Matter/Antimatter

You may be looking for the gen Star Trek zine Antimatter.

Zine
Title:	Matter/Antimatter
Publisher:	Tiberius Press
Editor(s):	some issues by Daphne Garcia, Sandra Gent issue #6: Daphne Garcia, Kai Rhodes, and Lacey Sinclair issue #10 and 11: Daphne Garcia, Kai Rhodes, Phaedra Morgan, and Lacey Sinclair
Date(s):	1978-1995
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

flyer for issue #1 from Warped Space #31/32

Matter/Antimatter is a slash (some fans say the first two issues are gen with a hint of slash, the publisher lists them all as slash) Star Trek: TOS anthology with at twelve issues, one of which is a reprint issue.

All issues, except the first, required an age statement.

Issue 1

Matter/Antimatter 1 contains 116 pages and was published in spring 1978.

The art is by Marlene A. Becker, Rolaine Smoot, Scott A. Gilbert, Al Zequeira, Humberto Garcia, Karen Simely, Chuck Majewski, and Sandra Gent (inside cover).

The publisher says it contains "one-pre K/S story but no sexually explicit material."

front cover of issue #1, by Mitchell Augustus Walker

From the editorial:

What prompted MATTER/ANTIMATTER? Wish I knew. Rolaine and I each point a finger -- index -- at the other, but neither of us will admit who's responsible for the idea in the first place. Be that as it may, Karen, Virginia, and Marlene were added to our ranks by various means of persuasion (bribery, threats, groveling; whatever it took to convince them) and we began collecting material in March. March of 1977, that is. How time flies when you're having fun. Items such as the post awful, IBM's rather flexible delivery schedule, forgotten deadlines, and rewrites of rewrites of rewrites could be cited; however, we're just glad to finally get this turkey out of the oven.

What do we have to show for our efforts? Well... there's a common denominator running through our Star Trek stories: the Vulcan mind meld. It makes two appearances in "A Slight Case of Obsession," one of which comes to an unusual conclusion, to say the least. For those of you keeping score, it's a point in McCoy's favor. In "Eye of the Mind,1I the mind meld is employed with quite an unexpected result. To quote Spock: One's company, two's a crowd. Lastly, in "Mirror of the Soul," the mind meld provides a nagging conscience for our hero. Chekov stories aren't that prevalent, either (after typing umpty-ump pages of Russian dialect, I know why).

In the short story category, we have three offerings. One is serious, eery [sic] to be precise, "Bitter Sky, Winter Wind," and two are tongue in cheek, "Progress," and the piece de resistance, "We're Sorry," "Oh, Thank Heaven" is in a class by itself (for obvious reasons) and nothing but sheer lunacy. Considering the editors and staff, it's very apropos.

• Off the Wall (iv)
• The Peanut Gallery (iv)
• Mirror of the Soul, part one by Marlene Becker ("While in a coma, Chekov is pulled into another dimension, pulling Spock along with him when Spock tries to revive him with a meld." Sequel: Mirror of the Soul Pt 2.) (2)
• Waiting, poem by Carla Jones (27)
• We're Sorry by Michael Jones (30)
• Star Wreck: Oh, Thank Heaven by Richard Setera ("Serious stuff. Jerk, Sock, and Annoy are hapless victims of the Campbell Soup Company.") (34)
• Progress by Virginia Green (41)
• The Emerald Queen of Atlantis, poem by Karen Simley (43)
• Majesty by Karen Simley (45)
• The Awakening by Della Van Hise (47)
• Eye of the Mind by Sandra Gent and Virginia Green ("Joined in a healing meld after Kirk is injured in a shuttle crash, he and Spock end up bonded when the meld is too abruptly ended by outside forces." This is the pre-K/S story. The flyer says: "Our response to all those K/S relationship tales." Sequel: A Different Madness.) (50)
• Solaris, poem by Sandra Gent (70)

• Rivers of Red, poem by Dayle S. Palko (71)
• A Slight Case of Obsession (was "A Slight Case of Conscience" as per the flyer) by Marlene A. Becker (From the flyer: "A... ahem, lay-Spock story. The Enterprise's first officer is kidnapped by a lovely lady with a fascination for Vulcans.") (74)
• Some Other Place, Some Other Time, poem by Sandra Gent (95)
• Bitter Sky, Winter Wind by Virginia Green ("Spock is eventually pronounced dead when his communicator is found on the planet where he disappeared a year before." Sequel: Winterlight. In a flyer for issue #2, the editors said this story "earned us a lot of 'How could you!' letters.") (97)
• A Vulcan Destination, poem by Dayle S. Palko (103)
• Second Thoughts (105)
• Let's Make a Deal by Scott A. Gilbert and Rolaine Smoot (107)

• 

  from issue #1, Rolaine Smoot and Scott A. Gilbert

• 

  from issue #1, Rolaine Smoot and Scott A. Gilbert

• 

  from issue #1, Al Zequeira

• 

  from issue #1, Al Zequeira

• 

  from issue #1, Chuck Majewski

• 

  from issue #1, Al Zequeira

• 

  from issue #1, Al Zequeira

• 

  from issue #1, Humberto Garcia

• 

  from issue #1, Marlene A. Becker

• 

  from issue #1, Al Zequeira

• 

  from issue #1, Al Zequeira

• 

  from issue #1, Scott A. Gilbert

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

[zine]: Consists of three long stories, two short ones (both ST and SF), vignettes, poetry, and cartoons. Part 1 of 'Mirror of the Soul' is a well-written fantasy/ST which finds Chekov lost in another dimension with Spock accidentally trapped in his mind, having unable to withdraw from a meld in time. Spock's efforts to keep the Ensign on the straight and narrow as they seek to destroy the evil enchantments gives this one a humorous underpinning, as in the case of the willing and adoring local females. Becker is also represented with 'A Slight Case of Obsession,' in which Spock is chosen to re-populate a sterile-male planet, and the current ruler is obsessed with him. In 'Eye of the Mind,' Spock saves Kirk after much effort and in the face of great odds, and they wind up accidentally bonded; this one is to have a sequel in the next ish, maybe more. Immensely intriguing to students of K/S. 'Bitter Sky Winter Wind' is a tricky little painful story of a mindless Spock lost apparently forever on a barren planet, guaranteed to draw demands for alternate endings. One of my favorite features in this zine is a series of hilarious cartoon drawings labeled 'Feeders of Val, by Scott A. Gilbert and Rolaine Smoot. The first of these has Vaal being fed from McDonalds, with Kirk commenting to Spock by communicator. #3 has the feeders preparing the biggest Alka Seltzer in the world, and another has Spock trussed up with an apple in his mouth. Funny. Well-done. A good read.

[zine]:

M/A is a general Trekzine which features several stories most of which are by new writers to Trek fandom. Perhaps two of the best stories within are "Eye Of The Mind" and "Bitter Sky, Winter Wind", both by Virginia Green. "Eye Of The Mind" is somewhat of a pre-K/S story which gives a few new ideas on how this relationship could begin. It is marvelously illustrated by Al Zequeira. "Bitter Sky, Winter Wind" is guaranteed to leave you wanting to kill not only the writer but the editor as well, since it's one of those stories where the ending isn't exactly like everyone thought (er, hoped) it would be. There is also a one sentence poem by Dayle Palko which makes the whole zine worthwhile, even if you don't like anything else (which is doubtful).

MATTER/ANTIMATTER features some of the best artwork to be found in Star Trek fandom. There are several fold-out illos, most of which are by Al Zequeira. Some of the of the artwork is half-toned, and the printing is absolutely beautiful. Other artists include Scott Gilbert and Karen Simley, both of whose work is nicely done, and hopefully will be turning up in other zines the near future. This zine also features some non-Trek material, all of which is easily enjoyed even by the most devout Star Trek fan. "We're Sorry" is a somewhat complicated and wandering little yarn with a punch line that'll rattle your teeth. At any rate, M/A features more than the normal amount of fiction for a zine, and the artwork is superb from beginning to end. This zine is highly recommended, both for its graphics and layouts well as story content. STORY: 9 GRAPHICS: 10

Issue 1 Special Reprint

Issue 1 was reprinted in 1978 (and xeroxed and reprinted again around 1983) and contains 59 numbered pages, plus one unnumbered page. It includes the original art for these three stories.

• Eye of the Mind by Virginia Green and Sandra Gent (This is a pre-K/S story.) (3)
• Mirror of the Soul, part one, by Marlene A. Becker (27)
• Bitter Sky, Winter Wind by Virginia Green (55)

• 

  cover of reprint issue, Al Zaqueria

• 

  title page

• 

  toc

Issue 2

cover issue #2, Al Zequerira

a 1978 flyer, printed in Naked Times #1: "Yup, folks. Selling 300 copies [of the first issue] in three months did not discourage us. Nothing can deter us -- Delinquent artists, phantom writers, gestapo printers, handsome starship captains, rutting Vulcans, and so forth."

detail from a flyer, artist is Scott Gilbert

Matter/Antimatter 2 was published in 1979 and contains 171 pages. The publisher says it is "half K/S".

• Echoes from Cell Clock 1908 (4)
• The Archon Archives by Scott A. Gilbert and Rolaine Smoot
• Winterlight by Leslie Fish, art by Humberta Garcia (A Thelin story continuing from "Yesteryear, Today and Tomorrow" in Fantasia #2. "A year after being given up for dead, Spock is found very much alive by the Andorian first officer who took his place on the Enterprise." Prequel: Bitter Sky, Winter Wind in issue #1 of "Matter/Antimatter". In a flyer, the editors said the first part of this story "earned us a lot of 'How could you!' letters.") (7)
• And Then There Was by Wanda Butts, art by Butts (35)
• Fifty-Eight Days by Crystal Ann Taylor, art by Merle Decker (37)
• Mirror Of The Soul, Pt 2 by Marlene Becker, art by Al Zequeira (39) ("Chekov battles demons in the dimension he has been pulled into, while harboring Spockʼs mind in his." A flyer says: "This time, Chekov and Spock get it right." Prequel: Mirror Of the Soul Pt 1.) (39)
• Spiced Academy by Lilianne Forbin, art by Scott A. Gilbert (76)
• Diplomacy by Rolaine Smoot (79)
• T.G.I.F. by Richard Setera, art by Gordon Carleton (82)
• Journey's End by Della Van Hise (82)
• Trine by Dayle Barker Palko (84)
• Hopelessly Human by Carla Jones, art by Nan Lewis (85)
• A Different Madness by Virginia Green and Sandra Gent, art by Pat Stall ("Fearing insanity for both, Spock attempts to break the bond between him and Kirk, until the two are kidnapped by an unknown alien." A flyer calls it "a K/S sequel" to Eye of the Mind. Sequel: Onward Paradise.) (86)
• Salud by Dayle Barker Palko (128)
• Forgotten Yesterdays by Sandra Gent (129)
• Remembering, Vulcan Thoughts by Becky Duff (13)
• De Trop by Nancy Kippax, art by Michael Verina (Pre K/S: "Spock fears his future after losing the use of an arm in an accident." A flyer calls it a "heart-wrenching tale.") (131)
• The Vigil by Crystal Ann Taylor, art by Humerto Garcia (147)
• They Also Serve by Ellen L. Kobrin, art by Nan Lewis (149)
• Wither Thou Goest by Della Van Hise, art by Merle Decker (A/U: "Sentenced to death on a backward planet, Spock attempts, unsuccessfully, to erase Kirkʼs memories of their life together, hoping that then Kirk will not die when he does." The flyer says: "Good grief, another K/S story.") (150)
• Fragments by Crystal Ann Taylor, art by Al Zequeira (170)
• Coming Attractions (172)
• The Gong Show by Scott A. Gilbert and Rolaine Smoot (174)

• 

  from issue #2, Humberto Garcia

• 

  from issue #2, Wanda Butts

• 

  from issue #2, Merle Decker

• 

  from issue #2, Al Zequeira

• 

  from issue #2, Gordon Carleton

• 

  from issue #2, Michael Verina

• 

  from issue #2, Nan Lewis

• 

  from issue #2, Scott A. Gilbert and Rolaine Smoot

• 

  from issue #2, Humberto Garcia

• 

  from issue #2, Scott A. Gilbert and Rolaine Smoot

• 

  from issue #2, foldout by Pat Stall

• 

  from issue #2, a foldout by Pat Stall, reprinted in Impact: From a fan in 1982: "Pat Stall's contribution in M/AM#2 has got to be one of the most sensuous K/S illos in all of fandom. Yum." Another fan in 1982: "I think the best K/S drawing Pat ever did was on pages 101 & 102 of the zine MATTER/ANTIMATTER #2. *SIGH* Absolutely magnificent!

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

[zine]: It is spiralbound so the pages lie flat. In other words, you can read this zine and not have to have a tight grip on both pages! It has an outstanding cover by Al Zequeira. Fish has a perhaps-sequel to a story which appeared in the first issue, concerning her Latinized Andorian. Fantastic! The art, by Humberto Garcia, is also great. Tho' Fish's story is my favorite, Wanda Butts has a short poem accompanied by her beautifully sparsely drawn Kirk; Crystal Ann Taylor has a Merle Decker-illustrated poem, Gilbert and Smoot run a series of one-page comic-book variations on 'Archons'; Becker's sword and sorcery tale is concluded from the last issue, Lilianne Forbin has a Carla Jones poem; Gent's and Green's K/S series continues, illoed by Pat Stall and Michael Verina, and Della Van Hise has a really nasty vignette illoed by Merle Decker. I've left out some names, but there's a lot of content in this issue. Not recommended for non-K/S fans, unless they're tolerant, but Fish's story is worth the price alone, and the rest ain't bad, either. An impressive zine.

[zine]:I have read only #2 and found it a strange mixture of very good and rather depressing. I enjoyed 'Winterlight' by Leslie Fish, in which Spock is missing and is replaced by Thelin, an Andorian. Thelin has always suffered from prejudice from his previous Captains and is cold-shouldered by Kirk, who resents anyone taking Spock's place. Events happen which bring about a happy conclusion for everyone, Thelin included. This story Is beautifully written. 'Mirror of the Soul', part 2, is also well written but not really a Star Trek story. The hero is Chekov, but he gets involved in a Tolkien-type situation with good fighting evil, pure fantasy writing.

Issue 3/4

Cover of issue #3/4, art by Vel Jaeger. A different version of this art appeared on the back cover of Naked Times 3.

Matter/Antimatter 3/4 was published in September 1983 and contains 180 pages. The publisher says it is "2/3 K/S."

The art is by Vel Jaeger, Maureen B., Karen Simley, Stephanie Hawks, Michael Verina, Lydia Moon, The Southern Cross, Merle Decker, Wanda Butts, and Nan Lewis.

From a personal statement in Universal Translator #13 (early 1982):

Ahem. It now looks as though 'Matter/Antimatter' #3 will NOT make it to press in either December 1981 or January 1982. Despite my best efforts, I've managed to type only 40 pages thus far, leaving an approximate total of 180 pages still to be done. The most accurate estimate I can offer as to WHEN the zine will see print is, say, April or May. A miracle COULD occur and M/A 3 COULD be available even earlier than those dates, but I doubt it. My apologies to everyone, especially the authors and artists who have been so patient! Also, Virginia and I have given the subject a considerable amount of thought (about two seconds), and we've decided the next issue will be known as M/A 3-4, a double issue. We based our decision on two factors: first, the page count is much higher than our previous issues, and second, over two years has passed since M/A 2.

From a personal statement in "Universal Translator" #14 (April/June 1982):

Thanks to the proceeds of my two [personal] zine sales, I now have half of the funds necessary to take Matter/Antimatter #3/4 to press... It now looks as though M/A 3-4 will be available sometime in June [1982]. There can't be anymore complications... To those of you who have offered to type, proof, collate, anything to get M/A 3-4 to press, my most sincerest and humblest thanks for your offers. Virginia's, too. It has been a long two years!

From a personal statement in "Universal Translator" #15 (July/September 1982):

I had to say there couldn't be any more complications, didn't I? No sooner than the words left my mouth when I came down with [details of illness redacted], and poof went my schedule for getting M/A 3-4 to the printer in June. The publishing date is now Summer/Fall 1982. If anyone is wondering why the publishing date has been pushed back as much as five months, Virginia and I would rather play it safe. We don't want to have to change the publishing date again! The summer months aren't the most productive time of the year as far as my typewriter is concerned, and we still haven't received all of the artwork, nor do we have a cover. Sigh.

• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Printer (editorial) (2)
• No Matter How Golden, poem by Crystal Ann Taylor (4)
• With Bated Breath, poem by Pamela S. Rose (4)
• Missing You by Sandra Gent ("Spock is away for a month dealing with a planetʼs computer system and when he gets back he finds a letter under Kirkʼs pillow that Kirk wrote to him while waiting for his bondmate to return.") (7)
• Two Points for Contemplation, poem by Sharon Decker (15)
• Return from Sapreidon, poem by Wanda Butts (16)
• The Waiting Time, poem by Jimmye Galli (18)
• The Art of Interference by Pamela Rose (Humor: "Spock goes with Kirk on shoreleave and proceeds to interfere whenever Kirk starts getting into trouble.") (20)
• Wednesday's Child by Debbie Bryant ("After Deneva, Kirkʼs mother shows up demanding custody of Peter but Kirk fights her, refusing to allow Peter to endure a childhood like his." Sequel: Bitter Circle.) (28)
• Bitter Circle by Debbie Bryant ("Kirk has a head injury, and we learn of his cruel, abusive mother. Kirk is injured soon after Deneva, and while he is on sickleave, with Spock his mother shows up to torment him." Prequel: Wednesdayʼs Child) (38)
• Love Song for a Star Wanderer, poem by D. Booker (50)
• Play It As It Lays by Sandra Gent ("Spock tries to help Kirk fall asleep by talking to him but eventually it takes something more personal to get his lover to sleep.") (52)
• Fantasy, poem by Gene S. Delapenia (58)
• art portfolio by The Southern Cross (59)
• Present Tense, Future Perfect by Devery Helm ("Kirk and Spock are on shoreleave when accosted by an ex-lover of Kirkʼs who wants to be with him and doesnʼt take kindly to the news of Kirk and Spockʼs relationship.") (71)
• Chains of Gold, poem by Sharon Decker (76)
• Bastinado, poem by Dayle Barker (77)
• The Body's Treason by Judith Gran (Gran's first fiction. "Kirk and Spock are lovers but when Spockʼs pon farr draws near, Spock returns to Vulcan to take a bride rather than risk killing Kirk in a male-to-male bonding." Sequel: This Dialogue of One.) (78)
• Untitled by Carla Jones-Parker (86)
• This Dialogue of One by Judith Gran ("Spockʼs marriage fails when it turns out that he has a bond to Kirk but unwilling to have his memories of Kirk exorcised in order to remove it, he goes to Gol." Prequel: The Bodyʼs Treason.) (87)
• Lessons by Nancy Kippax ("Spock uses the imagery of a destroyed bridge and a dying Kirk to try and remove his emotions while at Gol.") (97)
• Sunset Rape, poem by Dayle Barker (101)
• Memories by Gene S. Delapenia (102)
• Catharsis by Ginna LaCroix ("After VʼGer, Kirk comes upon Spock in the OD where both are finally able to confess their love for one another.") (103)
• Untitled, poem by Sandra Gent (109)
• No More Delusion, poem by Crystal Ann Taylor (110)
• Progression, poem by Virginia Green (112)
• Colors by Ginna LaCroix ("Kirk thinks back on his life and dreams in terms of colors after Spockʼs death. Sometimes dreams have a way of coming true.") (114)
• Not Only Vulcan, poem by Joan Panbaker (120)
• Another Truth by Rayelle Roe (GEN (Kirk and Spock are marooned on a planet where Spock has been taken as a slave. A rarity in the fandom, a non-K/S slave story.) (121)
• A Change Of Pace by Pamela Rose ("Kirk and Spock go on shoreleave at a Vulcan facility where Spock agreed to work on the computer system rather than give in to his bondmateʼs choice once again. Kirk's lovemaking skills aren't quite what he thinks they are... at least according to Spock.") (156)
• Occurrence, poem by Gene S. Delapenia (177)
• This Weary World, poem by Ellen L. Kobrin (178)
• Discerning Eyes, poem by Ellen L. Korbrin (179)
• Finality, poem by Gene S. Delapenia (180)

• 

  from issue #3/4, Vel Jaeger

• 

  from issue #3/4, Maureen B.

• 

  from issue #3/4, Stephanie Hawks

• 

  from issue #3/4, Vel Jaeger

• 

  from issue #3/4, Michael Verina, portrays Kirk and his terrible mother

• 

  from issue #3/4, Lydia Moon

• 

  from issue #3/4, Vel Jaeger

• 

  from issue #3/4, Southern Cross: "Pg.61—Spock, McCoy, Scotty, and Kirk dressed in kilts for no particular reason. This illo doesn’t illustrate a story or poem. It appears to have been done for the pure pleasure of imagining what the Enterprise officers would look like outfitted in Scotty’s traditional garb. Faces and costumes are superb."

• 

  from issue #3/4, Southern Cross: "Pg. 63—Again, this illo doesn’t appear to depict any particular story, but oh, the possibilities. It appears a mutiny is in progress. Kirk and Spock are costumed in typical British naval officers’ uniforms, circa early to mid nineteenth century. (Think Mutiny on the Bounty.) Two crewmen are holding Spock with a knife at his throat and are using him to make the captain give in to their demands. Any good a/u writers out there want to give this a try?"

• 

  from issue #3/4, Southern Cross: "Pg. 65—Kirk, towel around his neck, hip deep in a calm sea. The artist has captured Kirk’s face to perfection, and if his abs are a little too detailed for my taste, his assets are lovely to gaze upon. Facial features are done to perfection. "

• 

  from issue #3/4, Merle Decker

• 

  from issue #3/4, Michael Verina

• 

  from issue #3/4, Karen Simley

• 

  from issue #3/4, Wanda Butts

• 

  from issue #3/4, Michael Verina

• 

  from issue #3/4, Nan Lewis

• 

  from issue #3/4, Southern Cross: "Pg. 67 — depicts a scene from Cynthia Drake’s “By Worlds Divided” published in Final Frontier 1. If you are a “get Spock” fan, this story is on your list of Best of the Best of this type. In this illustration, Spock is on his knees facing the viewer. Long-haired, of course, complete with an iron slave collar around his neck, hands bound behind him, gagged, and draped in rags that are artfully arranged to reveal the good parts."

• 

  from issue #3/4, Southern Cross: "Pg. 69 — depicts a scene from Cynthia Drake’s “By Worlds Divided” published in Final Frontier 1. For those of you unfamiliar with this story a little background is necessary here. “By Worlds Divided” is an a/u set on a world where slavery is practiced. Kirk is the new captain of the Enterprise and on his first shore leave since being promoted, he and his first officer, Gary Mitchell, are taken on a tour of the famed slave market on Todaka. The captain recognizes a mistreated slave as a Vulcan—a citizen of a Federation member world—and buys him out from under the nose of an abusive bully named Peryard. Back at Kirk’s hotel, the two men become closer as the captain cares for his new acquisition. Spock learns to trust him. When the captain has to leave on an errand, Peryard tricks Spock into letting him into the suite, overpowers the Vulcan, and rapes him. This is the scene depicted in the illo. Worst of all, he tells Spock that Jim Kirk has “rented” Spock to him and leaves his “payment” on the dresser. "

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3/4

See reactions and reviews for Bitter Circle.

See reactions and reviews for The Body's Treason.

See reactions and reviews for This Dialogue of One.

See reactions and reviews for Catharsis.

See reactions and reviews for Lessons.

See reactions and reviews for Present Tense, Future Perfect.

See reactions and reviews for Wednesday's Child.

See reactions and reviews for Another Truth.

[1984]: I guess I was expecting something more like T'HYLA III, which had, in addition to a fair number of mediocre or unremarkable K/S pieces, some excellent, substantial stories as well. In M/A 3-4, the best stories were a couple of light pieces by Pam Rose and one by Devery Helm -- nice, but just not enough to carry a zine of nearly 200 pages.

[1984]:

Whatever else there is in this zine, the portfolio of illos by Southern Cross alone would be worth the price - Spock is so perfect you can almost reach out and stroke his hair and I have never seen Kirk's features captured so exactly.

Those who have read Matter/Antimatter 1 & 2 will know that they both contained good, solid stories that the reader could really get her teeth into. Vol. 3/4, unfortunately, while not bad, has fallen into the trap of many K/S zines (though it is not entirely K/S) of having plenty of medium length stories by many familiar authors but few of a particularly substantial or memorable nature. It is, however, beautifully illustrated and printed.

One nice aspect is the inclusion of two stories and their sequels. It's nice to read a story and finish thinking, "I wish I knew what happened next" only to turn the page and find your wish granted.

One such story is 'Wednesday's Child' and its sequel 'Bitter Circle' both by Debbie Bryant. Instead of the cliched, grey haired, little old lady living on a farm in Iowa, here we have a Mrs. Kirk who is, end always has been, a bitch, notwithstanding her physical and emotional battering in the past, Kirk still wants her to love him. The relationship between Kirk and Spock is portrayed sympathetically but I'm not entirely happy with Kirk's inability to cope with the conflicting emotions evoked by his mother - however, I suspect the author established that Kirk was in a weakened state physically, so that we weren't treated to the sight of a command trained, starship captain falling apart at the seams because his mother doesn't love him. At any event, it was a novel approach to a normally rather hackneyed subject.

'The Body's Treason' and 'This Dialogue of One' by Judith Gran, form the other pair of stories. These postulate that Spock did not go straight to Gol after leaving Kirk and the Enterprise: the first is from Kirk's point of view, the second from Spock's. Kirk recounts that Spock and he entered into a serial relationship, Spock believing that a counter-agent to pon farr was in the pipe-line. It doesn't materialize but pon farr does; Spock will not subject Kirk to this, fearing that he may kill him as a potential rival, or inflict other mental damage on one or the other of them. He seeks a bondmate on Vulcan - T'Val.

In the second story Spock has been through his second pon farr but in his mind, during the madness, rest only images of Jim. Several problems then exist: a healer tells him that what he has with Kirk is a "natural bonding" and that thus he is not driven to his wife in pon farr - she must be the initiator, something that Spock finds abhorrent; the anti-pon-farr drug cannot be used yet and the only way left to abort pon farr is to achieve Kolinahr, meaning that Spock can neither have his cake, nor eat it. Pon farr may be an old chestnut but these two stories deal with it interestingly and without the gory details with which we are all so familiar.

Nancy Kippax's story 'Lessons' nicely follows the last two - Spock tests his control at Gol.

Pamela Rose, Devery Helm, Sandra Gent and Virginia Green, and Ginna Croix contribute K/S stories which cover ground from Kirk's alleged lack of sexual prowess, through an encounter with a very persistent old flame of Kirk's, to Spock talking Kirk to sleep (or not as the case may be) and Post:TMP and Post:WoK stories, the latter of which 'Colours' by Ginna La Croix is very moving.

The longest story in the zine is 'Another Truth' by Rayelle Roe. It is a non-K/S slave story - at least, Spock isn't a slave once he and Kirk escape from captivity but he has to pretend to be Kirk's "pleasureling" while they are on the run and thus is treated as such by the general populace. This eventually begins to get to him and his hopeless attitude begins to get to Kirk also. If you can believe that a command trained Vulcan will go under because of repeated sexual advances and the surrounding- decadent behaviour, then fine; I personally can't, which takes away some of the enjoyment; even the explanation that Spock finally offers to himself is not totally convincing. I'm sorry that Rayelle Roe saw fit to explore an already done to death subject - after all there must be a thousand more ways of testing our heroes' mettle, and she is a very talented writer.

'Another Truth' was also one of those strange stories set in a kind of limbo with which we are all too familiar; they are not K/s but nothing except this being K/S will explain the way the characters interact - Kirk is just a little too soft or too angry with one who is not his lover.

So, basically, there were a few too many run-of-the-mill stories in the zine, all well written but not original in concept; the illos were superb throughout. If I were recommending it to those in the USA. I would say, buy it - but for Great Britain - I don't know whether one would get £15 worth of value out of it.

[2009]: [Art Portfolio by Southern Cross]: This zine, published in 1983, contains some of The Southern Cross’s most unusual work. I’m sure I don’t have to laud her photo-realistic art, her attention to detail, or the feelings she managed to transmit with her art. Any K/S fan that has read an assortment of the early zines has undoubtedly been bowled over by her talent. If she tends to overendow our heroes’ physical attributes a bit...well, that’s fine by me.

Issue 5

front cover of issue #5 by Marilyn Cole

back cover of issue #5 by Marilyn Cole

Matter/Antimatter 5 was published in October 1985 and contains 92 pages.

It was edited by Sandra Gent.

Marilyn Cole did the front and back covers, Vel Jaeger did the two major interior illos, and Kris and Erich did the interior small illos.

• Dedication (2)
• Achilles and Patroklas (3)
• Murphy was an Optimist, editorial (6)
• Out the Airlock, fiction by Vivian Gates ("Kirk and Spock are suited up and thrown out of the shuttle after they are overpowered by the man they rescue.") (8)
• Pa'oti, poem by Gene S. Delapenia (23)
• Cabin Fever, fiction by Devery Helm ("Humor: Everything goes wrong at the cabin Kirk rented for his and Spockʼs shoreleave.") (24)
• Sick Call, fiction by Emily Ross ("Spock asks McCoy for help when he finds that he might be bonded to Kirk, without Kirk being aware of it.") (29)
• The Best is Yet to Come, poem by Toni Cardinal-Price (33)
• Where Does It Hurt?, fiction by Debbie Parsons ("Humor: After his fight with Ron Tracy, Kirkʼs wounds are looked after by Spock on Kirkʼs first night back in his loverʼs bed.") (34)
• Shore Leave Interlude, poem by Betsy Barr (37)
• Stand and Deliverm fiction by Greta Foulard ("Humor: Kirk and Spock make the best of a mission to find an escaped con man but are interrupted in a compromising position by a highwayman on the planet theyʼre searching.") (38)
• There is a Season, fiction by Jan Sullivan ("Spock attempts to lift his bondmateʼs spirits the day before Kirkʼs 50th birthday by talking and making love through the night.") (47)
• War Games, poem by Daphne Garcia (59)
• Sons and Lovers, poem by D. Booker (61)
• Obsession, poem by Gene S. Delapenia (62)
• No Happy Ending, fiction by Betsy Barr ("A/U: Kirk goes to Spock who is in pon farr, with fatal results for both of them.") (63)
• A Scotsman Knows, fiction by Betsy Barr ("When Scotty requests leave on New Scotland to attend a relationʼs wedding, Kirk decides to reroute the Enterpriseʼs shoreleave there.") (65)
• Words of Wisdom, poem by Toni Cardinal-Price (72)
• Ribbon of Light, fiction by P.J. McCain ("Spock is dying, away from any medical help, but when the Angel of Death appears Kirk is unwilling to give up his bondmate without a fight or without going with him.") (73)
• Snake Bite, fiction by Stella Iter ("While temporarily stranded, Kirk is bitten by a snake-like creature and Spock must use the old fashion method of cutting and sucking at the bite site.") (78)
• And Lovers, Too, fiction by Rachel Abbot ("After a nightmare of his recent experience under the Klingon mind-sifter, Kirk goes to Spockʼs cabin seeking comfort.") (82)
• Backrub, poem by D. Booker (84)
• Fantasies, fiction by Kandy Fong (85)
• Retsina Blues, fiction by Daphne Garcia and Kai Rhodes (86)
• Parting Touch, poem by D. Booker ("Humor: Waking with a overpowering hangover, Kirk slowly begins to remember the night before and what his bondmate had done to him, much to Spockʼs growing anxiousness.") (92)

• 

  from issue #5, Vel Jaeger: "Achilles and Patroclus" (see Achilles/Patroclus)

• 

  from issue #5, Vel Jaeger

• 

  from issue #5, small illo by Kris

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5

See reactions and reviews for There is a Season.

See reactions and reviews for Out of the Airlock.

See reactions and reviews for Retsina Blues.

Issue 6

front cover of issue #6, Caren Parnes

cover of issue #6, Caren Parnes

Matter/Antimatter 6 was published in 1988, contains 134 pages and was advertised as "all K/S".

The front and back covers are by Caren Parnes. It has an extensive art portfolio by numerous artists called "Time Travelers."

This zine has a humorous theme.

It was edited by Daphne Garcia, Kai Rhodes, and Lacey Sinclair.

The co-editors thank: "Continental, TWA, and United Airlines, for their frequent flyer programs. Daphne gets to travel to such places as Italy and China, and Kai and Lacey get to breathe sighs of relief."

From the editorial by Kai:

Daphne is the chief editor of this... okay, I'll be nice and call it a zine. Anyway, a number of years ago, Daphne stood up at one of the Star Trek Fan Club meetings in Tampa and announced that she was planning to put together a fanzine. She then proceeded to tell the more gullible folks in the group (like me) that. she was looking for contributors. She'd take authors, artiste, poets, slave labor; whatever she could find. I should've seen the handwriting on the wall right then and there, but as I said, I was gullible. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. After all, my involvement with MATTER/ANTIMATTER has been pretty rewarding. That's what Daphne keeps telling me, anyway. Over and over, again and again.

Years went by, as years have a tendency to do, and one day Daphne re-ported, "I'm promoting you from staff member to co-editor, Lacey, too," From the tone of her voice, I knew I should be impressed. Unfortunately I was too busy concentrating on the visions of glory floating through my head to realize what the "co-editor" tag meant. For those of you unfamiliar with the title, being a co-editor means you get to do everything the editor can palm off on you. Like writing the artists and authors to remind them of their deadlines (which Daphne has changed at least twenty times), or proofing 150 pages of text in two days....

[snipped]

Daphne is relatively easy to work with, as long as she sends me my monthly supply of Maalox. She was a bit of a pain, I'll have to admit, when she was trying to convince me I should give up my typewriter and join the computer brigade. When I did finally manage to achieve that goal, it took me about thirty-seven seconds to reach a level of hair-tearing-frustration, which resulted in a phone call to Daphne at 3:00 in the morning, with me yelling, "This #$%&.* computer won't work! What the #$%&* do I do to get this #$%&.* program to cooperate?!" I believe this is called getting even.

• Confessions of a Homicidal Editor (4)
• Actions Speak Louder Than Words by Stella Iter ("Kirk and Spock go undercover as Shakespearean actors to halt the flow of a Romulan drug into the Federation") (6)
• Limerick by Gene Delapenia (33)
• Perhaps by Donna Vanderlaan (34)
• Temptation by Monica Voile (The story focuses on the newly developed intimate relationship between Kirk and Spock, and Spock's insecurities about its permanence. The action revolves around a ship-wide chess tournament and Spock's efforts to keep Kirk away from temptation.) (36)
• Another Night by Sabina Bauer (Humor: "Kirk has trouble getting comfortable and wakes Spock up to get help.") (50)
• Limerick by Gene Delapenia (53)
• Silent Running by Niobe Jacobs (54)
• Mind Whispers by Lisa Joas (55)
• Dreams by Kathy Resch (57)
• In the Shadow by Mary Woodruff (58)
• Time Travelers Art Portfolio (un-numbered pages)
  • Fidus Achates/Legacy of Thebes by Suzan Lovett
  • Spock Robin by Marilyn Cole
  • Jungle Jim by Marilyn Cole
  • Crusaders by Chris Soto
  • Pharaoh by Marilyn Cole
  • Tea in the Sahara by Maureen B. (foldout centerfold)
  • Son of the Shaking Earth by Chris Soto
  • That Masked Man by Suzan Lovett
  • Kemosabe by Suzan Lovett
  • When Legends Meet by Caren Parnes
  • Silk Road by Maureen B.
• Running On by Alice Mills (61)
• Less is More by Jenny Starr ("Kirk needs to lose weight and Spock has an unusual solution.") (62)
• Pool of Tomorrows by Donna Vanderlaan ("Enjoying shoreleave on an island world, Kirk and Spock are given an opportunity to see each others' futures.") (68)
• Thoughts by Kathy Resch (80)
• Jim by Mary Woodruff (81)
• Hot Seat by Lisa Joas (82)
• Diplomacy by Kimberly Sarah Huntington ("Kirk has an altercation with a pompous diplomat.") (84)
• Striptease by Phaedra Morgan ("The story takes the viewpoint that Kirk's adventurous nature can be carried into the personal arena as well as the professional one we are familiar with.") (86)
• Murphy's Law/Murphy's Law Revised by Kai Rhodes ("A story about a prototype bed, fully automated and complete with just about every conceivable extra, that is sent to Spock for testing and evaluation.") (100)
• After the Morning Rain by Mary Woodruff (133)
• Alas Babylon, poem by Niobe Jacobs (134)

• 

  inside page from issue #6, "Fidus Achates/Legacy of Thebes" by Suzan Lovett (reprinted as the front cover of issue #7)

• 

  inside page from issue #6, "Spock Robin" by Marilyn Cole

• 

  inside page from issue #6, "Jungle Jim" by Marilyn Cole (reprinted as the back cover of issue #7)

• 

  inside page from issue #6, "Crusaders" by Chris Soto

• 

  inside page from issue #6, "Pharaoh" by Marilyn Cole

• 

  inside page from issue #6, "Tea in the Sahara" by Maureen B. (foldout centerfold)

• 

  inside page from issue #6, "Son of the Shaking Earth" by Chris Soto

• 

  inside page from issue #6, "That Masked Man" by Suzan Lovett

• 

  inside page from issue #6, "Kemosabe" by Suzan Lovett

• 

  inside page from issue #6, "When Legends Meet" by Caren Parnes

• 

  inside page from issue #6, "Silk Road" by Maureen B, the inspiration is Nimoy in Marco Polo

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 6

See reactions and reviews for Striptease.

See reactions and reviews for Actions Speak Louder Than Words.

See reactions and reviews for Temptation.

See reactions and reviews for Less is More.

See reactions and reviews for Pool of Tomorrows.

See reactions and reviews for Diplomacy.

See reactions and reviews for Murphy's Law.

[art by Chris Soto for Son of the Shaking Earth]: This image of Spock in the "Time Travellers" portfolio which portrays him as a Mayan nobleman is very lovely. It has a dignity and sheer sense of presence that is unequaled. I could praise the composition and the distinctive textures of the feathers and jewels, but what stands out is that this Spock is every inch a prince.

[zine]: "Antimatter 6" is a slick 'zine. Too bad the text doesn't read as well as the 'zine looks. Unfortunately there won't be a lot to talk about; the zine is only 133 pages and 12 or 13 pages of that is art.... Beautifully reproduced art I might add, BUT some of the art, by many of fandoms best artists, lacks. Let me explain. The editor, I presume, has taken it upon herself (themselves) to "name' the pieces in the art portfolio. Now, if I were Marilyn Cole, I would sue. Who would take a beautiful, longhaired Spock, pulling a bow and arrow, and have the audacity to give it the title of "Spock Robin"? And the others go downhill from there. Two pieces by Chris Soto were well done, certainly not applicable to a K/S 'zine, but then judging by the other pieces, the editor once again imposed her tastes on the 'zine. To wit: Have you ever dreamed of seeing Kirk and Spock in other stories? Arthur, Alexander, and so forth. I haven't, but there may be many out there who do. Now is your chance. There was one [Maureen B.] piece--"Silk Road' that was very good work. We won't talk about the other one. But really surprised and depressed me was the Lovett work. I love her work and was really looking forward to the 'zine. The most beautiful pencil work I believe I've seen, but if you'd taken the piece out of the 'zine, no one would have recognized the 'masked man'. (I won't comment on the title.) They might have taken him for a middle aged Paul Newman, but NEVER for Kirk. With the exception of one small beautiful Spock face, the rest of the faces were way off. Too bad, for Susan is without a doubt one Of the very best in fandom. There are two more Marilyn Cole's that shine through their childish titles. It's nice to see her work anywhere. And the Parnes? The 'David' on the cover was a masterpiece, unfortunately, the Kirk and Spock should not have been with it. You think I'm taking an inordinate amount of time on the art? Well, the editor obviously feels it is worth spending much time and money on. Therefore, so do I. I won't mention any of the poetry in the 'zine, for I do not feel it is worth mentioning. Strange, there are a number of zines out in fandom now; many more than there used to be, and there are four or five of the most incredible poets available as well-- Blacque, Solten, Fine, Resch, and more. Interesting that the only one included in this 'zine is Resch, and the work is not up to her usual quality. Don't give up! There are a few decent stories in the 'zine. Actions Speak Louder Than Words. While the title reflects the cliched attitude of the entire 'zine, the story is quite interesting. Written by what might be an obviously pen name-- Stella Iter--- it throws Kirk and Spock into an undercover Shakespearean actor scenario. It is nicely written and will fulfill your expectations for a good read. The only other story I remember is "Pools of Tomorrows" by Donna Vanderlaan. Obviously either the editor worked frantically on this story or Ms. Vanderlaan has really improved, because, although the story line was light, the writing was very smooth and the story enjoyable. "Pools" offers us a mystical way to get the two men together and to keep them together. As always, with Ms. Vanderlaan imaginative idea. There was one more story, (for some unknown reason, written in two parts in the same 'zine) "Murphey's Law" etc. The writing was competent, the story line WORSE than "Antimatter 6", a couple of years in the making; lacks. I'm sorry, but 133 pages on thick paper (is this getting to be a pattern?) doesn't give us many stories for our money. Anything this short, simply can't. There were a couple of vingettes by Lisa Joas that were nice and the two stories I mentioned. It is a lot of money to spend for that. But if you want a really pretty 'zine without much substance, this is for you.

[zine]: If this issue of MATTER/ANTIMATTER could be said to have a theme, it would be humor, although it also contains several serious pieces. Its classical covers, beautifully done by Caren Parnes, give no clue as to the surprises inside. The zine begins with ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. Kirk and Spock go undercover as Shakespearean actors to halt the flow of a Romulan drug into the Federation, this intriguing story line contains some unusual twists and combines comedic and realistic elements. In this first time situation, it is interesting to see how the characters deal with some very unusual circumstances while still maintaining their accustomed aplomp. TEMPTATION focuses on the newly developed intimate relationship between Kirk and Spock, and Spock's insecurities about its permanence. The action revolves around a ship-wide chess, tournament and Spock's efforts to keep Kirk away from temptation. Although the dialogue is a little saccharine in places, the story, as a whole, is well balanced. LESS IS MORE is a delightful piece of froth about Kirk's need to lose weight and Spock's unusual solution. The author's (irreverent) tongue-in-cheek approach to an unpleasant (for Kirk at least) state of affairs is refreshing. As with Ms. Starr's other efforts, this vignette is tightly written and well polished. POOL OF TOMORROWS offers a more romantic view of the K/S relationship. Enjoying shoreleave on an island world, Kirk and Spock are given an opportunity to see each others' futures. Their reactions to what they have seen and their solution is somewhat predictable and a little abrupt. However, it has a gentle quality, almost pre-K/S in nature, that many will find pleasing. DIPLOMACY is a very funny dialogue about an altercation Kirk has had with a pompous diplomat. While there are several other vignettes included in the zine, this particular one stands out. It is an absolute gem of repartee and not to be missed. STRIPTEASE takes the viewpoint that Kirk's adventurous nature can be carried into the personal arena as well as the professional one we are familiar with. Some readers may have difficulty with the premise. The emphasis in this piece is unadulterated sex leavened with humor. MURPHY'S LAW PART I and MURPHY'S LAW REVISED, PART II is a well thought out story about a prototype bed, fully automated and complete with just about every conceivable extra, that is sent to Spock for testing and evaluation. The results are unexpected and would have "Murphy" nodding in agreement if he were around. The art portfolio which includes illos by Suzan Lovett, Marilyn Cole, Chris Soto, [Maureen B], Caren Parnes, is superb in more ways than one. The level of artistry in this collection of drawings is unusually high and the print quality is on a level with good reproductions. Almost all of them would be suitable for framing. Of the sprinkling of poetry throughout the zine, two pieces stand out: ALAS BABYLON and PERHAPS. Taken as a whole, this is a high quality zine that is well worth the price.

I wish the editors of MATTER/ANTIMATTER 6 (1988) would have waited until they received more material before printing the zine. It costs S17.50, though it contains only 134 pages of 12-pitch type, and many of those pages feature short, plotless vignettes. On the other hand, the zine has beautiful covers by Caren Parnes (printed on heavy, glossy stock); an interesting art portfolio entitled "Time Travellers," representing the talent of Lovettt, Cole, Soto, and Burns; and the stories that do have some length are above average. In addition, the zine has a clear, bold typeface, the graphics are attractive without being distracting, and I can recall finding only one typographical error. The first story, "Actions Speak Louder than Words," by Stella Iter, has our two heroes in the unlikely situation of posing as Shakespearean actors in order to assist in a Federation drug bust. Once the reader gets past the unbelievability of Kirk and Spock getting rave reviews for their performances, she can appreciate this story for being original, well-plotted, and humorous. It also has a very tender sex scene. It ended a little too abruptly for my taste, but was otherwise a very enjoyable read. Monica Viola's "Temptations" is a silly story where Spock secretly hopes that new lover Kirk loses in the preliminary matches of a chess tournament, because he doesn't want Kirk to go to Wrigley's where the final match will be held, fearing the captain will find female entertainment there. I find such insecurities in Spock endearing, though I thought his reaction to the situation was over-dramatized. Jenny Starr's "Less is More' is a vignette of pure dialogue where Spock tries to discuss a new diet for Kirk, as the captain is still fighting a persistent weight problem. I usually enjoy this author's stories, but this piece was rather dry and needed a better punch line. "Pools of Tomorrow" by Donna Vanderlaan, is a metaphysical tale where Kirk and Spock see each other's future in a mysterious pool on a tropical planet. The plot was overly simplistic, but this was a romantic, gentle read. "Striptease," by Phaedra Morgan, is another story that was asking a lot of the reader's belief in that Kirk decides to perform before an audience so that new lover Spock can win a bet with McCoy. The situation was handled better than any I've seen along this theme and didn't have the rushed ending that so many of them do. The gem of the zine are the last two stories—"Murphy's Law," and 'Murphy's Law Revisited,' by Daphne Garcia and Kai Rhodes. I didn't see the necessity of breaking the plot down into two different stories, as it reads as one piece. Spock is delivered a new bed by Starfleet's Marketing Research Department, as he has been chosen to participate in a project where he is supposed to test the bed and give a full report, so Starfleet can decide if they should make the new product standard issue on its ships. Unfortunately, they forget to enclose instructions on how to operate the mechanical bed, and over the next few days Spock becomes a victim of gyrations, allergic perfume, a burned butt, and even receives a black eye when the bed refuses to cooperate with his attempt to operate its controls. While all this is going on, Kirk and Spock are both finding themselves in situations where their feelings for each other are in some way displayed for everyone to see, though it is a wnile before they are able to admit to them themselves. This story is original, well-ploted, amusing, tender, and a joy to read. My one minor complaint is that it's never explained why everyone else on the ship is able to get the bed's controls to work without any problem, and Spock can't. Six vignettes flesh out what little else there is in the zine, and some of them were so vague that I wasn't even sure when or where they were taking place. The most unique thing about M/A 6 is that almost all the stories and vignettes have the element of humor. I would recommend 'Murphy's Law' alone if it didn't have such a steep price.

Issue 7

front cover of issue #7, "Fidus Achates/Legacy of Thebes" by Suzan Lovett Fidus Achates/Legacy of Thebes by Suzan Lovett (originally part of the art portfolio in issue #6)

back cover of issue #7, "Jungle Jim" by Marilyn Cole (originally part of the art portfolio in issue #6)

Matter/Antimatter 7 was published in June 1989, contains 182 pages, and was advertised as "all K/S".

It was edited by Daphne Garcia. The covers are by Suzan Lovett (front cover) and Marilyn Cole (back cover). There is no interior art.

• Cure for a Dull Voyage, part 1 by Jane Elza ("Kirk sends Spock to McCoy for answers about same-sex marriages, hoping Spock will realize exactly what it is Kirk is trying to tell him.") (1)
• Delayed Reaction by Dana Austin Marsh ("Spock thinks Kirkʼs sexual advances to him were caused by an aphrodisiac.") (10)
• Virgin by Cheryl Resnick (23)
• Dealer's Choice by Kai Rhodes and Daphne Garcia ("Spock gets his bondmateʼs mind off the money he lost during Kirkʼs poker game with McCoy and Scotty.") (24)
• Two Conversations by A.A. Gray (29)
• Cure for a Dull Voyage, part 2 by Jane Elza ("After Omicron Ceti Three, the crew attempts to renew Kirk and Spockʼs battered friendship, and hopefully have them finally take the last step.") (30)
• Lesson by A.A. Gray (36)
• Walls by Dana Austin Marsh (37)
• The Blending of Two by Charlotte Frost ("While on shoreleave, Kirk complains of womenʼs expectations of him and why he goes along with it, until Spock gives him another alternative.") (38)
• The Slippery Step by A.A. Gray (100)
• The Other Show by A. A. Gray (102)
• Snack Time by Phaedra Morgan (Humor: "Kirk talks Spock into eating between meals.") (104)
• Worth the Price by Dana Austin Marsh (107)
• Loving in Time by Alice Mills ("Waking from a shared precognitive nightmare, Kirk confronts Spock when he realizes that Spock had planned to deny him a full bond out of fear that Kirk would die when he does.") (108)
• Sarek's Thoughts by Cheryl Resnick (167)
• Cure for a Dull Voyage, part 3 by Jane Elza ("The crew tallies the way Kirk has to make Spock smile.") (168)
• Kindred Spirit by Cheryl Resnick (173)
• Freedom by Karla Kelly (A/U: "Taken by slavers, a young Kirk and Spock find each other, and together are finally free.") (174)
• Were You Mine by Dana Austin Marsh (179)
• Last Dance by Jane Elza ("Death tries to claim Spock, but the Vulcanʼs love for Kirk pulls him back.") (180)
• High Stakes by Phaedra Morgan (182)

• 

  from issue #7

• 

  from issue #7

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 7

See reactions and reviews for Loving in Time.

See reactions and reviews for The Blending of Two.

See reactions and reviews for Delayed Reaction.

See reactions and reviews for Cure for a Dull Voyage.

See reactions and reviews for Freedom.

See reactions and reviews for Last Dance.

Issue 8

Matter/Antimatter 8 was published in April 1990 and contains 170 pages. The front cover is by Chris Soto.

front cover of issue #8, Chris Soto. A fan wrote: "Wow!"

From the editorial:

Painful though it is to admit, it doesn't pay to offer praise when it's due. The LOCs for MATTER/ANTIMATTER 7 were down from that of the previous issue. It's a Catch-22 situation, if you acknowledge the number of LOCs, the number goes down, and if you don't acknowledge them, the number goes down. Only if you bitch and gripe do they seem to increase or stay constant. So get busy!

Last but not least,Jane would like us to mention the book Biographies by William Rotsler for the dates of Kirk's and Spook's tours of duty aboard the Enterprise in her "Dissertation Proposal." Never mind that the author was off by a century. Also, Susan wrote "The Token" approximately six months before ST5 premiered. Obviously great minds run in similar channels.

MATTER/ANTIMATTER 9 (due to see print in June) will be a novel by Phaedra Morgan entitled "Echoes From the Past," with artwork by Marilyn Cole and Kay Wells.

• Gol, poem by Jane Elza (5)
• Sweet Dreams by Deborah Cummins ("After Spock is injured, Kirk begins having erotic dreams about him and fears heʼll be unable to hide his love for much longer.") (6)
• Second Thoughts by Jane Elza ("After his bondmateʼs death, Spock returns to Vulcan to succeed TʼPau but Jimʼs katra continues to make life interesting for him.") (24)
• One Born Every Minute by A.A. Gray (26)
• The Knowing Eye by Rachel Cavendish (29)
• To Snare a Fox by Samantha Stone ("Kirk and Spock go undercover as lovers on a starbase near the Neutral Zone in order to find a Romulan spy reported to be working out of there.") (30)
• The Last Sound, poem by Bonita Kale (75)
• The Token by Susan K. Dundas ("Kirk and Spock join McCoy at his cabin for shore leave soon after becoming bondmates during Spockʼs latest pon farr.") (76)
• Fragile Hearts, poem by Rachel Cavendish (93)
• Chess Lessons, poem by Jane Elza (94)
• There's Nothing Like Tradition by Phaedra Morgan ("The bridge crew has a “Bonding Shower” for Kirk and Spock.") (96)
• Jim, I May Have Been in Error, poem by Bonita Kale (104)
• Clouds, poem by Rachel Cavendish (106)
• Dissertation Proposal by Jane Elza ("The events surrounding Spockʼs “rebirth” and the question of whether he and Kirk were lovers is presented as a dissertation.") (107)
• No Laughing Matter by Dana Austin Marsh ("What starts out as a series of practical jokes becomes deadly serious when it becomes evident that someone is trying to kill Kirk.") (112)
• Time of Madness, poem by Bonita Kale (155)
• Perchance to Dream, poem by Jane Elza (156)
• Games by Dana Austin Marsh (159)
• Artistry, poem by Rachel Cavendish (160)
• Healing, poem by Bonita Kale (161)
• Wounds of Love by Phaedra Morgan ("Kirk misunderstands when he reads a report Spock has been working on regarding Human sexuality and thinks that Spock became his lover only to gather information.") (162)
• Living Without You, poem by A.A. Gray (170)

• 

  from issue #8, unknown artist

• 

  from issue #8, Chris Soto

• 

  from issue #8, Chris Soto

• 

  from issue #8

• 

  from issue #8, Susan K. Dundas

• 

  from issue #8, Chris Soto

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 8

See reactions and reviews for No Laughing Matter.

See reactions and reviews for Dissertation Proposal.

See reactions and reviews for There's Nothing Like Tradition.

See reactions and reviews for To Snare a Fox.

See reactions and reviews for The Token.

See reactions and reviews for Games.

See reactions and reviews for Wounds of Love.

[art by Susan K. Dundas]: A nice, tormented Spock at Gol, and it goes very well with what it illustrates. I liked Spock's squinting, swollen eyes.

Issue 9

For articles with a similar title, see Echoes of the Past.

front cover of issue #9, Marilyn Cole

back cover of issue #9, DEW/Kay Wells

Matter/Antimatter 9 was published in June 1990 and contains 199 pages. This issue is a Pre-Reform novel by Phaedra Morgan called "Echoes from the Past."

It was edited by Daphne Garcia. The art is Marilyn Cole, and Kay Wells. There are two hand-drawn maps by Splat and Lacey Sinclair. This zine contains a two-page glossary of names and place.

Summary "While taking shoreleave on Vulcan shortly after the V'Ger mission, Kirk and Spock are thrown back in time to pre-reform Vulcan and meet their spiritual counterparts, the leader Sashan and his lover, S'Varna."

From the zine, comments by Phaedra:

Every editor has nightmares ~ the writer (or artist) who hands her stuff in late, who writes three-page paragraphs, who uses one run-on sentence after another, who can't spell. The list goes on. It goes with the job. Daphne's nightmare is me. This story started out to be fifty-two double-spaced pages, hacked out in three weeks on my old Smith Corona from college. That was about three and a half years ago. When my family got a computer, I transferred the story to disk, planning to clean it up before I let anyone see it.

Now, anyone who writes knows what that means. It was a story, sort of. Well, maybe an outline. A sketch? I didn't want to abandon it. It had too many things to say, things that I wanted to say, even if it did need work. When I had thirty-five single-spaced pages for chapters one and two done, I showed it to Daphne and asked if she thought I should continue. She told me to keep writing. At that time, I said it would probably be about seventy-five pages long when I finished (Sounds good to me.), then maybe a hundred (Fine.), a hundred and fifty (Uh, okay.), would you believe two hundred and thirty-one (About your novel, Phaedra. . .). Never once did she scream or cuss at me — prodded, encouraged, helped — but never screamed or cussed, at least within my hearing range. Daphne can be very tolerant and understanding, even of her worst nightmare.

It may have been that for her, but for me it has been an incredible learning experience, one I'm not sure would have happened if I had started out to write a novel. I can only say that the high I felt at 2:30 a.m. when I typed the last word was incredible. And if it hadn't been for Daphne and Ann — devoted Trek fans, friends, confidants, and supporters — encouraging me, discussing plot twists, details, reading, editing, rereading, and reediting, not to mention hundred of dollars in phone bills and postage, I'm not sure I could have done it. My unending gratitude to them for being the very special, caring, supportive friends and tough critics they are. I would also like to thank Marilyn Cole and Kay Wells for agreeing to do the illos. They are fantastic!

Now — "Daphne, I have this great idea! So far, I've written forty-seven pages, and I'd like you to tell me what you think. Daphne? Daphne????"

• 

  from issue #9, Marilyn Cole

• 

  from issue #9, Kay Wells

• 

  from issue #9, Marilyn Cole

• 

  from issue #9, Kay Wells

• 

  from issue #9, Marilyn Cole (version of the front cover)

• 

  from issue #9, Kay Wells

• 

  from issue #9, from the glossary

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 9

This novel was the first I've read in some time that was deep and complex enough that I could become engrossed in it over several reading sessions. Its setting in pre-Reform Vulcan isn't new, of course, but its plot about something other than slavery is. Setting was this novel's strongest point, and I thought it a neat idea to include the maps of the desert, as well at the glossary to define various characters, clans, and other foreign words and names included in the story. The glossary wasn't necessary to follow the plot, but it did give a nice overview into the completely foreign culture in which Kirk and Spock find themselves. The complexity of the plot revealed a great deal of care on the author's part. Most everything made sense and I admire the military, political, and sociological aspects that were covered. As for pacing, I thought the novel started a bit slow, picked up nicely by Chapter 6, then got bogged down with all the discussion of tactics in Chapter 9. A lot of the matter could probably have been summarized without any loss of understanding by the reader. In any case, things picked up again afterwards. The only loopholes I found were that no one questioned the ethics of the decision to deceive the clans by telling each one that the other clans had joined the Zaiphor — and it's all too easily swept under the rug when it is discussed briefly in Chapter 10. Also, since few knew Kirk took Sashan's place, then how come (again in Chapter 10) did no one wonder why Saahan wasn't feeling well? It seeis someone would have questioned how he could have been preparing to lead the troops when he was obviously ill. As for characterisation, I've read so many stories where Kirk and Spock's misunderstandings of each other's feelings gets drafted out for page that I was squirming early on in this novel, hoping desperately that they'd work it out before too long. I just wanted to shake then silly. On the other hand, I've always been intrigued with post-ST:TMP stories, so was able to have a little more tolerance for how mixed up Spock was. And it was nice that at least they were civil toward each other during all their inner speculations. On the other hand, I got a little annoyed with Kirk and Spock so easily understanding each other without use of words, or with only half sentences. I didn't always understand instantly from a mere reaction or expression. If Kirk and Spock had resorted to dialogue in those situations, aaybe their problei wouldn't have dragged out for so long, and the reader wouldn't have been as frustrated. Sashan and S'Varna seemed to take Kirk and Spock's existence, and the reason for it, a bit lightly, as did Kirk and Spock in terms of how they came to be there. But that's more an observation than a criticism, as I probably wouldn't have enjoyed reading pages and pages devoted to convincing the characters (and the reader) of the reality of it all. (A related point: Given Kirk's theory, how could any of the four of them stand to not be more philosophical about life, existence, reincarnation, soul, etc.? Seems like the situation would have prompted each of them to Wonder -- with a capital W -- about the meaning of life, etc.; though I can hardly blame the author for not wanting to tackle such an enormous subject!) All in all, I enjoyed this trek to a distant land. The best compliment I give the quality of writing is that I didn't mind the fact that the relationship between Kirk and Spock was of secondary importance to the political turmoil of the period. I felt like I was there.

Unfortunately, the premise of this novel is difficult for me to accept. We have Kirk and Spock drawn back to Pre- Reform Vulcan to confront characters who are their Pre- Reform incarnations. There is some double-talk about doubling of entities in the novel that I find difficult to swallow. I still wonder which of these pairs might be said to possess the katras or souls, and which of them were soulless. I have always thought that souls were unique, and could not be doubled. I also wonder why the solution to Kirk's vulnerability to mental attack is never to teach him how to shield. Why must he depend on Vulcans to defend him? Nevertheless, there are some wonderful scenes such as when Kirk and Spock overheard the sex between Sashan and S'Varna, and the scene in which Sashan threatened S'Varna with suicide to force S'Varn into have sex with hia during pon farr. The scene in which the dagger that Sashan had used appears in the present is also a powerful one.

Exploring some archaeologist sites on Vulcan, Kirk and Spock suddenly find themselves in Vulcan’s pre-reform past. They are in the residence of Sashan, a mighty clan-leader who want peace in his region, and his best friend S’Varna. Kirk sees almost immediately that those two are ‘other impressions from the same soul’. Sashan is a Vulcan with hazel eyes and a compact body and S’Varna resembles Spock very much. There is one important difference: the two Vulcans are lovers.

It seems that there is a task for Kirk and Spock in the past and in the end they find out why they have come there. They advise and help their counter-parts with politics, and Kirk saves Sashan’s live a few times. There is a lot of angst from Kirk, being in love with Spock while Spock refuses to give in to his feelings. Of course, at last, they confess their love, but before that a lot happened, sometimes interesting, as the description of the ancient Vulcan society, and sometimes longwinded and too detailed. I confess that I jumped over the strategies described for the war at head. I liked the idea of them returning to ancient Vulcan and the picturing of that violent culture is great. I love the reason the author gives for the restrained logic according Surak: The Vulcan are in reality strong telepaths, and by using that power to overpower and kill each other almost resulted in extinction. Thanks to Surak, they controlled the emotions and could survive. I like the idea, too about an eternal soul, who can express himself everywhere and in every time. Long ago that was as Sashan and S’Varna on Vulcan, now as Kirk and Spock. I just wonder: why would they look alike? If so, why then is Sashan a Vulcan and still resembles Kirk, hazel eyes and curls, and Kirk is an human? It would be more logical (Yes!) if they didn’t resemble, but then there is the problem of recognizing the counterpart. So I just enjoyed the story. Another point: on a beautiful illo you see real Terran horses, while the story describes the mounts as something that resembles a horse/camel hybrid.

To help you with all the difficult Vulcan names their is a glossary in the back.

Issue 10

cover of issue #10, Chris Soto

Matter/Antimatter 10 was published in June 1991 and contains 166 pages. It has a front cover by Chris Soto.

From the editorial by Phaedra Morgan:

When Daphne asked me to be a co-editor, I was so flattered I said "Sure!" without thinking about it. I mean, it's an honor, right? The fact that in the next breath she informed me I was to write at least half of the editorial and that it was due yesterday, dampened my enthusiasm just a little. Why did I get the feeling that I had been royally conned? Not that I'm complaining. I never complain. Bitch maybe, whine on occasion, but complain - never! Now I know how Spock feels when his captain asks him to make a computer with tweezers and a couple of diode tubes. He sighs (barely audibly), bites his tongue, and does his best.

In all seriousness, I am flattered and honored. Having worked with Daphne, Kai, and Lacey on a number of stories and learned a great deal from them in the process, I'm hopeful this collaboration will be a fruitful one (I can't believe I wrote that), and that I'll be able to make a positive contribution to MATTER/ANTIMATTER. Then again, don't be surprised if one morning you wake up to: And on the local scene, Daphne Garcia and Phaedra Morgan squared off last night in a spirited battle of commas, characterization, and continuity. While both combatants emerged relatively unscathed, the fight continues. Update at eleven.

• When the Cat's Away by Dana Austin Marsh ("When a Starfleet Conference interrupts Kirkʼs shore leave with Spock, Spockʼs time spent with a female colleague has the crew thinking he is being unfaithful to his lover.") (6)
• Dimensions of Mind by Rachel Cavendish (40)
• A Cock and Bull Story by Phaedra Morgan ("The meadow Kirk and Spock begin to make love in turns out to be inhabited by a bull-like creature that does not take kindly to intruders.") (42)
• Why Did I Leave? by Kelly Graves (49)
• Second Guessing by Kay Wells ("McCoy makes it a crowd when he has to double up with Kirk and Spock when all three are stranded planet-side.") (50)
• Limerick by A.A. Gray (63)
• Such Things as Dreams are Made of by Kelly Graves (63)
• Some Like It Hot by Sabina Bauer ("Spockʼs reaction to the growth of hair on his loverʼs chest surprises Kirk more than the growth itself.") (64)
• Limerick by A.A. Gray (68)
• Where are You? by Kelly Graves (69)
• Trial by Rachel Cavendish (70)
• Forever by Dana Austin Marsh (71)
• The Baths of Tizar by Phaedra Morgan ("Spockʼs open responses when he and Kirk share a hot tub encourages Kirk to finally try for the relationship he really wants with his first officer.") (72)
• Lies by Dana Austin Marsh (88)
• Parted and Never Parted by Jane Elza (89)
• Missing You by Jean Gabriel ("Grounded after the second 5 year mission, Kirk insists Spock take a 6 month assignment across the galaxy, not wanting to interfere in his bond mate’s career.") (90)
• Limerick by A.A. Gray (113)
• Odyssey by Rachel Cavendish (114)
• The Vulcan Adviser by Kelly Graves (115)
• Out of Grasp by Rachel Cavendish (116)
• Take Two by Duo (Humor: "Kirk is assigned to make a recruiting film.") (118)
• Two Beds are Better than One by Dana Austin Marsh ("Kirk and Spock discover the pitfalls of living together after Scotty and McCoy turn their two cabins into one as a gift.") (120)
• Limerick by A.A. Gray (140)
• Genie by Jane Elza (141)
• The Turn of a Card by Samantha Stone ("When Spock arrives to notify the female officer of her recall to duty, McCoy talks him into taking her place in the strip poker game he and Kirk organized.") (142)
• If Only by Kelly Graves (162)
• Should Old Acquaintance by Jane Elza ("Scotty reminisces about the Enterprise, her crew, her captain and his first officer.") (163)
• Why? by A.A. Gray 166)

• 

  from issue #10, Marilyn Cole

• 

  from issue #10, Marilyn Cole

• 

  from issue #10, Kay Wells

• 

  from issue #10, Kay Wells

• 

  from issue #10, Marilyn Cole

• 

  from issue #10, Kay Wells

• 

  from issue #10, Kay Wells

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 10

See reactions and reviews for Missing You.

See reactions and reviews for A Cock and Bull Story.

See reactions and reviews for Two Beds are Better than One.

See reactions and reviews for Second Guessing.

See reactions and reviews for When the Cat's Away.

See reactions and reviews for The Baths of Tizar.

See reactions and reviews for The Turn of a Card.

Issue 11

Matter/Antimatter 11 was published in January 1995 and contains 160 pages.

The front cover is by Marilyn Cole. The interior art is by Lacey Sinclair, Sylvia Liske, and Phaedra Morgan. There is much clip art.

This issue has both first time and established relationship stories and poetry.

From the editor, who has begun a degree in college:

Issue number eleven? Get real. That was not the plan when MATTER/ ANTMATTER started back in 1978. On second thought, we didn't have a plan. MATTER/ANTIMATTER just sort of evolved and... went into a second decade.

[snipped]

Whether MATTER/ANTIMATTER will see another issue is... debatable. I now have lesstime to devote to publishing a zine, and whether MATTER/ANTIMATTER continues depends on readers like you. Send LOCs, and those of you who are writers as well as readers, send in your submissions! To state the obvious: writers are important to a zine, So are artists! I need to hear from you!!! If I don't, well...that's the end of MATTER/ANTIMATTER and what you're seeing is the final issue.

front cover of issue #11, Marilyn Cole

• “The Birthday Two-Step” by Dana Austin Marsh ("McCoy is left to get rid of the present Spock bought for Kirk when a Green Orion girl is mistakenly delivered.") (6)
• Dinner with My Vulcan, poem by Karla Kelly (19)
• Dilemma, poem by Lisa Pallisan (20)
• Vis-a-Vis, poem by Lisa Pallisan (21)
• A Logical Deduction by Karla Kelly ("Kirk wonders how the rumor he overheard at a cadet revue that he and Spock are lovers got started, though McCoy has no trouble at all figuring out how.") (22)
• Untitled, poem by Kelly Graves Reiger (26)
• To Date a Captain by Jean Gabriel ("Kirk is the prize in a charity contest does not go over well with Spock, who is already upset over Kirkʼs reluctance to bond.") (28)
• Taste the Wine, poem by Lisa Pallisan (51)
• A Bizarre Bazaar by Phaedra Morgan and Dora O'Brien ("A ship-wide rummage sale is set up by Kirk and Spock to alleviate the problem of their overstuffed closet.") (52)
• Always the Unknown, poem by Karla Kelly (67)
• Castaway by Karla Kelly (67)
• Epilogue by Dana Austin Marsh ("Kirk goes to Spockʼs cabin to comfort his friend, as he has time and again over the years, with his body and soul.") (70)
• The Eyebrow by Lisa Pallisan (74)
• Another Word for Life by Barbara Taylor ("Kirk ponders his upcoming wedding night as he prepares to bond with Spock.") (76)
• To Be or Not to Be by Karla Kelly (85)
• The K/S Dictionary by Dana Austin Marsh (86)
• A Slightly Different Cave Story by Karla Kelly (Humor: "Kirk and Spock are asked how they would get out of the theoretical cave they are trapped in.") (90)
• Listening by Dana Austin Marsh (93)
• Precious Growing Things by Kathy Stanis ("Spock expresses his feelings for Kirk, and his desire to expand them, in poetry after the fal tor pan.") (94)
• All Things Great or Small by Kelly Graves Reiger (103)
• Someone, poem by Kathy Stanis (104)
• Untitled, poem by Dana Austin Marsh (106)
• Can You Feel the Rain? by Karla Kelly ("On a rainy day, Kirk thinks of Spock and how much he misses the Vulcan, away at Gol.") (107)
• Double Indemnity by Dora O'Brien and Samantha Stone ("Spock must prove himself capable of seduction before Kirk will allow them to change roles in the mission to steal the cloaking devise.") (108)
• A Solitary Man by Kelly Graves Reiger (131)
• “Rumour Has It” by Dana Austin Marsh ("Kirk and Spock decide to use the rumor that they are lovers to discourage crew members from making a play for either of them.") (132)
• The Ending of a Game, poem by Kelly Graves Reiger (155)
• An Inner View by Phaedra Morgan (Humor: "Kirkʼs penis gives an interview.") (156)
• For Roddenberry by Karla Kelly (160)

• 

  from issue #11, Lacey Sinclair

• 

  from issue #11, Lacey Sinclair

• 

  from issue #11, Lacey Sinclair

• 

  from issue #11, Sylvia Liske

• 

  from issue #11, Lacey Sinclair

• 

  from issue #11

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 11

See reactions and reviews for Epilogue.

See reactions and reviews for Double Indemnity.

See reactions and reviews for The Birthday Two-Step.

See reactions and reviews for To Date a Captain.

See reactions and reviews for Rumor Has It.

See reactions and reviews for Precious Growing Things.