Galaxy Class

Zine
Title:	Galaxy Class
Publisher:	Mindset Press Publications
Editor(s):	Christopher Simmons
Date(s):	1987-1993
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:	v
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	Star Trek: TNG
Language:	English
External Links:
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Galaxy Class is a gen Star Trek: The Next Generation fanzine published by Mindset Press.

It includes reviews, original Trek fiction and art, photos, behind the scenes material, reader forums, and letters.

A total of eleven regular issues were released (the last being a "double issue"), along with one Special Edition. Some of the issues had "Revised Edition" releases that contained reformatted and edited version of the original releases' material.

It has a all-fiction adult het sister zine called X-Gen.

Reactions and Reviews

Just a few months after STTNG appeared on our television screens, so did GALAXY CLASS, a slick, irregularly published "fanzine" for the show that I picked up, from all places, at a Starland table at a local Creation convention. Hmm, it seems as though this guy, Christopher Laird Simmons, really knew where and how to push his stuff, you know?! So I glanced through it, and actually ordered a few more issues, and by now, there are six of them out. Five normal issues, numbered 1-5, and 'The Star Fleet Technical Manual", another publication. All glossy and all slick, and all with their different good points and bad. First and foremost, the very premiere issue was bland. It was all Mr. Simmons' work, and some of it was not bad, but I mean bland not in the literal sense but in the traditional....! don't pay money just to see the work of one person. I'd buy a novel for that. The story was mediocre, the reviews seemed incomplete, and the entire lot of it was rather slow. It improved drastically though in future issues. Let me bring to the forefront issues three and four (I have temporarily misplaced my issue five, but I remember enjoying that a lot more than usual.) Simmons seems to have a knack for getting to the inside production stuff, just as ENTERPRISE AMERICA does the news from the set. He also is able to get a few differing opinions than his own, though these seem almost forced. There are a few stories including VISITOR OF ILLUSIONS by Simmons which I thought was only average, it could have been enhanced a lot more, in issue three; and THE NIGHT BEFORE by Karina Lumbert (not bad), THE VAMPIRE MACHINE by Laurie D. Haynes (actually quite good!), PERCHANCE TO DREAM by Roberta De-Bono (riot bad) and WHAT SIMPLE FOLK DO by Lisa Mar and Navaid Syed (very enjoyable) in issue four. Issue One was reset and retyped with Simmons' own story ZERO TIME; after reading the original, this is an improvement of about a thousand percent The Starfleet Technical Manual I was disappointed with, because I was expecting a lot more, but for what's there, it's interesting. There's a LOT of behind the scenes technical stuff, including diagrams of the Romulan Battleship, interior displays from the Enterprise's console boards, and work in progress stuff from Mike Okuda and Rick Sternbach. GALAXY CLASS is something that can be described easily: it gets better with every issue. (Usually things do.) I hated Issue One, I loved Issue Five. (I wish I could FIND mine; I put it somewhere for the review! The life of an editor....) I was disappointed with the Tech Manual, but now I find myself enjoying it a lot So what else is new. GALAXY CLASS is recommended for people who enjoy an alternate look at ST:TNG.

Issue 1

First Printing Cover of Issue #1

"Revised Edition" Cover of Issue #1

Galaxy Class 1 was published in November 1987 and contains 30 pages. The back cover is by Mark Tucker. NOTE: The "revised edition" version of this issue includes additional material, most notably to the story "Zero Time".

• U.S.S. Enterprise Blueprints/NCC-170 ID (2)
• Helm Control, Editorial (4)
• Review: The Next Generation (with photos and artwork, reviews of first two episodes) (5)
• Zero Time, fiction by Christopher Simmons (12)
• Production Art of Enterprise Locater and Engineering Schematic (16)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

Galaxy Class #1 is a nice zine that was published very early in the first season. It has commentary on the first episodes, black and white photos of the cast and sets, production sketches of sets, gadgets, and readouts, plus a good short story by editor Christopher Simmons (the only piece of fiction in the zine). It has not really gotten out of date as I thought it would. Some of the technical sketches here are still not widely available. Fanwriters should note that the ship drawings are a great source for story complications from machinery going wrong: take your choice of drive coils, atmospheric processing equipment, power transfer tunnels, etc., etc.

Issue 2

front over of issue #2, by Bobbi Logan, based on the fic in the zine, "Visitor of Illusions"

back cover of issue #2

inside page from issue #2, art by Lana Brown

Galaxy Class 2 was published in March, 1988 and contains 30 pages.

The editorial:

Welcome to the second issue! I've tried to make more efficient use of the space this time around and I believe it shows. My "short action piece" mutated into a novella-length story as I found more of the loose ideas I had laying around applicable to the plot. Unfortunately I've had to break it into two parts. On the upside, this means that issue three will probably be easier for me to get out than this one was.

I have also made a conscious decision to avoid being newsy, even though there was a lot of news about the show as both this and the first issue "went to press". (News about the demise of the Tasha Yar character, for instance.) I find from past experience that too much emphasis on news severely dates a fanzine such as this. If I therefore concentrate on fiction, photos, and production material, the issues will have more of a timeless quality (example: look through an issue of Cinefex). I do plan to keep future issues the same size. I considered using lighter paper to add 4 pages, but I do like this book paper a lot. Hope you enjoy the issue!

Until next time.

• Photo Galley of Brent Spiner (2)
• Reviews of episodes from CODE OF HONOR to LONELY AMONG US (6)
• "Visitor of Illusions", Part 1 by Christopher Simmons (14)
• Photo Gallery of Marina Spirits (31)

Issue 3

front cover of Issue #3, First Edition Printing

back cover of Issue #3, First Edition Printing

The original art for the cover of Issue #3, Third Edition Printing by John Michals

Cover of Issue #3, Third Edition Printing

Galaxy Class 3 was published in December 1988 (Third Edition in October 1990) and contains 30 pages.

The editorial:

Welcome to the fourth issue of Galaxy Class. Okay, so the number on the cover says "issue three". What some of you may not know is that in between issue two and this issue, I went out of my way to completely rewrite, revise, redesign and reprint the first issue. My story "Zero Time" was extensively enhanced (a second draft can never hurt a story) and was 2500 words longer. It also featured new artwork by Lana Brown and a two-color cover. If you have the first edition (easily spotted by a white cover stock and no Pantone Purple ink), you owe it to yourself to obtain a copy of the revised edition. That first edition of about 375-425 copies is now a definite collector's item.

If you enjoyed my story in the first issue (either version), and the first part of "Visitor of Illusions" in issue two, you will certainly enjoy the conclusion of "Visitor..." in this issue. The combined parts make the longest story I have yet written, for a total of 36,000+ words!! And that's in a first draft form. I will be taking a break for the next couple of issues since I have received some really outstanding stories from the likes of Laurie D. Haynes, Karina Lumbert, Lisa Mar & Navaid Syed, and Roberta Debono. Their stories will appear in issues 4, 5, and 6, and hopefully I can return to a more "regular" schedule with the fanzine. (I'm fantasizing about bi-monthly...anyone want to make/take bets on that? Hah.) I have a whole bunch of neat technical things that I know some of you prefer to the fiction, but due to my story this time, some of that stuff got bumped to future issues. More next time, I promise. This issue, and the next two, are smaller outside, but contain more material inside.

As of this writing, the second season is underway. I am impressed by the special effects, but I was supremely disappointed in the first episode. The writing is still sporadic as hell (where is Harlan Ellison and Theodore Sturgeon and David Gerrold when we need them?) with a stupid, wasted inane episode followed by a particularly enjoyable one. Go figure. I suppose our expectations are so high that we forget that compared to the average pap on the tube, this stuff is above the norm.

Anyhow, I hope you continue to enjoy my little project, Lust long and perspire.

• "Communication, Tough Guys & The Big Goodbye", a look at "The Big Goodbye" by Taylor Harrison (4)
• Reviews of episodes from SKIN OF EVIL to THE NEUTRAL ZONE (6)
• "Visitor of Illusions", Part 2 by Christopher Simmons (8) (conclusion, in which the crew is taken by a powerful energy creature in conflict with the Romulan Empire)
• Enterprising Opinions, LoCs (31)
• back cover is of the size comparison of the new Romulan cruiser and the Enterprise
• art by Lana Brown and John Michals

NOTE: This issue was originally printed in a smaller overall format than previous issues (7.5" by 10", as compared to the standard 8.5" by 11").

Issue 4

cover of issue #4, Julie Cesari from the sotry "The Night Before"

Galaxy Class 4 was published in May 1989 and contains 30 pages.

• Episode Reviews (4)
• Original storyboards for the episode "Q Who?" (6)
• "The Night Before", fiction by Karina Lumbert, in which Worf deals ith the memory of a lost friend (8)
• "The Vampire Machine", fiction by Laurie D. Haynes, in which Riker and his away team run into a nasty problem (10) (reprinted in Second Generation #2)
• "Perchance to Dream", fiction by Roberta Debono, a romantic fantasy in which Data says goodbye to a lost friend (this may have become the novel by the same name, Perchance to Dream) (16)
• "What Simple Folk Do", fiction by Lisa Mar and Navaid Syed. Is pizza really the most perfect food in nature? (26)
• Enterprising Opinion, LoCs (31)
• Back Cover artwork of Data by Gennie Summers

NOTE: Like issue 3, this issue was originally printed in a smaller overall format than previous issues (7.5" by 10", as compared to the standard 8.5" by 11"). The 'zine returned to standard size with Issue 5.

Issue 5

Cover of issue #5

inside page from issue #5

Galaxy Class 5 was published with a cover date of October/November 1989 and contains 30 pages.

• "The Psych Test" by Karina Lumbert
• "I Think Therefore I Die" by Scott Hendrick
• "Starships Are a Girl's Best Friend" by Michael S. Lucart
• Excerpts from the TNG Third Season Writers' Guide
• Interview with John DeLancie ("Q")
• Photo galleries of Brent Spiner and Gates McFadden
• A Back Cover "Behind the Scenes" photo of "a lighter moment on the set" of first season TNG
• art by Lana Brown, John M. and Gennie Summers

Issue 6

cover of issue #6

Galaxy Class 6 was published in April 1990. It contains 30 pages (numbered 3-32, presuming the front cover is pages 1 & 2). It is also the first issue to use the new font style in the magazine title, which would be used for all subsequent reprints and new issues.

• "Ten-Forward", LoCs
• Episode review of YESTERDAY'S ENTERPRISE
• "Love on the Holodeck" by Janet Carleton
• "Wishful Thinking" by Douglas M. Giffin III
• Brent Spiner convention report
• "The Olarai Incident" by Brian Thomas
• Third Season Writers'/Directors' Guide, Part 2
• "Revelations" by Karina Lumbert
• "On Klingon Matters by Lumbert and Duran
• "The Burglar" by Lori Scott
• A Bio on Patrick Steward; compiled by Charles Flisher
• Original art by Jeanine Hensley, John Michals and Lana Brown

Issue 7

cover of issue #7

Galaxy Class 7 was published in September 1990 and contains 28 pages (numbered 3-30, again counting the front cover as pages 1 & 2).

• "Ten-Forward", LoCs
• "Reunion" by Diane K. McCarthy
• "The Rogue" by Diana Collins
• Michael Dorn convention report
• Cast photos
• Original art

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

[Reunion]: I hold in my hand an advance copy of the story "Reunion," which has since been published in issue seven of Galaxy Class. I have a single complaint. It is not autographed by its author. Ms. McCarty should give lessons to the current crop of pro novel authors, and she should definitely quit her day job. I would be pleased to recommend her for a scriptwriter position at TNG, but I shudder to think what a story editor might do to her exhilarating prose.

But enough about McCarty's technical proficiency as a writer. "Reunion" deals with an idea that Diane may or may not have picked up from Brenda Perry (See EM 1): That is, the creatures that shed their skin of evil came back in remorse to return Tasha to the Enterprise crew. If you think this might be a tired premise at best, think again. Diane avoids amateurish dramatic traps and produces instead an absorbing psychological drama that is remotely reminiscent of the movie "Forbidden Planet." Galaxy Class *7 is worth its very reasonable price for "Reunion" alone.

Also worth reading, however, is "The Rogue," by another EM networker, Diane Collins.

Issue 8

Cover of Issue #8

Galaxy Class 8 was published in February 1991 and contains 30 pages.

• "Ten-Forward", LoCs
• "Sherlock & Irene" by Sandra Fungerut
• "Loving Machines" by Yvone L. Fienleib
• "Final Report" by Michael S. Lucart
• "Basic Training" by Robert Fabian
• "Life's Sweet Fulfillment" by Polly G. Kuhne
• "The Best of Both Worlds II: When Worlds Collide, Part One" by Michael S. Lucart
• "History of the Vessel Enterprise, Part One" by Ronald Roden
• Art by John Michals, Lana Brown, Polly G. Kuhne & Lana Brown

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 8

SHERLOCK AND IRENE -- a short story in which Riker is a trifle surprised to meet his 'daughter' who has pointy ears, turns out to be one quarter Romulan and transfers to the Enterprise from a Klingon ship! Nicely written cameo. LOVING MACHINES -- A lovely Data story involving the ship's computer seeming to develop a crush on him. Delightful, and well-written. I can visulise this one as a TV episode. FINAL REPORT -- a postscript to Geordi's adventures with the Romulans on Galandon Core, with the emphasis on how the Romulans dealt with aftermath. BASIC TRAINING -- covers Wesley's Academy training. Perhaps the weakest offering, being a little more than Wesley at a US military academy in space. LIFE'S SWEET FULFILLMENT -- mildly erotic very short of Beverly and Picard after their marriage and with Beverly quite pregnant. Also Part 1 of a serial continued in issue 9, only one page!

Issue 9

Galaxy Class 9 was published in July 1991 and contains 30 pages.

cover of issue #9

• "The Best of Both Worlds II: When Worlds Collide, Part Two" by Michael S. Lucart (Alternate version of Part 2 of the TNG episode)
• "Morality Play" by Pat Cunningham
• "Ten-Forward", LoCs
• Art by John Michals, Polly G. Kuhne & Terry Cogliano

NOTE: Although the cover lists the continuation of Ronald Roden's "History of the Vessel Enterprise" and artwork by Karl Smith, according to the editorial in the issue, these pieces were bumped due to a miscalculation of issue size.

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 9

Just two stories, by Michael S Luchart and Pat Cunningham. BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Part 2 - the lead story, quite a long one, is an ALTERNATE conclusion to Best of Both Worlds, where the Federation use their ultimate weapon (never considered in the TV series?) and where Worf shows just a glimmer of imperfection as he hesitates to fire at the Borg ship with Picard on board The price is high as the story ends with the alliance with the KUngons apparently broken off. Nicely told and an excellent alternative. MORALITY PLAY - this one is for everyone who dislikes OR likes Wesley Crusher, a story in which he stars - and loses (or does he?) Recall the academy tests for one's worst fears? Play them out in a holodeck recreation and they can be really very, very mean indeed. The BBC would never show this one on TV, and no doubt Paramount would never get copyright clearance to make it - the enemy is well known to ST film fans, but not to young Wesley. Truly horrible and superbly written.

Issue 10

Galaxy Class 10 was published in September 1991 and contains 30 pages.

original art for the cover of issue #10, John Michals

cover of issue #10, "This is one of the better drawings I submitted. Luckily ST-TNG used many of the familiar models from the Star Trek movies. I prefered to draw them as opposed to designs specific to the new tv shows. The movie Klingon ships in particular were better looking than the new tv series Klingon ships." -- John Michals

• "The Gift" by Andra Marie Mueller
• "Ten-Forward", LoCs
• "That Which Steels the Soul" by Shayne Wallesch
• "The No-Win Scenario" by Karl T. Smith (story & artwork)
• "Hard Choices" by Cary G. Osborne
• "The Enigma" by Shiela K. Smith
• "Dreamstate" by Mike Prentice
• Art by John Michals, Polly G. Kuhne, and Terry Cogliano

NOTE: Although the story "Only the Minds of Others" by William O'Donnell is listed on the cover, it seems to have been bumped from the issue.

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 10

Six stories, by Andra Marie Mueller, Shayne Wallesch, Karl T Smith, Cary G Osborne, Sheila K Smith and Mike Prentice. THE GIFT - '...we made eye contact, I experienced a feeling that I had been waiting all my life for him... " Only three pages! THAT WHICH STEELS THE SOUL - in which a violent part of Picards past, involving the death of his wife Triana and his son Garland, haunts him as he must reface the same enemy. THE NO-WIN SCENARIO - Riker's Kobayashi Maru- Two pages. HARD CHOICES - How to evacuate a colony which has more colonists than the Enterprise can hold Tautiy told. DREAMSTATE - a vortex places the Human crew into a dream stale in which to dream of death is fatal.

Issue 11/12

Galaxy Class 11/12 was published around 1993. It appears to have much more fiction than previous issues.

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 11/12

While at a Star Trek convention last year, I looked for a good NG zine to initiate me into fan writing, and I found a great one Galaxy Class. Issues 1 - 10 were published approximately 4 times per year beginning in Nov 87. Now, with issue 11/12, it is being published 2 times per year in a double issue format. This issue has to be the best fan fiction I have read.

• The Letter by Andra Marie Mueller -Riker reads a letter trom his mother written on his first birthday shortly before she died
• Down and Unsafe by Yvonne Harrison - Wesley takes a trip to a holiday planet to live out a wild west fantasy - only it turns out lo be real!
• Letters Home by Andra Marie Mueller - Commander Riker accepts captaincy ol a new Galaxy Class Stnrship and has to come to terms with his relationship wilh Deanna.
• Letters Home by Sherry Leigh Hopper - Dr Beverly Crusher has problems adjusting to Wesley's absence on the Enterprise.
• Fate's Choices by Andra Marie Mueller - a sequel to Choices of the heart.
• Jean-Luc's Holiday by J Jeffrey Blaauboer Jr - Captain Picard begins exhibiting some strange powers after his mind meld with Sarek.
• Visit to a Strange Time by Danielle and Carina Fabian - A spoof in which Q brings Kirk & Co lo ihe Enterprise 1701 -D andi puts Kirk in command!
• Thought Processes by Charlotte Graham-Clark - a short vignette which studies Data's thought processing during his encounter with Q, Soong and Lore.

I have to say this zine was excellent! The stories Choices of the Heart and Fates Choices were my particular favourites, since it gave Riker the Captain's chair and brought him and Deanna together.

NOTE: Although the review claimed the 'zine would now be a biennual release, Issue 11/12 was the last issue published to date.

Special Edition

First Printing Cover of Special Edition

Edited and compiled by Christopher Laird Simmons, it was published in two volumes; Volume One came out in August 1989 and contains 56 pages. Volume Two came out in September 1990 and contains 52 pages. Both are 8.5-in. x 11-in., black and white, with cardstock covers. The original printing of Volume One has the full-title: "The 24th Century Technical Manual: Behind the Scenes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Subsequent printing of the two volumes eliminate the "Behind the Scenes" part of the title. Both Volumes contain four sections examining various aspects of ST:TNG:

• Ships
• Props and Equipment
• Displays and Instruments
• Miscellaneous & Behind the Scenes