The Alternative Factor (Star Trek: TOS zine)
You may be looking for the K/S novel The Alternate Factor.
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Alternative Factor |
| Publisher: | the fan club by the same name |
| Editor(s): | Robert C. Wine, D.J. Dahlquist |
| Date(s): | 1980 |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | meant to be science fiction with some Star Trek: TOS and other media fandoms, but was mostly Star Trek |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Alternative Factor is a gen clubzine from New Zealand that contains articles and fiction. The zine is printed on long paper, rather than 8.5 X 11.
About the Zine: From the First Issue
The first issue's editorial and notes blur the line and downplay the fact that all of the stories in it are media fandom-centric.
From the editor's description in issue #1:
"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" is a Science Fiction/Science Fact magazine for the Science Fiction/Fantasy enthusiast. "THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" is a broad spectrum publication that will attempt to offer the reader what the EDITORS will consider to be timely and relevent [sic] Science Facts as well as Science Fiction and Fantasy material from the entire range of television, movies, books, comics, and other similar publications.
"THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR" will present reviews of books, magazine, television productions, and movies whenever possible, as well as responsible commentaries and new original stories, poetry, art, and our own in-house graphic Science Fiction novels.
From the editorial in issue #1:
Welcome to the pre-molar, excuse me...the premeire [sic] issue of THE ALTERNATIVE FACTOR, a publication which as the name implies should offer an alternative to the norm, or at least make a darned good unreasonable facmilie [sic] thereof. The featured work is by Robert C. Henderson. Bob is a long suffering and talented individual and the first of his JASON HAWK adventures should prove entertaining to us all. Also we have two fine tales done by Regenia Marracino and Rowena G, Warner to whom we would like to express our heartfelt and sincere thanks in putting this gobbler together. We would also like to offer special thanks to Lois Rasmussen and Robert James Foster for their timely assistance in getting us some splendid illos for this thing on time. (Although Bob Foster did threaten us with his attack hamster if we bugged him again. Durn rodent's a mean little sucker.)
Now, you may ask where all this is leading to. You may well ask just what is our intent. You may well ask, but you need a class "A" security clearance to find out. Which is our quaint way of saying that we really don't know yet. But the ALTERNATIVE FACTOR is intended to be a bit broader based than most other publications in that we eventually hope to accept work from people based on STAR TREK, STAR WARS, BATTLESTAR: GALACTICA, et al. Also we would be delighted to run stories on our perenial [sic] favourite, DOCTOR WHO. (No, that's WHO not WHAT.)
We're magnanimous if not downright crazy. So let's get into our first set of offerings and get this thing on the road. You have nothing to lose but your sanity and ours is certainly pretty far gone, so if yours is too...consider yourself in good company.
So hip-hip-hooray and yah-boo, set yourself back and enjoy.
V.1 N.1
The Alternative Factor v.1 n.1 was published in 1980 and contains 170 pages.
- Only Yesterday, and a Million Years Ago, a Jason Hawk Adventure by Robert Curtis Henderson, art by the author (the focus is on Jason Hawk, an original character in a Star Trek: TOS story) (3)
- Revelations by Rowena Warner, art by Robert James Foster (Star Trek: TOS) (63)
- Spock's Vacation, Or, A Close Encounter of a Different Kind by Regenia Marracino, art by Lois Rasmussen (87)
inside page from issue #1, art by Robert Curtis Henderson
inside page from issue #1, art by Robert Curtis Henderson
inside page from issue #1, art by Robert Curtis Henderson
inside page from issue #1, art by Robert James Foster
inside page from issue #1, art by Lois Rasmussen
inside page from issue #1, art by Lois Rasmussen
inside page from issue #1, sample text
inside page from issue #1, about the next issue
V.1 N.2
The Alternative Factor v.1 n.2 was published in August 1980 and contains 176 pages. It has art by Lana Fahey, Harvey Kong Tin, Alastair Floyd, and John Northcutt.
From an ad in For Your Information #5:
In celebration of Star Trek's 20th year and beyond! Articles of information and unusual view by Robert Wine. Editor. Critique of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Jason Hawk returns in two short stories. All new adventures with the "STARSHIP EXCALIBUR'. And the Enterprise crew spends Days on Hydraas'.
- the editor notes that it was created on her "compugraphic 46000, my little typewriter"
- the editor thanks Joan Verba, Diane Marchant and Joyce Thompson of the Welcommittee for their help
- contains trivia, two LoCs, a roster a members (17 of them), a list of five fanzines available, a reprint of "The Neofan's Guide to Purchasing Fanzines" by Joan Verba, a list of some Star Trek clubs
- contains poems: "Allies" by Lana Fahey, "Spock vs Spock" by Judith Yeatman, and "Alien Life" by April Smith
- contains a short fic called "That Strange Shrinking Feeling" by Keith Smith
- contains the short fic called "The Right Hands of Vulcan" by Lana Fahey
- contains some examples of a possible logo for the club
- contains a blueprint of the transporter controls by John Northcutt
- contains two short reviews of Star Trek: The Motion Picture