On the Double
Zine | |
---|---|
Title: | On the Double |
Publisher: | Pon Farr Press |
Editor(s): | Alexis Fegan Black (issues #1-#12), Ande H. (#13-#16) and Pat Diggs (#17-#34) |
Type: | adzine, letterzine |
Date(s): | 1986 to 1996 |
Medium: | |
Fandom: | Star Trek: TOS, The Professionals, & multimedia |
Language: | English |
External Links: | |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Contents
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On the Double is a quarterly slash (mainly), gen, and het zine.
At first, "On the Double" was a letterzine as well as an adzine and offered listings for fanzines, memorabilia for sale and convention announcements across multiple fandoms. It started out as a K/S zine and around 1990, began to include The Professionals, as well as other fandoms.
This zine was the successor to Not Tonight Spock!.
Several issues won a 1988 Surak Award.
From issue #34: "'On the Double' will be sent in a plain brown envelope four times a year."
In the April 1988 issue of Naked Times, the editor wrote that "On the Double" had about 175 subscribers, and that "in order to keep the newsletter going and make it a worthwhile time investment, we need to maintain a minimum of 200 subscribers."
For similar fanworks, see List of Letterzines.
Its Demise
The zine had a vigorous run until about 1989. It was around then that fans stopped sending LoCs and zine reviews, and the zine became simply an adzine.
The adzine flourished until about 1992. This is when the editor started to complain about zineds not keeping their ads up-to-date. The zine also began to be published more erratically, due to the usual reasons that long-running zines do: personal problems interfering with editing, fans becoming lackadaisical and taking information for granted, and with the case of "On the Double," the internet beginning to provide information that had only previously been in paper form. Once the adzine was being published later and later, the zine ads becoming less accurate, and it contained information for cons that had already happened, the zine lost its audience.
A Twinkle in the Editor's Eye
From the editorial of A Collection of Dreams (summer, 1986):...I have decided to try a new K/S-oriented letterzine. I would like to try an approach somewhat different than NOT TONIGHT, SPOCK, though the fine quality of NTS makes it difficult not to adopt a few of their ideas. Since K/S fandom is growing, I've felt for a long time that we could use as many informative publications as are feasible. Tentatively, the title for this new zine is ON THE DOUBLE, and I'm currently accepting ads (free to fanzine editors) letters of comment on any K/S-related subject, and — especially - reviews of K/S fanzines. I am hoping that the readers will want to become involved in a publication like this, and that I'll hear from some of you with suggestions, letters and what-have-you. At this point, I am hoping to make ON THE DOUBLE a reader-participation zine, similar to an apa, but open to any K/S fan at any time. Current. listings of K/S zines will be included, as well as any items of interest the readers care to include. No pub date for the first issue yet, though SASES are being accepted and kept on file.
Descriptions
From an notice in Not Tonight, Spock! (soon to cease):ON THE DOUBLE: new K/S letterzine in the works. We would like to do a K/S letterzine similar in format to INTERSTAT, though in a format where K/S fans can have their say without hostility from opposing viewpoints. (If the non-K/Sers want to do their own zine, fine, but ON THE DOUBLE will not print nasty letters stating & re-stating pro/con/arguments.) OTD will be similar to an apa, but open to all fans at any time. Also, OTD will print ads for any K/S publications, as well as reviews, comments, & discussions of any zine or K/S related topic. Ads, letters & SASEs now being accepted Tentative date for publication: Winter? [1]

Welcome to ON THE DOUBLE — the new K/S letter and ad zine! As of November 1, 1987, we will be celebrating our First Anniversary, and we ask you to climb aboard for our continuing voyages into the fascinating (sorry, Spock) universe of K/S fandom. ON THE DOUBLE includes ads for new and old K/S publications alike, as well as letters from fans on a variety of topics, reviews, news items on STAR TREK and K/S, and just about anything else we can get our hands on.
We invite zine eds to participate! Zine editors are urged to send in ads for K/S publications. Our only request is that each zine ad by typed, with a maximum of 3 typed lines per zine. We won't get into spacing and pitch requirements, nor will we kidnap your first born Vulcan son if you need more space from time to time. We do, however, reserve the right to edit any ads as necessary in order to fit our formatting requirements. But, for the most part, we're pretty easy to deal with. We do ask, also, that you send your ads ready to be typed since we're all new at this, and we simply don't have the time or the computerized intellect required to type ads presented in the form of flyers. So... if you do send flyers instead of typed ads, we wi11 kidnap your first-born Vulcan son and hold him for appropriate ransom.
We invite artists to participate! We need covers — preferably non-explicit covers, as ON THE DOUBLE will probably be mailed in a similar fashion to INTERSTAT, and the postal union doesn't have the funds required to replace letter carriers who drop dead of a heart attack! Since ON THE DOUBLE is normally mailed without an envelope (stapled shut, with appropriate stamps), we must insist that cover art does not reveal genitalia or other typically "embarrassing" body parts. Whenever possible, we ask artists to send good quality xeroxes of covers, as originals have a habit of getting lost or damaged, so... let us hear from you with any samples or ideas you may have!
We invite the readers to participate! Since OTD is a letter zine as well as an ad zine, we hope to hear from as many of you as possible on any K/S or STAR TREK related subject you care to discuss. We will probably have a "topic of the month" feature similar to the one in NOT TONIGHT, SPOCK, though we welcome letters on any topic at any time. Also, if you come across a news article which might be of interest to other fans, please send us a copy. (We're not the best at returning things and we admit it, so please send only disposable items whenever possible.) We don't guarantee that we'll be able to include all news items submitted, but we would definitely like to have them on hand for times when there is room to print them.
In addition to ads, letters and news, we will also be featuring regular columns and reviews of current or semi-current K/S publications. One column in particular which we believe you will find of interest is a sort-of "monthly appreciation" column in which one of our staff writers will choose and discuss a current K/S story which deserves special recognition. This will be in addition to reviews (which may be submitted by any of our readers.) We feel that the "monthly appreciation" column will hopefully help to fill a "gap" created by the various awards (such as the K/Star and the new Surak Awards). While these awards are a definite service to fandom, we at OTD also feel that a monthly appreciation column will allow more writers and more stories to be recognized on an informal basis. And, of course, the readers of OTD are encouraged to send in suggestions for stories which you feel deserve special recognition.
As for our publication schedule, we are publishing quarterly — November 1, February 1, May 1,and November 1 (again).
Again, we invite you to participate, and we're eagerly looking forward to another year of ON THE DOUBLE.
Other K/S Letterzines
- Not Tonight Spock! (June 1984-February1987)
- On the Double (November 1986-January 1996)
- The LOC Connection (January 1989-December 1993)
- Come Together (January 1994-August 1996)
- The K/S Press (September 1996-present day)
Also see List of Letterzines.
Issue 1
On the Double 1 was published in November 1986 and contains 18 pages.
- there are no Locs, as this was the first issue
- a review of Lost in Forever, a story in Act Five #2, see that page
- a review Command Decision, see that page
- two reviews of The Price of Freedom, see that page
- a review of Daring Attempt #4, see that page
- a review of First Time #4, see that page
- a review of Courts of Honor, see that page
- a review of The Sound of Rain, see that page
- a review of As I Do Thee #5, see that page
- a review of Naked Times #11, see that page
- a review of A Collection of Dreams, see that page
Issue 2
On the Double 2 was published in February 1987 and contains 27 pages. The cover is by Jackie Zoost.
- the editor writes:
- a fan writes:
- a fan comments on gen fiction:
- an illustration of the minefield that zine reviews can be: a fan complains: Some of the reviews in OTD 1 weren't sufficiently informative. I was particularly impatient with the [Katherine J] review of FIRST TIME IV. She didn't want to give away plots, but there has to be a compromise between revealing all the endings and providing no information at all about the zine's content. Tell us something — such as this one is a Mirror a/u story that takes place on Andor, or that poem refers to a K/S love tryst in the Romulan Empire. It doesn't have to be more than one sentence, but I do want to know what sort of story the reviewer is talking about. You evidently published two reviews of THE PRICE OF FREEDOM because they expressed two different views of the novel, yet the second review by [Lydia H] was definitely more informative than the prior one by [Susan S]. If the [Susan S] review had been the only one published, I would have had no idea of what the novel is about. I would only know that [Susan S] thought highly of the artwork, which is scarcely as useful as being given some concept of the nature of the story. My point is not to pick on [Katherine J] or [Susan S], but to register my belief that all reviews ought to be as informative as possible.
- this fan contains Out in the Open: Alexis Fegan Black's 1987 Open Letter Regarding "Courts of Honor", see that page
- a fan, [Janna S], has a rebuttal to the review of Courts of Honor that appeared in the previous issue, see that page
- this issue has a survey, see Women in K/S Fandom: A Survey
- this issue contains To Award or Not To Award, by Linda Frankel, see that page
- this issue has a column about K/S history and early K/S zines by Ann Carver -- some things discussed Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath, Gerry Downes, Stardate: Unknown, Nebula of Orion, Alternative: Epilogue to Orion
- several fans comment on the reprint of Sigh-Fi, see that page
- this issue has some zine trivia by Jean Hinson
- a review of As I Do Thee #3, see that page
- a review of Intermezzo, see that page
- a review of Icefire, see that page
- a review of Choices, see that page
- a review of Private Possessions, see that page
- a review of First Time #7, see that page
Issue 3
On the Double 3 was published in May 1987 and contains 44 pages.
- the editor states her policy for printing reviews, some of which were discussed at a panel at 4-Play: pen names can be used but the writer must provide her or his legal name to the editor ("in the interest of the 'anonymous review syndrome"), reviewers must have a subscription to the zine ("Not because we plan on making a fortune from your $15.00 sub, but because we don't have the time or the inclination to track down folks who might be reviewing their own zines or having a close personal friend do it for them. This seemed to be a concern at the panel at 4-Play, and while this policy won't guarantee anything, we feel that it will make folks think twice about doing a hatchet name under one pen name and disappearing from the planet forever."), the editor reserves the right to reject reviews which she feels have the "tone of a hatchet job," the editor will not print reviews by anyone who had close working relationships with the zine, the editor will not print more than two reviews per zine
- there is a submission request for a zine called A Natural Propensity, which ended up being published under a different title
- the editor of In Triplicate defends at length the threesomes in her zine; one point she makes is that one has to get past thinking about DeForest Kelley and start thinking about McCoy, the character, and that she never writes "William Shatner" and "Leonard Nimoy", that the actors and the characters be kept apart in one's mind. She also comments that this zine sells out faster and gets more LoCs, the vast number of them positive, than any of her other zines
- the two questions for discussion for issue four were asked: "1. What is STAR TREK? The characters? The ship? The stories and/or writing? What sets it apart from other t.v. shows? 2. What do you want from a K/S zine? We asked this question once before, but it was overshadowed by L.A. WEEKLY article. We feel it's a valid topic for discussion, so here it is again."
- this issue has some question and answer bios by Chris Soto, see On the Double Interview with Chris Soto
- a fan artist, [C S], comments about fan art and ability:
- a fan, [A F B], writes about her first reaction to K/S: I'm not sure what single element "attracted" me to K/S. The main thing I remember is coming to the conclusion that I'd been wrong about K/S. When I was first exposed to the premise I was, quite honestly, livid. "That's Kirk and Spock, for God's sake! There aren't even any bathrooms on the Enterprise, and Spock is a Vulcan! I mean, heroes don't fool around... do they?" Then, after I read my first K/S story, I was curious, wanted to read more, and eventually became hooked.
- a fan is pleased with reviews that have diverging opinions:
- there are many fans' comments about what constitutes a good review; a fan, [F P] writes: ...for anyone actively involved with contributing to or editing zines, it can be difficult to do reviews under most circumstances. People like us may find it hard to summon up the necessary critical detachment because we know so many writers, artists and editors as personal friends or because we want to have amicable dealings with them in future — which can mean that we are wary about hurting their feelings in the present. For that reason people who are involved with zines may find it necessary, sometimes, to avoid writing reviews at all, leaving that service to the zine-reading public who are not editors or contributors. (We can always send LoCs).
- there is much discussion about Reviewers Using Pseuds; one comment from [F P]:
- there is more talk of pseuds and the need for them: Also, it's interesting to note that a lot of newspaper & periodical articles have been appearing lately, articles which purport to "inform the public" about K/S. The "Sigh-Fi" article which we reprinted in OTD#1 is a prime example. No one asked [Gayle F] if she wanted her illustration to appear in a publication which is easily available to children. This was done without Gayle's permission, in the name of "journalistic freedom". Well... in my opinion, that "journalistic freedom" could also be made to extend to printing "excerpts" from stories and naming the author — such as what happened on a radio talk show in Australia. A portion of a K/S story was read over the air, and the interviewer named the author — who, at the time, was using her real name. After that, she quickly adopted a pseudonym for obvious reasons.
- a fan, [A F B] ,discusses the reviews of a zine based on production and expectations:
- about the feelings of an editor, artist, or writer, [A F B] writes: I realize this may be a controversial statement, but I personally feel that a lot of the reviews I've read don't belong in fandom whatsoever — not necessarily because of the content, but because of the "tone" of the reviewer. Professional writers writing in professional situations are paid to take a few punches with bad reviews. Fan writers and editors aren't paid to put up with it and, with very few exceptions, it makes me practically sick to see a really "bad" review, previewer makes no effort to point out the good points of the story/zine along the way... We're also in a small circle with a lot of sensitive individuals... I'm not saying that we must protect the writer s or editor's feelings to the exclusion of all else, but I do feel it's a point to be considered in this particular group (K/S fandom). I've seen a lot of good and potentially good writers get out of fandom altogether because of the blatant insensitivity of one reviewer's comments, and I think this is tragic for all of fandom. I'm also not saying that every review has to be positive ~ obviously not every review can be and still be honest. But I do feel that reviewers must strive to find a balance between the good and the bad" in any zine — particularly in fandom circles, which is what I mean when I state that our standards must be different than those employed by professional reviewers. Whether we know these editors/writers personally or not, they are still our 'friends' through the common bond of Star Trek and K/S.
- a fan, [R M], has these comments on threesomes and pairing Spock with McCoy:
- a fan, [JA B], writes of threesomes: Regardless of the fact that menage a trois does not appeal to me, I disagree strongly with a fan who wrote in a recent TREKLINK that these sort of stories be stopped. That's as bad as the virulent anti-K/Sers who, as Trekfans, are supposedly tolerant and subscribe to the principle of IDIC, nevertheless reacted like the worse bigots and would probably be horrified to hear themselves so labeled. One of the saddest comments was that of Ann Carver... in OTD#2 stating that the very talented Gerry Downes left fandom because of the hate mail she received after ALTERNATIVE. Because of my lack of interest in K/S/ stories, I would prefer that they be kept in separate zines. At the very least, an editor should make it clear that her K/S zine contains menage a trois stories. One in a zine is unlikely to deter me from buying it, but more probably would... So all you good writers out there, if menage a trois interests you, go for it! Who knows, I may yet become hooked. After all, I never expected to become an avid K/S fan, and being such does not preclude my enjoying a good friendship story
- a fan, [A G], writes:
- the editor of Pon Farr Press writes that the Sigh-Fi article has actually had a positive influence on sales and reactions: As to how the L.A. WEEKLY article has affected PON FARR PRESS, I can only say at this point that zine sales and inquiries have increased dramatically. Since several of us here in Southern California do sci-fi conventions in the L.A. area, we have been asked, "Is this that stuff we read about in the paper?" Mostly, the reaction from the public is one of curiosity without hostility. Of course, there are the exceptions to that rule when one encounters an overly-zealous, morally self-righteous s.o.b. (for details, see the editorial, BANNED IN ANAHEIM, which appeared in NT#6;. Additionally, when we attended a convention in Denver (STAR CON) back in March of this year, we were exposed to several people who had read a similar- — though less "critical" — article which appeared in a Denver newspaper. Again, the reaction was one of curiosity mingled with a little disbelief. It's interesting to note that several of these newcomers are now ordering regularly — and some of them are men (yes, that is a rarity in K/S writers and readers alike). So, as to the reaction, it's been more positive than negative. It seems that the article merely "confirmed" what a lot of people had already thought of on their own. While I don't agree with the less than discretionary manner in which the L.A.WEEKLY article was done, it's primary impact seems to be that it's led a lot of new folks into K/S fandom.
- a fan, [F J], comments on what she feels to be McCoy's asexuality:
- a fan, [JS S] writes about her introduction to K/S: It was at a con. I was once an innocent browsing through stacks of ST fanzines. A friend who was going through a nearby stack nudged me and handed me an open zine. There, in public, before God and everyone else, was a very explicit picture of male homosexual activity between two of my favorite ST characters. I was shocked speechless. What sick mind would do such a thing to Star Trek characters? I am not a youngster, and I certainly was aware that certain portions of the population are homosexual. I just had never thought very deeply about the subject before. Before that con was over, I returned several times to view that zine. I got over being shocked and began to be curious. I found, to my surprise, I wasn't offended after all... I didn't buy that zine, but I did continue to think about it long afterwards.
- a fan, [S F], is unhappy with the threesome-bashing she's been reading:
- part one of Regina Moore's "North American K/S Bibliography" (part two was in "On the Double" #4) (6 pages)
- a review of Nome #9, see that page
- a review of Daybreak, see that page
- a review of Choices, see that page
- a review of Necropolis, see that page
- a review of As I Do Thee #6, see that page
- a review of Naked Times #12, see that page
Issue 4
On the Double 4 was published in August 1987 and contains 40 pages. The front cover is by Carol A. Pierce.
- the back page is a letter from "Pacific Whale Foundation" informing Leonard Nimoy that "the Leonard Nimoy Fan Club" has sponsored a humpback whale named "Spock" in his name:
- fan, [L F], writes: Regarding K/S/Mc, I was sitting and reading that classic zine THE PRICE AND THE PRIZE when I found a K/S/Mc story there. I was scarcely expecting one, but I was delighted. It was TAAZ AVINE by Syn Ferguson. Perhaps some readers would not define it as K/S/Mc, but since it involves the same basic concept that created the K/S/Mc relationship in IN TRIPLICATE I would be hard-put not to include TAAZ AVINE in that category. It shows that K/S/Mc used to be integrated into the rest of K/S without being given any special notice or singled out as different. No one thought that TAAZ AVINE was out of place in a K/S zine. I am willing to accept the fact that the situation has changed. But nevertheless I find this change saddening.
- fan, [L F], writes:
- a fan, [S Z], weighs in on K/S/Mc stories: I'm a little late to join the fray on the menage topic, but will do so anyway. The first two stories I read of that nature were Donovan's IN DOUBT OF SUNRISE and Gayle's BETWEEN FRIENDS. IN DOUBT OF SUNRISE (as Alexis so aptly pointed out) was a one-time encounter triad and so it raised no hackles with me. When I went to read Gayle's BETWEEN FRIENDS, I wasn't sure I'd like it. But by the time I was done, I thought: How perfect — the STAR TREK Triad united in love and love-making. I think [Sharon F's] letter illustrates very well why McCoy is a logical addition to K/S. She traces the history that Kirk, Spock and McCoy share with one another to its inevitable conclusion. I found myself agreeing with virtually all that she said. That doesn't mean I'm about to replace all my K/S reading with K/S/Mc. I'm not. For one thing, there aren't that many menage zines to fill the gap, but I do enjoy those stories just as much as K/S ones. I also agree with everyone who wrote to say that menage stories should be in their own specialized zines. That way the customer knows what she's getting.
- a fan, [N P], wants to know more:
The editor of "On the Double" responds to N P:
I don't have access to the NAKED DOUBLES flyer, and it's my personal opinion that things of this nature are best forgotten — in the trash can where they belong. The ND flyer was apparently written by someone who had become embittered and felt that taking a back-handed "slap" at almost every competent editor in fandom was the best way to show her displeasure. Suffice it to say, Nanette, that "you didn't miss anything" by not seeing the ND flyer.
- a fan, [K H], writes:
- a fan, [Carole B], flounces and gafiates: Ann Carver is dead! As her alter-ego, I have quit fandom cold. This decision was reached with much regret and due to personal conflicts. All orders for ACT FIVE, SCENES 1 & 2 and FANTASIES that are still outstanding are being filled slowly but surely, by a friend (Helen Ashley). She has the masters and is printing a few at a time and sending them out in the order of oldest-first. As soon as current orders are filled, the masters will be destroyed. No further orders are being accepted. Helen also has the list of people who ordered copies and the copies themselves that have been completed. My zine collection has been sold to a pro dealer and as soon as the check clears (by the time this is in print, I expect), the copies will begin going out to the people who ordered them if complete. Partial orders will be sent along with a refund for any remaining uncompleted portions of the order. A complete refund will be sent to any whose orders were not worked on at all. Everyone who has any order outstanding with Ann will get either the zine(s), clone(s) or money. All correspondence is being returned to the sender by the P.O. All correspondence is being sent to Helen for processing. Helen is not a fan, and is doing this as a favor to me on her own time. She has sole control over who gets what and in what order. She knows no one fandom nor does she care to. This is not another fandom rip-off. Everyone will get their order settled one way or the other. NOTE: It has come to my attention that some people are sending inquiries to other fans about Ann. This is to state that NO other fan is involved in this, nor will any be able to contact me. The only way to prevent others from being unnecessarily hassled is to drop from fandom completely. Neither the editors of CALIFORNIA K/S, FIRST TIME, NAKED TIMES and ON THE DOUBLE, nor DARING ATTEMPT have any connection with Ann or me other than having printed Ann's stories and/or articles. They cannot contact me now, nor will they be able to in the future. They have no knowledge of the reasons behind this decision.
- a fan, [N S], writes:
- zine eds Alexis Fegan Black and Dovya Blacque write a joint open letter regarding Ann Carver and her sudden, recent departure from fandom: It has come to our attention through several sources in fandom that our zines were being made available as copies through Ann Carver/[Carole B]. While it has been said that these copies are "single copies", we have spoken to other fans who have bought identical copies of our zines through Ann. While there is some debate over whether or not it is "kosher" to xerox out-of-print zines for friends, it is our strong opinion that the xeroxing and selling of in print zines is not only un-"kosher", but is also a slap in the face. When an editor has spent months doing a zine, or even years in some cases, it hardly seems fair that other fans simply start copying and selling the results of that labor for profit, particularly when the editor has made every attempt to keep her zines in print, even if in "copy" form. It is this type of activity which makes editors quit editing, and leaves the zine scalpers high and dry, too. Unfortunately, many fans are unaware that the zines they have been receiving are scalped. The way in which the lists were presented makes it seem that the fans are receiving one-time-only xeroxes which the scalper wishes to sell, often at a lower price than that of the original printing. The fans are unaware that they are paying for scalped zines which are being xeroxed on an assembly-line basis. We would like to make it known that the editors listed above keep all of their zines in print at all times. If you have ordered, or are considering ordering a so-called "copy that I've replaced with an original", please think twice. Remember that editors do fanzines for a labor of love, because they enjoy what they're doing, and because they want to see good stories in print. When someone comes along and starts basically stealing the results of that labor, the feeling an editor is left with is sickening at best. We do have authorized representatives who sell our zines at conventions. At this point, the only authorized representative for convention zine-selling is KathE & StevE Walker of DATAZINE. Any other dealer selling copies of any Pon Farr Press, Mkashef Enterprises, Merrymen Press or Daring Attempt publications is doing so under probably false pretenses. While it is possible for dealers to obtain legitimate copies of our zines by buying them at full price through the mail, then selling them for often a 300% mark-up, this is being done without our knowledge and without our consent (i.e., it has come to our attention that many of our publications were being sold on the East Coast Star Trek Cruise at prices nearing $35.00 per zine). Again, if you are considering buying xeroxed zines through the mail or at conventions, please give serious thought to the matter. It's one thing to buy something from a fan who's selling her/his collection, even if that collection is comprised of one-time xeroxed copies. (It's not nice to feel that in-print zines are being copied even for friends, but it's a whole lot better than finding out that in-print zines are being mass-produced and sold through the mail under the guise of being 'collections'.) It's another matter entirely to be unwittingly led into buying mass-produced xerox copies of zines which editors, writers and artists have labored long and hard to produce, only to have their work sold for profit by unscrupulous individuals. We regret the necessity to include a letter of this nature in OTD, but in light of recent events and information which has only recently come to our attention, we feel it is necessary to warn others against the possibility of purchasing zines under false pretenses.
- a new fan, [N L], wants to know why fans squabble:
- the editor of On the Double responds to N L: Believe me, Niki, I agree with you wholeheartedly -- and to prove it, I'm printing your letter in full, unabridged & unedited. And I thank you for having the nerve to say what a lot of people have been wanting to say for a long time. To me, fandom fights are vaguely akin to throwing stones in a glass house. If the first person is crazy enough to heave the first rock, that doesn't entitle anyone else in the house to pick up a boulder. Sooner or later, the house falls — probably crushing everyone inside. In the past, I'll admit that I've been involved in some differences of opinion with other fans. But lately, I've discovered that if either party (it doesn't matter which) just refuses to fight, then there's no fight. It's also nice to step back and ask, "Is this worth fighting about?" If indeed so-and-so were "boiling babies just for the fun of it", maybe it would be worth creating a fuss. But if it's a matter of differing opinions or a matter of "pride", what's the point? I've found that it's possible to disagree with someone or even to dislike someone without coming to blows (physical, verbal or written). And if it does come to blows, someone has to have the common sense to step back and offer an apology. A martial arts' Master I once studied with said: "It makes no sense to fight over the color of the sky, since the sky goes from blue to red to black on a daily basis. We simply see the colors through different eyes." It's taken me a long time to internalize exactly how that philosophy works, but it does work, and it can be applied to fandom as well as to two mythical warriors fighting to the death over the color of the sunset.
- three fan self-written fan profiles:
- the "History of North American K/S Zines", a list (original pub date, title, editor, original price)
- part two of Regina Moore's "North American K/S Bibliography" (part one was in "On the Double" #3) (5 pages)
- article: "Editing -- When, Why, Why Not?" by Jean Hinson and Dana Angerman ("addresses withheld out of fear")
- a review of Shadows in the Rain, see that page
- a review of Styx & Stones, see that page
- a review of Naked Times #13, see that page
- a review of Vulcan's Son, see that page
- a review of As I Do Thee #7, see that page
- a review of First Time #9, see that page
- a review of KSX, see that page
Issue 5
On the Double 5 was published in November 1987 and contains 36 pages.
- the topic of discussion for this issue is fannish reaction to Star Trek: The Next Generation
- there is an interview with a male K/S fan named Bill S., see On the Double Interview with Bill S
- a self-interview with fan, see On the Double Interview with Linda Frankel
- a fan writes and wants to know if there has to be sex in a K/S story in order for it to be K/S
- a fan writes in and comments on the RPS story in the zine Shadows in the Rain:
- this issue contains a complete, blow-by-blow transcription of every change in the first edition of Killing Time and the second one
- a review of Charisma, see that page
- a review of Shades of Grey #2, see that page
- a review of Year of the Ram, see that page
- a review of Naked Times #15, see that page
- a review of When Fate Summons, see that page
- a review of Daring Attempt #2, see that page
- a review of Naked Times #9, see that page
Issue 6
On the Double 6 was published in February 1988 and contains 36 pages.

- this issue prints the 3-page 1987 Surak Awards ballot
- there is a full-page flyer for IDICon #4
- a fan reviews the story by Alexis Fegan Black, "Night of Mastery," from Naked Times #15
- there is a very, very long article by Dovya Blacque called "Rejection: How to Give It, How to Take It." The last part:
- the fan explains her rationale for describing some stories as K/S and not others: As the one who compiled the K/S bibliography published in past issues of OTD, I feel a responsibility to respond to [Jackie Z]'s question concerning the definition of "K/S". When putting together the bibliography, I had to ask myself the same questions and the answers weren't easy. For simplicity's sake, I, as stated in the introduction to the bibliography, included all stories that were printed in zines that called themselves "K/S", though an occasional story may not necessarily be of that genre. While considering stories from genzines and adult zines. I automatically included stories that had a sex scene (not necessarily explicit) between Kirk and Spock. I don't think that a mere sex scene is a true short story (with plot, theme, etc.), but I do think a sex scene between Kirk and Spock js "K/S"--simply because I interpret the "slash" as meaning "sex". When it came to stories that didn't have a sex scene, and weren't in a "K/S" zine, it was simply a matter of my own humble opinion as to whether the story was K/S or pre-K/S and should be included in the bibliography. Again, some were extremely difficult to categorize. I think all of us would agree that a story docs not have to have an "explicit, detailed sex scene" in order to be K/S. Most K/S zines contain a few stories without a sex scene. On the other hand, I wouldn't dare agree that K/S merely refers to Kirk and Spock being "in love with each other". I think many supposedly 'innocent' genzine stories would fall into the latter category, though the genzine writers and editors would probably deny it vehemently. I know that at one time the term "K/S" simply referred to the Kirk-Spock relationship anywhere from mere camaraderie to explicit sex, and included everything in between. I think there are some who still use that definition. But when I discovered fandom and zines a couple of years ago, it was my understanding that "slash" in any fandom referred to a sexual situation. In Starsky & Hutch fandom, for example, there is a distinct and necessary difference between "S&H" stories and "S/H" stories... I think there are some fans who would define most hurt-comfort stories as pre-K/S. I don't agree, as I don't believe the authors of such stories intend for there to be any sexual connotations, and I think the author's intent should be taken into consideration.
- the author of Shadows in the Rain responds to an earlier letter:
- another fan scolds the fan named [L F] for "naming" the actor who was a character in Shadows in the Rain: ...You are the ONLY person who has named the DREADED name in print. Congratulations. If any harm could have been done, short of mailing the story to the said DREADED name, you've done it. For someone who has gone where no man, etc, and written a CANNIBAL?! story (yikes, what IS K/S coming to?), you certainly have your... ah... nerve? Who gives a flying fuck? The story is innovative, whatever your thoughts on the subject matter. No one disputes the writer's talents. It's certainly not the best nor near the worst writing in fandom. So why the fuss? You aren't trying to bring it to anyone's attention, are you? You really don't think that the DREADED name, even if he read the damn thing, would give a damn, do you? Really? I've heard [L N] asked about K/S. Whatever sells tickets is fine with him. And as your own writing ideas have been considered somewhat., bizarre (to be gently), and no one has climbed down your throat with spurs, why don't you lighten up, [L F]? Come off the ladder and smell the flowers. You're flailing in that tempestuous teapot all alone.
- this issue has a very, very long Open Letter signed by Alexis Fegan Black, Dovya Blacque, Robin Hood and Wendy Rathbone. See An Open Letter to Fandom by Della Van Hise (1988). It warns fans of a fan who is selling zines at cons without permission, as well as "explaining" why some of these bootlegged zines are cheaper to buy than from the original publisher:
- there is a letter from [A C], a fan who very publicly gafiated in 1987 [2]; she answers, via the editor, that: I received a story and poem from [F P] for FANTASIES 2. When I decided not to print, her stuff was trashed, as it was a computer print-out. All computer & xerox submissions were trashed. The ONLY story that was offered to another editor was A DIFFERENT OBSESSION, as it was such an outstanding first effort by a new writer that I didn't want to see it lost or have her discouraged. Her permission was obtained, and Robin Hood printed it in FIRST TIME. None of the others were so memorable, and were not offered to other editors.
- a fan comments on another fan's use of the word, "dyke," to describe Tasha Yar:
- the editor of this zine has an essay called "A Dangerous Trend?" about what she sees as a new trend in zine eds offering cash prizes for material submitted to zines: In order for fandom to remain "amateur publishing", and therefore to remain acceptable in the eyes of Paramount... monetary payment can not be paid for works of STAR TREK fiction. This creates an immediate infringement upon the copyrights... So long as we remain "amateurs", Paramount tends to look the other way. But if we set this dangerous precedent and open ourselves up as "professionals", sooner of later the consequences will be grave... Additionally, writers can become alienated if they aren't paid for a story, and later find out that their b e s t friend was paid. All in all, I don't think fandom needs that type of attitude. If writers want to write for "cash awards" on a steady basis... then perhaps they should seek more traditionally professional realms for their work. Let's keep fandom as fandom. [3]
- a review of As I Do Thee #8 and #9, see those pages
- a review of Kontinuing Saga, see that page
- a review of First Time #14, see that page
- a review of Naked Times #17, see that page
Issue 7/8

On the Double 7/8 was published in May/Summer 1988 and contains 55 pages. The front cover is by Ann M. Crouch. It won a 1988 Surak Award.
- it includes a 1987 Surak Award ballot, one which requested a dollar to be sent in with the completed ballot
- there is no "Focus" column in this issue as the columnist is on vacation
- Jacqueline Lichtenberg talks of her earlier glowing review of Courts of Honor, saying it gives her an inferiority complex as a writer. That, and it isn't superb K/S so much as it is: "... is first and foremost a magnificent novel, a piece of literature worthy of being leather bound and standing beside the all time classics of general fiction. Secondly, it's superb Trek. As science fiction, it's not so superb, but it's creditable. I've read worse from Hugo Winners. But it's not really K/S. It just assumes the K/S premise and incorporates those scenes where they naturally fall," and that she's tested it out on some "anti-K/S readers who love Trek and good literature both" and that they rave about it.
- there is no "Who We Are" in this issue, but there is a "Where They are Now", "a series dealing with once-well-known fans (writers, artists, et al), who have disappeared from the K/S scene." The first subject is Leslie Fish. See Where Are They Now: Leslie Fish.
- topics of discussion for next issue is "Is K/S dying? Why? Why not?" and "What story would you like to see written in K/S?"
- In 1988, there was complaint about lack of submissions to zines: "I hear complaints from all over fandom that zines aren't getting enough submissions."
- there is much discussion about whether editors should give reasons (detailed and otherwise) as to why they reject stories for zines,
- a review from a fan who hates Star Trek: TNG and proceeds to go into detail as to why
- some newspaper clippings about Star Trek: TNG
- listings of available zines, including an ad for Jacqueline Lichtenberg's pro novel "Those of My Blood"
- a fan has watched Star Trek: TNG and while has no real strong opinion about the show, notes: "I do have a charmingly perverse suggestion: Data and Wesley anyone?"
- The editor says:
- a fan writes: I would like to make a response to K.S. Langley's comments about K/S fiction being 'vulnerable to the threat of stagnation', etc. I have read a few similar remarks lately, and that the stories are old, too well-worn, used, etc. I don't agree at all.
- a fan is horrified at the thought of:
- fan comments on the lead story in Shadows in the Rain (RPS): I will not accede to [D B]'s statement that 'public figures are fair game'. The public part of their lives may be fair game (such as the acting career of an actor), but we have an ethical responsibility not to probe into their private lives... If an actor chooses to share his thoughts and feelings with us, that is one thing; but publishing an embroidered version of what he said as part of an erotic fantasy is quite another. I think that ethics need to be much more stringent when you're dealing with in dividuals who actually exist. Further, [D B]'s claim that 'no one knew the identity of the actor' in her story before I 'revealed' it is ingenuous. Even supposing readers were totally baffled as to whom he could possibly be after finishing the story, I doubt they were mystified after reading Charlie Powers' Focus column about "Shadows In The Rain". I find it difficult to believe that there is someone who reads this zine who doesn't know the identity of the author of I Am Not Spock'.
- on the subject of profit, a well-known writer/artist/editor asks:
- a long, rambling letter from a zine editor/publisher concerning a vast, alarming list of why folks haven't gotten their zines yet, wrapping up with: I HAVE gone without food and rest to take care of fandom obligations, BUT I WILL NOT RISK MY JOB or the health of my family to meet YOUR DEMANDS. This is a HOBBY, to be done in my spare time only. Why? Because I can't afford to get fired. Can you?" and "Just like most everyone in fandom, I've been ripped off, too.
- another fan starts a letter with:
- a fan says she dropped her subscription to Interstat: because I could not stand the catty, nasty, personal and sometimes vicious attacks the fans made on each other over a difference of opinion. I would not wish to run into some of these people if my opinion differed, let alone if my blood were green or my ears pointed.
- a well-known (but new at this point) writer asks:
- Jacqueline Lichtenberg gives a LONG opinion of Year of the Ram and tosses out a plot bunny for other folks to run with: Suppose that ancient law and Vulcan physiology are such that the only option Spock has is to kill Kirk, but Kirk has the option of seducing Spock into raping him and thus breaking the Plak Tow at least sufficiently to allow a negotiated settlement.
- Jacqueline Lichtenberg has a long letter commenting on rejected fan fic, LoCs and the difference between letterzines, review zines and LoCs:
- a lengthy essay entitled: Flexibility in Editorial Guidelines: A Maverick's Approach by Linda Frankel: It starts with: It is now fairly typical to find that K/S zines have editorial Guidelines restricting the kind of material that they are willing to look at. This is not censorship. Censorship is an imposition by an authority, such as Paramount, which has the power to prevent the appearance of any stories of which it disapproves anywhere. An editor's guidelines apply only to her own zine. What one editor rejects, another editor may gladly accept. I respect editorial guidelines, even if I don't agree with them. Once I fully understand what it is that an editor does and doesn't want, a try to adhere to the editor's standards. I am sometimes mistaken in my conception of an editor's policy, so I get a rejection. No problem- I've been writing for ten years now, and that's the way the game is played.
- there is an extensive K/S bibliography compiled by Regina Moore. It was also published in issues #3 and #4, and will have yearly updates
- a lengthy essay by Dana Angerman titled: "Rejection: An Alternative to Give and Take
- a lengthy essay by Alexis Fegan Black on what zine editors and readers are looking for and how to write a good story, see For the most part, K/S editors are looking for something "different."
- a review of Consort #2, see that page
- a review of Nome #10, see that page
- a review of Matter/Antimatter #6, see that page
- a review of Off Duty #1, see that page
- a review of As I Do Thee #1, see that page
- a review of California K/S Foreplay, see that page
- want ads and forthcoming zines
Issue 9
On the Double 9 won a 1988 Surak Award. It was published November 1988 and contains 32 pages.

- the editors of the zine say that Pon Farr Press will not be attending Creation Con anymore as, while the con organizers will allow K/S to be sold there, it cannot be be seen in any way. The editors say there is little point to stand around a table that has nothing on it. They are continuing Koon-ut-Cali-Con instead
- there is a long, long con report for Closet Con, see that page
- the discussion topic for this issue: "Is K/S fandom/creativity dying"? Some fans think "yes" and cite the sameness of fiction and the perceived decline in LoCs, the latter which discourages authors. Some fans think "no," and say the fandom is too big, too important, and too beautiful to fail
- a fan asks other fans to take risks with K/S:
- a BNF, [C G], writes in about the quality of K/S fiction and her conflicted beliefs: Previous to a ten-year gafiate, I was a very active STAR TREK fan writer In the mid-seventies. If memory serves, there was no "K/S" in those days. Oh, there was, of course. But it wasn't called K/S. I don't think it was called anything In particular, but I could be wrong. Anyway, I wrote one. A friend talked me into it about a year after 'Ni Var' (STAR TREK: THE NEW VOYAGES), and I wrote the story as a present for her. I liked it, but she didn't. She wanted Kirk to be dominated by Spock, and neither of them was dominant In my story. We went round and round on It for months, all to no avail. Eventually, I tore up my copy because I realized that I had lost something very precious to me in writing that story, and I wanted to get it back. Then I gafiated (for unrelated reasons), so I didn't get it back for ten years. When I became a bom-again neo last year, I discovered K/S (as such) because I was continuously looking for a fix, and almost all the good fixes were K/S stories; by me, most of the other stuff wasn't worth reading. I'm still not a believer, and I don't think I ever was, really. For me, the Kirk/Spock relationship is absolutely unique, and their being lovers erodes that uniqueness and makes me feel homesick. But this doesn't prevent me from realizing that the best writing in TREK fandom today is K/S. Nor does it prevent me from enjoying almost any well-written fan story as long as the characters ring true, in whatever context. Paradoxically, this ringing true seems to happen more often for me in K/S stories than in anything else I can find: if they did, they would.
- in the "Where Are They Now?" column, two fans are featured -- [P S] and [N L]: Regarding [P S]:
- also from the "Where Are They Now? column, the fan [N L]: For [N], leaving K/S was a matter of priorities. Her life had begun to seem like a series of deadlines. Her family and friends were neglected, she no longer enjoyed her art work, and she didn't feel that she was particularly good at the explicit kind ol art that K/S editors wanted. [N] has always considered herself primarily a portrait artist. When other artists arose who could provide sexually explicit illos, requests for her work declined. "So I suppose K/S zines and I really left each other!" she summarized. [N] still reads K/S. She says that early K/S seemed "more vital and innovative.' Now the sex scenes are repetitive. Like Leslie Fish in my previous article, [N] finds that K/S is often boring. Even the emotional interplay is tired, as Kirk and Spock are continually having the same sorts of crises and misunderstandings in story after story. Other times, K/S stories depict sexual practices that [N] considers 'extreme.' She would like K/S writers and editors to find better ways to be original. [N] still believes in the K/S relationship, but she would prefer a great reliance on plot in K/S fiction. "Sex does not have to be the focal point of every story; a good plot line does." Sometimes she still finds gems in K/S zines. "It's a joy to discover some small jewel or a story or poem, a special illustration, something that touches the old heartstrings and brings very fond memories." [N] says that she still loves Trek, likes K/S, and will be a Spock fan forever. She still does occasional covers and may do more Trek art one day, but for how she is devoting herself to her job, her husband, her home, her five cats and church activities. This is quite enough to keep anybody busy. Nevertheless, she says that "even though Trek is no longer the center of my life, it has changed me in many ways and remains a very special part of my existence."
- a fan writes about the lack of femmeslash in Star Trek:
- the editor writes a long, long article entitled "Three Into Two Won't Go... Or Will It?" about threesomes in Star Trek. Some excerpts: ...K/S fans would appear on the surface to be liberal, broad-minded, un-prejudiced people. And yet, regardless of the fact that we have laid aside society's prejudice against homosexuality, regardless of the fact that we can see and accept and rejoice in the possibility of Kirk and Spock being lovers, there are some fans who simply can't get past the idea that our heroes must remain monogamous. Why?... Why are a large percentage of K/S fans insulted, offended and otherwise radical when a harmless little menage story appears in some zine?... The reaction of readers in a variety of news and letterzine publications has led me to the conclusion that perhaps some K/S fans can only accept a liberal stance to a certain point. In other words, we can accept a homosexual relationship in the broad sense of the word (yet many writers portray Kirk and/or Spock as two heterosexual men who just happen to fall in love)... Now lest someone somewhere misinterpret what I'm saying, I am not advocating that every K/S story, or even a large percentage of them should be menage-type material. I am merely saying that a little more tolerance - and a little more open-mindedness - might be appreciated by the writers who are daring to explore this touchy subject... All in all, I think that those fans who absolutely despise menage stories should examine their reasons for this reaction. If it is a dislike of the third party (McCoy, for example), then perhaps it's a simple judgment call of "I don't care for it because of who Kirk and Spock were with." But if we find that the gut-level reaction of, I hate it!" is not so easily explainable, perhaps it's time to reevaluate the values and morals that we have assigned to the characters of Kirk and Spock. In other words, if we find ourselves hating a menage story simply because it is a menage story, then perhaps the fault is not with the story, but within our own social/cultural belief system.
- a review of First Time #18, see that page
- a review of Speed of Light, see that page
- a review of Daring Attempt #8
- a review of Daring Attempt #9, see that page
- a review of Naked Times #6, #18, and #19, see those pages
- a review of As I Do Thee #11, see that page
Issue 10

On the Double 10 was published in February 1989 and contains 32 pages.
- a fan addresses the long essay about threesomes from the previous issue:
- the author of the essay responds: As for your personal opinions, you're certainly entitled to them. However, when you state "We like to think Kirk and Spock are devoted to each other; we can't think that in menage situations" - hold it. Again, I think you're mistaking "sex" for a big, bad monster. Hell, it's a biological function, sometimes-but-not-always associated with love. To say that Kirk and/or Spock having sexual relations with another person automatically means they are no longer "devoted to one another" is ludicrous. The people I know aren't like a can of peas - you open them and they spoil. It seems that you're advocating possessiveness as opposed to "love" for Kirk and Spock. And if one or both parties feels they must "exclusively" possess the other, then the relationship is doomed. "If you love something set it free...." The person who would "hunt it down and kill it if it didn't return" is the person will be insecure and fearful in any relationship. The person who knows it will return because of love is the person sure to succeed in any relationship. Anyway, it's obvious we'll always disagree on this point I just felt compelled to respond to your comments, since I feel many of your assumptions may be based on anonymous statistics rather than on warm-blooded human (or alien) beings who are living the lifestyle you are so quick to condemn.
- a fan comments on the lack of f/f, or the appeal of it, in Star Trek:
- a fan comments on the number of K/S fen: To my knowledge, there are probably about 500 active K/S fans in fandom today, and that's a generous estimate. On an average a K/S editor sells about 250 to 300 copies of a K/S zine within a year, and if you figure that several of those copies are read by more than one person....
- a fan writes to say:
- a fan tells another one: I have heard of the infamous Clause 28 in Britain (which prohibits any government money from going to those who portray homosexuality as another lifestyle, rather than a "perversion"). I also notice with pleasure that British K/S fans are giving something back to the Gay community, in their donations to AIDS organizations. I know that some American K/S fans have individually given money and/or time to AIDS organizations, but I haven't heard of a Con which has done so. I think it would be nice for some of the American K/S cons to give donations to AIDS groups.
- a fan comments on a three-year old review of her pro book, Killing Time:
- several zine eds warn others against a fan, [S V D], who has written, what they figure is about $2000 in bad checks for zines
- it has a three-page 1988 Surak Awards ballot
- a review of Alien Brothers, see that page
- a review of Crossroads, see that page
- a review of Sojourns, see that page
- a review of Naked Times #20, see that page
- a review of An Oath of Bondage, see that page
- a review of First Time #20, see that page
- a review of Within the Mirror, see that page
Issue 11

On the Double 11 was published in May 1989 and contains 26 pages.
- the "Where Are They Now?" column's subject this time is Carol Frisbie. In it, she says that "she still attends a few cons a year, remaining on the fringes of fandom. She has a an abiding love of Trek and Trek fandom was a really significant experience in her life, but she feels that she's said everything that she needed to say on the themes in Trek that interested her."
- a fan is unhappy with the RPS in Sojourns:
- a fan writes that: If Kirk and Spock were 'hard-wired' for supposedly 'male' traits of aggression, sexual pursuit, violence and so forth, then about 90% of the K/S stories cannot have happened. One of the virtues of K/S writing is showing that men CAN be tender and loving... K/S stories show that Kirk and Spock can do such 'female' things as keep house, play music, enjoy sunsets, be devoted to each other.
- a fan comments on the zine, The LOC Connection:
- a fan comments on f/f fiction: Some thoughts on the lack of interest In female slash noted in Alexis' most recent article (Three Into Two...1, OTD 9). The husband of a GB K/S writer once said to me that he didn't mind his wife writing about two men, but if she wrote about two women, then he would start to get worried. Could our apparent lack of interest In female relationships have anything to do with a wish not to probe that area of sexuality? Further to this, fans often say they admire K/S because of the equality between the characters. One of the main attractions of slash writing is surely the elimination of the inequality so often present in heterosexual relationships. If readers dismiss lesbian stories on a no-sexual-interest basis, it doesnt seem we are interested in equality or in exploring relationships. Why then K/S? For sexual titillation only?
- a fan from England writes extensively about the restrictive laws in her country about the sending and receiving of "obscene" material through the mail:
- a review of The Voice #5, see that page
- a review of Fetish, see that page
- a review of Naked Times #21, see that page
Issue 12
On the Double 12 was published in August 1989 and contains 30 pages. It is the last issue published by Alexis Fegan Black.

- the editor writes that this will be her last stint as this zine's editor as she would rather focus her energies on publishing and writing fiction: Many of you know Ande Hughes of GBH Productions for her work in Star Trek fandom as well as Blake's 7 fandom. And even though you might not recognize her name right off the bat, you've read and loved her stories for several years. Many of you also know her through Koon-ut-Calicon as The Main Weasel (without whom the convention committee would have gone stark raving nuts!). I've always known her as a good friend and fellow fan, and I'm sure her editing and publishing of On the Double will be excellent, efficient, and lots of fun for all concerned. Thanks, Ande and GBH Productions for taking on this time-consuming task.
- the editor writes at GREAT length about her experiences in fandom, her impatience with fannish politics, the lack of sincere IDIC in fandom, the damage that fannish rumors cause, her explanations and bitterness over how some in fandom treated her when she was having real life troubles and couldn't get her zines published as promised, and how the good old days when everybody got along and were nice were way better than fandom now. An excerpt:
- the editor writes at great length about zine pirating, saying that her print run of Naked Times has dropped from 500 to 250 and a large part of this is the fault of those who xerox copies of it, or the stories from it, for their friends. An excerpt: This is something that's come to my attention over the years, and something I feel needs to be said regarding the xeroxing of zines... I have recently learned that this zine pirating has reallygotten out of hand, and it is one thing that will definitely kill zine fandom in short order... One thing we must urge zine editors to do is to either confiscate xeroxed zines at conventions, and/or to make it clear to the people running the convention that these pirates are essentially stealing right out in the open. Urge convention organizers not to sell tables to zine pirates. (For example, Koon-ut-CALICON will not sell tables to known zine pirates - for which we received a fair amount of flack last year. These people seem to think it's their right to buzzard their profits off the hard work of others - and they are the ones making K/S zines readily visible to Paramount and other powers-that-be, since many of them don't realize or don't care that children and/or religious fanatics are in the dealer's room. In the end, they don't care, since it's not their name or address listed on the publication). Another effective tactic to use on zine pirates who are openly selling an editor's zines at a convention is to simply station oneself near their table and inform all potential customers what's going on. It is a tricky position to be in, but it does work. And don't listen when the zine pirate tells you that she's "doing a service to fandom'1 by making copies or 'all these old zines'. In short, bullshit. The pirate is doing a service to himself/herself only, usually getting free or cheap xeroxing at work, then jacking the prices so high that it's often cheaper to get it from the original editor or from a friend, in the case of zincs that actually are out of print. Pirates are also fond of telling buyers that a zine out of print when, in reality, the editor keeps the back issues in print. This happened to me once, when I confronted a zine pirate in Los Angeles. Not knowing who I was, the pirate proceeded to tell me that the editor had left fandom, and that the only way to get these zines was through her. Needless to say when I told her who I was, she paled rather noticeably, then launched into her "I'm-doing-a-service-to-fandom" speech. In reality, most of the zine pirates have been confronted and warned in one fashion or another, and they know they are doing wrong. Editors alone can't stop them, since a lot of this pirating is done through the mail. In fact, there is one fan who continues to sell xeroxes of my back issues (and current issues, for that matter) through the mail despite repeated warnings. She literally pretends to not get it when I write and tell her in no uncertain terms to knock-it -the-hell-off. I've also heard the sad li'l speech about, I'm selling off my xeroxes since I've,been able to replace them with originals. In some cases, this might be true, but in most cases, most people don't have duplicate copies of "their old xeroxes". One fan made quite a nice living doing this until several of us caught onto the game. But the damage had already been done: she'd sold at least 10 copies of each issue of NAKED TIMES, not to mention what she'd done with other people's zines. Cute trick, huh?... So... in the long run, editors are doing their part to stop zine pirating, and it's up to the readers/buyers to do the rest. Don't buy from these people, because when it reaches the point that zines are costing the editor out-of-pocket money (i.e., the smaller the print run, the higher the cost-per-copy), there won't be any more zines. And the day is coming much quicker than most people might realize. So please... think about it.
- the editor has a very lengthy letter on other unhappiness regarding the amateur nature of fanzines and how that means that fans have to wait a long time to receive them in the mail; the editor also complains about weird, picky LoCs. An excerpt:
- this issue reprints Editor (1988 New Yorker article about zines), an article in The New Yorker about Roberta Rogow, fanfiction, Grip, and slash -- in it, Roberta Rogow says that Spock Enslaved is an erotic zine: It's not really a slash book, but it's part of the same movement, which is threatening the whole zine universe. You see, in 1976, a story called Shelter was published in a zine called Warped Space... they're mostly about Spock seducing Captain Kirk—that's why they're called 'K/S,' or slash, zines. The slash books are basically harmless. People think that they're gay pornography, but they're not. They are written by women, for women. They're really Harlequin romances within the conventions of 'Star Trek.' Instead of having a name like Angelique, and a heaving bosom, the heroine just happens to be an admiral in Star Fleet. It's still the same girlish romantic fantasy. What the girls forget, though—and this drives me into ferocious arguments— is that Spock is sexually active only once every seven years. I've been arguing this one out for the last decade. That is clear—that is unmistakable. He maybe a gay Vulcan. He may be a straight Vulcan. I'm open-minded on that. But the one certain thing we know about all Vulcans' sex life is that they are sexually active once every seven years. When you ignore a rule like that, it seems to me you're not writing literature anymore.
- a fan writes an essay about the fiction of Roberta Haga and discusses much of her fiction, some of which is The Giver Beware, Something Special, Into Love, Setting the Magic Free, ...And Mate in One, Bright Star, Heartlights (see those pages). The essay ends with:
- a fan writes a "Where Are They Now" essay about Eileen Roy: she is more interested in MUNCLE fandom now and explains that it feels more current and not as much out of character, she also thinks that power dynamics in K/S writing has changed and now Spock is in the dominant position rather than in early K/S
- this issue contains only a few fan letters -- they have the topics of: warning of a fan who wrote a bad check, sympathy regarding the description of UK laws as described in issue #11, a zine ed who is tired of fans ragging on her less-than-perfect zines, and a fan who says that when a zine sent to her was confiscated by UK Customs, she wasn't about to go to court to get it back
- this issue has a "in memorium" piece for Pat Friedman who had passed away June 6, 1989
- this issue has a con report by Alexis Fegan Black for Koon-Ut-Calicon, see that page
Issue 13
On the Double 13 was published in November 1989 and contains 51 pages. It is the first issue edited by Ande H.
With the change in management comes a change in content: the letterzine/adzine is now open to all adult and slash fandoms.
- a long, chatty editorial reviewing the zine's guidelines
- a review of Act Five, Fantasies, see that page
- a review by M. Fae Glasgow of "Mansex," a professionally published book of m/m fiction
- an overview by M. Fae Glasgow of The Professionals's fandom
- the rest of the zine is ads and flyers
Issue 14
On the Double 14 was published in March 1990.
cover of issue #14, by Phoenix
Issue 15
On the Double 15 was published in June 1990.
Issue 16
Issue 17
Issue 18
Issue 19
On the Double 19 was published in June 1991 and contains 40 pages.
- this issue has a review of Vagabonds, see that page
- this issue has a review of Fever, see that page
- this issue has an open letter to "All Fans of Star Trek" by "MCT Committee, W.S. Connection" which is a plea for money for a Star Trek star in front of Mann's Chinese Theatre, which was a promotional big deal for fans in the past, see image here
- there is a long series of personal letters sent between Alexis Fegan Black and a Dutch fan named Lily, in which Lily complains about waiting two years for zines she has ordered from Pon Farr Press but not received, and from Black who complains that she has sent Lily at least one replacement zine but says those are probably getting confiscated by Customs; Black is also angry that she has learned a fan in Europe has been ordering zines, reporting a loss, and getting more zines for free. Black also explains she is slow in producing zines as she no longer uses a printer (due to a problem in 1982, which is an allusion to the problems with Naked Times #4/5), and relies instead on her own copy machine
- the editor writes:
- the editor writes: The third item of business concerns the letter of complaint printed in the "Bulletin Board" section. I printed this letter because apparently that was the policy of the prior editor, and I have never stated my own policy about it. Also, this matter has gone on so long, I feel I owe it to Lily to print it. But, I also feel I owe the editor the chance to rebut. I told Lily I would contact the editor for her reply and she said she would still like her complaint printed, so I am doing so. After this, I would prefer not to handle this kind of situation, unless I get several letters about the same press. Hopefully, the editor and the customer can iron out their problems without OTD getting in the middle.
Issue 20
On the Double 20 was published in September 1991 and contains 41 pages.
From the editorial:Summer is almost over and fail is making its appearance. For this area, that means lots of fog, which I love. I was especially grateful for it after the heat and humidity of Chicago during Chicon V. (Though I must admit that there were some very beautiful days in Chicago , once a storm came and cleared the air.) I did see a few of you there and it was very nice to see some of you in person. I expect to meet more of you at Zebracon in October. I'm really looking forward to this one because I am already acquainted with at least half of the people who will be attending. I hope everyone is getting as excited as I am.
[snipped]
There are no reviews this issue because I did not receive any. I will try to mention publications of note next issue but I really did not have time to write anything this time. In any case, I would rather get reviews from you. So, please, if you have read something that gave you pleasure, let the rest of us know. Remember, you get a comp issue if your article is printed. Instead of a review, I am including a list of recommendations that was given out at one of the Worldcon panels. It might be of interest to those of you who are looking for reading material that is just a little different.
Again we have Marilyn Cole to thank for the beautiful cover. Bless her!
- many ads
- flyers for some cons
- a flyer for fan campaign: Where No Gay Person Has Gone Before
- some reading recommendations from a panel at Worldcon: Recommendations by members of Lambda Sci-Fi of science-fiction and fantasy books that deal positively with themes of alternative sexuality. Includes short descriptions and review.
- Baudino, Gael. Gossamer Axe.
- Baudino, Gael. Strands of Starlight.
- Bradley, Marion Zimmer. The Heritage of Hastur.
- Bradley, Marion Zimmer. The Shattered Chain. Thendara House. City of Sorcery.
- Cooke, John Peyton. Out for Blood.
- Decarnin, Camilla; Garber, Eric; and Paleo, Lyn (ed.) Worlds Apart: An Anthology of Lesbian and Gay Science Fiction and Fantasy.
- Delany, Samuel R. Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand.
- Dreher, Sarah. Gray Magic: A Stoner McTavish Mystery.
- Edelman, Scott. The Gift.
- Edmonson, Roger. Silverwolf.
- Elliot, Jeffrey M. (ed.) Kindred Spirits.
- Forrest, Katherine V. Daughters of a Coral Dawn.
- Garber, Eric; and Paleo, Lyn (ed.) Uranian Worlds: A Guide to Alternative Sexuality in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror.
- Gearhart, Sally Miller. The Wander ground: Stories of the Hill.
- Gerrold, David. The Man Who Folded Himself.
- Johnson, Toby. Strange Matter.
- Kushner, Ellen. Swordspoint.
- Lackey, Mercedes. Magic's Pawn. Magic's Promise. Magic's Price. Knight of Ghosts & Shadows.
- LeGuin, Ursula K. The Left Hand of Darkness.
- McCaffrey, Anne. Dragonflighi. Dragon Quest. The White Dragon. Dragon's Dawn. Moreta.
- Mclntyre, Vonda N. Starfarers.
- Mc.Mahan, Jeffrey N. Vampires Anonymous.
- Nader, George. Chrome.
- Scott, Melissa. Mighty Good Road.
- Weathers, Brenda. The House at Pelham Falls.
- Wittig, Monique. Les Guerilleres.
Another call to action, this one a form letter for fans to send to the Chairman of the Board of Paramount. The author is not credited, but could be Pat Diggs, the editor of On the Double:In our opinion, Creation seems to be failing into a trend lately (even more so than usual, that is). As most of you already know, their conventions over the years have generated a lot of complaints regarding the coordination of the events, a general feeling of displeasure due to an atmosphere of greed, and, most importantly, the overall way they treat the fans. Well, those of you who attended the Los Angeles 25th Anniversary Star Trek "con", June 7-9, will know that Creation has sunk to new depths. The entire weekend was an ordeal of misleading information (such as selling other tickets when we were told the $143.00 preferred seating was the only way to get in Friday and Saturday), endless lines (one every single day, plus they habitually started it late & ended early), and a widespread feeling of being used. Add to that the fact of many not informed that cameras were not allowed in the Shrine auditorium until they were at the door with their tickets and cameras in hand.
But Creation isn't satisfied with just that. A contract with Paramount was recently finalized in which Creation has the exclusive rights to sell all Trek T-Shirts, posters and photos. How long this is for is unknown at this time, but it's almost certain that Creation will milk it for all it's worth. We've heard that they are also in the process of trying to get the Next Generation (and possibly the original as well) cast on contract so they will appear only at Creation conventions. And considering their past record Creation is not the kind of company we would want entrusted with this responsibility. From these points alone it doesn't look good at all...it will all only lead to us being charged more and more, and no doubt treated even worse. We've got a nagging suspicion that if something isn't done quickly rapid increases in prices will soon spiral out of reach for the average fan, next years tickets for the fifth anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation are being sold for $165.00. Well, it's high time to let them know how we, the fans who are keeping them in business, feel — that this kind of treatment won't be put up with anymore! Creation has gone from being "a convention by fans for fans" to just being a typical corporate venture with no room left for creativity or fun, just profit.
If you agree with the feelings expressed in this flyer then please pass the word along and write to the parties involved — every letter counts! Also, it might be a good idea to write both of the casts to let them know how we feel. And if you find yourself still needing to go to a Creation convention then please buy only general admission tickets rather than preferred seating. To make this work not only do we have to drown them with letters but also hit them where it hurts, their pocketbooksl! Please send your letters of comment to: Paramount Pictures and Creation Conventions [addresses included]
Dear Mr. Chairman,
September 6, 1991 Is the twenty-fifth anniversary of Star Trek.
One of the most important aspect of the series Gene Roddenberry has created has been the vision that humanity will put aside its differences one day and live and work together In friendship and with love.
Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation have shown crew members, both men and women, of the U.S.S. Enterprise who are of different races, nationalities, and beliefs. However, in the quarter century Star Trek has existed, it has never shown an openly gay person.
The appearance of gay characters in Star Trek: The Next Generation is, I think, overdue. Mr. Roddenberry has said the worst possible thing that could happen to humanity is for all of us to look, act, and think alike. To include gay characters in Star Trek.is a decision which I feel would be true to this belief and to the vision which has made Star Trek a success.
Mr. Chairman, I ask you to urge Mr. Roddenberry to acknowledge that gay people are part of humanity by having Star Trek: The Next Generation include openly gay characters. Thank you.
Yours,
front page of the form letter for the fan campaign to Paramount regarding adding a gay character to the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation
back page of the form letter for the fan campaign to Paramount regarding adding a gay character to the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Issue 21
On the Double 21 was published in December 1991 and contains 35 pages.

- this issue has a review of Waiting to Fall, see that page
- this issue has a review of Playfellows #1 and #2, see that page
Issue 22
On the Double 22 was published in March 1992 and contains 44 pages.
The editor apologizes for this issue being very late. She also mentions that art on the cover is not what was originally intended; she lost that illustration. The editor thanks Marilyn Cole for the printed cover art and mentions it "was a picture she had given to me some time ago."
- this issue contains a three full-page ad for The Corellian Archives
- this issue has a short review of House of Cards, see that page
- everything else is zine ads, con flyers, one newspaper clipping about The Silence of the Lambs, and a reprinted clipped cartoon
Issue 23
On the Double 22 was published in June 1992 and contains 46 pages.

- a review by Nina Boal of Arabian Nights, see that page
- a review by Nina Boal of The Heart of the Matter Affair, see that page
- a clipping from Smithsonian Magazine, May 1992 called "Star Trek's enduring allure"
The editor addresses a recent plagiarism incident and reprints a response letter by a fan
- the editor's letter:
- response letter:
Issue 24
On the Double 24 was published in September 1992 and contains 50 pages.
cover of issue #24 by Maureen B
There are no open letters, zine reviews, or con reports. This issue consists of zine ads.
Issue 25
On the Double 25 was published in December 1992 and contains 50 pages.
The cover is by Karen Eaton, and features Bodie and Doyle from Pros. It contains only ads.
Issue 26
On the Double 26 was published in March 1993 and contains 50 pages.
The cover is by Phoenix, and features Doyle from Pros. It contains only ads.
Issue 27
On the Double 27 was published in June 1993 and contains 55 pages.
The cover features Kirk/Spock.
- The editor has two long comments, one about cons, and one about some frustrations regarding fans and zines.
- This issue prints a copy of An Open Letter to Fandom Regarding Zine Pirating , an open letter which was reprinted in many, many other zines.
- the editor talks about cons:
- the editor talks about zineds keeping their ads up-to-date, and about zine piracy:
Issue 28
Issue 28 was published in September 1993 and contains 59 pages. Cover art by Tammy Lomas.

- it contains no zine reviews, nor does in include any LoCs; it does, however, contain many, many zine ads
- this issue has an Open Letter from a fan caught in the middle of other Open Letters, see Zine Piracy Letter to Candace Pulleine by Bill Hupe
- this issue contains the Open Letter to Fanzine Readers, Contributors, and Publishers by Candace Pulleine, the chair of RevelCon. It was in response to the letters by Alexis Fegan Black and Bill Hupe. Her letter addressed several points, one of which that it was unfair and inaccurate of Black and Hupe to soley blame the attendees of RevelCon for the decline in the number of zines sold. It reads in part:
Issue 29
On the Double 29 was published in December 1993 and contains 60 pages.
This issue contains a poem called "An Enterprising Christmas" printed on the last page. It appears to be a fanwork but is not credited in any way, nor is there any other information about it.
From the editor:If you are holding this in your hand, I guess I actually got done. There were times when I seriously thought about finding someone to take it over, at least for this issue. The time between Thanksgiving and the week after New Year's to put it mildly, traumatic. [personal info snipped] I have all you fans to thank for my sanity, especially Sherry Zoeller, Marie Aranas, Joan Martin, and Kathy Snow. An your good wishes gave me a lot of positive energy and these ladies listened, (until I am sure they were heartily sick of hearing about it), gave me very broad shoulders to lean on, and were very sympathetic company. They will never know how much they helped. Sometimes the only medicine is a good friend. So, this is a very belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year but who says you can't get these wishes an year round. Again, I thank you all for your patience. I must have the best subscribers in the universe.
Before the crisis, I bad a very memorable time at Friscon. I'm sure Sherry, Kathy, and Sammy did too, since we got a flat tire when we left the con to go into the city for dinner. Good thing the weather wasn't too cold, (though my Southern California friends might not agree about that). All aside, Friscon was warm and lovely. It was as if you were at a big party at someone's house. This is definitely a warm, fuzzy convention.
Last issue I forgot to thank Marie for helping me get it out. I have a feeling she is going to help me with this one too, so I'll thank her in advance. Thanks to Karen Eaton for her wonderful cover. She never fails. See you all at Escapade. Take care until next time.
Issue 30
On the Double 30 was published in March/May 1994 (the date of 1995 on the cover is a typo) and contains 60 pages. The cover is of Spock and it is by Marilyn Cole.

The next issue will be out in September. That will set the cycle correctly again.
[...]
You will notice that there are several new zines where you will have to SASE for the cost. That is because, as usual, many editors did not bother to tell me when proposed zines were finished and available. I had to find out "through the grapevine", so I know they are
out but 1 don't know what the editors are charging. (As I've said before, finding out about zines after I've already set the pages adds time to the zine but it is that or an on time zine with out of date ads.). But, it will be out. Pray that the post office does not raise their rates! If they do, I will have to add a dollar or two to the rates, but like last time, the new rates will apply when you renew. Thanks to Marilyn Cole for the cover art. What a sweetheart. Since cons are my "take a break" time, I still plan to see you at MediaWest. There are going to be many new things out there, so we can all plan to be very broke, but very happy. I hope you are all well, calm, and happy. See you in Michigan. Have a great summer.
Issue 31
On the Double 31 was published in September 1994 and contains 70 pages. The editor apologizes for the "1995" on the cover of the previous issue; "Wonder what kind of a Freudian slip that was?"
This issue has a ballot for the 1994 STIFfies, plus a list of the 1993 winners.
Issue 32
On the Double 32 was published in December 1994 and contains 68 pages. The cover features Bodie and Doyle by K.S. Eaton from The Professionals. This issue contains many zine ads and con flyers, and one newspaper clipping about Star Trek.
From the editorial:I will ask that you continue to mention OTD when ordering. Maybe that way the publishers will remember to update their ads. I'm still finding out about changes by accident, and not because the editors/publishers are remembering to update. You will see a lot of "SASE for prices" for that reason. Thanks to Karen Eaton for her uplifting holiday cover. (OK! I'm sorry and won't do it again.)
Issue 33
On the Double 33 was published in August 1995 and contains 75 pages. There are no letters or reviews, only ads and one Dilbert cartoon.
cover issue #33 by Courtney Gray
Issue 34

On the Double 34 was published in 1996 (May? [4]) and contains 81 pages.
This last issue contains no LoCs, no zine reviews, just ads.
The editor wrote briefly of the future of the zine, and she gave no indication that this was the last issue, possibly because she did not realize it herself.
The front cover is by Suzan Lovett. The editor apologizes for some lateness which is due to some serious Real Life issues:After next year, time to work on OTD won't be a problem, because all of this has caused me to decide to retire. All I can say is THANK YOU for your incredible patience. I did get a few letters implying that I was stealing their subscription money, but only from people who do not know me, and I can't really blame them.
- a zine ed writes: In February 1995, Wendy Rathbone published a new K/S novel by Natasha Solten called THE PRINCE. She sold 10 copies at Escapade '95. In March 1995, MKASHEF acquired Wendy' s publication duties, this includes publication of THE PRINCE. The 10 copies sold were not perfect bound and had white covers; the version of THE PRINCE now available from MKASHEF is perfect bound and has an ivory cover. These are the only differences in the two versions. However, should anyone who would prefer the perfect bound version of THE PRINCE wish to do so, you may return your stapled copy to me and I will replace it with the perfect bound version. I did not sell the stapled copies and so am under no obligation to exchange them for the perfect bound version, but I have always stood behind the products I publish and don't want anyone thinking otherwise. Also, if you ever have a problem with a zine, please don't hesitate to contact the editor. Most of us don't bite, and those of us who do don't bite very hard! We're fans, too, not ogres sitting in our lairs waiting to kill zine readers! Most often, a letter of inquiry to the editor regarding your trouble can quickly resolve the problem. Not writing to an editor with a complaint and 'gossiping' instead is the root of why fandom has deteriorated. We don't talk to each other anymore, and I thing that's very sad. Spreading a complaint around fandom instead of trying to resolve it at the source only creates bad feelings which does no one any good at all. As the editor of MKASHEF Enterprises publications, I am always here for you.
References
- ^ from Not Tonight, Spock! #14
- ^ see Datazine #47
- ^ While she doesn't name it, she is most likely referring to Alien Brothers.
- ^ "Does anyone know what's going on with Pat Diggs and her ON THE DOUBLE? The last issue (I saw] was in August, 1995. She mailed a postcard in March 1996 writing that the next issue would be in several months, but there's been nothing since then. She's not responding to letters." -- from a fan in Rallying Call #19 (October 1996)