Impulse (Star Trek: TOS zine 1)

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Zine
Title: Impulse
Publisher: D. Carol Roberts & [Liz Danforth]
Editor(s):
Date(s): 1970-1972
Series?:
Medium: print zine
Size:
Genre:
Fandom: Star Trek: TOS
Language: English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Impulse is a gen Star Trek: TOS anthology.

Like some fanzines of that era, early issues were published without the required pre-1989 copyright notices, possibly placing the fanzine in the public domain.

Issue 1

cover of issue #1, J. Hamill

Impulse 1 was published in summer 1970 and contains 89 pages. Graphics by Walter Burke, SVM, Susan Swinberg, and D. Carol Roberts.

From the editorial: "This fanzine is the direct result of being exposed to Westercon 23. I remember saying, 'gee, why don't we do one of these?' There are times when I should've kept my mouth shut."

From the first page: "Published quarterly off of various ditto machines around the city of Tucson, Arizona. (And other places.) Price: $1.00 plus postage. Cheaper next time, we hope."

  • The Editors Warp Out (1)
  • Miranda by S.L. Anderson, short story (2)
  • A Reason for Starvoyaging by Amanda Glenn Harris, poem (28)
  • Historian's Notes: The Perservers (29)
  • Age Day by A. Statler, short story (31)
  • Music: Discovery by Amanda Glenn Harris (39)
  • Mr. Spock, Commander, SFC, Vulcan by Amanda Glenn Harris, poem (40)
  • Bethania by S.L. Anderson, short story (41)
  • Music: Lullaby for a Starchild by Amanda Glenn Harris (58)
  • Star Child (Part 1) by D.C. Roberts, serial story (59)
  • Poem for Starflight by D. Carol Roberts (84)
  • ad for the next issue (85)

  • photocopied art from issue #1, artist unclear

  • photocopied art from issue #1, artist unclear

  • photocopied from issue #1, racial speculation

  • photocopied art from issue #1, Walter Burke

  • photocopied art from issue #1, artist unclear

  • photocopied art from issue #1, artist unclear

  • photocopied art from issue #1, artist unclear

  • photocopied from issue #1, music

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

One of the 'new' ST zines. Since re-runs have arrived on the scene, there have been a lot of zines popping out of nowhere to show off the never-ending and improving stream of Spock stories. Party one of two (I hope only two; people don't always finish these serials) is pretty good. It's my favorite in the issue. Another outstanding one is 'Miranda,' a beautiful story about Miranda Jones deciding to go to Vulcan. Of the new zines, this is my pick as a must for every ST fan. This issue is ditto'd, the next issue is said to be mimeo'd. [1]

Issue 2

Impulse 2 was published in November 1970 and contains 145 pages. The cover is by Stephen Day. Graphics by Jeff Hamill, Susan Wolfe, Liz Danforth, D. Carol Roberts, Barbie Marczak, and Stephen Day.

front cover of issue #2, by Stephen Day
You are Receiving this Zine Because
back cover of issue #2

From the title page: "Printed in the editor's mother's kitchen and no where else this time."

From the editorial: "I'm sorry that the 'Teacher' story about Amanda Grayson isn't here, or 'The Communication,' I'll never again run a page advertising what will be in the next issue."


  • photocopied art from issue #2, artist unclear

  • photocopied art from issue #2, Barbi Marczak

  • photocopied art from issue #2, Liz Danforth

  • recipe from issue #2

  • photocopied art from issue #2, text by Day and Roberts, artist unclear

  • speculation from issue #2

  • photocopied art from issue #2, artist unclear

  • photocopied art from issue #2, artist unclear

Issue 3

Impulse 3 was published in February 1971 and contains 55 pages. Graphics by Jeff Hamill, Dave Billman, Liz Danforth, Barbi Marczak, and D. Carol Roberts. Writers are Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Allen Statler, Michelle Malkin, Michael Sobota, D. Carol Roberts, Liz Danforth and Jack Zavada.

front cover of issue #3, Jeff Hamill
You are Receiving this Zine Because
back cover of issue #3, Barbi Marczak

From the title page: '"Published quarterly here and there and this time in the editor's very own apartment. Price: about a buck."

From the editorial:

This 'zine, perhaps, looks a bit short to you... and well, the truth being what it is, I'll have to admit that the zine is a little short. The post office managed to lose S.L. Anderson's story, part two of "Miranda.' but hopefully by Impulse 4, we will have discovered where they have hidden it. Therefore, all you who are receiving Impulse 3 by mail hereby have 25 cents credit toward a subscription to Impulse 4 to make up for this 'zine's shortness. Also, for our critics who FINALLY convinced me that 20 lb mimeo paper printed on both sides would be ever so much better than 16 lb paper printed on one side, I have news; I think it looks dreadful for this 'zine. So, it's back to the 'traditional' for the next time, finances not withstanding.

  • The Editors Warp Out (1)
  • T'Zorel by J. Lichtenberg, short story (also in Kraith Collected #1 and Maybe #13) (3)
  • a poem titled: Poem by Michael Sobota (19)
  • Phaser Notes (article) by J. Zavada (article) (20)
  • Surak's Farewell Speech (article) (21)
  • Song: The Star Trip, filk by D. Carol Roberts (25)
  • The Children of Earth by A. Statler, short story (26)
  • Historian's Notes, article about ancient Vulcan lineage (43)
  • poem: Kodos by Michelle Malkin (46)
  • Third Season List, article, credit list (46)
  • Fanzine Questionnaire by Jacqueline Lichtenberg (48)
  • poem: Appreciation to The Starchild by Danforth (54)
  • ads (55)


  • from issue #3, Liz Danforth

  • from issue #3, Jack Zavada

  • from issue #3, an example of some Vulcan writing

  • from issue #3, D. Carol Roberts

  • Impulse3art5.jpg
  • Impulse3art6.jpg

Issue 4

Impulse 4 was published in June 1971 and contains 109 pages. The pages of this fanzine are backwards, starting at 110 and work their way down to page 1. Art and graphics are by Liz Danforth, Jeff Hamill, D. Carol Roberts, Stephen Day, Mary H. Schaub, Jack Zavada, and Regina Marvinny.

cover of issue #4, Liz Danforth
You are Receiving this Zine Because

The editors: "Published in [an] apartment in sunny, hot, sweaty Tucson, under duress and the air conditioner. (Scotty should only see this!)"

  • The Editors Warp Out (110)
  • poem (109)
  • Change of Mind by Liz Danforth (108)
  • poem (87)
  • Confession by Barbi Marczak (86)
  • poem (80)
  • Shealku by J. Lichtenberg (also Kraith Collected #1; Tetrumbriant #3) (spelled 'Shelaku" in the TOC, something the editors apologize for) (79)
  • poem, Commissioner Hedford and the Companion -- The Joining (62)
  • puzzle (61)
  • Miranda 2 by S.L. Anderson (60)
  • poem, Nova at Beta Naiobi (3)
  • ads (2)
  • credits (1)
  • You are Receiving this Zine Because


  • inside art from issue #4, Liz Danforth

  • inside art from issue #4, Jeff Hamill

  • inside art from issue #4, Liz Danforth

  • inside art from issue #4, Jack Zavada

Issue 5

front cover of issue #5, Jeff Hamill
back cover of issue #5, Jeff Hamill

Impulse 5 was published in August 1971 and contains 33 pages.

It is physically much smaller than the previous regular issues (8.5 inches tall, 7 inches wide) and was notable for, among other things, its format: This fanzine was one of the first offset fanzines in reduced format.

From the editor:

The essential shape of the face-of-the-universe is not 'beauty' as our Greek ancestors would have had us believe, or even 'form,' nor again 'logic' or 'mathematical formulae' as the people of the late 19th century concluded. The face of the system in to which we are born is the never-ending pattern of change: disorganization, synthesis, and integration. There is nothing existent in our universe that can be taken to be final... it would be dangerous also if Star Trek became such a focal point of fannish attention that the fans themselves were to remain Trekkers forever. As much as I admire Star Trek, I think this is a situation that must be avoided. Star Trek's faults in art, science and literature cannot be overlooked, nor excused, and they certainly do not give fandom any license to commit the same mistakes. But these faults can be learned from, and the basis of Star Trek improved. This zine will continue until it is outgrown, and then it will be thrown away for something better. But in the meantime, because Star Trek was an important development in science fiction, especially in science fiction as mass media, this zine will attempt to further the better side of that series.


  • a copy of issue #5's front cover, this one showing a note either from Gene Roddenberry or to Gene Roddenberry regarding the Vulcan linguistics article by Jacqueline Lichtenberg This copy of issue #5 was sold in 2015 on eBay as part of Gene Roddenberry's personal collection and included a Certificate of Authenticity.

  • art from issue #5, Liz Danforth

  • art from issue #5, Liz Danforth

  • art from issue #5, Liz Danforth

  • art from issue #5, Liz Danforth

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5

Impulse 5 ran 33 pages, but the editors claimed it contained as much material as the previous mimeographed issue, which had 110 pages. Notable authors in this issue included Jacqueline Lichtenberg, Anna Mary Hall (who was becoming a frequent fanzine contributor), and Barbie Marczak. The last story of this issue was "The Price of a Handful of Snowflakes" by M.L. Barnes. This story, featuring Christine Chapel and Spock, became legendary in the annals of fan fiction, chiefly due to its being mentioned in Star Trek Lives! (published 1975)... Star Trek Lives! had recommended a number of fanzine stories, which were in great demand as a result... After Impulse went out of print, Steve published this story, along with three others she had written, in ...A Handful of Snowflakes and Other Trek Tales.[2]

Issue 6/7

front cover of issue #6/7, J.D. Williams

Impulse 6/7 was published in 1972 and contains 54 pages.

References

  1. ^ from Pentathlon #1
  2. ^ from catalenamara's Live Journal
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