I Shall But Love Thee Better...
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | I Shall But Love Thee Better... |
| Publisher: | Dream Weavers |
| Editor: | |
| Author(s): | Peggy Garvin |
| Cover Artist(s): | |
| Illustrator(s): | |
| Date(s): | June 1995 |
| Medium: | print zine |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Beauty and the Beast (TV) |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | Online as a PDF |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
I Shall But Love Thee Better... is a 132-page het Beauty and the Beast (TV) novel by Peggy Garvin.
The art is by Linda Barth (calligraphy), "El, the Unknown Artist," Neal Farris, Renate Haller, and Rosemarie Hauer. One piece features frontal nudity of Vincent.
This zine has been called an alternative universe/third-season resolution story.
"I Shall But Love Thee Better" contains one long story, poems, art, a long afterword by Garvin, and lengthy autobiographies (with photos) of the writers and artists.
From the Editorial
This is my second (and last) fanzine. My first story, "Parallel Worlds Within the City", satisfied my need to see Vincent and Catherine have the "happy life" they were cheated out of by the "powers that be". This 'zine, on the other hand, was written to help me bring closure to the story Koslow gave us. In it I felt the compelling need to accept everything that they gave us and somehow FIX IT. The story does not dwell on the violence and sadness, but shows how Vincent went on with his life.
Diana is mentioned in the story, but is definitely not any kind of love interest for Vincent. I am still very much a "Classic Fan" and in my heart I wish fervently that Catherine had never been killed. I wish a compromise had been reached so that Linda Hamilton had been able to "leave" the show for whatever time she needed and return to continue the saga of never-ending love. I could have even accepted another actress easier than the death of Vincent's only love. But those decisions were not ours to make. So, in this story I have taken all that they gave us and still brought Vincent and Catherine back together for their well-deserved "happy life."
In my heart I think of this story as "classic" because in my mind any story where Vincent and Catherine end up together satisfies that definition. Some other fans I've spoken to feel my definition is too broad. Above all I want to make sure that no one orders my 'zine without knowing the type of story it tells. It has been called an "Alternate Universe/Third Season Resolution" story. I guess I'm pretty comfortable with that label, since Vincent and Catherine are reunited somewhere other than the Tunnels and the horrors of third season are turned into the happy ending we deserved.
[...]
Although only one original poem of mine is used in this 'zine, the text is generously interspersed with poetic quotations. If you have seen "Parallel Worlds Within the City", the quality of printing and the gray/peach color scheme have been repeated in "I Shall But Love Thee Better... ' This 'zine will carry a rating of "R" due to the nature of the text and frontal nudity of one illustration; however, the entire presentation is tastefully done. I like to think of it as sensual rather than sexual.
Sample Interior
Rosemarie Hauer
Renate Haller portrays Catherine Chandler and Vincent Well's son, Jacob
Renate Haller
Neal Farris
Neal Farris portrays Catherine Chandler's parents
Reactions and Reviews
This very unusual zine starts out with Jacob, now graduated as an MD, returning to the tunnels to take on responsibilities of leadership. Now 60, his task done, Vincent is free to die and rejoin Catherine, which he promptly does.Yes. There's sex after death.
He finds himself in a replica of his own chamber, with Catherine, in an afterlife country called Elysion, where lovers separated by the untimely death of one of them are reunited, their youth restored, to dwell there forever in bliss. The small town has all the charm of a restored village; there is no money, but all modern conveniences, including plumbing, are available for bartered services. Vincent and Catherine immediately become lovers in a passage of highly graphic lovemaking; it takes them several pages to get one another undressed. When they're ready to surface socially, they have a visit with Catherine's parents and (a surprise) Vincent's, who reveal in a flashback how he came to be born and then seemingly abandoned. All now are looking forward to the arrival of Father, who is to be reunited with Margaret.
Fans of uncomplicated, largely untroubled contentment will find this imaginative story quite unique. The really splendid artwork is by Linda Barth (calligraphy), "El, the Unknown Artist," Neal Farris, Renate Haller, and Rosemarie Hauer. One piece shows frontal nudity of Vincent.[1]