Lasergram

Zine
Title:	Lasergram
Publisher:	National Star Wars Association out of Story Brook, NY
Editor(s):	Dan Schwab
Date(s):	1977-1978
Series?:
Medium:	print zine
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Wars
Language:	English
External Links:
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cover of issue #8

Lasergram is a gen Star Wars anthology of fiction, poetry, articles and art.

It was the official newsletter of the National Star Wars Association.

A Management Change and Tensions Between Fans and TPTB

In issue #12/13/14 (the last issue), the editors wrote:

To our regular subscribers: The National Star Wars Association no longer exists, for reasons made clear in this program book. Our new organization shall continue to publish Lasergram on as regular basis as possible….To those attending the convention: Welcome to Science Fiction Space Fantasy! You will soon discover that this program book is like no other you have ever seen, just as this convention will be like no other you have ever attended. Originally it was planned that this was to be a Star Wars Convention. That planning was rather abruptly halted by some rather blithe and greedy people at the Star Wars Corporation. Inside this program you will find many letters, one of them is a form letter that was written Co all of the Star Wars actors we approached about attending the convention. It was written by a drone of the Star Wars Corporation, a corporation which has become infamous for making an ass of itself by alienating fans, and trying to prevent any fan run Star Wars activities or clubs. The National Star Wars Association which when it was in existence was a fan run Star Wars club, was recently pressured in disbanding by this same corporation. Another letter you will find printed in this program is from Dave Prowse, who was kind enough, and we thank him for that, to provide us with a copy of the letter the Star Wars Corporation circulated among the actors we would have all liked to see appear here. It is difficult to understand all of this without reading each letter in succession, and we do encourage you to so you will have some understanding of the past two years events. We think the letters tell a sad story, but we are going to try to put that in the past. Let the Star Wars Corporation destroy its own fandom, we frankly aren't going to fight them anymore since they insist on being so foolish. To continue what we stared, we have formed a new organization called The National Space Fantasy Association, which shall continue to publish Lasergram and produce SF conventions that are not only run by fans, but that involve fans.

In issue #12/13/14, the editors included letters that had been exchanged between Daniel Schwab (fan, and editor of this zine) and Craig Miller (Star Wars spokesperson). One excerpt from Schwab to Miller reads:

September 11, 1978, Craig Miller P.O. Box 8669 Universal City, CA- 91608, Dear Mr. Miller: First of all, I would appreciate it if you would see that the following information be passed along to all of your associates. The following words are what shall always be remembered whenever the Star Wars Corporation is mentioned around SF fans and circles: sue, threaten, harass, and' now abolish. And so it goes...As of October 1, 1978, The National Star Wars Association shall cease to exist...We are tired of putting up with corporations which wish to rid themselves of their own fans, and hence money.

Issue 1

Lasergram 1 was published in September 1977.

Issue 8

Lasergram 8 published in April 1978.

On the cover: "Inside: 'Splinter of the Mind's Eye'--The Alan Dean Foster sequel to Star Wars, a list of the new Star Wars products (Kenner, UPC (?), Estes, and More!), High quality Star Wars art, stories, articles, poetry, and humor..."

Issue 9/10/11

Lasargram 9/10/11 was published in May/June/July 1978. The front cover (Star Wars) is by Richard Walk. The interior art is by Amy Harlib, Marsha Parse, Richard Pollard, Paty Yagodinski, Dave Smith, Michael Albury, Teanna Lee Byerts, Lisa Adolf, Anders Parsmo, Greg Watters, Jean Brunson, Dot Sasscer, and Chris Pepo.

back cover of issue #9/10/11, Richard Walk

front cover of issue #9/10/11

The editor writes:

This is the first issue of the new LASERGRAM. From now one, the newsletter will be published quarterly (every three months). The size will range from 36-48 pages, and each issue will be completely typeset. In the future, we hope to add color to three pages, along with a glossy cover. Since a quarterly magazine will not allow us to distribute important information to those attending the convention, convention news will be sent out separately whenever necessary. The magazine will carry a repeat of the news later on so all members will eventually know what is happening.

The Biography of Han Solo is not present in this issue as we plan to print the rest of it in its entirety in the next newsletter. All continued stories will be wrapped up as soon as possible so that each newsletter/magazine will not dependent on prior issues. The maximum length of written material has bee upped to 5000 words with exceptions made for outstanding pieces.

Due to the postal increase, dues will be going up this year by 25%. Also postage and handle costs for merchandise orders ahs bee upped to 75 cents for ever $5.00 of merchandise ordered.

We sill be holding a club meeting at the convention in December which will be open to club members only. The actors attending

will be present at the meeting. At this point, the appearance of Dave Prowse and Peter Mayhew seems almost certain. Also, should Star Wars not be in production this December, there is an outside chance that Carrie, Mark, and Harrison will be paying the convention a visit.

• Club News and Art by Amy Harlib (2)
• The Paths of Friendship, fiction by Ann Wilson (3)
• Is Oscar Honest?, opinion by B.C. Helms (16)
• Maybe George Forgot... by Kathy Draves (20)
• On Sir Alec and Peter by C.A. Bucar (22)
• A Skeptic's Realization of Star Wars by Kathy Gerrard (24)

• 

  from issue #9/10/11, Greg Watters

• 

  from issue #9/10/11, Marsha Parse

• 

  from issue #9/10/11, Mike Albury

Issue 12/13/14

Lasergram 12/13/14 doubled as a convention program book.

front cover of issue #12/13/14

back cover of issue #12/13/14