Mirrors (Beauty and the Beast zine)
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| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Mirrors |
| Publisher: | Checkmate Press |
| Editor(s): | Karen Bates-Crouch |
| Date(s): | 1988-1991 |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | print zine |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Beauty and the Beast (TV) |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Mirrors is a Beauty and the Beast (TV) gen anthology.
Issues #1-#3 have covers by Barbara Fister-Liltz, a color photo affixed to the front, and issues without this attached art are common.
Issue 1
Mirrors 1 was published in July 1988 and is a 109-page novel by Karen Bates-Crouch.
This zine has no interior art.
It is "Never to Part" (third in "The Promise" series) by Barbara Fister-Liltz.
In this zine, the past and present intertwine in a story line dealing with Paracelsus' attempts to destroy Vincent and flashbacks to how the Tunnel community began.
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1
"Mirrors I", written by Karen Bates, is a novel whereby Paracelsus hopes to yet again take over the tunnels from Father and Vincent. It is a complex spinning web involving cloak and dagger intrigue (too bad it's not Vincent's cloak involved). Unfortunately, much of the action is set Above, with niggling dilemmas, etc., yet another near rape of Catherine villains conveniently being assassinated .... and in this modified re-run of the televised "Quest/To Reign In Hell", none of the principals die. The novel also introduces several new characters to be carried into Part II. Despite other, smaller problems, such as (Devin's mother was Grace, not Evelyn) involving continuity with the series, the novel does hold one's interest, although B&TB people always want more Vincent and Catherine together. I recommend this as a prerequisite to "Mirrors II", which is even better, for the writing is excellent, although the plot could use a bit of polish. [1]
Issue 2
Mirrors 2 was published in September 1988 and contains 115 pages.
The interior art is by M.K. Burns.
One of these stories is a vampire story and a first time story. Authors are Karen Bates-Crouch, Jane Comb, Sara Boots, D.D. Cooper, Layne Devaney, Karen Dorrell.
- Kingdom of the Night by Jane Lamb (1)
- Whispers, poem, not credited (30)
- According to the Baker's Manual by Sara "Domestica" Boots (31)
- Dialogue, poem, not credited (33)
- Look Forward to Yesterday by D.D. Cooper (34)
- Queen for a Night by Layne DeVaney (53)
- Darkness , poem, not credited (62)
- Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On by Karen Dorrell (63)
- Father, poem, not credited (70)
- Elizabeth's Tunnel by M.K. Burns (three illos) (71)
- Anniversary
- With Fire Inside
- I Propose It To You, My Dear Catherine
- Mirrors, part two by Karen Bates (to be continued) (73)
from issue #2, "Anniversary"
from issue #2, "With Fire Inside"
from issue #2, "I Propose It To You, My Dear Catherine"
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2
"Mirrors II", by Karen Bates, is an overall better offering than "Mirrors I". The continuing novel portion is shorter, and most of the stories accompanying the novel are competent. Besides the installment of the novel, the other offerings within include: some bland poetry, a vampire-story with multiple coincidences and too pat an ending, a short baker's story with poor characterizations, a story about a woman who has different but also exceptional gifts which acts as a Catherine-jealousy vehicle, a romantic woman in Catherine's office who quotes Lochnivar and sports many coincidences, a sexual fantasy, and some artwork. (Can't these authors think of more imaginative endings for the villains of the pieces than the Abyss? After this offering, the Abyss has passed quota on the bodies it shrouds.) The actual "Mirrors, Part II" again showcases Karen Bates powerful and complex writing. The actual plot revolves more around the Above -- Catherine and Devin, and the intrigue which John Paeter/Paracelsus has unleashed to occupy them, while again drawing Vincent to a trap Below. Does this make Vincent stupid, or what? How many times can Paracelsus get away with this trick of drawing Vincent? The motivation for this trap is a merely a scrap of map, with Jamie and Mouse wanting to go adventuring ... come on ... ! One haunting sequence stays with me, however, a dream sequence almost a page long in italics. The voice of the dream is unclear, but it describes major scenes from the "life that cannot be" (except through fandom). Such a short space beautifully detailing wedding, birth, death ... a poem of the mind. I believe it is a dream of Vincent's while Paracelsus' prisoner. It could stand alone as a short story commensurate with Bates' two excellent but grim previous stories done for "Faery tale". We shall all watch with interest for "Mirrors III" to find out: Will Vincent survive? Do Crystal/Krysteen resolve their differences? Is Paracelsus defeated? Is Joe left in the lurch again (and does anyone care)? Does Catherine have a job to return to? Does Devin make further peace with Father? All in all, the book is an entertaining read, one I would recommend highly in comparison to most of the other B&TB offerings currently on the market. [2]
Helper's Network Directory says Volumes One and Two will be bound but with no cover art. However, our zine arrived as a sheaf of papers in an envelope. Exciting last story is a "To Be Continued" so plan on buying "Mirrors Three" to find out the ending. Some good stories but not enough Vincent and Catherine for the most part.
- Print Quality - 4.3
- Proofreading - 4.3
- Sexual Content - 2.2
- Plot - 3.3
- Character Integrity - 3.2
- Believability - 3.8 [3]
Issue 3
Mirrors 3 was published in April 1989 and contains 112-pages. Interior art by Karen Maureen. Authors are Veronica Engel, Opal McMenomy, Beth Blighton, Donna Straley, LA. Caskey, Karen Dorrell, M.K. Bums, Jane Lamb, Karen Bates-Crouch.
Volume 3 contains 10 vignettes and short stories encompassing a variety of story lines. In "The Wanderer," Vincent discovers a lone girl wandering the Tunnels; "Rights Of Passage" has Catherine and Elliot's son returning to the Tunnels 4 years after his mother's death; Charles Chandler meets Vincent in "Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On"; and in "Lineage," Catherine accidentally discovers Vincent's mother. Both the vampire tale (Catherine and Vincent become vampires) and the "Mirrors" story line continue. [4]
- The Wanderer by Veronica Engel (1)
- Someday by Opal McMenomy and Beth Brighton (13)
- A View from the Rainbow's End by Beth Blighton (20)
- Epitaph by Beth Blighton (24)
- The Lineage by Donna Straley (27)
- Right of Passage by L.A. Caskey (60)
- Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made Of (Episode Two) by Karen Dorrell (63)
- Elizabeth Tunnel (73)
- A Handful of Eternity by Jane Lamb (75)
- Mirrors, Part Three by Karen Bates (94)
Issue 4
Mirrors 4 was published in July 1991 and has 246 pages.
The cover is by Barbara Fister-Liltz, other art is by Beth Blighton.
- The Fairytale by Elizabeth _Behnke (1)
- To Those Who Would Strive to Keep Us Apart, poem by Veronica Engel (4)
- A Winter's Song by Trinette Kern (5)
- Dead Cold, poem by Veronica Engel (32)
- Untitled Poem by Layne Devaney (34)
- At the Same Time by Anne Evans (35)
- Fugue in D by Jane Lamb (95)
- Quiet Times by Judy Mooney (98)
- And Death Shall Have No Dominion by Pearl Ann Snow (100)
- Thoughts of Love, poem by Judy Mooney (125)
- Origins by Veronica Engel (126)
- Elizabeth's Tunnel (133)
- Helper by Sara "Domestica" Books (139)
- La Fountain by Layne Devaney (154)
- Dreams, poem by Anonymous (161)
- A Final Sip from _Paracelsus' Cup by Veronica Engel (162)
- The Mirror by Karen A. Bates-Crouch (177)
from issue #4, Beth Blighton
from issue #4, Karen Bates-Crouch
from issue #4, Beth Blighton
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4
Volume 4 of the series contains a mixed selection of story lines. In "A Winter's Song," Vincent nurses a sick Catherine, and their relationship progresses in "At The Same Time." Catherine survives the events of the third season and is reunited Vincent in "And Death Shall Have No Dominion." Diana appears as a friend. Catherine also appears as a ghost in another story. Readers should note that in "The Mirror," Vincent and Catherine finally consummate their love but a magical mirror, a gift from Brigit O'Donnell, destroys their happiness when it becomes a gateway between worlds, irrevocably exchanging our Catherine for another. Vincent feels a Bond and reaches for a second chance at love with the other Catherine while Catherine resolves to start a new life with Elliot Burch in the alternative universe. Nice art. [5]
References
- ^ from Datazine #53
- ^ from Datazine #53
- ^ from Beauty and the Beast Lifeline Review (October 1991)
- ^ from The Beauty and the Beast Buyer's Guide to Fanzines
- ^ from The Beauty and the Beast Buyer's Guide to Fanzines