The Nerfherder's Companion
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Nerfherder's Companion |
| Publisher: | Unknown Press |
| Editor(s): | Liz S., Chris Callahan, and L.C. Wells |
| Date(s): | 1981-1982 |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Star Wars |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Nerfherder's Companion is a Star Wars zine that has a focus of original characters who are personas of their authors.
There are two issues.
The authors' names are pseuds, some are which revealed in Contraband #1: M. Solo = Chris Callahan, D. Caramathan = L.C. Wells, T. (Trav) Leggett = Liz S., V. Solo = Georg.
Regarding the Editors
From Contraband #1:
Now seems a good time to explain something concerning my part in the operation of The Unknown Press, Back when Letitia, several others and I organized it to pub lish (we thought!) a one-shot humorzine, THE NERFHERDER'S COMPANION, we decided one person should be mail drop and treasurer. As the member most likely to keep the same address and bank account in the foreseeable future, I was chosen. When we went into a second issue of TNC and then into CONTRABAND it was logical to continue this way. So effectively my name in ads, etc, has the same function as the treasurer named in ads for a political committee—an address and somebody to sign the checks. It does NOT mean that I have primary responsibility for contents or any other physical aspect of the zines we publish. As an editor I'm just one of however many there are on a particular issue. And as mail drop I'll pass along unopened anything sent to another editor or contributor c/o The Unknown Press at my address.
Issue 1
The Nerfherder's Companion 1 was published in April 1981 and contains 44 pages.
The art is by L.C.W. and S.L.S.
From the title page: "ANY RESEMBLANCE TO CHARACTERS LIVING, DEAD OR APPEARING IN OTHER ZINES IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL!"
From the editorial: "...acknowledgements to those who helped, whether they knew it or not. Thanks first & foremost to George Lucas for starting the whole wonderful insanity 4 years ago, & to everyone connected with STAR WARS & EMPIRE."
- Obligatory Editorial by Maeve Solo and Dyannis Carmathan (2)
- Contributors by Dyannis Carmathan (3)
- A Zine is Born by Editorial Staff (& kin) (4)
- The Gospel According to St. Lucas by A. Pocryphal (5)
- The Guardian Nerf by Razel Hongre (6)
- A Tale from the Drunken Nerf by Dyannis Carmathan (7)
- The Religious Nerf by Elyssa Holbrath (12)
- Announcement 1138X (13)
- Midnight on the Slamtrak Express by Razel Hongre (14)
- Pet of the Year (22)
- Sample List of Available Literature on Nerfs by Maeve Solo (24)
- A Mythological Overview by Rhob Peetres (28)
- The Saga of 101 Nerfs by Elyssa Holvrath (29)
- Menu (33)
- Unfair Trades by Dyannis Carmathan (35)
- Alderaan Surprise, recipe by Elyssa Holvrath (42)
- Rhob's Remarks by R. Peetres
from issue #1, L.C.W.
from issue #1, L.C.W.
from issue #1, L.C.W.
from issue #1, S.L.S. (portrays "Razel")
from issue #1, uncredited photo of a nerf
from issue #1, S.L.S.
from issue #1, L.C.W.
from issue #1, L.C.W. (portrays Maeve Solo)
from issue #1, S.L.S.
Issue 2
The Nerfherder's Companion 2 contains 78 pages and was published in 1982.
The disclaimer on the title page says it has "no intent to infringe on copyrights connected with STAR WARS and/or THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK; RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK; THE WIZARD OF OZ..."
The editorial by M. Solo and D. Caramathan:
Some people are slow leamerso After swearing (privately) up and down and sideways that THE NERFHERDER'S COMPANION would be a one-shot last year, here we are putting out another issue. But we do learn eventually. This time we^re putting it in print so we can*t change our minds: this second issue of TNC will be the last.
There've been some changes since last issue. One of our contributors, Elyssa Holvrath, has seen fit to remove herself to a place far far away from this bright center of the universe, and Razel Hongre has also moved but not so far. Now we've discovered the joys that most zine eds have known all along: the infinite pleasures of dealing with the Imperial Postal Disservice; the nail (claw; tentacle) biting, waiting for a contribution to arrive reasonably on time; the lack of opportunity to personally hold a blaster to the contributor's head till the item gets done. And on top of that, we've totally lost two names while gaining five new ones. Our photographer Ron Galileo has gafiated, leaving us without a "centerfold" (we did manage to get new pictures for the staff page, tho) And our resident self-proclaimed nerf expert Rhob Peetres has unfortunately disappeared from the known universe. He can't be replaced, but the new people are worth checking out, Trav Leggett is Dy's responsibility; Dy found her in a fountain (that's right, a fountain. It's a long story...) Razel twisted a couple of arms to bring her half-sister Kiliri O, whom you may remember from Hazel's memoir in the previous issue (of course you've read the previous issue!) and their friend Princess Barahli of Wiangkham, known less formally as Lee Santal. Elyssa invited her friend Dirk Kelso to join the merry gang. And, saying the hell with charges of nepotism, Maeve invited her daughter Val to get involved as more than just a kid in Dy's stories (Han was also invited, but he was too busy dealing with a certain unpleasant spice merchant).
We're also widening our range of wildlife, offering more than just nerfs, tho of course they remain the most honored members of our menagerie (even before the humans.) (They also bring the most on the open market).
One thing hasn't changed; we're still in it for the fun, Hope you enjoy this issue too.
- Obligatory Editorial by M. Solo and D. Carmathan (2)
- Our Staff (3)
- Communications (fictional letters of comment) (5)
- Cartoons (6)
- The Lady of the Green Din by V. Solo (7)
- Bibliographic Review by T. Leggett (11)
- The Lawnbat by D. Carmathan (16)
- Corellian Cookery by V. Solo (27)
- M'Ling of Alderaan by L. Santal (29)
- THX 1138-A by T. Leggett (42)
- Nerf Murder! by K.O. (43)
- Advertisement by The Nerf Protection Society (45)
- The Wizard of F.Oz by T. Leggett (47)
- THX 1138-B by E. Holvrath (64)
- In the Still of the Night by R. Hongre (66)
- The Ship from No Where by D. Kelso (74)
- art by LCW, SLS, JEL, and SBS
from issue #2, LCW
from issue #2, LCW
from issue #2, LCW
from issue #2, LCW
from issue #2, SLS
from issue #2, JEL
from issue #2, SLS
