Nemo Repente Fuit Turpissimus
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Nemo Repente Fuit Turpissimus ("The Latin Hatstands") |
| Publisher: | Green Dragon Press (UK) |
| Editor(s): | |
| Date(s): | 1983 |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | The Professionals |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | online review of the zine |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Nemo Repente Fuit Turpissimus is a slash circuit anthology. The title translates as "No man becomes a villain all at once."
It is not technically a zine, but a photocopied set of circuit stories.
The Origins
In 2010, the publisher shed some light on the zine's origins:
Nemo Repente Fuit Turmpissimus wasn't intended as a zine - it was a group of (I think) 4 hatstands printed up on the Gestetner duplicator owned by Green Dragon Press (Me and Lil) rather that photocopied like most of the early circuit stories. It was circulated free to people on the circuit distribution list. We printed up a few like this ('Three and a Half Hatstands', Three D, Rules/Risk).[1]
Also from 2010:
...originally circulated ... hatstands, two by Oriole T and two by EPS, printed for the UK paper Circuit by Green Dragon Press (UK) under the generic title of Nemo Repente Fuit Turpissimus, commonly known as "The Latin Hatstands" in September 1983.The original publication included the disclaimer: "These stories are published on the understanding that they are for private circulation only and should not be reproduced, distributed or circulated without the express permission of the authors. If no longer required they must be returned to source."
On the (admittedly unlikely) assumption that those wishes were fully adhered to, this is the first open/international publication of this story. Please remember that (like its author) it is now very old and fragile and should be treated gently.
Oriole (2010) [2]
Contents
- Ars Gratia Artis by Oriole Alma Throckmorton (title means "Art For Art's Sake")
- Corpi Delectus by Oriole Alma Throckmorton
- Facilis Descensus Averni by EPS (title means "The descent of Avernus is easy" i.e. It's easy to slip into moral ruin OR The road to evil is easy")
- Timeo Danaos et Dona Ferentis by EPS (title means "I fear Greeks even if they bring gifts" i.e "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts")
Reactions and Reviews
[Timeo Danaos et Dona Ferentis]: This story drives me crazy. Having been a Greek mythology buff since I was 11, I love the concept. Some of the scenes are just wonderful, some of the descriptions and dialogue right on the mark. But...I have a lot of problems with it, which I won't go into here. It's one of my favorites because I've read it fairly often, and then I re-write it in my head, including a much-needed sequel. It's frustrating as hell, because I think the idea is dynamite, but the execution of it just isn't what it could - and should - be.[3]
What is the translation? All I know is that "nemo" is "no man." I haven't seen that one, though I believe it has it least one EPS story in it, and I generally like her stuff. [5]
[zine]: Ars Gratia Artis by Oriole (title means "Art For Art's Sake"): Doyle has been posing as a model for a female friend who paints romance novel covers. D volunteers Bodie to pose for her. She needs to draw him with a female, so she has D stand in for the female. In an embrace D kisses B, who is surprised but not turned off. She draws them in an embrace. After she leaves they continue where they left off and have sex; promise of things to come.
Timeo Danaos et Dona Ferentis by EPS (title means "I fear Greeks even if they bring gifts" i.e "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts"): Post DIAG. Doyle is slow getting his strength back. Everyone is worried he won't make it back to the squad. Cowley sends the lads off to a Greek island owned by a friend for 2 months for D to recuperate. It's an idyllic setting. They keep seeing Greeks even though the island is supposed to be deserted. They start a sexual relationship. When their time is up they agree to discontinue the relationship because they couldn't be in CI5 as lovers. The story is sad; it reminds me of the end of Et In Italia Ego by Sebastian.
Corpi Delectus by Oriole: Spoof. The lads keep feeling the urge to jump each other. They realize it's because slash writers are at it. They are struck by lightning and die; they didn't realize it was a death fic.
Facilis Descensus Averni by EPS (title means "The descent of Avernus is easy" i.e. It's easy to slip into moral ruin OR The road to evil is easy"): Their girlfriends bet the lads they can't spend the night in a haunted bedroom. The lads try but strange things happen. Doyle thinks Bodie gets into bed and rapes him but then it turns tender; D likes it. In the morning B says he spent the night on the floor unconscious after he tripped and fell but sort of remembers raping D. He wishes he could have D under loving circumstances. As they leave evil laughter follows them.[6]
References
- ^ 'info gathering for early air dates and zine publishers, comments by inamac, dated April 16, 2010
- ^ from Ars Gratia Artis: Endnotes
- ^ In The Hatstand Express #6 from a fan listing what was supposed to be her top 10 Pros stories; the list turned out to be 50 stories long
- ^ from Virgule-L, quoted anonymously with permission (November 21, 1996)
- ^ from Virgule-L, quoted anonymously with permission (November 24, 1996)
- ^ from Metabolick at The Hatstand