Need to Know (War of the Worlds zine)

Zine
Title:	Need to Know
Publisher:
Editor(s):
Date(s):	1989-?
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	War of the Worlds
Language:	English
External Links:
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Need to Know is a gen War of the Worlds anthology.

An ad in The Blackwood Project #2 says it is "lots of h/c and friendship minus the gore."

From Agent With Style: "While the group attempts to learn more about the aliens and how to bring about their downfall, they also do their best to humanize Ironhorse. Harrison especially makes this his mission, while Paul does his best to make them understand that an alien invasion is no laughing matter. Will Paul crack a smile before an alien kills them all?"

Issue 1

cover of issue #1

Need to Know 1 was published in July 1989 and contains 300 pages. It was nominated for a 1990 FanQ.

• One Tin Soldier by Rowena Warner ("Hopefully not your typical amnesia story. After a wall collapses on him, Paul not only forgets his friends and their fight against the aliens, but is swept back to a time in his life he has tried desperately to forget. He is now Corporal Paul Ironhorse, twenty-four years old, and just home from Vietnam.") (1)
• The Wolf by Rowena Warner ("It was supposed to be no more than a simple interview with an elderly farmer, but little did Harrison and Paul know that the old man and his family had been taken over by aliens. During the subsequent battle, the doctor is shot in the leg, and without any means of transportation, it is up to Ironhorse to get his friend to the ranger station--nine miles away through the Yellowstone National Forest.") (44)
• Forgive Me My Trespasses by Rowena Warner (62)
• Reflections by Linda Watson (73)
• Fire and Rain by Barbara Staton (82)
• The More, the Merrier by Rowena Warner (83)
• Blood Brothers by Linda Watson ("General Wilson has learned of a possible alien dump site at a desolate Army Depot in Utah. After the Blackwood Team flies in to verify its existence, a skirmish with aliens leaves Ironhorse wounded. Will Harrison and Suzanne be able to come to the rescue and get all three of them out of there?") (93)
• Missing Scenes by Rowena Warner (133)
• Where Have All the Flowers Gone? by Linda Watson (180)
• Danny by Rowena Warner (191)
• Sounds of Silence by Barbara Staton (202)
• Love Thy Neighbor by Rowena Warner (203)
• The Weird Stuff by Rowena Warner (233)
• The Fall and Rise of Lt. Col. Paul Ironhorse by Rowena Warner (234)
• No Man's Land by Linda Watson ("Can Harrison ever listen to the colonel's orders? Suzanne stands by helplessly as an alien attempts to overtake Dr. Blackwood. Terror comes to the Cottage as Harrison begins to show definite signs of the alien blending process, but the blood samples taken by Suzanne are far from being human or alien.") (243)
• A Warrior's Oath by Rowena Warner (294)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

Need to Know is a monster zine, too big to review story by story, so I'll give some general impressions and comments on a couple of the stories. First of all, this is a very well- produced publication. Binding, margins, and print quality are neat and easy to read, the color photo cover is gorgeous, and the editors made the (wise, I think) decision to use no art rather than bad art. My only suggestion re: production is that 12-pitch (Elite) spacing instead of 10-pitch (Pica) would have saved an appreciable amount of space, paper, and cost.

The story ideas in NTK were good, but the writing itself is terribly wordy, like a well-planned but unweeded garden. If going from 10 to 12-pitch would have saved space, trimming the dialogue might have cut the page count by as much as a quarter and greatly improved the zine. Conversations wander interminably; in one story (Blood Brothers), Harrison and Suzanne spend so much time discussing appropriate first-aid techniques that Ironhorse should have bled to death before they slap a pressure bandage on him. Emotions are treated similarly: feelings are stated, restated, and then discussed, particularly in the "missing scenes" from various episodes. And the dialogue sometimes drops into editorializing; I can't imagine a 24-year-old noncom describing his commanding officer as a "gruff, endearing maverick." That's the writer talking, not Ironhorse. Characterization is a problem in places. I haven't seen Rowena's previous zine, Thoroughbreds, but I'd be willing to bet it contained "Starsky & Hutch" and/or "Simon & Simon" stories -- because at times Harrison and Ironhorse sound very much like these other characters.

The first "missing scene" is a good example of this -- the content could have been covered in two pages with judicious trimming. There is too much talk about feelings. Ironhorse has a lot of emotion, but he guards it. And Harrison is much, much more mentally and intuitively acute than he is emotionally aware. Neither is much for discussing emotions at length. And they are not "touchy-feely" guys, at least not with each other -- which is what made the two contacts in "Choirs of Angels" (where Harrison first collapses, then the handshake) so powerful. "Less is more." There is respect between them, and eventually affection, but it's restrained and understated -- and that's what pulls us into the relationship. Likewise, (in One Tin Soldier) Suzanne's inquiry into Harrison's emotional state seemed intrusive. A degree in psychology does not make her his therapist or give her the right to pry. I was also irked by the obvious lack of background research. "One Tin Soldier," for example, features Ironhorse getting amnesia and reverting back to the rank of Corporal. Unlikely, since he probably never was one. Ironhorse graduated from West Point; that means 2nd Lieutenant, minimum. (Considering his decorations and current rank, I would suspect he was a Captain — possibly even a Major -- by the end of the Vietnam War.)

Research: "The Wolf" has Ironhorse worrying about getting lost in the woods at night, and collapsing after transporting a wounded Harrison eight miles through a forest. This story was not bad, and could have been perfectly believable if — for instance -- Ironhorse had also been slightly injured. But with his Special Forces background, he would have had serious first-aid training, as well as knowledge in orienteering (if he can go into the jungle in wartime and come out alive, he's not going to fret about a forest), and when you're talking about a man who takes the Omega Squad on 20-mile runs before breakfast, I don't think eight miles -- even dragging Harrison -- would wipe him out.

Other characterization inconsistencies, such as Ironhorse and Harrison drinking themselves into a stupor, doesn't work because (a) Ironhorse doesn't drink, he copes with stress by exercising; and (b) Harrison is so serious about his health he is more likely to meditate than hit the booze. These coping mechanisms do not fit the characters. And the zine's final story features Ironhorse developing a spontaneous ability to call down lightning. Now, I can buy that if he's been training with Mr. Lonetree, but paranormal skills must be honed just like any other; he's no more likely to start flinging thunderbolts than to start dancing en pointe without ballet classes.

This lack of discipline wouldn't be so bothersome if we were talking about bad writing — but these writers are good. The stories throw these characters into desperate situations; there are some emotionally powerful scenes. There is good stuff here -- but it would be so much better with some self-restraint and homework. The information is out there in the library and a few hours' effort can make the difference between a rough draft of a good idea and a solid, convincing universe.

The editors admit upfront that these stories were "emotional outbursts" and not originally intended to see print. That's fine, if you're just copying stories to pass around, but $18 is a rather high price for an emotional outburst.

I can't comment on poetry. Taste in poetry is very individual, and my own runs to Millay, Eliot, Tennyson, Li Po... I'm not that keen on the variety of rhymed couplets featured here, but I don't like Picasso's lopsided women, either, and they're considered Great Art.

All in all, there are some gems in NTK, and the humor is priceless. One story features Harrison dragging some "illegal" aliens home to meet Ironhorse, who's suffering from from a "Mysterious Jungle Malady," and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" sends the Colonel and Debi stalking through the halls of the Cottage after a non-human intruder. (I wish C. Winters had illo'ed this one — the styles would've meshed beautifully.)

If you buy zines for an emotional wallow, Need to Know is for you. If you're on a tight budget, or read with one hand itching to edit, you may want to borrow a copy before you make up your mind. From the look of NTK #2, which I haven't had time to read thoroughly, Rowena's mother has taken on editorial duties and the stories in #2 reflect her input.

Issue 2

cover of issue #2 or #3

Need to Know 2 contains 155 pages.

• Home of the Brave by Linda Watson ("The Colonel leaves a bewildered Blackwood Team when he and the Omega Squad rush to an alien invasion in the state of Oklahoma. The Squad is able, once again, to stop the alien activity, but at what cost to the Team?") (1)
• Bright Spirit by Barbara Staton (53)
• The Gun, poem by Rowena Warner ("As we all know, during the first season, Harrison would not touch a gun. Here is a possible theory why.") (54)
• Freedom's Light, poem by Barbara Staton (58)
• Name on the Wall by Linda Watson ("While in Washington for a meeting with General Wilson, Ironhorse pays a late-night visit to the Wall. Sensing that his friend does not need to be alone, Harrison follows, only to be shocked by the revelations the colonel divulges.") (59)
• Dear Diary by Rowena Warner ("Debi knows more than her mother and the rest of the team thinks. Here she tells a few things to her diary about her life at the Cottage and the friends she has made.") (65)
• Delphi's Son, poem by Barbara Staton (71)
• Through Hell and Back by Rowena Warner ("Remember, little Bobby in the episode "Thy Kingdom Come"? His parents and grandmother were taken over by aliens and that situation was never resolved, so this story does so.") (72)
• Eve of Armageddon by Rowena Warner ("The Blackwood Team come face to face with not only the aliens, but a mercenary soldier from Ironhorse's past bent on revenge. It is he who smuggles a device aboard the space shuttle which will bring about the destruction of our entire world. Will the team be able to stop the launch in time?") (86)
• Tomorrow's Promise, poem by Barbara Staton (152)
• Epilogue: Of Paramount Importance by Rowena Warner ("A two-page alternative universe story that will hopefully make you feel good!") (153)

Issue 3

cover of issue #2 or #3

Need to Know 3 was published in 1990 and contains contains 103 pages.

• Death Hath No Dominion by Rowena Warner 1 (Harrison Blackwood is pushed the edge, obsessed with the thought of bringing Ironhorse and Norton back to life. If the aliens can clone, why can't he? This picks up immediately at the end of "The Second Wave" and ignores everything subsequent to that.)
• I'll Be Home for Christmas by Linda Watson--Ironhorse is "kidnapped" on Christmas Day for a very special holiday surprise. (30)
• The Idealist, the Hardliner and Me by Paulie Kay--Poem. (46)
• It's a Got a Good Beat by Gena Fisher--Dance Fever in the computer lab? Have the aliens finally taken over? Is Dick Clark one of them? These questions and more are answered in this story. (47)
• Through the Looking Glass by Beth Muramoto--Paul is shot and left paralyzed from the waist down, an almost intolerable situation for a man to whom physical activity is a must. Harrison is consumed with guilt, and it is Norton who offers comfort and philosophical reason. He's also good at keeping a secret. (50)
• Heritage by Beth Muramoto--Poem. (60)
• Tomorrow is Another Day by Rowena Warner--Harrison and Ironhorse are killed in a battle with the aliens, but is it really time for them to go? Did they share the same dream, or did both have an after-life experience? (61)
• Deprivation by Jeanne O'Donnell--When Harrison is taken captive by the aliens, he goes into a self-imposed trance, so deep Paul fears he will lose his friend before he can break down the walls surrounding that brilliant mind. (66)
• Silent Strength by Paulie Kay--Poem. (78)
• Psycho 3 1/2 by Rowena Warner (79)
• You Can Go Home Again by Beth Muramoto--Ironhorse receives an invitation to reunion at West Point but refuses to attend. Suzanne understands his reluctance all too well. Her own memories of her high school days are bittersweet, but when Harrison, Paul, Norton discover this, they decide to add some hopefully pleasant memories. (81)
• Lt. Col. Santa Claus by Rowena Warner--Guess who talks everyone's favorite stiff-necked colonel into playing Santa for Debi? (91)
• Trail of Tears by Rowena Warner--Poem. (103)
• The Colonel's Cat by Jeanne O'Donnell--A quiet, warm story of a feline visitor that decides to take up residence at the Cottage. (104)
• The Seeker by Rowena Warner--The alien/human child born of Kate Barrows turns out to be unusual in more ways than one. Maturing into adulthood in less than six months, Adam has been indoctrinated by the Mothren, yet there is that nagging human half which perplexes him, not to mention that his physical appearance was a calculated plan by the aliens. (114)
• Recollections by Beth Muramoto--Poem. (130)
• Shades of Gray by Linda Watson--Kitara returns from Quar'Tar, bring with her a 'surprise visitor,' forcing Harrison and Suzanne to come to terms with their lives after the effects of "Angel of Death" and "The Second Wave." (131)
• Parade Rest by B.N. Fish--A new dawn comes to the Cottage, giving Ironhorse the opportunity to pause and reflect on his work with the Blackwood Team. (151)
• Wall of Pain by Beth Muramoto-A vignette taking place at The Wall. (154)
• Hello, Paul by Paulie Kay--Poem. (155)
• A New Day by Rowena Warner--Seventeen months before his tragic death, Ironhorse gave Harrison his name and address in case "anything happens to him." Harrison contacts him as Paul wished, but what remains of the Blackwood team is not prepared for the man show shows up at their "doorstep." (156)
• A Million Nights Long by Linda Watson--Harrison and Kincaid return to the alien warehouse and make a startling discovery. Humans used in the cloning process are being stored for future use. (167)