The Array

Zine
Title:	The Array
Publisher:	Orion Press
Editor(s):	Andra Marie Muelle
Date(s):	2000
Series?:
Medium:	print zine
Size:	digest-sized
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	Star Trek: Voyager
Language:	English
External Links:
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The Array is a gen Star Trek: Voyager digest-sized anthology edited by Andra Marie Muelle. Cover art by Lauren Francis.

Issue 1

cover of issue #1, Lauren Francis

original art, 11 x 17, pastels

The Array 1 was published in April 2000 and contains 132 pages. Summaries below from the zine's table of contents.

• From the Ready Room, editorial ramblings (3)
• The Kiss by Judith Iserloth (An encounter in the turbolift leads to a new phase in Janeway and Chakotay's relationship.) (4)
• Where Now the Roses Fall by Diane Bellomo (A slip of the tongue threatens Tom and B'Elanna's relationship.) (8)
• Imperatives by Brenda Shaffer-Shiring (When circumstances force Janeway to consider a difficult directive, she encounters strong resistance from her First Officer.) (17)
• Turning Point by Sean Christie (A pre-Caretaker story. A Battle between the Maquis and the Cardassians becomes a pivotal event in Chakotay's life.) (27)
• The Rock and More than Enough by Andra Marie Mueller (A pair of drabbles from Janeway's pov.) (37)
• Only a Man by Cat (His separation from Voyager during an Away Mission leads to an unexpected and unique first contact for Chakotay.) (38)
• Bare Essentials by Thea Bradley (Neelix's failure to fully research on alien culture's customs results in an embarrassing Away Mission for himself and the Doctor.) (63)

Issue 2

cover of issue #2, Lauren Francis

The Array 2 was published in October 2000 and contains 103 pages. Inside art is by Beverly Chick and Zaquia Tarhuntassa.

• From the Ready Room (2)
• A Private Pain by Ann B. Harding (A missing scene from "Muse." With Harry and B'Elanna missing, Tom is grieving his potential loss.) (3)
• To Cross the Rubicon by Brenda Shaffer-Shiring (B'Elanna and Chakoty make plans to ensure their freedom should the Federation decide to prosecute the Maquis.) (7)
• Hues of Woe or Heaven by Diane Bellomo (A look at Marika's last weeks on the Voyager and her relationship with Seven.) (13)
• Lonely at the Top by D.G. Littleford (Chakotay confronts Janeway about the rumors regarding her and a certain holographic bartender.) (23)
• A Victim of Technology by Chris Adam Christenson (Janeway's obsession with holotechnology becomes her downfall.) (44)
• And the Truth Shall Set You Free by Brenda Shaffer-Shiring (The Doctor confides in the captain about his regret over a past decision.) (53)
• Loyalties by Sylvia Benson (When his former Academy roommate is sent to capture Chakotay, both men must decide where their loyalties lie. A pre-Caretaker story.) (60)
• Temper, Temper by Diane Bellomo (A missing scene from 'Juggernaut.' Just why did B'Elanna destroy the Doctor's holocamera?) (83)
• Court Martial by Charles Shiring (Janeway puts the Maquis on trial.) (88)
• Almost Perfect by Andra Marie Mueller (Shortly after embarking on a personal Janeway and Chakotay enjoy a day of Shore leave.) (97)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

"The Array 2" is a 104 page VOY anthology of ten short stories, edited by Andra Marie Mueller. I should admit up front that while I do watch VOY, I don't follow the show closely, nor do I read much VOY fanfic. My favorite character is Janeway, followed by Tuvok and B'Elanna Torres. So with my biases in mind, I have to say that I found this collection of stories reasonably well written, well edited, and well presented, but nothing stood out to me as special.

The authors featured are Ann B. Harding, Brenda Shaffer-Shiring, Diane Bellomo, D.G. Littleford, Chris Adam Christenson, Sylvia Benson, Charles Shiring, and Andra Marie Mueller. Diane Bellomo and Brenda Shaffer-Shiring each have two stories in the volume.

Two of the stories, "Lonely at the Top" and "A Victim of Technology" expressed a lot of writerly resentment toward Janeway for her dalliance with the holographic Michael Sullivan, and indirectly for never having consummated her relationship with Chakotay. In my view, putting that resentment on paper didn't make for particularly compelling stories.

Two other stories, "To Cross the Rubicon" and "Court Marital" provided alternative takes on how the crew might prepare for the potential legal vulnerability of the former Maquis crew members upon "Voyager's" return to the alpha quadrant. An interesting problem to consider, but I'm afraid I didn't find either of the approaches taken convincing. Nonetheless, I can imagine "Court Martial," by Charles H. Shiring, turning up as an actual episode.

My favorite was probably "Loyalties," a pre-"Caretaker" story by Brenda Shaffer-Shiring. The story is about Chakotay as a Maquis leader, and a confrontation with an old friend, now a Starfleet officer. There's some genuine moral wrestling here with issues of loyalty, trust, and friendship. The story is all the more poignant because we know what Chakotay does not: that both Tuvok and Seska will betray him.

In a fun vein, there's Diane Bellamo's , "Temper, Temper"--a nice little character study of B'Elanna Torres. Other stories include an internal monologue for Tom Paris ("A Private Pain"), a study in doctorly regret over a past decision ("And the Truth Shall Set You Free"), and a look at the last weeks of Marika's life ("Hues of Woe or Heaven"). The latter had a lot going for it, but I was handicapped as a reader by not being familiar with the episode it was based on.

The artwork for this fanzine is excellent. The color cover is a portrait of Janeway by Lauren Francis... Again, I'll admit my biases up front: Lauren is a friend of mine, and I'm a big fan of her work. So call me biased, but I think this is the finest portrait of Janeway I've ever seen. There is also top quality black and white interior artwork by Beverly Chick and Zaquia Tarhuntassa.

Overall verdict: "The Array Two" didn't sing to me, but your mileage may vary. If you're a fan of these authors, and/or are of the opinion that Janeway has done Chakotay wrong, then this is a fanzine you might well enjoy.