In a Plain Brown Wrapper
You may be looking for Plain Brown Wrapper a multi-media fanzine
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | In a Plain Brown Wrapper |
| Publisher: | |
| Editor(s): | Helen Padgett, Lynda Kaye Boots and Judith Ward, art editor, Madeline Rogers |
| Date(s): | 1979-1981 |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | print zine |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: TOS |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
In a Plain Brown Wrapper is a het Star Trek: TOS anthology edited by Helen Padgett. One story is a Man from Atlantis selection. At least one story in issue #2 is slash.
A 1978 ad said it was "Pornography with a prudish pen!" [1]
Its tamer sister zine is The Ninth Quadrant.
Issue 1
In a Plain Brown Brown Wrapper 1 was published in 1979 and has 142 pages. All art other than in the art portfolio is by Madeline Rogers, however most art, portfolio or not, is uncredited.
It was edited by Helen Padgett, Lynda Kaye Boots and Judith Ward.
One note from the title page: "Due to atmospheric conditions which prevented Mary G. from silk screening the enclosed game, it has been hand water colored by the staff."
A thank you from the editors: "Our thanks to the Physics Department of Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas for allowing this entire zine to be typed on their machine when Lynda ran out of other things to do. They looked at me a bit oddly sometimes, but..."
- Table of Contents (i)
- Editor's Page (ii)
- In the Beginning by Diane Morris (1)
- Pay Money for That by J. Twilly (2) (script-form)
- Miracle by R. Harlow (7)
- Of Myths and Legends by Toni Cardinal-Price (8)
- Flicker, Flame and Ember by S. Breck (17)
- A Matter of Necessity by Joyce Thompson (18)
- Come Fly With Me by J. Ward (25)
- A Long Time Coming by Toni Cardinal-Price (27)
- More Than My Life by Susan Wyllie (28)
- Dreams by M. Swenson (30)
- Song of Zarabeth by J. Ward (37)
- Elizabeth's Lament by Carolyn Seaton (38)
- If Only to Touch You by Carolyn Seaton (39) (Man from Atlantis)
- When Humans are Involved With Vulcans by Mary Stacy-MacDonald (59)
- Unkindest Cut of All by M. Mink (63)
- Time of the Hearth by Johanna Cantor (75) (reprinted in NTM Collected #2)
- Smile, It Could Have Been Worse by J. Ward (95)
- Another Vulcan Custom? by L. Boots (129)
- Game (140)
from issue #1, uncredited
from issue #1, uncredited
from issue #1, uncredited
from issue #1, uncredited
from issue #1, uncredited, Man from Atlantis art
from issue #1, uncredited
from issue #1, uncredited
from issue #1, uncredited
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1
See reactions and reviews for Time of the Hearth.
This is an adult zine which, however, is not particularly explicit in detail. A mixture of K/S sex (two stories) and heterosex; I feel that this mixture may have been a mistake on the part of the editors, but if that was the mixture of submissions they received, and they wanted this zine to be out this year instead of next year, they may have had little option. 'Of Myths and Legends' is about Spock, who, about to enter pon farr, bonds with Christine and they beam down to a planet for the duration of the condition (other writers have also had Spock and his partner do this -- I wonder why? Surely his cabin SHOULD be private enough!) Unfortunately, they are captured by group of Klingons who keep them apart in order to study their reaction -- especially Spock's. When rescue does come, it is apparently too late to save Spock's life. This story depicts Christine as a strong, sensible woman, unlike the dewy-eyed little near-incompetent that many of the scripts portrayed. 'A Matter of Necessity' features Kang, whose mate Kara is posted away, and he needs a woman. There are several Federation prisoners onboard [the ship] and the Human is most suitable for his purposes. The story provides insight into the male Klingon mind in general and Kang's in particular; Kang is a surprising gentle villain, his motives fully understood by the reader so that sympathy tends to be with him rather than his unfortunate victim. 'Dreams' is a post-Paradise Syndrome story. Kirk is afraid to allow himself to love again, and Spock is still d. McCoy persuades them to go on shore leave together, and there Kirk begins getting some unusual dreams... a nice, gently love story, whether you agree with K/Sex or not. 'The Unkindest Cut of All' is told in a series of flashbacks of how Kirk and Spock first reached an understanding, how Spock was kidnapped, biologically examined, mutilated in a way he finds almost impossible to accept, though we don't learn what it is until the very end. I couldn't make up my mind whether this was meant to be satirically humorous or not. If it is, I found it to be in pretty bad taste. Anyway, I have more faith in McCoy's abilities as a doctor than this story shows, if only on the basis of one episode... I also felt that what the author has here are to story outlines loosely linked. WIth a bit more development and a slightly altered end, this could have been an excellent story. Contents also include a Man from Atlantis story; a story that takes place during the events told in Jean Lorrah's 'Time of Mating,' entitled 'Time of the Hearth'; Smile, It Could've Been Worse' -- a pure sexual fantasy, entertaining and enjoyable; 'Another Vulcan Custom,' part one of a serial. The story is good and the reasoning logical and well-presented, but the serial format tends to break the flow of the story and causes a degree of frustration while we wait to discover 'what happens next.' The zine also contains some short items and poetry. Illos are of good quality -- fewer than I've seen in some US zines but we British tend to prefer good story content to artwork and the quality included I find sufficient. My main gripe about the zine is the continual use of 'lay' where 'lie' is the grammatically correct form. This is common throughout fandom, I've noticed, but that doesn't make it easier to accept. Apart from that, I enjoyed the zine, with reservations about only one story. [2]
Issue 2
In a Plain Brown Brown Wrapper 2 was published in 1981 and contains 88 pages.
The art is by the editors, Cruz Vasquez and Carol Hedge (borders).
It was edited by Madeline Rogers and Helen Padgett.
- Untitled Limerick by Julie Overstreet
- Reminiscences by Joy Mancinelli (2)
- Acceptance by Gene Delapenia (10)
- My Strength, My Love by Jimmye Galli (11)
- To Know Loves Torment by Jimmye Galli (12)
- Sweet Blending by Jimmye Galli (13)
- When The Doors Open by Crystal Ann Taylor (14)
- Yours is Mine by Crystal Ann Taylor (15)
- A Matter Of Respect by Collette Mak (Leila Kalomi has died while trying to carry Spock's child. Spock is greatly distressed, but does not wish anyone to know of his grief. When McCoy becomes concerned about Spock, he investigates and learns Spock's secret and uses his own unique methods to help his friend.) (16)
- The Winning Hand by Carol Nevins (26)
- Upon First Decision by Toni Cardinal-Price (27)
- Three Nights Leave by Allen L. Parker (30)
- Banned From Argo by Leslie Fish (oddly, it is credited to Cynthia L. Fraser in the table of contents) (32)
- In a Plain Brown Wrapper by Dixie Owen (43)
- Home From The Hill by D. Booker (Spock attempts suicide after his transfer off the ship is refused and only then does Kirk learn that his new sexual desires for Spock are being caused by a mating bond between them accidently formed during a healing meld.) (44)
- Another Vulcan Custom II by Debi Cole (60)
- Tomorrow is Yesterday by Crystal Ann Taylor (85)
- Unicorns and Unvirgins by Diane Morris (86)
- Ads
from issue #2, by one of the editors (photocopy)
from issue #2, by Cruz Vasquez (photocopy)
from issue #2, by one of the editors (photocopy)
from issue #2, by one of the editors (photocopy)
References
- ^ from Computer Playback #2
- ^ from Scuttlebutt #15