Leapin' Friskys

Zine
Title:	Leapin' Friskys
Publisher:	Almost Foolproof Press
Editor(s):	Ann Teitelbaum and Dar F
Date(s):	1992-1995
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Quantum Leap
Language:	English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

cover of issue #1

Leapin' Friskys is a slash Quantum Leap anthology with 7 issues. It has the subtitle: "The All-Quantum Leap Supplement of Frisky Business."

This was the very first slash Quantum Leap zine published.

A copy of the first issue was supposedly sent to some Quantum Leap TPTB, see The Elusive "Anti-Slash" Rumor.

Series

For other Frisky zines, see Frisky Business.

Issue 1

Leapin' Friskys 1 was published in May 1992 and contains 163 pages. The fiction is all by Nancy Rhodes.

The zine contains no illos.

On the cover: "The all-new, all-Quantum Leap edition of Frisky Business! A sexually explicit zine for ADULTS only."

This zine premiered at the 1992 MediaWest*Con.

From the zine: "An all-new collection of adult Quantum Leap stories from Fan Q Award nominee Nancy Rhodes, author of "Quantum Love, Parts 1-2."

• Go For the Max (1)
• Memories (58)
• Torchsong Revisited (91)
• Gender Bender (118)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

I am in the middle of reading Leaping Friskies, an all slash Quantum Leap version of the long running MM zine Frisky Business. Not only is this all QL, but it is all written by one woman, Nancy Rhodes.

I basically agree with [fan name redacted] that most QL slash is unconvincing; certainly none of the stories here would make a beliver out of anyone. That's strange too, because the first three stories, Go for the Max, Memories and Torchsong Revisited all have very strong plausible first time plots. I found all three stories o.k. -- the plots were sufficiently well constructed to distract me from the adequate writing.

The last story, however, has me hyperventilating. Called Gender Bender, this story is set just after Sam finally leaps home. In the extensive psychiatric evaluation following, Sam seems to have acquired some "gender confusion". The only symptom that we are shown of this 'confusion' is his new attraction for Al. His wife Donna is a little upset, and Sam feels he had to choose between them.

What this writer (Nancy Rhodes, but I believe it is a pen name) keeps calling gender confusion, I think most people would call bisexuality. Let me quote a few lines:

"[Beeks] doesn't know how I'm going to deal with these...urges. I may think I'm a woman in here," he pointed to his head. "But my body is male. And there's not a damn thing I can do about it."

"I'm glad to hear you say that. Knowing Beeks, I was afraid she was suggestion a sex change operation."

"She says that's not out of the question, but it wouldn't solve the other half of my problem."

"And that is?"

"I'm still male. And I still have those urges, too. Face it, Al. I'm a mess."

Later in the story, Sam and Al are kissing in an elevator and don't notice the door open. A neighbor of Al's sees them, and Al makes a joke. Back to quoting from the story:

" ...Sam felt suddely liberated by the public act. It was his first open test of his female role and he thrilled at it...."

The only thing "female" about it seems to be the fact that he was kissing a man."

This story *really* annoyed me. I think the idea of gender confusion could have been very interesting, but this story just reads like bisexual bashing and ignorance.

Oh well, it's not like it is such a good zine anyway (I got it for free, thank goodness).

I've just read Leapin' Friskies myself. A borrowed copy, thank goodness. I agree, there were points in the stories, especially the last one, that made me wince. "Gender Bender" was a good idea, but the execution... Sam is too irrational about the situation. He's a scientist who has just spent how many years fixing other peoples' interpersonal dilemmas and has had his explained to him thoroughly by a pretty good shrink. Much more plausible if he were to tell Donna, "Honey, I've got this little problem, as I'm sure Dr. Beeks has mentioned to you. How would you feel if my best friend and I were to get more-than-friendly, for the sake of my sanity?" Of course, Donna as written by Nancy Rhodes is somewhat of a bitch -- like a woman who waited how many years for her husband, getting news only from Sam's pal Al, is going to dump him because his pal is somewhat closer. And the internal continuity is off. Sam is a prude one minute and cheerfully making love to his wife a few yards off the road, in the desert. Donna's reaction can be described as, "Did you check for scorpions, dear?" Seems the Sam she remembers is anything but repressed.

Donna and Al seem too cold toward each other to me. Al has been Sam's lifeline and sanity while he was leaping, and Donna's only contact with him. On QL as televised ("The Leap Back"), Al gives the impression that he admires Donna and envies Sam for having a wife who will wait for him. Al and Donna have to be closer than written in "Gender Bender", through shared adversity. I can't believe Al would be that utterly tactless toward Sam, either. The story should've ended a couple of pages later, with Al making love to Donna, seeing as they've worn Sam out. Then they have to explain what Al is going to do about Tina, who has been his steady girlfriend as long as Sam was leaping... 3.5 out of 10 for this story, 5 out of 10 for the zine as a whole.

"Leapin' Friskies" [sic] s is a 163 page zine containing four QL slash stories by Nancy Rhodes. A one-author collection can be a find or a penance, according to the skill and appeal of the author involved. "Leapin' Friskies" is a bit of both.

"Go For The Max," the first story, has Sam leaping into Maxine, one of Al's wives, on Al's and Maxine's honeymoon. He has to rescue a depressed runaway and salvage the honeymoon at the same time, while Al, back in the future, has to content with a very confused (and very horny) Maxine in Sam's body.

"Memories" has a returning Sam confronting the fact that his memories don't match anyone else's anymore—not even Al’s.

"Torchsong Revisited" has Sam leaping into a transvestite homosexual man and meeting a younger Al in an experimental mood.

"Gender Bender" plays with the gender confusion suffered by a returning Sam and the way Al and Donna find to make both their dreams come true.

All of the stories have plots and are well-based in the show's reality. (The last story is not politically correct and I confess the recurrent use of the phrase, 'Sam's woman side' had me both gagging and wondering if it was on his right or his left, but the sex scene was particularly hot in that one, which helped a bit.)

I would recommend the zine without reservations except that the hero of the stories is rude, lewd and frequently crude—and Al is even worse. I just had trouble buying the characterization of Sam, who I see as having sweet, shy, and nice guy embedded in his genes, and jeans as well... Others may enjoy it.

Issue 2

cover of issue #2

Leapin' Friskys 2 was published in May 1993 and contains 194 pages.

Pre-Leap:

• Echoes by Leah S. (3)
• Do You Love Me? by J.R. (19)
• Lazy Saturday by J.R. (23)
• Long California Nights by Gena S. Durrell (28)

Mid-Leap:

• Singular Remembarance by Khylara (53)
• Will We Ever Be the Same by Stacy Doyle (54)
• Perfectly Frank by Karen and Nancy Rhodes (58)
• Wanting Abigail by Khylara (119)
• The Summer of His Discontent by Nancy Rhodes (120)

Post-Leap:

• Dearheart by K.C. Wise (sequel to this story is in issue #5) (151)
• Catch Me When I Fall by Leah S. (176)
• You'd Better Watch Out by Gena S. Durrell (189)

Issue 3

cover of issue #3

Leapin' Friskys 3 was published in May 1994 and contains 203 pages. Authors: Nancy Rhodes, Nancy & Karen Rhodes, KC. Wise, and others

• Truth or Dare by Leah S (3)
• Another father by Doreen Tracy (8)
• Fragments by Khylara, poem (29)
• Longings by Khylara, poem (30)
• Blood Lust by Nancy Rhodes (31)
• Strangers in the Night by Leah S (50)
• The Anarchy of Time by Karen and Nancy Rhodes (59)
• Sam/Samantha by Theresa Kyle (122)
• Homecoming by Khylara (146)
• One More Night by K.C. Wise (152)
• Send in the Clowns by Nancy Rhodes (172)
• Floor, Please? by K.C. Wise (198)

Issue 4

Leapin' Friskys 4 was published in May 1995 and is 187 pages long. The color cover art by Maureen B won a 1995 STIFfie Award.

cover of issue #4, cover by Maureen B

• Any Wednesday, A Pre-Leap Journal Entry by Betty Ann Smith (a M/F/M threesome fic) (3)
• Romantic Notions by Carol Zara (reprinted in Quantum Fire #8) (9)
• More Romantic Notions by Carol Zara (reprinted in Quantum Fire #8) (11)
• Take It To The Limit by J.D. Rush (Sam meets Astronaut Al and can't believe his good fortune in becoming friends - and more - with this troubled hero.) (sequel is in "Leapin' Friskys #5) (13)
• First Night by Leah S (43)
• Always by Lynne Dhenson and Doreen Tracy (Al and Donna have very different feelings when Sam is retrieved in a risky procedure, and life isn't quite what they had been hoping it would be.) (55)
• The Night Before by Khylara (111)
• No More Dreams To Believe by Lee Owers-Sansome (After the last aired episode (Mirror Image) Al is desperate to find Sam. Convincing Sammy-Jo is hard enough, but the mission itself is....) ("sequel will appear in "Leapin' Frisky' #6") (won a 1995 STIFfie Award) (118)

Issue 5

Leapin' Friskys 5 was published in May 1995 and contains 184 pages. It has one illo by Anja Gruber.

cover of issue #5, Sam Beckett's shirt reads: "Leapin' Friskys 5"

illo by Anja Gruber in issue #5

• That's My Story, and I'm Sticking to It by Betty Ann Smith (3)
• Mirrors, poem by by Kyhlara (5)
• Life in the Fast Lane. (Sequel to "Take It To The Limit (issue #4): Al arrives at MIT for his degree program and moves in with Sam.) (sequel in issue #6) (6)
• By Heart/With You in Mind by Lynne Dhenson (37)
• It's Not Too Late by Carol Zara (reprinted in Quantum Fire #8) (38)
• A Human Heart by Doreen Tracy (Al finally gets his wish - Sam has spontaneously leapt home. But is this what he really wanted?) (42)
• Two Ships Passing, poem by Lynne Dhenson (78)
• Watching, poem by Lee Owers Sansome (80)
• Dearheart II by K.C. Wise (81) (sequel to Dearheart I in iissue #2) (Sam and Al continue with project QL, but a new staffer and some alarming events lead them to question her.) (81)
• The Observer, poem by Lee Owers Sansom (151)
• Strange Winds by Leah S (152)
• Realizations, poem by Khylara (166)
• Now, Voyeur by Nancy Rhodes (Al finds a new use for Virtual Reality and Sam's current leap shows him more than he was expecting.) (won a 1995 STIFfie Award) (167)

Issue 6

Leapin' Friskys 6 was published in October 1995 and contains 200 pages.

cover of issue #6

issue #6 has some information on how to "plug-in" and find Quantum Leap info on computers

• Bed of Nails, by Gena S. Durrell ("It's one of those time-traveling anomalies: Sam leaps into a gay man on Fire Island in 1987, only to meet up with himself! Of course, Project Quantum Leap is still on the drawing board in 1987.... But maybe between the two of them (plus Al and Al!) they can complete the leap, and, more importantly, resolve the problem of Leaping Sam not remembering Al's love for him....") (1)
• Remembering Love, poem by Khylara (25)
• Timeless by Lisa Martin (36)
• Ride of a Lifetime by Leah S (31)
• New Mexico Breeze by Lorna Kendrick (33)
• Confessions, poem by Khylara (44)
• Moonlight Passing Through a Window by Carol Zara (46)
• Be Careful What You Wish For, by Davina Pereira ("This man in the Imaging Chamber has Sam's knowledge, memories, and looks.... But Sam Beckett wouldn't have shot Verbena, or shut Ziggy down. What could have happened, and why?") (49)
• Forever and Beyond by Joy Eaglefeather (69)

• Rumors by Leah S. (won a 1995 STIFfie Award) (73)
• The Wait, poem by Khylara (77)
• Point of No Return by Doreen Tracy ("Sam has been kidnapped by an insane man intent on gaining the scientific knowledge Sam possesses. Unfortunately, the plan involves breaking Sam's will. Will Al, Verbena, and Ziggy be able to find him in time? And will this convince Al to reveal how he really feels about Sam?") (78)
• Better Left Undressed, poem by Lisa A. Davidson (146)

• A Leap for Al by Khylara (poem or filk) (won a 1995 STIFfie Award) (148)
• Heartbeat by Carol Zara (149)
• Words He Doesn't Say by Lynne Dhenson (159)
• Leap Into Darkness by Theresa Kyle (163)
• Sea Dreams, poem by Lee Owers Sansom (171)
• Take It To the Limit.. One More Time, sequel to a story in an early issue, by J.D. Rush ("Weitzman was trying to sabotage Project Quantum Leap by assigning Sam a Project Manager who was a reputed lush. When Sam found the new guy assaulting a vending machine, he never dreamed it would be Al. Now if they could only get to work without their past relationship getting in the way....") (172)

Issue 7

Leapin' Friskys 7 contains 172 pages and was published in September 1996.

cover of issue #7

The editorial:

Well, first of all, we've tried another layout this time, hopefully maximizing both readability and price-consciousness. And second of all, we want to thank all the QL fans, from authors and poets and artists to consumers to those who've dropped us encouraging notes. We reluctantly announce that this wil be the last issue of Leapin' Friskys. Both Darlene and Ann are into other fandoms which are taking up more of our time and attention and we've had to make a choice as to what to pursue and what to leave to others. From the very first issue, which was a result of Nancy Rhodes handing us four novelas through this much-delayed issue, it has been a joy to read through all the variations on this timeless, but inevitable love story. We will still be open to Sam/Al short stories for our multi-media issues of Frisky Business, and we'd be glad to help someone else get their feet wet in the world of publishing.

• Someone to Watch Over Me by Davinia Periera ("Sam emerged from the Accelerator and felt his spirit fail as he realized something was wrong. As he stepped out he had looked for someone who wasn't there.... He looked around quickly, but saw no-one unusual. But then, if the person wasn't there, he wouldn't see him. How did that old rhyme go?") (1)
• May The Schwartz Be With You by Joy Eaglefeather (32)
• Only My Heart Talking by Lisa A. Davidson (39)
• If You Find a Moment, poem by Lynne Dhenson (52)
• A Closer Walk by Sue Walker (53)
• The Question by Janneke H. (62)
• Remembering, poem by Khylara (68)
• Real World by Doreen Tracy (sequel to "A Human Heart" in issue #5) ("The photos were of another Sam Beckett, a person that she really wanted this Sam to confront and let go. The rage in him against what had happened was finally building. It was only a matter of time before her patient exploded in anger against the ruin of his once brilliant mind.") (69)
• Tangled Webs by Loran Kendrick (88)
• Total Eclipse of the Heart by Carol Zara (108)
• The Letter by Gena S. Durrell (113)
• Confession by Leah S (116)
• Speak Silence With They Eyes, poem by Lynne Dhenson (119)
• Mushy Moments by Diane Buckley (120)
• Overload by Lisa Martin (125)
• A Flash of Blue Light, poem by Khylara (131)
• Always by Lisa Martin and Sirja Steward (132)
• At the Water's Edge, poem by Lynne Dhenson (139)
• You Oughtta Know, by Betty Ann Smith-Wise ("The Al Calavicci he knew, or thought he knew, was slender and fit, young for his age. The doppelganger staring back at him from the [mirror-like] desk top was devoid of youth and in questionable health.... Nothing adorned the expensive grey suit or the club tie. No adornment, no life, just millions of dollars, a wife who despised him, and children whose names and faces escaped him.") (140)
• Leapin' Crosswords!, a puzzle (171)