Grip/Issues 6-10

See the main page, Grip, for more information.
Issues 001-005	Issues 006-010	Issues 011-015	Issues 016-020	Issues 021-025	Issues 026-030	Issues 031-035	Issues 036-040	Issues 041-045	Issues 046-051

Zine
Title:	Grip
Publisher:	Other World Books
Editor(s):	Roberta Rogow
Date(s):	1978-1996
Series?:
Medium:	print zine, fanfic
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	multimedia
Language:	English
External Links:
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Grip is a gen multimedia anthology of fiction, art, poetry, and commentary edited by Roberta Rogow.

There were 51 issues published.

The series had an emphasis on Star Trek and Star Wars.

Rogow created this zine series to encourage and highlight fans who did not have a lot of previous experience creating fanworks.

Rogow was very out-spoken in her her mission to keep "Grip's" material G, or mildly PG, rated, and the title, "Grip," was a poke at Grup, a sexually explicit Trek zine.

Some regular features were the editorial ("The Editor Shoots Her Mouth Off"), fanzine ads ("Backscratching Department"), and letters of comment ("Air-LoC"), the last two spelled a variety of ways.

Issue 6

front cover of issue #6, Terry Lipanovich

back cover of issue #6, Juan Gonzales

Grip 6 was published in February 1980 and contains 56 pages.

The art is by Terry Lipanovich, Juan Gonzales, Bob Cochran, Bob Eggleton, Lynn Ethridge, Theresa Holmes, Vel Jaeger, Randall Landers, Richard Pollet, Leah Rosenthal, and Sharon Thompson.

• The Editor Shoots Her Mouth Off (1)
• One Day on the Star Trek: The Motion Picture Line, cartoon (2)
• AirLoC (Letters of Comment) (3)
• The Presence by Randall Landers (sequel to "Spectres Within the Shadows" in "Grip" #4) (Star Trek: TOS) (7)
• Reunion by Tessa Thomas ("The Interplanetary Museum of History has a new exhibit: a model of the legendary ship Enterprise. Thanks to Mr. Spock's telepathic abilities many of the old crew are drawn to the museum and to a reunion that could be their last.") (Star Trek: TOS) (17)
• Mayday Orbit by Ellen Rowe ("This story slightly overlaps "Romulan Zone Rescue" in "Grip" #5.") (Star Trek: TOS) (25)
• Journey's End, poem by Elaine Tripp (Star Trek: TOS) (28)
• I've Endured, poem by Greg Baker (Star Trek: TOS) (29)
• Star Trek's Alive, filk to the tune of "Stayin' Alive," by Elaine Tripp (Star Trek: TOS) (31)
• Ilea, filk to the tune of "Maria" from "West Side Story," by Roberta Rogow (reprinted in Rec-Room Rhymes #2) (Star Trek: TOS) (32)
• Willie's, filk to the tune of "Billy Boy" by Roberta Rogow (reprinted in Rec-Room Rhymes #2, where it had the title "Willy D") (32)
• First Encounter by Richard Pollet (Star Trek: TOS) (34)
• The Return of Leia by Randall Landers (continues Anthony Citro's "Get-Leia" tale in Grip #2) (Star Wars) (40)
• Trapped, poem by Richard Pollet (Star Trek: TOS) (44)
• Filk-Songs (45)
  • Starfleet Officers, filk to the tune of "We Three Kings," by Jayne Moore (46)
  • Yuletide Flight, filk to the tune of "Good King Wenceslaus," by Jayne Moore, Cat Lennon, and Kris Seng (48)
  • A Trekker's Life, filk to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad," by Joan Ryan (48)
  • The Trekker's Go Filking Along, filk by Greg Baker and Roberta Rogow (49)
• Hello from Dolly, fiction by Roberta Rogow (Moonraker) (50)
• Buck Rogers, a review of the television show by Miriam Rogow (She hates it.) (Buck Rogers) (54)
• Buck Rogers, Roberta's Rebuttal by Roberta Rogow (She loves it.) (Buck Rogers) (55)
• Body Clock Shifts and the History of Automatic Transmission, a review by I Abro Ciati (review of "Connections," a show on BBC West, PBS) (56)
• A Dog-Gone Good Idea, cartoon by Bob Cochran (57)

• 

  from issue #6, Lynn Ethridge

• 

  from issue #6, Lynn Ethridge

• 

  from issue #6, Terry Lipanovich

• 

  from issue #6, Sharon Thompson

• 

  from issue #6, filk

• 

  from issue #6, Vel Jaeger

• 

  from issue #6, Bob Eggleton

• 

  from issue #6, Lynn Ethridge

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 6

WAHOO! (Rebel yell) The postman just gave me a package with GRIP #6 snuggled safely inside and I'm thrilled with it. I was stunned with the cover, very professional paper and a great illo, and the marvelous contents inside...

I'm truly impressed with "Reunion" by Tess Thomas. She caught the bitter.. sweet flavor of such a reunion perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed the filk-songs, especially "Ilea" and "Star Trek's Alive" and the thoughtful poem by Greg Baker "I've Endured". However, I'm still disturbed by the irregular English employed by Ellen Rowe. I believe her work could use a little polish... Again, congrats on ish #6.

The story "Reunion" in #6 is remarkable. Not to put the author down, but in a bit more polished form that could be one of the best Trek stories around -- simple, true and moving. And the poem "Journey's End" (#6 again) is beautiful.

The filks are lots of fun, especially now that I know what they are!

I don't care for the "neutral" series -- I don't like stories told in present tense, and I somehow can't believe in Spock at all. But now that I've met "Dirty Nellie Gray", I believe in her. Very well done; I'd love to know how she met Kaland how they get along together, but it seems if anyone could get along with a Klingon, it would be Nellie. (Read "Experiment--in Survival", Warped Space #42, to find out how Nellie met Kaldon -- ED.)

Overall, I think your 'zine is excellent at fulfilling your purpose of giving new writers a chance. Keep up the good work!

GRIP #6 certainly looks cleaner than the previous issues. I loved Terry Lipanovich's illos, and the poetry was absolutely fantastic, pun intended. "Reunion" was an interesting story, and I'm looking forward to a continuation of the series. However, and I hope someone doesn't get too mad, I'm not looking forward to the continuation of the Mary Sue -- I mean, Spock series. Not. only has Ellen Rowe outdone herself with invisibility, the return of the Romulan Commander, Romulan spacecraft with no air, but also the return of Charles Evans? She's got to be kidding!

Nice filks and the illos for them, folks. Reading the AIR-LOC, I see that I'm not the only one who liked Spock. Messiah! And Anthony hasn't even been "basking in the Georgia sun". And I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like stories written in the present tense. And I agree with you: Buck Rogers is is fun, nothing more, but nothing less either.

I started to write a LoC for GRIP #6 any number of times...Forgive me if I seem to shoot from the lip; I'm trying to take into consideration that many of your writers are inexperienced (So is the Editor-- ED!)

"The Presence" ...- A bit bogged down with background detail; the presentation of the thought processes of The Presence is awkward; plot development, not bad.

"Reunion" ... excellent characterization. Especially like the aide, Philkott. Interaction of all the characters is quite good, but might have been better if fewer characters had been used. Having so many in one scene sort of muddied the effect. Spock telepathically arranging the meeting is a bit hard to swallow, but this was an enjoyable read nonetheless.

"Mayday Orbit" -- Sorry, but the writing style really bothered me. The use of the present tense throughout the story was annoying and much of the action seems disjointed, It was difficult to follow the plot, which has some interesting possibilities. Maybe there's just too much in such a short piece.

"Journey's End" lovely thoughts, and some very nice images. Only complaint is the slight inconsistency in the rhyme scheme; it would have been better to eliminate all the rhymes; also, didn't follow through with the repetition of the "my friend" phrase.

"I've Endured" ... Love it! Absolutely gorgeous, and I wouldn't change a word of it. I'm a McCoy fanatic, and this says it all!

"Star Trek's Alive" -- Delightful; can't wait to hear it sung at a Con! "Ilea" and "Willie D." -- Of course I could be prejudiced here by that go gorgeous illo, but I really had a few chuckles over these. But really "sex is" and "Texas" (They rhyme in New Jersey! -- ED)

"First Encounter" -- Very nice, well-written, and gives us an interesting insight into the character of Decker. One of the arguments that supports the who-gives-a damn-attitude toward Decker is that we know so little about him, and who cares about a total stranger. I'd like to see this story fleshed out even more.

"The Return of Leia" - not bad for Space Opera, but seems to cram too much into just a few pages. Again, fewer characters might have worked better.

The filk-songs -- It seems unfair to judge these away from a Con. They really need the proper atmosphere to be appreciated. " A Trekker's Life" especially struck home, and will again when this month's phone bill arrives.

"Hello From Dolly" -- I've always liked this format; this one really fits the character, too. But then, I really loved Moonraker.

"Buck Rogers" -- I'm on your side of the argument, right down to the cutesy robots. Gerrard is a real charmer, and the entire series is made to sit back, relax, and enjoy One of the few cases where the TV series is a vast improvement on the original movie.

Issue 7

front cover of issue 7, Bob Eggleton

back cover of issue #7, Shona Jackson

Grip 7 was published in July 1980 and is 60 pages long.

The art is by Terri Lipanovich, Shona Jackson, Bob Eggleton, Lynn Ethridge, Vel Jaeger, Randall Landers, Richard Pollet, Leah Rosenthal, and Dot Sasscer.

• The Editor Shoots Her Mouth Off, editorial (1)
• The Klingon Soldier, poem by Jocelyn Feaster (Star Trek) (2)
• Crackjacks fiction by Gregory Baker and Pat Paul (Star Trek) (3)
• She's My Ship, cartoon by Leah Rosenthal (30)
• Some "Leaving a Planet" Litanies, poem by Jocelyn Feaster (32)
• Venture into Hell by Randall Landers (the editor describes this as a "get'em" and the first time one has been in this zine series) (Star Trek) (33)
• Old Trekkers Never Die, filk by Greg Baker and Roberta Rogow (reprinted in a slightly different form from APA-FILK) (Star Trek) (43)
• Lucky Bucky, poem by Roberta Rogow (Buck Rogers) (44)
• Vader vs. Vader by Leah Rosenthal (the logical extension of the final scenes of TESB) (Star Wars) (46)
• Costume Call, article by Geraldine Sylvester (costuming) (49)
• The Birth of an APA-Zine, article by Harry Andruschak (about APA-FILK) (51)
• Star Blazers, a review by Jeanette Eilke (Japanese space opera) (53)
• Advice to Academic (and Other) Job-Seekers by Vida Hull (58)
• Backscratching Department, zine ads (60)
• Tooting-My-Own Horn Department (back cover, art by Shona Jackson)

• 

  from issue #7, Vel Jaeger

• 

  from issue #7, Terri Lipanovich

• 

  from issue #7, Dot Sasscer

• 

  from issue #7, Leah Rosenthal

• 

  from issue #7, Vel Jaeger

• 

  from issue #7, Lynn Eldridge

• 

  from issue #7, Leah Rosenthal

• 

  from issue #7, Bob Eggleton

• 

  from issue #7, Carrie Rowles

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 7

I just finished GRIP #7. I have heard about your 'zine for quite some time and found it to be a work of love.

"Crackerjacks" by Gregory Baker and Pat Paul had some wonderful new characters, Kis Kishi, as an Alien, was remarkable. Bradshaw was also well-drawn. The hints about their history were such that I'd love to read more. However, I thought the plot of the story became bogged down towards the end. I would have liked to have known what the "...and something else" Kirk mentioned as being in the cylinder (at the end of the story) was.

"Venture Into Hell" by Randall Landers had a good setting — a living planet. I really enjoyed the way the author "drew" it. However, I believe the Enterprise crew would have beamed up Kirk and company no matter what Breck said. Kirk would have demanded it the first time. I couldn't see him obeying an order that would be the d death of so many (and then talk his way out of it when 'high command' found out).

"Vader vs. Vader" by Leah Rosenthal was a well-done humor piece (I especially loved the two-headed bird in her drawing that went with the story).

"Costume Call" by Geraldine Sylvester and " The Birth of an APA-zine" by Harry J. Andruschak were good information articles. I particularly liked the article on "Star Blazers" by Jeanette Silke. It really applied to me, because the show is shown at 3 PM here. I like it for the same reasons Jeanette did (we even have jokes about the "Star Force" here, because the seldom seem to answer a direct question directly.

The art work (especially Bob Eggleton's cover) is wonderful, as are the fillers of poetry and filks. I enjoyed!

Working from front to back.

Cover ~ absolutely scrumptious! I'd often thought of doing the Cloud, but was at a loss on how to get that effect; Bob Eggleton obviously didn't have that problem, and of course the Klingon cruisers are marvelously sinister.

"CrackerJacks" ~ frankly, it took me a while to get interested in this, but once I did I found it to be an enjoyable piece. At first I was annoyed, thinking Kirk would never treat a crewman the way he did Bradshaw. But then I recalled that sometimes he can be so pigheaded as to deserve a swift kick in his much-adored you-know-what. A perfect example was his attitude toward Ensign Garrovick in "Obsession. It's really not fair to leave us hanging, you know.

"She's my Ship” is adorable, both poem and especially its illo.

"Venture into Hell” — about average for a shore party story, though a bit too many characters and detail for such a short story. The science explanation seemed a bit shaky — I think the techs would hare learned more through their sensors. But the characterizations and interactions were good.

"Lucky Bucky” — and Carrie's illo — what can I say but ”drooooool!”

"Vader vs. Vader” — would make a great T-Shirt — Leah's done it again!

"Costume Call" — I enjoyed this very much, but not only because I'm a costume freak myself. I met Gerry last year; in fact, we chatted for quite a while at Hampton, VA, during SciCon I. I was in line behind her at the costume contest, where she was wearing the ”Spirit of the Enterprise” costume, part of it is seen in the photo accompanying the article. Heed I say she took first place in the Star Trek category? I might humbly add that my FemRomCom costume took second!

"Birth of an APAzine" -- I was already familiar with most of the information in the article, and knew Andy through a letter he wrote in F.A.N. (Fantasy Artists Network). I didn't realize our Trek-APA was unknown, though, since I've been a contributor for over a year now. Sally Syrjala co-ordinates ours.

"Star Blazers" — no one who has kids needs to be told about this! Ours discovered it last year, and have been fervent addicts. It was nice to see all the details involved, though I only see glimpses of it — at 4:30 PM I'm usually involved with some mundane house chore.

Air-LoC — I hope none of the writers concerned in my last LoC are upset- with me. I wrote that in the midst of re-writes for my own newsletter, and I'm afraid I was wearing my super hard-nosed editor guise. But I have critics that make ME sound like your doting grandmother. I really am trying to help. If I only say "that's nice", and am not honest with you, it won't help your developoent as writers. (why do you think I print LoCs? So that these comments can make better writers — and a better editor!—Ed.)

"Backscratching Department” — I appreciate very much the plug for our TREKisM At Length. However, I did not illustrate it. I only did one lllo, the one on the back cover. Most of the rest were by our resident illustrator, LaVena Kay Kidd.

Overall — very nice! Very pleasant to look at, and some enjoyable reading. Who could ask for more?

It's time for a LoC on GRIP #7# I've read it through a number of times, and I must admit this issue isn't as good as the last, because of my story. It's not your fault; I should have reworked it myself (or thrown it away). Forget about that sequel, too,

Gregory Baker and Pat Paul did a fair job on their story. In fact, it would have been first rate if-it hadn't been a sequel to a story that hasn't appeared in GRIP. Another beef I have with it is that the idea of the Enterprise being refueled is ridiculous. Antihydrogen (and all other forms of antimatter) could be more easily made from existing matter floating in space than having to be refueled while in flight, at Warp Seven to boot! The new Enterprise, and the old one too, have Intakes where matter is sucked in and converted in the nacelles to antimatter to provide the combustion for propulsion,That's why the engines take thirty minutes to heat up, so that the antimatter can regenerate itself. Other than, that (I can overlook Rocky's background) it was OK, If you like, I can recommend someone who can explain the engines far better than I.

I L0VED--"She's My Ship” because it strikes me that Shatner IS that way.

”Vader vs, Vader” is the most logical SW story I've read. When Vader announced he was Luke's father, I got up and left. Three years for that??!!!

What do you mean by "Roberta's Rules for Costumes for the Klutzy #2” (That's the one about fitting a Mini-skirt on a Maxi-Mum -- Ed.) That's the best part of the costume call!! Can she stay in that skimpy little thing or not? The suspense created by such costumes makes it the highlight. Hehehe! Just my kidding, I think!

"The Birth of an APAzine" strikes me very similar to normal genzine procedure. Rick P, writes for me, Rick Endres, you and a few others. You write for a lot of others, but then you've been at this for quite some time. But it's an enormous chain like an ecosystem schematic (there's that bio major popping up-again,) All fanzines are related to other fanzines, who are related to others, APAs just seem to keep closer circles than immense nets. Perhaps that's their advantage.

"Star Blazers" is entertaining, but nothing more, I'm glad the reviewer didn't try to make it out as something it wasn't.

As far as comments in Air-LoC go, I've decided that I won't bother to write any more-sequels, since they never match the original in quality. Examples: Ellen Rowels "Neutral" series' best thing was her poem (In GRIP 1, Out-of-Print, alas —Ed,)

Artwork was great, I loved the cover! Unfortunately, Rick P's illos still leave much to be desired, but I print them myself, so I can't complain or blame you.

GRIP is largely a showcase for new talent though there are the efforts of seasoned hands represented here as well. There's a certain charm to this little zine that seems sadly lacking in some of the older well established zines. I feel it's the enthusiasm of the newer fans coming through with a waning sense of wonder that I experienced while discovering Star Trek many years ago.

The illustrations in this issue are all top-notch boasting the talents of Rosenthal, Rowels, Jackson and some very promising newcomers. There is a small section of poetry and filksongs that appear alternately comic and touching. Geraldine Sylvester has written a brief knowledgeable article on costume calls that is a "must" for anyone entering a costume call for the first time.

Fiction this issue includes "Venture Into Hell" by Randall Landers, which is passable fiction that suffers largely from lack of character development in the person of the Commissioner. There are a few spots of redundant dialog and I find it hard to believe Spock would blush because McCoy filed a report similar to his at an earlier date. I feel Randall will become a formidable writer as he practices his craft.

"Cracker Jacks" by Gregory Baker and Pat Paul is a well crafted enjoyable story dealing with junior officers and the transport of a mysterious cargo to Sherman's Planet. Introduced in this tale is a fascinating feline character named Kish-iarwbratapantua (Kishi for short) who deserves to be developed further. My major complaint with the story is the fact that the crew is not briefed on alien crewmembers who have come aboard, but the situation is handled humorously in the story and works out quite well.

The gem of the zine is a story by Leah Rosenthal entitled "Vader vs Vader" which is an after-the-fact EMPIRE story that laughingly concludes the film while still managing to remain open for yet another sequel.

Capping the issue is an excellent review by Jeanette Eilke of the Japanese made space opera "Star Blazer", which is in syndication in the United States and Canada. I've been fortunate enough to have seen some of the episodes and it's a truly superior adventure cartoon. If it's in your area, I recommend it highly.

Issue 8

front cover of issue 8, Shona Jackson

back cover of issue #8, John Gonzales

Grip 8 was published in November 1980 and is 60 pages long.

The art is by Shona Jackson, John Gonzales, Lynn Eldridge, Liz Frim, Barbara Stultz, Richard Pollet, Leah Rosenthal, Dot Sasscer, Irene Shafer, and Mark Thorner.

From the editorial:

I managed to get to a lot of Cons this summer. Empiricon was in New York City, over the July 4th weekend, at a slightly run-down hotel (as opposed to the Stater-Hilton, which is a VERY run-down hotel!). I spent a lot of time chatting in the Dealers' Room and Art Show, and very little [time] listening to speakers, since there was only one room big enough to hold a lot of people and it was used for films! There was a good discussion about Fandom (of the SF-book variety), and Asimov had some words about editors.

Then there was NorEasCon, the World SF Con, in Boston, at the end of the summer. It was my first World-Con, and it may very well be my last! It's just too big! I seemed to be attending one Con, and the pro-writers were attending another, and the nitwits were attending a third. They all cams together at the Masquerade, and at the Hugo Awards. I was involved in a couple of things, like selling "Wide Open Spaces" at a table for the Bad Company (fans of TV and Movie Westerns), and the One-Shot Chorale, which performed a capella music during the judging of the Masquerade. And what costumes they were! There was one guy who should have won for "Most Naked" — he came as Dr. Who, wearing a hat and a woolly scarf, and not another stitch! The prize-winners cannot be described by any other word but Gorgeous!!!!

The Hugo Award ceremonies were interrupted by heckling and boos from the audience, which were disturbing, and not in the spirit of true SF fandom. Strange things happened — no one expected the winner of the Gandof Award (Grand Master of Fantasy), Ray Bradbury, to appear, since he never leaves his home for any reason at all, but where was presenter Lin Carter? No one could find him, either! Barry Longyear won "bookends", two Hugos in one year, and A.E. Clarke, to no one's surprise, won for "Best Novel”, Fountains of Paradise. "Best Dramatic Production” was Alien, alas; Star Trek doesn't count for much with hard-core SF-ers.

Aside from the serious business of contacting editors, agents, and other authors, I had plenty of time to haunt the enormouss Dealers' Room — where I found every other Trekker in the North-East, all craving fanzines, which were not there. We had all been informed that World-Cons were bad places to sell Trekzines, ergo, we hadn't brought them with us. All of a sudden, the Trekkers were at a Con, and there were no Trekzines — ARRRGH! Plans were made to get someone to barrel back to New York, make a grand tour of the five boroughs, and bring back the 'zines. It was a little impractical — but it was a symptom of a phenomenon that was felt in New York, where the annual Star Trek America bash was going on. Reports from those who stayed in New York say that STA was sparsely attended — because all the hard-core Trekkers were in Boston!

• The Editor Shoots Her Mouth Off (1)
• Air-LoC, Letters to the Editor (3)
• The New Captain of the Enterprise by Richard Pollet (Kirk is missing, and the Enterprise has to handle an attack on Vulcan.) (Star Trek: TOS) (5)
• Kah-Lair by Cheryl Hendricks (21)
• Seven for the "Varda," filk to the tune of "Echad Mi Yodeah," by Roberta Rogow (reprinted in Rec-Room Rhymes #2) (Battle Beyond the Stars) (Battle Beyond the Stars) (30)
• The Starship Trouper's Fanclub by the Taperecorder Brigade (32)
• A Circle in the Moonlight by Gregory Baker (A story about two off-beat members of the Big E.) (33)
• The First GRIP Finish-the-Story Contest (41)
• When We First Met, poem by Richard Pollet (44)
• The Choice, poem by Louise Rogow (45)
• My Fair Jeddi (spelled that way in the table of contents, "Jedi" is on the filk itself), filk by Leah Rosenthal (46)
• How We Spent Our Summer Vacation, 25 Crises in Silver Spring by Roberta Rogow and Sharron Baker (47)
• Threnody for Augustrek, filk by Roberta Rogow (reprinted in Rec-Room Rhymes #2, where it has the added credits of "Greg Baker and friends") (54)
• The Editor's Dilemma: "Kiss" by Feyrer, filk to the tune of "Kiss of Fire," by Roberta Rogow (commentary on slash) (reprinted in Rec-Room Rhymes #2) (56)
• Continuation of Star Trek Book Reviews, by Randall Landers (57)
• The Ship of Imagination Doesn't Make Local Stops, Review of "Cosmos" by Gregory Baker (59)
• Backscratching Department (6)

• 

  from issue #8, The Editor's Dilemma: "Kiss" by Feyrer

• 

  from issue #8, Lynn Eldridge

• 

  from issue #8, Shona Jackson

• 

  from issue #8, Mark Thorner

• 

  from issue #8

• 

  from issue #8, Richard Pollet

• 

  from issue #8, Dot Sasscer

• 

  from issue #8, detail from a bigger illo, Lynn Eldridge

• 

  from issue #8, Barbara Stultz

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 8

There are several issues available since this one, but Roberta usually keeps her best back ones in print. This ish shares the same strengths and weaknesses of the others. Cover by Shona Jackson is a delightful cross-breeding of Trek and SW, shows a cartooned Yoda wearing the Vulcan IDIC pendant, and presumably giving the Vulcan hand greeting (well, what can you do with only three fingers?). Lots of blank space in the zine, as double spacing is used between paragraphs of dialog, always wasteful. One point in GRIP'S favor is in its use of beginners material; same point works against it in terms of reader recognition when seeing the zine for the first time.

Fiction in this issue consists of a run-of-the-mill Richard Pollet story with the subtle title "The New Captain of The Enterprise", and surprise! finds Kirk lost on the planet they were exploring, Spock reluctantly taking command long enough to save Vulcan from the Klingon/Romulans, and returning in time to said planet in time to save Kirk. Several somewhat forced Spock/McCoy confrontations pad out the narrative. Unmemorable, and done before many times.

Second Trek story "Kah-leir" by Cheryl Handricks has a slightly more original storyline involving a Nomad-like planet controller who is easily overcome by reading the truth in Spock's mind. Kirk's thoughts and actions toward Janice Rand offer a little diversion from the stock danger-logic-rescue of the plot; the whole thing could be an outline for a more fully realized adventure story for our heros.

The other Trek story "A Circle In Moonlight" by Gregory Baker, is easily the best in the zine, with well-realized characters both human and alien. Features a classic independent soldier-of-fortune George Bradshaw, who is pilot for an Enterprise special long-range shuttle-craft and his co-pilot "panther like" Kishi. Plotline has the shuttle seeking colonists on planet Fairno to deliver mail and supplies, but George and Kishi find one town burned and one deserted, finally catch up with the colonists and learn that they are under the spell of indigenous fauna capable of shape-changing. An intriguing story, highly imaginative. Remainder of the zine has poetry (some SW), song lyrics, book reviews, a review of the TV show "Cosmos", and a very funny account of 1980's Augustrek Con (sponsored by the editor).

I don't usually comment on art because I know nothing about it, but Shona Jackson's cover and cartoon convulsed everyone at work. I liked the cartoon As for Yoda wearing an IDIC... Well, why not? You get any stories about Spock as a Jedi? (Not yet, but there's still hope... Ed!)

Richard Pollet can use some lessons in pacing. There was one point in the story when his plot was noticeably in need of fine tuning. The exposition a about the Romulans (p. 12) belongs earlier in the story, and that scene should be eliminated, with Spock fainting earlier at the end of the last Enterprise section on p. 11. This may seem like a minor quibble, but it did bother me. It would make the story tighter. I also thought that there is no way that Spock could feel indifferent toward Earth (no matter what he may pretend) when it's his mother's planet. Richard did very well with Spock's struggle over his grief for Kirk and the effect of the death of all those Vulcans hitting at just the wrong time. He could have had a more intense story, however, if he had used first-person Spock and Kirk viewpoints alternating instead of the conventional omniscient third person. That's just a suggestion. It's basically a Spock story though, so I'm not sure how necessary the Kirk sections are. Maybe it would be better to eliminate them altogether. Nothing very significant happens in them after all. (Ooops! I insisted on putting the Kirk sections in, because otherwise Kirk pops up out of nowhere, with no real explanation of where he's been -- too much like the God From the Machine ...Ed)

I don't want to patronize Cheryl Hendricks by saying she writes an excellent story for her age. That is true, but she'll need to be even better than that eventually. The problem with "Kah-Leir" is that I thought I'd read it before. In other words, Cheryl is working with very familiar elements. This is a necessary first step for a beginner, but for her next effort Cheryl might want to try to find, some more challenging material. Let's look at how "Kah-Leir" might have been better. Suppose "yon mechanical beastie" alias Nomad alias V'Ger were eliminated as the explanation. What more original explanation could there we? You can easily come up with drugs or Platonians. Now, what if these are not the archaeologists, but members of the supposedly long-dead race the archaeologists were investigating, and they are addictive. I don't mean that they dispense addictive substances -- I mean that proximity to these aliens in human for is addictive. You'd have to do same thinking about what kind of biology the aliens would have in order to be addictive, but you'd definitely have a more interesting story. Cheryl learns from this analysis. She basically needs to be more speculative.

I heard "Seven For the Varda" at the Con (Darkover Grand Council). That's not the tune for "Echad Hi lodea" that my family uses at Passover, but there are numerous tunes, depending upon where your ancestors came from. Israeli tunes are also different. (So sue me! -- Ed.)

I thought that Greg's story was the best in the issue but I wonder why he has Spock say that the Grazer is "degenerate". That's not a logical conclusion. A "degenerate" species is one that's lost its ability to change or adapt, and which generally isn't interested in finding out anything new. I'd say the species shows itself to be highly adaptive, curious and resourceful. They are the precise opposite of degenerate.

Randal Landers thinks that "Meaning is Star Trek" is okay?! He calls THAT okay? It makes my blood boil over! She twists the episodes to fit her theories. She stretches the facts. She wounds my sensibilities by giving us all kinds of crap that has no relation to what I know about the characters. It's a fiasco! Buy anything else! It's almost as bad as Spock, Messiah! (and you have to be really talented in hack production work to be on that level.. Karen Blair is a computer programmed by a Junian. That's whY the book has no real relation to the reality of the series. The computer can only produce reams of hack material based on Jungian theory.

"Perry's Planet" isn't only a bad novel, it contains a scene that is more sexist that anything in the original series. As you may recall, Uhura and Davis witness a rape. Davis is capable of saying quite calmly that this might be one of the quaint local customs. She isn't even tempted to intertere. It doesn't make her angry. Ditto Uhura. I'm sorry, but if I were in that situation I'd sure as Hell want to do something about it -- native custom or not! I'd also say that a planet that wants to join the Federation had better come up to Federation standards and adopt some civilized laws protecting its citizens. This comes on top of Davis suggesting that Uhura might want to give up her career for a man and Uhura concurring! There's no excuse tor

that kind of dialog in 1980! I can understand why the series was sexist. All TV offerings were even more so at that time, but pro Trek novels being published now should have an improved attitude rather than a worse one.

Nice 'zine. Most of it was a bore, as you might expect, to a non-Trekky. But the article on "How We Spent Our Summer Vacation" -- this is wonderful. I mean it!!! It is the kind of article I would have liked to have printed in INTERMEDIATE VECTOR BOSOMS. Funny, yet with a point. If anybody ever gets around to doing a FANTHOLOGY 1980, I'll try to put in a reccommendation for it.

GRIP #8 arrived a couple of days ago, and after having read it, I'd like to make the following comments. About the zine itself, you had the right balance of material (stories, poems, filks, articles, reviews) but I think that just maybe it Would be a little better if it were laid out in a different manner. Grouping the stories at the start of the zine sorta is frustrating since the readers may not desire to read the entire zine at once. I'd try to intersperse the articles in with the stories even more. But it's probably a matter of personal preference as most of my complaints and suggestions are oriented to.

Rick Pollet's "The New Captain of the Enterprise" struck me as being an interesting mixture of "Star Trek the Motion Picture" and "Mind-sifter" by Shirley Maiewsky. Still it was interesting, but I find it hard to believe that the Klingons have this cube/obelisk thing that they can beam anyone who touches it anywhere. I also cannot accept the fact that Kirk got back just by touching it or another one. But back to the Klingons, they are given ~his cube thing (which would make one hell of a weapon) and the ability to do surgery on the molecular level. Well, then I'm glad the Organians are there, because it indicates the Klingons are more advanced than the Federation. Lynn Eldridge's illo of Spock was fairly good.

Cheryl Hendricks' "Kah-leir" is very good, handled well, and has the flavor of an aired episode. It is a little like "The Patient Parasites" by Russell Bates but that is of no consequence since the story stands on its own. A fine debut for a new author in fan literature. Watch the science, though. 22 billion light-years?

I still cannot fathom why you liked "Battle Beyond the Stars." Oh well, infinite diversity in infinite combinations. Fair illo by Mark Thorner. Shona Jackson did a nice cartoon and cover. I guess the filks were okay, more on them later. Irene Shafer's cartoons were good, as was her illo.

Greg Baker's "A Circle in Moonlight" was very good, too, even though it doesn't feature our beloved heroes. It had a very interesting science fiction concept, a gestalt being. I wholeheartedly approve of it, with one minor point. I just can't see using such an expensive piece of hardware to drive around the galaxy delivering mail and packages like some U.P.S. van.

"The First Grip Finish-the-Story Contest" is a great idea. I want to wish Abbie the best of luck in finishing it and tieing up all the loose ends from both stories, mine and Anthony's.

The poetry still doesn't appeal to me, but then again, I liked Spock, Messiah! It sounds like one hell of a summer, Roberta, and I do not envy you one little bit. Now as far as the "Editor's Dilemma: Kiss by Feyrer" goes: I haven't received too many Obs'zine candidates, although I must admit to printing R-rated material at times. Fortunately. With a nosy Mom on the loose, one can never be too careful.

Finally, Greg's review of "Cosmos" is quite good, and I rather enjoy watching Carl Sagan dancing all around the issue of a Divine Creator, watching computer graphics and actual pics from space. I just don't like talking about Keppler's screw-ups, how ignorant our ancestors were, how ignorant we are, and the like. Failure is not a very good subject to bring up in an optimistic show.

Issue 9

front cover of #9, Cheryl Newsome

back cover of #9, Ron Schark

Grip 9 was published in February 1981 and is 58 pages long.

The art is by Cheryl Newsome, Ron Schark, Bob Eggleton, Lynn Eldridge, Nancy Gervais, Juan Gonzales, Abbie Herrick, Michael B. Smith, Sharon Thompson, Theresa Holmes, and Richard Pollet.

From the editorial:

I've been to a couple of Cons, one of them a Darkover Grand Council Meeting, which was something new for me. I've always been a little sniffy about Darkover, possibly because I read the first one while I was in a state of outrage, and I never quite saw what the Darkover fans did in it. Then I got cheated out of a Trek Con ( some day I'll tell that story) and I had to sell GRIP #8 somewhere, so I went to Darkover. Having done which, I felt I ought to give the thing another chance. Either Marion Zimnmer Bradley's writing has improved or my mind has been expanded.

I've read three of them, and they are fascinating. I recommend the current Ace edition of The Planet Savers/The Sword of Aldones, which also has a short story called "The Waterfall" and a lovely explanation of the whole thing by Mrs. Bradley herself that will help neo-Darovreans like myself.

Also from the editorial:

Today's lecture: the Art Policy for GRIP. One of my major handicaps (I have a number of them) is that I cannot draw. This means I am totally dependent on outside help for artwork for GRIP. And that means that the art-work tends to be a little spotty, depending on the schedules and attitudes of contributing artists!

Illustrating a story isn't an easy task, when you come to think of it, and illustrating a story in which the characters' faces are well-known is even worse. You have to get a likeness. There aren't too many people mo can do this. In fact, several artists have- told me that they prefer NOT to do Trek or Star Wars art for this reason. They would rather go with the phantoms that crowd into their own minds.

The reverse side of this is the writer, who usually has a definite idea of what the characters look like, but might not want to spend a thousand words of a 5,OOO-word story telling us about it. In a pro-magazine, the editor sends the story to the artist" and the writer has absolutely nothing to say about the matter. If Writer has described a character as a six-foot macho-type and Artist has drawn an aesthetic shorty, that's the Editor's headache! Meanwhile, Reader can worry about the discrepancy and send Letters-of-Comment, --- you get the idea.

My own policy is to try to send stories by the same people to artists who have illustrated similar stories -- or to pair up comic artists with parodies, fantasy artists with serious stories, etc. Of course, if someone sends art with the story it's a shoo-in (although I've been known to reject art that was too static).

[...]

What kind of art subject for "fillos"? Cartoons in good taste -- no overblown females, no bathroom humor. Puns, up to a point (see Abbie Herrick's cartoon!) Pointless shaggy-dog stories -- why bother? Fantasy animals are fine -- dragons tend to pop up with amazing frequency these days -- but Scrod has out-worn its welcome. (For those not aware of it the Scrod is that one-eyed thing that lives in the Trash Compactor of the Death Star, and I have no idea what it's doing there!

I do not usually pay for art. I have been known to buy artwork at Cons, and once in a while I'll print it, but the general rule is, if your work appears in GRIP you get a free copy -- period. Of course, I send you back the original, which you may then sell.

DO NOT send me something that you have send to someone else! I nearly got caught printing someone else's cover, and if I hadn't met the artists and told her about it, things might have gotten verrrrry sticky. Also, I can work from xerox copies, if they are good and dark.

I try very hard not to damage or deface the artwork in any way. Once I trimmed someone's picture, and she was very upset. She hasn't sent me anything else, which is a pity, because I liked her stuff. Occasionally, I have to trim or else use rubber cement.. I try to send the art back in the same state in which I got it -- not always easy, because of the Post Awful. Whenever possible, I prefer to return the art with the Freebie copy, by hand, at a Con.

• The Editor Shoots Her Mouth Off (1)
• A Sense of Values, poem by Richard Pollet (Star Trek: TOS) (3)
• A Question of Motive by Randall Landers (5)
• A Vulcan Joke, cartoon by Richard Pollet (15)
• Aftermath of a Decision, poem by Jocelyn Feaster (16)
• Moments in Time by Nancy Gervais (18)
• An Average Day the Nobel Prize Way, parody by Sue Pinsely (ST:TMP) (21)
• Heroes, poem by Julia D. Alderson (26)
• The One That Got Away, fiction by Roberta Rogow Battle Beyond the Stars (28)
• 'Droids Are People, filk to the tune of "Kids are People," by Roberta Rogow (androids, robots, droids) (reprinted in Rec-Room Rhymes #2) (39)
• From the Jaws of Victory by Richard Pollet (41)
• Blizzard Bound, poem by Ellen Rowe (46)
• Star Wars Corn, cartoon by Abbie Herrick (47)
• Holy Frack, or Sacrilegious Felgercarb?, article by Randal Landers (49)
• You Can't Beat the Human Spirit, but Everything Else is Okay, review by Greg and Sharron Baker (54)
• Air-LOC, letters of comment (55)
• Back-Scratching Department

• 

  from issue #9, Richard Pollet

• 

  from issue #9, Sharon Thompson

• 

  from issue #9, Cheryl Newsome

• 

  from issue #9, Nancy Gervais

• 

  from issue #9, Bob Eggleton (in the credits, the name Tony Starsquire is on the illo)

• 

  from issue #9, Ron Schark

• 

  from issue #9, Ron Schark

• 

  from issue #9, Abbie Herrick

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 9

GRIP 9 really is another great issue! Congratulations! The artwork is getting better each issue. Sharon Thompson's illos for my story are appreciated. She did a nice job capturing the scenes I wrote. I'm flattered you printed what I typed. Next time I'll have to be more careful about the typos! (They were better than mine — ED)

"Moments in Time" by Nancy Gervaise, struck me as a good little vignette as it gave further insight into a situation that must've occurred at one time in the 5-year Mission (probably early into it) and into the characters. Nancy's illo was very good.

"An Average Day the Nobelprize Way" was a average Star Trek parody. The line that caused me to laugh was Showoff's breaking into "If I was a Rich man..." Very funny and really unexpected. Most parodies are predictably dull, but that line was absolutely priceless. Good job, Sue Pinsky.

Roberta, I don't know why you like Battle Beyond the Stars (nor do I understand why you don't like Spock, Messhiah!). But you did a good job on your short story. And although I prefer other kinds of centerfolds, Bob Eggleton did extremely well, and should be commended for his work. Ron Schark did very well, too.

I really don't think Skywalker became Vader in quite that way. As a personal preference, I found The Empire Strikes Out to be really dumb. Star Wars was enjoyable, but TESB wasn't. And for that reason, I no longer like SW stories.

Looking back at my article, I find that I still agree with myself, but Battlestar Galactica was Forbidden Planet when compared to the utterly atrocious Galactica 1980.

As for Greg Baker's LoC, I'll stand to my opinion, one that is backed by the physics majors I know. (One of them convinced me!) To Linda Frankel: If you

think Karen Blair twists the episodes, you should try some of the K/S gay-sex stuff. In my opinion, people can take Star Trek to make any point of view. And by IDIC! Linda and Cheryl Hendricks digagree on Perry's Planet. I'm glad to see people respond and give their views on my reviews.

I got the tie-in between "Seven for the Varda" and "The One That Got Away" -- an excellent story -- loved Nell, and the pacing and plot were beautiful -- but what's a Varda? Is it related to Darkover? (No, it's from Battle Beyond the Stars, which played a very second fiddle last summer to Empire Strikes Back, and which is the source for both the filk and the story. "The Varda" is sort of like "The Force", only it's a set of values, a moral and ethical code, rather than a mystical Something that you have to be trained to use. — ED.)

"A Question of Motive" is good, though not terribly original in theme. This one was tackled in aired Trek several times, but the lesson of tolerance and understanding the other guy's point of view can bear repeating. Randy (Landers) did stretch things a bit, by making the colonist's ship the next to last of 300,000! And a star with three habitable planets just happening to be there when they come out of the Warp was a bit much, too. Seems that one ship would be stretching things mighty thin to populate three planets. That accidental discovery of the space-time Warp was a neat touch, though, as was the colonists confusion of the Big E with the Romulan raiders; how did the colonists know the Romulans had pointed ears? If they had visual contact, why not have used it with the Enterprise? Hey, Sharon Thompson did a nice job with the art.

Nancy Gervais did a nice Spock to accompany her "Moments in Time". That is a lovely proverb, and Kirk's kick added a humorous bit. Kirk just might like to scandalize his First Officer, but I wonder if he'd go quite that far In public?

"An Average Day..." would make a great cartoon strip, it has that flavor, and parodies often come off better that way. Tony Starsquire's centerfold is beautiful, and I've already commented on "The One That Got Away."

"From the Jaws of Victory" was a real switcheroo - very interesting attempt to make some sense of Darth Vader's claim to paternity of Luke.

GRIP 9 was better than most issues. If this is an indication of the shape of things to come, I hope it reaches #84!

"A Question of Motive" by Randall Landers, appealed to me the most. There's been too much emphasis on emotional involvement and not enough blood-and-thunder in Star Trek fiction. I really enjoy action stories, and Lander's description of the ship in action was comprehensive and entertaining. However I would differ with a couple of technical terms: That's "third watch", not, "third work shift", and "bearing 472" would mean that the Enterprise divides a circle into 1,000 parts. The Tech Manual uses 400-gad circles; the series never used a number greater than 360. (picky, picky!—ED)

"Moments in Time" -- nice vignette, but it doesn't stand up as a story.

"Average Day the Nobelprize Way" — Kindergarten in Space! It took me four readings to figure who was Showman Tanned, thought. The parody was very far-fetched.

"The One That Got Away" — Roberta, remember. writing fiction for your own zine can be a dangerous practice, The Kindly Editor won't bite itself. However I enjoyed this as as much as "A Question of Motive." l did not see Battle Beyond the Stars, but I was able to follow the story, and that's a sign of good fan fiction.

"From the Jaws of Victory" by Richard Pollet — it was a good way to explain why Vader is Luke's father, but the style of prose was choppy. Try using longer sentences to vary the pace.

"Holy Frack, or Sacrilegious Felgercarb!" Both! However, I'd with Landers' opinions In part, the first episode of B&G was good. If they cut the series off after that and began with new episodes, I would be content. However, Hollywood doesn't recognize the values of good writing and of trying something new. It was the best idea since the Aeneid, and the studio blue it.

"You Can't Beat the Human Spirit." What pervert wrote that? Disgusting! Oh, I did? Never mind.

Issue 10

front cover of issue #10, Dot Sasscer

back cover of issue #10, Ron Schark

Grip 10 was published in August 1981 and is 60 pages long.

The art is by Dot Sasscer, Ron Schark, Lynn Eldridge, Abbie Herrick, Shona Jackson, Vel Jaeger, J. Delisa, Richard Pollet, Louise Rogow, Melody Rondeau, Leah Rosenthal, Adrienne Shanler, and Michael B. Smith.

From the editorial:

Ladies, gentlemen, and creatures of indefinite gender: the U.S.Post Office has limitations, due to recent cut-backs in staff, and general lackadaisical service. One of the limitations has to do with how much you pay for things to go through this meat-grinder and what happens to them en route.

[much snipped about general postal service rates, classes, and some personal anecdotes]

I hope this clears un any ideas anyone has about the horrors of the Post Office (or as it is known in Fannish circles, the Post Awful, or even on occasion, the Post Offal). I am not to blame for their offenses against fanzines, and I will not accept responsibility for their losing manuscripts (they managed to lose one of mine -- but that's another story).

Also from the editorial:

I've gotten into Darkover fandom, and written a couple of filks, and I sent a story to Marion Zimmer Bradley, the doyenne of Darkover. Miracle of miracles, she liked it! There will be a new collection of fanfic from Thendara House (MZB's own imprint) called "Bitter Honeymoon and Other Stories". The "other stories" were written by some top-notch people, and "Bitter Honeymoon" was written by ME!

I'm also starting an Anti-Darkover Darkover group, called The Terran Legation, for those of us who believe that the Terran side of things should be heard more frequently, and that Darkover isn't the Paradise it's been cracked up to be. Anyone who wants to get into this lot can write to me and I'll tell you all about it.

• The Editor Shoots Her Mouth Off, editorial (1)
• Air-LoC (2)
• My Old Man, filk by Gregory Baker (7)
• Gone Fishin' by Roberta Rogow (Star Trek: TOS story, After the 5 year mission McCoy has joined Natira on her new world and has joined in helping establish the Fabrini people. With Natira and McCoy is their son Lenar. They are strangers to each other and draw a little closer with a day spent together as McCoy introduces Lenar to fishing.) (9)
• All Things Must End by Richard Pollet (16)
• Words from Dr. McCoy by Michael Smith (15, 20)
• The Enterprise Crew, poem by Richard Pollet (21)
• The Ultimate Frontier, poem by Richard Pollet (23)
• Kirk's Angel by Sherri McGhee (25)
• Zafed Beeblebrox and Me, filk by Gregory Baker (29)
• Fable Hero, poem by Cheryl Hendricks (30)
• No Time for Love, poem by Irene Shafer (32)
• The Return of Leia, part 2 by Abbie Herricks (33)
• What Do You Do with a Frozen Corellian by Faith Carp and Louise Rogow (43)
• A Bounty Hunter's Song, filk by Roberta Rogow (52)
• TIE-Fighters in the Sky, filk by Leah Rosenthal (53)
• One Day at the Obelisk, cartoon by Adrienne Shanler (54)
• How to Avoid Eating a Wiener Without Mustard by H.J.N. Andrushak (55)
• Toeholds and Wormholds by Gregory Baker (56)
• More Star Trek Book Reviews by Randall Landers (58)
• The Critics, cartoon by Michael B. Smith (59)
• Backscratching Department (60)

• 

  inside page from issue #10, Melody Rondeau

• 

  inside page from issue #10, Vel Jaeger

• 

  inside page from issue #10, Richard Pollet

• 

  inside page from issue #10, J. Delisa and Leah Rosenthal

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 10

GRIP 10 was one of the finest yet!

"Gone Fishin'" was absolutely wonderful. Hey, I just realized you wrote it! Congratulations!

"All Things Must End" was also excellent.

"Kirk's Angel" by Sherri HcGhie was hilarious, I loved it.

I suppose "The Return of Leia" was good, but not having read the original stories I was hopelessly confused, especially at the end.

"What Do Tou Do With A Frozen Correllian?" was good and very funny when Han woke up ready to kill Lando. Congrats to Faith Karp and Louise.

As for "Toeholds and Wormhoes", don't look at me! I'm only 14. I read it and didn't understand most of it. But it seems logical, and I have only one comment: Greg Baker is a Vulcan in disguise.

Of the poetry, I liked "No Time For Love" by Irene Shafer best.

Keep up the good work.

Although I've been a subscriber to GRIP since its beginning, this is the first LoC I've written, GRIP #10 will remain one of my favorite issues. Two delightful stories stand out. The first. Faith Karp's and Louise Rogow's "Frozen Corellian." It showed the humor and imagination needed in a very grim situation. It was a story Han would have loved. It comes from the same school of humor as a fantastic one-liner I read in WARPED SPACE:"Don't argue, Luke, hand me that icepick!" "FC" was a true comedy of errors and the portrayal of Lando, as he searched for Han, was a masterpiece. Congratulations on a terrific first effort!

"Kirk's Angel" by Sherri McGhie was such an original and fun idea! How delicious, our heroic captain's Guardian Angel is an overweight, footsore, brandy-guzzling old lady! I, for one, know why Kirk didn't want to believe it. Hummph! Old Tomcat couldn't have anyone but a voluptuous and adoring nymph for a Guardian Angel. Well, there's no accounting for taste. I also liked the fact that Kirk thought his crew had something to do with what he thought was a gag. It shows the author knows the feelings of friendship between the Captain and his crew. Like to see more "Beatrice" stories!

The cartoons accomplished what they were supposed to...outright laughter. I especially liked the L, Rosenthal and J, DeLisa effort. Spock sniggering in the background is priceless. Loved Rufus Ruffles!

Just wanted to let Roberta know how much I've enjoyed all GRIP issues and how they continue to improve. The contents show imagination, style and most of all. humor. It's a well thought out, balanced fanzine and shows promise of future greatness.

I'd like to add my worth about the Star Trek books. With the exception of the "Phoenix" series and New Voyages 2 I can't stand these books!!!! I swear up and down I'm not going to buy any more, but then another one comes along and I seem to have no will of my own. Well, true to form, I've been suckered again! The latest effort. The Entropy Effect, was so bad and so mixed up that I literally threw it down in disgust and swore for the 100th time never, never again! But I'm weak — or an eternal optimist — SIGH!

PS — you're all wrong about Yoda's "Other One" — it's Chewie!

Just received issue #10 today. Let me begin by saying it was well worth the wait. Being a Wars fan basically, I am glad the 'zine is become more of a showcase for it, accepting it readily and on an even keel) with the Trek pieces. Perhaps with enough pressure we can all convince Roberta to do her own Wars 'zine also. (Now Roberta, don't look so pale, it was just a suggestion) (( I prefer to keep GRIP as it is — but I am doing an all-Darkover fanzine, CONTES DI COTTMAN 4. for those who are into that sort of thing— ED))

A few words about GRIP: The stories are getting consistently better. I like them a little longer and more involved. Perhaps we may soon see a larger GRIP?) ((Not unless you're willing to pay twice as much for printing and mailing! — ED)) The Star Wars related poetry is wonderfully sensitive — in particular the Leia poems. Let's hear it for putting a heart into fandom. More of Dot's artwork, too.

As I said before, I read GRIP primarily for the Star Wars-related pieces, and hope to see more of them in GRIP.

Tbe cover is fantastic! (envious sigh). I also enjoyed the illos by Melody Rondeau and Leah Rosenthal. Vel Jaeger and I keep bumping into each other in this and other zines — we've yet to meet each other some time. The rest of the art was nice, but rough.

"Gone Fishln"' was excellent. It left me hungry for more stories about McCoy, Natlra and Lenar. The tone was rich and warm ~ satisfying! My only complaint was that it was too short. There were some areas that could have been enlarged. More! More!

Richard Pollet's work continues to grow and improve. "All things Must End" was well-written. To be honest, although the poetry and prose was nice, there was a little too much of it for my tastes. Ditto for Star Wars stories. "The Return of Leia" road like a script — it needed some fleshing out, some polishing.

Faith Karp and Louise Rogow's "What Do You With a Frozen Correllian" showed great promise, while Greg Baker's engineering explanation left my calculator buzzing, but it sure sounded smart!

Roberta, I do hope you find a new printer. His lousy work is definitely a detraction to GRIP and REC ROOM RHYMES 2. I love RRR #2 — I just wish you could print the chords, too.

GRIP #10 was fantastic, to say the least. "Ming" on the cover was wonderful (ah, another Klingon!). Dot Sasscer is a great talent. I personally hope to see more of her work soon!

I must agree with you about "Clash of the Titans" — all that buildup and flop. The art of Vel Jaeger is very interesting. As an artist myself I can really appreciate various-styles. Good going, Vel, keep up the good work!

"Gone Fishin'"... I always loved Bones and was delighted to see this short story involving McCoy — nice work, Roberta.

"All Things Must End" — yet another McCoy story, another one I liked. Richard seems to really have a great deal of potential. How his art is good, but his writing is a lot better, that is, except for the really nice Spock on p. 22).

"Kirk's Angel" was nice. I'm not a fanatic over Kirk (partly due to Shatner at Star Trek Atlanta).

P. 28 — Melody Rondeau strikes again! I do love this kid's work (I call everyone kid if I like 'em, Mel!)

"The Return of Leia" — Abbie Herrick does a nice job of "round robin" finishing up the tale.

At first I thought Louise's art on p. 42. was a 'toon without meaning, but cute — but when combined with the story by her and Faith, it all became really cute — nice story, put together good, too.

P. 51, cartoon by Leah Rosenthal with Ginna Delisa — Great!! I love crossovers, and Leah is not only my friend, she's my favorite cartoonist. P. 52/53 were top-notch, good filks, good art. P. 56 — C'mon, Gregory, it's nice to show us you're so Spockish, but this is too much! Heavy, even for a science-lover.

All in all, a great issue... Trek on, and bring on Dirty Nellie!

I received my copy of GRIP #10 the other day, so it's LoC time.

In regards to the editorial, I find some problems. [much about postal service woes snipped]

The LoC's were nice, as usual, I loved "Gone Fishin'"? It made perfect sense; I'm sure McCoy would go back to-deal with the problems of the people of Yonada and make love to his wife, Natira. I'm Just sorry he couldn't bring Natira with him. "All Things Must End" I couldn't see, especially after reading "Gone Fishln'." I wish there could have been some sort of tie-in to each other, but alas, there wasn't. (I threw "Gone Fishin'" In at the last minute, because a story got tied up In transit somewhere. The two stories were written separately, by two people with different concepts of what McCoy was doing In the interim between the Series and V'Gr — ED)

Congrats to Abbie for finishing the story. "Kirk's Angel" was fun, nothing more, nothing less.

For Harry H. Andruschak, I suggest he give his confusion to Commander Quark who could figure It out. Gregory Baker can expect to receive Xerox's of some articles that stand up much better to physics.

NoW wait a minute, Roberta. You're endorsing The Best of Trek? For Ghu's sake, why? Not only are they horribly written, borrowing heavily from James Van Hise's Enterprise Incidents, but they also often do not send what they receive. Tim Farley had to call the Better Business Bureau on them for not delivering what- he had ordered, as well as keeping his articles (which STARDATE now is publishing). They are not wise to deal with. (l was referring to the quality of the articles, not to the Integrity of the editors — ED) -

Also, "The Entropy Effect", by Vonda McIntyre, rates in the Best category. The Time Travel is not that confusing. Also, the four females you don't like don't have much of a role at all. (Except, of course, that one of them is a Starship commander who is also Kirk's old flame, and one Is after Kirk's job on the Big E, and one is a reluctant warrior ......ED) ln fact, this Is the best Star Trek novel printed. The sub-plots help add to the main one, and all in all it's a great book!