Metamorphosis (Star Wars zine)
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Metamorphosis |
| Publisher: | Alvyren Press |
| Editor: | |
| Author(s): | Mary Jean Holmes |
| Cover Artist(s): | |
| Illustrator(s): | |
| Date(s): | 1988 |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Star Wars |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | Author's website |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Metamorphosis is a 86-page gen Star Wars novel by Mary Jean Holmes. The art is by Wanda Lybarger and Mary Jean Holmes. It is subtitled "A Star Wars Mythos Fairy Tale" and "(with no apologies whatsoever to Franz Kafka)."
Summary: This zine involves a story told by the Ewoks about their culture.
The zine also contains "the chronological sequence of all published and unpublished works in progress of the Star Wars Mythos of Mary Jean Holmes as of April 19, 1988."
Disclaimer
Although the author accepts full responsibility for the actual plot, settings, devices, quasi-scientific explanations, etc. in this story, she does not accept responsibility for the ridiculous premise on which it was based. That was entirely Mary Wood's fault. So if the major twist in the first quarter of this story strikes you as being exceptionally weird, remember, she's to blame, not me. She's the one who said it couldn't be done believably, which was as good as making it a challenge, so of course I had to prove it could be done (shades of Marginal Error — only this predates it, in terms of my writing, by about a year).
Author Notes
Secondary Note: Although the Dulok names "Umwak" and "Gorneesh" are the creation of some employee at Lucasfilm (one supposes), the other names I use for the Duloks appearing in this story are neither of their creation nor of mine. Every last one of them is an Orcish name drawn from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (of which I am obviously an undying fan). Considering the basic natures and remarkable similarities between the Professor's Orcs and George's (or are they Joe Johnson's?) Duloks, I felt the borrowings only fitting.
Tertiary Note: To anyone who is unfamiliar with the Duloks and wants to know where the heck I got them from, I suggest you seek out Joe Johnson's children's book, The Adventures of Teebo and videotapes of the first season episodes of the defunct ABC Saturday cartoon, the Ewoks/Droids Adventure Hour. The character of Umwak was drawn from the latter; the various cultural references come from both, along with my own bizarre imagination.
Final Note: Although the primary events of this story do not fit in with the whole of my SW mythos (for reasons which will become abundantly clear in about ten pages or so), the characters and subsidiary events and situations are drawn therefrom. In other words, you'll know what part of this story is the fairy tale and what parts aren't.
Interior Sample
Reactions and Reviews
Mary Jean Holmes's wacky sense of humor is amply displayed in this hilarious novel of the trials poor Han Solo can get in to, even when sick in bed. Stuck on Endor with the flu, Han is bored and uncomfortable; even his family and friends have left him for a galactic celebration. When Logray offers him an Ewok remedy, he figures what else could happen? The results are beyond anything Han could ever have imagined, and readers arc in for a rare treat as the complications keep coming. Besides, Han Solo fans will discover that he is just as adorable when he is short and fuzzy. [1]
I was in the mood for a good read and decided Metamorphosis should be that. Boy, was I wrong. Metamorphosis is a great read! Now, you know me and my bias toward Ewoks (of course you do; you only cloned all of the first season cartoons for me — for which I still thank you). But, even without that slight bias and the appearance of my two favorite Ewoks, Logray and Teebo, it's a great story. The characters are perfect, the plot moves smoothly, and, accepting the premise that a disease can be contagious to several different lifeforms, the story is great! (I know, I said that already.) Wanda Lybarger's artwork is just perfect! She got Han's eyes and expression just right (and recognizable, even in a furry face). And your cover IS marvelous! Thank you so much for this story!
And Mary Wood, thank you so much for saying it couldn't be done. Mary Jean never could resist a challenge — right?
Oh, that legend associated with Han's Wookiee name is wonderful! I was sorry to see that their plan wasn't to be (it would have been fun), but the final result ~ wow! That will keep the Duloks away. Oh, boy, will it! [2]
References
- ^ from "1988 in SW Zines," in The Wookiee Commode #6
- ^ from a letter of comment in Shadowstar #28