Furaha

Zine
Title:	Furaha
Publisher:	Nichelle Nichols Fan Club
Editor(s):	Virginia Walker
Date(s):	1975-1978
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:	some flyers
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Furaha is a gen Star Trek: TOS fiction and art zine. It was published by the Nichelle Nichols Fan Club, who also put out a newsletter, Amani.

Regarding the zine's title: "Furaha" is the Swahili word for "joy."

Troubles

In fall of 1978, Winston Howlett wrote this personal statement:

Any published information about Winston Howlett taking over management and/or publication of 'Furaha' is premature and slightly erroneous. Please DO NOT send any orders for 'Furaha' or claims of back issues owed to Mpingo Press. When a formal statement about the establishment of the Furaha Complaint Department has been published, claims of back issues owed will then be accepted and dealt with.

The editor of Right of Statement, also published Howlett's denial that he was now in charge of the zine, and had this addition in 1978:

ISIS PRESS apologizes to Winston Howlett and to our readers for any inconvenience caused by our premature announcement of the formation of the FURAHA Complaint Department. All we can say is the statement was made in good faith. A member of our staff spoke to Winston to verify the rumor that an attempt would be made, under Winston's guidance, to straighten out the rather tangled circumstances surrounding the publication of FUHURA. Unfortunately, there was a break-down, and a possbile plan of action for an as-yet-determined future was reported as a definite plane. New fen, note: this is not an obligation on Winston's part. He had nothing to do with the publication of FUHURA, and any help he will give that zine is voluntary, a gift of love for a project he recipients, a zine he things is worth fighting for. Winston has received some letters taking him to task for the delay in delivering FUHURA. Hey , guys, have a heart! Winston's one of the good guys! Let's not start hassling him before he's even had a chance to make a final decision on the matter.

While Scuttlebutt had an announcement in its section on zines going to press that mentioned a seventh issue, it is unlikely that issue #7 ever made it to fruition. It was to have been "a Majel Barrett special featuring fiction and art of all her various incarnations, with fiction by Cantor, Emily, Witt. Art by Moaven. Target date of 9.77."

Further evidence of trouble as a fan in the fall of 1979 asks:

Does anyone know who or what will ever be done about 'Fuhura'? Several people I know received copies of #5 and #6 so I know they have been printed. I sent for these plus some back issues I was told were available. The checks were cashed, the total being about $20, but I never received the zines or any other word. I have written a couple of letters that were returned. I understand this group has disbanded and the zines placed in storage. Is anybody ever going to fill the orders that were tabled or do I write it off as a lost cause?

General Reactions and Reviews

This zine is a publication of the Nichelle Nichols Fan Club and it is something special. Exactly why is elusive, but there's an exuberance in the writing, in the who attitude of the zine, which raises it above the usual fan publication... The fiction almost all deals with the ST characters as rounded multi-dimensional beings, especially the women. There is no room for cardboard characters in Furaha. It's about people, be they human, Vulcan, or any other species.

FURAHA is the official publication of the Nichelle Nichols Fan Club. A secondary zine emphasis is on 'the women of Star Trek. ' The fiction is of excellent quality, and both reprints and original fiction are used. Reproduction is neat and clear, with excellent front and back covers.

As of this writing, 3 issues have been produced, and all three are of high quality in writing, although some artwork is very good, and some leaves quite a bit to be desired. Rating 4 stars out of 5 stars on the zine, but there is vast room for improvement in communications with the organization and in service, which would be rated a 1.

I'm very impressed by what I've had time to see so far: the art is some of the best in fandom, and the reproduction is very readable. The orientation, of course, is towards the character of "Uhura." Most of the stories are aimed at developing the personality and background of one of the most convin­cing and potentially captivating members of the Enterprise crew. Pick up a sample copy of FURAHA - this is one of the best ST fanzines you'd find.

Issue 1

front cover issue #1, Ellen Vartanoff

back cover issue #1, Merrie K.

Furaha 1 was published in March 1975 (second printing was December 1975) and contains 52 pages. The front cover is by Ellen Vartanoff. The inside art is by Laura Virgil, Robin Hill, Anji Valenza, Ros O. Ludwig (inside back cover), and Merrie K. (back cover).

• Esprit de Corps by A. Stuart Walker (a story about Number One, now a Commodore, and her return to the Enterprise) (1)
• art by Laura R. Virgil (3, 5, 9, 12)
• art, Tribbles by Robin Hill (12)
• Personal Log-Kirk by Virginia Walker (13)
• poetry by T'Lay (14)
• Shore Leave by "T' Lay" [Also in Space-Time Continuum #9] (a brief Kirk/Uhura encounter) (15)
• art by Laura Virgil (16)
• Personal Log—Spock by A. Stuart Walker and Virgina Walker (17)
• Creator by Stephan Clarke (the Enterprise returns to the twentieth-century) (18)
• art, Nomad by Laura Virgil (24)
• Last Skimmer to Jericho by W. Howlett (also in Probe #1, The Goddess Uhura issue; also Probe #5 (a science fiction story that gives a glimpse of African culture in the 23rd century) (25)
• art by Anji Valenza (38)

• 

  inside page from issue #1, Laura Virgil is the artist

• 

  inside page from issue #1, Anji Valenza is the artist

• 

  inside page from issue #1, inside back cover by Ros O. Ludwig

• 

  inside page from issue #1, first page of fic

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

See reactions and reviews for Last Skimmer to Jericho.

[zine]: The quality of the material in this journal makes it one of the very best publications of any of the fan clubs for the ST crew. 'Esprit de Corps' would come under the heading of everyday-life-on-the-Big E story, something that we see only bits and pieces of in other zines. In this particular story involving an inspection tour by none other than the former #1 ('Menagerie' parts one and two) there is a beautiful style used to describe the characters and actions and stands for itself as a charming piece. There are two personal logs as told mentally by Kirk and Spock; in them we get a glimpse at some of the small fantasies of both characters. 'Shore Leave' is a short story about Uhura on leave and the rendezvous she has with her date. 'Creator' is another form-story that many zine readers have seen before: the Enterprise goes back in time and catches ST while monitoring old-earth television. Although this story isn't new, Steve handles it well by mingling a familiarity of the 'feel' of the ship with good timing and writing. What has to be the best piece in this journal is 'Last Skimmer to Jericho.' In this beautiful novelette, Uhura manages to get leave from duty for three days to visit friends on the colony planet of Duquesne. She is met by an old friend and former Star Fleet cadet, Utamu. To her dismay Umri, the friend she had come specifically to see had died the day before her arrival. Also, Uhura finds that Utamu's brother and sister-in-law have been killed in an accident and that Utamu, who now takes care of the orphaned child of her brother, hates her. At the funeral of Umri, Uhura finds a friend among the few people there who fills Uhura in on some of the details of Utamu's problems, helping her to cope with the gap that Uhura has suddenly found between herself and her friend. During that evening, explosions and fire rock the small village of Mombasa and Uhura, Utamu, and the child must flee to escape destruction. It is here that we see much of the emotions brought to bear during this flight scene. The entire story shows a beautiful understanding of the feelings and characters involved in the figures of this story and although the disaster that occurs in the story almost seems to be a too-convenient way to bring it all to a climax, it is well-managed and the author does indeed know how to bring the action to a hilt. I only wish I had read this story long before. The entire journal is excellent and speaks for itself the type of people who have organized the club that puts it out.

Issue 2

front cover issue #2, Joni Wagner

back cover of issue #2, Laura R. Virgil

Furaha 2 was in June 1975 (reprinted October 1975) and contains 54 pages. The front cover is by Joni Wagner and the back by Laura Virgil.

• Low Spirits by A. Stuart Walker [Also in One Trek Mind #3, and one of the J.D.I.F.C.] (Scotty runs out of scotch and rigs up his own still) (1)
• Uhura, art by Jack Townsend (9)
• Mission Impossible - or is it? by Joel Davis (10)
• Gene Roddenberry, art by Laura R. Virgil (11)
• QueST or... by Joel Davis (12)
• Uhura, art by Laura Virgil (14)
• Uhura, art by D.L. Collin (15)
• Personal Log by A. Stuart Walker (also in One Trek Mind #2 and Terra Vulcan Yearbook #3) (16)
• Interference, or Fanzines Reach Farther than You Think by A. Stuart Walker [Also in One Trek Mind #3] (Spock is being telepathically influenced by the lay Spock fiction in 20th-century fanzines) (17)
• Uhura, art by D.L. Collin (22)
• Sequel by Johanna Cantor (an extended 'Journey to Babel' piece) (reprinted in Archives #4) (23)
• Uhura, art by Jack Townsend (37)
• Worth a Thousand Words by A. Stuart Walker (a story that suggests a role of ESP in creativity, features Christine Chapel) (38)
• A Music Lesson, art by Laura R. Virgil (54)
• inside back cover by Larry Greider (reprinted from Berengaria #1)
• back cover art by Laura R. Virgil

• 

  from issue #2, Laura R. Virgil

• 

  from issue #2, Jack Townsend

• 

  from issue #2, D.L. Collin

• 

  from issue #2, inside back cover, Larry Greider]]

• 

  from issue #2, sample text

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

Front cover is a very good piece of Nichelle in almost a cleopatra-type garb, perhaps from "Plato's Stepchildren"; the art is by Joni Wagner...bacover is another good piece of Uhura by Laura Virgil.

This fiction in this issue is started off by 'Low Spirits.' Mr. Walker is good at describing the subtle nuances of actions and feelings in the crew of the ship, and this is what he has done so well in describing Scotty's plan to make some bootleg Scotch in Dr. McCoy's lab when his supply has run out. Beautifully told. Walker describes another personal log of Kirk in short form and just following that is a short story in which Spock comes to Dr. McCoy over the strange dreams he's been having. The story is peculiar in that it doesn't synch with Walker's other pieces, there's no clear ending and it totally confused me ending where it did.

'Sequel' takes place directly after the scene from 'Journey to Babel.' While everyone is recovering from injuries and surgeries in sick bay, Amanda finds she must take on diplomatic duties for Vulcan on the rest of the trip to Babel, and she takes on Uhura as a temporary aide. The story has no blatant dramatic plot but seems to be an attempt to show the characters of Uhura and especially Amanda for the complex and intelligent persons they are. Although many people believe that Amanda's part in 'Journey' was handled without insight, you wouldn't get that impression after reading this. There is only one problem, Johanna has a choppy writing style ins some spots which makes it hard to follow one paragraph to the next, her over-all story however comes through nicely.

'Worth a Thousand Word' is a charming story of a little girl who is being transported to Star Base 6 after the death of her father. She is befriended by Christine and learns to make a few friends while on the short journey.

This issue is interspersed with a few nice works of artwork and photographs. Two of the pieces of art are upsetting, those by D.L. Collin, perhaps only because her dogged use of straight lines and lack of knowledge of human facial muscles takes away from whatever charm her art may have. Also, one portrait of Uhura by J. Townsend doesn't even manage to look like her.

The stories, however, with the other small features make this an excellent journal.

Issue 3

front cover of issue #3

back cover of issue #3

inside back cover of issue #3

Furaha 3 was published in September 1975 (reprinted December 1975) and contains 50 pages. The front cover is a photograph. The back cover is by Merrie K. and is a reprint from Spectrum #18.

The editorial:

I don't usually inflict a preface, or even an editorial comment on you, but there are a couple of things in FURAHA #3 that I'd like to point out. First of all, we're going over to *gasp* color-coordination. Beginning with this issue (and the reprints of No's 1 and 2) the text pages will be color-coordinated with the cover colors. We do hope that you will find this new development exciting and beautiful. Also, I'd like to point out that we have a page-story, entitled BEYOND ANTARES, by our youngest member. Sam Segal is still in Junior High School, and he has sent us a beautiful story. He's age 14. You will also notice (on page 3) that we have one of our Michelle's own pieces of poetry. This is to whet your appetite. In FURAHA #4, coming soon, will a special center folio consisting of this poem, plus two other longer ones, with an artistic interpretation of each one, done by Connie Faddis. Our Nichelle is very excited about this, and we hope that we can do this sort of personal communication again soon.

• art by Diane McClaugherty (2)
• The Lady's Alone Tonight, poem by Nichelle Nichols, reprinted two years later in All About Star Trek Fan Clubs #3 (3)
• Once More With Feeling by Johanna Cantor (9 pages) (reprinted in Archives #1) (4)
• story illo "Uhura" by Jack Townsend (7)
• art "Sehlat" by Elizabeth Marshall (11)
• Some Day, poem by Shirley Maiewski (12)
• art "Uhura" by Debbie Collin (13)
• art "Uhura" by Jack Townsend (14)
• Beyond Antares—A Star Trek Story by Sam Segal (15)
• Personal Log: Scotty by Joel Davis (17)
• art "Amanda" by Laura R. Virgil (18)
• The Summer Place by Johanna Cantor (19) (reprinted in Rim of Starlight #4)
  • art "Amanda" by Laura Virgil (21)
  • art "Handclasp" by Laura Virgil (21)
  • art "Panorama" by Laura Virgil (25)
  • art "Touch" by Laura Virgil (26)
  • art "Sarek" by Laura Virgil (28)
  • art "Kirk" by Ellen Vartanoff (30)
  • art "T'Pau" by Merrie K (34)
  • art "Together" by Laura Virgil (35)
  • art "Storyteller" by Laura Virgil (38)
  • art "Child" by Laura Virgil (41)
  • art "Commander" by Laura Virgil (42)
  • art "Romulan Justice" by Laura Virgil (43)
  • art "Naming" by Laura Virgil (44)
• Monitoring the Bridge by A. Stuart Walker (45)
• inside back cover "Spock" by Ellen Vartanoff
• back cover "Uhura" by Merrie K

• 

  from issue #3

• 

  from issue #3

• 

  from issue #3, Jack Townsend

• 

  from issue #3

• 

  from issue #3

• 

  from issue #3

• 

  from issue #3

• 

  from issue #3

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

A color-coordinated fan club journal --yes, that's what Virginia says. Would you believe orange front and back covers with peach inner pages? Although it's a mite unusual in fandom, it really doesn't look too bad... Beginning this issue is a beautiful poem called 'The Lady's Alone Tonight.' Immediately following is a story called 'Once More With Feeling.' This is probably one of Cantor's best stories, and concerns an odd little occurrence on the bridge wherein Uhura ends up playing songstress to Spock. It turns out Spock has used her voice to soothe a member of a race of creatures who communicate by what we would call 'music,' and an argument ensues with Uhura and others concerning the species' classification as intelligent. A really nice story with a charming ending. Another story is 'The Summer Place' concerns a recuperative stay on Vulcan by Kirk and Spock at the summer resort of Spock's parents. It turns into a conspiracy to kill both Star Fleet officers. A few short-shorts fill pages here and there. 'Beyond Antares' is a two-pager. I'm not really sure what the plot is, if it has one. It seems like 'a day in the life story,' with poor construction and insight into the characters, and it is far too choppy and ultra-condensed to be readable. 'Personal Log' concerns Scotty and his engines. Nothing exciting. 'Monitoring the Bridge' DOES turn out to be 'a day-in-the-life' vignette but it has a misleading spot of action. The characters are nicely done, and it is a very good character study. The art within ranges from fair to good, but nothing really exquisite... The only problem with this journal is there isn't enough Nichelle. It's a Trek zine in fan-club disguise. 'A Summer Place' doesn't even have Uhura in it.... and it's a NNFC journal? This rates as a slightly better than average Trek zine to pass the time, but if you're a NN fan, this comes up dismally disappointing as far as the focus on Nichelle. It gets an E for effort but little else.

Furaha is the swahili word for "Joy" and is quite fitting of this fanzine published by the Nichelle Nichols Fan Club. It is an absolute joy to read. Color-coordinated, flawlessly typed, well written, with a nice balance of artwork to words. Nichelle's poetry is a highlight, being of the abstract free verse form and lending itself to many interpretations. One especially endearing story is "Once More With Feeling" (by Joanna Cantor) about Uhura's adventures with the furry little Gruff (or a "small hairy mammal" as Spock puts it). All in all a real 'joy'.

Issue 4

back cover of issue #4, Laura Virgil

front cover of issue #4, Laura Virgil

Furaha 4 was published in December 1975 and contains 87 pages. Artwork by Laura R. Virgil, Alan E. Andres, Elizabeth Marshall, Connie Faddis, Virginia Walker, and Gee Moaven.

• club listing (2)
• Routine by Anna Mary Hall (3) (reprinted from Impulse #6/7; also in Aisha Milele, Fanikiwa and Archives #6)
• art, "Love at First Sight" by Elizabeth Marshall (32)
• art, "Christine" by Laura R. Virgil (33)
• Folio, which includes poems by Nichelle Nichols, and interpretations of the Folio by Connie Faddis and Virginia Walker (9 pages)
• art, "Bones" by Gee Moaven (42)
• Caduceus by Connie Faddis (McCoy story. The survey team on the planet Alcestis has become the victim of an unknown disease and McCoy and Christine Chapel, piloted by Chekov, are sent to find the cure. To complicate matters, on the planet is Doctor J.O. Calvin, a man McCoy has reason to hate. As the disease progresses claiming everyone including the rescue team, McCoy makes a pact with the mysterious insect-like Keeris sacrificing more than his life to effect a cure.) (This story was later heavily revised as a general science fiction story and sold to Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction.) (42 pages)

• 

  from issue #4, Alan Andres, frontispiece

• 

  from issue #4, Gee Moaven

• 

  from issue #4, Virginia Walker

• 

  from issue #4, Connie Faddis

• 

  from issue #4, Connie Faddis

• 

  from issue #4, Elizabeth Marshall

• 

  from issue #4, Connie Faddis

• 

  from issue #4, Laura Virgil

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4

...skillfully and humorously tells of Uhura's arrival on the Enterprise, and holds the reader's interest in spite of a minimum of action. It's a low-key, thoroughly enjoyable tale. There is an astoundingly talented section of poetry by Nichelle Nichols, full of deceptively simple and sophisticated inner rhymes and intense emotion. It's work that doesn't need a famous name to gain an audience, and a new facet is discovered in Miss Nichols. The final story, 'Caduceus' by Connie Faddis has no part for Uhura at all, but is instead a powerful McCoy story, beautifully and imaginatively written, and in spite of the horror of its premise, full of tribute to the courage and nobility of the human spirit.

Ms. Nichols' poetry is superfluous in content and the rhyming is painfully simple. She may be a charming and beautiful lady, but writing poetry is not one of her many talents. 'Caduceus' is a story by C.R. Faddis in which McCoy, Chapel and Chekov battle a mysterious disease that threatens to wipe out the survey team on the planet Alcesitis and encounter some ancient telepathic creatures in its catacombs. The creatures lead McCoy to the Caduceus, a healing empathic being. Interesting characters and ideas make 'Caduceus' a highly dramatic, straightforward story. 'Routine,' a nice relaxing story by Anna Mary Hall, has Uhura joining the Enterprise and meeting the crew. It's not Ms. Hall's finest, but it's still pleasant to read. The artwork is exceptional, by Gee Moaven, Alan Andres, Connie Faddis and Laura Virgil, who did the handsome cover and bacovers. The only thing lacking in Furaha is a zippy layout. This ish has some enjoyable material that makes it good, if brief, reading.

The only beef I have with FURAHA is the double spacing. As in R&R#1, Virginia hasn't used much art, (though the covers, by Laura Virgil, are excellent) but she has spaced out the zine more than she had to by double spacing the text. But she still manages to sell it for less than $3.00, which in these prodigal times is something. There are two stories in this issue, one a reprint from the old IMPULSE: "Routine" by Anna Mary Hall. Like all Anna Mary's stories, it is superb and it's a pleasure to reread. Appropriately for the Nichelle Nichols Fan Club journal, it is about Uhura and her first couple of weeks aboard the Enterprise. I liked it the first time I read it and I still do. "Caduceus" by Connie Faddis is also a fine story—McCoy, Chapel, Chekhov and a survey party acquire a loathsome disease on a planet discovered to be inhabited by intelligent 10-foot spiders, and, as in a lot of Faddis' stories, McCoy must offer up his life to save the others. Things are complicated (and finally resolved) by the presence of Dr. Calvin, the Man Who Stole McCoy's Wife... But it really reads much better than It sounds here. A surprise feature is four of Nichelle Nichols' poems, illustrated by Connie. My personal favorite is "The Lady's Alone Again Tonight." In many ways better than You and I. Rating: Graphics 5 Content 5 $ Worth 4

Like Probe, 'Furaha' has always been a zine of good literary quality. And, unlike 'Probe,' 'Fuhura' has always been a good-looking one. This issue's front and back covers by Laura Virgil are excellent and rivaled by some of the interior art by Connie Faddis, Gee Moaven, and others. On the literary side, we get 'Routine' by Anna Mary Hall, a featherweight non-drama about Uhura becoming a member of the Enterprise crew. What makes this story so enjoyable is that the author went through a lot of trouble to catch that 'first season flavor' of Star Trek. Sulu's fencing, Spock's unfamiliarity with human language idioms, and some pre-Organian Treaty Klingons all figure heavily in giving one the feeling of day-to-day living aboard everyone's favorite starship. Keeping things in balance, 'Caduceus' gives this issue literary weight. It is a mostly-McCoy story about the good doctor, his ever-faithful nurse, and Ensign Chekov doing battle with a deadly disease that has stricken a planet survey team. Included in that team is an old antagonist of McCoy's, one Dr. J.D. Calvin, who heads up a list of very interesting characters and characterizations. I only wish Ms. Faddis, with her flair for art and artistic layout, had illustrated the story herself. The illos by Laura Virgil and Ellen Vartanoff are very good, but don't quite rise up to the occasion. Last but not least, this issue features an all-too-brif folio of beautiful poetry by Nichelle Nichols. I hope that future issues will have more of her work. One piece in particular, 'The Lady's Alone Again Tonight,' should be set to music (Hey, Win, warm up your synthesizer!)... With the clearing up of a few production programs (like the inside front cover and inside back cover artwork winding up on sheets separate from the exterior art) and a bit more creativity in the layout, Probe may find that it has some very heavy competition in its worship of Trek's most beautiful lady.

Furaha #4, is billed as "double-sized and containg Nichelle Nichols own poems" and living up to such publicity it comes across a masterpiece. The artwork is superb and will undoubtedly amaze you, the cover and the back cover are especially noteworthy. A favorite is a portrait of Chekhov, it appears so natural and life like that you partially expect him to talk. More of Nichelle's poetry but the artists interpretations of her work leave much to be desired. Both stories, "Routine "(Reprinted from IMPULSE, now out of print, with the permission of the author.) and the"Caduceus" (by Connie Faddis) were excellant and well worth the time spent reading them. There are some talented people in Massachusetts.

Issue 5

first part of table of contents, click to read

second part of table of contents, click to read

front cover of issue #5, Connie Faddis, "Fantasy Uhura"

Furaha 5 was published in April 1977 and contains 66 pages. It was a "The Women of Star Trek" issue, and had illustrations of 34 Star Trek females by Joni Wagner with accompanying stories or poems by Connie Faddis, Winston Howlett, Don Clarke, Karen Fleming, Johanna Cantor, Jacqueline Bielowicz, Monica Miller, Paula Smith, Mary Lou Dodge, Nancy Kippax, Laurie Haldeman, Shirley Maiewski, Sharon Emily, Jean Lorrah, Lucy D. Witt, and Joan Verba.

• Nancy Hedford/The Companion by Jacqueline Bielowicz
• Natira by Karen Fleming
• Leila by Johanna Cantor

From the editorial by Connie Faddis:

Look at the drawings in this collection; really look at them, and they will come alive for you in your mind's eye. Notice the depth, the illusion of substance in them. Follow the black pen lines with your eyes; notice the delicate control, the surety of each. There is little extraneous here, and yet, there is never sparseness. Pen and ink is a difficult medium. It precludes those softening greys of pencil, or the subtle modeling of color. Every texture, every blended shadow, must be created out of unforgiving, opaque black ink.... By choice and strength of line, depiction of facial plane, emphasis of particular feature -- and perhaps the most important, what Joni chose NOT to record -- the portraits acquire the most unique beauty that only the gifted person named Joni Wagner can give them.

• 

  from issue #5, Zarabeth

• 

  from issue #5, Elizabeth Dehner

• 

  from issue #5, Janice Rand

• 

  from issue #5, T'Pau

• 

  from issue #5, Miri

• 

  from issue #5, Deela

• 

  from issue #5, Janice Lester

• 

  from issue #5, Roberta Lincoln

• 

  from issue #5, Mother Horta

• 

  from issue #5, Edith Keeler

• 

  from issue #5, Areel Shaw

• 

  from issue #5, Vanna and Droxine

• 

  from issue #5, Miranda Jones

• 

  from issue #5, Natira

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5

At the time of this writing, only about a hundred copies of 'Fuhrua 5' have been sold. But that will quickly change when the word finally gets around, for this has got to be the single best fanzine issues of the year. Virginia has selected 34 of the most popular and most memorable women from Stat Trek's three season (excluding Christine Chapel and Uhura) and asked 17 of fandom's top writers to do a one-page treatment of them. The resultant vignettes and poetry range form deep tragedy to wry human comedy, all searching for the very essence of each character. Some of these works fully succeed, while others barely scratch the service, but all are well-written. Perhaps the most outstanding one is Lucy Witt's handling of Dr. Elizabeth Dehner; the dear doctor overhears Gary Mitchell's 'walking refrigerator' remark, and mentally launches on a bitter counter-attack on the sexism and male chauvinism that apparently still rule in the 23rd century. I have never seen the situation more clearly and succinctly stated. An added attraction is a profile of Yeoman Janice Rand by Grace Lee Whitney. Neither poem nor story, Ms. Whitney's thoughts about her character show a lot more than the first season even thought of exploring. Perfectly wedded with all these literary efforts are the 34 portraits by Joni Wagner. The issue's preface is by Connie Faddis points out Joni's triumph over the difficult artistic medium of pen and ink. Though some are only fair, there is not a poor one in the bunch, and some are suitable for framing. Except for a truly inspired handling of Vanna and Droxine ('The Cloudminders'), there isn't not too much here in the way of layout. But then, there is only so much one can do with continuous sets of one page illos - one page a copy. In fact, the uniqueness of this issue almost lifts it above the usual points of reference for zine reviewing. Whatever your thing is, fan art collecting, good story writing, women's rights fiction, or just plain old collecting good zine, buy this one.

This special issue consists entirely of a portfolio of Joni Wagner's superb pen and ink portraits of the women of Star Trek, each accompanied by a page of commentary. The result is a top-notch offering. Among the most interesting feature is Grace Lee Whitney's own interpretation of Janice Rand's background, an indication of how the character might be developed if it was revived. Highly recommended.

Well-bound, offset zine with gorgeous art and fantasy to match, by some of fandom's finest writers. This is an unusual issue of a generally good club zine. Thirty-three women of ST (including the Mother Horta) are exquisitely done in pen and ink by Joni Wagner, and most of our favorites are here. Each figure is accompanied by some sort of interpretation, ranging from blank verse through short stories and including fantasies and moods, in each instance an apt translation of the artist's astonishingly expressive portraits. The front cover is the lady Uhura herself... wrapped in mystery, done in stylized fashion by Connie Faddis in such a way as to relate her to both heaven and earth, and all things female. Inside the baccover is a tremulous Zarabeth, delicatley interpreted by Johanna Cantor in a few well-chosen words, which explain the haunted look on the face of the lonely woman. Cantor also does Leila and Lenore Karidian. Connie Faddis leads off the zine with a strongly martial blank verse that seems exactly right for Mara, Kang's wife. Connie also has a nice little story about Kirk learning to accept his wife's competence and independence in her job, balanced by his personal fears for her safety - three months after he and Ann Mulhall were married. In addition she has done a zinger of a short-short as Spock and Marlena successfully conspire in the death of the ruthless Mirror Kirk, and start their world toward a new direction, Winston Howlett does Nona, Irina, and Isis, while Jackie Blelowicz explains Commissioner Hedford, Roberta Lincoln, and Miri. It's hard to choose favorites, but I especially liked Paula Smith's "Words Etched Into the Side of a Cavern on Janus VI, 10, 263 C. E.", the Horta's message-to her daughter, now All-Mother in her place. Paula also has a few bitter paragraphs as Janice Lester's thoughts while occupying Kirk's body, and an unforgettable moment between Spock and the Romulan Commander as he leaves her at her guarded quarters on the E. These are only a few examples of this beautifully done zine, and you may find your own favorites done by Dodge, Emily, Lorrah, Witt, Maiewski, or others- all represented here. #5 belongs on the collector's shelf, well worth the price.

Sixty-seven pages/offset — repro is excellent.

This is an unusual Issue of FURAHA — totally devoted to the women who appeared on STARTREK. Joni Wagner did a fantastic set of 33 full page portraits and at least one fan author did a short vignette revolving around each of the illustratlons. Total effect -- ****

Joni Wagner's drawings are superb! Absolutely beautiful!! They manage to capture the moods, emotions, and essence of each of the women. She's managed to breathe life into each and every illustration. God, do I envy people who can draw like that... I don't know whether the stories preceded the drawings or the drawings preceded the the stories; however, I can tell you that the match is excellent (I think particularly of a rather bitter looking Natira and Karen Fleming's poem).

The vignettes themselves are also excellent, They are insightful character studies. My only real regret is that the editor didn't use a greater number of fan authors. I would have liked to see a limit of one vignette per author and then, perhaps some of the new, up-and-coming authors could have been contacted to do some of the work.

All in all a beautifully done zine (despite the number of typos which, for me, were very distracting). ... Enjoyable. Well worth the price.

Issue 6

Furaha 6 was published around July 1977.

It is an an Uhura/Swahili special with Gee Moaven covers.

The fiction is by Winston Howlett and Joanna Cantor.

It contains the Encyclopedia of Uhura Trivia.

cover of issue #6