The Chronicler's Tales
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Chronicler's Tales |
| Publisher: | Bluebird Press |
| Editor(s): | Kristy Effinger and Reggie Beck |
| Date(s): | February 1991 |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Beauty and the Beast (TV) |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Chronicler's Tales is a gen PG-rated 185-page Beauty and the Beast (TV) anthology.
It includes B&B stories as told to the Tunnel Chronicler introducing the Chronicler, & featuring Elliot Burch, Mouse, William, Vincent, Catherine, Diana & other inhabitants."
There was a sequel planned for January 1992, but it was never completed.
Summary
Mainly [third season], but there are some Vincent/Catherine tales. The continuing premise is that an apparently immortal and telepathic old man is rescued by Vincent and brought Below. The Chronicler then proceeds to record the present experiences and memories of those he encounters. Among the classic stories is 'A Cry of Players' by Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub, in which a born actress, 'Madame Sarah,' illegally holding secret acting classes for children Below, is in fact herself a teenager used as a call girl by her father. No overt romance between Vincent and Diana.[1]
Content
- The Chronicler by Kristy Effinger ("How Vincent finds the ancient, mysterious Chronicler and the tale-telling begins.")
- Recover by Reggie Beck ("A Helper seeks Peter Alcott's aid to assist an injured stranger discovered on the waterfront. Can you guess who the stranger is?")
- Annabelle & Other Treasures by Kristy Effinger and Reggie Beck ("Diana brings Below a box of gifts from an unusual source. This one is poignant!" In this story, Catherine Chandler is a ghost.)
- An Explosive Combination by Linda Mooney ("A tale of William's gastronomical delights.")
- Why, Vincent, Why" by Leora Effinger ("Samantha's retelling of Vincent's dark time.")
- Mouse in the Dark by Reggie Beck ("The story of how Mouse came to be in the Tunnels, told from his point of view.")
- A Cry of Players by Toni Lichtenstein Bogolub ("An unusally gifted young woman joins the Tunnel community, finding true family for the first time.") (reprinted in Remote Control #9)
- Diana's Tale by Kristy Effinger ("Diana tries to come to terms with new emotions, and flashes back on her childhood. See what Diana is really like!")
- With Love's Light Wings by Kristy Effinger ("Vincent has a tormenting dream. Catherine brings healing by helping him to remember. Grab a kleenex -- you'll need it to catch the tears.")
- poems by Marilyn Oakvik
- calligraphy by Kristy Effinger
- 22 pieces of original artwork by Kristy Effinger, Leora Effinger, Lukas Effinger ("Kristy's talented teenage children), Nora Leverson, and Gina Salisbury
Reactions and Reviews
A very well written and crafted zine with excellent art. This is an interesting story, woven from tales spun by an ageless man rescued by Vincent. The Chronicler's empathic abilities give him the power to have people open up to him and share their stories. It's a novel approach and took at the Tunnel world and its inhabitants. Catherine's spirit appears to make love to Vincent in order to help him remember the past. Diana is an accepted member of the Tunnel community and romantically linked (but not sexually) to Vincent. Each story features a different person, including Diana, Mouse and Elliot Burch. [2]
One glance at "The Chronicler's Tales" tells you that this zine must have been a labor of love for all involved with its production. The quality of the finished work speaks for itself and much care has been given to each detail.
From a technical standpoint, the binding, printing and page layout are very professional looking and pleasing to the eye. There really are no typos, misspellings or jumbled sentences to distract from one's reading pleasure. The print is large but you still get a lot per page in its 185 pages. At $18.00 it is well worth the cost for the artwork alone.
This artwork is simply wonderful - including the best Elliot Burch I've seen. Each piece is reproduced well and I'm sure I'm not the only one who appreciates the fact that the artwork is shown without printing on the back of the page to detract from its appearance. In addition to the fine work by Kristy Effinger and the other adult artists, there are drawings by Kristy's teenage son and daughter. Talent obviously runs in the family. These kids are GOOD.
The stories themselves are well-written and presented in an original way. The character of a centuries old Chronicler is used as a framework around which the tales are woven. As Vincent and the others share their memories with this magical man, we share them, too. From the many stories, we come to know how Vincent tames a Mouse, how a rescued Elliot recovers and finds a new love, how Diana lovingly retrieves some treasured possessions from Catherine's apartment and gives them to Vincent (with "Catherine's" help) and finally how Vincent remembers his night of love with Catherine and the healing begins. Of special note is a story called "A Cry of Players" in which Vincent, Catherine and the others Below help a talented young woman escape a life of abuse and fully realize her gifts.
Be advised this is a true third season zine. Catherine is truly gone though she appears in several stories in spirit form or through the remembrances of others. Diana is much in evidence and although she and Vincent do not yet share a romance, the seeds are sown.
This is an interesting and loving presentation, and I heartily recommend it for those who say "OK, but I don't read third season". Give this a try. It might just broaden your horizons a bit. It did mine.
References
- ^ from the Qfer
- ^ from The Beauty & the Beast Buyer's Guide to Fanzines