The Hologram

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Zine
Title: The Hologram
Publisher: Project Quantum Leap Club/Threadneedle Press
Editor(s): Karen Blocher (#1-#4), Julie Barrett (#5/6-)
Type: reviewzine
Date(s): 1992-2000
Medium: print
Fandom: Quantum Leap
Language: English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

The Hologram is a reviewzine.

Issues 1-4 were published by the Project Quantum Leap Club. Julie Barrett took control of the zine in October of 1994 with issue #5, allowing editor Karen Blocher to focus on the fan club's newsletter, The Observer.

There were fourteen issues. The first two issues were The Unseen Observer, which means "The Hologram" begins with issue #3.

About

From a 1996 flyer posted to rec.arts.sf.tv.quantum-leap:

If you'd like your zine to be listed (free of charge!), e-mail me the text of your current flyer or the following information:
Title of Zine
Editor
Length and Price (Include overseas rates if applicable, as this newsletter goes overseas)
Address
Contents (titles and authors of stories are fine. List any poets and illustrators, too.)
Make checks payable to ______ - if different from the person or publisher listed in your mailing address.
Listings can be for current of "under construction" zines. The Hologram will also list adult and slash zines, but due to the PG nature of the newsletter, published descriptions may be on the "bare" side. Pardon the pun. We also strongly suggest that people who order adult zines send and age statement, and publishers to inform us of the age limit (e.g. 18 or 21) so we may pass that information on to our readers. [1]

Issue 1

The Hologram 1 is the same issue as The Unseen Observer #1.

Issue 2

The Hologram 2 is the same issue as The Unseen Observer #2.

Issue 3

The Hologram 3 was published in early Summer 1992 and contains 16 pages.

front page of issue #3

From the editor:

Welcome to the first issue of The Hologram. Yes, I know it says #3 below on the footer but that's because the first two issues of this publication were called The Unseen Observer, and we're carried on numbering from there. The change was made to avoid confusion with the newsletter The Observer, and because people seem to like this name better. A subscription to The Hologram is four issues, and can begin from either The Unseen #1 or The Hologram #3. The rate is $2 plus $1.00 postage for anyone not subscribing to our other publication (she said cryptically). If you don't already know whom to make the check payable to, and don't want to send cash, please make it out to United Whovians of Tucson and they'll pass it on to us, okay? This publication consists of reviews and listings for unauthorized Quantum Leap-related merchandise. While Universal has been very tolerant of such items thus far, as long as they were non-profit, we'd prefer a certain amount of anonymity as a publication. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Issue 4

The Hologram 3 was published in late Summer 1992 and contains 18 pages.

front page of issue #4

From the editorial:

Ta-daa! Here we are again, very soon after the publication of The Hologram #3. This issue was actually mostly done at the same time, so at this writing, even before anyone outside mumbelety-mumble has even seen #3 we're already coming down the home stretch getting this done! Makes for a nice change!

As some of you may recall, the first two issues of this magazine, originally called The Unseen Observer, came free with a subscription to something else.

From the article by Raymont:

One of the things I love most about Quantum Leap is the way it challenges my imagination. No other show finds me the next day thinking, "What if they had done this instead?" or "What happened afterward?" or "What if this had happened first, and prevented that option?" I love the paradoxes of time travel, and finding out how other fans resolve some of the nebulous issues.

Fanzines can do what the series can't — stories that would take less than an hour to tell, stories with settings or special effects or casts that would be too expensive to produce, stories that could be too controversial or libelous, or (in the case of crossovers) would require the consent and/or participation of folks that can't be arranged. Fan fiction can visit the same event, characters, and plot from different writers' perspectives, without being accused of repeating themselves. And, we can also bend or break the famous Bellisario Rules on occasion.

Some of the rule bending in fan fiction comes about because those rules change, and it may be a year or more from when a story is written to when it appears in print. Several stories in these zines seem to defy the "body issue," for example, as it was explained in "8 1/2 Months" and "A Leap For Lisa." Talking to editors, I believe many will continue to consider stories supported by either premise.

In fact several Quantum Leap fan fiction writers and editors conducted a panels discussion at MediaWest this year (the convention itself was covered in The Hologram #3) that addressed this and other questions. There were dozens of writing sessions held, and one of the most popular was called "Writing Quantum Leap: it's more than just a hunk in a dress." led by Becky Cope. Sandy Hall, Mary Urhausen and Sharon Wisdom. They mostly fielded questions from about 30

eager listeners, rather than taking us through an organized agenda.

Issue 5/6

The Hologram 5/6 was published in October 1994 and contains 16 pages. The new editor is Julie Barrett.

front page of issue #5/6

From the editorial:

After four issues at the helm, Karen has turned editorship over to me so she can keep up with her other activities, like putting out The Observer for PQL. I hope you will all join me in thanking Karen for her efforts over the years, not just for these two publications, but for QL fandom in general. And I hope you will be patient with me during this transition.

[...]

How Far Should We Go With Adult Material?

Don’t worry; I have no plans to use this newsletter as a forum for my own political agenda. Perhaps a better title should be “A Question for Our Readers.”

If you have flipped through The Hologram, doubtless you have noticed that some of the zine listings are for publications containing adult material. I agonized long and hard over whether to include these listings, but decided to do so for now. The overriding factor in my decision is that the stated purpose of The Hologram is that this newsletter is provided as a service to fans. Second, and just as important, is that I believe strongly in the First Amendment and I am against censorship. Another reason is that I felt readers had the right to know if a particular ‘zine was or wasn’t to their tastes, which is really just another way of stating the first reason.

As a fanzine editor. I’ve received several orders from minors. (This is not usually problem with my publications, as the material is PG.) As a parent, I would appreciate knowing that I am not signing a check for material that I would rather not have my child read, or that should be read with some parental guidance.

When I wrote up the listings, I tried very hard to emphasize the adult nature of the publications while attempting to write descriptions that would not offend any readers.

Which brings me bade to the original mission of The Hologram. This is your newsletter. I have several options: Leave the listings as they are; separate the adult material into a separate section; list the zines as adult with no content description; go further to place that section on a separate page and require an age statement; or omit the listings completely.

I will abide by the decision of the majority of the readers. What do you want?

Issue 7

The Hologram 7 was published in February 1995 and contain 10 pages.

From "The Stricter the Editor, The Better the Zine," essay by Mindy Peterman:

Five years ago I discovered Quantum Leap. One year later I discovered fan fiction. I had actually written my first QL story before knowing there was a market for such things. I’d come up with an idea and thought of it as an episode I would like to see produced, but most likely never would. In my head, though, and on that paper it was as vivid as ‘Catch A Falling Star’, ‘The Leap Home’ or any other ‘official’ QL story. Don Bellisario might not have had a hand in editing the dailies on this one, but I did. It was kind of a rush being in command of a premise and characters I loved, but had previously only been allowed to observe. The zine to which I eventually submitted the story was Quantum Mechanics. And the critique I received from the editor was so encouraging and positive, I felt I had to explore this aspect of fandom further. I was impressed with the editor’s suggestions, and the work she put into helping me make the story stronger. Now the die was cast. I was hooked! Since then I’ve written for a number of QL zines. The most rewarding part of this, besides being published, has been the give and take between myself and the various editors.

The best zines generally have the most discerning editors. If they like your story, you may still have to do a bang-up rewrite to win a place in their zine. If you find such an editor, consider yourself fortunate. You may receive a two-page list of notes from them suggesting how you might improve your work, or you may even get a rejection or two. But if you strive to please this type of editor, your writing skills will increase, as will your writing disciplines.

To those who read fan fiction, admire the professional quality of the best zines, but are hesitant to submit their own work, I say, don’t hesitate. Have faith in what you’ve written. If you love a show, have an affinity for its characters, it will show in your writing. And if there are flaws in your story, but it shows promise, a good editor will help you to rectify the problems.

  • A Note from the Editor by Julie Barrett
  • Response: How Far Should We Go With Adult Material? ("Last issue I asked for reader response on the question of listing adult and slash material. The responses ranged from a sentence or two to long diatrabes about the morality issue. Suffice it to say the overwhelming opinion was to leave the listings in, but to place them in a separate section. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond.")
  • Postal Rates Rise - Again!
  • a review of Time Knight, see that page
  • a review of Oh Boy #5, see that page
  • a review of Play It Again #4, see that page

Issue 8

The Hologram 8 was published in June 1995 and contains 10 pages.

From the editor:

This issue of The Hologram almost didn’t happen. I only received one review for this issue (thanks, Cathleen!) and only a few zine listing updates.

I don’t want to harp, but this newsletter lives and breathes on reviews. Since I’m working on a pro QL novel, I’ve had to lay off reading fanfic for a time. The reason is I’d hate have something I read in fanfic creep into my own story.

Honestly, I don’t want to get up here on my soapbox and threat- en to stop publishing The Hologram if I don’t get any submissions, but the truth is stale listings are of no use to you.

So here’s the deal, as we say in Texas: Help me keep this news- letter alive. Keep me supplied with material. I don’t have the budget to go writing every editor four times a year to ask for an updated listing. If I did that, I’d have to double the price, and I don’t think that’s a realistic option. Keep those reviews and articles coming in. If you’ll look through these pages you’ll see many zines that have not been reviewed. The review doesn’t have to be long. Just something to give people an idea if the zine is any good or not. Those with published articles will have their subscriptions extended by one issue, or receive a free issue if they are not a subscriber. And don’t forget the thrill of seeing your name in print!

  • Note from the Editor by Jule Barrett
  • International Notes (about postal service costs)
  • Send a Letter for Sam on 8th August (about a [[letter writing campaign organized by Wendi Davidson of Scotland.)
  • a review of Even Heroes Are Human, see that page

Issue 9

The Hologram 9 was published in September 1995 and contains 12 pages.

Issue 10

The Hologram 10 was published in January 1996 and contains 12 pages.

Issue 11

The Hologram 11 was published in April 1996 and contain 12 pages.

Issue 12/13

The Hologram 12/13 was published in October 1996 and contain 20 pages.

Issue 14

The Hologram 14 was published in June 1997 and contain 12 pages.

References

  1. ^ The Hologram flyer dated April 23, 1996.
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