Standard by Seven: The Early Years

Zine
Title:	Standard by Seven: The Early Years
Publisher:
Editor(s):
Date(s):	1980s, 2000 or 2001
Series?:
Medium:	print, zine
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Blake’s 7
Language:	English
External Links:
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Standard by Seven: The Early Years is a gen Blake's 7 anthology with fiction from its sister zine of Standard by Seven.

Regarding the Dates of Publication

The first issue was published in 1987. The exact dates of the other issues is unknown, but in 2000, Judith Proctor wrote in an announcement of Ann O'Neill's death:

Back in the late 80s, I collaborated with Ann once more. Due to public demand we republished stories from the 'Standard By Seven' series of zines, (which were no longer available in the original form). Called Standard By Seven: The Early Years, we now have The Early Years II, III, IV and I hope to bring out the last in the series (V) very soon.

Issue 1

front cover of issue #1, Dave Bowden

back cover of issue #1, Ken Matthews

Standard by Seven: The Early Years 1 was published in October 1987 (reformatted and reprinted in August 2000) and contains 50 pages.

The editorial:

A long time ago in a Galaxy far, far away.... (where have I heard that before!)

No, seriously folks 'STANDARD BY SEVEN - THE EARLY YEARS' comes to you by popular demand, though rather than reproduce the now dated back-issues of 'STANDARD BY SEVEN', I have selected pieces of work which I feel highlight fan-fiction and fan-art at its best. I hope you approve of my choice. Whether there will be any further editions of 'THE EARLY YEARS' is entirely up to you - so write!

This magazine is brought to you under auspices of ANN BOWN (AVON), my friend and colleague, whose kindness and generosity has made this possible.

• To What Green Altar by Marilyn White (reprinted from Standard by Seven #1) (A-B-C) (1)
• Liberator Cut-Away Diagram, devised by John Dell (reprinted from Standard by Seven #2) (16)
• Space Wave by Peter Hall (reprinted Standard by Seven #3) (A and ensemble) (18)
• Alliance by Linda Webb-Taylor (reprinted Standard by Seven #4) (S2 ensemble) (21)

Reactions and Reviews

'to what green altar' by marilyn white s2: A-B-C is basically a typical cally story in which cally is played by avon. he's strangely drawn to some psychic stones and either faints or turns violent when the others try to make him leave the planet and the stones alone. i'm not sure why he's the one who gets mentally affected, the story doesn't consider that relevant, but it's definitely more interesting than 'cally: again'.

the fact that cally's not being compromised also means that she can lend her strength and experience to avon, while blake is around to batter avon to the ground when he goes mental. i liked cally's particular skills being used for good - and i like (surprise surprise) the fact that blake has to make choices about what will happen to avon.

the beginning with avon stumbling around being possessed goes on too long, but the stuff about blake and cally trying to deal with it is very good. blake is forced to shoot avon with a phazer that we later learn has been adapted (but untested) to stun. it's clear that he doesn't know whether it will kill avon and cally's narrative remarks that she thinks that if blake had been forced to kill another member of his crew (so soon after gan's death) the revolution would have been over for him. which i think is interesting. i also like that blake and avon have a chat at the end about whether blake made the right decision, and they understand each other. it's good stuff.

• liberator cut away diagram devised by john dell: unfortunately, the photocopying of this is terrible. i can barely read the letters that are supposed to refer back to the key telling me which room is which. so, basically: bad zine, no biscuit.

• space wave by peter hall s2 - A and ensemble

this one is mega short and is just about avon building an analogue radio to help decode federation signals. then he gets the bright idea that they might be able to pick up really ancient signals from the past, since the radio waves will have taken this many years to reach their current position, which is an idea that charms me with its simplicity. alas, then the story is like 'but what if they picked up a transmission of the show blake's 7???' and i'm like 'then that would be too meta for me, sorry'.

• alliance by linda webb-taylor - everyone except cally (sorry cally), mostly jenna

by far the longest story in the zine, taking up more than half the room. blake wants a base! again. but, as usual, he chooses somewhere the federation don't want and which therefore sucks ass. in this case, it's home to a big monster that tries to kill them. consequently they have to join forces with some federation people in order to save themselves. in doing so, everyone learns to respect everyone! obviously that's the sort of thing i eat up with a spoon.

i liked this bit particularly:

[jenna] led the way, reflecting on the oddity of character which made vila always panic before the event then calm down and become quite useful as soon as the worst was actually happening.

this would have been a nice episode and not really something that the show's done before. admittedly, blake doesn't do that much, but that's fine because blake already knows how to work in a team it's jenna's story, really.

i think there were a few americanisms, but it seems churlish to bring them up since i can't find them on a quick flick through.

Issue 2

cover of issue #2

Standard by Seven: The Early Years 2 is 60 pages long. It is not dated, and contains no interior illustration.

• One Man's Measure by Yvette Clark, from a synopsis by Ann O'Neill (1)
• The Glorious Day by Antony Murray (reprinted from Standard by Seven #9) (23)
• Mission of Mercy by Linda Webb Taylor (reprinted from Standard by Seven #3) (26)

Issue 3

Standard by Seven: The Early Years 3 has about 60 pages.

• Possession by Yvette Clark (reprinted from Standard by Seven #5)
• The Gemini Collection by Brenda Callagher (reprinted from Standard by Seven #6)
• Midnight of the Mind by Ann O'Neill (reprinted from Standard by Seven #6)
• Normal Service will be Resumed Shortly by Antony Murray (reprinted from Standard by Seven #10)

Issue 4

Issue #4

Standard by Seven: The Early Years 4 is not dated, and it contains 60 pages.

• Between Black and White by Ann O'Neill (reprinted from Standard by Seven #9) (1)
• Where is Thy Victory by Viv Callaway (reprinted from Standard by Seven #10) (35)
• It Takes a Thief by Brenda Callagher (reprinted from Standard by Seven #1) (45)

Issue 5

Standard by Seven: The Early Years 5

• a couple of early Standard stories
• a very early interview with Paul Darrow (reprinted from Standard by Seven #8)