Sensor Readings

Zine
Title:	Sensor Readings
Publisher:	Orion Press
Editor(s):	Tim Farley, Randall Landers
Date(s):	1984, 1988
Frequency:
Medium:	print zine
Size:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:	list of Orion Press zines
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Sensor Readings is a non-fiction Star Trek: TOS zine published by Orion Press. It had two issues.

front cover of issue #1, Tim Farley

Issue 1

back cover of issue #1, Steve Dixon

A cartoon by Randall Landers for issue #2. A woman sits in Lander's office and asks, "How do you like my K/S manuscript so far, Mr. Landers?" This appears to be a comment by Landers which echoes a comment by David Gerrold in the interview transcript he printed in which Gerrold said: "I think there have been some Star Trek novels that have been absolutely untrue to the spirit of Star Trek. And, I say I think that because I have not read them—I've skimmed a couple, I've looked at a couple, I've been given reports on what's in the books by some very skilled readers. Some author friends of mine have told me that there is this whole series of Star Trek novels that go down this road of, you know, the sexual fantasy of fat, overweight ladies who want to believe that Kirk and Spock have something going on between them. There's that subtext, and there's this other subtext over here and so on."

Sensor Readings 1 was published in April 1984 and contains 50 pages. It is a gen Star Trek: TOS non-fiction zine edited by Tim Farley. Art by Steve Dixon, Tim Farley, and Kiel Stuart.

From the editorial:

This fanzine is the realization of a goal I set several years ago; that there should be a Star Trek fanzine devoted primarily to talking ABOUT the series through articles, reviews, and other non-fiction. Fanzines, in the last few years, have demonstrated an astonishing lack of interest in articles in favor or fiction and poetry. It has not always been so -- in the past we have had TREK magazine and others devoted to analysis and criticism of Star Trek. 'Sensor Readings' is designed to fill the void left by the passing of these forums for discussion.

• Welcome, Editorial (2)
• An Interview with Robert Bloch & David Gerrold by Don Harden and Tim Farley (5)
• The Warp Drive: A New Look, speculation by Tim Farley (19)
• Zine Production in the Digital Age by Randall Landers (31)
• An Angle of Attack System for Shuttlecraft Approach by Steven K. Dixon (35)
• Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, spoof of Wolf in the Fold by Kiel Stuart (39)
• In Closing, Editorial by Tim Farley (50)

• 

  illo from issue #1, Kiel Stuart

• 

  illo from issue #1, Tim Farley

• 

  illo from issue #1, Tim Farley

• 

  illo from issue #1, Steve Dixon

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

[An Angle of Attack System for Shuttlecraft Approach]:

I found [this] article... the most memorable because it gave technical details on how to land a shuttlecraft in a docking bay in clear, simple terms. Anyone writing a story in which a shuttlecraft approaches a starship would find this article informative.

[zine]:

SENSOR READINGS is a non-fiction fanzine edited by Tim Farley. It starts off with a Robert Bloch/David Gerrold interview which includes some tidbits about Star Trek that I didn't know before. "The Warp Drive: A New Look" is a well-researched essay on the warp drive formula. "Zine Production in the Electronic Age" has advice on how to produce a good-looking fanzine without using offset. "Star Trek Forum" offers a chance for fans to give their opinions on various issues. "An Angle of Attack System for Shuttlecraft Approach" was excellent. It gives a necessary aspect to shuttlecraft guidance The article is easy to read and has lots of useful diagrams. In short, this is a well-written and interesting fanzine, and I recommend it highly.

Issue 2

back cover of issue #2, Randall Landers

front cover of issue #2, Teegar

Sensor Readings 2 was published in March 1988 and edited by Randall Landers. It contains 48 pages. Art by Teegar, Gennie Summer, most by Randall Landers.

• Welcome by Randall Landers (2)
• From the Publisher's Desk by Bill Hupe (3)
• The Enlisted Person in Starfleet, speculation by Charles G. Weekes (4)
• The Stars of Star Trek, speculation by Randall Landers with Linda Marcusky (9)
• The Star Trek Time Line by Randall Landers (43)
• Of Vulcans, Romulans, Spock, Saavik, and Baby Makes Three, speculation by Simone Delacambre with Randall Landers (44)
• Project: Genesis, speculation by Randall Landers (47)
• Final Analysis, editorial by Randall Landers (48)

• 

  illo from issue #1, Randall Landers

• 

  illo from issue #1, Randall Landers

• 

  illo from issue #1, Gennie Summers

• 

  illo from issue #1, Randall Landers

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

Leading off the issue is an essay titled, "The Enlisted Person in Starfleet" by Charles G. Weekes. This is an excellent article by (I presume) an active Navy man. I always enjoy speculations about the structure in Starfleet from armed services personnel, and I hope to see similar articles in the future. The bulk of the issue is filled by the article "The Stars of Star Trek" by Randall Landers with Linda Marcusky. The essay deals with assigning currently known and charted stars to planets and star systems mentioned in Star Trek. I'm not sure I agree with all the speculations, but the article appears well-researched, and it makes interesting points. Next is a one-page Star Trek time line, an article on Vulcan/Romulan/human hybrids by Simone Delacambre with Randall Landers, plus an essay on the nature of Project:Genesis. The fanzine is well put together, and I look forward to future issues.