Play It Again (Quantum Leap anthology)

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Zine
Title: Play It Again
Publisher:
Editor(s): Kate Nuernberg
Date(s): 1991-1996
Series?:
Medium: print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom: Quantum Leap
Language: English
External Links:
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Play It Again is a gen Quantum Leap anthology with 6 issues.

Fans often mistakenly refer to it as "Play It Again, Sam."

Issue 1

Play It Again 1 was published in 1991 and is 165 pages long.

Artwork by Linda Fairbanks, Sheila Paulson and Kate Nuernberg. It was a 1992 FanQ winner - Best QL Zine). Kate also won 1992 Fan Q awards as best QL artist and best editor.

"This zine is dedicated to Ziggy the meglomaniac, Gus the janitor, and the Big C.E. And to everyone everywhere who wrote NBC to get the show moved back to Wednesday night."

[Acknowledgements]: EDITOR AND PUBLISHER: Kate Nuernberg LONG-SUFFERING RIGHT-HAND MAMMAL: Mary Schmidt

DWP 210 PRINTER: Deborah Goldstein

YEOMEN OF THE ZINE: Typing: Mary Schmidt, Kate Nuernberg

Collating: Signe Hovde, Cindy Jenkins, Linda Fairbanks, Mary Schmidt

Punching: Cindy Jenkins, Signe Hovde, Linda Fairbanks

[The editorial]:

What I Have To Say About It

I tried writing this editorial last night, and it came out sounding like a eulogy.

So I decided to give it another try this morning.

The fun in Quantum Leap comes from the talk, the theorizing, the ideas, and the good times you have with your friends sharing this. (Not to mention watching Scott and Dean, but this is supposed to be a literary discussion.) There's a lot of that here: different viewpoints and approaches we'd like to share with two hundred of our friends. The stories are arranged in a more-or-less chronological order, but please remember that each is separate and distinct with no interconnection implied. They were conceived and written throughout the past year, so they may not include your pet theory (or even Donald's). But each has its own internal logic and consistency I hope you will find satisfying.

A few notes on publishing: the numbering system went a little ca-ca because of some last-minute rearranging. Please bear with me. Also, you will notice some blank pages. Don't panic. They are on the flip side of illustrations and are there for a reason. It's called bleed-through. If, for any reason, you happen to have unreadable or otherwise visually disgusting pages in your copy, just let me know and they'll be cheerfully replaced without cost. (This is not an invitation to literary or artistic criticism. We will not rewrite the end of a story for your individual taste.)

And now the thank-yous. I will save space by referring you to the credit roll of every Quantum Leap episode, and then to the table of contents page of this zine. From these people I got the inspiration and the perspiration to carry on. It's hard to say which was the most important. Special thanks to some special people: Elizabeth and Claudia for their super-human effort in getting their stories finished in spite of all the other things going on in their lives; Debra for discovering the zine and delivering in a month; Sheila for doing art as well as stories; Linda for being a sweetheart; and Signe for putting up with me. And to Mary, Signe, and Linda, without whose ideas my story "Imagine" would not be quite what it is.

Most of all, to Mary, for listening to me obsess and not moving out. (After all, it's all her fault.)

cover of issue #1, Kate Nuernberg
  • Wild Winds of Fortune by Signe Hovde ("Professional pressures push Sam Beckett into prematurely priming the Accelerator.") (8 pages)
  • From a Certain Point of View by Claudia Rufus ("Sam leaps Into Tom Stratton -- but no one at the Project knows what's going on as Al, Gooshle, and Verbena struggle to help Sam and keep the experiment running.") (43 pages)
  • After the Boogieman by Marcia Brin (Halloween poem)
  • If I Should Die Before I Leap by Sheila Paulson (14 pages)
  • Futureshock by Marcia Brin--Post-ep to "The Boogieman." (2 pages)
  • Eagle Feathers by Debra Hicks (War of the Worlds crossover) (reprinted in Green Floating Weirdness #9 and Leap of the Worlds) (12 pages)
  • A Little Glitch by Sheila Paulson (also in Author's Choice) (4 pages)
  • Where the Hell is Poughkeepsie by Elizabeth Carpenter (An Elfquest crossover) ("Sam has to learn how to ride a wolf, eat raw meat, and hunt the Menace, as he leaps into a civilization very different from his own.") (32 pages)
  • Imagine by Kate Nuernberg ("It's 2001 and Sam is home from leaping. But his memories aren't the same as everyone else's - including Tom's.") (36 pages)
  • Sunday in the Park with Sam ("And Al. But Al seems to have a problem.")
  • inside page from issue #1, Kate Nuernberg, Sam Beckett as an elf

    inside page from issue #1, Kate Nuernberg, Sam Beckett as an elf

  • inside page from issue #1, Kate Nuernberg, Sam Beckett as an elf

    inside page from issue #1, Kate Nuernberg, Sam Beckett as an elf

  • inside page from issue #1, Linda Fairbanks

    inside page from issue #1, Linda Fairbanks

  • inside page from issue #1, Linda Fairbanks

    inside page from issue #1, Linda Fairbanks

  • inside page from issue #1, Linda Fairbanks

    inside page from issue #1, Linda Fairbanks

  • inside page from issue #1, Kate Nuernberg

    inside page from issue #1, Kate Nuernberg

  • inside page from issue #1, Kate Nuernberg

    inside page from issue #1, Kate Nuernberg

  • inside page from issue #1, Sheila Paulson

    inside page from issue #1, Sheila Paulson

  • inside page from issue #1, Sheila Paulson

    inside page from issue #1, Sheila Paulson

  • inside page from issue #1, Kate Nuernberg

    inside page from issue #1, Kate Nuernberg

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

[Imagine]: I have a few bones to pick with [another fan's review] concerning Play It Again #1. I happen to think "Imagine" is the single greatest piece of QL fan fiction yet produced, and I applauded louder than anyone when it took first place as best QL short story at the MediaWest awards ceremony. We're all entitled to our opinions, it's just Sheryl is the first person I've heard describe this story in less than glowing terms. Maybe it's because I'm not of the "bash them over the head with the facts" school she is. [1]

[zine]:

Al cries: 2

Sam cries: 1

They hug: 2 [2]

[zine]: Five out of five stars. Nice overall organization, the stories follow the Project from the beginning, through leaps, to the end. Lovely art, some poetry.
  • "Wild Winds of Fortune" - Signe Hovde. Sam and Al fight for funding, the story of how Sam is driven to the initial leap. Nice background speculations.
  • "From a Certain Point of View" - Claudia Rufus. Yet another view of the pilot from the Project side - Gooshie, Verbena Beeks and Al, and how the committee reacts to the initial news, something similar stories haven't touched on.
  • "If I Should Die Before I Leap" - Sheila Paulson (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL story) Al is late getting back to the project and a leap has gone drasticly wrong. Sam saves the child from being hit by the car, but is killed in the attempt. Al risks using the accelerator himself to go to the rescue.
  • "Futureshock" - Marcia Brin. aftershocks of Halloween, she also has a poem on the same theme.
  • "Eagle Feathers" - Debra Hicks. I've lost track of who Sam's rescued more often, Catherine Chandler or Paul Ironhorse. Fans don't like bean counters - network or otherwise -messing with `their' characters. This is another War of the Worlds series cross. Sam leaps into Norton this time, but Debra skirts the "can Sam walk if the host is in a wheelchair" issue. I still don't buy WotW in the QL timeline, sorry.
  • "A Little Glitch" - Sheila Paulson. Sam spends a day in the park, successfully saving a woman from a mugger. Al's having a little trouble tuning in, there's a "little glitch" in the imaging chamber software. I joined Sam in helpless laughter.
  • "Where the Hell is Poughkeepsie?" - Elizabeth Carpenter. I'm an ElfQuest fan, this won't make a great deal of sense if you're not, but this story just didn't work. Having Sam leap clear off Earth, to an unrelated time period and still have Ziggy supply information just doesn't make it. My suspension of disbelief snapped.
  • "Imagine" - Kate Nuernberg (1992 Fan Q winner - Best QL story) Sam is home. He takes off for Hawaii, without permission of the government types that aren't through with him yet. Excellent story but I don't agree with part of her premise, though there's really no way of knowing. She has Sam remembering only the initial history and none of the changes. Lovely scenes with his family though. Katie finally can explain to her mom why she crashed her bike and needed stitches - the DJ played Imagine for the first time and she ran into a car. [3]

[zine]: I got Play It Again #1 two days ago, and just sealed the envelope with the $32 check for #2. There were some spectacularly good stories in #1 (I hope Sheila Paulson stays in QL for a while!). I would have liked double-columns in #1, but that's OK. I presume #2 goes over2 lbs, which is why it's $4 for post? Having read the pro-novel just before Play It Again #1 arrived, I can honestly say that this zine is worlds better than the mass-marked crud they're foisting on the fans. I suspect most QL zine-eds would have bounced that novel back for a couple of re-writes, IF they'd accepted it at all. Maybe someday some bright commercial publisher will collect QL fan fan stories like Ballantine did in _ST:The New Voyages_ back in '76-78 -- I think those books are still in print. It's a shame that fans have to know someone to break into zine-dom, which they probably don't KNOW about UNLESS they know someone who is into it already. [4]

[zine]:

There are those who’d be happy with this zine just for the artwork, some of which is stunning and all of which is competent.

The color cover is five shots of Sam from various episodes, a killer. The stories aren’t bad, either. Most of the stories are Serious with a capital S, although there’s one that’s nearly pure humor and they're not all grim by any means. There is also a tendency toward stories that expand on episodes, both within the QUANTUM LEAP universe and in the two cross-over stories.

The first story, 'Wild Winds of Fortune," is another version of why Sam leaped early. It's very much an examination of Sam's emotional state, which is mostly depressed and distraught.

The payoff didn't balance the pain for me, in the sense that Sam is exhilarated by the leap but I was trailing behind in his previous depression. I thought the best part of the story was when the author has Sam remembering brief glimpses of his own past - loved Al's comment about Sam's Nobel Prize picture. "From a Certain Point of View" picks up where the first story left off, telling the story of the pilot episode from Al's point of view instead of Sam’s. I have to confess that my first response as I read it was "Does Al really think in cliches?" Maybe he does... This story isn’t real satisfying if you’re looking for Sam and Al together, since this is mostly what's happening in the Project while Sam’s trying to survive his first leap into the past. I did quite like this version of Verbena Beeks, and her relationship with Al. Unfortunately, most of the other characters the author introduces blend in my mind. At one point two committee member's names are reversed, which doesn’t help. There’s some good stuff to this story, but you have to go through a lot of bureaucratic bullshit to get at it. Those of you who share my low tolerance for same (I am gravely lacking in sympathy for those who invite the government into their lives) may not think the story worth the effort. The last few scenes with Sam and Al are the best, but they're pretty much verbatim from the first episode of the show!

The next story, "If I Should Die Before I Leap." is probably the best story in the zine for you smarm fans out there. I like it, even though it plays around with my least favorite aspect of time travel stories (with time travel, nothing is permanent). Some good scenes with the guys together. Sam gets killed, and Al ends up leaping in an attempt to rescue him. Nice to have Al seeing things as the leaper for once. This was, of course, written before the season opener, and in some respects I think this version of Al leaping is better.

"Futureshock’’ is an interesting little two page horror tale.

The first crossover, "Eagle Feathers," rewrites the WAR OF THE WORLDS episode "The Second Wave." It dodges the usual crossover problem fairly well by having Sam leap into Norton Drake, always an underused character who had little to do in the original episode. Norton works for The Blackwood Project, a secret group fighting an alien invasion Sam’s never heard of because the government covered it up - even though the invaders killed some three thousand people before stopped. Al tells Sam that Norton and another team member. Colonel Ironhorse, originally died, and that if they’d survived the team would have gotten rid of the aliens in less time, saving some fifteen hundred lives.

Sam works hard to change the original parameters, with mixed success. There’s good smarm here, but most of it is between or with the WoW characters, and may not do great things for non-fans of that show. I found the story intense and well done, but I am also a WoW fan. I’m not sure that it would have much impact on someone who didn't know, or care about, WoW.

On the other hand, familiarity with the subject of the next crossover might prove a hindrance to enjoying the story. It did for me, anyhow. "Where the Hell is Poughkeepsie?" crosses QL with Elfquest. taking Sam clear off earth to the World of Two Moons. For those who don't know, Elfquest was created by Wendy and Richard Pini, and has been around in various formats for ten years or so - originally a comic, there’s also at least one novel, a couple of story collections, a fanzine or two, and constant rumor of a movie - not to mention a good sized, rabid following. I'm pretty gonzo about it myself, but I’m not overly enamored of this story. It's the weakest one in the zine.

I think the author is fairly successful with the QL characters, in that they never strike me as glaringly wrong, but on the other hand they don’t get to do much either. Sam spends most of his time running around saying "I gotta save the elves, I gotta save the elves" and generally not accomplishing much. Al gets off a few snide remarks ana yells at Sam when he’s heading in the wrong direction. There’s a cute bit when Al goes to help Sam stand up, forgetting he's a hologram. They both gush too much about how wondrously nifty the elves are. It’s never explained (although Sam wonders) where Ziggy gets his information on the elves - some of the information matches roughs rather than the stories actually printed. But in terms of QL it's an okay stoiy. In terms of simple logic I had some problems. I'll give them Sam's sudden ability to send (the elven telepathic communication), but it's well known that you can’t lie in sending - yet none of the elves notices that Sam is in Skywise's place? What's the point of knowing someone's soul name if you don’t even notice a change like that? And not only do the elves miss the fact that Sam is not Skywise, even though they communicate telepathically, but the wolves accept him as well! A comment is made that since he’s wearing Skywise’s clothes, he smells like Skywise. I didn't buy it.

I further didn’t buy the story itself. For those familiar with Elfquest. this story takes place when the tribe is dealing with Madcoil, quoting some scenes dead on and expanding others, then following the tribe a day or two beyond, introducing a conflict the original made no mention of - a conflict I think unlikely. Basically, the elves, in a kind of rebellion lea by Strongbow, don't accept Cutter as their leader, even though he’d just led them successfully into battle. This strikes me as contrary to statements like this (from the Elfquest novel); "[Cutter's] youth did not hinder his leadership, for he was the embodiment of the Wolfrider’s spirit. To follow him was to follow the living blood of the tribe’s primal seed." And the idea of Cutter deserting the tribe in a huff, particularly when they've just been decimated in battle, is pretty far out as well. I may think Cutter's a little too perfect, but this isn’t a flaw that fits comfortably into his character. The strength and appeal of Elfquest is almost entirely in the characterization, so when the characterization is lost there's not much left. As an Elfquest fan I’d rate this story as a failure.

The last story, "Imagine," deals with Sam returning to his family after being gone leaping for six years - during which time Al and the government told nobody nothin’ nohow. Sam’s family has decided either Sam's given himself some dire disease or he’s gone nuts. Sam ducks out to see them before being properly debriefed, discovering his actions in "The Leap Home Pts 1 & 2" did change things, but he remembers only the original timeline. After he misses various family in-jokes and discovers relatives he's never met who know him all too well, the family is leaning heavily toward the ’Sam's gone nuts’ theory. Sam is distressed to discover being home is nearly as disorienting as leaping. Al shows up about this point, almost as handicapped as Sam. Al knows about the differences in this time line alright, but like Sam he remembers only the original.

I thought the story a little long -I’m of the "bash them over the head with the facts" school, while Sam pussyfoots around awhile -but it’s well done. I’m not sure I agree with the author’s ideas, particularly that the family’s been left entirely in the dark for six years. I rather favor the theory I read elsewhere that Al is sending on letters dictated by Sam. And the last scene is somehow more powerful than the rest, in a slightly different tone. I wasn’t surprised by the author’s comment that she wrote it first.

I’d rate this zine better than average -the art alone would do it -and a definite ’yes’ for art fans and any WoW fans still out there. [5]

[zine]:

First off, I want to mention that I read this straight through during a 5-hour trip. So if my opinions seem a little warped, that's why. Overall, this is a great zine, with stories that are clear and straightforward and tightly plotted. The art is uniformly gorgeous, particularly Linda's illo for "If I Should Die Before I Leap" and Kate's rendition of Al from the last scene of "M.l.A.,' not to mention that beautiful color cover. Kate has truly outdone herself with that one. "Wild Winds of Fortune" is a logical beginning to Sam's leaps and one I found entirely in character, from Sam's flash-backs to his happiest times to his reactions at being shut down. "From a Certain Point of View" follows, telling the story of the pilot episode from Al's POV. Some is straight from the aired episode, some is only in this story, but Al's perspective adds new depth and meaning to it all. I would recommend actually watching the pilot episode first, however; the story is much more readily appreciated. It's still the longest in the zine, but it doesn't seem as lengthy after seeing the episode it's based on.

"After the Boogieman" and "Future-shock" both deal with the same basic theme: if someone is using Sam to put things right, why shouldn't someone else want them kept wrong? The first is the single most effective QL poem I can recall reading, and the latter has a truly chilling ending.

"If I Should Die Before I Leap" - Sam dies in a leap, and some way must be thought up to save him. Need I say more? Good angst here.

"A Little Glitch" is nothing short of completely hysterical, as Ziggy comes across a problem in transmitting Al's image to Sam. Anything I could say would ruin the joke, but it's definitely worth reading to find out. Good illos here, too.

"Where the Hell is Poughkeepsie?" is a crossover with Elfquest that, much as I hate to admit it, did absolutely nothing for me. Had I any knowledge of that fandom, I probably would've enjoyed the story, but I don't and I didn't There are some good moments, but if you're not an Elfquest fan, I'd give it a miss.

"Eagle Feathers" is a crossover with something that I can't identify, but as a straight QL story (which I took it for originally) it's very good.

Finally we come to the last story, "Imagine.' Truly wonderful. Sam in 2001 meeting a family he doesn't remember, some of them for the first time. I also enjoyed meeting them, especially Tom Beckett, in the most dead-on portrayal of an ex-Navy man I've read. The illo of Sam that accompanies it is a bit unusual but a logical progression of years. I can't think of anything negative to say here. (One recommendation, though: do as I didn't and read this one any time but on the way to a family reunion.)

What can I say? I bought it; I read it; I'm truly glad I did; I heartily recommend Play It Again to any potential zine buyers; and I'm looking forward to reading issue 2. 'Nuff said.[6]

Issue 2

Cover of issue #2, Kate Nuernberg

Play It Again 2 was published in May 1992 and contains 380 pages.

The artwork is by Kate Nuernberg, Sheila Paulson, Linda Fairbanks, and Terri Librande. The cover art is by Kate Nuernberg.

flyer/progress report for issue #2

""Rise Again" is based on "The Mary Ellen Carter," a song by the late Canadian folk artist Stan Rogers. It is dedicated to his memory and his music. Credit for the closing song in There But for Fortune goes to Tcm Dundee for "A Delicate Balance," published by Jack of Hearts Music. Gary Larson's cartoons are included as a scholarly comment on how much Quantum Leap material is present (unintentionally, we're sure) in "The Far Side.""

"PIA#2 is dedicated to fannish writers' groups everywhere, but especially ours."

The editor explained to a fan who had mentioned the high cost of this issue that the zine was almost 400 pages, and that she should think of it as buying two zines at the same time. [7]

[The editorial]:

I asked for stuff and you guys sent stuff! Boy, this sucker is big! I kept accepting what I thought was well-written, thought-provoking, and/or different. Then one morning I woke up and realized how much I had. Whew!

My writers are the greatest in the world. They put up with my suggestions and my interference and tell me when to go away and leave than alone. They do rewrites fast ~ in most cases faster than I was ready for. And they are very patient when I don't get back to than in a timely fashion. They also send me disks with their stories on them.

My artists are wonderful, too. I don't even say please (I'm very rude) and they say yes. Thanks, guys.

Thanks, too, to the yeomen ~ Signe Hovde and Mary Schmidt this time — without whom this zine (or any other in all of fandcm) would never happen. Signe gave up as much time as she could and did as much as she could, and I appreciate that. Special gratitude to my roommate Mary who did everything and kept me going when things looked like they'd never come together. She has to live with me when the printer won't print and the copier won't copy and I have too much to do and the stories won't come. I whined, I screamed, and I bitched. And she did the dishes. All month. She did a mountain of work, often without being asked, and this zine would literally (her favorite word) not be here without her. One more thing: Thank God for the demographics.

See you next year.

  • Is There a Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor in the House? by Linda F. ("Al is in the throes of his latest divorce, hiding in a bottle, and resisting the newest young genius assigned to Star Bright. Winner of the Fan Q for best QL story of the year.") (43 pages)
  • After the Last Dance, poem by Jane Mailander (1993 FanQ winner - Poet of the Year)
  • There But For Fortune by Mary Schmidt ("Sam leaps into a folk singer of the 1960's and has to save a coffeehouse from closing down and a new group from splitting up.") (32 pages)
  • A Debt Unpayable, poem by Jane Mailander (1993 FanQ winner - Poet of the Year)
  • As It Fell Upon a Day by Terri Librande ("Kent State during the Vietnam War ~ two days before the students were shot. Sam doesn't remember what happened and Al won't tell him ~ the Admiral has his own point of view about the events of those days.") (20 pages)
  • Destiny's Game by Becky C. (crossover with Star Trek: TNG) ("Sam leaps into Data as the Enterprise travels back In time ~ to stop Dr. Beckett stepping into the Accelerator.") (34 pages)
  • Predestined Evil by Gary Himes ("Earth in 1997 is about to be destroyed by a ring of maverick satellites ~ set in motion by a mad genius who is 15 years old In the year Sam is now. Can he influence the boy enough to change his path, or will he have to kill him?") (20 pages)
  • Accident by Pat Dunn and Diana Smith ("Sam leaps into a desert hermit who lives on the grounds of his present-day Project Quantum Leap. Is he there to save Al's life? How can he without information and predictions from Ziggy?") (25 pages)
  • Before I Forget, poem by Anne Batterby
  • Message in a Bottle by Kate Nuernberg ("Sam is an actor in a mental institution who is having increasing difficulty remembering his own identity because he becomes emerged in the personalities of the characters he plays. Sam needs to protect the existence of the man he leapt into and figure out the reason he is here - then he discovers he needs the psychotherapist himself.") (52 pages)

Issue 2: Quantum Lapse

This issue contains a two-page parody of the fanfiction in the second issue.

IS THERE A DOCTOR DOCTOR DOCTOR DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? — At Panopticon, Sam must learn how to speed-knit when his roommate's scarf is inadvertently left at home. Al helps Sam shop for yarn, and a twelve-year long fannish friendship is saved when the Whovian wins the costume contest for "most imaginative use of the colors day-glow orange and fluorescent green."

"AL LIE" — Sam makes another monkey of himself when he leaps into an ape named Ape and discovers that George of the Jungle has the mind of a four year old. The vine-swinger is not amused when the Project Observer begins spinning tall tales, which George complains about in his pidgin English to his wife, Ursula.

OUT OF TIME-OUTS — Leaping into the captain of a football team, Sam finds that he has no more official opportunities to communicate strategy to his players. He manages to get a message to the head cheerleader to spell out the plays with their pom-poms, wins the big game, and gets the girl — just as he leaps out.

HAIR BUT FOR FORTUNE — It's 'toon time when Sam leaps into Marge Simpson. Homer has the chance to buy a cure for his baldness, but he hasn't got enough money, even when he empties the family bank account. To keep Homer from corrmitting insurance fraud to get the funds, Sam must convince him he's sexy enough without curly locks. Fortunately for our favorite leaper, he is saved from the "big night" when it takes him four hours to get a hairnet over his own blue bouffant.

AS IT FELL UPON A DAY — Sam is stranded in a mountain cabin with a troop of Girl Scouts when they are inundated by 48 inches of snow in 24 hours. He kisses history when he discovers the only foodstuffs they have left are manufactured by Hershey, Nabisco, and Kraft.

OUTSIDE INFLUENZA — Sam is less-than-orderly as a bedpan handler during a flu epidemic in Chillicothe, Ohio, where the hospitals are overflowing. He and his brother-in-law, the owner of Acme Tent and Awning, save the day (and the family business) by erecting temporary shelters for the excess patients in the parking lot.

DESTINY'S GAME — In the dying town of Destiny, Colorado, Sam becomes embroiled in a game of cards with three aging gunslingers over the deed of a played-out -- yet sentimentally significant — gold mine. Trouble starts when Sam can't remember the rules for Go Fish (he never played as a child; he favored chess with computers), and is accused of cheating.

RISE AGAIN — Sam leaps into the Pillsbury doughboy when an evil ad executive decides the diminutive company spokesman has outlived his usefulness. He must convince the board of directors to keep the doughboy employed or his family will be destitute.

PREDESTINED EVEL ™ When Sam discovers himself on a motorcycle at the Grand Canyon, it's not because he's joined another biker gang. As a teenager, he must defy his daredevil father and grandfather to become the shoe salesman he's always aspired to be.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN — In Williams Bay, Wisconsin, Sam meets an actor aspiring for stardom. Caught in a decision between heading for Los Angeles or New York, he flips the proverbial gold piece and aims his car east for the Big Apple. Just in time, and after considerable research, Ziggy points out that it is best not to starve and freeze at the same time. Aforementioned actor agrees, reflips, and heads west to hunger (temporarily) in relative comfort.

STEEL LEAPING — Sam is a high-rise construction worker with a death wish — the man sneaks out at night and goes bungi jumping off the half-finished buildings his company is working on. Sam must save his life by convincing him that real men use trampolines.

GHOST OF A. CHANTZ — Sam lands at a weekend party in a remote country house, owned by the descendents of Arthur Chantz. When the guests start disappearing one by one, they realize the house is haunted. Sam saves the matriarch from a fatal heart attack when he discovers (before the punchline) that they are the victims of Allen Funt and his currently papular TV show.

ACCIDENT — Sam leaps into a baby in 1965 Louisiana, where the current blue laws maintain that diapers are baby clothes and therefore can't be sold on Sundays. His young mother is marching in protest when she hands her baby to a passing politician. In order to leap again, Sam must convince the legislator of the validity of their argument by wetting all over him.

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE — Al must teach an illiterate the alphabet so he can win a scholarship — by spelling out the word "uh-huh" from the letters printed on the inside of a soft drink bottle. Even though he can't read, the winner knows good music and thinks Al is no Ray Charles.

***Don't write and ask us for a copy of this one. We burned it (after we read it) to save Sam's reputation (and the sanity of fandom). Any further enquiries may be made to Dr. Samuel Beckett, c/o Project Quantum Leap, Alamogordo, New Mexico, 88310, in about seven years.****

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

See reactions and reviews for As It Fell Upon a Day.

[zine]:

Four out of five stars. HUGE!!!!!!!!! - one of the biggest zines on this list, but I can't give you a page count - stories are numbered individually, making it a real nuisance to look anything up in it. Kate did a lovely color cover of Sam in five leaps, exceptional art throughout. These are all longer short stories, in the 20-30 page range. Definitely worth the price.

  • "Is There a Doctor, Doctor, Doctor, Doctor in the House? - Linda Fairbanks (1993 FanQ winner - Best QL Story). Sam's getting started at Starbright, Al's dealing with his divorce from Sharon and the custody fight for Chester, Donna just broke her first engagement, and the powers that be want to use Sam to give them an excuse to fire Al. But Sam and Al learn to work together instead. One of the best "first meeting" stories out there.
  • "Ally" - Marcia Brin. Marcia has been one of my favorite fan writers across a number of fandoms for over 10 years now. This is cross-universe, but I'm not at all familiar with the other show - "Shades of LA". Sam's a ghost and gets to meet someone in a similar "righting wrongs" line of work, with the same Boss and the same Adversary.
  • "Out of Time" - Ann Raymont. Sam meets another leaper. She was hoping to meet the famous Sam Beckett and tried to leap to a conference where he was speaking.
  • "There But for Fortune" - Mary Schmidt. Sam's a singer-song writer in a little coffee house.
  • "As It Fell Upon a Day" - Terri Librande. Sam's at Kent State, teaching, during the protests.
  • "Outside Influences" - Mary Robertson. Al's at a senate hearing when he's urgently needed back at the project. The committee wants proof so a Senator comes along back to see Sam during a leap - Senator Diane McBride. Lot's of detail on the Project side of a leap.
  • "Destiny's Game" - Becky Cope. an ST:TNG cross. The Enterprise has come back in time, to 1995, to stop Sam messing with the time line. ddddddddddddd.. Guinan senses more than everyone else again. Sam doesn't need Ziggy when he can access Data's memories.
  • "Rise Again" - Signe Hovde. Based on the song about the Mary Ellen Carter.
  • "Steele Leaping" - Anne and Elaine Batterby. Sam doesn't know who he is, but then, neither does anyone else.
  • "A Ghost of a Chance" - Sheila Paulson. Another of Sheila's QL-Ghostbusters stories. Sam leaps into Slimer this time and Al isn't any too thrilled about it, especially after being slimed. Lots of fun.
  • "Accident" - Diana Smith and Pat Dunn. Al's driving too fast after another fithe with Tina, but Sam is there to help.
  • "Message in a Bottle" - Kate Nuernberg. Does Tony need the therapy or does Sam?

Jane Mailander poetry (1993 FanQ winner - Poet of the Year):

  • "After the Last Dance" - a lovely poem on the ending of MIA.
  • "A Debt Unpayable" - Al's thoughts on Sam's leaps. [8]

[zine]: I just finished Play It Again Sam II, Kate Nuernberg's QL zine, and my god it is good. It doesn't hit the same buttons for me as good slash, but it has some great writing. (Extra points if you are a Stan Rogers fan...) I recommend it highly. [9]

[zine]: ...the first story in this zine—”Is There a Doctor Doctor Doctor Doctor in the House?” by Linda Fairbanks (43 pages) is the DEFINITIVE explanation of the early days when Sam and A1 just started working together on Starbright. It is outstanding! What else? Kate’s previous Quantum Leap zine won loads of Fan Q awards at MediaWest — this one has more of the same. [10]

[zine]:

This second (and at 380 pages, the heftiest) volume in Kate Nuernberg’s Play It Again series includes fifteen stories, five poems, and a number of fine illustrations. While it is not the best volume in the series, it contains plenty of well-written stories, and is a good solid contribution to the mass of QL literature available.

The collection starts off promisingly with Linda Fairbanks’s “Is There a Doctor Doctor Doctor Doctor In the House?” which I thought was the best story in the collection. Ms. Fairbanks undertakes a challenging task by telling the story of Sam and Al’s early days at Project Starbright from a first-person perspective, alternating between Sam’s and Al’s viewpoints. She succeeds admirably in giving her narrators distinctly different voices that perfectly suit each man’s personality. Al’s drunken “logic” is absolutely on the mark, and Sam’s inner conflict between his frustration at Al’s hostility and his concern over the Admiral’s drinking problems works beautifully. There’s a lot of both humor and heart to this story.

In the next story, by Marcia Brin, Sam Leaps into a dead man in Limbo. Sam is uncertain of what he must do, until he finds an “Ally” in the form of Michael Burton, a police detective who uses his channeling ability to help spirits clear up unresolved conflicts so they may rest in peace. Sam’s host’s problem, involving a shady TV evangelist, is secondary to the interplay between Burton, Sam, and Al, which is well-written and fun to read.

In Ann Raymont’s “Out of Time,” Sam encounters another Leaper (no, not Alia) when he’s trapped in a cave-in. This is a nicely told story that makes a lot more sense than anything in the Evil Leaper trilogy.

In “There But for Fortune,” by Mary Schmidt, Sam Leaps into a folksinger in the early 1960’s. His mission is to keep a budding folk group together so they can prevent a struggling coffeehouse owner from being driven out of business. Ms. Schmidt does a good job of developing her characters, giving each one an intriguing secret that moves the story along.

In “As It Fell upon a Day,” Terri Librande takes on an emotional subject when she Leaps Sam into Kent State just a couple days before the infamous massacre. Sam wants to prevent the deaths, but Al says he’s there for another reason. Ms. Librande’s subject is complex, and the issues she raises are difficult ones--perhaps too complex for the scope of a short story. While Ms. Librande presents a sensitive, balanced portrait of the events leading to the massacre, I found that I wasn’t entirely convinced that Sam really accomplished anything in this Leap. However, I have to give Ms. Librande a lot of credit for tackling such a difficult issue. In spite of my own misgivings about what Sam does or doesn’t accomplish, it’s still a very good story overall.

The “Outside Influences” of Mary Robertson’s story are the members of the Funding Committee, who send Senator Diane McBride to the Project to find out whether Sam’s Leaps are all faked. We see the Project primarily from McBride’s point of view. Ms. Robertson does a good job of showing what one of Sam’s Leaps would look like to an outsider.

Star Trek fans might like Becky Cope’s “Destiny’s Game” better than I did. I dislike crossover stories to begin with, and stories that mix QL with STNG especially bother me. In this tale, the Enterprise journeys back in time to prevent Sam from Leaping. Sam Leaps into Data to foil that mission. Sorry, but I just didn’t buy it.

“Rise Again,” by Signe Hovde, is a nicely written mystery based on Stan Rogers’s song “The Mary Ellen Carter.” Sam Leaps into a young man working to salvage a sunken freighter, and learns that the ship may have been sabotaged. As a Stan Rogers fan, I had fun picking out a number of references to other songs by that musician woven into the story (along with a cameo appearance by Stan Rogers and his brother Garnet). (Does that make this story a musical crossover?) But even if you don’t know the song, or Rogers’s music, the story still works.

Gary Himes’s “Predestined Evil” raises a number of intriguing moral questions about what kind of interference in the past is justifiable. Sam encounters a teenager who, as an adult, will build a doomsday machine and will set it to destroy the Earth. Al tries to persuade Sam to kill the boy to prevent Armageddon, but Sam hopes he can turn the boy’s life around another way. There is a lot of suspense in this story, with Al counting down the minutes to Earth’s impending doom, while Sam frantically tries to get through to the boy. Although I think Mr. Himes lets Sam off the hook in the end, I really can’t blame him. The story must have been a challenging one to write, and Mr. Himes does a good job of exploring Sam’s moral dilemma.

Al meets the boogieman in Rebecca Reeves’s “The Other Side of the Coin,” when Sam Leaps into a teenage girl who is kidnapped by a Satanic cult. While the story started out with an interesting premise, I thought the ending was a bit overdone.

In “Steele Leaping,” by Anne and Elaine Batterby, Pierce Brosnan and Scott Bakula fans can have two fantasies for the price of one when Sam Leaps into Remington Steele. Readers who didn’t follow the other series probably won’t be lost by this story, as the Batterbys provide sufficient background. However, I didn’t feel the Leap was all that compelling.

“A Ghost of a Chance,” by Sheila Paulson, is a disastrous hybridizing of QL with The Real Ghostbusters. Since I don’t like the latter to begin with, I’m afraid that, for me, this story was doomed from the start. I suppose there are probably Ghostbusters fans out there who’ll enjoy this, but Sam as Slimer? Sorry, it’s just not my cup of tea.

When Al gets into an “Accident” (by Pat Dunn and Diana Smith) after an argument with Tina, Sam Leaps into a hermit who lives near the Project complex and gets the opportunity to save his friend’s life. When Sam doesn’t Leap immediately, he and Al try to figure out what else he must do. In the meantime, Al and Sam get to spend a little time together and renew their friendship.

Kate Nuernberg’s “Message in a Bottle,” is an emotion-laden story about Sam’s Leap into an actor who has voluntarily committed himself into a psychiatric hospital to cope with an identity crisis. The Leap gets frightening when Sam finds that the actor’s problems parallel his own. Ms. Nuernberg does a fine job of exploring Sam’s frustrations at never having a life of his own.

The first and last stories are the strongest in the collection, offering fine, believable portraits of Sam and Al. Except for the three obvious crossovers, which I could have lived without, I found the other tales to be well-written stories, any one of which would have made a good episode (and I must admit that, while I didn’t care for the plots, the crossover stories were well-written). Poetry by Anne and Elaine Batterby and Jane Mailander, and artwork by Kate Nuernberg, Sheila Paulson, Linda Fairbanks, and Terri Librande, are welcome additions to this volume. While I didn’t enjoy this zine quite as much as the first and third volumes in the series, it’s still got tons of great stuff in it (and volume three would be hard to beat, anyway). It’s definitely worth the cover price. [11]

Issue 3

cover of issue #3, Kate Nuernberg

Play It Again 3 was published in 1993 and is 250 pages long. Kate Nuernberg is the cover artist. It won a 1993 FanQ. Artwork by Kate Nuernberg, Linda Fairbanks, Todd Bridges, Anna Oliwa, Judy Breuer, and Terri Librande.

"Many thanks to individual authors who sent disks, and especially to Carol Davis who sent a formatted printout when the disk didn't work."

[The editorial]:

I love it when a zine comes together.

Quantum Leap fandom is very exciting right now. There are a lot of talented people out there who love this show, and a lot of them contrib uted to PIA. There are also a lot of great ideas out there and a few of those have been captured here as well.

Interestingly enough, this issue seems to be an Al zine. This was only coincidental with the subject matter of the front cover, since I had decided last year that Al deserved his own cover after two compositions (and a third that never saw the front of a zine) with Sam. Sam is still well-represented. But Al has become much more a part of the team, rather than merely a plot device, comic relief, or exposition expediter (though he serves these functions rather well, too). Perhaps this is an indication of the direction the fans want the show to go? (Or go back to?)

By the time this zine comes out, we will know if Quantum Leap has been renewed. Either way, I certainly hope the fandom will continue to be viable, exciting, and active for many years to come. There are many avenues to be explored, and whether QL continues on television, in the movies, in comic books, or in pro novels, there are many directions only fans will go. It's up to us.

I plan to continue with Play It Again and hope all of you will come along.

  • Montana Moon by Leah S. (9 pages)
  • Another Saturday Night, filk "with apologies to Sam Cooke" by Laurel Meulendyk (1 pages)
  • Cause and Effect by Jill Harvey ("Everyone at Project Quantum Leap has been having weird dreams since Sam's last leap ~ when he leapt into Bingo Calavicci. Just what did Sam do in the past?") (13 pages)
  • Home Again!! (filk) by Stan Rogers & the Buddmeister (1 page)
  • Angels in the Architecture by Elizabeth Carpenter ("Sam leaps into a comatose woman who will stay that way for 15 years - or more. An exhausted Al tries to convince Sam her suicide is not the answer. Especially since they don't know what it will do to Sam.") (22 pages)
  • To Feel the Fog by Lawence N. & Robin K. ("Sam is in Vietnam again ~ and changes Al's future. But does he want to?") (18 pages)
  • Pink Slip by Marcia Brin (1 page)
  • Cartoon by Jane Mailander (1 page)
  • Aftershock by Sheila Paulson (14 pages)
  • The Train by Rebecca Reeves ("Sam leaps into a doctor with cancer and helps him to die for a reason.") (27 pages)
  • Gifts, poems by Candyce Nathanson-Goldstein (1 page)
  • Well Enough by Donna E. Hutt-Stapfer ("Al is the only chance for a young woman dying from leukemia. But it is 1979 and Al is disillusioned, embittered, and newly returned from Vietnam.") (31 pages)
  • Sonnets from the Witnesses, poems about the Kennedy assassination by Jane Mailander (1 page)
  • Ripples by D.J. Walters ("Al finds himself leaping ~ married to the wrong woman and with a baby that looks an awful lot like himself.") (32 pages)
  • Call Waiting by Terri Librande (5 pages)
  • Through the Blue Door, filk "(With a little help from CCR "Lookin' Out My Back Door")" by The Buddmeister (1 page)
  • My Brother's Keeper by Carol Davis ("Sam is a homeless person, finding it difficult to cope, too proud to ask for help. And when his hologrammic observer appears, it isn't Al!") (40 pages)
  • Cartoon by Jane Mailander (1 page)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

I’d heard from several sources that Ms. Nuernberg’s Play It Again series was good, and they certainly didn’t exaggerate! Volume 3 in the series was the first I’d read, and every story is of professional quality, or darn close to it--not to mention the artwork inside, which (with only a couple of exceptions) is fabulous (my favorite is Ms. Nuernberg’s gorgeous portrait of Donna). I tend to write marginal notes in zines as I read, and for this one, my comments ran along the lines of “Wow!”, “Neat idea!” and “Yes, yes, yes!” I wish every QL collection were of this caliber. I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of this series.

The volume gets off to a promising start with Leah Starsky’s “Montana Moon,” in which Sam encounters a suicidal young man at a time when Sam is beginning to question the worth of what he’s been doing. There are some good introspective moments, and a nice closing conversation between Sam and Al.

“Cause and Effect,” by Jill Harvey, takes place immediately after A Leap for Lisa. Verbena tries to figure out why Al and other Project staff are suffering from strange dreams after Sam’s last Leap. Ms. Harvey develops the idea effectively, including some information about Edward St. John V’s role in the Project.

In “Angels in the Architecture,” by Elizabeth Carpenter, Sam Leaps into an elderly woman who has been rendered comatose by an incompetent and corrupt doctor. Barely able to communicate, Sam has to figure out how to help his host while Al tries to convince the chief physician at the Project that Sam is still alive. Ms. Carpenter presents an intriguing exploration of the mind-body- aura question, and gives Al and Sam some wonderful, thought-provoking dialogue.

Al and Sam’s paths cross in “To Feel the Fog,” by Lawrence N. and Robin C. Kwong, when Sam Leaps into the Vietnam War once again. While trying to prevent the death of a member of his company, Sam encounters a group of POWs that includes Al, and inadvertently does something that could destroy their friendship. This story was creepy and very effective in the way it explored the domino effect of the changes Sam makes.

Sheila Paulson brings Al and Sam together to resolve an “unconscious wrong" n “Aftershock.” The two meet in a strange place that is neither earthly nor spiritual, to talk out their differences and reforge their friendship. Paulson does a very good job of having Sam and Al express their affection for each other without falling into maudlin sentimentality (which is a failing many stories of this type tend to lean toward).

Sam Leaps into a doctor who attempts to commit suicide after being diagnosed with cancer, in “The Train,” by Rebecca Reeves. Sam learns that a train ticket the doctor purchased might be the key to his Leap. I’ve read several of Ms. Reeves’s stories, and this is the best of her work that I’ve seen so far. The end- ing is absolutely perfect!

Sam Leaps into a doctor dealing with a leukemia patient in “Well Enough,” by D.E. Hutt-Stapfer. The patient will die if she cannot get a bone marrow trans- plant, but finding a donor proves diffi- cult, because Sam can find little information about the woman’s family. Then he learns of a connection between the patient and Al. The writer does an excellent job of dealing with an emotional issue. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Sam, his patient, and young Al develop.

The “Ripples” referred to in the title of D.J. Walters’s story are a metaphor for the way Al’s memory changes when Sam alters events in the Observer’s life. When Sam prevents the death of Al’s lover, Lisa Sherman (A Leap for Lisa), however, the effect is more of a tidal wave than a ripple, especially since, in this story, Lisa turns out to be Beth Calavicci’s sister. “Ripples” is full of intriguing surprises that never seem forced.

Carol Davis’s “My Brother’s Keeper” involves Tom Beckett in an attempt to bring Sam home and salvage Project Quantum Leap after Sam Leaps into a homeless man. Ms. Davis does a great job of portraying the brothers’ relationship and exploring Sam’s motives for Leaping. The ending of this story was very satisfying.

Included among the more serious stories are two well-written humorous sketches: “Pink Slip,” by Marcia Brin, wherein we encounter Sam on his sixty-fifth birthday, and “Call Waiting,” by Terri Librande, in which Ziggy’s curiosity about human nature leads the computer into mischief.

The collection also includes several poems by Laurel Meulendyk, The Buddmeister, Candyce Nathanson- Goldstein, and Jane Mailander. Most of the poems are filks--take-offs of popular songs, with the lyrics altered to suit Sam and Al’s situations. (I loved the Buddmeister’s parody of Stan Rogers’s “Mary Ellen Carter”--I didn’t know there were other Leapers who were Stan Rogers fans, too!)

On top of its fine contents, the zine seems to have been meticulously edited and proofread--typos and grammatical boo-boos are few and far between.

I have no reservations about recommending Play It Again 3. There isn’t a weak story in the bunch--each tale is better than the preceding one. All of the writers show a good grasp of Sam and Al’s personalities. While a number of stories have sentimental moments between the two friends, the authors generally succeed in maintaining Sam and Al’s “guyness” and preventing them from drowning in mush. There’s a fine line between effective, emotional writing and maudlin schmaltz, and it’s very tricky to stay on the right side of it, but these stories definitely succeed. I was pleased with the way the collection brought up all sorts of intriguing questions and ideas about Sam and Al’s relationship and Leaping in general (I kept thinking, “Yes, this is exactly what I’ve been wondering,” or “That’s just what I imagined Sam (or Al) would be thinking (or how he would be behaving).” Not only are Sam and Al accurately depicted, but “supporting” characters are also explored in depth in these stories. If, as I’ve noted earlier, QL zines are like a box of chocolates, Play It Again 3 is definitely a box of deluxe truffles. And, at about the same price as a pound of deluxe truffles, it’s not fattening, and you can enjoy it more than once. I certainly intend to.[12]

Issue 4

cover of issue #4, Kate Nuernberg
flyer for issue #4

Play It Again 4 was published in fall 1994 and contains 220 pages.

From a flyer:

Oh no! Not Again! Yes, actually, it's Play It Again. We're back for a fourth issue and we think it's great. We're redesigned with ten point type in two columns, and that means a lot more story on fewer pages. (Or as Al would say, more bang for your buck. But we're above that.) We have fourteen stories, four poems, filks, little ditties, cartoons, and artwork. Our contributors are L. A. Carr, Carol Davis, Pat Dunn & Diana Smith, Tracy E. Finifter, Meg Garrett, Robin K., Terri Librande, Mindy Peterman & Judy Roberts, Patricia Poole, Mary Robertson, Jessica Ross, [Leah S], and Melinda Young; Judy Breuer, Laura Dames, Linda Fairbanks, <=minds-i-view=>, and Anna Oliwa; Melanie Athene, Cicatrice du Veritas, Jane Mailander, Kimberly Marshall, and Jan Suchomel; color cover by Kate Nuernberg. A treasure trove on two hundred and twenty pages.

[snipped]

Send SASE for notice of publication. Caution: This zine may be hazardous to your emotional health. Angst level exceeds M.D.R.

flyer for issue #4

From another flyer:

[WANTED]

In the flesh. And if we can't have them that way, we'll take stories, poetry, filks, and artwork. Yes, folks, we're accepting submissions for #4. We had such a wonderful time with our last issue, we want to continue the fun. (Actually, we just like looking at the finished product The whole process reminds us a bit of Sisyphus and rolling a big boulder up a hil.) If you have a Quantum Leap story, half a story, or an idea, now is the time to get moving on it We need you! If you are an artist who can't stop drawing Sam and Al, or just want to illo your way to a free copy, let us know. We need you, too! We will also accept SASEs for notification of print date.

What do we look for in a story? Well, this answer may look a lot like everyone else's, but let us try, anyway. If you have read our other issues of Play It Again, it is the best example of the kind of stories we like - material that says something new, is thought-provoking, or says it in a different way. A story should be character driven, whether that is Sam, Al, Verbena Beeks, or the Devil. The story should have its own internal logic, while it tries to stick as closely as possible to the tenets of quantum leaping. (Except,possibly, for the last show of the season, which we haven't seen yet and are prepared to be open-minded about. Also, we know it is not always easy to follow the theories of the show, since Donald seems to change his mind from week to week.) All characters should have solid motivation for whatever they do, and this includes the "bad guys". All plot twists need solid logic lurking behind them; we're not real crazy about the "then a miracle happened" school of writing.

Be prepared. I edit and critique stories, and I don't accept everything that is submitted. But rest assured, I love reading stories, I find a lot to like in fan stories, and mostly I just want your story to be the best you can do. Also, I am selling a zine, and I want my buyers to think they got their money's worth.

Practical considerations: any time you want information from any zine editor, you must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. If you want the submitted copy of the story returned to you, you must include an envelope of the proper size and postage. All stories must be typed, double-spaced, in a readable typeface. Please send a hard copy. If your computer and mine are compatible, we'll worry about sending disks after I have accepted your story. Also, if you send computer printout, tear the sheets apart. For a comp copy, prose should be approximately 1,500 words, poetry should be two pages (or two poems), and artists should submit two illos. (All this is extremely subjective and therefore negotiable.)

Play It Again #4 will be printed in Spring 1994. I stick pretty close to deadlines, since this is an involved process and everything depends on what goes before. In order to anticipate rewrites, stories are due in my hands by January 15. And since I plan on taking a break before I get into all this again, please do not send submissions before September, 1993. (If you do, be prepared to get only an acknowledgement back immediately, not word of acceptance.) This should be your best work, not a first draft This date gives you enough time to do further work, if necessary; if not you can sit back and relax.

If you have any questions, feel free. Opinions are cheap. I've got a zillion of them!

From the editorial:

Well, it's been a year since we've seen Sam make anew leap, and we all survived. Barely.

What has made it tolerable, and even enjoyable, has been keeping in touch with friends and fellow fans — in living rooms, on the telephone, through the mail, and at conventions. Keeping in touch with people like the ones whose work you see on these pages —discussing ideas, writing stories and poetry, drawing pictures. Without them, Sam and Al would be fond memories by now, ghosts on videotape. Thanks to everyone —those who contribute here, those who send their work to other zines, those who produce zines. and those who buy them —for keeping this wonderful fandom alive. What you see on these pages is partly in answer to the last episode, partly an effort to make it work, and partly a reaching back into older episodes and former seasons to capture all the facets of Quantum Leap. On the table of contents you will see the editor's small effort to

keep all this in context for everyone —the date of the leap, then a reference to an episode timeframe.

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4

This is another of Kate’s excellent zines, possibly the best-looking one yet, thanks to her new computer. I like the feature of noting in the table of contents “when” a story is presumed to have taken place, especially with so many authors visualizing alternate universes splitting off from the episode Mirror Image. I also enjoyed the section containing contributors’ comments about themselves, their works, or the series in general.

The lead-off story, Carol Davis’s “The Photograph”, is one of the best. A missing-scene from Pool Hall Blues, it is a lovely character-study, in which Sam finds out just how much Eddie ‘Black Magic’ Walters really meant to a runaway boy named Al.

“Contact”, by Patricia Poole, is another of her post-Mirror Image stories. Here she postulates the idea that Sam and Al have developed a telepathic link with one another, presumably because of all those years that Al was tuned into Sam’s brainwaves while Observing. An interesting treatment of a familiar idea, with very good characterizations and excellent dialogue.

Another story I liked was “‘00” by Jessica Ross, in which time stands still for Sam and his observer, one New Year’s Eve. Or is it, really? Nicely done.

Additional fiction contributors include Mindy Peterman and Julia Roberts, Mary Robertson, L.A. Carr, and Meg Garrett, among others. There are poetry contributions by Jan Suchomel, and Jane Mailander, among others. Each story or poem is illustrated with art; contributors include Kate Nuernberg (who did a terrific color montage for the cover); the talented <=minds-i-view=> and Terri Librande (who offers a portfolio of Sam-as-Fabio drawings, and an amusing story to go with them).

Definitely recommended.[13]

Issue 5

cover of issue #5, Anna Oliwa.

From the editorial: "Speaking of my story (now infamous in fandom for being the longest in progress but not the longest in pages), the cover art that graces this issue is actually an illustration for it. Anna Oliwa drew this almost two years ago, when she read the beginning of "An Innocent Man". (She won't recognize the title. We've gone through four of them since she's read it.) It was supposed to go on the cover of #4 (with the story inside). Since the story didn't get finished, the art was pulled and I had to provide another cover at the last minute. I refused to do that this time. So there, Anna. And you guys will see this again eventually, with the story, and at least one more piece of beautiful art rendered by a gracious lady from England who liked Sam-in-a-closet (literally) enough to try to bribe me to finish."

"An Innocent Man" was finally published in "Play It Again" #6.
flyer for issue #5

Play It Again 5 was published in 1995 and contains 230 pages.

The art is by Kate Nuernberg, [minds-i-view], Linda Fairbanks, Anna Oliwa, Terri Librande, and Judy Breuer. There is a cartoon by the editor's dad, Bill Neurnberg.

It came with a letter of comment supplement:

... enclosed with each copy of this zine will be the Play It Again Quick and Dirty LoC. We love feedback from our readers, and we know that many of you simply don’t have the time to reply. (Thanks, by the way, to all of you who have done so in the past. It is you who give us all the strength to carry on in the dark before the dawn.) Fill it out as completely or incompletely as you wish, scribble on the back or not, put it in an envelope or not, and mail it to the preprinted address (sorry there's no stamp, but I'm not that much into bribery.)

The editor includes this warning:

The story "River of Hope" should be read only by mature individuals who can handle the concept of homosexuality. While this is not"/" (gay erotic) fiction, it is an adult and occasionally explicit story. Reader discretion is advised.

Also from the editor:

Play It Again 5 is dedicated to Dennis Wolfberg, who made a short guy with bad breath into a living, lovable human being. With immense gratitude from your fans and the fans of Quantum Leap, we'll miss you and remember you.

  • ...For a Friend by Patricia Dunna & Diana Smith ("Sam always changes lives for the better - but what has he done to Al?") (1)
  • Free Will (Quantum Accelerators, and the Viet Cong), poem by Robin Kwong (12)
  • Mr. Wisherman by Mindy Peterman ("A young boy thinks Al looks just like his favorite children's show host from the 50s — but Sam is there for darker reasons.") (12)
  • The Definition of Freedom by Tracy E. Finifter ("Sam has leapt into the same person just twice, and one of them is Al Calavicci - this time in 1970.") (43)
  • Sam (the Stick Man) Leaps Again by Bill Neurnberg (cartoon by Kate's dad)
  • Promise Me a Carousel by Leah S. ("Sam is a mental patient again, locked in a bedroom, and talking to people who aren't there.") (69)
  • Going West by Lorraine Anderson (81)
  • Sam Shows by Lorraine Anderson (sequel to Going West) (83)
  • Admiral Al, filk by Lorraine Anderson (90)
  • River of Hope by Melinda Young ("In the San Francisco of 1973, Sam discovers a new lifestyle and the reality of AIDS.") (93)
  • The Wanderer, poem by Robin Kwong (122)
  • Band of Silver, Band of Gold by Jessica Ross ("Sam is lost in time and Beth learns what that means to her.") (123)
  • Sam's Oh, Boy, filk by Lorraine Anderson (132) k)
  • My Brother, the Beauty Queen by Kim Smith & Judi Toth ("Sam is home and there are tales to tell - and Al has a few of his own.") (133)
  • For Donna, poem by Mary Robertson (138)
  • The Letter by Sheila Paulson ("Sam meets a lawyer he's encountered before, and touches Al in a special way.") (139)
  • Superstition by Dana Rae Pugh ("A teenage boy is missing, his mother thinks Sam is a psychic who can help her, and Sam is in contact -- somehow.") (153)
  • A Stitch in Time by Jane Mailander ("Sam is leaping on his own, but finds he has to return to the Project and Al.") (177)
  • Bad to the Bone, filk by Lorraine Anderson (188)
  • Eggbeater by Patricia Poole (Sequel to "Contact" in issue #4 - "Sam and Al have to determine whither goest the Project - and how to get there.") (189)
  • The Sea-Wife, poem by Jane Mailander (208)
  • Natural Father by Mary Schmidt ("Sam is an Episcopalian priest who has to figure out which of his flock has an invisible problem.") (209)
  • After Having Danced Once More, in San Diego, poem by Robin Kwong (242)
  • Contributor's Comments Authors (243)
  • Cartoon by Jane Mailander (246)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5

After I’d finished reading Play It Again 3, I thought Kate Nuernberg would really have to go some to equal or surpass it. Well, with #5 in the series, she has. Fourteen stories, beautifully illustrated by Ms. Nuernberg, <minds-i-view>, Judy Brueur, Linda Fairbanks, and Terri Librande, make up this fine anthology. A word of warning: this volume is not exactly light reading. Many of the stories are dark in tone, dealing with disturbing issues and raising a number of unsettling questions.

Like most QL zines that have been published in the past three years, PIA#5 contains several post-“Mirror Image” stories--four serious and one humorous. Each one takes a different slant in its view of Sam’s final Leap and its consequences. I enjoyed comparing each writer’s version of PQL’s future.

Patricia Dunn and Diana Smith open the anthology with “For A Friend,” in which Al, in his new life with Beth, finds that he has never been a part of Project Quantum Leap. He still remembers the first version of the past, however, and tries to find a way to bring Sam Home. Jessica Ross’s “Band of Silver, Band of Gold” is an emotionally charged vignette in which Beth and Al come to terms with the changes Sam has made in their lives.

Jane Mailander’s “A Stitch in Time” provides an intriguing explanation of why Sam can’t go Home, and what he does to reconcile Al to the situation. While her conclusion may be hard to accept emotionally, it provides a logical closure to “Mirror Image.”

Patricia Poole’s “Eggbeater” forms a mini-trilogy with her “Hide and Seek” (in Look Before You Leap IV) and “Contact” (in Play It Again 4). Sam is finally Home, and on the verge of publishing the results of his experiment. But he finds himself working against government bureaucrats who are determined to turn PQL into a weapon. Ms. Poole does a fine job of showing the relationships between Sam and Al and their spouses.

On the lighter side, Kim Smith and Judi Toth’s “My Brother, the Beauty Queen” shows Al doing his best to embarrass a newly-returned Sam in front of his family.

Sam Leaps into Al’s life in two stories. The Leaper finds himself in a POW camp in Tracy Finifter’s “The Definition of Freedom,” in which Sam must help another prisoner come to terms with his captivity. Meanwhile, Al has to deal with his younger self in the Waiting Room. In the second Al story, Sam delivers “The Letter” (Sheila Paulson) that could change his friend’s life. I have to admit that every time I come across another “Sam-Leaps-into-Al’s-life” story, I think, “Hasn’t this been done to death?” But Ms. Finifter and Ms. Paulson both have managed to come up with new twists on the theme. Before I knew it, I was sucked right in and enjoying every minute.

Lorraine Anderson’s companion stories, “Going West,” and “Sam Shows” postulate a novel (and somewhat unsettling) scenario for what happens when Sam fails on his Leaps.

A four-year-old gleefully mistakes Al for a television character in Mindy Peterman’s “Mr. Wisherman.” As the boy’s older brother, Sam must protect him from an alcoholic parent in this Christmas story. I especially liked Ms. Peterman’s portrayal of Melanie, the boy’s mother. The character was so well- developed that I just couldn’t help feeling sorry for her, even though she was the villain of the piece.

Leah Starsky’s “Promise Me A Carousel” Leaps Sam into a young man who is apparently schizophrenic--or is he? The story becomes chilling when Sam seems to be experiencing his host’s mental symptoms. While I found Sam’s personality change fascinating, I thought the resolution of his problem was a little abrupt and the ending of this story seemed a bit rushed.

In “River of Hope,” Melinda Young adeptly handles a number of unsettling issues when she Leaps Sam into a young gay man who has just begun a relationship with a new lover. Sam’s initial response of discomfort, followed by guilt over his discomfort, seemed right on target to me. The story takes on a dark tone when Sam begins to experience his host’s disturbing memories, and the two men’s personalities start to merge. While it’s not slash, the story is sexually explicit, and definitely not for the homophobic. (On the other hand, maybe it would open a few minds.)

Another story that is both challenging and well-executed is Mary Schmidt’s “Natural Father,” in which Sam Leaps into a priest who finds out that one of his congregation may be a child molester.

While it’s hard to pick a favorite in a zine that includes so many good stories, I’d have to say that Dana Rae Pugh’s “Superstition” is one of the best in the collection. Sam is a pseudo-psychic who’s been hired by a woman to help find her lost son. Sam is haunted by visions of the boy that threaten to overwhelm him. As I have an aversion to wimpy female characters, I especially enjoyed Leanza, the boy’s mother, who is anything but wimpy.

As usual, Kate Nuernberg has put together a meticulously edited collection of stories that ranges from very good to excellent. Following in true QL tradition, she has not shyed [sic] away from difficult issues, and her contributors have handled them very well. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with for PIA#6. [14]

Issue 6

Play It Again 6 was published in 1996. It contains two novels.

  • Shakedown by Pat Poole
  • An Innocent Man by Kate Nuernberg (See the author's comments about this story (which she described as the longest WIP in the fandom) on the cover of the previous issue.)

References

  1. ^ from a fan in The Imaging Chamber #6
  2. ^ from Kitty's Smarm Ratings for QL Zines by Kitty Woldow (1991)
  3. ^ QL Fanzine Reviews File #1 by Mary Anne Espenshade (June 23, 1994)
  4. ^ comments from Virgule-L, quoted anonymously (December 2, 1992)
  5. ^ from The Imaging Chamber #9
  6. ^ from The Hologram #3
  7. ^ from MPH's notes
  8. ^ from QL Zine Reviews File #2 by Mary Anne Espenshade (July 1, 1994)
  9. ^ comments by Sandy Hereld at Virgule-L, quoted with permission (December 2, 1992)
  10. ^ from The Hologram #3
  11. ^ from The Hologram #12/13 (October 1996)
  12. ^ from The Hologram #9 (September 1995)
  13. ^ by Pat Dunn in The Hologram #7 (February 1995)
  14. ^ from The Hologram #12/13 (October 1996)
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