Galactic Flight

Zine
Title:	Galactic Flight
Publisher:	Caliburn Press (first two issues) then Phantom Press (last two issues issue)
Editor(s):	Christine Jeffords and Mark Walton -- Cary Anne Bucar was (according to a 1981 personal statement) an "originator" -- Cary Anne Bucar and Don Emersen were "associate editors" of the last issue
Date(s):	1979-1980
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Wars
Language:	English
External Links:
	Click here for related articles on Fanlore.
	Contents 1 Two Editors Part Ways; 2 Home of Some Ragnarok; 3 Issue 1; 4 Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1; 5 Issue 2; 6 Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2; 7 Issue 3; 8 Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3; 9 Issue 4; 10 Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4; 11 References;

You may be looking for the Star Wars zines Galactic Falcon, or Falcon's Flight.

Galactic Flight is a gen anthology.

From the second issue: "GALACTIC FLIGHT is published approximately quarterly (if the Force is with us)." The series ended up running for four issues and morphed into the zine Hydrospanner Zero.

Two Editors Part Ways

a personal statement printed in Galactic Falcon (May 1981)

In May 1981, the editors issued a series of personal statements that were widely distributed.

One example was in Jundland Wastes #2 in May 1981:

I [Christine Jeffords] hereby give notice that I am no longer associated with Caliburn Press or with its originators, Mark Walton or Cary Anne Bucar. Any debts and/or enmities incurred by Caliburn Press or its predecessor, Galactic Flight, should not be directed against me; and no zine henceforth published by either partner, should be presumed to include me on its staff.

Home of Some Ragnarok

Regarding the Ragnarok series, see A Personal Statement from Susan Matthews.

Issue 1

front cover of issue #1

back cover of issue #1

Galactic Flight 1 was published in 1979 (third printing: August 1980) and has 78 pages. The art is by Andre Henley.

The editor thanks four bookstores for stocking and selling their fanzine, and two people at a bank for "so patiently helping us wade through the paperwork required by the Imperial Bureaucracy of the State of New Jersey."

The editor writes: "As of this writing I've seen SW 14 times, and Mark's score is 10—but just wait till they re-release it!"

[from the editorial]:
Like all zines, this one is a love child.
It realty started one afternoon in August, 1977, when I first met my partner, Mark Walton (who makes his debut as an author with this issue 'A The Destruction of the Jedi" and "Portrait of a Bureaucrat"), at the bookstore where I work. What inspired our friendship was, of course, our discovery of a mutual love for STAR WARS.
It developed when we began kicking ideas around. "Wouldn't it be interesting to know what really happened to the Jedi!! "Wouldn't you like to know how Han and Chewie met?"
It took off at last in March. Mark came around to the store for his regular weekly visit — and before we knew it we were telling each other STAR WARS stories. Destruction and my own "Smuggler's Passage" were outlined that day, and I think we knew, from that moment, that we could do what we're doing now.
Result: one zine.
It's been work. It's also been fun. We've discovered a lot about the film, the characters, and our own ability to work together. (Although Destruction and Passage both bear single-person bylines — this because the actual physical writing was done separately — the plotlines end incidental characters were actually co-operative efforts; by this time even we don't know which of us thought up what.)
We see STAR WARS as a road — a segment of straightaway, there are many lesser, parallel roads leading into it, each as potentially "right" as the rest, and as many again leading out. Each individual ziner — probably even some of you, dear readers — travels one such road; his or her version of the roots and results of STAR WARS. The zine you've bought is our road. It's what we think happened before that fateful day over Tatooine...
GALACTIC FLIGHT is, in short, our vision of the STAR WARS Universe. We hope you'll like it.
Our aims are these: we want to tell new STAR WARS stories with the same equal measure of action, humor, and characterization as made the movie what it was, and, in doing so, we want to remain true to the premises and implications set forth in the film, the novel, and other official publications. We want to explore, through articles and interviews like Destruction and Portrait. the political, social, technical, economic, and historical background of the STAR WARS Universe. Most of all, we want to entertain ourselves ...and you. (We're already noticed that the sequel stories we're working on for our future issues are intensely visual and dialoguistic — if that's a word: they could almost be filmed.)
We think we have enough ideas in our heads to keep GALACTIC FLIGHT on course far another three years at least. We hope you'll help.
We welcome your comments and your suggestions. In the way contributors, we're looking far art, cartoons, and humor, poetry, faction, and short fiction. Artists, please let us knew whether you prefer to work by commission (that is, from our description of what we'd like you to draw) or from a typescript; writers, send your work — but please type, and use a good black ribbon. Be advised that we MUST ask you to include RETURN POSTAGE!

Flightpath: an editorial by Christine Jeffords (3)
The Destruction of the Jedi and the Origin of the Rebel Alliance by Mark Walton (a Vader-centric story, Vader is motivated by an unjustified jealousy of Skywalker Senior, who replaces him in Kenobi's affections, and steals his girl, lures the Jedi in to a trap and tries to blow him up) (5)
Smuggler's Passage by Christine Jeffords (34)
Portrait of a Bureaucrat: An Interview with Gov. Moff Tarkin, edited by Mark Walton (72)

table of contents Vol I issue 1, click to read
interior from issue #1
interior from issue #1
interior from issue #1
interior from issue #1: "I wondered why Luke's mother had to be such a sexpot.. but that's a minor quibble." And "Got a charge out of Luke's sexy mom, and the lean yet muscular Han. Some may fault the comicbook style, but I found it a gas." And "Lyan Skywalker certainly had style in this story, and it would have been interesting to know much more about her...." -- from LoCs in "Galactic Flight" #2
interior from issue #1
interior from issue #1
interior from issue #1

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

[Destruction of the Jedi]: Two authors have said that Luke's mother was a Jedi, who died fighting shortly after making sure Luke was safely away. In Mark Walton's "Destruction of the Jedi" (GF #1) she is Lyann Skywalker, sexpot and superwoman, who sends her newborn son off with a younger female subordinate before deliberately drawing the stormtroopers down on herself to distract them from Luke's escape. ... The subordinate who took Luke in "Destruction of the Jedi" turns out to be Taze Ernesto of Christine Jeffords' "The Jedi's Journey" in Galactic Flight #3. In this story she has come out of hiding twenty years after "DJ" (daughter of Jedi parents, she was fifteen when given her rescue mission, and had gone underground immediately afterwards) . She rescues Han from storm-troopers, and is at least a good a pilot as he is. It is made clear that she and Han will be an "item," but I personally have seen nothing else in print to indicate whether she will justify her own existence as a character or if she will end up as a appendage to Han. ^[1]

[zine]:
A long time ago. in a galaxy far, far away there was a literary quagmire ruled over by the sinister Emperor Tedium. But some of his subjects were not content to read dull and boring fanflc, and so the lovely Princess set on her way to find the one person that could help. She recorded a message for him that read: "Oh, save us Obi-Wan, from the evil banality of Emperor Tedium. Only you can bring back new and vital fanfic with believable characters, realistic plots and action that really makes sense." And so Obi-Wan created "Galactic Flight" to save the alliance of fans. And that's the name of that tune. As you might tell I found Galactic Flight to be a wonderful new SW zine. This publication is edited and written by Mark Walton and Christina Jeffords. The editors/authors go far beyond most of the other publications so far in the complexity of their stories. I find this surprising because if you write and publish your own work you will have a tendancy to be less critical of it than you would of someone else's story. You have much less objectivity when judging your own work. The pair of editors for GF, however, seem to write and edit beautifully as a team. I consider the quality of the fiction to be above anything else I have read in SW fandom so far. The lead story in this issue is called "The Destruction of the Jedi," by Mark Walton. This is a history of the events leading up to the overthrow of the old Republic and the events leading up to Obi-Wan's banishment to Tatooine. Mark shows that he actually has some knowledge of the way that real governments work, but is wise not to fully turn the opening of his history into a poli-sci lecture. Nice to see that someone else besides the authors of Thousandworlds go to the trouble of examining to macrostructure of the SW universe as well as dealing with individual episodes. Walton, however, does a more credible job of it, in my opinion. He goes on to describe the meeting of Kenobi with Val Skywalker and young Vader's training. The trouble with this kind of story is that you already know the outcome, so its merits are in how you get there. The way in which Vader disposes of the Jedi is a bit...schmaltzy, I thought, but the author didn't have much choice since we know, according to the scenario established for Vader, that he fell into a volcanic fumarole (whoever came up with that deserves to be spaced). Walton didn't have much control over the setting, altho I wouldn't have minded a little artistic license there.
"Smuggler's Passage," by Christine, is a long Han-meets-Chewie story. As with Mark's history, you already know the outcome to this story. The only way to turn this into worthwhile reading is the depth to which the author has perceived how everything takes place, and Christine does a masterful job. She leads you through Han's past, showing you—not telling you— the circumstances that made Han and Chewie what they are. And when she's done it makes sense. She uses a minimum of dialog and has a great sense of timing. I hope more authors follow Walton's and Jeffords' lead. Visually, the zine isn't up to par with the writing. All of the illustration is by Andre Henley. My art training has been in the fine arts, and Henley's seems to be more comic-oriented so perhaps I have no basis for criticism. I did sense his characters as cold and stark. A minor quibble, I suppose. Otherwise the zine is superb. Highly recommended! ^[2]

[zine]:
I enjoy your zine. It follows the movie well and captures the precepts of the STAR WARS Universe — not too didactic or slow, but with action and humor.
...I'm glad Darth Vader wasn't given a lot of excuses for his actions...I really liked his youth—good idea that he desired the woman Val loved—makes him nastier and more desirous of revenge, rather than just destroying the Jedi for "the new way of life"...
I love the interview with Tarkin (and its ending) and I applaud your decision to do "faction"...^[3]

[zine]:
...I Just want to say how much I liked GALACTIC FLIGHT...Thank you for putting out a nice friendly zine with good solid SW stories. I hope GF will go on.
The "Han Meets Chewie" was of particular interest to me...The characterization was perfect.. .The interview with Tarkin was both amusing and quite realistic...
The "Emplre" story [Destruction of the Jedi] was a bit short and swift for such a broad scope of history, but as an outline, everything fits. It was so fascinating to see how all the pieces fell into place. Luke's mother as a Jedi didn't seem too farfetched either. I loved the idea of Jedi weddings. I would like their story to be expanded...It's potential is great!^[4]

[zine]: ...I first thought it was going to be another of those cheap rip-offs of the movie, but when I started to read it, I found it one of the most fascinating magazines of any kind that was written about the film. I felt that the stories were the most original and believable that I've read...It makes really enjoyable reading.^[5]

[zine]:
... I can't agree more with the avowed purpose in your Editorial... to keep an even balance in GF of adventure, characterisation and development, and humor. Hooray, I say. Especially the humor. I have had quite enough of pain-death-and-torture SW stories lately...of course, there is a lot of grief part of daily life in SW; but it was always expressed as a part of life, not to be dwelt upon, and never obscuring the humor...
The account of the fall of the Jedi Order seemed reasonable, though I wondered why Luke's mother had to be such a sexpot.. but that's a minor quibble. The interview with the Grand Moff Tarkin was an interesting format and nicely realized,..As for "Smuggler's Passage"... I found that very nicely done, too, with some very ingenious touches — the "real" reason for Han's apparent facility for languages; the housekeeping details of domestic arrangements aboard the Falcon. All in all it's a nice zine, and I'm looking forward to #2... ^[6]

[zine]:
...I was intrigued by the art; the comic-book style is very unusual for a fanzine, but seems fitting for SW—after all, there is a whole SW comic book...the other thing that particularly intrigued me, because it was different, was the "interview" with Moff Tarkin; not only is this sort of thing different for a fanzine, it was very well done. Someone has been listening carefully to politicians!...
On the longer stuff: the article (or was it a story? I couldn't quite decide) worked quite well, though it read a little academically at first. .. The analysis... was well done, and took into account the sorts of political and social elements that most people don't seem to be aware even exist. It all sounded so realistic; something about the tone and the material made it seem that one was reading a popular analysis of something like the fall of the just-fallen Iranian government. Is someone out your way interested in politics and that sort of thing?
"Smuggler's Passage" was very good indeed. You have done a nice job on capturing Han's character, his language, and his general attitude, and again, there are the little touches of realism; having to cope with port authorities, the take-your-choice registrations, the way Han handles the discovery that whatever was in that compartment is gone...I was disappointed that we didn't get to see what happened when Han went back to Elbonal...I was also expecting to see the resolution of the subplot with the stranded Wookies [sic] ... as far as I know, they are still stranded... ^[7]

[zine]:
...Good show, folks! GF is a simple, straightforward zine and that's how I like 'em. Bravo for tackling a whole universe, too...For me, a story is much more enjoyable when I know the author has considered more than just what action the hero gets involved in...
The zine looks nice and is clean...I enjoyed the illos muchly. Got a charge out of Luke's sexy mom, and the lean yet muscular Han. Some may fault the comicbook style, but I found it a gas.
Of the three pieces, "Smuggler's Passage" was my favorite, though I hesitate to compare it with the Tarkin interview. So I won't. Loved the Tarkin piece...
...Han comes across as a believable bounder, and a baggie of spice to the person who decided Chewie would be autonomous rather than Han Solo's pet. I rather enjoyed the long passages on ship operation...I'm looking forward to seeing how your readers react to Han's, not to mention Chewie's, bloody behavior...Personally, I don't see how a person can be a smuggler and a fast gun and still find time to perch up there in golden glory... Unfortunately for my appreciation of the Jedi story, I had a hard time getting past "You, too, can be a Jedi...". Somehow that sentence represents a narrative tenor that itched at me as I read. I wanted to know what relation the narrator had to the characters to explain the condescension I seemed to pick up...Are you patterning your Jedi after the Samurai?
...Keep up the good work.. .You've put a lot of work into figuring possible lines of history and that's how to come up with good stories...^[8]

[zine]:
...I liked "Smuggler's Passage" - the story hung together well, and two or three of the suggestions it made were very interesting. The idea that Han has a surgical implant which lets him speak so many different languages...the idea that he won the Falcon... the impression of Corel as a heavily industrialized world...and I liked the family background you gave him...The b.g....is pretty valid, actually, and would explain a lot of his capabilities. Characterisation was pretty good, too.
..."The Destruction of the Jedi" was good too—solid and valid, made sense...The idea of a traditional Jedi wedding was something else too! Also the treatment of Luke S's beginnings.
..."Portrait of a Bureaucrat" was interesting — lines were most Peter Cushingish! The philosophies extrapolated were nothing short of fascinating. Listening to dictators rationalizing and justifying their doings is an experience.
...I look forward to "The Tatooine Connection" and "Rebellion Plus Forty"...anything with Hanno and Chew in it —a nd especially if it's funnyl...Luck with GALACTIC FLIGHT... ^[9]

[zine]:
...All in the zine was immensely enjoyable...Andre Henley's art was not the usual run-of-the-mill zine stuff, but instead fresh and a pleasant change. Andre's style seemed influenced by comicbook art...but this was in no way a detriment. Instead of being lethargic and static as a great many illos in zines are..., Andre's work reflected GF's written material, vibrant and action filled...
Mark's "Destruction of the Jedi" was well written and a very viable explanation of the fall of the Jedi. I enjoyed seeing Luke's mother getting some coverage for a change, in some zines she seems almost to be a nonentity and more's the pity. Lyan Skywalker certainly had style in this story, and it would have been interesting to know much more about her....
"Smuggler's Passage" was extremely well done, among the better done Han-meets-Chewie stories. The pace was always brisk, the settings imaginative and the way in which the two met was very plausible. Christine has a wonderful way with words and combined with the carefully thought out backgrounds present all the way through, her style made for exciting reading. Both stories moved...dialogue...furthered the plot and our basic understanding of the characters—exactly what dialogue should do.
"Portrait of a Bureaucrat" was a very entertaining piece and a nice break from straight fiction. I hope you will continue to do more in this vein. I am looking forward to GF#2 and your novel length sequel — it should be good if your work in GF#1 is any indication.^[10]

[zine]:
..."The Destruction of the Jedi..." was a well thought out article... I agree about the probable cloning of the Empire's needed Stormtroopers (and, at the same time, can feel sorry for the clones, too. They may not have been born the same way we were, but they are people. All they know is what they are trained to do. That's pretty pitiful, when you think about it). The history of Val Skywalker, Lyan Nightstar, Darth Vader and Obi-wan Kenobi deserves to be written out as a full-length story, not just part of an article. There's enough in the story about Val and Lyan fighting the pirates and Darth's jealousy of their growing relationship and Darth's eventual downfall for an entire novel, in fact ...I can't see all the Jedi getting together in one place to speak with their enemies.. ."(Let me rephrase (that) to "All the important Jedi," I also can't see them leaving all their bases so defenseless that the Imperials could just walk in and wipe them all out.)
Despite all the gripes, I really did like the article, and would like to see more material written by Mark.
("Smuggler's Passage"), I love. You have Han's speech pattern down so perfectly, that it's beautiful...your Han sounds like himself. Also, the background you give him sounds very reasonable. His background on Corell (and, I cheer your decision to call the planet by that name. I've seen others call it anything from Corelli to Corellia) gives him enough time to go through an entire public school education (which would probably be much more advanced than anything we have currently on this planet). It always struck me from the way he spoke and acted in the movie that Solo was not an uneducated man...Also, you tied your story and Mark's article together very nicely with the mentioning of the pirates and the destruction of the Jedi and Lac. There was plenty of action, and I liked the way you developed the relationship between Han and Chewie, too... ^[11]

Issue 2

front cover of issue #2, not credited

back cover of issue #2, Teanna Byerts: "HELLUVA DAGGITT YOU GOT THERE MISTER..."

Galactic Flight 2 was published in 1979 (second printing August 1980) and has 120 pages.

The art is by Teanna Byerts and Carrie Bowles.

From the zine, a statement of timely compliance: "Galactic Flight is in the collections of Gary Kurtz, George Lucas, Lucasfilms Inc., and Twentieth-Century Fox." See The Star Wars Letters for more on this topic.

[from the editorial]: First, we apologize for being a lot more than slightly late with our issue #2 of GF. The stories were written and set up months ago, but the art was still missing. The artist, who shall remain nameless, accepted our commission to do the artwork for "Venture to Hamlor." Unfortunately, only four drawings appeared, and several months late. This, incidentally, is the reason for the full- and half-page blanks spaced throughout the story, these being the places in which the art would have appeared if we had gotten it. We felt you would prefer to read the zine, art or no art, than wait an indefinite period longer to have it with illo's.
Chris and I would also like to extend grateful thanks to Carrie Rowles, our Canadian artist, who came to our rescue with art for the second major story, "Kinmeet." Carrie is an excellent artist who does great work on short notice, and we hope to feature more of it In future issues.
Enough of our tale of woe. We are here and that's all that counts. This issue contains two major stories, as well as two faction articles, "A Visit to Corell" and "Where the Wookies [sic] Are," both unabashedly written in the Poul Anderson style. (Contributor Helen Montgomery is a great admirer of this fine author.) After all, surely all of the SW fan-world would like to know more about the home planets of our favorite smuggler and his big, hairy partner.
Next on the agenda for this issue is "Kinmeet," written by Susan Matthews. Now I have to warn you that this story does not fit into our version of the GH Universe, but we felt it was so good that it deserved to be published. Susan, who is one of the most prolific, as well as one of the best, fan writers, graces our zine for the first, but not for the last time.
Our main story in this issue, "Venture to Hamlor," was written jointly by Chris and myself. The idea for this story came about in a very unusual way. Both of us have become avid collectors of SW figures and vehicles. One evening, I was posing some of mine, on my coffee table, when just for the fun of it, I tried to have the Chewbacca figure carry Her Highness. Finally I managed to balance them just right. The thought of that scene just kept rattling around inside my head.
A few days later Chris and I were having our usual twice-weekly phone conversation. At a quarter to ten P.M, I suddenly started talking and just kept it up for an hour and a half. The story just kept pouring out. of my mouth. Chris fleshed out quite a few areas of the story on her own; so we're sharing credit.
More important than the genesis of the story idea is what it represents. "Venture to Hamlor" is the official beginning of GF's STAR WARS Cycle. Chris and I have worked out a series of stories which show how events occurred in the STAR WARS Universe -- or at least our version of it — after the destruction of the Death Star. Implicit in this Universe is the special relationship which will develop between Han Solo and Princess Leia. On my Corellian word of honor, the last word to describe it would be romantic!
A special note to prospective contributors. If you have a story which you want to submit to us, but it doesn't fit into our Cycle, don't worry about it. If we like it, we will certainly publish it anyway.
[snipped]
One final note. Chris and I promise that the third issue will definitely be available within two months. We have our own Gestetner and are printing our own zine now. Also all of the art has been commissioned long ago, and is expected to arrive momentarily. May the Force be with us and you.

Flightpath: Editorial by Mark Walton (3)
Ion Trails: Letters from Our Readers (5)
Venture to Hamlor by Mark Walton and Christine Jeffords, art by Teanna Byerts (10)
A Visit to Corell, edited by Helen Montgomery, "adapted from "Spacer's Guide to the Civilised Worlds," compiled under the direction of Prof. Marisela Hahl and Dr. Damon Sarhad, 18th edition revised, Emperor Palpatine University Press, 22 Imperial Standard, Reel III, Frame 28 ff.") (includes map) (The universe described in this article is what Christine Jeffords borrowed with permission to use in the Brightstar Universe. Jeffords writes about this in the editorial for Outlands Chronicles #1, as well as reprinting it in that issue.) (85)
Where the Wookies [sic] Are, edited by Helen Montgomery ("Adapted from "Wooka: A Speculation Upon a World," the graduate thesis in xenobiology of Lyeia Cinadon, Class of 5905 (Old Republic Calendar), University of Alderaan.")(89)
Kinmeet by Susan Matthews, art by Carrie Rowles (94)
The Adventures of Teanna, or Whaddaya Get When You Cross Eight Rabid Star Trek Fans with a Beetlebug, cartoon by Teanna Byerts which portrays many Star Wars fans crowded into a VW Beetle to drive a long ways from their "hick town" to see the Star Wars movie (120)

table of contents Vol I issue 2, click to read
from issue #2, Teanna Byerts
from issue #2, Carrie Rowles
from issue #2, Carrie Rowles: "Hildur and Carl were like father and mother to him; and Luke, remembering his own Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen, understood Han's situation."
from issue #2, Carrie Rowles: "Luke made his decision -- it was practically a crime to disturb a man who was sleeping so angelically... Luke sighed deeply, took a firm double handful of Han's bedclothes and pulled hard, uncovering the Captain of the Millennium Falcon all at once; discovering too late that Anna was at the door to rouse them, and that Han slept in the nude."
from issue #2, Carrie Rowles: in this story, Luke and Leia are coupled up, Han and Luke become adopted brothers, and Han says, "Someday the Princess may be my sister-in-law."
from issue #2, Teanna Byerts
from issue #2, Map of Corell (Han Solo's home planet)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

See reactions and reviews for Kinmeet.

"Venture to Hamler" good but I have a few minor nits to pick. I cannot believe that Leia would stalk off the moon or do so without notice. Her responsibility to duty, I have always felt, was more (important) than her fury at Han's mercenary ways. I think you overdid her reactions there, but it is a way to got her into Vader's hands. I couldn't believe you still had the Rebel base on Yavin...I was reassured by your reasons, but if I was in charge, the base would have been moved real fast anyway.. .When you brought in the neutralizing field, I was even mere sure I'd skedaddle .. .Anyway, the rest of the story didn't offend my sense of reality or believabili-ty and I muchly enjoyed it. The plot twists en Hamler reminded me of all my favorite war and intrigue stories. Very good.
"Kinmeet" was fun to read and I thought it was believable too.
The fact articles were good...I'm more sure than ever that I missed a lot of the background info by not seeing that TV special... That was probably where everyone learned of the Wookie planet being a jungle since most stories I've read agree on that point.

[The editors add]: Just to clear things up for those of you who maybe confused about it — we take "Kazhyyyk"" (Chewbacca's home planet, shown on the aforesaid Special) and "Wooka" (the world speculated on in our faction piece) as being two different planets. Wooka is where the race of Wookies originated. Kazhyyyk is where Chewie himself hails from. But being of jungly roots (pun intended), the Wookies naturally prefer to seed their colonies on jungle worlds when they can find them. For more about Kazhyyyk, watch for "Hail and Farewell," coming in TWIN SUNS #1. ^[12]

GF2 was great. I liked the faction articles and loved the stories... There was lots of action and humor. I especially liked "Venture to Hamlor." The mood through the story was just right and there was humor too. It was exciting and the characters were never "off"...Leia was Leia, Luke never acted like someone else, the characters stay within their personalities... I'm glad GF knows (them) and how they feel. ^[13]

"Venture to Hamlor" is good action-adventure, but I have a few disagreements. You've emphasized the harsh side of Leia, and pretty much ignored her soft side. Even having everyone call her "Her Highness" creates an unfavorable impression. I object to Luke's not being able to take command of the attack force, and Han doing so...I like the idea of another woman interested in Luke, but I can't get rid of the suspicion that you created Nara to be Luke's "consolation prize" when Leia chooses Han, since you seem to be leading up to that. While it's nice of you to attempt to keep Luke from being too unhappy, I cannot accept Leia and Han together. I liked Luke's using the Force to land safely.
...I loved "Kinmeet." Besides a good basic idea, the little touches, such as hiding the liquor and waking Han up, are delightful.

[The editors add]: To be quite honest about it, we weren't planning on a Han/Leia pairing, as you'll learn in future stories.. .but if you've read the novelization of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (we have), well..^[14]

I've read ether things by Susan Matthews, but "Kinneet" is by far the best. As you say, it's a different Universe, but it's every bit as interesting as yours...Han's family background is especially interesting, with the Families built around certain skills. Love Hildur and Birgit—and the relationship they have with Han is beautiful...Interesting that the family name comes from his mother's side of the family, and so does house he inherits... The adoption business as an impulse is thoroughly believable, including Chewie's glee in promoting it. And the Family voting compromise (against the Empire, but not necessarily for the Alliance) fits. Is Matthews perhaps part Corellian? I do have a bit of trouble with her placing Wookiees on Corelli...one reason (being) the different physical characteristics. Helen Montgomery's thesis segment on the development of Wookiees en their home planet makes sense...
"Venture to Hamler" is probably the absolute closest I've seen yet to the movie in action, spirit (including humor and violent episodes) and characterization...You've got Han to the life, and Luke too. I do think Leia gets upset by Han too easily (she ought to be used to him by now!) but aside from that, she's the best Leia I've seen yet in fanfic. Her going off alone to look for a more reasonable dealer at first seemed a bit farfetched, but after thinking it over I decided yes, if sufficiently pissed at Han and worried about finances, she just might do it. And if she told Dederma or anyone else, she'd lose time and probably end up with several unwanted companions...And frankly, it's the first time...where I've seen a fanfic where Leia is really acting and talking in character as shown in the
movie. Your characterization of the Lucas characters are excellent...(Han as the Imperial officer, can't you just see it in 70mm? I was seeing the whole story as a movie, and really, it would work.) ^[15]

Congratulations on a great issue of GALACTIC FLIGHT. Despite the numerous problems you two seem to have run into when pitting it together, #2 came out very well indeed, attractive blank areas in the first story notwithstanding. (I kept having this strange feeling that the story was about to end, and then I'd turn the page and there was mere writing and I'd wonder "Why as that blank thing there?")
"Hamler" was a good read even without illos's, though I disagree with the basic premise of the story. Princess Leia may have a big mouth and a a bad temper, and assorted other shortcomings, but she is NOT a cretin—no one with her brains is going to go running off just like that because she wants to make Solo look like an ass. Leia knows the galaxy because she's bean a Senator; she knows the way the Empire works, and after her last brush with Vader she's not going to walk right into his grasp again—she knows there's a risk which she, as a member of the Royal House of Alderaan, is not capable of taking; the danger is much too obvious. Consequently, I don't think the other Rebel commanders would let her leave like that—she's too valuable to them and they know it. The complete lack of concern which they all exhibited at first seems to me to be completely absurd—besides, they wouldn't have let her go in the first place. But, like I said, it was a goad read--as was Susan Matthews's story. I'm a sucker for her writing, even though her Han is softer than I think he ought to be; her prose is beautiful and a joy to read. More! More!
The articles were very thoughtful and interesting, and the back cover was a real bust-up—would love to see the SW characters wipe these Galactica clones across the wall sometime—now that would be an interesting meeting. (Solo meets Starbuck at 30 paces) (er is that microns ?) Anyway, overall it a good effort and, to my mind, far superior to #1. Keep it up!^[16]

Bless my soul, it's the talent patrol! What a fantastic zine!... Give Mark Walton a big kiss for me.
"Venture to Hamler" was brilliantly written. Solo's speech was down perfect. In fact all the characters were done superbly. I want Han Solo!
"Kinmeet" fascinated me to say the least. It was well written and the art was beautiful. ... ^[17]

I thoroughly enjoyed it from cover to cover.. ."Venture to Hamler" was a fine adventure yarn, well paced, good dialogue. Don't knew that I really agree with the idea of Han end Leia as adversaries (as opposed to friends who banter), but it does make for some funny situations.
[snipped]
"Kinmeet" was a delight...Such a nice story. Interesting idea, too, about the Wookiee colony being on Corelli. Explains nicely how come Han understands the language so well. Liked the Corellian League idea, too, and our smuggler's relationship with his "family."
..."A Visit to Corell"...(was a) most fascinating version of Han's homeworld. Don't blame him for leaving. Atmosphere-wise it reminded me of Vulcan. All the scientific research really lent credibility to the article. Sounds like a good place to be from. ^[18]

Helen's Corell is good, thorough and plausible...
I enjoyed "Venture to Hamler," it's well plotted, if a little light on characters... Hmmm. I don't think Han would stoop to torture. In fact, not ever, under any circumstances, bethey over so rough. He'd kill the creature to save himself, yes, but he would threaten and scare out the information he needed, or look for it elsewhere...It could be a vital point to the character, for you can sympathize with any scoundrel really fighting against tho odds, especlally if he runs the risk of being tortured by some inhumane creeps if he employs the same methods himself -- uh-uh...
"Kinmeet" was lovely. I was feeling a bit dizzy with all the versions of Corel(l(i)), but, eh, I could see the darling dalring peacefully asleep beneath an open window that poured in raw, misty air...It seems almost a
pity that Helen's Corell is far more logical. Statistically, anyway. Desert planets by far outnumber the ones with an Irish climate...Susan's characterization is as always superb, and she's a magnificent stylist. The idea had me a bit overwhelmed, but I must admit, if he has to be flooded with family, this is probably tho best way. Net really related to anybody, but at the same time, to everybody, regardless of species, creed, or color. The last word on democracy...^[19]

Issue 3

Galactic Flight 3 was published in May 1980 and is 142 pages long.

It was edited by Mark Walton and Christine Jeffords. It was published by Phantom Press.

The art is by Teanna Byerts, Lin Stack, Pam Kowalski, Martynn Walther, Beckey Aulenbach, and Carrie Bowles.

The dedication in this issue:

This issue is for Brian Daley, author, fellow New Jerseyan, and almost certainly part-Corellian, in recognition and appreciation of his skillful and perceptive (and thoroughly enjoyable) delineation of Han Solo (to say nothing of Chewbacca) in Han Solo at Stars' End and Han Solo's Revenge: may the Force always be with him.

The editors also state that

Galactic Flight is now in the collections of Gary Kurtz, George Lucas, Lucasfilms Inc., and Twentieth-Century Fox. Thank you, gentlemen, for your interest in our zine.

From the editorial:

We promised you a particularly fine issue this trip, and we think we've delivered. Among other things, our fiction this ish introduces no less than two very important continuing characters and two marginal ones in our Galactic Cycle.
In contrast to his very serious History of the Destruction of the Jedi (GF#1), Mark's contributions this time around are both brief and light. "Boredom," our lead-off, features one of those new continuing characters I mentioned — his first name's Corin, but I'm not going to give away the surprise by telling you what comes after it, "The Birthday Present" gives you a peek at one of the lighter moments at Rebel Alliance Base One — and a few insights into the personalities of some of our favorite people.
Introducing our second new character turned out to be the duty of yours truly—though I ought to mention here that the character herself, along with two scenes in her story (a confrontation within and without a certain bar, and another just outside a certain gantry), were really Mark's idea. That partner of mine sometimes amazes even me...
Our Famous Faction Department includes two items unlike anything we've seen come out of SW fandom yet. Charles Garofalo, himself a budding writer of sf, has contributed a brief but fascinating "History of the Lightsaber." And for the spacecraft freaks in our audience, Australian zined and sf fan J.J. Adamson kindly consented to write us a layman's tech article on that much-abused freighter, the Millennium Falcon.
Trailer for this ish is yet another specially commissioned item, and it has perhaps the most interesting history of anything we've offered yet. Those of you (we hope all) who read my Han-meets-Chewie story, "Smuggler's Passage," may have shared the disappointment of Bev Clark, editor of the California-based zine Skywalker, who wrote to us that she wished she might have learned what happened when the newly-forged partnership went back to Elbonal after Han's pilfered fluougems — and what became of Chewie's stranded friends on Tith. Well, at the time her letter came into Central Control, I'd just begun a correspondence with the prolific Hanatic of Seattle, Susan Matthews, whose "Kinmeet" you may remember from GF#2. Susan had expressed an interest in doing "something" for our GF timeline, and had asked if we had any ideas we didn't have the time or inclination to do our selves. I immediately offered her the opportunity to cure Bev's case of disappointment, and gave her two brief guidelines, one of which had to do with the character of Mari Sevenstars -- who happens to be my personal Star Wars/Galactic flight alter ego. Now it so happened that Susan herself has an alter ego, by name Captain Jennet ap Rhiannon, and she came up with a storyline in which the two of "us" could butt heads most spectacularly — with Han Solo, as you might aspect, eventually landing in the middle. The result was "The Devil and Deep Space," which is the first segment of a projected Sevenstars trilogy to be completed in GF#4 and #5. (Not that that's quite the last you'll be seeing of Azaeli...)
"D&D" (as we've boon calling it to the confoundment of Dungeons & Dragons fans) also features art by not one, or even but no less than three of the finer SW fan artists now going: Pam Kowalski (also known as Maggie Nowakowska, co-author of the Thousandworlds cycle)} Beckey Aulenbach } and Maryann Walther. We welcome these talented ladies to our zine and sincerely hope to be showcasing them again in future issues. Another newcomer to these pages is Lin Stack, artist for "Boredom" and "The Birthday Present." She is, as you'll see, a very fine pencil-weilder too — although, perhaps fortunately for GF, very little known until new. And back for a return engagement is the excellent Carrie Rowles...
Yet another first for GF is the inclusion of poetry. We have two short pieces — one by C.A. Bicar, a prolific Canadian friend of whom you'll be seeing a great deal more, and one by Kelly Hill, co-editer of the Harrison Fordzine FACETS. And the epilogue to "The Devil and Deep Space" is a free-verse soliloquy of Han Solo, written by yours truly.
[snipped]
A note to our subscribers. Since we're using a mimeo now, you may sometimes find that one side of a page didn't pick up. We try to catch these bloopers when we collate, but every so often one slips by. If your copy includes one, let me know, and we'll mail you a replacement, probably with the next issue. You can then use our three-hole brad-binding system to remove the bad sheet and replace it with the good one.
And for those of you who are planning to attend the Mos'EastlyCon over Memorial Day Weekend, we will be there ourselves and will look for ward to meeting as many of you in person as we can... We shouldn't be too hard to find—we'll be the Corellian smuggler and the Azaeli space pirate who are being followed around by a Wookie, a felinoid, and an off-the-wall female Jedi...
A word about our lettercol. We assume that if you send us a LoC, you have no objections to its being published} if you do, please say so when you write it. We will give first consideration to publishing letters from people who (1) have ordered the issue in which they are to appear, and (2) have not had a letter in the previous number of GF. We will occasionally
edit for tho sake of space and clarity, but we will try to retain the spirit of your comments. Remember, we want to hear from you. "Ion Trails" is your forum, your part of the zine.

From the afterward to The Devil and Deep Space:

So there we were, me mates an' I, trying to figure out what was coming down with this ap Rhiannon type. The woman had no notion of consistency — why, she'd turn up in one sine in the middle of a romance at Rebel headquarters, at the very same time that she was cattin' around in another, seven years younger an' payin' her partner for an evening's pleasure as if he'd been a — well, never mind.
So the bunch of us decided to go on down and see this Jennet ap Rhiannon type, just to see if we couldn't pin her dowm on a few things. Found her in her office, we did, drinking Corellian burgundy. Well, some things never change.
"See here, ap Rhiannon," says I, "What do you mean, jumping from alternate universe to alternate universe, showing so little consideration for us poor li'l ol' fan writers?"
The Captain took her feet down from the desk, leaned over its surface, regarded us all with a piercing if somewhat bloodshot eye. "I'm the Captain of the Ragnarok." she replied, as if that explained everything. "I want a change of scenery, I'll find me a change of scenery. You gonna argue with a battle cruiser?" She snickered evilly, "You go right ahead and try."

front cover of issue #3

Flightpath, editorial by Christine Jeffords (3)
Ion Trails, Letters from Our Readers (6)
Boredom by Mark Walton, art by Lin Stack (11)
Old Corellian Proverb (29)
Inside The Millennium Falcon by J.J. and C.W.M. Adamson (30)
The Birthday Present by Mark Walton, art by Lin Stack (38)
A Short History of the Lightsaber edited by Charles Garofalo (47)
Jedi’s Journey by Christin Jeffords, art by Carrie Rowles, Epilogue: Postscript to a Journey (93)
The Devil and Deep Space by Christine Jeffords and Susan Matthews, art by Pam Kowalski, Beckey Aulenback, Martynn Walther ("The two of them really had very little in common ~ apart from the fact that each would have been insulted at the suggestion that they night have anything at all in common. The gems provided the link, the gems and their more-or-less rightful owners but what with the imperious pirate on one side, the piratical Imperial on the other, Han Solo was as good as caught-between." See more about this story in the editorial.) (99)
- Epilogue, poem by Christine Jeffords (The Soliloquy of Han Solo to His Partner) Ragnarok series, sequel in the next issue. (137)
- Afterward: A Disclaimer from the Author, vignette by Susan Matthews (140)
A Calendar of the Galactic Cycle, compiled by Christine Jeffords (141)
Courtesy Corner, ads (143)

from issue #3, Lin Stack (photocopy)
from issue #3, Carrie Rowles (photocopy)
from issue #3, Carrie Rowles (photocopy)
from issue #3, Pam Kowalski (photocopy)
from issue #3, Pam Kowalski (photocopy)
from issue #3, Beckey Aulenbach (photocopy)
from issue #3, Pam Kowalski (photocopy)
from issue #3, sample text (photocopy)
from issue #3, Martynn (photocopy)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

GF#3 3 is an excellent issue. Probably my favorite section is the para graph in the Adamson article about the Falcon, explaining the twelve-parsecs business. I was sitting in the bar at Disclave when I read that, and nearly strangled on my beer. Beautiful! You should offer it to Gary Kurtz to use as the official explanation—it's a helluva lot better than the ridiculous fumbling about Han trying to put one over on Ben.
As for the fiction. Of Mark's two stories I think "Birthday Present" is better written, and the ending is very true to Leia. In "Boredom" I think the bitchy fanatic is a bit overdone. She's cold in STAR WARS, but as someone pointed out in a LoC elsewhere (I'm not about to try to find it now), she'd undergone Imperial interrogation and seen her planet destroyed, and was not likely to be full of fun and pleasantries, Also, she has been a leader for some time, and she's accustomed to a certain degree of competence in others, and to being in a position of authority. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK now shows her as capable of affection (at the very least!). I think she's coming across as a more rounded character (no pun intended). I hope you two can eventually work your Leia around to the point of being a bit more human.
Chris's "Jedi's Journey," despite the rather banal title, is a fine story. I'm always glad to see female Jedi, and the explanation about the massacre and her going into hiding (and Luke's background—very good!) is well done. Can we also assume a few other Jedi also escaped and have been in hiding, unknown to one another? I also like the portrayal of Han as a fairly reasonable person, the training in another race's mental discipline, and his finally realizing why he helps the Rebellion (that in particular fits in with my version of him). It's also good to see that someone else saw him as about 35 at the time of SW, as I did.
Susan Matthews is marvelous, as usual, with "The Devil and Deep Space," and the disclaimer by the author is delightful. I think I like ap Rhiannon better in "Devil," where she's not feeling sorry for herself. She and Mari are quite a pair—Chris, I'm looking forward to seeing your stories, considering Mari's your character. Seems like a real bitch—I like her! The double-double-crossing with the gems was wonderful, though I had to read it twice to catch on that Cholla (sic) was simply remembering Mari's betrayal. Han "young and sweet and innocent"? Young, yes, sweet and innocent? Hah! Yeah, I can see him talking a madam out of her money — mother Maeve (my character) would be disgusted with him if he couldn't! But, Susan--dark golden eyes? Fan writers have given him blue and brown eyes as well as the hazel they seem to be in SW, but golden? Maybe your color vision is different from mine. Pam Kowalski's illos are beautiful, as usual--I always enjoy her work.
Mark and Chris, are you going to let TESB influence your Galactic Cycle, or are you going to keep it going as an alternate Universe? I
imagine Susan will be starting still another Universe to follow the movie if she figures it won't fit in with what she's already got—she's incredible! I'd go absolutely nuts trying to keep so many lines straight! ^[20]

I loved GALACTIC FLIGHT #3. It was perfect. Corin is wonderful. His story-swapping with Han was delightful and he seems so real because he cares so much about Leia. All in all Corin is great, he's so human. "Boredom" and especially "The Birthday Present" were much better because of him...
And I really liked "The Devil and Deep Space."
I also liked the poetry. Please print mere poetry...I thought all of the poems in GF were good, like to see same more. ^[21]

LoC's are my favorite part of any zine, because I like to get to know my fellow fen and how their thoughts coincide or clash with my own. Please keep Including them in GF.
On Mark's two stories, I realize they were meant to be "on the light side," but I do wish you'd chosen to introduce Corin Organa in a story in which he does something of more significance than help get Luke drunk and mastermind a party for Leia. As it was, he seems like a non-entity. Hope you include him in a future story in which he shows his political/intellectual/whatever worth, to make him more real and a valid part of your SW series.
Also, I disagree with your portrayal of Leia as a termagant. I'm not saying she couldn't be an abrasive character (she certainly is in SW and TESB), but often a person may act this way to hide an acute vulnerability. It would be nice if you got into another area of Leia's character, and make her more than a one-dimensional loudmouth. (This was done in TESB, for instance—to put it simply, Leia's abrasiveness toward Han was a front to hide her love for him. I'm not saying you should have them fall in love in your series, but just do something to explain why she is the way she is.)
The two "faction" articles were very good. The article on the Falcon had me reading very slowly, since I'm not mechanically-oriented. The Adamsons are, obviously. One thought I had—could the original super structure, designed fer less powerful engines, really hold up under the greater engine capacity Han has installed? I can't remember offhand if the article said Han had made structural changes in the hull, or not...
On the lightsaber article, I was muchly tantalized by the historical references in the footnotes. Are you folks gonna actually write all these stories to which you're referring? Getting rather Tolkienish, no?
"Jedi's Journey" was well written, and I enjoyed it a lot. I had some reservations on Taze; she wasn't backgrounded quite enough for me to really take her Jedi prowess without a grain of salt. I'll reserve solidifying my opinion on her, however} the problem may be that I haven't read GF#1 (yet) and I take it she's introduced in a story there. Maybe reading it'll help make her more real to me.
Susan Matthews's story was terrific, but that doesn't surprise me. I thought the art for this story was the best in the zine; that doesn't surprise me either, considering who the three artists were. I think I like Pam's style the best of any SW artist I've seen, with her use of shadow and silhouette, she "says" more in her illos by "saying" less. That sounds cryptic, I guess. A better way of putting it would be that the violence she's depicting is understated, therefore more effective, and did she mean to make the Inquisitor look like Illya Kuryakin, though? (N.B. Yes—because that's how Susan sees him.) Beckey's Wookiees are the most beautiful I've seen. And Martynn—I love Han's hairy chest! "Sigh" I'm glad Susan included the Afterword—I thought I'd remembered a character by the name of ap Rhiannon in stories in other zines, but she wasn't an Imperial Captain...! was most confused. If it weren't for the Afterword, I'd have thought it was my mind going awry. I'm glad, Susan, that it's yours, instead!
Overall—a terrific zine, Chris and Mark.^[22]

.. .I got GF#3 last week and read nearly all of it in one sitting—it was almost impossible to put down. The two short stories by Mark Walton were both great, particularly "Boredom." I can well imagine Han pulling a stunt like that, and "helping" Luke learn how to drink properly.
I found the Adamsons' article on the Falcon fascinating, though I didn't understand all the technicalities.
"Jedi's Journey" was excellent. The part I liked best was Han's realization, in his torment, of how much Luke, Leia, and the others really meant to him. Sometimes writers are so intent on emphasizing his faults, they forget he has virtues too...
"The Devil and Deep Space" was a real corker. Wherever did Susan Matthews come up with Andrej Koscuisko? (Sounds like a Russian name. I'm sure the KGB would love to have him.) Just when I thought I had him pegged as a sadist, I found out he was really a split personality. He really leads a tormented life; were it not for the fact that he causes so much suffering and death, I could almost pity the man. Then there is Serge of Wheatfields, with his own cross to bear. All in all, Capt. ap Rhiannon has quite a remarkable crew. Thanks a lot for the Galactic Cycle calendar. Once I get GF#1. I'll be able to go back and fill in the gaps. ^[23]

Issue 4

Galactic Flight 4 was published in September 1980 and contains 102 pages.

front cover of issue #4, Lin Stack

back cover of issue #4, Mark Hendricks

It was edited by Mark Walton and Christine Jeffords. Associate editors were Cary Bucar and Don Emerson. It was published by Phantom Press.

The artists are Lin Stack (back cover, interior), Beckey Aulenbach, Pam Kowalski, Martynn, Teanna, Mark Hendriks (back cover), and Carrie Rowles.

From the table of contents page: "GALACTIC FLIGHT is in the collections of Gary Kurtz, George Lucas, Lucasfilms, Inc., and Twentieth Century Fox." This statement is foreshadowing to the Open Letters to Star Wars Zine Publishers (1981).

Dedication:

This issue should be dedicated to Princess Leia Organs of Alderaan. Since that is impossible, we dedicate it instead to Miss Carrie Fisher, who brought this character to life in SW, and who went on to give the princess true depths of character in TESB.