiful piece of art, wish we'd see more of her again), to the nice quiet little stories and poetry, ENTER-COMM remains consistently forgettable. This is not to say that the zine is not good or that it isn't worth your time. On the contrary, ENTER-COMM is a very pleasant way to spend several hours. Most of the stories are very short — vignettes, really -- but they have a nice feel to them and if they are not totally earth-shaking, devastating, or thought-provoking, neither did I find myself disagreeing with very much. ENTER-COMM is good entertainment.

For the purpose of review, there are somethings which bear mentioning because they provide a slightly different look at things or they have an exceptionally 'right feel' to them. "There But For The Grace" by Wendy Rockburn is eight pages, a post-Paradise Syndrome story. Kirk, Spock and McCoy go on a shore leave so that Kirk can adjust to Miramanee's death and Spock can get some rest after his long vigil to rescue Kirk. Leaving Spock and McCoy at a hotel. Kirk wanders out to the beach alone and comes upon an old friend, also a starship captain. The other captain confides in Kirk that he has just lost his two best friends on a mission and is totally devastated. Sympathetic, Kirk realises "there but for the grace..." and rushes hack to be with his friends, sharply made aware once more of their value and importance to him. It's not a new theme, but it has some especially nice moments in it.

In "In the Matter of the D'R-am-bri" by Mary Aldrldge, we have eight pages from Kang the Klingon's point of view remembering to his young son an incident in which he saved the life of the Enterprise's captain. Although the Klingons-at-home sound vaguely like Vulcans, the story nevertheless offers a different approach to our familiar characters. Another 'different' story -'strange' might be a better word - is "The Time That Has by Mary A. Smith. Sixteen pages in length, it was one of the longer pieces in the zine and found Kirk, Spock and McCoy going back in time to twentieth century (of course) Denver, where a secret scientific station called CAST (Center for the Advancement of Scientific Technology) was in operation. The rather thin, at times confusing, plot evolves with the Enterprise officers interacting with a whole group of the author's original characters, most of which are far too under-developed. There seemed to be just too much story to be told in this amount of pages and the result was something which promised to be interesting but ended up being a choppy, incomplete tale about people whom the reader didn't have a chance to know or care about. To the author's credit. Kirk, Spock and McCoy do learn something — about the past — as a result of their adventure, so the story is at least somewhat justified.

"Denouement" by Sheila Hawley, "Argellan Interlude" by Darien Duck, "A Lonely Night" by Wendy Rockburn, "A Battle Won" by Desire Gonzales, and "The Wasted Time" by Toni Cardinal-Price are all under-four-page vignettes that convey nice feelings but say nothing new or significant. "Postscript' is an interesting vignette by Abigail Waldren speculating on a confrontation between Kirk and Nogura after the movie.

"The Dictates of Conscience" a six page short story by Wendy Rockburn recounts an old incident between Spock and Pike and resolves into Spock's awareness and appreciation of the differences between Kirk and the former Enterprise commander. A re-hashing of an old theme, this version is not one of the better ones I've read and made me wonder why the author bothered to write it -- again.

One of the best things in the zine was a reprint from DREADNAUGHT EXPLORATIONS, "Beyond the Mirror" by Gina MacClaren and Linda Martin. This is an interesting and quite possible look at the Mirror Kirk on our Enterprise while our Kirk is on the Empire's ship -- the side we never saw on TV. It is written with a great deal of insight and understanding of the characters which makes it a believable story and a plausible explanation of the events that took place and it ties in nicely with the scenes we saw on the episode.

If the Mirror story is the best in the zine, then, unequivocally, the worst is "The Volcano" -- twenty-one pages of boredom, poor plotting and even worse characterization by Elizabeth Holden. The author creates Arian, a (for lack of a better description) Mary Sue of the worst kind. Very young, outstandingly brilliant. Insufferably noble, she captivates Chekov and then proceeds to 'throw him over and simultaneously evolve into a desirable woman under the expert guidance of an infatuated Captain Kirk. All of this happens while the ship is being held in a red-alert, Tholian Web emergency and Kirk Is waiting for Spock to figure out some way to resolve their dilemma. Arian is not even useful to the plot in that she is instrumental in solving the problem. While the emergency is happening, she is sobbing in Chekov's arms... and learning all about kissing, for of course, she is also quite inexperienced in the ways of the world. The situation is eventually remedied, no thanks to Arian, Chekov and very little to Kirk, Kirk remarkably comes out a hero, and Chekov learns the bitter truth that he should never try to best his Captain in matters of love. Ho-hum... I'm sorry I read it. Actually, the term 'Mary Sue' has become somewhat derogatory in fanfic and it really shouldn't be. A story with a strong, believable female character can be quite effective. In this story, however, Arian adds nothing to the plot except that she's there. She entertains and is entertained by Chekov and later, the Captain, while the mighty starship is being used to transport her back to Earth because she's so important. Unfortunately, she didn't get to use this importance anywhere in the story. One more story deserves mentioning because it is interesting and sad. "The Rainbow Connection" by Andrea Morton-Cummings is the sequel to "Absent Friends" in E-C I and although I can't quite remember the first story and didn't have immediate access to the issue, this part was nevertheless a moving, lump-in-your-throat kind of tale of an aging Kirk recovering from wounds and living with Sarek after Spock's death. Since Amanda too, is dead, and Sarek is quite old;, the two men take comfort in each other. Improbable, but it hurts enough so that you won't care. The poetry in ENTER-COMM III is, for the most part, very good.

There are seven poems inspired by ST-TMP — "Reunion" by Pat Mitchell, "The Flight" by Ginna LaCroix, "V'Ger" by Marjorie McKenna, "Returns" by Victoria Clark, "Welcome Aboard" by Barbara Storey, "Vulcan Sonnet" by Elizabeth Holden and "Rebirth in an Instant" by Tori Cardinal-Price. All are superior, each one (except "V'Ger") deals primarily with Kirk and Spock and each is expressed in a slightly different way so that they are collectively satisfying. "Circles" also by Marjorie McCenna is a beautiful piece, but those by Gene S. Delapenia, "Why" and "Odd Man" are nice themes which suffer from awkward wording and lack of rhythm. The rest of the poetry fell just short of being successful for various reasons, mainly the inability to create moods through poetic imagery and lyrical lines.

There are touches of humor in ENTER-COMM, so compatible to the Trek universe, and a number of one page bits to fill out the zine. It is obvious that the editors try hard to please while producing a good quality zine. In these endeavors they are quite successful and at six dollars, it is well worth your money.

[a fan's comment regarding the previous review]: My only real complaint is that at one point the reviewer of Enter-comm was, I felt, very harsh in her criticism of a story by an author that I had never heard of. It would be very easy for a zine to inadvertently tread on a new crop of Trek writers and do real damage to the new souls just finding the courage to try their wings. I hope that STYLUS does not fall prey to this danger and in their zeal for improves and forget the fact that we all had beginnings. STYLUS—an excellent zine for anyone serious about improving their craft, and very definitely worth your zine green.

[a fan's comment regarding the previous review]: ...I have one last burning question. Is anyone on your staff part barracuda? I really stung over the review of Elizabeth Holden's story, 'The Volcano". I don't know the lady. I've never heard of her before. Chances are if she's new and a sensitive person, I won't again. A zine is a powerful weapon, wield it carefully please, and with knowledge of at whom you're aiming it. ('If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen' is a nice escape phrase but it speaks little for tolerance and nothing for gentleness.) All of the things stated could have been made equally clear in a much more thoughtful way.

[a fan's comment regarding the previous review]: My reading STYLUS is essentially vicarious, developing my sense of the process involved in writing/editing/publishing. I hope the issue of "how to review" does not billow... since the great T'Yenta struggle set on, a general caution to kindness is appropriate. But the peskiest times in "rejoicing in our differences" is when the differences are really different. Even the cranky have their place (if only to serve as object lesson to the rest of us).

Issue 4

cover of issue #4

Enter-comm 4 was published in February 1981 and contains 158 pages.

• Sometimes Just The Nearness by Denise Tatiwell, illustrated by Merle Decker ("Trapped by unknown forces and many of the crew ill, including Kirk, McCoy strives to cure the illness while Spock works to release the ship.") (4)
• 23rd Century Woman by Richard G. Pollet (33)
• Beyond The Mirror, part 2 by Linda Maclaren and Gina Martin, illustrated by Janet Rosenfeld ("Mirror-Kirk's experiences on the other Enterprise have given him some surprising new perspectives.") (34)
• Sage by Marjorie McKenna, illustrated by Gee Moaven (42)
• The Key by Wendy Rockburn ("After the events of "Amok Time", Uhura eases Spock's mind with music.") (45)
• My Friend by Sharon C.P. Fall (49)
• If Only by Crystal Ann Taylor, illustrated by Pat Kilner (50)
• You Can’t Get There From Here by Wendy Rockburn, illustrated by Richard Karasinksi ("Spock, Kirk and McCoy are kidnaped to prevent them from being the Federation's representatives at a very important ceremony. Story tells of their humorous adventures as they attempt to get to the ceremonies on time.") (52)
• Stalemate by Jimmye Galli (77)
• Candle in the Dark by Wendy Rockburn, illustrated by Nan Lewis ("McCoy's letter to Joanna telling of Spock's disappearance and the reaction of Jim Kirk.") (79)
• The Morn Of Armageddon by David Hewens ("All is lost and the Enterprise is doomed...or is it?") (81)
• In A Different Reality by Darien Duck ("In an AU where V'Ger never appeared and Decker left with the Enterprise, McCoy and Spock work to help a despondent Kirk, and discover a connection between Spock's departure and Kirk's acceptance of the Admiralty.") (85)
• Spacerrata by Sharon Fall (103)
• Sirensong by Jimmye Galli, illustrated by Janet Rosenfeld (104)
• A Foretaste Of Death by Caroline Nixon ("Christine is leaving the ship, and Spock pays her a bittersweet farewell.") (106)
• The Price of Inflation by Judy Atwell (110)
• Beyond The Mirror Part 3 by Linda Maclaren and Gina Martin, illustrated by Beverly Zuk ("Mirror-Kirk and his crew quietly begin to plot revolution.") (113)
• Absence Makes The Heart... by Teresa Marie Annette, illustrated by P.S. Nim ("Kirk is dismayed by the change in Spock when he reappears during the V'Ger crisis.") (124)
• Past to Present by Teresa Marie Annette (127)
• To Repent Past Transgressions by Jimmye Galli (128)
• S’havri by Janet Rosenfeld, illustrated by Kathy Carlson ("After Spock's death, Kirk rediscovers him in a different form.") (131)
• The Wings That Fly Us Home, by Jacky Fulton (141)
• In Thought by Sharon C.P. Fall, illustrated by P.S. Nim (142)
• Something Worth Having by Billie Phillips, illustrated by Mike Verina ("After a mission gone badly wrong, Spock doesn't remember what happened and Kirk refuses to talk about it, and the stress almost tears their relationship apart.") (144)

• 

  from issue #4, Merle Decker

• 

  from issue #4, Janet Rosenfeld

• 

  from issue #4, Richard Pollet

• 

  from issue #4, Gee Moaven

• 

  from issue #4, Pat Kilner

• 

  from issue #4, Nan Lewis

• 

  from issue #4, Beverly Zuk

• 

  from issue #4, Beverly Zuk

• 

  from issue #4, E. Winder

• 

  from issue #4, P.S. Nim

• 

  from issue #4, Kathy Carlson

• 

  from issue #4, Michael Verina

• 

  from issue #4, Gee Moaven

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4

[zine]: EC4 is a delightful Canadian production that may not be well known among the Midwest fen, as the zine is not listed in the usual zine listings. As one may guess from the opening comment, this reviewer found the zine to be a welcome change of pace from the many poorly produced, insipid story filled zines which are on the market today. (Unfortunately, while fan fiction and art is a labor of love, some is just not very good.) First of all, the price is reasonable, a mere $7.00 in a day and age when one must sell, quarterly, a younger brother to finance a zine habit. Secondly, from a technical standpoint, EC4 was well done. There are very, very few typos. The zine is well-bound so it won't dissolve after the first careful perusal. The print is clear. The layout is very attractive. Very high marks go to the editors for a zine that is attractively done. A third aspect of EC4 which deserves kudos is the excellent artwork. Some of the finest extant artists in fandom have contributed their handiwork, Decker, Moaven, Nim, Verina, Zuk, Lewis, and Carlson are among the well known artists but the work of Pollet, Rosenfeld, Kilner, Karasinkski and Winder are also very good. Lewis tries her hand at a non-stipple portrait which is quite lovely. Rosenfld's photos are particularly attractive. Actually, I found all of the art to be well done, even that by artists whose work I don't normally care for. Lastly, the contents. Here the zine fluctuates widely. Most of the work is quite entertaining. A few pieces stand out: 'Candle in the Dark' and 'Key' are superb. They are well crafted, short and poignant. Rockburn's longer story is humorous but is not as well fabricated as the other two mentioned... The 'Beyond the Mirror' pieces by Maclaren and Martin are very good conceptually but the writing is choppy and the characterization is a bit truncated. Work of this sort should not be broken up in the way it has been... With the exception of one story which I shall discuss momentarily, all of the other work in the zine is very good. There is even a cute story by Hewens (my god! a male writer!)... The only discordant note in the zine is the story 'S'havri.' I have suffered along with Kirk and Spock the whims of writers which include maiming, terrible mutilation, horrible marriages of either to anyone but the other (I am a K/S person if the truth be known), etc., etc., but I cannot abided by what Rosenfelf does to Spock. Having flipped through the zine to look at the illos I knew as soon as Spock got zapped what was coming. Only sheer will power forced me to read the rest of the story! Apparently, the author is not a Spock fan. If she is, how could she possibly conceive of our beloved Vulcan as a .... ??? (Sorry, you'll have to get the zine for more details. Buy a copy of this zine. It is money well spent.

There's plenty of excellent artwork in this issue. Artists include Decker, Verina, Nim, Moowen, and Lewis. For those who enjoy poetry, you should be well- satisfied. "Sometimes Just the Nearness,” by Denise Tathwell, has the crew struggling to find a way out of an area of non-space.Their problems are compounded by a viral infection incapacitating a large number of people, including the captain. "Beyond the Mirror Pt. 2,” by Linda Maclaren and Gina Martin, is very well done. Several ’other’ characters interacting with the mirror Kirk and Spock help maintain a high level of suspense and intrigue. Kirk begins to question his unthinking obedience to the Empire. In "...Pt. 3" Kirk and Spock continue to break free of the Empire’s influence. I am a little concerned that the mirror characters, particularly Kirk, are becoming too much like ours. Or perhaps it’s because the changes are occurring so rapidly. "The Key," by Wendy Rockburn, is a pleasing little story about Spock and Uhura’s shared love music.

"You Can’t Get There from Here,” by Wendy Rockburn, has Kirk, Spock, and McCoy discover that some days it just doesn’t pay to attempt a good deed in a humor filled tale. ”In a Different Reality,” by Darien Duck, is a plausible "what if" story that’s nicely handled. What if V’ger hadn’t shown up, and Kirk really loses the ship to Decker? Also, there’s some surprising speculations about Kirk during his tenure as an admiral. "S'havri" by Janet Rosenfeld, poignantly illustrates the great lengths that Kirk is willing to go to protect someone he loves.

Issue 5

front cover of issue #5

back cover of issue #5

Enter-comm 5 was published in January 1982 and contains 165 pages.

It has art by Nan Lewis, Kathy Carlson, Richard G. Pollet, Desire Gonzales, Mary Stacy-MacDonald, Janet Rosenfeld, Pat Kilner, P.S. Nim, Ann Crouch, and Merle Decker.

• Editorial (3)
• Sunshine for Sale by Pamela S. Rose (reprinted in Only Trek #2) (4)
• From the Rim of Starlight, poem by Richard G. Pollet (10)
• Prediction, poem by Gene S. Delapeneia (11)
• To Spock in Meditation, poem by Ruth Kurz (13)
• A Test of Pride by Joyce Tullock ("A torrential rainstorm has destroyed an archaeological research project with which Dr. McCoy was serving. This story reveals the feelings of Kirk, Spock and others as they search for the Doctor, and of McCoy as he struggles to survive.") (14)

The Dying Light, poem by Marjorie McKenna (29)

• The Night Before Christmas, poem by Anne Rowland (30)
• Hail, Hail, poem by Monica Mitchell (31)
• Destiny's Dreamers by Pat Mitchell (33)
• Longing, poem by Marion McChesney (35)
• Directions, poem Pat Mitchell (36)
• Life After Life by Teresa Marie Annette (37)
• An Oddity, poem by Gene S. Delapenia (52)
• The Boredom Syndrome , poem by Sansoucy Kathenor (54)
• A Place in the Stars by Mary Aldridge ("A female relation of Kang confronts the Klingon council to assert the rights of women to be warriors and space-farers.") (60)
• The Decision, poem by Karen Hayden (67)
• Koloth Hatches His Revenge by Linda Maclaren, Gina Martin, & Carol Yocum. (68)
• The Reason Why by Darien Duck ("McCoy's account of the events of Spock's first Pon Farr.") (81)
• Discovery, poem by Sharon C.P. Fall (85)
• In Concert, poem by Anne Rowland (87)
• Vulcan Sonnet: Mythical, poem by Elizabeth Holden (88)
• A Toast to Innocence by Kate Bennett (89)
• sounding Board, poem by Ruth Kurz (107)
• Reunions/Private Thoughts, poems by Linda Neel and Sharon Fetter (108)
• Shopping Spree, poem by Anne Rowland (114)
• two cartoons by Monica Mitchell (116)
• Forbidden Fruit by Elizabeth Holden ("A short short of young computer-whiz Spock being drawn to the study of the stars, while Sarek is on Earth to oppose the expansion of Starfleet into space exploration.") (117)
• Truths by Ginna LaCroix (also in Trek Encore #3) (122)
• Touching and Touched by Anne Rowland (164)
• The Most Recent Violation of the Prime Directive, poem by Neil Foster (back cover)

• 

  from issue #5, Nan Lewis

• 

  from issue #5, Kathy Carlson

• 

  from issue #5, Kathy Carlson

• 

  from issue #5, Richard G. Pollet (a jab at Janice Rand that alludes to her promiscuity)

• 

  from issue #5, Mary Stacy-McDonald

• 

  from issue #5, Pat Kilner

• 

  from issue #5, Monica McGaskell

• 

  from issue #5, P.S. Nim

• 

  from issue #5, Ann Crouch

• 

  from issue #5, Merle Decker

• 

  from issue #5, Merle Decker

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5

See reactions and reviews for Sunshine for Sale.

See reactions and reviews for Life After Life.

See reactions and reviews for Koloth Hatches His Revenge.

See reactions and reviews for The Reason Why.

See reactions and reviews for A Toast to Innocence.

See reactions and reviews for A Test of Pride.

See reactions and reviews for Truths.

[zine]:

• "Sunshine for Sale" / Recalled from shore leave, Kevin Riley buys a bottle of "sunshine from home" and lets it out on the Enterprise, where it proves to be just what a tired crew needed - instantaneous visits home. Good fun.
• "A Test of Pride" / Shortly after McCoy's reactivation and the V'Ger affair, the doctor is sent on loan to an archaeological team - which then abandons him for dead in a flooded city. Kirk agonizes over having dragged McCoy away from home and to his death. It is Spock who urges optimism, and Chekov who finally finds the doctor, who has survived by using himself as bait to kill and eat the local blood-sucking fauna. Excellent characterization all around and a good combination of adventure story and relationship dilemma.
• "Destiny's Dreamers" / Vignettes of Spock and Kirk, each in his Academy days, longing for a true friend.
• "Life After Life" / Spock uses a mind meld to retrieve brain-dead Kirk from heaven. The writing is fine, but too much sugar and mysticism for my taste.
• "A Place in the Stars" / A female relation of Kang confronts the Klingon council to assert the rights of women to be warriors and space-farers.
• "Koloth Hatches His Revenge" / Striving to improve his capacity for imaginative thinking, Koloth comes up with the perfect revenge for the tribbles Kirk sent to his ship. He sends 50 Gorn eggs to Kirk, so that the baby Gornlings all imprint on him at hatching. A charmer. The story takes place in the Dreadnought Explorations storyline, but that is not particularly important to enjoyment of the tale.
• "The Reason Why" / Events of "Amok Time" from McCoy's pov, told through his impressions and thoughts at the time. The "why" is - why did McCoy have that hypo of neurotoxin ready? And the solution is sensible - he'd been keeping it handy at all times as a tranquilizer for Spock in case it was needed.
• "A Toast to Innocence" / Kirk grapples with fellow admirals opposing his recommendations on a nasty situation with the Orions, as well as with his marriage to Lori and his rocky friendship with McCoy -- who dresses him down for his inability to commit and for pushing Spock away, before he bids farewell to take a research position himself. Well written, convincing introspections for Kirk.
• "Forbidden Fruit" / Pleasant little short of young computer-whiz Spock being drawn to the study of the stars, while Sarek is on Earth to oppose the expansion of Starfleet into space exploration.
• "Truths" / Post-V'Ger. Kirk and Spock attempt a first contact while Enterprise is called away. They are treated well enough, then suddenly arrested by the military leader who takes Spock for a Romulan and plans to execute him. Kirk escapes, rescues Spock and the two are pointed on an arduous journey toward safety high in the mountains, with Kirk desperately ill from altitude sickness and the military in pursuit. Throughout, both Kirk and Spock question Kirk's ability to resume command with his new disillusionment from serving in the Admiralty. A somewhat rambling tale with a lot of oft-used elements, including powerful telepaths testing and learning from the Kirk & Spock friendship. Pretty high smarm content.
• "Touching and Touched" / Vignette of Spock with daughter.

Issue 6

cover of issue #6

Enter-comm 6 was published in May 1983 and contains 150 pages. Art by Caro Hedge, Maureen B., Pat Kilner, Vel Jaeger, Ruth Kurz, Desire' Gonzales, and Barbara Hernon.

• Editorial (3)
• A Cat's Life by The Canadian Feline Contingent (4)
• Bird in a Gilded Cage by Kate Bennett (4)
• Leila by Billie Phillips (22)
• Loneliness by Anne Rowland (23)
• By My Side by Patricia Demetri (24)
• The Ring by Linda Neel (25)
• Miracles and Dreams by Phillippa Kirkby (26)
• Vulcan Collage by Shellie Whild (45)
• The Kismet by K. V. Wylie (46) ("Is Dr. McCoy the Wayfarer who will save the people of Peron? A fatally ill McCoy is believed to be.")
• Beyond Antares by Gene S. Delapenia (71)
• Re-Emergence by Kathy Resch (72)
• Night Shade by Vel Jaeger (76)
• Lament for the Lost by Melanie Athene (79)
• Dreamweaver by Pamela Edwards Becker ("She's been spending every sleeping moment managing a bunch of rowdy males.") (80)
• One of Those Days by Anne Rowland (89)
• Enterprise Christmas by Pam Boure (93)
• Tropical Trek by Diane Miskiewicz ("His pack was so full he looks like a deformed camel. Anyway, he wants to know if the owner of the black, lace 36-D wants it back.") (94)
• Revealed by Pam Boure (104)
• Vulcan Soliloquy by Elizabeth Holden (106)
• There are Always Possibilities by Anne Rowland (117)
• Infinite Curiosities by Teresa Marie Annette (119)
• Triskelian Remembrance by Teresa Marie Annette (120)
• The Doctor's Ode by K.V. Wylie (121)
• Choices by Anne Rowland (122)
• Memories by Sharon F (123)
• The Hero's Welcome by Gene S. Delapenia (131)
• The Needs of the One by Susan Mienecke (132)
• The Take by Frances Wilson (134) ("McCoy and Spock are on a mission to trade with the people of the Norii System for their crystallized minerals and to find a missing James Kirk.")
• Commitment by Ellen Kobrin (150)

Issue 7

front cover of issue #7, Chris Grahl

back cover of issue #7, Kathy Carlson

Enter-comm 7 was published in May 1984 and contains 115 pages.

It was edited by Maureen McKenna, Marjorie McKenna, Jacky Fulton, and Darien Duck.

• Editorial (2) (It consists of this: "This zine is dedicated to all fans who hate reading editorials and all editors who hate writing them." )
• The Perception Point by Frances M. Wilson, illustrated by Carole Swoboda (3)
• Klingons by Patricia Demetri (27)
• Captain's Cross by Meg fine, illustrated by L.S. Swisher (28)
• Until Now... by Crystal Ann Taylor (30)
• An Old Sweet Song of... by Debbie Painter, illustrations by Shelley Veltkamp (from issue #3, The love between two friends is shown as McCoy cares for Spock who is fatally ill as the result of the radiation accident that killed James Kirk.") (31)
• City Sounds by Jane McRae Nauman (39) (also appears in (Dreadnought Explorations Collected Edition #2)
• Devoid of Touch by Crystal Ann Taylor, illustrated by Charlene R. Sobczak (41)
• Acquital by Diane Miskiewicz and Cinde Deren (42)
• The Hagis is in the Fire for Sure by Meg Fine, illustrated by L.S. Swisher (59)
• Reaching Out, Letting Go by Jannean Elliott, illustrated by Ann Crouch (60)
• Transporter Blues Again by Meg Fine, illustrated by L.S. Swisher (115)

• 

  from issue #7, Ann Crouch

• 

  from issue #7, TACS

• 

  from issue #7, L.S. Swisher

• 

  from issue #7, Sherry Veltkamp

• 

  from issue #7, Sherry Veltkamp

• 

  from issue #7, Charlene R. Sobczak

• 

  from issue #7, L.S. Swisher

• 

  i from issue #7, TACS

Issue 8

cover of issue #8

Enter-comm 8 was published in June 1986 and contains 176 pages.

It won the 1987 Surak Award for Best Fanzine Design.

The art is by Emet Morris, Kathy Carlson, Cami Forsell, Desire Gonzales, and Nan Lewis.

• Come to the Stars by Marjorie McKenna (inside front cover)
• Cloud Dweller by Meg Fine (3)
• The Substitute by Charmaine Wood ("Leonard McCoy is on a leave of absence from the Enterprise, but we get a very good insight into the doctor through the eyes of his substitute.") (4)
• McCoy's Haiku by Desire Gonzales ("McCoy is stranded on a landing party assignment by an ion storm. Injured and alone he is rescued by the only inhabitant of the planet, a large humanoid female.") (9)
• Cathardis by Pam Boure (10)
• Viewpoints by Meg Fine (12)
• Time... and Time Again by Claudia Crawford (nominated for aFan Q) (13)
• McCoy's Discovery by Cathy Gilchrist (72)
• A Captain's Haiku by Desire Gonzales (89)
• "Ol' Indestructible" by Betsy Fisher (91)
• The Sallin Gift by Madona Skaff ("McCoy has received a gift from the Sallins, a crystalline stone with the power to intensify thoughts and dreams. The stone is so powerful that Spock is affected along with McCoy.") (92)
• The Hidden Side by Pam Boure (102)
• Aftermath by Desire Gonzales (103)
• The Heat of the Battle by L.S. Swisher (104)
• Shadows by Betsy Fisher (105)
• Reminiscence by Pam Boure (111)
• Price by Desire Gonzales (112)
• The Logical Solution by Madona Skaff (114)
• Love Letter to Mister Spock by Betsy Fisher (inside back cover)

• 

  from issue #8, Kathy Carlson

• 

  from issue #8, Nan Lewis

• 

  from issue #8, Desire Gonzales

• 

  from issue #8, Cami Forsell