The Book of Strife

Zine
Title:	The Book of Strife
Publisher:	Tanglewebb Press, then The Nut Hatch
Editor:
Author(s):	P. Willow (author), Lea (editor)
Cover Artist(s):	signed "TSL" (otherwise not credited)
Illustrator(s):
Date(s):	1989, then a 1991 reprint by "The Nut Hatch"
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	The Professionals
Language:	English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

front cover of the original 1989 edition, titled "Book of Strife"

back cover of the original 1989 edition, titled "Home Again"

The 1991 Nut Hatch edition

The Book of Strife is a 233-page AU post-apocalyptic slash Professionals novel by P. Willow.

It includes black and white, and color, illos (signed but not credited) by TSL (all but one) and Tammy.

This zine was Tanglewood Press' first publication.

A different edition was later published by Nut Hatch Press, minus the color covers, and minus "The" in the title. It is also possible the original interior art was also not included in this edition.

Summaries

An alternate universe Bodie/Doyle science fiction novel, with a large cast of characters. It has a post-apocalyptic setting featuring cities broken up into levels with poorer people in the Lower City and techs and Forcers dominating the High City. Espers are people with a variety of psychic abilities, much sought after, but sometimes preyed on by Forcers. Liam Dee (Bodie) and Rayim Loyd (Doyle) are both espers who start out in violent conflict with each other, and progress from there to a close personal relationship. They eventually reach a fabled city once considered only a legend.

[regarding Nut Hatch's reprint]:

Tanglewebb's most lavish and courageous zine: a B/D alternate universe novel by P. Willow, very large, lush and richly detailed with elements of SF and fantasy. Reading is believing! A great one to while away a long rainy weekend ... though you really have to concentrate on this one: it has a large extended cast and Bodie and Doyle have been set against a detailed background which will be tough to follow if you try to skip through it. It's 240pp or so, and illustrated; though the type is not reduced, it's narrow-margin stuff, and goo dollar value. Beautifully written and constructed, and in places most surprising. This one is A$30 + shipping, and it's heavy to post, folks, in the 750g bracket.

From the Editor

I never knew what I was getting into when I said: "I can type and spell, can I help?"

Some weeks later the manuscript landed in my lap, all 250 pages of it, and my next words were: "Aaarrgghh!"

After I had numerous cups of tea, salt and vinegar chips and had calmed down, aplan was brought forward. Tanglewebb Press was formed and our first zine, "Book of Strife", was born. The first question, naturally, was: What do we do first?" and went on to: "Why do we have to register when we won’t even have a profit?" and to our last: "Are you sure we need all that paper?"

We had many meetings over weekends, often so engrossed that we forgot to eat meals. Our normal diet consisting mainly of tea, coffee, chips and cheesels, and once, because of a birthday mid-zine, a luscious chocolate liquer [sic] cake.

Artwork of a high calibre (so I used to do target shooting!) was provided especially for the story and after much: "Ooh! I like that one." Or "Why did you have to cover it up!" it was placed in the relevant sections.

From the Author

[The previous editorial I wrote] began with a few irate words, mainly concerning those who have judged this story without reading it.

I am well aware that there are people, out there, who are biased towards one or the other of our duo. I am not. Having made that as plain as I possibly can I will now feel no guilt over my probably, excessive reaction to the next person/s who suggest so.

I shall now step off my soap box and continue with my foreward [sic].

What can I say, so this has been rewritten more times than the Bible. How did I come to be stuck here? Well!

"I like it,” [Lea, the editor] said, a faint smile turning the corner of her mouth up. "I’d like to publish it."

’’Fine,'’ says I, knowing that she has no means of publishing it and that she is not likely to be able to in the near future.

I won’t do rewrites,” I warn. "Spoils the dream.” She nodded and wandered away.

Her letter told me that she has been telling Book of Strife to some friends of hers and that they are really interested in reading it. My ego has a nice little bubble which I promptly burst. She is over there and the story is here in longhand. I can’t inflict my longhand on innocent (well relatively) strangers. My fingers start to grumble as I begin the laborious process of typing out Book of Strife.

Her next letter tells me that she really does still want to publish it. I’ve got secretarial digititus and the flu. I really do not want to know.

”I found someone who will type it for you,” she told me. The catch is that I have to type it up myself first. Only another hundred pages to go.

"This is TANGLEWEBB and they want to put Book of Strife out as their debut zine.”

Well I did, she has, and they will.

So mainly this is dedicated to she who nags until she is obeyed and she who makes really neat pumpkin soup (and tomato).

And a loud raspberry for all who sail in her.

Sample Interior: Original Art

The art in the original edition is by TSL.

• 

  title page

• 

  sample text

• 

  TSL, "A Kind of Understanding" - Rayim Loyd (William Bodie) and Liam Dee (Ray Doyle) (Dee/Doyle looks a bit like Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin...)

• 

  TSL, "Rebellion"

• 

  TSL, "Edge of Desperation"

• 

  TSL, "Fevered Imaginings"

• 

  TSL, "Absent Friends"

• 

  TSL, "Strife"

• 

  TSL, "Strife"

• 

  TSL, "Soul Mates" - based on a photo reference

• 

  TSL, "Contentment"

• 

  Tammy, "Home Again"

Reactions and Reviews

1990

Were the zines [this fan also ordered Rainbow Chasers] worth all this effort? Definitely, despite the lack of proof-reading which meant that there were some very strange words in the text. The zines are nicely bond, the type face is clear and not micro-print. Both novels were "good reads". Book of Strife was a fantasy set in the future, and both the characters and their world were well-thought-out and well-developed.

1996

I just read Book of Strife and the first time Rayim (Doyle) was called a redhead I had to look at the cover to make sure it was pro's. But I do know that when I was younger I had the nickname Red and I never had anything but brown hair. (hmmmmm then again maybe it had to do with my political leanings - just a thought).