Return of the 7
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Return of the 7 |
| Publisher: | Starlines Press (issues #1-#3), Evil Twin Press (#4) |
| Editor(s): | Janet Walker |
| Date(s): | 1985-1991 |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | print, zine |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Blake’s 7 |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Return of the 7 is a gen Blake's 7 anthology.
Issue 1
Return of the 7 #1 was published in 1985 (reprinted August 1986) by Starlines Press and is 110 pages long.
The art is by Vikki Weidner (front cover), Arlene Gogan (front cover), Suzie Molnar (front cover), Anne Davenport, and Sheila Paulson.
The editorial:
HI! Before you ask (if you were going to) Starlines #5 is completed. This zine simply got proofed and sent to the printer first. Starlines #5 will be out in June 1985, and anyone vaguely interested in the tale that accompanies that zine will have to read the ’letter' in that issue.
All the authors and artists are most profusely thanked for their work and help. To those of you who read more than just the letter from the editor, I’d be interested in your comments on "Gossips of Death". It was written for fun, and for anyone who is bothered by all the tiny things that float through the air and bother our sinuses. Also, THE AFTER SCORPIO 2 BLUES, was supposed to be out earlier, but Starlines #5 didn’t make it out earlier. So, here, in time for Scorpio 3, while we wait for Scorpio 3, is a poem and drawing from Scorpio 2.
Thanks for the entire zine goes to Sheila Paulson. Mainly, for making the idea of a Blake’s 7 zine become a reality. She did this by telling me I could 'use ALL BUT REASON only if the zine was out by MediaWest Con. Since it is one of my all-time favorite Blake’s 7 stories, I got to work. Also, thanks to Anne Davenport who let me use ’Zen' and ’Slave' for the zine. Valery King,and Esther Reese for proofing, typing and grammer [sic], Terry Neill for the help with the printer. I’d also like to ’Thank' Terry for distracting me with Illya Kuryakin— I enjoyed it, but it didn’t help the zine.
I am considering doing a second issue if there is interest and submissions. Suzie — we want more of your new universe, so please get to work, you can’t leave it there. As always, Sheila, more please. And, if anyone is interested, and I can get the time, I’ve got a prequel to HOOPS OF STEEL that’s been 2/3's of the way finished for over a year now. But I would need more, so please send in your submission.
All in all, this was an interesting experience. As my Father says, ’It sure feels good when you quit.’ And to all the people out there who wrote to me and haven’t yet gotten an answer: Hang in there, I might have a free moment now to answer.
Hope you enjoy the zine. Please let me know what you like and dislike so that we can do better next time.
- Letter from the Editor by Janet L. Walker (2)
- All But Reason, fiction by Sheila Paulson, (5th Season) (4)
- You Needed Me, filk by Randy Goodrum (34)
- The Antique, fiction by Janet L. Walker (3rd season) (35)
- Bedside Manner, fiction by Esther Reese (1st season) (37)
- After Scorpio 2 Blues by Chris Edmonds (43)
- Hoops of Steel, fiction by Janet L. Walker (45)
- Blake's Not Here, fiction in script-form) by Anne Davenport (2nd Season) (script; parody) (52)
- A Pride of Lions, fiction by Suzie Molnar (post Terminal) (55)
- Bereavement, poem by Sheila Paulson (90)
- Gossips of Death, fiction by Anne Davenport (91)
from issue #1, Arlene Grogan
from issue #1, sample text
from issue #1, Vikki Weidner
from issue #1, Arlene Grogan
from issue #1, Suzie Molnar
from issue #1, Vikki Weidner
from issue #1, Vikki Weidner, some guests of honor at Scorpio
from issue #1, poem about Scorpio
from issue #1, Arlene Grogan
from issue #1, Esther Reese
from issue #1, Anne Davenport
Issue 2
Return of the 7 #2 contains 220 pages and was published by Starlines Press in May 1987. The art is by Vikki Weidner (front cover), Sheila Paulson, Esther Reese, and J.L. Walker (back cover).
- Letter from the Editor by Janet L. Walker
- Unfinished Business, fiction by Sheila Paulson (sequel to "All But Reason") (3)
- Going Home, fiction by Susann Molnar (sequel to "All But Reason" and "Unfinished Business") (41)
- Thy Brother's Keeper, poem by Mary Robertson (86)
- Paternity Suite, fiction by Sheila Paulson (87)
- All the Right Moves, fiction by Linda Terrell (also in Airwaves #4 and Airwaves Blake's Seven Special #1) (92)
- Hypothermia, fiction by ? (97)
- The Music Lesson, fiction by Sheila Paulson (100)
- Taken by Chance, fiction by Linda Terrell (104)
- Fortunes of War, fiction by Kathy Hintze (108)
- Three Wise Men, fiction by Mary Robertson (128)
- Pity the Sea Horse, fiction by Sheila Paulson (147)
- Mercy Mission, fiction by L. A. Carr and Ann Wortham (167)
- The Shadow That Walks Between Us, fiction by Linda Terrell (also in Airwaves #4 and Airwaves Blake's Seven Special #1) (186)
- Switch, fiction by Leigh Arnold (212)
flyer for issue #2
from issue #2
from issue #2
from issue #2
from issue #2
Issue 3
Return of the 7 #3 contains 296 pages and was published by Starlines Press in March 1989.
The art is by Judith Boguslawski (front cover), Suzan Lovett, Adrian Morgan, Suzie Molnar, and Barb Johnson.
- Empire of Sand, fiction by Sheila Paulson ("Escaping from Gauda Prime with a wounded Blake and his pilot, Scorpio's crew have a lot to deal with. Even more so when someone starts sabotaging the ship and Vila is almost killed.") (2)
- Pastoral Scene, Without Unicorn, fiction by Jill Grundfest ("A quiet shore leave turns into a fight for Avon's life.") (89)
- Never Mistaken, fiction by Cindy Rancourt ("Tarrant learned a hard lesson on Gauda Prime and he'll never make the same mistake again.") (98)
- Limits, fiction by K.D. Swan ("After Malodaar Vila volunteers to go on a mission with Avon to prove he can take care of himself, only to end up having Avon's life depend on whether Vila hates, or loves him enough to keep him alive.") (105)
- Ring Around the Collar, fiction by Kathy Hintze ("Vila still has the Amagon collar around his neck, and Avon refuses to take it off.") (161)
- The Legend of Avon and Blake, poem by Sheila Paulson (180)
- Where Anything Can Happen, fiction by Denise Sheets ("Avon and Vila end up in Peewee Herman's playhouse — believe it! This woman did ' Darth Vader Visits Mr. Roger's Neighborhood' and made it happen.") (Peewee Herman crossover) (183)
- The Same Altar, fiction by Janet L. Walker ("The 'prequel' to "Hoops of Steel"--Yes folks, here's where I finally explain how Blake got in such bad shape and everyone ended up on a first name basis.") (192)
- Letter from the Editor (316)
from issue #3, Judith Boguslawski
from issue #3, Suzan Lovett
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3
It's a gen story, PGP, illustrated by Suzan Lovett. The premise is that Tarrant's father, Dev Tarrant, has programmed him to betray the others. [1]
Issue 4
Return of the 7 #4 was published by Evil Twin Press in 1991 and is 170 pages long.
The art is by Judith Boguslawski and and Esther Reese.
- A Fine Collection of Allies, fiction by Sheila Paulson (1)
- In the Lion's Den, fiction by Ruth Berman (A PGP guest-starring Docholli from 'Gambit'.) (105)
- Web of Deceit, fiction by Kathy Hintze (120)
- Hold On, fiction by Sheila Paulson (133)
- Odds and Evens, fiction by Jill Grundfest (134)
- Masque, fiction by Sheila Paulson (151)
- To Betray One's Kind, fiction by Ruth Berman (162)
- Eagle Forgotten, fiction by Sheila Paulson (166)
from issue #4
from issue #4
from issue #4
from issue #4
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4
Janet Walker swore she was not going to do any more of these, yet here it is, 170 perfect-bound pages, complete with a striking blue and silver cover. Reportedly, we have Sheila Paulson to thank for forcing an other issue out of poor Janet!
The longest story in the zine is Sheila's "A Fine Collection of Allies"; it's an absorbing alternate third series scenario, uniting Tarrant and Dayna with the 2nd series crew. As expected from Sheila, the characterization is terrific. I love the way she allows us to see each of the principles through the eyes of each of the others. Her Tarrant is bright, talented, knowledgeable, witty, sublimely self-confident, and more than a match for Avon and Blake.
The other stories in the zine are all enjoyable, and Tarrant isn't bashed in a single one of them. Ruth Berman's "In the Lion's Den" tells us more about the fate of a certain character that I've always found fascinating, and has some brief but charming Tarrant moments. Jill Grundfest's "Masque," though plagued with grammar/formatting problems, is an interesting and different story. Usually, PGPs revolve around Avon and Blake patching up their differences, or around Avon and Vila re-hashing Malodaar. This time, it's Avon and Tarrant who have to make peace with each other! And Sheila's "Eagle Forgotten" offers a glimpse of the Federation long after the rebellion has been won, a time when Blake is not remembered and Avon is recalled only as "one of the people with Tarrant"!
It's fascinating to compare the treatment of Tarrant in various issues of The Return of the Seven. In the first issue. Tarrant is unpleasant, unintelligent, and unlik- able, even in Sheila's story. He is much improved in #2, and #3 has the lovely "Empire of Sand." Issue #4 has several stories in which Tarrant is favorably depicted and none in which he is bashed; if this trend continues, Carol McCoy's dream of Tarrant taking over fandom could come true! [2]
References
- ^ from Strange Bedfellows (APA) #12 (Feb 1996)
- ^ from IMHO* #2 (1995)