Del Floria’s Press (Man from UNCLE anthology)

Zine
Title:	Del Floria’s Press
Publisher:	Del Floria's Press & Samizdat Press
Editor(s):	Sasha Sokolnikov
Date(s):	1986-1992
Series?:
Medium:	print zine
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	The Man from UNCLE
Language:	English
External Links:	Del Floria's Press
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Del Floria’s Press is a gen Man from UNCLE anthology.

Issue 1

cover of issue #1

Del Floria's Press 1 was published in December 1986 and contains 105 pages.

• The Candy Shop Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Thrush have developed a telepathy drug. Illya and Napoleon are sent to investigate and the Russian's sweettooth proves to be his downfall.")
• The Children of the Night by Sasha Sokolnikov ("The Lads are in Transylvania, and to heck with the natives, it's Vlad who's restless. Solo doesn't deal with the situation very well when his late partner shows up with a whole new outlook on New York City nightlife.")
• Home to Oz by Sasha Sokolnikov and Lucrezia Verdi ("When Illya's leukemia goes into remission, Napoleon decides he is finally going to drag him home for Christmas with the Solo family. Illya is not thrilled, especially when he meets Napoleon's father, a die-hard anti-communist, whose oldest son, Napoleon's only brother, died in Vietnam on the wrong end of a Sovet-supplied rifle.")

Issue 2

cover of issue #2

Del Floria's Press 2 was published in 1987 and contains 73 pages.

• The Uncle Who Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov ("The Doctor lands the Tardis in Waverly's office by mistake (how else?). Illya thinks it's a bomb — until he looks inside. The Doctor must telepathically link with Kuryakin to save his sanity, but the Russian learns more than the Good Doctor intended.") (crossover with Doctor Who) (1)
• To Charm the Savage by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Stranded in the Amazon and awaiting rescue, Solo and Kuryakin find a young woman lost as a child from a safari. They take her to New York and begin to teach her the rules of civilised society. Eventually she must choose between the two men, both of whom she has fallen in love with — and who have fallen in love with her.") (11)
• The Kremlin Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov and Lucrezia Verdi ("The CCCP has undergone another revolution and Illya is ordered home by the new General Secretary: his father, Nikolai Kuryakin.") (38)

Issue 3

cover of issue #3

Del Floria's Press 3 was published in December 1986 and contains 47 pages.

The zine was printed four more times: June 1987, March 1989, November 1989, and October 1990. The editor noted that when the original masters had faded too much to use, they ended retyping the fourth issue. This means that the page count for the first three editions are larger than for the latter editions. The later edition has 43 pages. The editors reassured readers that no content had been omitted.

• A Rainy Sunday by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Illya takes the one meant for Napoleon.") (7 pages)
• Going for Dragons by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Injured in a collision with a drunk, Illya spends 11 weeks in coma. When he comes out of it, the medical determination is that he's suffered brain damage and now has the mentality of an autistic four-year-old. But he doesn't and can't make anyone understand as he is sent away to a mental hospital.") (15 pages)
• Dark Winter by Sasha Sokolnikov and Lucrezia Verdi ("The bomb was booby-trapped. Illya took some shrapnel in his eyes, but they told him it would get better, which it did. Then it started getting dark again. He has a brain tumor and is going blind. And eventually the tumor will kill him. How much can he hide from Napoleon and will be make it to Christmas?") (20 pages)

Issue 4

Del Floria's Press 4 was published in 1987 and contains 118 pages.

"The Star Harbour Affair" had a planned 1992 sequel called "The Star Harbour Murders," a zine that was never completed. See proposed zines for more information.

cover of issue #4

• The Uncle Who Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov (on the table of contents) Pasha Sokolnikov (on the story itself) (reprinted from DFP #2) (1)
• The Yugoslavia Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Kuryakin has a chance to do the impossible: return for one hour to that last fateful mission and change the outcome that ended his career with UNCLE—and nearly his life.") (12)
• The Star Harbour Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov ("The revocation of Kuryakin's American citizenship and accompanying deportation order are a signed death warrant for the Russian—and mean nothing when weighed against Kuryakin's prescient dreams about the impending arrival of World War III. Napoleon doesn't believe him—until he starts having the same dreams. Can they survive a nuclear war, and what of the other survivors? Can they begin a new life on the joint US/USSR space station, Star Harbour?") (Note: these three stories comprise a novel). (40)

Issue 5

Del Floria's Press 5 is a 268-page novel called, "The Bogota Affair" by Sasha Sokolnikov. First printing was December 1986, second June 1987, third March 1989, and fourth November 1989.

cover of issue #5

Summary from the publisher: "Things have not been going well in the field for Illya Kuryakin. If he didn't know better, he'd swear gypsies had put a curse on him. To make matters worse, he's looking at two years before he's retired from field work. Solo has Waverly's position to look forward to; all Illya has is a microscope waiting down in the lab. Mid-life crisis sets in. Determined to be the one to prove agents don't have to be retired at 40, Kuryakin takes on a deadly mission, one that feels so bad that for once even Solo refuses to go along. For Illya, the assignment is a matter of pride. To Napoleon, it just feels wrong."

• 

  from issue #5

• 

  from issue #5

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5

This is not a visually lavish zine. You get the story, period. If you want a feast for the eyes, this ain't it; if your eyes can happily make a meal of words, thank you, you'll do fine with the presentation. Sasha Sokolnikov, I've found through reading a variety of her stories, is a solid, capable writer who can pack one hell of an emotional punch in her pieces. I may not always agree with her, but I can never stay disinterested. She has a fresh, unexpected slant on the UNCLE universe. Sometimes I'm left aghast, sometimes in awe. At times I go: No way! Other times I go: How exquisite! Which is my dilemma with The Bogota Affair. No way can I ignore it, but I can't decide whether I hate to love it, or love to hate it. Do I believe it? I don't know. I know I want to believe it, because there's such a wealth in there for a "relationship," "hurt/comfort" fan, but I keep crashing into the wall of credibility.... Some laurels to add to the kudos; no miraculous recoveries, but realistic, long-time coping. Then we get one of those fresh slants. The canon of UNCLE seems to take it for granted that Napoleon is Waverly's protégé and heir-apparent. Not so here. Intriguing twist. But it leads me straight into the next "wall." Will Waverly really leave the chair of Continental Chief to a man who is all but mainlining drugs, has flashback episodes, hasn't recovered from his ordeal and probably never will completely? Will the other continental chiefs let him? Will the line agents feel confident in going on with business as usual? The only answer I find is: No way—but that "wall" is the foundation for the most satisfying scenes of the novel: Napoleon's loyal support, his determination that Illya will succeed or Napoleon will die trying, his worries for his friend's physical and mental health under the pressures of the job, good stuff, good stuff, good stuff. I love it, I do. Don't wanna explain it. I just do. The air is the air. But there is also one of those unexpected slants that comes like a punch out of nowhere and leaves you dazed: Illya's vicious revenge for a firebomb thrown into his house. Yes, he has provocation, but I'm horrified at how far he takes it, and that Napoleon lets him take it that far, and that other agents don't say: we're not blind executioners, you want revenge that badly, you extract it. It's a dirty world they live in, I know, but isn't there supposed to be some shade of humanity to differentiate Our Heroes from the likes of THRUSH? In short (too late!), if you can take the curves the story throws you, in emotional wallowing/satisfaction, it is a gem. (Let me quickly point out that "wallow" is a complimentary word to me.).

Issue 6

Del Floria's Press 6 was published in October 1987 and contains 99 pages. Cover art is by Charlene Kirby; interior art is by Sasha Sokolnikov.

cover of issue #6

• The Meet by Hindman ("Young Napoleon, on holiday in Russia with his grandfather, meets an interesting and disturbing young gymnast.") (3)
• Hello, Blackwolf by Sasha Sokolnikov ("If it was Ivan's body in the van, then who is on the Blue Line, speaking in the soft voice that's given Stockwell nightmares for years? An A-Team story about Vaughn and McCallum's characters in "The Say Uncle Affair".") (15)
• My Dinner with Illya by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Solo (the fool) accepts an invitation for home cookin' ala Kuryakin.") (27)
• Shadow Song: Shift Change 12.01 A.M. by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Death has come for Solo and Kuryakin, but can there be a Fate worse than Death? And if so, for whom?") (32)
• A Detailed Listing of Illya Kuryakin's On-Camera Eating and Drinking and a Comprehensive Listing of Ties Worn by Napoleon Solo: compiled by Kathy Norton ("Guaranteed to settle those noisy arguments among the fen.") (53)
• One Night on a Long Boring Stake-Out ("Waverly hit closer to the truth than he knew with his comments about his top team's telepathy.") (58)
• The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Season 13: Episodes we would like to have seen. (63)
• The Uncharted Desert Isle Affair (not a Gilligan crossover). (64)
• The Marathon Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov and Nick Tesla ("Someone has broken into the UNCLE computers and has complete control. The destruction of UNCLE is imminent unless "Their" demands are met—and what "They" want is Kuryakin.") (65)
• The You're Getting What Affair? by Darlene Kepner ("Why is Illya acting so peculiar?") (77)
• The Halloween Inheritance Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Solo feels strangely drawn to the old house he's inherited, but Illya doesn't care for it at all.") (84)
• The Illya Kuryakin School of Driving Entrance Exam by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Test your skills and kills. Internationally hailed (and cussed) as the most hilarious test you'll ever take.") (89)
• The Summer Vacation Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Thrush have a ray that can shrink an entire city down to the size of a walnut. Next target: Disneyland.") (92)

Cartoons:

• The Men from U.N.C.L.E. Meet Dnagger Moose (cartoons): Mr. K is having terrible trouble with rodents.
• The Men from B.L.O.O.M. County: irreverent cartoons.

Issue 7

Del Floria's Press 7 was published in July 1992 and contains 129 pages. Art by Paulie, Charlie Kirby, KOZ, Alexi Tesla, Sasha Sokolnikov.

cover of issue #7

• The Dominant and the Companion by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Excerpts from which appeared in "Karmic Concurrences 1", a zine based on the premise that Solo and Kuryakin are "old souls" who have shared many lifetimes together. Published for the first time in its entirety.") (10 pages)
• The Killer by Renya Spratt ("A young assassin is headed for the U.S. and a new future, but he isn't who people think he is.") (3 pages)
• Mail Call by Sasha Sokolnikov ("A selection of Illya's letters home — and the replies from his family.") (4 pages)
• Sherlock Holmes: The First Man From U.N.C.L.E. by Norman M. Davis: ("the author presents evidence that the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement may be as old as the Hierarchy—which was founded by a certain Professor Moriarty.") (7 pages)
• Transcript by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Solo is under drugged interrogation by his own people. His crime: attempted murder.") (also in The Paladins Affair #2) (7 pages)
• How Illya Kuryakin Really Spends His Free Time by Sasha Sokolnikov and Nick Tesla ("The title says it all.") (1 page)
• A Detailed Listing of Automotive Mayhem by Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin ("Compiled by Kathy Norton: Ever wonder how many cars The Lads really cracked up?") (3 pages)
• The Death on the Steppes Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov and Vicki Rettig Holt ("It's the secret horror of the steppes and the terror of the locals—and only Illya is a believer. Can he convince Napoleon before it's too late?") (3 pages)
• Dodging the Bullets: a filk to "Walzing Matilda"
• The Illya Kuryakin Cookbook and Handy Househould Hints Guide by Sokolnikov ("Only for the staunch of stomach.") (5 pages)
• The Illya Kuryakin Eat Like A Famine Victim And Never Gain An Ounce Diet ("You'll never look at tofu the same way.") (1 page)
• The Son of a Sea Cook Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov ("After all these years, Illya has finally pried the secret of Napoleon's true background out of his partner — and may be forced to flee back to Russia as a result.") (3 pages)
• The Yeti Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Illya is missing and presumed dead. Napoleon only wants to find his friend's body to give it a decent burial. But what he finds in the remote mountains is the last thing he expected. Being adopted is one thing; being adopted by a family of gentle Yetis is another.") (17 pages)
• A Letter from My Uncle by Sasha Sokolnikov (in the Star Harbour universe) ("Napoleon sets out on a trip back through time in hopes of giving Illya the one thing the Russian doesn't have: tangible proof of his childhood. And sadly for both men, he finds it.") (11 pages)
• The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face You Were Pointing a Gun At Mine Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Newly-appointed C.E.A. Napoleon Solo is on assignment in the Soviet Union, but nothing is going right. And every time something goes wrong, it seems a certain blond madman on the run from the KGB is in the vicinity. When Solo is injured, he must learn to trust the Russian or risk death by firing squad.") (13 pages)
• The Illya Kuryakin School of Explosives ("Another in DFP's fine series of Continuing Education Programs. Bring your earmuffs.") (1 page)
• The Phantasm Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov ("When Illya showed up for work, there wasn't a living soul in the entire building. Not that there aren't plenty of people around—it's just none of them are alive. There are corpses roaming the halls—and one of them is Solo.") (6 pages)
• Here We Go A-Caroling by Sasha Sokolnikov ("The entire staff of U.N.C.L.E. takes the Russian in hand to teach him the customs of a traditional American Christmas. Kuryakin is baffled by all of it: songs named for someone called Carol? A cake you can't eat? And this punch business sounds unusually violent for such a gentle season. This Christmas adventure will keep you laughing 'til New Years.") (5 pages)
• The U.N.C.L.E. End of Year Fiscal Reports ("Mutilated silk ties, outrageous auto insurance premiums, and a pharmacy's worth of tranquilisers tell the tale of oft-times padded expense accounts, and the personalities behind them.") (3 pages)
• A Friend of My Uncle's by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Illya knew it had to happen one day, every Russian's inevitable fate—alcoholism. But why couldn't it have been decently pink wolves, rather than the six-foot-tall rabbit his partner seems to be hanging out with?") (10 pages)
• I'll Be Home for Christmas by Sasha Sokolnikov ("In all the years they've been partners, Solo has never gotten Kuryakin to share the holidays with him. Haunted by images of his friend alone in his apartment with only a TV dinner for company, Napoleon sets out to discover just where his friend vanishes to every Christmas Eve. When he follows Kuryakin to Little Moscow and the apartment of an old woman, Solo rediscovers something he thought he'd long ago lost—the true meaning of the twin miracles of Christmas and Hannukah.") (18 pages)
• The Old Magick Shoppe Affair by Sasha Sokolnikov ("Now what in the world, Napoleon wondered as he stared up at the battered sign over the dingy storefront, was used magic? And why is he so drawn to the wizened old proprietor?") (also in Rose Tint My World #1) (11 pages)
• You Know You're a Zine Editor When... ("Self-diagnosis for those hopelessly addicted to fanzines.")