Southern Seven/Issue 001

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Southern Seven is a long-running gen Blake's 7 anthology of art, fiction, and poems.

See more at Southern Seven.

Issue 1

front cover of issue #1, by Leah Rosenthal

back cover of issue #1 by Sheila Paulson

Paul Darrow and Michael Keating holding an original of the illo used as issue #1, at Scorpio #4 in 1986

flyer for issue #1, the reprint

Southern Seven 1 was published in November 1986 and contains 361 pages. It won several Zen Awards and was nominated for a FanQ award.

The art is by Leah Rosenthal (front cover), Sheila Paulson, Dani Lane, Mary Otten, Michele Rosenberg, Suzie Molnar, Sheila Willis, and T.J. Burnside.

The 4th reprint (1988) lacks the Hellhound stories which were reprinted separately as The Log of the Hellhound #1. These stories were God from the Machine, Cross of Diamonds, Only the Thunder, Knife Edge, The Value of Patience, When the Black Ship Came by Katrina Snyder & Susanne McGhin.

The editor arranged the stories and poetry by season, reserving the more adult themed stories towards the end.

From the editorial:

Those of you who are already familiar with the stories Leah and I write, know that BIZARRO 7 is about as far from serious as you can get. It!s been wonderful the way people have accepted the manner in which we poke fun at our *heroes*! A good sense of humor never hurt anyone, I always say. When we first created the BIZARRO 7 universe we certainly had no idea that it was going to be such a hit — in fact, we were rather afraid we’d be lynched by rabid, loyal fans!! You guys have proven us wrong, thank goodness. I'm rather attached to myself... well, I'm attached to Leah, too. It's flattering, too, that some people have felt inspired to write in our universe, but please before you write something using BIZARRO 7 characters and/or situations, please be certain that you have prior permission from both Leah and myself. Believe it or not, we are working to a pattern here...

Of course, anyone who was at ScorpioCon this past summer knows that Leah and I couldn't possibly write anything anywhere near as crazy as the real B7 people are live. They outdid us, I'm afraid. It was a great con, the guests were terrific and really went out of their way for the fans. You'll see some of Leah's cartoons that were drawn at the con in this issue. I'd like to offer up a big thank you to Terry Nation, Jacqueline Pearce, Scott Fredericks, Mark Ryan, Paul Darrow, and Michael Keating for the time and energy they spent on making the fans happy.

Back to the stories. I've arranged them in chronological order as best I could. I'd like to also point out that most of the 5th season stories lean toward an adult nature. There's nothing explicit in any of them, but they do deal with adult situations and in some cases contain strong language. HELLHOUND is very definitely rated 'R'.

Just so long as you don't say I didn't warn you... .

• From the Airlock... (editorial) by Ann Wortham (4)
• Islands, poem by Leah Rosenthal (6)
• En Route, poem by Rebecca Ann Brothers (8)
• Torch Singer, fiction by Virginia Turpin ("On a mission with Blake, Gan and Vila, they meet a beautiful singer who seems very attracted to Gan. The feeling is mutual. Trouble is that this particular lady is a REAL torch singer.") (11)
• Party All the Time by Michele Rosenberg & Leah Rosenthal (23)

• Alternative Decorating, fiction by Kathy Hintze (24)
• Vila's Lament, poem by Jacqueline Taero (27)
• Logic, poem by Leah Rosenthal (28)

• Bizarro 7: The Opening Round by Leah Rosenthal & Ann Wortham (30)
• Bizarro 7: Intergalactic Velvet, fiction by Leah Rosenthal & Ann Wortham (reprinted in Interface #12 and The Bizarro Zine #2) (31)
• Bizarro 7: Relativity, fiction by Leah Rosenthal & Ann Wortham (reprinted in The Bizarro Zine #2) (45)
• Bizarro 7: Head Over Heels, fiction by Leah Rosenthal & Ann Wortham with Michele Rosenberg ("The crew of the Liberator were shocked to learn that Avon had a family. The annual Avon family glix hunt is almost too much fun for our intrepid heroes to handle. Blake learns some startling things about his own past. And just what was the Supreme Commander doing under the covers with Vila Restal.") (reprinted in The Bizarro Zine #3) (59)
• Bizarro 7: A New Leaf by Leah Rosenthal (reprinted in The Bizarro Zine #3) (80)
• Bizarro 7: Against All Odds, fiction by Leah Rosenthal & Ann Wortham with Michele Rosenberg (81)
• Bizarro 7: The Last Word by Leah Rosenthal & Ann Wortham (87)
• Dissolution, poem by Jacqueline Taero (88)
• A Mind Is a Terrible Thing by Linda Terrell ("Since Atlay, Avon had been disturbed by Blake’s apparent mental instability and finally, he, Cally and Vila are forced to confront the rebel leader’s worst nightmares.") (90)
• From the Vila Restal Book of Excuses -- No. 347 by Michele Rosenberg (98)
• Rebel Boy by Michele Rosenberg (filk, Tarzan Boy) (99)
• Multiple Choice, poem by Jacqueline Taero (100)

• Slightly Mistaken by Joan Hoffman ("Vila’s bored and all he wants to do is share a friendly drink with Avon while the others are gone. Vila makes a small mistake and it may prove deadly to Avon.") (101)
• Star One: Avon, poem by Jacqueline Taero (114)
• Star One: Blake, poem by Jacqueline Taero (114)
• Lifesaver by L.A. Carr ("Avon must obtain a special herb or Vila will die. The things Avon does for his crew.") (115)
• You Belong to the Seven, poem by Leah Rosenthal (126)
• Keezarn by Janet Walker ("Blake and Jenna are only a few steps behind the Liberator and a reunion with their old friends…can they continue to survive on their own in the meantime.") (127)
• Kerr Maverick by Leah Rosenthal (filk, Maverick theme song) (139)
• For a Few Credits More by Sheila Paulson ("A teleport malfunction wasn’t all that unusual aboard the Liberator and Avon was confident that he’d repaired the problem. He ended up on 19th century Earth in West Texas.") (140)
• Delta Ditz, poem by Michele Rosenberg & Leah Rosenthal (160)
• Season of Lies, fiction by Leah Rosenthal & Ann Wortham with Michele Rosenberg ("Terminal was almost the end for Avon and the crew of the Liberator, but perhaps the last laugh will be on Servalan.") (161)
• A Matter of Madness, poem by Jacqueline Taero (190)
• That Which Weighs Upon the Heart, fiction by Mary Alice Wuerz ("What if Vila had not survived that fateful shuttle ride with Avon over Malodaar?") (191)
• The Sound of a Voice by Ginny Mila (196)
• Half-Blaked by Leah Rosenthal (197)
• The Heart of the Matter, Linda Terrell's version (also in Down and Unsafe #5) (201)
• The Heart of the Matter, Leah Rosenthal's version (Rosenthal's first B7 story) (209)
• Payment with Interest, fiction by Barbara T (214)
• Picture If You Will, fiction by Kathy Hintze (225)
• Stray Thoughts by Leah Rosenthal (Star Trek: TOS crossover) (reprinted in The Bizarro Zine #4) (228)
• Part Time Rebel by Leah Rosenthal (filk, Part time Lover, by Stevie Wonder) (229)
• Love and Necessary Discipline by Susan Matthews (reprinted in 1993 in The Other Side #9) (230)
• 5th Season Openers (humor) by Leah Rosenthal (reprinted in The Bizarro Zine #3) (268)
• Steaming Wangs and Smoking Bodies by Michele Rosenberg (multimedia humor) (271)

• 

  from issue #1, Dani Lane

• 

  from issue #1, Mary Otten

• 

  from issue #1, Leah Rosenthal

• 

  from issue #1, Dani Lane

• 

  from issue #1, Sheila Willis

• 

  from issue #1, Suzie Molnar

• 

  from issue #1, Katrina Snyder (not in the fourth reprint)

• 

  from issue #1, T.J. Burnside

• 

  from issue #1, Sheila Willis

• 

  from issue #1, Leah Rosenthal

• 

  from issue #1, Leah Rosenthal

• 

  from issue #1, T.J. Burnside

• 

  from issue #1, Sheila Willis (a fan casted Ray Doyle as "Pen Dublin" - he of the "green eyes and springy curls")

• 

  from issue #1, Leah Rosenthal

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

See reactions and reviews for Love and Necessary Discipline.

See reactions and reviews for Season of Lies.

[Season of Lies]: "Ingenious Un-Gaudas" or "Please make it didn't happen" or "All is not as it seems": "Terminal" and the entire 4th series are nothing but miscast shows, propaganda to discredit Avon.

[zine]:

Fantastic! My particular favorites were the BIZARRO (natch — and Leah draws horses well) and "Season of Lies", which was probably the best real story. You know, serious, like. I particularly liked Terrick in the BIZARRO series, and I liked that their father never said anything — was just there.

Comments on other stories—the HELLHOUND series was quite good, and could stand as strong characters and series on its own, with original names, etc. Using B7 brought B7 to the level of a cartoon series (albeit very good one) and I think the ship should've been named Arcadia anyway. Once I accepted the idea of a cartoon, I quite liked it, and look forward to more installments of it.

Liked the "Eat Breakfast Beat Up Tarrant" story, too, although I liked the ending much better after Avon stopped beating him up.

Mostly tho', the zine was just a well-rounded collection — and a bit, um, plump!

[zine]:

SOUTHERN SEVEN — wow. This may be my favorite B7 zine (it's sure the immensest one I have). These Snyder & McGhin people are geniuses — HELLHOUND was unutterably fabulous. Hope it goes on forever.

My other favorites were "Head Over Heels" (I hope BIZARRO 7 goes on forever, too...), "Keezarn", "The Sound of a Voice"...and just about everything. Gorgeous illos by Leah and Dani. Now I have to afford #2 by hook or by crook, by pickpocketing or grand larceny...

"Season of Lies"— I adored the way it ended, brilliant last few pages.

Love all Leah's cartoons.

[zine]:

It was the best zine I have ever read. The best story in it was "Season of Lies". The only thing wrong with it was that Cally wasn't there to help Avon with Servalan in the end. I, too, would "dearly love to see Servalan at the mercy of an enraged Cally," but that is just my opinion, since Cally is one of my favorite characters. The story is still fantastic the way it is.

The rest of the stories in the zine were good too. There was only one that I didn't care for, but in a zine this size, whose complaining!

Keep up the great work!

[zine]: I loved SOUTHERN SEVEN ! 'Season of Lies" was my favorite and HELLHOUND was fascinating! Can't wait for issue #2. Keep up the great work!

[zine]:

I enjoyed everything in SOUTHERN SEVEN; there's not one thing I didn't like. That has happened exactly one other time for me since 1974 — I was impressed (obviously) with the quality. Thank you for the fantastic effort—turned out magnificently. Do I grovel now or later?

Can't wait for more BIZARRO 7 and HELLHOUND stories. Ah, yes — the former bunch of stories had me in stitches. I think Leah Rosenthal's illos are perfect. Peggy Sue Servalan?! 'Bubbles"?! [And we call Paul Darrow that to his face! He hasn't killed us. Yet. Editor.] And how can we forget Terrick and Homicide? The intro to BIZARRO 7 is a classic in itself. I think the two funniest lines so far are in it: "Blake turned to Zen in alarm, Take us out of this area. Standard by Shag It, Zen" and "Yo, Roj Baby...Hold on to your curls 'cause here we go..." For some reason, these struck me as hysterically funny, we all know I'm weird.

OK, so My favorite illo in SOUTHERN SEVEN is on page 10— "One Day at the Domes Day Care Center"; again, it 'tickled' me. I'm a sucker for kid stories. Oh — and the cover is beautiful: Blake's and Avon's expressions/features are captured to perfection. Some people are so talented... I think the drawing of Avon on page 97 by Dani is great; it’s my favorite piece of serious artwork within the zine.

[zine]:

SOUTHERN SEVEN was terrific. And so much of it, too. I loved the variety of stories and art—though I wish there had been a few more from the 1st and 2nd seasons. Still, having finally seen "Blake" I can understand the need to resurrect everyone. And LOG OF THE HELLHOUND is one of the most original of that kind that I've read in the last two years. Wasn't sure I was going to like it at first, but by the end I was absolutely hooked and eager to find out what happens next. And how nice to hear that you’ve got an exclusive on the series.

"For A Few Credits More" was also good; nice touch, too, having Tarrant save the day. "Keezarn", too; nice to see some time spent with Blake, and Jenna. And so many other stories and poems. It's really difficult to find anything to grump about; from that wonderful cover, through BIZARRO 7 and on, it's put together really well.

But what can one say about BIZARRO 7? Well, I generally like my B7 serious, but on the other hand, I've very much enjoyed the BIZARRO 7 I've come across in OF DREAMS & SCHEMES and PRIMETIME, and was delighted to have a bunch of the stories on hand in SOUTHERN 7. Any chance of the whole series being gathered together under one roof, for those who have missed some of the stories? Hope so.

[zine]:

I've been delighted by my copy of SOUTHERN SEVEN #1. The BIZARRO stories are hysterically demented — marvellous! Leah Rosenthal’s artwork suits it perfectly. As for favorite stories, in SSS7 #1, I’m tied between "Season of Lies" and "Love & Necessary Discipline".

The cartoon of the "Hellhound Vila" should be declared a hazard to unwary, unprepared fanzine readers. I loved it!

[zine]:

I'll take this opportunity to tell you how much I enjoy your stuff, especially BIZARRO, some parts of which were obviously inspired by genius. It’s starting to look as if we've been visited by the 'Zine Fairy up here, and, in quality, the Southern series is conspicuously in the fore.

But special commendation for "Season of Lies"! Although I've read and enjoyed Susan Matthew’s "Double-Edged Sword", and although I’ve seen 5th Season 'answers' ad naseum, "Season of Lies" is the answer.

[zine]:

SOUTHERN SEVEN was one of the best B7 zines it has ever been my privilege to read. Each story was QUALITY! Strangely, I find that I have a fondness for BIZARRO 7. (One question, according to the cartoon, Avon has been made a cat, a jockey, a Delta, and pregnant (not all at once). When was he made a Delta? And when did he get pregnant? [I can't recall offhand when we made him a Delta, but he got pregnant, so to speak, in "The Thought That Counts” which appeared in B7 COMPLEX #8. Editor] ... I thought Blake is the only one that got pregnant, that time. [If you are referring to "Cuckoo”, a story which appeared in FIFTH SEASON #4, Leah and I did not write that one. A number of people seem to be under the impression that we have written under the pseudonyms of A. Toynten Bankes and Louisiana Bailey. It ain’t us, folks. We’re too stupid to ever use pseudonyms. Editor.]

My favorite serious stories are ”A Mind Is A Terrible Thing”, "Slightly Mistaken”, "The Heart of the Matter”, "Payment With Interest”, and "The Log of the Hellhound”.

"The Log of the Hellhound” poses some fascinating questions to Kerr Avon’s background, such as who was his mother and, more importantly, who was his father? Also, from this series, I have the distinct impression that Snyder & McGhin have Avon as something other than Alpha class; however, they give no clue as to what class he belongs (or has been classified as). They do, however, imply that Vila is actually an Alpha and not a Delta. Having only seen each episode once (with the exception of missing the introduction of Sleer), I am not familiar with the name of each episode, the plots, etc. However, Snyder & McGhin's portrayal of Avon reminds me of one of the characters in the episode that showed the Clonemasters. This guy had been deliberately misclassified and was going crazy as a result — but that didn’t stop him from developing a powerful new weapon.

[zine]:

I'm new to "fanzine fandom" and you and Leah have written some fantastic stuff. You may find this hard to believe, but SOUTHERN SEVEN actually saved the lives of two people. It's true! You see, two weeks ago I was travelling to StarFest (Spring 1987)|Star Fest '87 in Denver with Meg Lahey and Ev Mills, who I believe you are acquainted with. Unfortunately, we were snowed in at a little spit of a town named Burlington and spent three days in a Knights of Columbus Hall. By the evening of the second day, I had made plans to kill Meg and Ev in their sleep, just to relieve the boredom. That's when Meg brought out her copy of SOUTHERN SEVEN for me to read. I started with the horse race story. I started laughing out loud! Of course, I laughed like Vincent Price would have, and Meg and Ev were a bit worried at first.

But to make along story short, Meg and Ev are still alive and I now enjoy fanzines.

[zine]: I very much like the way you grouped the stories — makes so much more sense than random scatterings. Enjoyed all the BIZARRO 7 stories (among others), but my favorite is still "Intergalactic Velvet". Loved reading the description of the 'modern' racehorses—especially given that, for the past few years at least, the fad in dressage horses was big-bigger-biggest (typically upwards of 17 hands). Nice to know where all those overgrown warmbloods ultimately put their genes...

[zine]:

I've finally and all too quickly gone through the copy of SOUTHERN SEVEN I recently ordered from you. On to the outpouring of praise. Protective outerwear on? Wow. No — WOW! It was more than I expected, or could've known to hope for. The BIZARRO 7stories are wonderfully funny (and the cartoonish illustrations are perfectly matching— and I particularly loved the one with Blake's eyeglasses/moustache disguise to go to the horse race—among others). I was in hysterics over the group attempt to space Avon's brother out the airlock. Who said they never worked as a team?

The HELLHOUND series is very interesting, despite the Miami-Viceish overtones in the middle. (OK, yes, I'm the last living Miami Vice apathetic, but they can't get me if I don't stop moving...) I really don't care what three shades everyone's silk shirts are, but the characters are intense and coherent in their own framework.

"Love & Necessary Discipline" really stays with you. Please pass on some appreciative words to Susan Matthews.

[zine]:

"Season of Lies” — I lowed the premise. Were that it was so, (A mention aside — I haven't seen the final episode yet. My Ch. 21 is only up to 2nd year and I'm still forming my opinion/reactions to everything I see in the episodes vs, all this variety of viewpoints I've been reading. Such as "That Which Weighs Upon the Heart— what a succinct heart-wrencher. And not to mention "5th Season Openers” — Leah Rosenthal must be deliciously deranged.) Her little ST/B7 vignette on the possibilities atop Mt. Sileya is going to make it impossible for me to see that scene in ST III again with a straight face, (Which brings to mind—can you—yes, I suppose you can well—consider Blake and Co. going back in time to collect a couple of whales? Or even just the reactions to the one who brings up the idea first? Please, could there be a BIZARRO 7 story there?) ..[Isn't that a little strange, Kathy? I mean *ahem* Leah and I try to write plausible stories for BIZARRO. *Ahem* Editor]..

The varied bits of poetry were touching, too. Like I said, what a zine!

[zine]:

It came, appropriately enough just in time for Christmas. What a great zine! What a LARGE zine! I sat down and went through it immediately of course, enjoying the cartoons and the poems and the material. The range of material was quite impressive. I did particularly enjoy "Season of Lies", and it concerns a Major Theme (warnings literary pedantry alert) very dear to me — the ability of the people we love to turn manipulation back against themselves, until the attempt to force a set of behaviors turns into a kind of—well—a sort of double-edged sword more or less, that cuts both ways. ..[Hey! Maybe there’s a title idea there!) Ahem. Sorry about that. I couldn’t help myself. [Well, of course, "Season of Lies” owes a lot to Susan’s novel DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD, as her work was one of the very first I ever read in B7 fandom. It couldn’t help but have had an influence on my thinking. Leah, too, probably. Editor].

Anyway, I’m real pleased to have been included in SS#1. Hope you get lots of LoCs!

[zine]:

SOUTHERN SEVEN 1 arrived safe and sound. I loved it! Not only was it great value moneywise compared to others, but—and please excuse the language but I feel it adequately expresses my true feelings- it was bloody good reading! It was a nice, solid read and I loved every marvellous moment of it.

My favorites were your and Leah's BIZARRO stories. Your sense of humor matches mine? it’s a pity I'll probably never have a chance to meet you. I had a good chuckle over the cartoon of Blake, Avon and Vila as babies—the snotty little expression on Avon's face (and I'm not referring to his perpetually runny nose) was spot on, as was his customary 'J'accuse!' attitude toward Blake.

I also greatly enjoyed the HELLHOUND series. I like the look of the 'new wave' Avon, but then he wears

anything well. I sincerely hope Katrina and Susanne will continue the story, and not just because I'm dying to know what Blake would make of the nude painting of Avon! Mention of the time traveller Weaver presupposes an earlier story in the HELLHOUND series; if this is true, do you know where that story was published, as I'd like to read it?

[zine]:

I don't know what I am gonna do with you. I got S7 and finished it in a week. I know that you may not think that such a feat, but I have been working so much overtime at work loading Orac that I have been hard enough pressed to keep up with my illoing, let alone any reading or letter writing and yet here I am, pounding away to you.

I loved it. I gotta say, too, that I am surprised by HELLHOUND. I know that Katrina and Susanne are good writers, but I know that they usually have quite a few original characters. Even though they do a good job with them, I was a little hesitant to start HELLHOUND, because of that. And I was a bit unnerved by the changed Avon. Well, it was all for naught since I enjoyed it all very much. Avon was still Avon, no matter that he was rather punked. Oh and part of the fun was trying to put faces to their original characters, too. I find that they seem to have Avon's emotions concerning Blake and his search for him in a recognizable frame of reference. I don't agree with it being anything so basic as asexual fascination, but I think that they were ambiguous enough about the fact that the reader can read as much into it as they want to.

I really got chills when I read "That Which Weighs Upon The Heart". You know how I feel about [the episode] ORBIT anyway, and this was an interesting look at what it could have been like if Avon truly had killed poor Vila. It was deliciously sad and tragic. (And Blake would still be alive, wouldn't he?)

"Love and Necessary Discipline" was also fun to read, though I think that curing Avon was only the main problem here. Someone had better cure Tarrant, now. I think that the boy has some real masochistic tendencies. But it is the first time that anyone has devoted any time to what Tarrant had probably felt about misleading Avon at Gauda Prime and then having Avon kill Blake. Though, Blake should really be blamed by one and all in the end, for it was him that mislead poor Tarrant. You know, I find that I am enjoying the character of Tarrant more and more.

I got a kick out of the cartoons. I loved Leah's Dome Day Care Center one and the one of Servalan and Travis catching Avon on a magnet. And of course I was so happy to see the HELLHOUND Vila one in the back of the zine. Loved it!

And I really, truly enjoyed all of the BIZARRO stories. They were terrific. I wish that I could pin down the exact moments that really had roaring, but I waded through this issue so fast that I kind of knew that everything was gonna end up blending in together.

I got the biggest charge out of your explanation of why Servalan's hair is so short. And the rambo-rats, too. I think that you will have to explain "The Heritage of Hastur" to me, though. I've never heard of it. [A Marion Zimmer Bradley book. It features a fellow who is rather fond of, uh, young boys. Editor] Oh, yes, the analogy drawn between the Liberator and three hypos in search of a giant buttock. That one killed me.

S. Molnar's Blake on pg. 267 and all of Sheila Paulson's art was just gorgeous. I loved them and also got a big kick out of seeing the illos depicting Dublin and Shyenne. Well, you knew that I would, didn't you.

I won't go into how much I enjoyed "Season of Lies" in this letter. You know that already, too. I just read the end of it and go "Awwww..."

[...]

I have got to say that I sure hope you do another S7. I loved every minute of it. And you dedicated it to me? (blush) Thanks.

[zine]:

Yes, SOUTHERN SEVEN made it safely, and I loved it. Took it everywhere with me until I finished reading it — which I did last night. My two very favorites were the BIZARRO stories and the HELLHOUND series.

About HELLHOUND — I wonder what Avon finally did with Jeanine. How long before he got rid of her? He seemed so hard and cruel, not that you can blame him after everything he went through, but even after he finally found Blake. Avon's going to make him remember who he is even if he has to beat it into him. Will there be anymore HELLHOUND stories? I WANT MORE! I've gotta find out what happens next. I'm hoping Avon does get rid of Jeanine—Blake does not belong to her and never did. Please, would you ask Katrina Snyder & Susanne McGhin. I want more, more, more!

I'm still a sucker for artwork — I loved Leah's, especially the one of Servalan and Travis capturing Avon with a magnet. Avon's jammies on page. 70 are cute. I like the bunny. Reading the BIZARRO stories had me chuckling all day, especially finding out Vila is Avon's brother in "Against All Odds". I never knew Servalan's first name was Peggy Sue.

SOUTHERN SEVEN is a beautiful zine. I loved it!

[zine]:

"Season of Lies" was my favorite non-BIZARRO story. (That opening scene was a killer, and Avon 'persuading' Servalan to tell him about Blake was wonderfully done.)

I also really liked "The Sound of a Voice", "Life Saver", and the HELLHOUND set. (There will be more of that in S7#2, won't there? Right, Annie?) HELLHOUND was painful to read, though; I sure hope Avon starts to heal soon. "Love & Necessary Discipline" was painful, too — but it was fun to see Bodie & Doyle in a B7 story!

By the way, I really liked the art you picked out for "That Which Weighs Upon the Heart".

[zine]:

I know this may seem odd, coming from me, the former speed reader, but I just finished SOUTHERN SEVEN tonight, it took me that long to savor everything! Long awaited and well worth it, too. I don't know where to begin. With the small stuff and work my way up? Straight through? Without a chance in you-know-where of saying everything I want to say on each piece, less I write another tome to rival the now eighteen chapter Log of the You-know-wherehound.

Poetry: I'm no judge of, having written so many bad examples myself, I prefer stories because I prefer plot, but every once in awhile there's something that catches me in a poem—an image, or an insight. Leah did a good job of capturing what our heroes would think of each other in "Islands"; the repeated stanza "for all the same reasons human beings wreak hell" says it all, in fact. Perhaps that was One of their major problems: no one knew where the other stood. That illo with it has got to be Oani's most gorgeous-of-zine this time around, but I might change my mind as I keep going (I didn't.) Blake sure looks good!

I like Jacqueline Taero's humorous poetry better than her more serious stuff, generally, (like "Vila's Lament" and "Multiple Choice" — neat illos with both. How amazing it is to me, Mary Otten's impish Avon, drawn with -- gasp! -- teeth.) but "Dissolution" is quite somber and moving, like Suzie Molnar's sad-eyed Cally who illustrates it. Poor Cally. She got the rawest deal of them all. With filks, I'm on safer ground, although I usually find myself perplexed because I don't know the tunes. (I wish someone would filk The Clash.)

[...]

And now the stories: In reading through all the BIZARRO stuff, I think I've discovered why I like it so much, and why it (in my opinion!) stands head and shoulders above all the other satirical BLAKES 7 stories I've ever read. It's because BIZARRO! - a law [u]nto itself. Oh, anyone who's watched BLAKES 7 can understand it, but there are so many new personality quirks, truly skewed approaches, and totally outlandish running gags (not to mention whacked out original characters—ahem!) that it's become a universe of its own, a sort of alternate reality. Of course, Leah's wonderful trademark cartoons help it along, too, by setting in my mind exactly what they all look like. My favorite in the zine are "Intergalactic Velvet" and "Head Over Heels" (I've always liked horses, maybe that's why.) I liked "Relativity" a lot, too. I have two younger sisters, so I can almost sympathize with Terrick, although neither of them were quite as awful as Kerrick. As for Vila and Avon being brothers, they certainly act like it, and not just in BIZARRO, but in the series as well. And the concept of Servalan being "little Peggy Sue" certainly does blow the mind. My favorite illos are Avon smirking whilst an angry Peggy Sue realizes she has mistakenly attacked a confused Vila (Twisted Sister! What a nice touch!), the same Peggy Sue crawling like a predator toward a hapless Avon, Travis about to be mowed down by Homicide ("oh, help!"), and Blake and his faithful stuffed parrot along with an exasperated Avon. My favorite gag...Blake, the ever-susceptible, getting a hold of HERITAGE OF HASTUR. Please don't write what happened next! Not after Susanne tortured me with plot synopses of all those slash PROFESSIONALS stories! I could go on about BIZARRO, but again I'd run out of stationary and typewriter ribbon. Suffice it to say that BIZARRO's the best cure for depression there is, and I should know. Whew. Back to the beginning.

"Torch Singer" was well-plotted and worked up a nice head of suspense. Interesting to see a story where Gan is the major character. His background was well worked out and quite consistent with the series. Some parts were a bit rushed, but as I was already careening toward the big ending, I didn't mind.

"A Mind is a Terrible Thing" was a bit too on the supernatural side for me, therefore I can't objectively comment on it. The concept of mind-healing was interesting in itself, as was the suggestion that Blake had a family. Very fine illo, too.

As to "Slightly Mistaken", I’m not sure Vila would make that big a mistake, other than that, everyone seemed in character (I look for that) although I can’t quite see Avon botching*up his precious Orac, even if that irritating little box deserved it — he sure was "in character", if you can say he’s a character...

Avon’s role as the sexy God-From-the-Skies isn’t one I’d cast him in, but then' again, considering the way he behaved toward Dayna when they first met, maybe "Life Saver" has a valid point. (I mean, a logical reason to mess around!) All the characters were on mark, except Lucy and I "agree to disagree" (I guess) about Tarrant; I don’t think he’s quite that nasty...I contend that anyone who looks that good in tight trousers can’t be all bad. The plot flowed smoothly enough, but pity that kid! He’s in for a rough time, particularly if he inherits The Nose.

I really liked "Keezarn", I’ve got a soft spot for Blake, and I actually liked Jenna, one of my least favorite characters, in this story. Beyond the ironic touch of our heroes just missing each other, I feel the post-Star One personalities of both of them were right on target, and there was a lot of realism there, as well. Is this story part of a series? I hope it doesn’t simply lead up to "the end" as in BLAKE.

I’m not a big fan of Westerns, which might have had something to do with my perceptions of "A Few Credits More" The mechanism of the space warp and the attempts to get Avon back gave a suspenseful underpinning, with a good edge of near-failure to keep me turning pages, and I liked the characterization of the BLAKES 7 people, but something about Mortimer didn’t jell for me. His dialogue seemed off, somehow, he sounded too "modern." Still, the thought of Avon on horseback in black Western garb is interesting in itself!

As you know, I prefer stories that accept the plots of the shows as the Way It Happened. (Which means that I’d have trouble writing STAR TREK because I’d have to accept SPOCK’S BRAIN. Yuck.) But "Season of Lies" put a neat twist on it. Does this mean we are the dopey Federation tele-viewers?

I loved the scene where Avon, behaving as crazed as only he can, stands over Servalan and screams at her to say "Blake’s lines." And Blake back from the "grave", too. At least Avon doesn't have to go through the psychological damage he usually does in 5th Season stories. The Avon on page 162 is wonderful. Sigh. Vila certainly gets an interesting role in "Payment With Interest". What I found most interesting in this story was the glimpse into the psychology of Servalan. Very kinky lady, indeed. But she certainly was stupid, and very un-Servalan-like in the end. Not that she didn't deserve it!

Hoh, Boy. And now "Love and Necessary Discipline". I gotta admit it, this one really brings out conflicting feelings. First, the style is very good, very evocative, full of excellent turns of phrase. And the culture of Sanctuary...though barely glimpsed...is interesting, and appears to be worked out to the last details. Thirdly, I have a well-known weakness for Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw, myself. But...how to put it?...the psychology seems twisted to me, and the characterization. Avon's a sadistic son-of-a, Tarrant a wimp, and everyone else sits around with their teeth in their mouth. Yes, I object purely on grounds of characterization, shaky grounds, perhaps, as every BLAKES 7 fan has their own ideas and we've (me and Susanne) done some things I'm sure others would object to in our stories. Nevertheless, I simply don't see such capacity for brutal behavior (that is, without a motive) in Avon, and even less capacity for such sniveling behavior in Tarrant. He certainly showed no signs of it in the series. Even the two new characters frustrated me. Having them narrate was a nice touch, but for all that they come across as too much alike (at least in the way they expressed themselves) and too detached...but I guess that might have been the point, they were supposed to be observers. So this story was frustrating, like I said, because parts I liked very much and parts I didn't like at all. As I have said before, though, this is mostly a matter of perception, and the teaser at the end did leave me curious to know what happened next.

[zine]:

My copy of SOUTHERN 7 arrived in excellent shape — must be something about book rate. Am very well pleased with both the contents and the general 'look' of the layout.

Hope the HELLHOUND series goes over well. It helps to have some acquaintance with Time Lords and Tardis- like devices. (I've read other B7 fan fic with such). I do not think the language or situations are 'too strong', given the treatment Avon had received—and besides B7 is not a kiddie show, anyway. The "HH" premise sounds fascinating and the stories are well written. Always do enjoy BIZARRO stories. With my quirky mind, I kept getting an itch to have someone try the BIZARRO ritual used to unmindwipe Blake in HELLHOUND (though it would be a "bloody big black ship" there.)

Somehow I found the "5th Season Openers" hilarious, still do after 3 readings.

I like "Season of Lies". That's the neatest way yet I've seen to explain away Year 4—and with no one having to 'dream' it, either. Way to go! And I like the illos. (#ENVY#)

[zine]:

...so far "Intergalactic Velvet" is the best. I gave myself a headache laughing so hard. "Relativity" was good too, but can't hold a candle to the first one. I haven't read the others yet. I need it in small doses, bad for the health, you know, all those headaches.

Of the serious literature, I think I like "Slightly Mistaken" best, and "A Mind is a Terrible Thing".

The only one I didn't like so far is "Payment With Interest", what a depresser!

[zine]:

I enjoyed "Islands" by (who else?) Leah, "En Route" by Rebecca Brothers. (must say that I'm usually ambivalent to poetry, because it, like music and artwork, is from the soul and only if you can really feel the piece do you understand it; it's very personal. Hope you understand what I'm trying to say).

On "Intergalactic Velvet", etc. (BIZARRO 7), I'll tell you what I wrote at the end of each. "Intergalactic Velvet"—cute, some very funny lines. "Relativity"—O.K. Some funny moments, but I'm quite sick of Terrick. "Head Over Heels"—Three's too many.

I'm not into Linda's 'head' stories (or H/C one's either). "Vila Restal's Book of Excuses #347" was cute. Really liked the "Star One: Blake and Avon" by Jacqueline Taero. "Life Saver" was O.K. Leah's "Kerr Maverick" was cute. Was a big fan of the Maverick boys way back when. Sheila's "For a Few Credits More" was very good. "Season of Lies" was good and had an interesting concept. Suzie Molnar's Blake from BLAKE on page 267 is superb! My favorite illo of the zine. Liked the "5th Season Openers" and "Steaming Wangs and Smoking Bodies". Didn't think I'd be too impressed with the HELLHOUND series, but had a hard time putting the zine down. While I don't necessarily agree with some of the Avon character portrayal, I enjoyed the stories.

Thanks for a lovely zine and for using "Torch Singer".

[zine]:

Just finished reading SS. It was worth the wait! Well worth it. My favorite is a toss-up between "Season of Lies” and "Love & Necessary Discipline”. In the latter I was so mad at Avon for what he was doing to Tarrant, that I sided with Dublin. And was even more surprised when I forgave him when asking for help — I put that wrong. When he asked for help for himself and Del. (Actually I haven't quite forgiven Avon for even considering to throw Vila out the airlock.)

As for the HELLHOUND series. . I don't think I like her Avon. He's very believable; I just don't think I like him. And I'm glad to see she's bringing Del into the series. I quite like Tarrant! And it was nice to see Bruce Canton again. Real nice!

Oh, and I think I like the BIZARRO 7 stories in smaller doses. Though I got a laugh out of Travis when he held the racing form up to the wrong eye.

[zine]:

What a great zine. There wasn't anything I didn't like, and it's very nicely done with great art and a good balance of material. I like the way you did it with the different series separate. I love the way my Tarrant picture came out on the back cover, and as usual I love all of Leah's art, serious and funny. The girl has a definite gift.

My favorite story in the zine is definitely "Season of Lies". That was great, and I loved the ending when they found Blake. Marvellous. I also liked Susan Matthews' story, but then I like almost everything she does. And I was very impressed by that drawing of Blake that Suzie Molnar did. You should see the Servalan she's drawn recently; it's wonderful.

I think this is the nicest BLAKES 7 zine I've seen so far. Congratulations.

[zine]:

Actually I can't say how much I enjoyed SOUTHERN SEVEN #1. I'm speechless. A quarter of the stories alone, the BIZARRO 7 for example, would have been worth the price of the entire zine. I have never seen so much good stuff all in one place.

Matthews' "Love and Necessary Discipline" was particularly thoughtful, unusual, and highly disturbing.

I do have one complaint to make about unfinished stories, especially 5th series, especially good 5th series (an unfortunately rare species), especially LOG OF THE HELLHOUND: I am crazy about it! It's the most penetrating, bizarre, and convincing series I have read. I found it absolutely gut wrenching. My admiration and envy of the authors is boundless. Not just for the way they catch Avon's own thoughts and feelings, the self-hatred and contempt under the pride, the torture of hopelessly longing for a salvation he doesn't believe in; but also for succeeding in what is far more difficult, an entirely believable, and Blake-like, Blake. In fact, all the characterization is uniquely and vividly alive. So where's the rest of it? If the authors are just going to call it quits and let us all sit there on the ship contemplating amnesiac Blake and poor tormented Avon, I'm going to go insane, I am passionately hoping that a continuation is in the works somewhere.

I am not given to writing LoCs of any kind. In 3 years of zine reading, this is my first, so perhaps it's something of a testimonial. I have been deeply impressed with the quality of the zines and stories you have printed, and am looking forward to more.

[zine]: All in all, this was a nice zine. I am finally coming to appreciate BIZARRO 7. I usually don't bother to read parodies, but BIZARRO 7 seems to be a little more than a parody and the humor is not vicious. Keep up the good work.

[zine]: I really must thank you for the timely arrival of the zine SOUTHERN SEVEN. It was the only redeeming feature in an otherwise intolerable day. And your BIZARRO stories soon had me laughing so hard, I forgot the misery I had been experiencing.

[zine]:

Very, very good! I thought the best story was "Season of Lies" with a good plot and excellent characterizations. This story has made it to my top ten list! The BIZARRO stories are priceless—that Terrick is a TERRIBLE person!! Personally, I'm looking forward to the scene where he finds out he is related to Vila. How can he be so mean to Avon?! I actually feel sorry for Avon!

I don't usually like poems but "Islands" was very good and the art by Dani was exceptional (as was all her art!). Jacqueline Taero's poems were good, too.

I enjoyed all the little comics all over — the bumper stickers, the B7ization of known comic strips and the 'Delta gets you there' one (with its great little filk song). In fact, I loved just how lush this zine is in art!

THE LOG OF THE HELLHOUND was curious. I read the entire thing and was somewhat interested in the characters, but quite quickly into the story it became apparent that these people have nothing in common with the BLAKES 7 characters of the same name. Even the art, while it was not bad, did not look anything like who they were supposed to be. Strange. Very strange this story.

Well, it is getting late and I'd better call it quits. But I just had to let you know what a great zine you've come out with! Thanks for everything!

[zine]:

Got my copy of SOUTHERN SEVEN the other day, and I clap for you. Good zine! I was delighted to see "Head Over Heels" in there, as I have been wanting much to read that one again. I remember laughing hysterically the first time I heard it, and I laughed nearly as hard the second time around. I must say it is rather a jolt to see one's own writing in print for the first time. I am honored that you thought it was good enough to print. And to get a zine without paying for it! Neat! I'll have to write some more! "Season of Lies" turned out very nicely. Bravo. Captures the eerie feeling of that song in essence.

It's a shame there isn't some way to get that music across to the reader, as well as the words. Oh, by the way, Phil Collins stole the instrumental inspiration for that from a classical artist by the name of Andreas Vollenvieter, off of an album called WHITE WINDS.

[zine]:

I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed SOUTHERN SEVEN. What a feast! I think it's the best all-round collection of B7 fiction produced anywhere, with something for everyone's taste.

I do hope some day you'll collect all the BIZARRO 7 stories into one volume. They are the funniest things I've read since TALES OF FELDMAN and they deserve a wide audience.

[zine]:

As usual, Annie you have done yourself proud. It boggles the mind to realize that you are on your ninth zine — of course by now perhaps it's your tenth. And each time you seem to get better. We all know how hard you work and I know how much of your time goes into your zines. Congratulations on another great job. Where do you find the time?

I usually comment mainly on favorite stories first; this time around I want to first address a certain area of SOUTHERN SEVEN. I love BIZARRO and feel it needs to be commented on separately since it is a different sort of story. I don't generally enjoy humorous pieces of fan fiction because often characters are sacrificed in favor of funny situations, but BIZARRO captures the essential characteristics of the people involved so completely, I can read BIZARRO anytime and get enjoyment from it. Each time I read the BIZARRO enclosed in the zine, I seem to change my mind as to which I like best. Currently it's "Intergalactic Velvet" ...

Also, nobody illustrates BIZARRO like Leah (you Silver Alpha, you.)

My favorite story (other than "Cross of Diamonds" which of Katrina & my series is my favorite Book I story) is "That Which Weighs Upon the Heart". Nicely written. I don't usually like short pieces, but this story made me cry. ORBIT is a favorite episode of mine -- even though I personally feel if Avon had really wanted to find Vila he would have. I do see Avon as the sort who would seek death at another's hand — by ORBIT he was mentally spent.

"Keezarn" by Janet Walker is a story that I almost overlooked because I'm the first to admit I don't particularly like Jenna. But this story had some nice insight into her character and gave her depth which I don't feel she had on the show—except perhaps on DUEL. Janet Walker wrote a good story.

[Barbara T] also utilized Jenna nicely — this time bringing her in at the end as Vila's saviour.

"Payment With Interest" is a nicely written story — if unpleasant in its sacrifice of all the characters to bring Vila to the forefront. Personally, I never saw Sleer/Servalan as interested in Vila and I can't see her so quickly ridding herself of Avon. Also, I personally want Avon to kill Servalan. Still very nice in depicting Vila.

I had serious problems reading Susan Matthew's story "Love & Necessary Discipline". I found the behavior of the characters odd, to say the least, Tarrant's allowing Avon to beat him was off. Also, the others allowing it to go on was wrong, I'm sorry but I don't see how they could possibly go back to behaving as a team following that. The story was sadistic — sorry but it left me cold, story: I liked Pen and Shyenne — nice characters. I'd like to read the sequel (I'll bet there is one.) Perhaps I should say that I do feel Susan is a fine writer.

I also would like to go on record as saying that Michele Rosenburg has a wicked pen- — "Retsel Boy" is great.

There's so much going on in SOUTHERN SEVEN that I couldn't possibly comment on all of it. The material is varied and the art good. Leah is as always wonderful — with cartoons and her serious art. Dani is great— her work is always fluid in style, Suzie's Gauda Prime Blake is great and Katrina's HELLHOUND art is wonderful.

The zine's great. I'm looking forward eagerly to #2.

[zine]:

SOUTHERN SEVEN is superb! I made the mistake of trying to read the whole thing in one day, and feel like I've been mind-wiped, So I decided I'd have to re-read it over a period of several days in order to fully appreciate it...so much for New Year's Resolutions. Three cheers for all of your artists this time around! Several of Avon's portraits are so good they're scary — I can almost see the madness in his eyes. Brrrr. And of course I loved Leah's cartoons, especially the "Avon missed"/"No I Didn't"! and Avon threatening someone I assume is either you or Leah: "Mad? etc. [It's Leah, of course! Go get her, Bubbles. Editor]

I don't need to tell you how much I enjoyed the BIZARRO 7 stories; suffice to say my husband threatened me with extreme prejudice if I didn't stop giggling.

All the stories were good, but "Season of Lies", "That Which Weighs Upon the Heart", and "Love & Necessary Discipline" were especially chilling.

I'm still not sure what to make of the HELLHOUND series; I guess I'll have to wait for the next Snyder & McGhin offering. There seems to be some pattern to this...

[zine]:

Most of the panting for breath was caused by reading the BIZARRO 7 stories, even the ones I'd heard read at MediaWest*Con and SCORPIO. Gods, Annie, I haven't laughed that hard in a long time, My landlord downstairs must have thought I was going nuts (more than usual, anyway). I was glad to see the one reprinted story (Linda Terrell's) Besides, I love that particular story. It's a shame she ended it where she did. I also enjoyed all the poems psyching out both Avon and Blake for liking each other whether they want to admit it or not or for what reasons.

Janet Walker's "Keezarn" was made even sadder than what was going on in it for the knowledge of what was going to happen in the future. This was a nice story, despite its sadness. I'd like to see more stories of what happened to Blake and/or Jenna after STAR ONE.

"Season Of Lies" by you and whatserface was great — a really original idea! I am, however, curious about Blake's mental condition. Since there was no other Blake, he had to be the one who was used in the film to convince everyone that he was dead. Do you plan a sequel to this story? [Uh, believe it or not, yes. Editor]

Kathy Hintze, who usually writes excellent serious stories, is now writing excellent funny stories, I particularly liked the ending of "Picture If You Will" where Avon shoots Blake again and misses. And, after reading Leah Rosenfrak's "Stray Thoughts", I am personally going to pay for a scholarship for her to go to Vulcan for a course in ko-in-nahr (or however the heck it's spelled.) Then again, maybe I won't. She wouldn't write funny stuff anymore then, would she? As to the artists: I especially enjoyed Leah Rosenfreeble's drawings and cartoons, Dani's scenes (wish there were more fan artists who did scenes) and Sheila Willis' portraits. Katrina Snyder has a nice style to her artwork that I can see becoming even better in time. Suzie Molnar's art style is very interesting. I'd like to see what she can do with pencils and shading. The cover by Leah Rosenfraggle was lovely. Good graphics, too, especially in the placing of illos. So, will next year's issue be even thicker, huh? (Sound of maniacal laughter.)

Of course, I loved the funny stuff, too. It was great fun reading the BIZARRO stories again. (What's THE HERITAGE OF HASTUR, anyway?) I'm appalled by how much stuff had done a slow drain out of my brain cells in the past eight months, though. I can see I'm going to have to do some serious investing in zines to keep up. Have I waxed enthusiastic about "A Mind is a Terrible Thing" yet? It was a good story in itself, but I found myself enjoying the effective way in which it reflected the heritage of 'mind-meld' stories from STAR TREK fan fiction without distorting the characters into pallid pieces of Kirk, Spock and McCoy.

[zine]:

My favorite story? Well, I'll have to throw Susan's story, "Love & Necessary Discipline" out first, and consider the others. That's because I read her "Tarrant Stew" story along time ago — before I went to SCORPIO, even. Susan sent me a photocopy of it. We'd talked about it so much in our letters that she knew I'd die if I had to wait for SOUTHERN SEVEN to come out before I could read it!

So, being as I'd read "Love & Necessary Discipline" before SOUTHERN SEVEN came out, I'd have to say that unquestionably my absolute favorite story in S7 was "Season of Lies", written by... guess who? Leah Rosenthal & Ann Wortham! And I think it only fair to say that it would probably be my favorite story even if I didn't know you. It is the niftiest solution to the Gauda Prime dilemma that I've ever heard of. "Season of Lies" kept me on the edge of my chair the whole time I was reading it. Now, granted, at first it was because I couldn't figure out exactly what was going on. But, knowing you, I trusted that all would be satisfactorily explained before the end; and it was. Resolved magnificently. Tied up all the little 'loose ends' in BLAKE beautifully! I love how you managed to 'save' Cally from death at Terminal, and it was nice the way you 'got' Blake back at the end. Probably one of the reasons I'm so fond of this story is the way that you had Avon and Tarrant interact. (That's the main reason I'm so nutty about most of Susan's stories, too -- she 'does' Tarrant and Avon so nicely!) I love how you resolve the previous arguments between Avon and Tarrant regarding Avon's secretiveness in making decisions about strategy and taking the Liberator...wherever (like Terminal). Avon is more 'tuned in' to what is going on with his crewmembers — more sensitive, if you wish; and Tarrant seems to be a great deal more mature than he appears to be in the series — still idealistic and a little reckless, but much less so than in the actual series. I like that. People's relationships are not stagnant. They usually evolve through a process of trial and error. I like having the opportunity to consider that Avon and Tarrant managed to come to grips with their competitiveness, each appreciating the other's individual strengths and skills. Now, Avon's sensitivity is the main reason I love this story. You made him a humane, caring individual — not the 'cold-hearted SOB that he is so often written as. (Ooooh, excuse my grammar!) Anyway. I get so very tired of hearing Avon always described as 'cold-hearted', 'unfeeling', etc. Just because he doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve doesn't mean that he doesn't care! It's refreshing to read a story in which Avon acts like I 'see' him — a strong, sensitive, deeply caring leader who is trying very hard to continue the battle which Blake began — and does so very well. I was deeply touched by the scene you wrote where the Liberator crew are watching the 'tapes' Orac has dredged up about the Scorpio and her crew. And yes, I loved seeing Tarrant get a chance to defend his actions in BLAKE, and that snide little remark about introducing Servalan to six feet of SAND was priceless! The scene where Vila doesn't want to get on the shuttle with Avon (to go down to Terminal) was heartrending. I could 'feel' his pain—and Avon's, and I loved how you made Avon decide to go alone only to find that Vila had chosen to go with him. I think that if that scene had really happened, it probably would have gone that way exactly! The scene where Avon calls Servalan's bluff and she admits that she still has Blake there on Terminal still alive is marvelous! I can easily see Avon being that calm and unruffled and convincing her that he was going to kill her. She certainly had it coming! I also liked Avon permitting himself to be drawn into an embrace with Vila and Blake at the end. All in all, a really nice story. Thank you for writing it!

Of course, I adored all the BIZARRO 7 stories, and the cartoons that Leah drew. My favorite one was "The Heart of the Matter". I haven't laughed that hard since the night at ENCOUNTER when Meg and Ev had a room party and Robert read the BIZARRO 7story with the duck in it out loud.

Let's see. Other favorites. I liked the Janet Walker story, "Keezarn". Very nicely done. I love Jenna and Blake together, with Jenna acting as a normal, responsible pilot. Never could understand why she couldn't be that, and still admire and love Blake. To me, using one's skills to protect the man that one loves is the most natural thing in the world. Jenna wouldn't dare act like an empty headed schoolgirl around Blake. She keeps him safe by using all the savvy she learned as a smuggler, and by flying his ship(s) the best that she can. "Keezarn" carries out this idea very nicely. Blake deserves to have someone love him (in a physical way as well as mentally), and Jenna deserves a few cuddles to go with her loyalty!

The only S7 stories that I didn't like were "That Which Weighs Upon the Heart" and "Payment With Interest", and that was just because I don't like stories where Avon dies (especially drugged), and I don't really think that he could have pushed Vila out that airlock no matter what anybody else says! Well written stories and interesting too, just not my personal preference. (I prefer "Season of Lies"!)

[zine]:

I just finished SOUTHERN SEVEN and wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it. There wasn't a disappointing story in the entire zine. I love the BIZARRO 7 stories. What wickedly delicious humor! As good as the stories were, I still found myself partial to the poetry. Especially Jacqueline Taero's work, so few words. This lady is just the best. She has such a firm grasp on the characters and can say so much with.

I hope there will be a SOUTHERN SEVEN 2.

[zine]:

Another of the Southern Press giant productions here, right? Liked some of the contents an awful lot, notably the HELLHOUND stories, and of course the BIZARRO material...

"Torch Singer" by Virginia Turpin manages to use some uncliched myth, and it’s good to see Gan as the focus of a story, and of a woman's (albeit not an ordinary one's) attention. The story overall never answers the question of why a semi-deity should pick on Gan, unless it's just because he is so dependably human.

It's hard to think of anything to say about BIZARRO that hasn’t been said before, somewhere between spasms of laughter, except that I am glad to meet Terrick Avon properly, and the new information on Peggy Sue...er, Madame Supreme Commander...and Avon’s past is most interesting.

"Slightly Mistaken" is another pleasant story, with action that’s typical for Vila, but a little uncharacteristic for Avon. Avon joining Vila in a friendly drink? When he doesn’t even have to? The drinks, and the consequences, however, are worked out with admirable ingenuity and the kind of local color that makes the Liberator seem a real place, more than a scriptwriter’s dream.

"Life Saver" chronicles an incident which is less trivial, perhaps, and more reminiscent of B7's onscreen adventures. One wonders if it is necessary not only for Avon to sleep with the planetary heroine, but for her to become pregnant of it — neither event is necessary to the main storyline, and while the first is, or could be, perfectly in character for Avon, the second is entirely gratuitous. Aside from that (and those items don’t really harm the story either, though they irritate me as overly predictable), the story is a well-put-together short adventure with no faults not intrinsic to the show itself. (That the Liberator, even as the Enterprise, and no doubt other space-opera vehicles, tends to find colorful and conveniently primitive cultures on miscellaneous planets is unavoidable given TV’s visual needs and budget limitations.)

Janet Walker’s "Keezarn" is a nice portrait of Blake and Jenna after they’ve left Liberator—for some reason this is a subject that doesn’t excite many fan writers, provocative though it is—but it’s all background, transition, without any meaningful action or conclusion of its own.

"For a Few Credits More" has a nice situation — two nice situations, counting both Avon in the old West and the time tricks the crew copes with. It’s a very readable story, as I’ve come to expect from Sheila Paulson (the intriguing situations are also her forte), though the plot is somewhat leisurely. The characters are themselves, and Willis' picture of Avon on p. 156 is almost worth the story in itself.

"Season of Lies" is a good use of B7's own concepts against itself. (DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD is possibly the most thorough example of this, but you have another and quite independent story based on it here.) This may show something about the mutability of what we call reality, in a universe where any and all media can lie. The story is well worked out, and the conclusion is delightfully satisfactory.

I ought to know better than to read anything labelled as a Leah Rosenthal short by now, but I persist. I therefore cannot blame anyone but myself for choking on the Doritos while I read "Half-Blaked," and getting cheese-flavored crumbs all over the bedspread... This applies to looking at the Rosenthal illos too...

Oops, and there’s "The Heart of the Matter." I really love to laugh that much, it’s just so dangerous to my health and everything around me... "The Heart of the Matter" by Linda Terrell is another overly introspective interlude, based on a mistaken- identity idea that’s almost incredible. Dani’s picture on p. 207 says it as well: Blake and Avon may try to merge roles, but they are ultimately different, and separate, personalities.

The two real standouts, at least in the realm of serious storytelling, of the zine are the last two big ones. Matthews' "Love and Necessary Discipline" is up to all her usual standards, and the PROFESSIONALS touch adds piquancy. I've been asking people for months how Bodie & Doyle might act in the B7 universe; most have no answer and I had nothing definite myself. This may not be the only possible scenario, but the characters here all are recognizable, though they've been through the warping B7 reality. Avon, especially, is warped by living in his universe, as Susan is the most explicit of writers in recognizing. The sense of a technology and economy holding each world together (instead of fantasy doing it) is welcome in her writing as well. Fictional characters must eat, drink, and eliminate, or they are not human; fictional food must be grown, somehow, or it too is unreal and impossible. This is almost as much a strength of the story as the vivid characterization.

The HELLHOUND series is also fascinating for its extensive portrait of Avon, as well as a lot of good background detail spread over an extensive area of time and space. That the series is patently unfinished is perhaps only a minor disappointment... The alternating viewpoints, and time changes, are intermittently confusing, but the kind of multi¬ strand story this is almost requires them. The most striking element is the writers' colorful and well-integrated use of the characters' personalities (and of their own created characters) in 20th-century Earth setting, and in other stable settings very unlike the Liberator or Scorpio. I'd really like to know how it works out...perhaps in the next issue?

The two opening poems of the zine, "Islands" (by...never mind) and "En Route" as well as Dani's Deco-ish illo, provide an excellent introduction to the three central crewmembers and their relationships, with empathy and humor, as well as insight. The front cover is beautifully executed, though you have to be in a very BIZARRO mood to accept the subject matter. Sheila Paulson's title page, backcover and one or two other illos are also memorable—accurate and stylish.

[zine]:

It's the biggest zine I've ever seen! (which is saying very little seeing as how that's obvious). The previous record for me went to CHRONICLES ANNUAL 1986.

The artwork is for the most part excellent, with the prizes going to Dani, Sheila Paulson and, of course - Leah Rosenthal.

I didn't read the whole thing straight through, I jumped around (though I did end up reading the first item first and the last item last!)

I liked it! I liked it!

I can't pick out my favorite. Too much is incomparable: humor versus serious, poem versus prose. So I think I will divide it into categories.

Okay, as the first item is serious poetry, let's lock at that first, shall we?

"Islands" by Leah Rosenthal—Okay. Good points—the repeated "Human Beings wreak Hell" but I think the verse about Vila is a little off, and the speaker doesn't sound quite like Blake would think. [But Blake is only thinking in the last verse—Avon is the first, Vila the second. Editor]

"En Route" by Rebecca Ann Brothers—Okay, but not...quite.

"Vila's Lament" by Jacqueline Taero—Very Vila! Good.

"Logic" by Leah Rosenthal—All right.

"Dissolution" by Jacqueline Taero—Ah! She's got it! SARCOPHAGUS?

"Multiple Choice" by Jacqueline Taero—I'm not sure I agree. And the picture does not fit with it.

"Star One: Avon" & "Star One: Blake" by Jacqueline Taero—Good & good.

"A Matter of Madness" by Jacqueline Taero — Interesting (I suspect you are going to see a lot more (too much?) of that word over the course of this letter) sounds like good lyrics to me...

From this it looks like a) Jacqueline Taero writes the most poetry and b) Jacqueline Taero writes the best poetry. But don't ask her to compete with Bryn Lantry! (If nothing else, Bryn's poems are longer!)

Filks (and other weird poetry): This is a rare beast in my parts [Kathryn is from Australia, by the way. Editor] In fact, I had only previously come across—no, wait a minute, Danny Murphy 'wrote' a musical, didn't he? Coupla years ago now... Still, not a common beast, really. Note: I think these are more fun when they are sung, and if I don't know the tune, I can't do that, can I?

"Rebel Boy" by Michele Rosenberg—Okay.

"You Belong To The Seven" by Leah Rosenthal—I liked this better because I knew the tune? It fits it well.

"Kerr Maverick" by Leah Rosenthal—Okay.

"Delta Ditz" by Michele Rosenberg & Leah Rosenthal—Hmmm. They're all fun, of course.

"Part Time Rebel" by Leah Rosenthal—Funny? The flavor of BIZARRO.

The cartoons: they're all good.

Humorous/Funny/Nutty Stories (or at least, not serious): They're all pretty funny, but BIZARRO 7 takes the cake, for sustained funniness (zaniness), if nothing else.

[...]

"Half-Blaked" by Leah Rosenthal—The idea of Blake as a Timelord is just too...the way he says it, those last lines at the end... (chuckle! Smothered chuckle! Chuckle!)

"The Heart of the Matter" by Leah Rosenthal is BIZARRO 7 all over again.

"Picture If You Will" by Kathy Hintze—inter—oops. I liked the comments they made about the lines they were saying.

"Stray Thoughts" by Leah Rosenthal—Well, some of us have been wanting to kill Kirk for quite a while!

[...]

"Steaming Wangs and Smoking Bodies" by Michele Rosenberg—I didn't get all of them, and it's the kind of thing it's not worth trying to explain. But the ones I got were funny, I think. I won't sue you.

What do we have left? Why, the serious fiction: "Torch Singer" by Virginia Turpin—The only 1st season story that's serious so obviously the best 1st season serious story, no matter what I say. But it was inter-good. Okay.

"A Mind Is A Terrible thing" by Linda Terrell—It seems too unlikely to me. But not bad.

"Slightly Mistaken" by Joan Hoffman—I'm not sure if this is serious or unserious, which probably means it's closer to reality than most—in this case.

"Life Saver" by L. A. Carr — Nice, sort of.

"Keezarn" by Janet Walker — Hmmm. The thing I frequently wonder about is why all the fans seem to assume that Blake and Jenna are together, simply because they were lost at the same time. [Maybe because Blake rather gives that impression on Gauda Prime...? Editor] It's a nice story, anyway. Not out of character.

"For A Few Credits More" by Sheila Paulson* Good.

"Season of Lies" by Leah Rosenthal & Ann Wortham — It's serious, but you can't take it seriously, if you see what I mean. Yeah, it's good.

The two 4th season stories, "That Which Weighs Upon The Heart" by Mary Alice Wuerz and "The Sound of a Voice" by Ginny Mila are both alternates, that didn't 'really' happen. Wishful thinking. The first is a good tragedy. Since my tender heart is upset at tragedies, I'm glad it didn't really happen, but it has the nobility of a real Tragedy. The second was a nice if-only.

5th Series; "The Heart of the Matter" by Linda Terrell—Seems unlikely, but an interesting turn-around.

"Payment With Interest" [by Barbara T] — Vila is thinking well here, though why... I like the point Jenna made at the end—that it was better that she be dead, even though she deserved worse; they would have to put up with that for the sake of everyone else.

"Love & Necessary Discipline" by Susan Matthews — INTERESTING. Well thought about. Very much into group-interaction and very plausible. I think I liked it.

THE LOG OF THE HELLHOUND by Katrina Snyder and Susanne McGhin — Interesting. The poetry (songs, really) in the front of each story and the titles were well-chosen, appropriate (perfect?). I think, if I'd read this a couple of years ago, I might have cried 'character assassination!' for making Avon a nasty, obsessed bastard, but a) I think I have grown more tolerant recently since I saw the three BBC tapes of excerpts from the first season, and I was writing a poem, trying to get a handle on Avon's attitude to Blake in those early days and realized that there was some basis for saying that Avon resented Blake. b) The authors here have bothered to explain why he's like that, which enables one to understand him better, and understanding leads to acceptance. I resent it more when authors declare Avon to be nasty/cruel/ruthless/hateful/insane/evil without defending their point of view: I can but disagree with them.

Anyway...that was SOUTHERN SEVEN #1. Does that mean you intend there to be a #2? I hope so, if it's just as good. I suspect THE LOG OF THE HELLHOUND is ripe for continuation, as well as BIZARRO 7.

Ah, while I remember, what were Bodie and Doyle doing in "Love & Necessary Discipline"? Was that Sheila Willis' idea of reincarnation, or did Susan Matthews have a say do you know? I nearly choked (with laughter) when I recognized them. [Susan meant the characters to look like Bodie and Doyle and Sheila was very happy to comply... Editor]

[zine]:

Recently I came into contact with Southern Seven #1. Wow! My only regrets are that it took me so long to see an issue, and also that the Bizarro stories had been removed. [Removed, Rae? The Bizarro stories should be intact in every legitimate issue of Southern Seven #1. The only thing that was removed for reprinting was Hellhound, Book 1. Ed] But the second part of that regret is small, as the rest of the stories are so wonderful, especially "A Mind is a Terrible Thing," by Linda Terrell, (also her "The Heart of the Matter" -- Leah's version was missing), yours and Leah's story "Season of Lies," and Leah's poem "Islands" (which truly moved me; not many poems grab me like it does).

I'm a brand new baby in the B7 universe, and I specifically sought out Southern Seven after reading about "Season of Lies" in Henry Jenkins book Textual Poachers. Please, also tell Leah that her cartoons are one of the first things I look for in Starlog.

[zine]: For a gen zine, there's quite a bit of interestingly steamy stuff here. The first story in the zine is a must for Gan fans! The author clearly likes him a lot.

Linda Terrell's story isn't smutty, but Blake fans will appreciate that he instead of Avon is the one who's suffering, for a change.

Barbara T's excellent story has a very unusual pairing: Servalan/Vila. He's the last survivor of GP; she executes the others but keeps him around as a sex toy (and for certain ulterior motives that are only later revealed). He doesn't like it, but goes along with it because he wants to stay alive. At a panel at Escapade a few years ago, the author explained that in that story she deliberately put Vila in the position of a woman. I said, "So it's really lesbian hurt/comfort! Because in the end he's rescued by Jenna." :)

Avon has a sweet affair in "Lifesaver;" Blake and Jenna get together in "Keezarn."

On the non-smut front, "Season of Lies" is a long, gripping adventure using the "part of what we saw on screen was a fake" plot device familiar from the Mind of Man trilogy. But this story is very different and stands up well on its own; to judge by the LOCs is later issues, it's been a favorite with many readers.

This issue also has the infamous "Love and Necessary Discipline," IMO the most controversial gen story in B7 fandom (I think "Nearly Beloved/Rogue" is probably the most controversial smut story). This is the one in which a crazed PGP Avon commits domestic abuse upon Tarrant. I think it's an extremely well-written story, but I really dislike this version of Avon. (In my ideal A/T universe, Avon should be the one comforting Tarrant after some Evil Villain has done Vile Things to the dear boy. I don't want Avon himself to be the Evil Villain!) Bodie & Doyle (The Professionals) appear as "original" characters in this universe. The story has an adult sequel in Straight Blake's #1, in which a reformed Avon makes love very tenderly to a woman who reminds him of Cally.

Lotsa other good stuff too.

This zine is very difficult to review. It's 361 pages long (not counting the flyers) and an accurate description of my feelings would be something like; ...page 5, liked that, page 6, wonderful, 7 beautiful... all the way through pages 98 (tee hee!), 161, 214, 339...which would be just a mite boring for those benighted souls who haven't read it....

The artwork alone would make this zine special. I knew Leah Rosenthal Is a skilled cartoonist (I have half a wall full of her cartoons in my bedroom) but I hadn't quite grasped that she is also a terrific 'straight' (you should pardon the expression) artist, not to mention poet. "Islands" and "Logic" aren't just good B7, they're good poetry, which Goddess knows is rare. (Some fans have to yet grasped the fact that merely listing words in odd shaped lines does not a poem make.) Jacqueline Taero's poetry, too.... "Dissolution", with a beautiful drawing of Cally (sigh) by S. Molnar, "Multiple Choice" (to be recited in the long suffering tones of a hard-done-by computer genius), "A Matter of Madness" Some really good artwork by Dani Lane, too, especially one of Avon, Blake, and Vila illustrating "Islands"....

This zine is honestly worth obtaining (try bribery, corruption (I'm always ready to be corrupted), death threats....) for the poetry and artwork alone. But the fiction is overall of a very high standard. The whole zines is structured into five parts, 1st to 5th season - a neat device, making it easier to track down a not-quite-remembered story.

1st season includes a long story focusing, unusually, on Gan and a very attractive blank page entitled "Party All The Time". "Alternative Decorating" - what do you do with a laid-back computer? Throw Vila out the airlock, of course...

2nd season has four Bizarro 7 stories (introducing Terriok, Avon's brother, Homicide, Avon's version of My Little Pony, and Peggy Sue... guess who?) and three half-pagers not to mention uncountable cartoons. (You try doing anything so linear as counting when you're laughing all the detachable portions of your anatomy off!} Bizarro 7 is... what we get for selling Blake's 7 to the Americans. If you've ever wondered why Avon's nickname is 'Bubbles', or whether Roj Blake ever did molest those ducks, or what a Rambo-rat is... or even if you haven't - this is essential reading. Also the 347th excuse and you should never accept a drink from a drunken Delta.

3rd season; "For A Few Credits Wore" - Avon gets bounty hunted and saddle sores! "Keezarn"... while Avon & co were hunting Blake, Blake and Jenna were hunting Avon. "Season of Lies" -- OK so the first para I read I thought, // oh no not another the 4th season was a fictional creation of President Servalan story// but it's good. It's original, which is tough under the circumstances.

4th season; serious. "That Which Weighs Upon The Heart." Avon's killed Vila. "The Sound of a Voice"; how it could have been. "The Heart of the Matter" - if your best friend shoots you three times close up with a projectile weapon, what can you do but decide you're him? '

However, the 5th season is much more fun! The other version of "The Heart of the Matter" - six people plus a computer think Kerr Avon's insane. (Well, chasing Tarrant round the flight deck with an axe yelling "Gotterdammerung!" is no more than indicative, but stabbing Blake's teddy bear?) Leah Rosenthal's "Half-Blaked", "5th season Openers" (a dozen or so variations on "Avon stood over Blake's body, gun smoking in his hand...."). On the more serious side "Payment with Interest" is about what happened to Vila, the only survivor of the Scorpio crew, after Gauda Prime. Brilliant and moving. "Love and

"Necessary Discipline" ... OK, so I liked it; but then again I never like Tarrant unless he's been thoroughly masochised first. (Crying on Vila's shoulder or bleeding on Avon's boots; that sort of thing.) A good story; I would like to know, too, if Shyenne and Pen are intended to be like alternative versions of Bodie and Doyle, or if it's just my hatstand hyperactive imagination.

And finally, six episodes "From the Log of the Hellhound". I'm putting these separately because they qualify for a magazine all their own. They're brilliantly written; the subsidiary characters (i.e., the non-series ones) are real, not just backdrop; and the whole is chillingly good. In fact, the only thing I didn't like was the 'letters' at the start; OK, so they were supposed to add realism but I thought they were pointless. After Gauda Prime, Avon was taken by Servalan and interrogated, tortured, psychoprobed and drugged. A concentrated dose of aphrodisiac. This is partly why I don't object to the constant references to women as 'bitches' throughout this series; it's clear that it's part of more than slightly twisted character, and one can see why. He's rescued, by a man called Weaver (who evidently appeared earlier in this series) wish I could find more of these stories) who can travel in both time and space, who takes Avon back to his own Universe. After Avon has recovered, he steals a ship and escapes... to Earth, 1996.

There he meets a man, Jules Greggory, a several times millionaire, the second richest man in his world. Jules hires Avon as slightly illegal computer genius... and later (about page 299) as lover. This fails, and Avon runs, with Weaver's son. On Danyg, in another Universe, and a thousand years in the future, a man crashes in a life capsule. He cannot remember his name, or anything of his past. The head teacher (the only teacher in the only school in the only town on the planet) gives him a job, first as cleaner, then, as he appears to be educated, as subteacher. The other assistant teacher Jeannine, is attracted , despite not knowing anything of the strange man's past. Oh hell, this makes It sound like a Mills and Boon, and it's not. I even didn't mind it being heterosexual. Back on Earth, Avon and Phelan Dagonrath, Weaver's son, are crashing. It's about twenty years in the future. A team of scientists/business folk/just plain/terrorists/sf fans (most of them appear to be all of them) are working on building a spaceship. Avon agrees to assist) and steals it, once built. Also a pair of leather boots. And now, back in his own time and space, Avon is searching for Blake. There's rumours of him on a rather unsavory planet including cannibals and remarkably nasty locals, but ... find out. (I refuse to spoil the cliffhanger - the only one in all these stories.) And back to Dayg. Two years later; and the ship Avon stole, called the Hellhound, is landing at the port. And right at the end, the last cartoon; a Bizarro version of from the log of the Hellhound;

"So you've gone 'new wave' In the Hellhound series, eh, Avon?'

"Yes. Why don't you seem very surprised, Blake?"

"You obviously haven't seen the Hellhound Vila..."

So it's brilliant. It's the sort of zine you'd take on holiday with you -- if you could fit it into a rucksack.