The Alpha Chronicles

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You may be looking for the Space:1999 zine Alpha Chronicle.

Zine
Title: The Alpha Chronicles
Publisher: Quantum Fire Press
Editor(s):
Date(s): 1995-1996
Series?: yes
Medium: print
Size:
Genre: slash
Fandom: Quantum Leap
Language: English
External Links:
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The Alpha Chronicles is a slash Quantum Leap anthology.

Issue 1

cover of issue #1

The Alpha Chronicles 1 was published in May 1995 and contains 114 pages with spiral binding.

The interior art is by R. Neville, Brando, Marilyn Spear, and RAG. Publisher's ad: "A fascinating collection of stories dealing with the “Leap for Lisa” episode, incorporating St. John. Yes, they are mainly S/A slash, and yes, they all feature Al too." Media Monitor - 1996.

  • A Glitch in Time by Dale Hobgood (7)
  • Time Heals by Theresa Kyle (17)
  • Sister Acts by Carol Zara (32)
  • As Fate Would Have It by Leah S. (44)
  • Awakenings by Lee Owers-Sansome (a poem from Sam's POV) (65)
  • Between the Lines by Lee Owers-Sansome (67)
  • Birth Trauma by Elizabeth Cochrane (sequel is "Through a Glass Darkly" in issue #2) (71)
  • One for the Road by Leah S. (88)
  • Multiply Life by the Power of Two by Susan Gibel (90)


Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

All of the stories are based on the premise that Sam screwed up the Leap where he jumps into "Bingo" Calavicci, but not to the point that Al is dead (for the most part). Not all of the stories are slash, even those that are focus much more on the relationship than on the sex. I enjoyed the zine as a whole and felt it was worth what I paid.

"A Glitch in Time" by Dale Hobgood: When he pops out of Sam's timeline, Al finds himself in an alternate Project Quantum leap. Through Alpha he discovers a past where Chip's confession saved him at the last minute and he ended up with a Ph.D in physics and ended up teaching a young Sam Beckett and (much to Al's shock) becoming lovers. The retrieval program works in this time line and Sam is due back from a trip to DC and Al is nervous. I liked this one, but I tend to like first time stories.

"Time Heals" by Theresa Kyle: Sam is feeling sucidally depressed over his uncontrolled leaping and in particular over a failed leap that lead to the execution of a young Navy Lt., and is going to take advantage of having jumped into the body of a terminally ill medical resident when an encounter with an injured ex-con changes both their futures. (Not a slash story.) Does a nice job postulating the effects on Sam of having Al around.

"Sister Acts" by Carol Zara: Sam leaps into a nun a year before he was born leaving Alpha and St. John a bit puzzled. (Not a slash story.) A solid story that feels a lot like one of the episodes. Sam is very much in character and the crisis is relatively minor, at least as far as he knows.

"As Fate Would Have It" by [Leah S.]: Just prior to his execution for the rape and murder he didn't commit a fellow prisoner who is incarcerated for sodomy trades identities with an unconsious AL. The story starts nine years later with a young Sam meeting and falling in love with Al who is still living under his assumed identity. I enjoyed the grimmer Al in this a lot.

"Awakenings" by Lee Owers-Sansome: A poem from Sam's POV. I'm not much interested in fannish poetry so ...

"Between the Lines" by Lee Owers-Sansome: THe thoughts behind the lines in the scene where Al reappears in Sam's timeline. Not my sort of thing, but well done.

"Birth Trama" by Elizabeth Cochrane: Sam is stuck in Bingo's body through the execution. He comes to in his own body, feeling very guilty and decides to set things right by leaping into Marcy's body. (slash, but no S/A sex).

"One for the Road" by [Leah S.]: A nice, very short piece with Al musing about changed timelines and loves on February 14, 1999.

"Multiply Life by the Power of Two" by Susan Gibel": Due to a series of appeals and Chip's deathbed confession Al is now out on parole and looking for a job. While in prison he got his Ph.D in physics and is interviewing, without much hope, when he meets a very attractive young physicist who is very interested in his dissertation. A well written story. I enjoyed both the emotional development and the rest of the plot.

This is illustrated, but the illustrations are not explicit. There are a couple of nice pieces by R. Neville including the cover. [1]

Issue 2

The Alpha Chronicles 2 was published in May 1996 and contains 164 pages. The interior art is by R. Neville and RAG.

cover of issue #2, from the zine: "Thanks to R. Neville, for coming to the rescue and allowing me to scan her artwork into the computer and play with it, to create the cover of this zine. The artistic credit all goes to her, all I did was push some buttons."

From a submission request:

Focus is on the "Leap for Lisa" timeline, but submissions also open to any alternative universe — the stranger, the better. QFP zines are primarily slash, but will also consider straight material as long as it's [sic] focus in the Sam and Al friendship. I'm an easy-going editor, and have eclectic tastes, but I will not accept material where physical and/or sexual violence is condoned or eroticized. I can accept hard copy, or any size disks, in Works, WordPerfect, Word, ASCII formats. I appreciate artwork, but don't do any special procedures for reproducing it (accept for cover art).

Summary:

Al is still living down the rumors of his death. St John plays a larger role around this time..both as a goodie and a baddie. There's a sequel to 'Birth Trauma' from last issue and part one of a novella by Sue Gibel. Also work by Eros, Goddard, Harper, Martin, Starsky, Walker and Zara. Art by Neveille and Galbraith.

  • Through a Glass Darkly, fiction by Elizabeth Cochrane (sequel to "Birth Trauma" in issue #1) (4)
  • Living the Dream by Noel Goddard ("Sam and Al meet under very different circumstances after the episode 'A Leap for Lisa'.") (28)
  • Love's Labor Lost by Eros (39)
  • A Shot at Redemption by Sue Walker (46)
  • Terra Incognita by Minna Harper (61)
  • Through Your Eyes by Lisa Martin (77)
  • Excerpts by Leah S. (88)
  • A Far Better Thing by Carol Zara (105)
  • Redemption, part one by Susan Gibel (114)

References

  1. ^ In 1995, Carol S. posted the following review to the Virgule mailing list. It is reposted here with permission.