Standard Orbit
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Standard Orbit |
| Publisher: | Skydreamer Press, out of Grandview, MO |
| Editor(s): | Cheryl J. Shelton |
| Date(s): | 1980 |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | |
| Genre: | gen |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: TOS |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Standard Orbit is a gen Star Trek: TOS anthology of fiction, games, poems, cartoons, art, and articles. It was issued quarterly. There are at least 12 issues, each containing 30-50 pages. It was part xerox, part mimeo.
It is a sister zine to Orbit.
Issue 1
Standard Orbit 1 was published in 1980.
Issue 2
Standard Orbit 2 was published in 1980.
Issue 3
Standard Orbit 3 was published in 1980.
Issue 4
Standard Orbit 4 was published in 1980.
Issue 5
Standard Orbit 5 was published in 1980.
Issue 6
Standard Orbit 6 was published in 1980.
Issue 7
Standard Orbit 7 was published in 1980.
Issue 8
Standard Orbit 8 was published in 1980.
Issue 9
Standard Orbit 9 was published in Jan/Feb/Mar 1981.
Issue 10
Standard Orbit 10 was published in April/May/June 1981. It has 8 stories, plus poems, games, cartoons, articles, and art.
"Stories where Kirk and secruity officers, Lemli and Shea, are led to the mountain fortress of the coridanites while McCoy and Spock try to find them and avoid capture by Orc-like creatures; where a captured Romulan must deal with his memories as he slowly dies; where Rand saves McCoy, Chapel, and Uhura from a slew-eyed creature; where a young 20th century woman's immediate past is Dr. McCoy's next case; and others. Art by Becky Morton, Melody Rondeau, Lana Fahey, One Edmonds, Keith Shelton, and others." -- from an ad in Datazine #13
- The Coridan Incident, Book II by Kate Fuller
- Introduction to Dementa by Jan Edmonds
- The Prearrangement by Jean Edmonds
- Midnight Flight by Jean Edmonds
- The Scorpion's Lid by Amy Haines
- Ceyx Memory Part II by Donna Theilen & Cheryl Shelton
- art, poetry, etc..
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 10
According to the cover, the price is 90¢. I'd change that if I were you; some fans love to quibble about the price as it is already, and you don't need any claims of false advertising. I also couldn't find your address in the zine.The zine's appearance is nicely uncluttered. Usually a lot of zines look look very cluttered. I remember having problems with my first five issues with this, but yours is certainly not. There seems to be a lot of blank pages. I realized this may be a result of the xerox process you apparently use for the artwork, so there may be nothing you can do about it. I'd also try to arrange a back cover with artwork.
Story content is quite pleasing. Although two of the stories were continued from prior issues, this didn't disturb me. The story, "The Coridan Incident, Book II," is actually just a chapter, or at least the first chapter of a second book. I though it was like the author casually stripped the Enterprise crew of most of their technology just to put them into a Dungeons and Dragons module. However, it was action-adventure oriented, and still didn't dwell on trivialities about the lack of technology. The story shows a lot of promise; I would like to see the entire story before I comment further on it.
Introduction to Dementa was an interesting piece. I thought it very well constructed.
The Prearrangement was a bit confusing. I cannot figure out how Chapel saved them all.
Midnight Flight was the fastest Mary-Sue I've ever read.
I'm afraid I did not like "The Most Logical" piece. It needed work, a lot of it.
"A Tale" was confusing until the end. I trust that it was about Scotty.
"Ceyx Memory Part II' made me wish I had read Part I. It seemed to me that I was unaware of what had progressed, but that I could understand quite a bit of what had happened anyway.
The scripts Barbara mentioned being sold for Star Trek II, a telefilm series that was canceled long ago. Roddenberry did not sell these to Paramount; he bought them for Paramount. Also, I really doubt if he influenced the writing of these scripts. The screenplay Roddenberry wrote that was turned down was probably the Kennedy assassination plot. No wonder, since not only is it a rip-off of "The City on the Edge of Forever" by Harlan Ellison, but it's also in such poor taste that no one would ever accept it, let alone go see it. As for the Great Bird novelizing the rejected script, if that's true, that's news to me and the rest of fandom. And just because he does novelize it, it doesn't meant that Pocket or Bantam Books will print it.
Finally, I'd suggest arranging things so that the stories are not continued from page to page and from issue to issue. I'd put the games into a section of their own in the back of the issue. I'd separate stories from stories with only cartoons, poetry and article, but never groups of games with these. Also you might try xeroxing more of the zine. The ditto is somewhat difficult to read. [1]
That you! The zine looks great!. The art looks good, really got some good laughs from Susan's cartoons& Lana is terrific! Barbara Gordon is also an excellent artist in her own right -- she's excellent at portraits. One's cover is similar in style to Barbara's pieces. [2]
Walter Koenig also confirmed that Spock is to die [in the next movie]. He spoke at the ST America Con 9-6-81 He says that there is this big emotional scene, "Beautiful" as he sells it, with Scotty emoting... Yechhhhh! I'm not even going to see that movie ONCE! [3]
Issue 11
Standard Orbit 11 was published in August/September/October 1981 and contains 32 pages.
The art is by Vel Jaeger, Susan Jackson, Keith Shelton, and Gennie Summers.
ST zine featuring 'The Frog Peoples,' Spock and a young scientist are stranded on a planet without hope of rescue. 'The Human Factor,' a poem by Patting Hall, 'The View Finder,' what various actors in the series have been doing lately. Cartoon and comments on where the new movie is going. LoCs, word games and jobs available on a starship. 'Stranded' by Frank Logan, as he begins to enter pon farr, Spock is abducted by a woman pirate and her crew, then released on a planet chosen to hostile to the vegetarian Vulcan, all intelligent life is vegetarian, lower life is animal. Illustrated by Gennie Summers. Cover by Vel Jaeger." [4]
- Among the Frog Peoples, fiction by F. Frank Logan (1)
- Trekism Has It Best (7)
- The Human Factor, poem by Patti Hall (8)
- Letters of Comment (9)
- Starfleet Training, fiction by Jean Edmonde (11)
- Vulcan Dies - Doctor Vanishes (15)
- Star Trek Movie Update (16)
- Ads (17)
- The View Finder (22)
- It's a Long Voyage, Captain, cartoon by Susan Jackson (26)
- Wall Street Journal Article (27)
- Kansas City Star Articles (29)
- Word Search #3 (30)
- Trivia #1 (30)
- Word Search #4 (30)
- Crossword Puzzle #6 (31)
- Puzzle Answers (32)
Issue 12
Standard Orbit 12 was published in 1981.