Pon Farr Press

Zine Publisher
Name:	Pon Farr Press
Contact:	Della Van Hise
Type:	fanfic
Fandoms:	Star Trek: TOS
Status:	inactive
Other:
URL:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Pon Farr Press published numerous popular and widely-read K/S zines from 1979-1995.

This press was very closely entwined with Mkashef Enterprises and both presses later operated through one of the first online webpages that sold zines, both gen and slash. This website: www.asidozines.com was active between June 1999 and 2017, and is now offline.

Pon Farr Press and its owner, Della Van Hise (aka Alexis Fegan Black) was often over-extended and could be very erratic about providing the zines fans had paid for. There are many personal statements and other letters in adzines and letterzines from fans complaining about waiting many months for their zines, or not receiving them at all.

Some of their zines have been collected as part of ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives.

List of Zines Published

5 of Hearts: The Collected Short Novels of Alexis Fegan Black | The 25th Year | Against All Odds | Beyond the Veil | A Collection of Dreams | Coming of Age | Covert Action | Crossroads | Daybreak | Dreams of the Sleepers | Fever | The Fifth Hour of Night | Dreams of the Sleepers | Imaginary Lines | K/S Collected | Naked Times | Oasis | Oath of Bondage | Otherwhere/Otherwhen | Off Duty | Private Possessions | A Question of Balance | Psychic Storm... and other K/S stories | Speed of Light... & other K/S stories | Starry Seas, Earthly Planes | Styx and Stones | Taking Command | Time Out of Mind | The Ultimate Star Trek Trivia Game Book | Unholy Alliances | Vagabonds | Warlords | The Year of the Ram

From a 1992 Submission Request

K/S NOVELS -- As one of the longest-running and most experienced K/S publishers, Pon Farr Press is now actively soliciting for K/S novels. Novels can be any length (over 50,000 words, that is), and can deal with any aspect of the K/S relationship. Mirror universe, 5-year mission, time-period, alternate universe, pre-Reform Vulcan, "slave" stories -- all welcome! Friendly, easy-to-work-with editor will give you the time and attention your work deserves. New writers welcome, established writers strongly encouraged. For some of our previous novels, see THE WAY HOME, (Sharon St. James), AN OATH OF BONDAGE, (Sharon Pillsbury), TIME OUT OF MIND, (Keith Donovan, Nathan St. Germain), and the novels of Alexis Fegan Black. Payment in copies of your novel, or for other zines from Pon Farr Press. A great way to fill out your collection without having to deplete your pocketbook.

Some Financial and Distribution Challenges

Some Troubles in the Early 1980s

There is a long, long letter in Datazine #29 (as well as in Universal Translator #22) in the personal statement section by Della in which she responds to multiple complaints in "Datazine" and numerous letterzines regarding to zines fans have paid for but have not received. She cites poor health, problems with the originals for at least one zine (Naked Times #4/5) being lost at the printer, and says she just plain:

F----- Up. I can't make it any clearer than that... I hope this can be resolved as quickly and painlessly as possible for all involved. As I stated before, I DO intend to fulfill all commitments for back orders and current orders. We all make mistakes; unfortunately, mine have been more apparent than many... There really isn't much I can do other than apologize and reassure you that 'time will tell.' At this point, threatening letters aren't doing any of us any good. I honestly couldn't do anything more right now if I was under full-scale attack by Klingons, Romulans, Gorns, and Tholians. But as soon as the attack is over, I hope to prove to you that I'm not some dishonest evil alien.

In Datazine #32, Della had an update. She explained in detail which zines have been sent out, and which ones are still in the works. She mentioned she is having to re-do Naked Times #4/5 part two as her "born-again printer" had completely destroyed the original and the dummy copies after she had paid her bill in full. "It seems he overlooked that commandment about coveting and/or destroying his neighbor's property." She closed with a thank you to fans. "... thanks again to those who have written kind letters of support and encouragement over the last few troubled years. I look forward to being able to re-establish the trust and harmony we all shared in the past."

Many reviews of her zines in On the Double (~ 1987) go out of their way to praise how speedy the zines arrived.

A 1993 Offer Due to Dwindling Sales

In a flyer printed in Taemon's Cuckoos, there was this statement:

a 1993 flyer notice

SAVE 10% -15%!!!

In an effort to rekindle a seemingly dwindling interest in K/S, all orders of less than $100 are available at a 10% discount!! Orders in excess of $100 can save even more - 15%! Depending on how much you order, it's like getting zines for free! So come on and take advantage of this offer by returning this original flyer with your order. Order now! Offer expires February 15, 1993! (Not valid outside the US & Canada).

PLEASE NOTE! My apologies for any orders still outstanding at this time. Due to our recent move, I've been having some problems w/the xerox machine as well as w/locating a new printer not shocked by K/S. Add that to working on a pro novel & my time has shrunk dramatically. At any rate, all outstanding orders will be filled prior to 3/1/93, or may be picked up at ESCAPADE if you'll be attending. Apologies & regards - A.F.B.

Bill Hupe Agents the Zines

From the winter 1993 mailer by Bill Hupe:

... at Media West* Con, we started agenting Pon Farr Press fanzines; both their new and reprinted titles. As some of the reprints of foil covers do not turn out all that well, some people have questioned (rightly so), their legitimacy, and in such cases we produced the publisher's inventory sheet as well as authorization to sell. As of this point in time, the publisher has started to include a notice on the title page if a change of format has occurred. We keep on file a letter of authorization from each and every press we agent for, so if you ever have a question, please feel free to ask us, or even contact the original publisher if you have any doubts. With this point in mind, Pon Farr Press elected a few days ago to offer us co-publication rights. This means that we agent all of Pon Fan Press titles, and we have permission to produce copies from masters we have been provided with, All volumes that we print ourselves contain a 'printed with permission' statement. If you have any questions, please just ask us, or write Pon Far Press [sic] directly if so inclined.

From a 1994 ad in On the Double:

IF YOU WANT FASTER DELIVERY, BILL HUPE AND PEG KENNEDY HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED TO SELL ALL PON FARR PRESS PUBLICATIONS EXCEPT FIVE OF HEARTS. NECROPOLIS. KILLING TIME. AND MY SOUL TO SLEEP.

Some Changes in Mailing Policies

From a 1994 ad in On the Double:

We regret that we can no longer be responsible for orders lost, stolen, confiscated or destroyed when enroute [sic] to countries other than the US. The best possible care is taken when packaging overseas orders, but due to the whims of custom officials, and the hazards befalling overseas orders, we can no longer accept responsibility for replacement of lost zines. Overseas fans wishing to purchase their zines via surface mail (which can take 60-90 days), rates are available as follows: add $2 per zine to the US price. SPECIAL NOTICE TO OVERSEAS FANS: Unfortunately, insurance is no longer available on 
overseas orders due to the problems which have been encountered with customs and duty.
 Personally, I don't understand the system, but I've been told by postal officials that the chances
 of a package being opened are actually increased when insurance is purchased, so...while
 insurance could be purchased, I don't recommend it for K/S orders.

Pon Farr Folds Up Its Tent: 1994

From a notice in Media Monitor #10 (winter 1994):

Quitting fandom. After 16 years of editing, writing, and producing fanzines, Pon Farr Press has decided it's time to quit. Due to other commitments on my life, as well as the fact that zines are no longer breaking even for me, I find it necessary to fold all production of Pon Farr Press zines. In the future, my zines will be available from Bill Hupe.... For the record, this is not an open invitation for zine pirates to have a field day with my titles.. Also, this notice does NOT apply to Mkashef Enterprises nor to Wendy Rathbone.

The Tent Was Back Open in 1996

Sometime between 1994 and 1996, Pon Farr Press began publishing zines again.

From an undated letter by Dovya Blacque, sent to a fan, and printed in Come Together #27 (March 1996):

I received the following letter from MKASHEF Enterprises:

"MKASHEF Enterprises has not and cannot assume responsibility for any order considered "outstanding" or pending with PON FARR PRESS. However, MKASHEF is offering the following information:

PON FARR PRESS has filled all orders received. From the many letters Alexis Fegan Black has received regarding lost orders, she is estimating that approximately 140 zines have been lost. She has also narrowed the time period of these losses to two particular, large mailings she did in July 1994 and December 1994.

As of August 1995, PON FARR PRESS is out of business. It is bankrupt. There is no money. However, Alexis has every intention of re-filling all orders which have been lost. At the moment, she is unable to take much action as, stated above, there simply are no funds with which to print any replacement zines. She will replace all zines for which she has received copies of canceled checks within the next 12 months [the letter was undated]. This will be a slow process simply due to the lack of money available.

Taking into consideration the above information, both Alexis and MKASHEF Enterprises ask everyone to stop writing multiple letters to either or both of us regarding missing orders. One letter, accompanied by copies of both sides of your canceled check, is more than sufficient to place you and your missing order on the list that will, slowly, be filled over the next year. Badgering Alexis or writing to MKASHEF will not make the process any faster.

These orders will be filled through MKASHEF but not by MKASHEF. Again, I do not and cannot accept any responsibility for whatever remaining business anyone has with PON FARR PRESS.

For what it's worth, I, Dovya Blacque, vouch for the fact that Alexis has filled all orders she received. We go to the post office together every day. I see what she takes in to mail, I see what she receives in her post office box. We discuss our mail, telling each other what's going on. There is no duplicity or ulterior motives involved on Alexis' part; she is not out to rip anyone off, pull off any scam or otherwise gyp anyone out of what is due them.

This problem of missing zines and lost letters has plagued MKASHEF as well as Alexis; it is not a lie on Alexis' part that the mail we are expecting often never arrives. I am constantly hearing via phone or through friends that so and so never received an answer from me regarding this or that matter. The reason for the lack of response is that I never received the letter in the first place. This is not a problem confined to Alexis Fegan Black nor, if other editors will admit it, to those of us in Yucca Valley.

Anyone who has worked with MKASHEF in the past knows I honor all orders I hope my track record will be enough for everyone to extend to me the respect of acknowledging my word as confirmation regarding Alexis and her actions concerning her zine business. There is nothing underhanded or dishonest gang on here. Alexis feels bad that the situation has become so complicated and has every intention of making all commitments good as soon as one of the many writing projects with which she is involved comes through.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Dovya Blacque -- Editor -- MKASHEF Enterprises

In April 1996, a fan responded to the above letter:

I must say I was very surprised to learn that Pon Farr Press was at Escapade offering zines at a discount I had understood from the letter from MKASHEF Press that there were no zines. Just today I received an acknowledgement of receipt of my canceled check and notification that I am on the list of people who need zines. I have volunteered to take any three zines and not to wait for the three I ordered. Yet I sit here with no zines while others were able to get zines at a discount Perhaps Ms. Black is attempting to raise money for the postage to send out the replacements for the lost zines. I can only speculate about this since the only communications I have received about this matter have been from MKASHEF Press. If she is trying to raise money for postage, it seems very strange to be offering the zines at a discount I would think that she would want to make as much money as she can while holding onto as many zines as she can. That way she will have both postage money and zines, and she could start straightening things out I'm sure other people with lost zines would be happy to take substitutions. However, if she raises postage money with the discounted zines but doesn't have enough zines to send out, she's stuck raising money to reprint zines.

Well, hopefully she has this all figured out Maybe zines are even now in the mail, winging their way to people who have been waiting for them a long time. If they are not and if no one else has a reasonable explanation of this behavior, I will be forced to conclude that somebody's brownies are burning.

Frustrated Fans: Some Sample Comments

Some samples of comments from frustrated fans.

December 1996

Does anyone out there know how to get in touch with Pon Farr Press? I ordered two zines from them in July 1994 and sent a check for over forty dollars. I never received the zines and have written numerous letters, with no response. I did, however, receive my cancelled check. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. All I really want are the zines!

Pon Farr Press is out of the fan-publishing business. To put it delicately, a lot of people have also experienced what you have and have not received satisfaction. You can try to contact Mkashef Press if you want. But I don't know what else you can do.