Star Trek Today

Zine
Title:	Star Trek Today
Publisher:	United Federation of Star Trek Fans (US), also available to non-members (Carbondale, IL)
Editor(s):	Eric Wolff (#1-#4), Eric Wolff and Jim Meadows III (#5)
Date(s):	1971-1978
Series?:
Medium:	print zine
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Star Trek Today is a gen Star Trek: TOS anthology of articles, reviews and fiction.

There were at least eight issues.

About

The editor writes in issue #7:

This issue starts off volume two of STT (pretentious, isn't it) and with this new volume comes a change in format, the switch from legal paper to standard,and from one staples to two. This, of course is more expensive (think of it, 200 more staples than last issue!) but hopefully the effect should be more the look of a fanzine, and not of a newsletter, which some people still call It. Star Trek Today is not a newsletter. Just because I have news in the front pages and on the cover, just because Eric Wolff STT's first editor called STT a newsletter, does not make STT a newsletter. It's a fanzine. Do you hear me. This is not a newsletter, it's a fanzine, fanzine, fanzine!! Have I made myself perfectly clear, Mr. Christian?! Oh, the search for identity…

The End of the Line

I got my fannish start in so-called regular science fiction fandom, where I'm still active, reading fanzines and corresponding [in] them. There,things are much looser than here. Many fanzines,besides making no effort to imitate professional publications, are not even available for money. Instead they demand feedback from their readers. With no monetary responsibility,these fanzine editors have no guilty feelings about erratic schedules and coming and going as they please. In return, there is a greater intimacy, a deeper communication between the editor and the readers.

It's not like that in Star Trek fandom. The fans here are in some ways more conservative,searching more for something with "validity" stamped on it. It's a much younger fandom that regular sf fandom, so this is understandable. While fanzines with a professional aspiration do exist in regular sf fandom (indeed,at least one of these fanzines has actually gone professional) they do not crop up in the overwhelming majority. In Star Trek fandom, they do.

That's the basis this fanzine was started on, back in 1971 by Eric Wolff. Back then, both Eric and me were high school students, and ST had not been out of production for very long. He had started the venture, with others, in the form of the typical local ST fan club while in junior high, completely unaware that there were other ST fans around the country doing the same thing. It was this lack of information that led him to name his club "The Star Trek National Fan Club".

By the time I met up with him, the fan club had undergone a metamorphosis to "The United Federation of Star Trek Fans", and STT had published one issue. STT itself was a new version of an earlier much cruder zine. I joined on in the second issue, bringing with me my meager writing skills, and some knowledge of fandom.

The early STT, edited by Eric Wolff, and produced by a staff of local ST fans, mostly high school age, lasted four issues as a monthly. Then, the organization that created it drifted apart. It probably should have been allowed to dissolve then and there. But Eric still had some interest, and I had more, and besides there were subscribers and fan club members who we owed money to. As we tried to put something together by ourselves over the ensuing months, Eric's interests flagged. I finished the 5th issue and became STT's editor.

I've edited four issues of Star Trek Today, including this one, the same number as Eric Wolff. My issues have been longer, increasingly more smoothly written,with an obvious influence from the fanzines. They've drawn material from across the country and from England, instead of from a local group. They've also been few and far between. The problem was, I lacked the time and inclination to put a regular concentrated effort into STT. Even after dissolving the fan club (the existence of which eventually became hard to justify) I found there was a lot of work that went into putting out a fanzine that I couldn't handle.

And as the years passed,my attitude toward ST fandom changed. I am in college now, not many years older, but my immediate interest in Star Trek has waned. I no longer have the time and the will to spend on publishing STT.

So I'm doing what I should have done some time ago, and folding the fanzine. You readers with subscriptions left will get refunds as quickly as I am financially able to reimburse you. I will still have contacts with ST fandom, but they will probably not be very deep. Just enough to keep my hand in.

If STT was your only hand in ST fandom,and you want to stay in, I direct you to the Star Trek Welcommittee, an organization whose purpose is to keep ST fans in contact with each other. They do their job well, and what's better, their hearts are in it.

[...]

I don't know if I'll ever outgrow fandom. My interest in it no longer extends deeply into Star Trek and its followers, but I have found in fandom as a whole, people that I hold dear, and a subject matter that continues its hold on to me. I'11 be around for awhile. Some of you I may come up with at other times and places. Whatever the case, I hope your experience an fandom is as good as mine.

Issue 1 (v.1. n.1)

Star Trek Today 1 was published in July 1971 and contains 6 pages.

cover of issue #1

The front cover is by Sue Evans, and the interior illos are by Eric Wolff.

It was edited by Eric Wolff.

One source lists "Interview with Gene Roddenberry" by M. Mooney as in this issue, but this may be an error.

From "Voice Your Protest":

The "enemy" is a trinity of bureaucracies devoted entirely to monetary augmentation and their status of aggrandizement in comparison to other profit-minded businesses. Star Trek fans are not alone in their contempt of this trinity.

The first of this trinity is the Nielsen Company, clearly the most despised of the three for the simple reason it is using an unworkable modus operandi. It is regrettable and unfortunate that they do not or can not perceive how mixed-up their system is! In comparison, their problem is like a "tribble", fortunately. If they continuously feed it, soon it will grow and multiply into fantastic proportions so that, in the end, they will finally; realize how inanely ineffective and inaccurate their methods actually are! As Star Trek fans we must speed up this process...

Another factor in Almighty A.C. Nielsen's favor and opposed to fandom is its limitless supply of brainwashed execs who have set them selves into a one-sided, single-minded state of mind where they actually think that their "ratings" system is, at most every angle, "infallible," And, even more unfortunate, the networks actually us the system and the sponsors place their trust, and confidence in them.

We how proceed to the second member of the trinity. This being the sponsors. Here we are faced with many obstacles. The first of these is that they aren't the least bit interested as to how high quality a series is. They are a purely $ and ¢-oriented business. They won't sponsor a series just be cause of its "high quality," These sponsors are guided purely by what the A.C. Nielsen (bleccchh!) Ratings Service dictates. And the odds against getting them to conform to some genuine ratings system are nearly astronomical (in other words, it's about as improbable as getting a Royal Fizzbin)! And to think! When even in truth, Star Trek may have remarkable ratings, the sponsors are still guided by Nielsen!

Finally we come to the third of the trinity: the networks. There are three major networks (where our hopes lie) and hundreds of Local stations throughout the U.S. All of them (as you well know) have executives who are stubborn, hard-nosed, and $ and ¢-minded (this does not, fortunately, include all exec's), But even with these types of adversaries, we do, however, have a chance. Because it is totally at the network's option as to what series it shall telecast (though they scarcely us this option). But still against fandom are tremendous odds. The networks have put themselves under the mercy of the sponsors. And if a show doesn't rate with Nielsen, it doesn't rate with the sponsors. And the sponsors are the major source of the network's monetary income and profit. So, if fandom is to move the networks into even considering, once again, "a series named STAR TREK," something effective (even threatening) must invade their currently content environment.

• Letter From the Editor by Eric Wolff ("Next issue a "dilemma" will be published! Yes, the experience I went through with

the William Shatner National Fan Club with an absolutely frustrating (or hilarious) ending! Look for it in STT #2.") (1)

• Voice Your Protest... and do it effectively, essay by Eric Wolff (about The Nielsen Ratings, profit, and risk) (2)
• "The Immortal" Succumbs to Its Own Mortality, article by Eric Wolff (about a Blish television series that was just canceled) (2)
• "Andersonville Trial" Honored by Critics, article about the sixth annual "Critics' Consensus Awards for Television (2)
• The Homonym Incident, fiction by Carey Evans (3)
• "Star Trek One" by Sue Evans (review of the first in the Blish series of Star Trek tie-in novels, you could order the book through the mail for 60¢ plus 10¢ shipping and handling) (3)
• Star Trek Teletype, by Eric Wolff (news about Star Trek actors and other projects and appearances) (4)

• 

  from issue #1

• 

  from issue #1

Issue 2 (v.1. n.2)

Star Trek Today 2 was published in August 1971 and contains 12 pages.

front cover of issue #2, Sue Evans

The front cover is by Sue Evans and the interior illos are by Eric Wolff.

It was edited by Eric Wolff.

From the editorial:

With elections coming up within a year or so, I could not refrain from printing up some "Mr. Spock For President" pencils and pens (as you have all seen in the catalog). And, of course, as I'm quite sure Mr. Spock would agree, relevancy is a prime ingredient in logical discourse. Certainly, what is more relevant than promoting Mr. Spock for president, when elections are nearly upon us (especially after surveying some of the other candidates)? Though Sarek may not approve of his son holding a Terran office. Another small factor against Mr. Spock attaining the presidency, might be the fact that he isn't a citizen of the United States, Ah, but take heart, Spock followers! It certainly would be fun to try! Remember: You can always run up to the Nixon Republican Party headquarters, and replace all their "Nixon's the One for ’72!" pencils and replace them with "Spock It To Me!" pens and "Mr. Spock for President" pencils. Sound like fun? You bet it is! It'd drive Spiro Agnew up the wall

• Letter From the Editor by Eric Wolff (1, continued on page 11)
• Where No Man Will Go Again, art one by Jim Meadows III (satire in the very common style where characters have names like "Captain Quark," "Yeoman Bland," the Starship "Doorprize," "James Squish," etc.) (2)
• Star Trek Teletype by Jim Meadows III (news bits about the actors) (3)
• What's This (some quotes from mainstream articles about fans' support of Star Trek) (4)
• Biography of a New Crewmember by M'Lana Namora aka, Toni Lichtenstein (description of a fan's persona) (5)
• Thoughts in the Rec Room, poem by M'Lana Namora aka, Toni Lichtenstein (5)
• some Trek news sent in by Louise Stange (6)
• The Great Bird of the Galaxy by "Great Bird," aka Toni Lichtenstein (short meta fic) (7)
• Survival, fiction by Carey Evans (7)
• Voice Your Protest by Eric Wolff (reprint of a letter sent by NBC in response to a fan asking for more Star Trek, the letter details NBC's duplicity and slippery language) (8)
• Star Trek, Book Four in the James Blish series, review by Jim Meadows III (9)
• Galactic Psycho: Pity the Poor Starship Captain, or, And You Think You've Got Troubles!, short essay by G.P., who may be Sol Marcus (9)
• A Piece of the Action, review of the episode by Toni Lichtenstein (9)

• 

  from issue #2

• 

  from issue #2

• 

  from issue #2

Issue 3 (v.1. n.3)

Star Trek Today 3 was published in September 1971 and contains 10 pages.

The front cover is by Debbie Evans, and the interior illos by Lyn Ehrlich, Sue Evans, and Eric Wolff.

front cover of issue #3, Debbie Evans

It was edited by Eric Wolff.

From the editor:

The dilemma I informed you about (re: my experience with the William Shatner National Fan Club) in STT #1 + #2 is really becoming quite a problem! Mainly because I still cannot find the material! Either some of my tribbles consumed it, or the material is inexplicably lost forever in the maw of our files (the latter being most probable). It wouldn't be fair to say that I shall find the material in time for printing in any of our subsequent issues. All I can do is hope 'n pray so!

James Blish's letter:

Many thanks for your letter and the copy of STAR TREK TODAY, which I read with interest. I was startled to find, on page two, that THE IMMORTAL was based on an idea of mine. Where did you get this information? To the best of my knowledge, it is quite untrue; I had nothing to do with the show at all at any time.

I'm sorry I can't give you the addresses of other Star Trek fan clubs. There are some, I know, but the ST fan mail comes in in such vast heaps that I haven't a prayer of keeping up with it, I tally the favorites reported, note recurrent questions, and then, well, not exactly file them, but add them to the heap.

However, I have some news that may be of interest to your readers, I have just delivered STAR TREK FIVE to Bantam, and so it should be out on sale in a few months. I am hard at work on the next one, and I have a contract for two more after that.

• Letter From the Editor by Eric Wolff (1)
• a letter from James Blish (Blish was an honorary member of United Federation of Star Trek Fans (US): "We sent him the first issue of the newsletter(God forgive us!), and he very kindly sent a reply...") (1)
• Where No Man Will Go Again, part 2 by Jim Meadows III (2)
• Star Trek Teletype by Jim Meadows III (3)
• 'The Way to Eden' (review) by Toni Lichtenstein (4)
• A Time for Deceit, part 1, fiction by M'lana Namora/Toni Lichtenstein (5)
• Good Morning, Mr. Marcus by Sol Marcus (excerpt from a "transcript" of a club meeting) (6)
• The Great Bird of the Galaxy, about a club meeting at the library (7)
• Their Surprising Transitions, part 1 (Their Violent Persuasion), fiction by Jim Meadows III (8)
• Ads (9)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

"A Time For Deceit" is, without a doubt, one of the best ST-related stories I've read for a long time. Miss Lichtenstein seems to have discovered some method of writing a good story (I wish I could find a way.). The last paragraph puzzles me; I hope that it is clarified in the next installment. I would like to see you readers write to All Hailing Frequencies ["Star Trek Today's" lettercol] regarding the story; "A Time For Deceit." I'd like to know if I'm the only one who enjoyed it or if someone else did also.

Issue 4 (v.1. n.4)

Star Trek Today 4 was published in October 1971 and contains 10 pages.

The front cover is by Sue Evans, and the interior illos are by Lyn Ehrlich.

front cover of issue #4, Sue Evans

It was edited by Eric Wolff.

From the editorial:

What does it take to get you people involved?! You are the most lethargic group of individuals I have ever witnessed! What does it take?? Do we have to beg you people to participate in the Federation and the newsletter? Do you enjoy sitting there, skimming through the latest issue, and then tossing it over your shoulder like a piece of garbage? Come on now, Trekkies! This newsletter is simply not going to survive if the present status continues! Several of you people have something that could AND SHOULD be printed, but you won't send it in. WHY???' It's clearly obvious that you aren't seriously interested Trekkies, at least that is the impression you leave us. You may think that I am trying to get a rise out of you. Well, YOU'D BETTER BELIEVE IT!!!

[...]

You languid lumps of lethargy must have some opinions on what we print. So send your letters of comment [and other submissions] to ALL HAILING FREQUENCIES, Star Trek Today [address redacted] Write now, or the Powers That Be will shower your home with,hungry sehlats.

• Letter From the Editor by Eric Wolff (1)
• Where No Man Will Go Again, part 3 by Jim Meadows III (2)
• Star Trek Teletype by Jim Meadows III (news bits) (3)
• a flyer and description of Star Trek Lives! by Albert Schuster, Allan Asherman, and Elyse Pines (4)
• My Experiences at the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, or, An Organic Tribble in the Works, article by Toni Lichtenstein (5)
• Mysterious Explorer of Lakus II, fiction by Carey Evans (5)
• The Great Bird of the Galaxy by Toni Lichtenstein (asks what fans want from this column) (7)
• You Told Us by Scott Arbogast (results from the poll: "Who is your favorite Star Trek Character? What distinctive traits does he or she have that are identifiable from the remainder of the crew? How would you best describe him/her? In what ways do you feel that he/she attract you?") (8)

• Their Surprising Transitions, part two, fiction by Jim Meadows III (8)
• Ads (10)

Issue 5 (v.1. n.5)

Star Trek Today 5 It was published in Fall 1972 and contains 15 pages. The front cover is by Jim Meadows III and is a You Are Receiving This Zine page.

front cover of issue #5

It was edited by Eric Wolff and Jim Meadows III.

• The Fifth Quadrant, editorial by Jim Meadows III (Meadows notes that the former editor and other staff writers have lost interest in Star Trek and have gafiated.) (1)
• Star Trek Teletype by Jim Meadows III (Star Trek news) (2)
• Till Woman Smiled: Confusion Thy Name is Kerenon, fiction by Jeanne Butler (also in One Trek Mind #5) (3)
• The Kirk You Never Knew?, article by Diane Moses (why this fan likes Kirk) (9)
• Their Surprising Transitions, part three, fiction by Jim Meadows III (10)
• More Trek News (10)
• con report by Diane Moses for Noreascon (12)
• That Fascinating Phenomenon: Why S-F and the Struggle to the Stars, article by "T'Star Sarek Spock (who is in reality Esther E. Whiting!)" (13)
• Reviews by Jim Meadows of various Trek pro books, as well as the zines Star-Borne, Masiform D #2, and Quadrant, Federation Centennial, see those pages (13)
• Is a Member of the Star Trek National Fan Club Entitled to All Its Privileges (Jim Meadows III is selling 800 of the club's old membership cards with the name "Star Trek National Fan Club") (14)
• An Open Letter to the Entire Star Trek Community by Eric Wolff (This is a long letter by Wolff explaining that he's said "to hell with Star Trek" and severed all contact with fans and fandom when he'd joined The Youth International Party ("Yippies"). Wolff now wanted to say he was sorry, that it was he who was the "bastard" and not fans, that he'd exaggerated the importance of this club and publications, and had cheated people out of money. "As I look back, I feel nothing but extreme disgust for the way I conducted myself...In short, I suppose I'm asking for your forgiveness and trust. Forgiveness for my grotesquely rude and inconsiderate actions. Trust in the Federation that such blatant disregard for its members shall never occur again." (14)
• And Furthermore, closing editorial by Jim Meadows III ("Eric's preceding editorial came as a surprise to this co-editor. I had assumed that he had pretty well gafiated. The only reason he was listed as one of the editors was that he had gafiated in the middle of working on number 5 and had selected some of the material for this issue. But I guess something sprung in him while he was on vacation and I was busily typing some of this issue. When he came back, he seemed to have renewed his interest somewhat, and when I told him I was going to print his gafiation notice (a really silly piece of writing), I could hear him blanch over the phone. He said quickly not to, that he'd have something else written. And that was it. So Eric is back. Not as active as before, but he's there. He'll probably keep on as co-editor and writer, I don' think all that browbeating was really necessary. We stekfen are forgiving creatures, aren't we?") (15)
• "WHERE NO MAN WILL GO AGAIN will not appear in ST Today until Jim Meadows III learns how to write funny" (15)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5

This issue begins with a we-sent-you-this-because page. (I got a copy because 'This unit must survive.') From that clue, it is a short, easy step to the logical conclusion that this is an old-school trekzine. In the time warp from whence this publication emerged, ST is not yet A Cause, and the editors are on the easy-going side of the STIAWOL/STIJAGH battle. They can't spell worth a damn, and they've never heard of Jacqueline Lichtenberg! In other words, it's the sort of zine you can relax with.

The lead story is part one of 'Till Woman Smiled.' The protagonist is Lt. Cdr. Kerenon Grant, a beautiful, scatterbrained female psychiatrist (author Jeanne Butler appears to be a Male Chauvinist Pig) who constantly befuddles Spock, much to the delight of McCoy, et al. We've seen all this before, but perhaps part two will take us into new territory...

Also included is apart three of another serial (by editor Meadows), in which Kirk, Spock, and Scott are trapped in a series of parallel universes. There are no complete stories, at least in this issue. About half of the zine consists of editorials, open letters (explaining that former editor Eric Wolff had gafiated but is now back, sort of), brief articles, and news items, including a Noreascon report.

I received this review copy in February [1973], but believe it was published last fall (there is no date); this makes the con report only a year late -- not too bad for a fanzine (unless you're Locus)... [The editor] also reviews numbers 5, 6, and 7 of Blish's travesties, with the conclusion, 'we are being used.' Hear, hear.

Issue 6 (v.1 n.6) Supplement 2

Sometime around March 1975, Meadows mailed out a supplement to issue #6 due to the delays in completing the regular issue #6. This supplement contained two pages and was all news about the fan campaign, Save the Star Trek Cast.

This supplement consisted of two pages.

• 
• 

Issue 6 (v.1. n.6)

Star Trek Today 6 was published in September 1975 (yes, three years later) and contains 22 pages.

The interior illos are by Sue Evans, Burt Libe, Jim Meadows III, Cara Sherman, and Robert Nieves.

from issue #6 (1975), artists are Burt Libe and Cara Sherman - a bit of RPF

It was edited by Jim Meadows III.

"The next issue of STT should be out in January. Don't make any bets on it, though."

The editor begins the editorial with a letter of comment he'd received, and then comments on the three year gap in publication and the changing Star Trek fandom:

Dear Mr. Meadows,

You sure know how to make a person feel like cursing, I sent you the lousy 30 cents for STT#6 - that was months ago, sir — & I've received 2 postcards and a supplement & I haven't heard anything since April 14th. APRIL FOURTEENTH, 2 months, 1 week, & 3 days. Is the issue ever coming out? Must I come extract it from you? Do I send 7 musclemen, or the friends of the friends, or bubonic plaque [sic] or a bomb to you? What can I do to get the now outdated issue?? Christ, but you're annoying!! - Pastak - if you send the issue, Sue Smith

Surprisingly enough, I received only a few angry letters like this, and only 2 or 3 requests for refunds. This is astonishing, because it has been three full years since the last issue of Star Trek Today, I mean, I expected avalanches of angry mail (considering retrospectively, that is), Geesh, three years, and you all paid Real Money for this trekzine.

Well, here it is finally, the 6th issue of Star Trek Today, A lot of things have happened in the field. Star Trek fandom has grown tremendously,the show was revived for a cheapjack animation series, Roddenberry is working on a new Star Trek script to sell to Paramount, Gene Coon died, Roddenberry's kid was born, David Gerrold is getting rich, and the conventions get bigger and bigger. The rest of science fiction fandom still tends to look at ST fandom with joking contempt, and to a point they have reasons, ST, after all, was a tv show for American commercial television,and it ran up against its limits. For that reason, ST fandom does, too, Romantic sex played a big part in ST fandom, and that can go, um, overboard at times. Mainstream sf fandom has never had the equivalent of Leonard Nimoy groupies.

But if it wasn't for the Spock-worshipers and similar ilk who do collect Capt. Kirk bubblegum cards, ST might have no chance for revival. Star Trek, as tv or film, will need a mass audience numbering in the millions to survive. Unlike the printed word, the object of ST fandom cannot survive on a few thousand or a few hundred thousand.

If Star Trek fans want to see ST produced again, there must be enough ST fans making loud noises so that The People With Clout will know that there are even more people who will watch the show on tv or in a theatre. So, while I don't like the terrible animation that went into the Filmation ST series, or the bad writing that Alan Dean Foster put into his books,or the cheap geegaws that have been marketed as ST toys, I do like what they represent: a lot of people like Star Trek, Meanwhile,other strata of fandom show me that a lot of ST fans are not dunderheads. And at the same time,some intelligent people who are good at their craft show a lot of interest in doing ST again,for love as well as money. As long as these elements persist.despite the crud that accompanies it, I can be optimistic, at least guardedly so,for the revival of ST, even good ST, hopefully better than what went before.

One of the casualties of my long delay in publishing is that of my former co-editor and STT's founder, Eric Wolff, His interest in STT couldn't wait for me, and he has gafiated. I very much doubt if he would have stayed in fandom even if I had been quick to get to work; he simply has not the time or interest in something this trivial. A quick comeback like the one Eric made in STT 5 Is out of the question, so it looks like I am the sole editor of Star Trek Today.

[...]

And about Sue Smith, I immediately responded to her plea with what I thought was a very nice reply telling her STT6 would be out soon and would she please wait, or I would send her a refund if she wanted, and guess what she wrote back:

My Dear Mr. Meadows, Sir:

Please keep the 3O cents (a mere trifling, I assure you), and be so good as to send the zine. Thank you ever so.

Very sincerely yours, Susan Smith, Esq.

P.S. Smartass

There's no pleasing some people.

• The Fifth Quadrant, editorial by Jim Meadows III (1)
• Star Trek Teletype by Jim Meadows III (includes an obit by Meadows for James Blish and a blurb about the death of Gene Coon (both died of lung cancer), information about Save the Star Trek Cast, and a birth announcement for Gene Roddenberry and "Mrs. Great Bird's" child) (3)
• The Great Bird of the Galaxy, column by G.B. Emeritus/Toni Lichtenstein (7)
• Ads (Orange Freak Finest Kind Classified) (8)
• Vul-Con Report by Jeanne Butler (9)
• Till Woman Smiled: Getting Settled, part two, fiction by Jeanne Butler (10)
• Desperate Save the Story Contest by Jim Meadows III (12)
• Reviews by Jim Meadows III and Eric Wolff (14)
• All Hailing Frequencies, letters of comment (19)

• Their Surprising Transitions, part 3, fiction by Jim Meadows III

Issue 7 (v.2. n.1)

front page of issue #7

Star Trek Today 7 was numbered Vol 2, no 1 and was dated June 1976. It contains 36 pages and was advertised in the August 1976 issue of The Halkan Council. The issue was originally slated for publication in January. The back cover is by Robert Nieves. The interior illos are by Sue Evans, Cara Sherman, and Burt Libe.

from issue #7, Burt Libe is the cartoonist: "Jim, we can't go on meeting this way; if Harlan ever finds out, he'll KILL me!"

It was edited by Jim Meadows III.

It is online here: Star Trek Today v.2 n.1; archive link.

first page of the Guttridge story, "Tales of a Sleepless Spirit" in issue #7

• News of Trekdom by Jim Meadows (about cons, books, other zines, commentary on the rumored Trek movie) (1)

• Convention Reports: Chicago 1975, con reports (5)
• Interview with Gene Roddenberry (conducted by Mike Mooney, John Knoll, Kevin Hay, Marylou Cook, and Nancy Audette, "In early November of 1974, the Great Bird himself, Gene Roddenberry gave a lecture at Sangamon State University in Springfield, Illinois. After this lecture, Roddenberry was interviewed by a group of people for SunRise, a semi-underground magazine published in the state. It is with their permission this interview is reprinted.") (9)
• full page ads by Nova Enterprises for I Am Not Spock and Star Fleet Technical Manual (not numbered)
• full page ad for "SunRise" ("Never seen SUNRISE? The only chronicle of culture, music and politics in the midwest, SUNRISE has been going and growing for four years, reaching the nation's heartland from Detroit to Kansas City and from Minneapolis to Carbondale. But to be sure to get future issues of SUNRISE, you'd better subscribe. Since it's distributed free, a lot of munchkins scurry away from local outlets with new issues before most folks can get their hands on it. The scamps!") (not numbered)
• Tale of a Sleepless Spirit by Jennifer Guttridge (15)
• All Hailing Frequencies (LOCs) (30)
• more News of Trekdom by Meadows (31)
• ads (32)

• The Fifth Quadrant, editorial ramblings by Jim Meadows III (33)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 7

It's hard to say whether this is newzine or a ST genzine. This is because STT contains lots and lots of news (4 pgs, worth). Also, in this issue, there's a convention report by Melissa Bayard and Ted Rzepcsynski - this report is about the Star Trek and Science Fiction spectacular of August '75 in Chicago. Both views are lengthy, and the diverse opinions of the con are objective and refreshing. There aren't many things worse than a stuffy con report. The reports are followed by a reprinted interview with Gene Roddenberry at Sangamon State Univ., in Springfield, IL from early Nov. 1974; and a story by Jennifer Guttridge (who had a story, "The Winged Dreamers" appear in STAR TREK ; The New Voyages) titled "Tale of a Sleepless Spirt". As far as appearance goes, he has pretty readable mimeo. That is, straight
lines, no fading and nothing falling off the edges. Jim does lack in the art 
department though, he needs something other than blank space to break up a solid
 page of type. Two cartoons and a logo is just plain pitiful unless he doesn't
 have the facilities for something better. Another zine with good content but 
poor visual effect.

This latest issue, as usual, contained superb accounts of dated subject matter; but the new 8x11 format provided welcome relief to former dog-eared legal odd size.

Both con reports, while very well written, reek of worship — especially Melissa's. Ted Rzepczynski showed little regard for fans' inquiries/questions and bragged about finding Harlan in a good mood.... It is certainly difficult for persons with any emotions and feelings at all to completely and properly withdraw themselves from their writing. I'm still fighting this battle myself. The only ST fanwriter in my opinion to success fully accomplish this is Ruth Berman (from con reports in her early TN'S).

I also noted Jennifer Guttridge's sophomoric, possibly junioric, attempt to inject religious zealotry into Star Trek. Although her story had strong passages and above-average crafting, I found it not very believable — sorry.

Ruth Berman's departure from T-Negative is sad news. Guess we all must grow up eventually. I'm really sorry to see one of the most reliable and consistent zines of Star Trek vanish. Unfortunately, I found my own fuel supply of TN's abruptly cut off at #22 after persistent bitter criticism of the editor. I owe much of my own improvement to her anti-help. In retrospect, I commend her dedication and perseverance throughout the years.

You made interesting mention of Trek fan extremes, yet failed to define the limits outside of "normal". I could note selfish self-centered groupie-ing and worship. Just what do you consider extreme/borderline? Even "normal"? More future discussion in STT please, I would like to hear ideas for a completely new SF series from any Star Trek fans mustering enough guts to break out of their Star Trek cages.

Many fans show irritating intolerance and displeasure regarding inter change of new ideas. In many cases their attitudes are anything but pleasant, A biting letter from Linda Cappel reflecting various fan reactions to her own ideas (Halkan Council, #12, Nov. '75) illustrates this point vividly, to which I voice the following reaction.

Encounters with SF (or ST) fans can be anything from mind-expanding to mind shorting experiences (unfortunately, and far too often, mind-shorting). When it comes to idea exchanges many fans seem to suffer ego-fracture, sensitive nerve endings, and other bizarre reactions so complex that not even the High Almighty could figure them out. I've been on both sides of this sort of thing. Unfortunately, even a simply compliment or statement can be twisted into a gross insult by any budding professional cynic. Everyone's ideas are always unique in some way — for those who can recognize. Scathings should be taken with a grain of salt. And to all other fans who have encountered this: keep chin up, heart warm, and pen (or typewriter) active. And keep trying!

I just got the new Star Trek Today and it was well worth the wait. The news was well done (besides being good news). I especially like the really thorough acknowledge list at the end. My especial kudos to Melissa Bayard (good job, Melissa!) for the Chi-Con report and to Jennifer Guttridge for a superb story, "Tale of a Sleepless Spirit" was a very good handling of the controversial subject,and the last paragraph were simply beautiful - the best philosophical solution to the question that I've yet seen in Trek fiction. First class all around.

Your material is top-rate, and you can tell that this hasn't just been slapped together. I'm just sorry that I didn't get in on it many moons ago when wampum flowed freely.

As a concerned Star Trek fan, I hate to see the media, the public, and worst of all other uninformed Star Trek fans use the term "Trekkies". Many times this term is used, it tends to classify us in the category of "Groupies", and to carry it a little farther, "Hippies/Yippies".

Spreading all over the globe is an invisible revolution trying desperately to inform the people that we 'prefer' to be called "Trekkers". This title not only lends a more tasteful view of the Star Trek fans, but with everyone's help, we can show others that we are people who believe in the ideas and philosophy of Star Trek.

We are not little children or weirdos, but rather concerned, intelligent, friendly human beings. As a member of Central Florida Star Trek, I urge you to spread the word. As to those who resist, I can easily get my hands on Kor's mind-sifter.

It's noteworthy how many of us first-generation "Star Trek" fans are leaving it behind and going in other directions at about the same time. Responsibilities and other priorities guide us along familiar paths. I guess, as we leave the thrill of explorations to those whose sense of wonder is still active.

I have no regrets about the years spent in fandom, only wish I could've contributed more. This occasional author wished to thank you for being my first editor and publishers. There is something indescribably satisfying seeing one's writing in print — as you also must know —for which one can only be grateful.

Issue 8 (v.2. n.2)

Star Trek Today 8 was published in March 1978 and contains 20 pages. It was published by Jim Meadows.

front page of issue #8

"Due to financial difficulties (that means I can't afford the printing costs), Sharon Trantham's look at the sickbay diagnostic bed will not appear in this issue as scheduled."

"Once again, the publication of Star Trek Today has been delayed to the point of being ludicrous. Even in fandom,where deadlines are made to be laughed at, repeated delays of over a year are a bit much when subscribers are paying for you publication. That's just one of the reasons why this issue of STT will be the last."

• News of Trekdom: Star Trek Lives? by Jim Meadows (long article about the history and failures to bring Star Trek back to the screen) (1)
• a full-page ad for Starlog
• The Fifth Quadrant, editorial by Jim Meadows (2)
• Oakland ST Convention Report by Burt Libe (con report for Space-Con (Star Trek and Science Fiction convention) #2), see that page (4)
• transcript of Fan Writing Panel OR Don't Make Him Say THAT!, a fan panel by Sherna Burley, Joyce Yasner, Debra Langsam, and Devra Langsam (reprinted from Masiform D #3) (7)
• All Hailing Frequencies, letters of comment (only five are printed, WAHF were: Jeanne Butler, Ruth Berman, Warren Erickson, Melissa Bayard, P. Bruce Nardoci, Melissa Manchester, Irene Carter, Jeannie Ecklund, and Rebecca Pechefsky) (17)
• Orange Freak Classified, ads (20)