Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn
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| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn |
| Author(s): | Pamela Dale |
| Date(s): | 1980 |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | slash |
| Fandom: | Starsky & Hutch |
| External Links: | |
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Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn by Pamela Dale was the second Starsky and Hutch slash story published in a zine. Though officially a gen zine, it contains an early piece of slash: [1]
The story is an alternative universe fantasy and was in the first issue of Ten-Thirteen. The author noted that it was the "first in the "Wild Talent" series," though not other related stories were written.
In the story, Starsky and Hutch are inexplicably traveling in the English countryside. They both start having wild dreams where they are Arthur and Merlin. One of the mornings, they wake up in the same bed and confront the evidence that they'd had some very rough sex with each other as part as some powerful type of magic. Starsky is mostly unhappy about this because he can't remember it. Hutch seems unperturbed, and the story ends with Hutch asking Starsky to come back to bed with him.
Controversy
While the slash was not explicit, it was unmistakeable. It ruffled feathers, both because of its subject matter, and because it appeared in a zine that had originally advertised as gen.
Some comments:
As a writer with three contributions within the pages of Ten-Thirteen #2 under various pseudonyms, I wish to dissociate myself entirely from this zine. I further wish to make it perfectly clear that I had no idea that S/H material was going to be a part of this publication. Had I known, I would have withdrawn my contributions… [My pen-names]… were done for fun and not because I am ashamed of what I write. I have never made any secret of the fact that I have contributions in 10-13ii, therefore a number of people know that I am in there somewhere. It is this knowledge that has forced me to write. In the last month’s letterzine, Terri said that ‘from the first, we said that 10-13 would have no vetoes.’ Despite this statement, I have received private, written assurances from both editors that 10-13 would contain no S/H material. Chris' letter to me advised me that this zine would be G-rated and ‘strictly straight.’ Terri's letter to me states quite categorically that the S/H story I knew she had in her possession at the time was ‘definitely’ (her word) not gong to be in 10-13ii. BUT IT IS…When 10-13i came out in February 1981, I made it very clear… that I was worried about the fact that an S/H story, however innocuous, had been included in it. I stated at the time… that if S/H material was to be used in 10-13ii, then I should consider withdrawing my contributions. It was after I had voiced my concern that these written assurances were made to me. I did not, incidentally, know that there was to be an S/H story in 10-13i either. I let it go by without public comment because I thought it was partly my fault for not having made my views clear enough. I cannot do this a second time… This raises a vexing question… does a contributor to a zine have a right to know if that zine is to contain material that might possibly considered controversial, or might possible offend? [2]
And, I don't see the point of including one brief, inconclusive S/H vignette in an otherwise PG zine — unless it was included as a figurative thrown gauntlet. The vignette says nothing that has not been said in unpublished work, nor is it said in a unique way. I think the only purpose it will serve is to discourage readers who would otherwise enjoy the zine very much. Ah, well. [3]
Under my classification, the story was S&H until page 99; from there, I felt like it was the ending to another story or something. I didn't make the connection at all, and I felt the explanation was lame. Also, a visible theme (Starsky's possible psychic potential) was not explored. With the ending as written, I felt cheated. [4]