Pastak
Are you looking for the Star Trek: TOS fanzine Pastaklan Vesla?
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Pastak |
| Publisher: | Trinary Star Press/Trinary Systems Press |
| Editor(s): | Carolyn Venino |
| Date(s): | 1976-1979 |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: TOS |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Pastak is a gen Star Trek: TOS anthology that contains Vulcan fiction, poetry and art. The first two issues were called Pastaklan Shaturas, which is why "Pastak" begins with issue #3.
Issue 3
Pastak 3 was published in October 1976 (second printing February 1977) and contains 53 pages. The art is by Nga Beck, Debbie Braun, E-Yachia, Leslie Fish, Carolyn Venino, Sandy Huffaker, Carol Ann Matuezewaki, Cindy Mitchell, Gene Reynolds, Pat Venino.
- The Coming of the Warrior by Tighe Vulcan and Terri Dorosch (5)
- poetry page (10)
- Timelog by Bernice Surovec (11)
- The Vows of Vulcan by Jgene Allen (also in Space-Time Continuum #7) (16)
- Can "1999" Match "TREK"? by Sandy Huffaker (19)
- An Expert's Verdict: Trek Wins by I. Asimov (20)
- Southbound on the Freeway by May Swenson (22)
- Sleep of Ice by Jgene Allen (23)
- Star Trek Trivia by Cathleen Graham (29)
- The Feast and the Famine by Tighe Vulcan and Terri Dorosch (33)
- Untitled Poetry by E-Yachia, Andrea Schriber and Joan Florentine (29)
- Reflecting Image by Jgene Allen (40)
- The Jelly Donut Memorandum by Lee M. Jaeckes and Carolyn Venino (The skit script was printed in Pastak #3, (October 1976), Beyond Orion #1 (1977) and also as a standalone zine (date unknown). (44)
- Reflecting Image by J. Allen
- I Can Love You... by Carol Davis (53)
back cover of issue #3, by Carol Ann Matuegewski
page from "Of the Victories of the Warrior"
Issue 4
Pastak 4 was published in January 1978 and contains 81 pages.
- Star Quest, editorial
- The Explorer by Johanna Cantor and David Lomazoff (2) (reprinted in Archives #5)
- Pick-a-Caption by Andrew Williams (24)
- Missing Link by Robert F. Whisler (25)
- Mind of Ozoor by April Valentine (26)
- Song of a Silver Bird by Sarah Leibold (32)
- Ode to a "Get" Writer by Carolyn Venino (34) (song, reprinted in Starsong, can be heard on Omicron Ceti III and Friends)
- Reality by Lee M. Jaecks (35)
- ... And After by Carolyn Venino (37)
- Dreamprobe by Robert R. Whisler (38)
- McCoy vs The Machines by Roberta Rogow (39)
- For Words Never Spoken by Rosmarie D'Elia (40)
- Programmed by Joanne Amadeo (42)
- Great Expectations by Lee M. Jaecks (43)
- Facades by Sarah Leibold (46)
- War Games and Other Tragedies by Nancy Collins (48)
- Have I Got a Zine for You! (ads) (64)
- The Grasshopper by Beverly Volker (inside back cover)
- art by Kathy Carlson, Peter John Fugere, Sr., Stephen Gray, Virginia Jacobsen, Gene Reynolds, Carolyn Venino, Russ Volker, Laurie Huff
art from issue #4, Russ Volker, photocopy
art from issue #4, Andrew Williams, photocopy
art from issue #4, Stephen Gray, photocopy
art from issue #4, Virginia Jacobsen, photocopy
art from issue #4, Peter John Fugere Sr. and Robert F. Whisler, photocopy
art from issue #4, Laurie Huff, photocopy
art from issue #4, Kathy Carlson, photocopy
art from issue #4, Gene Reynolds, photocopy
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4
Comedy, Poetry, Drama....Pastak IV offers something for everyone. As a new- commBr to Star TrBk fandom, I was especially impressed by this zine. I expected to find well intentioned but disorganized writing and copy that typifies most amateur fiction. To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement I The first thing Pastak offers is clear, readable copy; everything organized, margins evenly spaced, and no typos. What makes Pastak IV different from most zines is the meticulous care taken for turning out a physically beautiful product.
Pastak IV offers two stories for the mind. These were THE EXPLORER by Johanna Cantor and David Lomazoff and MIND OF OZOOR by Martha J. Bonds. THE EXPLORER was the better of the two, using the idea of an entity in the computer. This idea was Taken a step further to encompass a friendly, intelligent, self-sacrificing identity who wants to get home. This being, the Explorer, might have been developed further. Maybe someone will come up with a sequel!
MIND OF OZOOR is a story for the Kirk/Spock fans. My main criticism is that it should have been longer. The premise of the story was good - Kirk and Spock in a mind meld triggered by an energy force on the planet of Ozoor. After joining minds, both are returned to their separate identities, each more enriched for the joining.
There are a few stories for those “get” fans who enjoy a reminder of humanoid mortality. Both AND AFTER by Carolyn Venino and FOR WORDS NEVER SPOKEN by Rosemarie D’Elia are very good. AND AFTER deals with Sarek grief over Amanda's death. This short story was very well written. FOR WORDS NEVER SPOKEN deals with the grief expressed by McCoy and Spock after, the death of their friend, James T. Kirk.
Clever is the beat word for GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Lee M. Jaacks. This delightful story answers the question of what happens when a shipment of multivitamin concentrate is mistakenly sent as a “batch” of inject-able contraceptives. The result can be tragic - especially for the captain. Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder.
Now....one suggestion for editors of zines. As more people discover Trek fandom, more will 9tart reading zines which contain a serial. Consequently, without a synopsis, a new reader will not know what has transpired in the earlier chapters of the series. Pastak has such a series - VICTORIES OF THE WARRIOR. Chapter 3 of the series was well written but without a short synopsis. Very little empathy can be generated for the characters in the story. Also, the reader gets lost rather easily.
The poetry in this zine is the only item which fluctuated from great to mediocre. The best offerings here were FACADES by Sarah Liebold, THE GRASSHOPPER by Beverly Volker, Star Quest by Carolyn Venino, and DREAMPROBE by Robert Whisler.
Although a newcomer to fandom, I found Pastak IV, on the whole, a masterpiece of clever thought, great writing and beautiful workmanship. Pastak IV is, so far, one of the best zines I've yet read. For $3.75, it is a zine one can be proud of and is a secure investment in great fan fiction.[1]
An interesting zine, one I'd rate as good but not great. The material varies with top billing going to Johanna Cantor and David Lamazoff's 'The Explorer,' a 22-page tale of the E [Enterprise] with a -- well, hitchhiker, sort of, the dialog and characterizations seem very real. Also, 'Mind of Ozoor,' a K/S friendship-not-relationship tale a la Contact from [April Valentine]. It's well-written, if not entirely unique. A short '...and After' is a one-page 'after-the-death-of-Amanda' story from Carolyn -- it's good and not overly sentimental, and accompanied by a lovely Jacobsen illo; 'For Words Never Spoken' is a sentimental, but I liked it, to pager about Spock after Kirk dies; 'Great Expectations' by Lee Jaecks -- I don't want to reveal the, er, plot of this short, but it earned a good laugh; chapter tree of 'Victories of the Victor' (Vulcan history); there are several poems, my favorites being 'Song of a Silver Bird' and 'Facades,' both by Sarah Leibold. Illos range from mediocre to quite good. Not a zine that will cause controversial discussion, but quite enjoyable.[2]
Issue 5
Pastak 5 was published in December 1979 and contains 80 pages.
It has this dedication: "We take this opportunity to thank Beverly Volker and Nancy Kippax. Because of them, we had a ball."
The editors also note: "Because of unforseen circumstances, we were unable to print Terri Sylvester's story, 'Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,' as promised. We extend our deepest apology to Terri."
- Dedication (2)
- Daughter by Carolyn Verino (3)
- Murder is an Editorial Reply by Enigma Crispie (4)
- Full Circle by Nancy Collins (5)
- Patterns of the Winter Sky by Lee M. Jaechs (27)
- A Moment of Forever by Carolyn Venino (28)
- Poetry Page by Sandi Necchi and Susan Beck (30)
- An Investment in Time by Nancy Kippax (32)
- Computer Readout by Carolyn Venino and Lee Jaecks (39)
- Three Steps in Time by Beverly Volker (40)
- Resurrection by Carolyn Venino (42)
- Lullaby for Tomorrow's Child by Beverly Volker (44) (song, reprinted in Starsong, can be heard on Omicron Ceti III and Friends)
- Beaten to the Punch by Lee M. Jaecks (45)
- No Tomorrows by Susan Beck (48)
- Vulcan Versified by Lee M. Jaecks (52)
- There'll Be Some Changes Made by Lee M. Jaecks (52)
- I am Curious (Green) by Carolyn Venino (56)
- Spock's Song by D.K. Braun (57)
- Interregnum by Roberta Rogow and Carolyn Venino (58)
- Gemini by Beverly Volker (77) (song, reprinted in Starsong, can be heard on Omicron Ceti III and Friends)* Micky's Audition by C.P. Sordillo (78)
- art by Adria, Kathy Carlson, Peter John Fugere, Sr. (front cover), Stephen Gray, Amy Harlib, Suzanne Kirwan, Gene Reynolds (inside back cover), C.P. Sordillo, Brenda Venino, Carolyn Venino
inside art from issue #5, Kathy Carlson
inside art from issue #5, Amy Harlib
inside art from issue #5, Kathy Carlson
illo by C.P. Sordillo, "See! I told you he was only half Vulcan."
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5
...unreduced offset, mainly cartoon art, save for a good Vulcan page by Amy Harlib. Nice b&w astronomical shots on covers, which are a rather flimsy wraparound.
This zine is well laid out and lovingly edited, but the unreduced print and constant double-spacing give the buyer far too much blank white space. With some reduction it might have been at least a third smaller, and correspondingly less expensive.
Five slight stories averaging less than two pages each further the zine's resemblance to French pastry — lots of air and little substance. There are also twelve pages of blank verse of somewhat uneven quality, three pages of poorly drawn Micky Mouse cartoons, and three half pages of ads.
Two long stories are featured! Chapter 4 of Nancy Collins' "Full Circle," and "Interregnum," by Roberta Rogow and Carolyn Venino, "Victories of the Warrior" is the conclusion of "Full Circle," takes place in ancient Vulcan and features a female "Mutant... furred, apelike" warrior who is one of T'Pau's antecedents. T'Kreiger, as she is called, in turn skewers a mad 9' sehlat, a poisonous lizard, and a giant le-matya. She also captures an enemy spy, releases him for the thrill of the chase, and breaks his spine from behind with a shield hurled like a discus. All of this is described in loving bloody detail prior to the story's conclusion, when T'Kreiger dies in another gory hand-to-hand battle. "Interregnum" is a what-if sequel to APOTA, and its light tone and style come as a welcome finish to the zine. If you ever wondered just what the Iotians' home life was like, and just what they did with McCoy's communicator, here is the story, with plenty of humor added.
All in all, I found Pastak 5 somewhat insubstantial for the money.[3]
References
- ^ review in Atavachron #1
- ^ Scuttlebutt #7
- ^ by Dixie G. Owen in The Clipper Trade Ship #25