Intersect
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Intersect |
| Publisher: | Prospect Mountain Press and The Tholian Web (Star Trek fan club) |
| Editor(s): | Lisa Wahl and RAM (Robert A. Mitchell) |
| Date(s): | 1979 (though has a copyright date of "c-1978") |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: TOS |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Intersect is a gen Star Trek: TOS anthology edited by Lisa Wahl and RAM. It has no interior art.
Issue 1
Intersect was published in January 1979 and contains 137 pages. There is no interior art.
From an ad in Scuttlebutt #13: "In 1978, a series of stories was born as a sequel to "The Tholian Web. It went on to tell the tale of the adventures of the Federation ships (Enterprise and Tradition) and the Tholian flagship (Asgard)... The Tholians and the Federation are working together. Or are they? 140 pages will launch you into an all-new adventure series."
From an ad in The Clipper Trade Ship #24: "INTERSECT is out! Journey into imagineering with Prospect Mountain Press's all-new Federation entanglement in the Tholian Web. Mimeo, 140 pages, $40 1st class, $2.50 4th class."
From the editorial:
In case you're not one of those in on the secret, the fact is, this zine is being co-edited by two people. But, odds are, you've only dealt with me. This is because my co-editor, RAM, is the major contributor and he's afraid that if you hate his stories, and know who. he is, you'll send him letter-bombs or something. So. I'm the one with the address for getting zines and info.
The summaries below are from Welcome To My Parlor.
- Contents and Dedication (3)
- PMP and Circumstance (4)
- Rematch by RAM ("Picking up where "The Tholian Web" left off, the Enterprise is stuck with the job of trying to establish diplomatic relations with the Tholians. Given Speck's run-in with Loskene, that starts out being difficult . . . and it gets even worse. Eor the Enterprise, that is; the Tholians are in rather a better position when they take over the NCC-1701.") (5)
- Beginning by RAM ("The Enterprise graduates from captive to co-explorer. The role of captive is rather an upsetting one, especially since the Tholian authorities have ordered that the ship be destroyed. But the position of goodwill ambassador to the Tholians isn't that much better.") (34)
- Shadowbirth by RAM ("n an attempt to overcome the differences between the Federation and the Tholians, representatives of both parties meet on a neutral planet. As if the group doesn't have enough problems from conflicting personalities, the Tholians' nemesis shows up, jeopardizing not only the success of negotiations, but the lives of the landing party as well.") (53)
- Trikonti by Lynnalan ("t Kirk's request, another Federation ship is assigned to the Tholian territory, a science oriented starship. Yet individual conflicts are far from eliminated. On top of internal problems, the ships have a mission on the planet Naria, which seems innocuous enough, but proves otherwise.") (84)
- Ad page (137)
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1
'Intersect' is, like many zines, concerned with its own alternate universe in which stories are tied together by a basic background, specific characters, and its own particular outlook regarding the Star Trek universe. What is different, and extremely interesting, is its focus on the crystalline aliens, the Tholians. The first story, 'Rematch,' opens practically on the heels of the Enterprise's escape from the Tholian Web, as Admiral Komack issues the Enterprise new orders: contact the Tholians to attempt to establish boundary lines between their two spacial territories. Anyone ever wonder what the Defiant was doing in the Tholian's space? According to this, she was investigating an escalation of activity in that sector by the Tholians, which included several attacks into Klingon territory. The attacks were reported to have been by humanoids and the question is -- were the Tholians behind and/or encouraging these attacks, or is there a Denebian Slime Devil in the woodpile which the Tholians don't know about? Needless to say, Kirk isn't pleased with the assignment, for after Spock's skirmish with the Tholians, they are highly unlikely to want to talk with the Federates, especially the Enterprise. That assessment is correct, for Loskene's ship was badly damaged and some of his crew dead and dying. Help is on the way, in the form of a mother ship and another ship the size of Loskene's is standing guard waiting when the Enterprise shows up. The Tholian keeps the Enterprise officers talking in circles for hours, waiting for reinforcements to appear. What appears instead is a humanoid-manned ship, the Suturai, which engages the Tholians. Davidka, the captain of the Tholian craft is trying to protect Loskene and fight the Sutarai at the same time. Kirk helps out by beaming the crew and Loskene aboard the Enterprise. The story continues from there.
The second story, 'Beginning,' traces the relationship between Kirk and the Tholians as the Enterprise heads for the interior of Tholian territory, with Enterprise people considered official envoys of the Federation. The saga continues; all is not peaceful with the Tholians. Suspicion and political maneuvering are rampant. Exchange of information between the two civilizations is vital, for each tends to misunderstand the other's reactions. Further, is the complication for the Tholian's general distrust of ALL aliens and the very sound reasons behind that mistrust. It is a start, but a rocky one. 'Shadowbirth' and 'Triklonti' develop the relationship between the two cultures, delving very deeply into the Tholians so that the reader thoroughly identifies with the Tholians. In 'Trikont,' because of the events in 'Shadowbirth,' Kirk realizes that his crew and Davidka's can no longer work together. In fact, most of them can't stand to be in each other's presence. Kirk calls for assistance which arrives in the form of the starship, Tradition. Its multiracial crew is captained by a woman named Korga from a world even more pacifistic than Vulcan. Her views and mores are diametrically opposed to Davidka's, and Kirk is afraid he will end up being mediator between the two of them. This story provides the transition for the authors' own Federation characters, and serves to ease the Enterprise out of the spotlight. It also seems to provide the commentary that even Captain Kirk doesn't ALWAYS succeed. By the end of the story, the reader realizes that everyone will keep on working to build strong relationships. 'Intersect' provides the background for many forthcoming stories; an interesting series that demands a great deal of fleshing out in future episodes. I look forward to seem more of the adventures of the Tholians as well as the non-Enterprise characters which have been created.
The zine runs 137 pages, mimeo. There are no interior illustrations, which is no real drawback... the story is compelling enough to carry through without relying on illos. 'Intersect' is a very good zine, quite well done, but it is not for everyone, since it does not focus mainly on Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise. Be prepared to enjoy 'Star Trek' from another point of view. [1]
This zine is a first effort for the editor and her shy partner, who wishes to remain anonymous, The whole zine is a novel or a series of not-so-short stories. The authors have taken off where the Star Trek episode "Tholian Web" ends. But it is hardly one of those popular "fifth act" stories. The writers have fleshed out the Tholians that were introduced in the TV show and have given them a history and a culture. In addition to new Tholian characters, there are new Federation personnel. The Enterprise, with Kirk, Spock, and other crewmembers, is there mainly to provide a bridge from the familiar to the new.
A second issue is planned, which will be a sequel to this one. Information about this can be obtained by sending an SASE. The story is interesting and novel.
Unfortunately, the zine suffers technically. It could use more polish. Errors of grammar and orthography abound as well as much poor and awkward syntax. Despite this, I found the zine enjoyable.
As a fan who is tired of the same old themes in Trek stories, I found INTERSECT a refreshing change. Recommended for fans looking for something new to read for enjoyment. [2]
Issue 2
Intersect 2 was published in November 1979 and contains 100 pages. It was offset.
References
- ^ from Scuttlebutt #15
- ^ from The Clipper Trade Ship #26