Playfellows

Zine
Title:	Playfellows
Publisher:	Merry Men Press
Editor(s):
Date(s):	1991-1998
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	multimedia
Language:	English
External Links:	online reviews
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Playfellows is a slash multifandom anthology.

Issue 1

cover issue #1

Playfellows 1 was published in February 1991 and has 163 pages.

The art is by Jonni Corday.

• Snowstorm by Theresa Kyle ("'I think it's stuck,' Hutch said helpfully. Starsky leaned against the hood of the Torino, panting. He and Hutch had been trying to push the car from the snowbank for the past hour and he was pooped. And cold.") (Starsky & Hutch) (25 pages)
• Security Risk by Susan Douglass ("'Wake up, love.' Hands swept over Ray Doyle's curls, threading themselves through the thick strands, into the shadows of his sleep.") (Professionals) (10 pages)
• A Night to Remember by Delaine ("'Nooooo,' the anguished cry came from a nearby room. Harrison Blackwood had been wandering down the hallway and without stopping to think, opened the door to Ironhorse's room. There sat a huddled man, arms tightly wrapped around taut knees, dark head bowed.") (War of the Worlds) (7 pages)
• Rendezvous in Blue by Susan K. Dundas ("'So where's Corrigan?" Vince Romano asks his table-mates, looking expectantly toward the front door, watching for the fourth member of their party to walk in. Hooker is studying the froth on his beer. "He'll be here. He said he'd drop by as soon as he finished the report on this morning's 211 down at the Jewel Mart." He draws a long, cold swallow into his throat. "In fact, Junior, you oughtta be back at the station too. I told you I needed your report on my desk first thing Monday morning . . . .'") (T.J. Hooker) (11 pages)
• Closely from Afar by Natasha Barry ("The meeting he had just come from could not be termed a success. Not by his way of reckoning, anyway. His partner and mate, William Andrew Philip Bodie, was choosing to argue with Doyle's decision to take up the new position . . . .") (Professionals) (5 pages)
• The Joy-Toy Factory by Jonni Corday ("It was another peaceful day in Gotham City. The sun was shining, the flowers blooming, and millionaire Bruce Wayne, accompanied by his ward, Dick Grayson, was visiting the Wayne Boys' Home on the outskirts of the city. Little did he know that today, his only dark secret would be exposed to his ward in a most embarrassing way . . . .") (TV Batman) (10 pages)
• Mazes and Monsters by Merlyn ("They stared at each other, held enthralled on the rooftop in the aftermath of the hostage situation. Neither man moved as uniformed officers dragged the last of the Escubar brothers away. They were so young, Crockett thought absently, young wild animals, uncontrolled and dangerous, and they might have killed his partner. The fear was still rolling around inside him. Controlled this long only because Castillo had bidden it.") (Miami Vice) (6 pages)
• The Present by Charlotte Frost ("Sighing, the agent turned and accompanied deputies Andy and Hawk into the Twin Peaks Sheriff Station. It felt strange that, with Laura Palmer's murder solved, he was now free from the weekend. The thought crossed his mind that even if it weren't for the man who had chosen to remain inside, he would still be tempted to stay right here in Twin Peaks and get to know its people on a more personal level.") (Twin Peaks) (18 pages)
• Hands on the Wheel by Katy Katana ("'That's right, Barney. She does love you. But you're not going to be a man without arms and legs for long, are you?'") (Six Million Dollar Man) (24 pages)
• Secrets by MerLyn ("Tubbs was humming as he tapped on the motel room door, the bag of groceries tucked under one arm. "Me," he said succinctly, and Crockett admitted him, gun in hand . . . .") (Miami Vice) (7 pages)
• A Time for Change by Charlotte Frost ("The bulky, brown envelope stared back at him. Angry at its power, he tried to pretend he didn't want to open it--to deny its instigators the satisfaction of his desperation--even though they were not here to witness his pain...") (Starsky & Hutch) (30 pages)

• poetry by Robin Hood (fan), Teri Steward, Cybel Harper, Sue Stand, H.R, Radie

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

See reactions and reviews for A Time for a Change.

[zine]: Closely From Afar by Natasha Barry: Bodie has been in love with Doyle for years, watching him closely from afar but D never responds. D is up for promotion to take Cowley's place; he must decide whether to take the job. D knew all along that B loves him but he never said anything because he was afraid that B would stifle his independence. He thinks if he takes the job he can't be with B any more. B implies that D can have both Bodie and the job. Things look hopeful Security Risk by Susan Douglass: Susan Fisher has been fired because investigation into CI5 found out she is in a lesbian relationship. She and the lads talk; they decide to go to Cowley and tell him they are lovers. They remind him of the Pellin case and how he reacted then. They challenge him to be consistent. C decides to let them stay but the Home Secretary must never find out.

[zine]:

It's been a while since I reviewed any zines. In fact, the last ones were K/S zines, (First Times, if I remember), but this time I'm taking a break from K/S and delving into a new genre, for me. Multi-media slash. Interesting idea if you let yourself think about it.

Playfellows #1 & #2 arrived on my doorstep quickly, and was just as quickly devoured. Nice to know that new and different ideas can still attract me. From the interesting covers, (done in handwritten signatures that tell the fandom of the interior stories), to the end of a 180+ page zine, my interest was held captive.

Yes, there were a few fandoms I know nothing about. Twin Peaks for one, but I recognized the author — Charlotte Frost, one of K/S's best, wrote "The Present", (PFL), and "Duke", (a sequel, PF2), and after having read all the rest, I decided to get my money's worth and give it a try. I'm very glad I did. The writing, as usual was superb, the fandom, (even though I've never seen an episode), was interesting and the story was just plain loving, touching, and sexy. And let's face it, this is why we're reading this stuff, isn't it? I can't wait for PF3 with another sequel by Charlotte!

Okay, back to the more traditional basics. There were a few more recognizable authors: Susan Dundas wrote a fiery T.J. Hooker story that had me fanning myself to cool down. And MerLyn wrote a dynamite Miami Vice story that made me forget that I don't like Vice. Great Job!

There was a sweet War of the Worlds story, soft and loving in a time where caring is fast disappearing. A couple of Professional stories finally taught me the difference between Bodie and Doyle! And there is a great Starsky and Hutch story, (my fandom!). With a few other's thrown in for spice, (and I do mean spice), I found the first issue a remarkable treat.

Issue 2

Playfellows 2 was published in 1992 and contains 162 pages.

cover for issue #2

The art is by Suzan Lovett and Cat. The two interior illos by Suzan Lovett are of Doyle with tigers (they are different from the Harlequin Airs tiger illustrations).

From the editorial:

Welcome to the second issue of PLAYFELLOWS. I've been having quite a lot of fun with this (don't you K/Ser's panic, I'd never desert my first love) since it's so refreshing.

I've attempted to gather a finite diversity of stories, told with finite combinations (sounds vaguely familiar, eh?). ie: I prefer zines with lot’s of different fandoms and fandom's [sic] that I’ve heard of, or have a vague idea of the characters, (yes, once again, this is my zine, and I do it for entertainment....) That doesn't mean that you can't convince me to try something new. ie: 'Cage', the fandom's not my favorite and yes, the story is a bit of a rehash of the show BUT it did pull me into the characters. So those of you who’ve never tried a Wiseguy (as opposed to a stupid one), this may be the one for you.

PF3 is almost full (what with a looooong sequel to DUKE (great title, eh? read the story) (B7 as well!), so get busy if you're planning of trying out your wings! I'm looking for muncle (aren't we all?), S&H, WOW and one or two new and novel fandom's [sic]. Now don't get too bizarre. How about a Alienation story or Next Gen (no WORF!!). This is the place to put those perverted, er, creative thoughts. Get in touch with me if you're in doubt.

• Night Song, fiction by Susan K. Dundas ("A balmy summer evening. Cool breezes drifted across the meadow, drawing scent of night-blooming jasmine and magnolia. Crickets serenaded each other, chirping a staccato counterpoint in the azalea bushes beneath the window, interrupted every five seconds by the whir of electric servo-motors. 'Harrison, it's me. May I come in?'") (War of the Worlds) (4)
• Surrender to Logic, poem (War of the Worlds) (9)
• The Cage We Make, fiction by Natasha Barry ("'Hey, Terranova.' Caught off guard, for Sonny's usual way was unpredictability, Vinnie turned and gave a short laugh . . . .") (Wiseguy) (10)
• Chance Encounter, fiction by Kavari Singh ("Dark. Smoky. Full of the typical set of characters seeking only one thing: a partner for the night. Sonny put his half-finished drink down on the bar, snuffing out yet another cigarette, pale eyes scanning the small room, picking up one or two glances from the other men One was interesting, even attractive; the other, huge and rough...maybe a biker.... He'd come in search of sex...hot, raw, even painful pain to override the pain in his heart.") (Miami Vice) (32)
• Thanks, poem by J. Mercedes (Twin Peaks) (41)
• A Call for Faith, fiction by Cybel Harper ("A gentle tropical breeze ruffled through the open-air nightclub to tease at the grass skirt of the lovely young girl dancing the Tahitian hula on the small stage near their table. Napoleon had been focused solely on her since her number began, and she was sending him interested smiles. Illya watched the byplay with barely concealed annoyance.") (Man from UNCLE) (42)
• Inner Fire, poem by Mercedes Scott (The Professionals) (49)
• Through the Dark, poem by Sue Delon (Starsky & Hutch) (111)
• Forests of the Night, poem by Mercedes (The Professionals) (113)
• Duke, fiction by Charlotte Frost ("He had heard it said that when some people were shot, they didn't even realize it until someone else pointed out the bloodstains. But Sheriff Harry S. Truman grudgingly acknowledged that he was not to be one of the fortunate few . . . .") (sequel to "The Present" from issue #1) (Twin Peaks) (50)
• Re-Play, fiction by Susan K. Dundas ("Jack looked much better now, Martin decided, better than he had when they had first set eyes on each other in the courtyard of the Buddhist temple. Then, he had been transmitting subliminal undercurrent of stress and tension beneath the warm greeting, although it hadn't really registered on Martin's conscious mind at the time.") (Miami Vice) (110)
• Taking It Out In Trade, fiction by MerLyn ("Kostmayer studied the other two men speculatively, his mind flicking back over the past few days. Ex-company agent and his old fried, Harley Gage had returned unexpectedly to New York, still brooding over the set up that cost him several years in a jail cell in South America.") (Equalizer) (120)
• Daylight and Moon, poem by Anne Fitzgibbons (Man from U.N.C.L.E.) (125)
• The Odd Couple, poem (Blake's 7) (127)
• Manolito By Moonlight by Jonni Corday ("The large desert moon was the source of the river of light flooding through the open window, washing the figure lounging on the bed wit silver. Flaxen hair, bleached by the Arizona sun, damp with August sweat, seemed platinum in the fluid moonlight.") (The High Chaparral) (128)
• Night Song, poem by Sue Delon (132)
• All Too Human, poem by Anne Fitzgibbons (Blake's 7) (133)
• All Their Tomorrows, fiction by Corinne Bass ("Napoleon Solo, dapper, secret agent for UNCLE had looked in the labs, the cafeteria and finally in his partner's office for the elusive Russian, all to no avail. Illya was definitely going to be late for their meeting . . . .") (Man from UNCLE) (134)
• Color-Blind, poem by Jonni Corday (Miami Vice) (139)
• Mission of Seduction, fiction by Delaine ("'What's happening?" Kyle asked, walking into Club Creole late one afternoon. "Not much," Elias answered, smiling. "What are you up to?'") (V) (140)
• I'll Remember You, fiction by Delaine ("When I saw you laying there in that damned alien machine I felt my heart constrict. I knew you were dead. Then you opened your eyes . . . .") (War of the Worlds) (150)
• A Promise and a Prayer, fiction by Cybel Harper ("It seemed a good joke at the time. A little crazy, perhaps. A little dangerous. Just the thing to liven up a dull party. Besides, Murphy had bet him twenty quid, and Doyle, especially a pleasantly squiffy very relaxed Doyle, had never been one to pass up a sure bet . . . .") (Professionals) (52)

• 

  from issue #2, Suzan Lovett

• 

  from issue #2, Cat

• 

  from issue #2, Suzan Lovett

• 

  from issue #2, Cat

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

It's been a while since I reviewed any zines. In fact, the last ones were K/S zines, (First Times, if I remember), but this time I'm taking a break from K/S and delving into a new genre, for me. Multi-media slash. Interesting idea if you let yourself think about it.

Playfellows #1 & #2 arrived on my doorstep quickly, and was just as quickly devoured. Nice to know that new and different ideas can still attract me. From the interesting covers, (done in handwritten signatures that tell the fandom of the interior stories), to the end of a 180+ page zine, my interest was held captive.

[snipped, see issue #1 for this fan's comments]

I moved on to the second, eager for the Twin Peaks sequel, and wasn't disappointed. The same talent, the same love, etc. etc. etc. PF2 had a new fandom, (for me), Wiseguy. Another fandom that I know little about, but "The Cage We Make" was well written and nicely drew me into the story. Another WOW story by Susan Dundas, again a sexy story, A Vice story from a different view by a new author with bundles of talent and a Muncle story, plus many more that I haven't mentioned, including B7, made this a nice vacation from K/S, and well worth your $$$. Give Playfellows a try!

Issue 3

Playfellows 3 was published in 1992 and has 190 pages.

cover of issue #3

The art is by Cat, Billie Phillips, DEW.

From the editorial:

Welcome to the third issue of PLAYFELLOWS. This has been done for quite some time, but I've been waiting (and waiting) for $$$. Christmas time is NOT the time to try to do zines. (sigh). At any rate, here it is! And a big puppy it is! Hope you're impressed, the mail man was too when he had to take the first box!

[...]

As always, we'll wait for your loc's (we're getting gray waiting) and/or stories. Can't do any zines without the above.

Charlotte Frost is paranoid about her TP stories, so you must definitely send loc's for that, if nothing else but then if you don't send them for anyone else, they'll sulk and then we'll have a mess, so I guess you'd better loc the entire zine. Sneaky, eh?

• Rescue by Merlyn ("Martin Castillo had been out of the city for twenty-four hours, leaving the Vice squad under the supervision of his immediate superior. He returned to find his top team had inexplicably disappeared.") (Miami Vice) (4)
• Rescue, poem by Sue Delon (Miami Vice) (18)
• Diamonds & Rust by Sarah B. Leonard ("It was almost time. Now that Vila knew Avon more intimately, the tech's needs became very apparent. Soon the more obvious signs would start, and even the others would begin to notice.") (Blake's 7) (20)
• As a Man, poem by Cybel Harper (Professionals) (25)
• Facing Daylight by Charlotte Frost ("A gentle ring came to an abrupt halt when he picked up the receiver. "Cooper here." "Hey, Coop." The agent smiled at the quiet greeting. it wasn't often that he heard from Sheriff Truman while relaxing at home, and his voice reflected enthusiasm. 'Harry, what's up?'") ("Author's Note: This story is a sequel to "The Present" and "Duke" which appeared in previous issues of PLAYFELLOWS. While this trilogy began before the second season of TWIN PEAKS, this installment does contain references to a few incidents and 'facts' which were presented in the second season.") (Twin Peaks) (26)
• Til Death Do Us Part by Natasha Barry ("'I made my bones when I was twelve,' said Sonny as he and Vince relaxed in deck chairs. The sea breeze tantalized their normally conservative haircuts. As Vince admired the view, Sonny continued his somber recitation. "One of the neighborhood kids called me pretty boy once too often and this time got a little too close. I took him down.'") (Wiseguy) (110)
• Skin, poem by H.R. Radei (Miami Vice) (135)
• Shadow's Dream by Meredith Scott ("He watches me. Stands in the shadows, hands at his side, with light catching in the thick curls of his hair and stares. Hour after hour . . . .") (Professionals) (136)
• Kings of Control by Alyx ("I kept most of the reaction off my face. I sent Gina and Trudy off to the scene to relieve Crockett, and stayed in the office monitoring the last bust, and doing paperwork. I can't control the big things, but my desk is always clean.") (Miami Vice) (142)
• Too Soon, poem by Judith Ellison (Blake's 7) (153)
• Trade Off, poem by Judith Ellison (Blake's 7) (153)
• Duty Calls by Duval ("An unusually hot August sun had turned the cool, green landscape of the Cottage grounds dry and brown. Harrison Blackwood paused under the broad leave of a maple to survey the change, a frown marring his handsome features. He wasn't fond of overly hot weather, and he especially hated having to exercise in it, but there were at war . . . .") (War of the Worlds) (154)
• Fate Smiles by Scott Hunter ("Kenneth Hutchinson leaned against the stair side rail of the apartment house and stared cynically at the crowd that was partying across the street on the warm, white sand covering Venice beach.") (Starsky and Hutch) (158)
• Night Aliens, poem by Jass Jonson (War of the Worlds) (190)
• A Royal Duty, poem by Jonni Corday (Robin of Sherwood) (191)

• 

  from issue #3, sample poem

• 

  from issue #3, Billie Phillips

• 

  from issue #3, Cat

• 

  from issue #3, DEW

• 

  from issue #3, Billie Phillips

• 

  from issue #3, sample text

Issue 4

cover of issue #4

Playfellows 4 was published in 1993 and has 155 pages.

The art is by Kay Wells, Cat, and Susan Dundas.

From the editorial:

Welcome to PLAYFELLOWS IV. It takes awhile to get one of these out, that explains the time, And, thanks to you perverts er, nice. wonderful ladies, I have four stories for the next one.

Now if you don't see your fandom here (and there are tons!!) then you best get busy writing your story and send it to me. Yep, that's an order.

I can't thank the contributors enough, and wish to welcome several experienced and very good writers to this edition: Khylara, Strum etc. And the old reliable (and getting older every minute: Charlotte Frost with her rapidly growing popularity with her Twin Peaks saga. Try it, you'll like it!

• Fragile by Cybel Harper ("Ray Doyle reached distractedly for one of the paint brushes lying on the palette beside his easel, but it slipped through his fingers and started to fall. It was the most natural thing in the world for him to twist around and grab it out of midair or it would have been two months earlier. Now, however, the ill-considered movement resulted in a gasp of pain and a slow tumble to the floor.") (Professionals) (4)
• Bounty Hunter by Katy Katana ("The crowd ebbed and flowed around him, always managing to stay out of his immediate path. He was a tall man, clad all in black, spine stiffly erect among the hunched figures garbed in drab browns and greens. His clothes and bearing set him apart, and his eyes held an acknowledgment that was not quite pride. He felt no sympathy towards the rest, nor did he make a point of flaunting superiority. It was merely accepted with the same lack of emotion that colored everything he did.") (Blake's 7) (10)
• Batty Over You by Robby Strum ("The quiet familiar voice froze me where I sat. My heart seemed to break its rhythm and then threatened to lunge out of my chest. 'Aren't you going to say hello, Bruce?'") (Batman and Robin) (20)
• Verse End, poem by Cybel Harper (Professionals) (29)
• Temptation in Harm's Way by Natasha Barry ("'Hey, Vinnie.' Vince nodded. 'Sonny.' He gave the mob boss a cool look tinged with humor, then glanced at the elegant surroundings. 'Like the place, Sonny,' he eventually commented. 'Is Theresa moving in here or are you going to find a place together?' As he moved to the window to get a wider view of the surrounding wooded area, the other man brought him a drink and stood close.") (Wiseguy) (30)
• A Better Way, poem by Cybel Harper (Professionals) (44)
• Fly the Friendly Skies by Ensueno Creyente ("Peter Sinclair sat staring out the window of the private jet wishing their mission was over instead of just starting. So much had happened in the past year . . . .") (Counterstrike) (46)
• Hey, Mate, poem by H.R. Radei (Professionals) (53)
• Forest Frolic by Jonni Corday ("Good morrow, gentle editor, t'is Alan A-Dale, your friendly singer of songs and I, being a minstrel by trade, have a merrye little tale to tell of a comely rogue and the handsome face and lively blue eyes that tripped him up by that greatest of all fears and joys; love.") (Robin Hood) (54)
• Seasons Change, poem by Cybel Harper (Blake's 7) (65)
• The Sundance Affair by Sarah B. Leonard (Illya woke to the strange and alarming thought that someone was in his room . . . .") (Man from UNCLE) (66)
• Duty First by Khylara ("The funeral was finally over. The sun was just setting. Jim was still at the casket . . . .") (Mission Impossible) (70)
• The Transformed Man, poem by Carol Turner (Star Trek: TNG) (79)
• Sea Cruise by Duval (Thundering bootsteps stormed up the stairs. "Didn't you hear me, Mister?") (War of the Worlds) (80)
• War Time/Night Time, poem by J. Mercedes (War of the Worlds) (82)
• Chimera by Sara B. Leonard ("Roj Blake woke quickly, instantly alert. The light tapping continued on his cabin door, faintly as if the person outside wasn't really sure that he -or she - wanted him to hear . . . .") (Blake's 7) (84)
• Stellar Dust, poem by J. Mercedes (Blake's 7) (97)
• The Innocent Sleep by Scott Hunter ("The atmosphere of any bar seems based on the people in it at the time, Hooker decided, and he'd had enough experience behind him to know this wasn't the place to be . . . .") (T.J. Hooker) (98)
• The Runner, poem by Carol Turner (T.J. Hooker) (107)
• Daredevil, poem by Sue Cameron (Starsky & Hutch) (108)
• Condescension, poem by Sue Cameron (Man from U.N.C.L.E.) (110)
• Missing You by Susan K. Dundas ("The warmth of your hands, I remember the warmth of your hands as you used to caress my body. As your fingertips stroked tails down my skin, their heat ignited love-fire in my gut . . . .") (Miami Vice) (112)
• Moonlight & Swords, poem by Sue Cameron (War of the Worlds) (117)
• Maze by Charlotte Frost ("Harry Truman had just rolled onto his side when his subconscious detected the noise outside. A year ago, he would have bolted awake, prepared to defend life and home in the blackness of the September night. Now, however, his subconscious merely smiled . . . .") (Twin Peaks) (118)
• The Idealist, poem by Carol Turner (Blake's 7) (155)

• 

  from issue #4, DEW (Starsky & Hutch)

• 

  from issue #4, Cat (Man From Uncle)

• 

  from issue #4, DEW (The Professionals)

• 

  from issue #4, Susan K Dundas (Miami Vice)

• 

  from issue #4, DEW (The Professionals)

• 

  from issue #4, Cat (War of the Worlds)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4

[Fragile]: Title taken from a Sting song, with the lyrics printed at the end of the story. Two months post DIAG, Doyle is struggling to recover. A chance remark about giving up infuriates Bodie, who nearly hits Doyle. Doyle waits for it, "Do it. What are you waiting for?" Bodie pauses, and then kisses him. Doyle realises that Bodie loves him. Bodie thinks that Doyle was trying to give up in order to avoid Bodie; Doyle reassures him that he made it back because of Bodie.

Issue 5

Playfellows 5 was published in 1994 and has 145 pages.

The art is by Kay Wells and Cat.

cover of issue #5

• Blake's Leap by Sarah B. Leonard ("The effect was beginning: his body was discorporating. When he reformed who would he be? Where would he be? Why would he be? What would he have to do? All these questions flooded his mind as adrenalin thrummed throughout his body. All the questions except the one that, in this instance, would make a major difference: When would he be?") (Blake's 7/Quantum Leap)
• The Puzzle of Sex by Jasmine Del Monico ("A long story of Data's unique discovery of an implantable chip that relaxes everyone's inhibitions and his wonderfully intriguing trip throughout the ship!") (Star Trek: TNG)
• To Love the Wolf by Jonni Corday ("Phillippe Gaston squirmed to get warm under the layer of leaves he had gathered. He heard the bay of the wolf and shivered more. "I know that the wolf is you, my Lord," Phillippe murmured aloud. "Pardon me, Lord Navarre, if I am not reassured. On the one hand, if you, the wolf, remembered me, I would be safe...I think. IF, on the other hand, the wolf does not, it is a wolf of black magic and, although I am on speaking terms with God, I am not sure how well disposed he is toward me, and would hate to give Him the chance for He and I to get better acquainted. At least, sooner, than expected.'") (Ladyhawke)
• Risk by Cybel Harper ("Blake was deep in thought as he turned the corner into the corridor leading to the crew quarters. As a result it took him a moment to notice Avon and a moment longer to respond to what he saw.") (Blake's 7)
• A Time to Weep by Jonni Corday ("From his bedroom window, Pete could see that it was a gorgeous day. He lived right on the Beach, it was July, the sun was out, there was a breeze off the ocean and the surge was up. What more could one ask for??") (Mod Squad)
• Men Without a Country by Natasha Barry ("'Yuri and Victor...?' Now Jack understood the undercurrents between the two officers. It was no longer a suspicion since the confirmation from the captain himself. When Yuri had asked if he and Victor were to be allowed to remain together, Jack hadn't known quite what to make of it. his answer had been suitably vague for his confusion. The young man had walked away, wondering if his own poor English were at fault.") (The Hunt for Red October)
• Once Upon a Fairy-Tale by Leah S. ("Kenneth Hutchinson shut off the light and slipped into bed, automatically reaching for the inviting warmth that awaited. He felt Starsky move into the usual embrace, and sighed. Never had such a simple thing as curling up around another human being felt so good, so necessary. The rightness hit him every time. There was no way he could ever doubt where he belonged.") (Starsky & Hutch)
• Peacetime by Robin Hood ("The dark-skinned man strode into the room, even darker eyes flashing into every corner as if seeking an enemy. Perhaps he was . . . .") (War Of The Worlds)
• Sickness by Charlotte Frost ("Truman, shoulders hunched against the January morning air, carefully turned the handle of the front door, and pushed the barrier open as gently as possible. He tiptoed inside, paused to shut the door and equal care, then cringed at the crinkling noise created by fingers tightening on the grocery sack they held.") (Twin Peaks)

• poetry by Sue Cameron, Cybel Harper, Khylara, H.R. Radei

Issue 6

cover of issue #6

Playfellows 6 was published in 1994 and has 161 pages.

From the editorial:

This is NOT a Charlotte Frost zine, although it looks like It. And I did hold a S & H story for the next issue as I thought it might be a bit too much for those of you who are looking for great variety. Why did I print the TP and S&H — so long and so good — in the same zine? Well, they’re wonderful stories and you’d think I was nuts not too! (Okay, maybe I am nuts but not about this!) Ms. Frost wanted the final chapter of what has turned out to be a Twin Peaks novel from issue #1 to this one and didn’t want you writing in to ask about the conclusion. For those of you who haven’t read the TP stories (SHAME — go stand in the comer) please do. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never seen the program, the stories are wonderful and stand on their own. So read ’em! At the present, the next PF should have Pro’s in it. Remember if you want to read it, someone has to write it!!!

• When Dreams Become Reality by Natasha Barry ("Jack steered a hand down the body which was so like his own. A body more than twenty years older, it was true, but alike enough to give him a clue as to how he would age. As gracefully as Ramius, no doubt. Strength and beauty and fitness along each muscle and sinew. But Jack knew, beyond suspicion, that he lacked the charisma this man did. Handsome, many considered him. Ryan knew this without conceit. But there was something else that Ramius offered. That sexual dynamism that drew eyes to him, even those eyes that failed to recognize the explanation of their interest for what it was.") (The Hunt for Red October) (4)
• Love of a Saracen, poem by Linda Frankel (Robin of Sherwood) (11)
• Heart to Heart by Charlotte Frost ("Benjamin Horne puffed his cigar and pretended he wasn't impatient. He stood in the center of his large den, located at one wing of the Great Northern Hotel. He owned the Great Northern, as well as a handful of other businesses in Twin Peaks, and some considered him the most powerful man in the county. Deep down, he believed it true; yet, such a statement couldn't even be questioned if he obtained more power still.") (Twin Peaks) (12)
• The Stolen Rowboat by Rutterkin ("Every day upon waking the Saracen Nasir searched through Sherwood Forest for places where his stolen rowboat might be concealed. Without his rowboat he'd be marooned forever in fog-ridden England and never again see the sunny shores of his beloved Arabia. Nasir heaved a melancholy sigh. He was giving up hope of ever finding his rowboat. Home was fast fading into dream. Yet that very morning he met the outlaw leader Robin Hood leaving a cave with a wicked grin on his face. "You're a thief," said Nasir boldly, barring Robin's path "Did you steal my rowboat?" It seemed very likely to Nasir. He'd wager that a man like Robin Hood would steal a corpse from a coffin if the lid wasn't nailed down.") (Robin of Sherwood)
• In Hiding, poem by Khylara (Miami Vice) (52)
• Banished Fears, poem by Khylara (Man from Uncle) (53)
• Reluctant Trust by Judith Ellison ("Naively it hadn't occurred to Avon that Blake might have some woman lurking in his past. The scene replayed itself in his minds eyes Blake had kissed her . . . .") (Blake's 7) (54)
• Waterfall by Charlotte Frost ) ("For the third time since they had left the scene of the teen suicide, Starsky bellowed, "I just can't see how anyone that young...." He smacked the steering wheel. "Or anyone at all for that matter...just giving up. Throwing their life away." Hutch was staring out the side window, trying very hard to keep his patience with the whole subject. 'You don't know what his life was like,' he stated reasonably. The blond could feel the driver look sharply at him. 'What difference does it make, what his life was like? If it was its lowest, there was no direction to go but up. It could only get better.' Hutch sighed. 'Maybe he'd been waiting too long for it to get better.'") (Starsky & Hutch) (60)
• Tears Fall, poem by Robin Hood (Starsky & Hutch) (160)
• Playfellows by Robin Hood (inside back cover)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 6

See reactions and reviews for Waterfall.

[When Dreams Become Reality]: Yes, the slash Hunt for Red October story (Connery/Baldwin) in PLAYFELLOWS 6 was pretty good as a starting point. It was the sequel to a story from an earlier ish which I haven seen. It was good enough to make for very interesting images and dialog that keep running through my head from time to time - like at work while I'm staring at a DBase program wondering what to do next. But I can't find any more! Just because Baldwin's character is a married CIA analyst who lives in London while Connery is a Lithuanian defector living in rural Maine - this is NOT a major plot impediment in slash (or any other form of fiction)!

Issue 7

cover of issue #7

Playfellows 7 was published in October 1994 and has 156 pages.

The art is by Kay Wells, and Shelley Butler.

• Storms by Delaine ("Heat lightning flashed, hanging the night with silent blue-white veils, briefly lining the nightscape in eerie relief. The humid air lay oppressively hot over the cottage, putting even the steadiest nerves on edge.) (War of the Worlds) (4)
• The Rape of Sonny Crocket by Mikki Cruz and Susan K. Dundas ("It took only a few minutes for the drug-dealers and erstwhile gun-runners to surrender, save for the two who lay dying and the third who was already dead. A real waste of time . . . .) (Miami Vice) (8)
• Communication, poem by Mikki Cruz (Miami Vice) (22)
• Flower & Thorns, poem by Robin Hood (War of the Worlds) (23)
• Once Is Not Enough by Delaine ("The long eyelashes fluttered, unveiling glassy, grey eyes. "Uhh," the blond groaned, trying to focus on the dark haired man kneeling before him.) (Counterpoint) (24)
• A Secret Society, poem by Linda Frankel (Robin of Sherwood) (31)
• Loving You by Jude ("Bodie dashed into his flat and headed for the bathroom. Closing and bolting the door behind him. He had no wish to speak to the man who was following. Doyle in this sort of mood wasn't pleasant.") (Professionals) (32)
• Forgetful Night, poem by Carol Stephens (Blake's 7) (37)
• There Are No Footprints by Natasha Barry ("The stoic figure was at the front door. 'You are under arrest.' "What?" Ray Levoi's instant grin changed to one of confusion. 'Says here on this computer printout,' the Sioux was pretending to read from a scrap of paper.") (Thunderheart) (38)
• Mountains of Thunder, poem by Sue Cameron (Thunderheart) (49)
• A Touch of Blue by Alice Hooker ("'Home?! You call that crummy motel room home, Hooker?' Corrigan grinned, only too willing to give up pursuing his concerns for Romano. 'And I'll say it again: move in with me. I've got a big place, a room going to waste.'") (TJ Hooker) (50)
• The Hunt, poem by H.R. Radei (Blake's 7) (74)
• Inevitable Gift, poem by H.R. Radei (Blake's 7) (75)
• Crossed Signals by Leah S. ("I never considered our tastes in women to be similar, or expected it to come to the point of out-and-out competition. Especially with my nose-in-his-work scientist best friend. But there were, vying for the same luscious female.") (Quantum Leap) (76)
• To Ride A Dragon by Anne Fairchild ("The Promenade was not particularly crowded on a mid-week afternoon and it didn't take long before Dr. Julian Bashir had the slightly unnerving feeling he was being observed again. He paused to gaze in a shop window, stealing a glance in the reflective glass. Bashir sighed. Yes, it was Garak.") (Deep Space 9) (82)
• The Dragon, poem by Robin Hood (97)
• A Small Price to Pay by Scott Hunter ("'Sorry, Father,' the repentant figure looked anything but as he stood up and shook the young priest's hand. 'Seems you're always on standby when I ask for someone.'") (Professionals) (96)
• Stranded in Shadow, poem by Carol Stephens (Man from Uncle) (111)
• Out From Under Cover by Jonni Corday ("The dark-haired cop looked into the mirror above the bar and was irritated again to see that he fit right in, shaggy hair, blue eyes and all. He took a gulp of his beer and grimaced into the depths of the glass as one of the men walking past fingered his ass.") (Starsky and Hutch) (112)
• Night Sweats by H.R. Radei ("Avon screamed at least in his mind. Excruciating pain flooded his brain. Once again it was the same alas. The black vision that ate into his soul and would give no peace . . . .") (Blake's 7) (118)
• A New Beginning by Mary Millard ("Slouched in the chair at the hospital bedside, Illya Kuryakin idly wondered what day it was. Wednesday, he guessed, though he really wasn't certain. It seemed like weeks had passed since he'd begun his vigil, the days and nights all becoming one.") (Man from UNCLE) (126)
• After Dining with Lionheart, poem Linda Frankel (inside back cover)

• 

  from issue #7, Sharon Wells (T.J. Hooker)

• 

  from issue #7, Shelley Butler (The Professionals)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 7

[A Small Price To Pay]: Bodie is on death row for killing an Arab royal whom he thought was trying to kill Doyle but maybe wasn't. D visits him before his execution to give him the courage to die. B goes to Purgatory and can only get out if he has someone to belong to. 40 years later D arrives and visits B. He tells B that after B died he got married and had kids. B has been waiting for D to get him out but D tells him he can't because he belongs with his family. B can't go because he doesn't belong with them. Both are devastated at the parting but B puts on a brave face and lets D go graciously. He doesn't begrudge D his happiness with his family. He will content himself with the memory that he once had someone to belong to and that staying in Purgatory is a small price to pay for loving D.

[zine]: I found Playfellows 7 disappointing - the G/B story is soppy and the Professionals death story is the most depressing one I've ever seen. Avoid it! On the whole, it's not worth the $26. Only Natasha Barry's Thunderheart story is well written.

Issue 8

cover of issue #8

Playfellows 8 was published in 1995 and has 170 pages.

The art is by Suzan Lovett, Shelley Butler and DEW.

• Growing Pains by Natasha Barry ('"I hate to tell you this, Sam.' 'Already know what you're gonna say.' Deputy Sam Gerard of the U.S. Marshall's office leaned into a chair. Behind his desk a panorama of Chicago broadcast the lateness of the hour with the skyscrapers' luminescence coalescing into the twinkling lights of the night sky. 'It's Noah. . . .'") (Fugitive (1993))
• A Dragon's Heart by Anne Fairchild ("Commander Ben Sisko stood across the desk from his chief medical officer, nothing the dark shadows under red-rimmed eyes as well as a strained, hoarse quality to the normally soft voice. Here was visual confirmation of what the doctor's Bajoran assistants had related to Major Kira, and she had in turn told Sisko the young doctor was at the point of collapse . . . .") (Deep Space Nine)
• To Whom It May Concern by Gene Delapania ("Avon is going slowly mad and there is no way we can survive the inevitable end awaiting. It gets closer every day. Our resources, both physical and emotional, are shrinking and soon we will have nothing left. Nothing has been right since Cally died anyway. She was our luck and when she died what little luck we had died with her . . . .") (Blake's 7)
• Midnight Blue by Mary Millard ("It had been a month since the death of LAPD Detective David Starsky's fiancé, Terry. Four full weeks. It seemed impossible. Though Starsky's partner had deliberately done his best to keep Starsky busy and his mind occupied, he knew nothing could do that this particular night. The instructions in the letter Terry had left were too specific to be ignored . . . .") (Starsky and Hutch)
• Dark Night of the Soul by Ida Vega ("As darkness was falling outside Castillo's house, Crockett was in the kitchen pouring coffee. He added sugar to one, then carried both mugs upstairs to his injured lieutenant's bedroom. As he climbed the spiral staircase, he heard thunder rumbling overhead. Rain began, pattering softly against the french windows looking out on the dark patio. Crockett began to feel uneasy as he realized how isolated they were . . . .") (Miami Vice)
• Blue May by Sylvia Bond ("Jack Ryan's grandfather had promised to take his grandson fly fishing one day, but death had taken Jack Senior before he was able to keep that promise. And when Col. Digby ordered Dr. Ryan to take one solid week of R&R, Jack decided to take himself right to the very spot past where he and submarine commander Marko Ramius had driven a nuclear sub not six months ago . . .") (The Hunt for Red October)
• X Marks the Spot by Ellen Thacher ("'Who are you?' The question stabbed through Sam like an icy knife of fear. 'I-ah . . . .' 'Where's Scully?' Fox Mulder snapped. 'I know you're in her body, so what did you do with her?' Sam coughed, mind scrambling. 'I am . . . Scully. What make you think I'm not?'") (X-Files)/(Quantum Leap)
• A Unicorn Affair by Corrine Bass ("Napoleon Solo slowly swirled his warm ale in the glass as he carefully perused the Irish pub. This assignment really stinks, he thought. Why did the old man have to send us both to this god forsaken part of Ireland? No nightlife . . . .") (Man from Uncle)
• Safe to Dream by Scott Hunter ("HE'S A WHAT? Bodie felt his entire body, all five feet, eleven inches tense as he made a supreme effort to control his temper. In private he abhorred emotional outbursts of any type; in public, such displays were unthinkable. 'Surely you're joking, sir.' Bodie turned in disbelief toward the man sharing the shadowed table. 'You're being taken if you believe that."' Cowley looked at him and replied drily, 'I'm not being taken by anything, Bodie. Doyle is a psychic . . . .'") (Professionals)

• 

  from issue 8, DEW (The Professionals)

• 

  from issue 8,, this Suzan Lovett drawing accompanies (The Man From UNCLE) story: "A Unicorn Affair". It showcases one of Lovett's more popular styles, the picture tableau, which uses dense and classical, often symbolic imagery to tell multiple stories visually. The center image focuses on the story's main theme with Ilya sleeping, covered in fairies and being watched over by a unicorn. The poor resolution of the image scan makes it difficult to make out details, however like many of Lovett's tableaus, the image borders contain symmetrical images. To the left, Illya stands in the pose of David's Michaelango. Above him is a wolf symbolizing the character's Russian ties. To the right, partially obscured, is Napoleon and above him flies an eagle symbolizing America. As with most of Lovett's tableaus, the art piece invites multiple viewings to parse the layers of meaning.

• 

  from issue 8, Shelley Butler (The Professionals)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 8

[Safe to Dream]: Doyle is a psychic who needs CI5 protection. He is the only witness to the murder of his entire family when he was a child; Cowley used to work with D's father and was close to the family but D had forgotten. D feels psychic connection to Bodie, who has been assigned to protect him, and keeps seeing him in visions of the future. Everywhere D goes someone tries to blow him up. The lads have sex but they take turns pushing the other away because they are afraid to get close. B rapes D in an attempt to show he is still in charge but regrets it. While catching the bad guy B is shot. D leaves because he knows B doesn't want commitment but B finds him. D decides he might as well give in to love and convinces B to try it. B says he doesn't believe in happily ever after but is willing to take it one day at a time.

[Dark Night of the Soul]:

In it Castillo is gang-banged and beaten so severely he has a severe concussion and several cracked ribs. For reasons passing understanding, he is not in the hospital but at home with Crockett. The author makes a point of saying that not only does he feel degraded and dirty, but physically it hurts for him to breathe so he's trying to do so as carefully and shallowly as possible and lying flat on his back not moving because *everything* hurts. Now of course is the perfect time for them to make love for the first time! They do manage to switch it so that Sonny is the one that gets fucked and he carefully gets on top of Marty so he doesn't have to move from his back, but seems to me that one tends to breathe a lot *heavier* when you have sex and no matter how still you remain there's got to be some movement if you are doing it at all correctly. Add to this the fact that Castillo is surprised that Sonny can be the one on top and at the same time be the one being penetrated, which would indicate a level of naivete that I don't think Castillo was *born* with let alone has by the time we see him in the show. Come on, he was in the DEA, was a cop in Saigon and has a somewhat ambiguous past; you can't tell me there's *antyhing* two people can do with each other that he would be surprised about! But wait, there's more! Once Castillo gets over the shock of Sonny being able to accomplish this feat, he is even more shocked to find that a man can be on the recieving end of anal sex and enjoy it, which Sonny obviously is (who, btw, also happens to be a virgin where anal sex is involved). Okay, this is not a completely non-understandable reaction after having just been brutally raped, but if you honestly feel this way, why in the world would you want to inflict it on someone who you claim to love so deeply? If he truly loved Sonny, wouldn't this be the last thing Castillo would want to subject Sonny to? And Castillo wasn't exactly trying to fight Sonny off. I, of course, won't go into the sheer implausability of the idea that Castillo would be able to get it up at all, even if his beating hadn't included rape. I get a little headache and I don't feel like sex, I've got a feeling broken ribs and a concussion would make a person feel even less so.

In other words, *yech*!

[zine]:

Standard Reviewing Disclaimer--All ideas, pissiness, bad grammar, mispellings, and typos that follow are mine and mine alone. If you disagree with any or all of the following feel free to speak up. I haven't shot anyone in years. (Of course, you never know when the Sicilian in me will come out with a vengance...)

PLAYFELLOWS #8 a multi-media slash zine Merry Men Press [address redacted] Price $20 US, $22 Canadian, $26 overseas (US currency)

I wasn't going to review this zine at first. I like to be able to point out at least one or two good things about anything I review, but this was just way too hard. The overall editing of the zine is pretty much non-existant. The general writing and dialogue ran from mediocre to out and out bad. And the layout is one to make several of the anti-double spacing people on this list cringe in horror. On the positive side was that the prices for the zine were listed in the front and there was a variety of fandoms covered, although in this case, I don't know how much of a plus that last one is. It just means more fandoms to do badly.

"Growing Pains" by Natasha Berry (THE FUGITIVE)--This is the first story in the zine and closer to the so-so part of the story spectrum. Actually, there were several little bits that I liked about this story, such as bringing back Cosmo and Noah. But I have a real, real, *real* hard time seeing Gerard letting his co-workers "matchmake" for him.

"A Dragon's Heart" by Anne Fairchild (DS9)--Let me say this first: I *hate* pet-names. I get highly annoyed when things like "sunshine" in Pros and "babe" in S&H are overused and these were things that they actually called each other in the series. In this story, Bashir kept calling Garak "Dragon", which isn't even hinted at in the show, though where the reference comes from is obvious. I was annoyed with it, but possibly could have lived with it. "People in love..." *gag* that sort of thing. What drove me to distraction was Garak's constant use of the word "boy" when he was talking with Bashir. We all know that Garak is older than Bashir, and he's even been known to refer to him as "my young friend", but this was ridiculous. Then the pat name suddenly changes to "j'barra" which, according to the story means "my heart" in Cardassian. Between the constan use of these names and the overall bad editing, the story just wasn't strong enough to grab me.

"To Whom It May Concern" by Gene Delepania (B7)--Okay, these are notes that Vila recorded and sent out through ORAC supposedly, one before and one after "Orbit". It's never made real clear why or where he's doing this and the biggest problem is that this just doesn't sound like Vila.

"Midnight Blue" by Mary Millard (S&H)--Okay, this one obviously was edited in a land where close quotes are against the law. There are *none*, with the exception of one sentence at the very end of the story, by which time seeing a sentence constructed correctly brought me up short. That aside, I had a major problem with the plot of this one as well, namely S&H becoming lovers right after (and I do mean *right* after) the closing scene of the episode "Starsky's Lady". I have a major problem with that purely from the point that I'm not seeing that it's likely that, exactly one week after Terry died and just as soon as Starsky finished crying over her being gone he decides that *Hutch* is of course the one he really wants. I might have been able to live with this if it hadn't been for the bit of post-coital conversation where they decide that Terry "set them up", knowing that just this very thing would happen at just that very moment. "She was real specific in her instructions about those packages for us..." Hutch points out. Starsky "reasons", "Guess maybe she did want me to take you to bed with me after all["]. I'm still trying to figure out this logic, myself. Of course, I know that A stuffed animal and instruction book on how to win a board game left to me by my dearly departed always makes *me* horny...

"Dark Night of the Soul" by Ida Vega (MV)--There are *so* many things wrong with this story, I wouldn't know where to begin. I will say that not only is the basic plot of this one way too contrived and the characterization is done by someone who must not have seen much of the show. For one thing, it is very unlikely Castillo would have been a police detective in Miami 20 years ago, from what we know of him from the series. I'll skip over many of my main complaints about this and just highlight the "plot". A guy breaks in on Castillo and Crockett one night in a "flea bag hotel" (why are they there?), handcuff Sonny to a bureau(how?), beats Castillo, and then proceeds to lead his four thugs in a gang bang of Castillo. Not too long after this, Sonny and Martin become lovers (despite the fact that Castillo has three broken ribs and a concussion). Must I go on...

"Blue May" by Sylvia Bond (THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER)--Actually one of the not too bad stories. Not only does it have a plot that makes a modicum of sense, it also seems to be one of the stories that was less plagued by the editing thieves.

"X Marks the Spot" by Ellen Thacher (QL/X-Files cross)--The one good thing that I can say about this is that the author believes in Sam's soul leaping rather than his body which I find much more plausible (Bite me, Bellisario). Other than that, this bears little resemblance to either show. I would also like to comment on the little footnote the editor put on the first page of the story--"(yes, it is possible!!)". Actually, the way they have it set up, no it isn't. The idea of the story is that Sam has leaped into Scully and has to get Mulder to have sex with him/her (an idea that doesn't particularly appeal to me in the first place) because they have to have a child who will take one of Sam's classes and then their grankid "discovers the first verifiable alien to visit Earth." Now, I would point out that QL take place in the future, yes, but only in about 1997 or so, if I recall correctly. At the most generous I can be with times this kid would have to have been no older than 7 when she took his class! And forget about the *grandchild*!

"A Unicorn Affair" by Corrine Bass (MUNCLE)--I will admit, between the title and the fact that I had just finished reading the previous stories of the zine, I mainly skimmed. Well, I did try to actually read, but when Waverly mentioned that he supposed he understood Illya's change in mood after his wife was killed (WIFE?! What wife? Where?!), I gave up the ghost on it. Oh, and evidently it's been decided that Illya's nickname for Napoleon isn't "Napasha", but "Napusha".

"Safe to Dream" by Scott Hunter (The Professionals)--Okay, I confess, it's a fairly length story, but after finding out that Doyle was a psychic and Bodie and Cowley had come to the club to watch him perform on the first page, I decided to stop while I was ahead. I will say, though that it had three fairly nice PROS pieces of artwork (the only real artwork in the zine), especially one piece that was attributed to Shelley Butler. It reminded me quite a bit of a very good Adrian Morgan.

So all in all, I'd say back away from this zine slowly and you might not get hurt. It was only made worse by the truly awful editing and lack thereof. I might believe in curiosity value, but at $20 a pop, it isn't enough.

Issue 9

cover of issue #9

Playfellows 9 was published in May 1996 and has 155 pages.

The art is by Chris Soto. Two of the poems are listed in the table of contents, but several are not.

From the editorial:

Different. Once again, different. Each one of these zines is a real treat to do, not boring, or dull but diverse. Yeah, I think diverse is the word.

Here you have everything from Pro's to Kung Fu (and yes you have to read the story even if you’ve never see the show — it's wonderful!) Wizzards [sic] & Warriors to lot’s [sic] of Starsky and Hutch.

You’ll notice two stories from Ms. Barry. Read them both, please. Very different but so well written, you won't care. (I didin’t [sic] steer you wrong about the Thunderheart, did I?)

Art work — thank Chris Soto and her worn out pencil, (almost as short as she is).

• Home Truths by Cybel Harper ("God I was scared. Once I told Ray I was afraid all the time, and I meant it, too, though I doubt he believed me. But not like this. Never like this. Not in Africa. Not even as a boy of fourteen when I couldn't stop my father from beating my mother to death. I ran then, and, one way or another, I've been running ever since. Until now. . . .") (Professionals) (4)
• untitled poem by Carol Turner (fandom not specified) (10)
• untitled poem by Cybel Harper (Blake's 7) (11)
• Blue Murders by Alice Hooker ("Whistling softly to himself, satisfied that another long shift was over, Romano glanced into the squad room on his way out. Shaking his head in affectionate exasperation. It was end of shift, and still his partner couldn't drag himself away. Intending to go on to Sherry's, Romano noticed something was wrong. The look on Hooker's features was so intense as he stared at the computer readout. Even across the distance that separated them, Romano could almost feel for himself the strained emotions held firmly in check by the overly stiff figure.") (T.J. Hooker) (12)
• War of the Heart by Natasha Barry ("Dirk Blackpool gazed into the guileless blue eyes and felt strangely bereft. The emotion confusing him, he placed his attention on something else, rather than the figure opposite. A goblet of wine to his lips completed the picture he sought to make; one consumed with great thoughts. "Is anything wrong, Prince?" the other attendant of the dining room inquired. "No, nothing," Dirk responded, immediately wondering how bland he could make his own expression. Nothing nearly as good as this one, he suspected. Of course, with Erik, blandness came naturally. At least to this Erik, he reminded himself self-consciously. 'I've told you, you must always address me by my first name. We're never formal with each other.'") (Wizards and Warriors) (38)
• Big Mac Attack by Telana Wells ("Somehow, Hutch managed to get the giggling mass of malleable humanity into the front seat of the rented Lincoln, then hurried around to the other side and climbed in under the steering wheel, relieved to have gotten his partner out of the party without anything really embarrassing happening. Starsky was in a really weird mood, even taking into consideration the marijuana he had ingested. This undercover assignment had been strange since the moment Dobey had assigned them to it. The suspect was a high society wanna-be who threw elaborate parties in order to ingratiate himself with those he deemed to be on his level. Hutch supposed he should be grateful that the only drug being circulated during the evening had been marijuana.") (Starsky and Hutch) (64)
• untitled poem by Sue Cameron (Starsky and Hutch) (71)
• Hutch in Black, poem by Sue Cameron (Starsky and Hutch) (72)
• Days of Thunder by Natasha Barry ("When his favorite driver, Cole Trickle, climbed through the workroom door, Harry Hogge was ready to call it quits for the night. After Cole had driven the team to capture the Winston Cup at the Daytona 500, he'd been up a few hours - more than a few - checking out the stock car. From there, Harry had gone on to celebrating with the crew. A few of the crew, but a lot of drinks later, he'd found himself back at the office. Cole hadn't been around for long, celebrating - it seemed - with his girlfriend, Claire Lewicki, in tow. She was the physician who'd treated Cole following his near-fatal accident last July. But Cole had proven himself well and fully recovered this day, with this year's Winston Cup in his back pocket. That was a victory all the crew had a share in, and wasn't it great!") (Days of Thunder) (74)
• Day of the Grave, poem by Carol Stephens (Blake's 7) (87)
• Hands On Experience by Elizabeth Kay ("'It says right here, that the average American male thinks about sex every 2.5 seconds.' 'What are ya reading now, Starsk?' 'This is serious stuff, Hutch. I'm tellin' ya. It says right here. Published fact.' It took the patience of a saint or the devil himself to tolerate Starsky's rhetoric at this hour of the morning. Ken Hutchinson, while admittedly possessing qualities of both, was being sorely tested this early spring morning. His partner of a decade, slouched gracelessly in the passenger seat of the tan '78 Ford. One perfectly clean, black leather Nike hightop was planted on the dashboard, the second was propped up against Hutch's thigh, beating time to the background music of Elton John's oldie "Crocodile Rock".") (Starsky and Hutch) (88)
• Morning Glory, poem by Erato (Starsky and Hutch) (136)
• Trapped, poem by uncredited fan (fandom not specified) (137)
• Revelations by Atira Kei ("The music was repetitive, and loud. Detective Peter Caine nursed his beer, taking care to drink only small sips, for appearance sake. Around him, people danced, drank, talked, and seduced. The Freckled Belly was a popular pick-up bar. Caine had been in here once before, during an undercover case. At the time, he could keep professional distance from what this place was, who these people were and why they were here. But tonight, it was different. Different in a way that Peter didn't think he wanted to explore too closely.") (Kung Fu: The Legend Continues) (138)
• lyrics to "The One," by Elton John and Bernie Taupin (154)
• Warning Label, poem by uncredited fan (Blake's 7) (inside back cover)

• 

  from issue #9

• 

  from issue #9

• 

  from issue #9

• 

  from issue #9

Issue 10

cover of issue #10

Playfellows 10 was published in 1997 and has 149 pages.

The art is by Shelley Butler and Chris Soto. The art on page 133 by Chris Soto won a STIFfie.

• After Midnight by Atira Kei ("Duncan Macleod of the Clan Macleod was exhausted. He couldn't remember a time when he felt this defeated... this betrayed. Behind him, he could hear Dawson calling out, pleading to make things as they were before... their friendship... and more. But it couldn't be as it was before, not for awhile, not until he could forgive himself.") (Highlander)
• Ring Around The Rosie by Alyce ("I had happened once or twice before in his life, so Ray Doyle didn't panic when, at first, he couldn't remember where he was, or what time of day it was or for that fact, what day it actually was....") (Professionals)
• Ghost In The Machine by Killashandra ("Sometimes the things we do come back to haunt us.... Literally. If there's one thing prison teaches you, it's this: in the end there's always a payback, and nothing we do comes free. The shadows of the choices we've made never entirely disappear, even on the brightest day. Call it kismet if you want. Whatever you call it, it's something we've al had to learn, out here seventy thousand light years from home. Your ghosts will follow you no matter how far you run. And sometimes it's the ghost you least expected....") (Star Trek: TOS/Star Trek: Voyager)
• Chivalry and Seduction by Atira Kei ("'Get someone in,' Methos replied as he snuggled down into the leather couch. Duncan sighed, examining the fan of color samples he held one more time, then put them aside. No one was in the mood to discuss the Highlander's project, the restoration of an old house. Even Macleod himself was losing interest. Perhaps in a few days he'd think about it again. "I was thinking about going to Joe's," Duncan thought out loud. "He's got a new band tonight. He doesn't even know you're in town. It'll be a great surprise. Want to come along?")") (Highlander)
• The Lesson by Khylara ("Napoleon Solo nodded, a smile plastered on his face as he poured another glass of champagne for the woman next to him. She giggled, babbling that she had already had too much, that she usually didn't drink, that she had no idea what she was doing. Napoleon just wished she would stop talking!") (Man from UNCLE)
• A Dangerous Dance by Cyber Gremlin ("'All right, people, settle down and listen up!' Lt. A.J. Shiragawa threw case folders onto the table in front of the rowdy SIU crew. Everyone chatted and joked, still wound up from Detective Messer's wedding reception the night before. The fact that several of his officers looked as if they'd come straight from the party wasn't lost on the lieutenant....") (Nash Bridges)
• Sins of the Past by Scott Hunter ("'It's over, Frank." Dan Burroughs hoped the man found comfort in that, at least. "Yeah, I know, Uncle. I kinda liked this job.' Frank McPike sighed as he thought about the change he was about to make. 'Hell, I kinda like this life.' 'So you're moving on, again?' Dan already knew the answer but had hoped McPike would stay just a little longer. "Come on, Frank, we've both lost a friend and now with you leaving it's like I'm losing two....'") (Wiseguy)/(Highlander)
• Old Friends by Brennan O'Hare ("Methos shifted his book-laden backpack, making the load more comfortable. A bit of fog wafted through the cold night, giving it a bit of mystery. He smiled at the thought. With a sigh, he trudged toward Sammy's, the local student hangout, to grab a quick beer before heading back to his temporary digs. The tingly warning of another immortal close by crept up the back of his neck. Methos slowed, eyes scanning the darkened street looking for its source....") (Sentinel)/(Highlander)
• The Stalker by Susan Sicafoosh ("I have to be quiet, can't let him know I'm even here. I wonder what Scully would say if she knew I was...stalking Skinner. I wonder what HE'D say!'") (X-Files)
• The Matter of Trust Affair by Meryn Marks ("The suspension and investigation took all of three days, from the first sign of heightened internal security, through the detention and questioning, with suspension pending further investigation and finally.... Everything rescinded, as if it had not happened.") (Man from UNCLE)
• Investing In The Future by Scott Hunter ("His name was William Andrew Phillip Bodie although a few people actually dared call him Andy. Fewer still tried to get him to answer to Phillip. NO ONE called him William more than once. Ever. This was one of the first thing every newcomer in the camp learned. When he deigned to answer, to both friends and enemies alike, it was to the name of Bodie. No one knew why he chose that particular appellation over three other perfectly good names and Bodie wasn't the type to explain.") (Professionals)
• Muscle Man by H.R. Radei (Professionals)
• Sandcastles, poem by Susan Sicafoosh (Professionals)
• The Rock, poem by H.R. Radei (Professionals)
• Milk and Chocolate, poem by H.R. Radei (Starsky and Hutch)
• Lonely One, poem by H.R. Radei (Man from UNCLE)
• The Lesson, poem by Robin Hood
• Promises, poem by Jonni Corday (World of War)
• Something, poem by Khylara (Lethal Weapon)
• Right & Wrong, poem by Khylara (Simon & Simon)
• What about Love, poem by Khylara (Man from UNCLE)
• Diamond in the Rough, poem by H.R. Radei (Blake's 7)
• Forever, poem by H.R. Radei (Man from UNCLE)

Issue 11

cover of issue #11

Playfellows 11 was published in 1998 and has 166 pages.

• The Christmas Affair Affair by Jonni Corday ("It was a hell of a lousy time for his cock to be acting up. Napoleon Solo, U.N.C.L.E. agent extraordinaire, and his partner, Illya Kuryakin, were hiding out in a dirty little smuggler's hut, halfway up and Alpine mountain in the middle of a winter snowstorm. It was the 24th of December and they were being hunter by a dozen assorted THRUSH henchmen....") (Man from UNCLE) (10 pages)
• Forever Wild by C.J. Bradly ("'Hey, Chief!" Sandburg's head snapped up from its almost doze and watched Ellison's body weave through the door in the bullpen. Blair blinked sleepily as Jim stopped in front of his desk. Ellison looked wide awake and he smiled.") (Sentinel) (7 pages)
• Because by Lucy Mae ("Hutch unstrapped his shoulder harness, tossed it on the couch and headed for the kitchen. It have been a long day, and with the heat wave LA had been having, it just made it worse....") (Starsky and Hutch)
• Should Auld Acquaintance by Terence ("After four hours of paperwork the only thinking keeping me awake was the caffeine in the coffee. I was more than ready for an interruption, though I expected it to come packaged in the five foot eight bundle of energy known as Blair Sandburg. Instead it was a ghost from my past.") (Sentinel) (22 pages)
• Ways and Means by C.A. Rien ("Hauptmann Hans Dietrich sighed, wondering, not for the first time why he went to so much trouble for the American sergeant. "I never had this problem before I went to Africa. Before I met my Sgt. Troy....'") (A revised and expanded version of this story was published in Flanking Maneuvers #4.) (Rat Patrol) (17 pages)
• Till The Next Good-Bye by Ida Vega ("The Cardassian walked swiftly and silently through the corridors of Deep Space Nine, which he had not seen in a year. Not since the Klingons' abortive attempt to invade his world, which led to the leaders of the new civilian government being evacuated here.") (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) (50 pages)
• Absolution For All by Scott Hunter ("'Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned." Sidney hesitated slightly, uncertain of remembering the exact wording necessary to begin confession. "It's been...." Taking a deep breath Sidney forced himself to continue slowly, deliberately, "It has been fifteen years since my last confession.'") (Pretender) (24 pages)
• September by Brennan O'Hare ("It was an hour before opening. Joe Dawson eased another bottle of scotch into the already packed space behind the bar. Macleod and Methos were due any moment for a pre-opening celebration. It was the Watcher's birthday and even though 50 didn't seem like such a big deal to two men whose combined ages were over 5400 years, it was a turning point for him, so when the door behind him slammed, Dawson didn't bother to turn around.") (Sentinel/Highlander) (36 pages)