The Clipper Trade Ship/Issues 61-70

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The Clipper Trade Ship · Issues 1-10 · Issues 11-20 · Issues 21-30 · Issues 31-40 · Issues 41-50 · Issues 51-60 · Issues 61-70 · Issues 71-79

Issue 61

The Clipper Trade Ship 61 was published in October 1988 and contains 36 pages. Guest editor: Shirley S. Maiewski.

front cover of issue #61, Melody Rondeau
back cover of issue #61, Tom Howard

Art by Melody Rondeau, Lyne Masamitsu, Tom Howard, Vicki Brinkmeier, Tommy Wadford II, Gennie Summers, Cynthia Case, Susan Landerman, Shona Jackson, J. Alan Tyler, Nola Frame-Gray, Richard Parks.

There is an ad in this zine for a Blake's 7 story called "Red Lipstick." It is "about Avon trapped on a planet and hidden out by a lady of 'questionable character'." The author was [Diane R], it was available for purchase for $2.50.

From the editorial:

While all the world argues out the pros and cons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, we're fairly content to sit back and watch it and murmur our approvals and disapprovals to mostly ourselves. As fanzine editors, we feel it is our duty to try to remain in such a neutral position, especially due to the nature of TCTS, being a mixed media zine: We want to encourage creative writing not only in ST and ST:TNG, but all the science fiction and fantasy shows and movies there are and will be. While ST (including ST:TNG) remains the main thrust of TCTS, there's more to life —and TV— than just it. Hence we are pleased to bring you as well these little tales from worlds other than ST.

IDIC, eh?

For those of you who like lots of little stories, this is another issue full of them. Be forewarned, however—upcoming we have a few longer tales lined up, including another of Linda Slusher's Klingon stories. And who knows what our contributors will present us with in the months to come.

  • inside page from issue #61

    inside page from issue #61

  • inside page from issue #61

    inside page from issue #61

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 61

I loved the cover: Picard makes a great Gepetto, and the look in Pinochio-Data's eyes! Lyne's carousel mermare was gorgeous. Any chance of getting Tom's 'Fanzine Writers Do It Write' put on a bumper sticker? "Night Watch" was very nice, also "Mercy Mission." I'm enjoying these Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea stories. The report on the Universal Studio Tours was illuminating. I still don't think I'll go, but at least now I have some facts on which to base it. I am also enjoying Patricia Davis' Interlude series. She does Mary Sue right. Any chance these stories can be collected and published when she's finished? I, for one, would buy. You guys are among the first zineds anywhere to pub ST:TNG, and the stories are well written to boot. Headroom was cute, really got the flavor down. I gather "Out of Time" tied up loose ends. I never watched the sixth Doctor or Peri--it's opposite Mighty Mouse here. What can I say? Didn't care for the Avon story. The filks were cute. [1]

It's kind of late, but I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed ish #61. The front cover was fabulous! I giggled all day over it. It is really an inspired cartoon. "Out of Time" was also excellent. Characterization was right, the story was good, everything about it was enjoyable. "Headroom" tickled me. Really novel...

I just couldn't get into "Interlude." It's just a real Mary Sue story to me. [The editor responds: The Interlude stories weren't supposed to be Mary Sue, although there are Mary Sue-ish elements in them. Besides the heroine not saving the universe, ship, or even discount coupons, she wasn't even modelled after the author, but, in fact, very loosely on a six year-old acquaintance... ] [2]

Issue 62

The Clipper Trade Ship 62 was published in January 1989 contains 36 pages. 300 copies were printed.

front cover of issue #62, Melody Rondeau
back cover of issue #62, Fran Wong

The art is by Melody Rondeau, Gennie Summers, Shona Jackson, Carrie Daughterty, William Albert, Richard Arnold, Lyne Masamitsu, and Fran Wong.

The two LoCs in this issue focused on fans' opinions of Star Trek: The Next Generation. See Some Early Fan Comments.

From the editorial:

The year 1988 has come to a close, and we freely admit it — we lost it somewhere, probably at the beginning of the year. We're behind, way behind in mail, fannish pursuits, yardwork, housework, etc. The volume of incoming mail has greatly increased, as has the number of conventions we were committed to, and the number of guests and visitors we had. That took up a lot of time. Some of you have every right to be angry -- some submissions sent months ago are still buried in four boxes full of mail, awaiting being read. We haven't had a "free" weekend in months to "calmly" relax and heartily dig into mail. Go to the movies? We can account for three we've seen all year. Watch TV? One of us hasn't even seen all the ST:TNG episodes, let alone anything else we ought to be watching. We wish we could average five hours a week of TV watching. Read books? When?

At the very least, we have a BMR — Bare Minimum Requirement. Mail orders get filled, TCTS gets published more or less on time, bills get paid, the dishes get done, the cats get fed, and the garbage gets taken out. Almost everything else is "what emergency do we tackle next?" Occasionally, we do get caught up, or at least make significant progress... just not this past year. 1989, perhaps?

  • inside issue #62

    inside issue #62

  • inside issue #62

    inside issue #62

  • inside issue #62

    inside issue #62

  • inside issue #62

    inside issue #62

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 62

Another Pinoccio cover! Simply wonderful. Am I mistaken, or does that fairy bear a resemblance to Tasha Yar? And what exactly is Data looking at with that dazed expression? "Gone But Not Forgotten" was an excellent story. My impression is that it took place sometime near the beginning of the first season. Kirk had just the right amount of bluster. Spock was...well, he was Spock. Nice to see that Saavik (in Tom's universe, anyway) eventually commanded Enterprise. "Data Entry: Shore Leave" was another excellent 
TNG piece. Fran Wong has Geordi down perfectly, and 
she's also done a great job on Data. He's my favorite of all the TNG characters, and more human than a lot of people I know.

Keep up the good work! [3]

The cover is nothing short of priceless! (Makes one wonder if Data's nose grows in "The Naked Now"... never mind). Shona's Dragon cartoon leaves me wanting more. Nola's "letter" was quite cute. I enjoyed William Albert's "Technical Problems" to some extent, but I am not that altogether familiar with Doctor Who, so I assume part the impact was lost on me. Gennie Summers' cartoon on page 7 is delightful — how about one with Chewbacca pitching fcr Animal Rights groups? "Tarna's Treasure" was interesting; the detail in the illustration is astounding!

"Gone But Not Forgotten" is the first time I missed a beat in this issue. Granted, the storyline is an aspect that holds fascinating possibilities, and Tom deals with the subject extremely well, but...Captain Kirk is completely out of character in his two lines and the entire sequence seems a bit choppy. Frankly, I'm not sure at all what Captain Picard got out of the experience — especially considering Riker told him just abcot the same thing in "Encounter at Farpoint." However, let's return to the concept of the storys would such a program exist on the new Enterprise. (Note—I am not taking this up as a point with the story, but a general issue!) On one hand, the captain, with the program, has the ability to draw up the wisdom of his predecessors so as to hopefully not repeat errors of the past. On the other hand, the very existence of the program suggests that Starfleet does not have complete faith in its officers. Carrying this another step further, by accessing the program, the captain would feel he would be better advised by his predecessors than by his staff. A novel concept, but as to whether the simulation would be on the Enterprise, I don't horestly have an answer. Nevertheless, with further development and correction of Captain Kirk character, "Gone" would have been an excellent story, regardless of the outcome of whether the program would exist.

The Deanna Troi illo on page 12 is right on the mark. rool book, I enjoyed muchly in between the giggles it generated. Wendy's "Trekkie/Whovian" is terrific, as well as the following illustration. "The Powers of Darkness" makes me wish I understood Doctor Who better so that I may have gotten more out of what was probably an excellent story. With my lack of understanding of Doctor Who in mind, "Data Entry" is undeniably the best piece in the zine. From what I can tell, the characterizations are right on target, and I feel the story will be one of the must reads of early ST:TNG fan fiction.

The Filksongs were all quite humorous, as are nearly all that see light on your pages. Richard Arnold's "Hulkization" of Lum is wonderful! (How about Urusei Yatsura 6: Lum the Superhero? No?) Illo page 28 is also good. "The Voice" was enjoyable, but it just didn't seem like enough was done with it. "The Tenth Elfl Tale" was, as usual, a "must read." The backcover was also quite funny in its own right, but I think Wesley should have been fed to the alligator as as an appetizer! [4]

Issue 63

front cover of issue #63, Richard Parks
back cover of issue #63, Melody Rondeau

The Clipper Trade Ship 63 was published in 1989 and is 37 pages long. 300 copies were printed.

The art is by Richard Parks, Melody Rondeau, Nola Frame-Gray, Gennie Summers, Tommy Wadford III, J. Alan Tyler, Tom Howard, Pegasus Hogan, William Albert, Susan Landerman.

From the editorial:

"You're kidding, aren't you? You really produce a fanzine the old-fashioned way?!"

Well, no, not the old-fashioned ways we use off-set printing, not ditto...

"I mean, you actually use typewriters? In this age of computers, word processors, laser printers — you still use typewriters?!? What are you, anarchists or something?"

What's wrong with typewriters?

"They're so primitive. You can't electronically edit. You can't justify the right margin. The finished product looks so — so — unprofessional!"

Yes, this is a fanzine; it isn't supposed to be professional...

"But it can look professional! Not so...yucky looking."

Tough luck. We happen to like the way it looks — more like a labor of love, like fanzines are supposed to be — not something 'professional' that borders on the sterile look. Especially those unreadable dot-matrix printers many fanzine editors use...

"Low blow! Low blow! You promised not to fight dirty!"

Okay, okay... Let's put it this way. We are technologically advanced enough to use electric typewriters. The problem still remains for both those and computers, how can you produce a fanzine if the power is cut?

"Simple, you wait for the power to come back on."

Uh-huh. And what are the odds of something going wrong when you're merrily imputting — the computer crashes, the disk is erased before you can back it up, someone dumps coffee onto...

"Minimal! How often do you read about these things ever happening? The odds would be one in a billion!"

Computer virus?

"Okay, one in a million, then. Infinitesimal!

We have cats. What happens when a cat pees on the computer?

Welcome to an old-fashioned fanzine, THE CLIPPER TRADE SKIP (TCTS as it's affectionately called). This is the sixty-third sailing of this proud ship.

Yes, we're still resisting technological innovations around here, although we do admit we're a bit envious of what some computers and printers can do. But we were both raised to be cheap, and can't see spending the money on a system we'd really love to have. If anything, we're dreading the day when we have no choice but to buy new typewriters — we're rapidly wearing out our 'antiques.' It's real apparent in this issue, this particular 'dinosaur' generating these words has already been repaired once for tossing a letter key across the room (ever try to type a page without the letter 's'?), and several other characters are doing funny things, giving a slightly blurred image. It's only a matter of time before one or all three of our machines are beyond repair, and then we'll have to spend a few hundred dollars on one of these new-fangled machines that are light and plastic and feel like a kid's toy and come in a different style type that only comes in one size and...

There's such a thing as becoming too dependent on technology. If the power goes out, how long can you survive without TV, radio, telephone (some systems require electricity), refrigerator, electric can opener, lights, electric stove, electric heater, and so on? How much do you rely on an electronic calculator for simple multiplications and divisions, let alone sums and subtractions? Are you prepared—or properly trained—to use "old-fashioned" methods if you have to?

It's real fun to be in a department store when the power goes out. No elevator, no escalator, no power to the cash registers, and most people not knowing what to do. Many times customers are escorted out and the doors locked. Sad, isn't it?

We're only a decade behind or so. Who knows? TCTS #163 may be the one introducing the "all new look," using the PrintPerfect graphics program spat out on an HP Laserprinter Two Million.

Will it make any difference?

This letter by Dian Hardison stirred up a hornet's nest in later issues and editorials:

Well, I've given ST:TNG as much of a trial as I'm going to. My
 initial reaction remains unchanged:
 it sucks. If anything, it sucks worse this season than last, if that's possible. I'm going to spend my one hour of TV a week on Miami Vice. I'll think of something else when it's cancelled.

Face it. Roddenberry hasn't had an original idea
in about ten years. The rehash of old Trek plots
 wouldn't be so bad if he added a little something,
 or took a new twist, but if anything, they've got
ten more stale. I'm sick of his blatant preaching: he must of lost his own idea that his audience wasn't (all) idiots. I'm sick of his male chauvinist bullshit: it's all right for a male to be old, or yellow, or Klingon, but the women must all 
have perfect makeup jobs. If I wanted that kind of crap, I could watch Dallas. And all his societies have to be run by White Anglo Saxon Males, or there's something "wrong" with them. I'm disappointed in his choice of actors: none of them seem even be able to relate to "the fiction of Ideas, much less enjoy what they are doing. I don't like Data; not the way he looks (why in the name of the galaxy would you deliberately make something that color?) and not the way he acts. And I gag convulsively over the soap-opera writing and so-terribly-serious delivery. (That's also why I don't read any of the professionally published Trek fiction of the past fifteen years.) I also resent being told that I have to have a "long attention span" to "appreciate" TNG. I've sat through fourteen hour Flight Readiness Reviews without missing a topic; I defy most anyone to top that. Defenders of TNG are not analyzing, they're rationalizing. If they enjoy it, fine. But don't tell me I must be "missing" something, because I'm not. It sucks. Watch it if you want to, but don't expect me to watch it with you. Or to go easy on its fanfic.

The main reason I resent TNG is the one most of its fans defend it: "At least there's sf on TVI!" But TNG is not sf, it's sci-fi; and it gives the mundane populace a damn poor version of what sf could be.

  • inside issue #63

    inside issue #63

Reactions and Review: Issue 63

I loved
 Richard Parks' Klassic Klingon (nice profile!) getting all the attention he deserves on your cover. This was indeed a "banner issue for us Klingon appreciators. Linda Slusher's long story was delightful. I think Commander Kalin is staking his claim for our affections in the Trek universe. He's funny, fearless, kinda sweet—and hey! ' gets to beat Kirk at diplomacy — zha! I thought the story was nicely put together with its "I'm not dead yet, but try and convince the computers of that" joke and a Reluctant Dragon taking the heat for the depredations of beasties we can all really hate, stinger-spider things. Melody's whimsical pictures fit beautifully. You two teamed up before with an earlier Kalin story in MASIFORM D, yes? I'll look forward to the Kollected Kalin one of these days. It's always a pleasure to find one of Gennie Summers' dark Human-fusion fellows. But I don't know if the one on p. 31 will go along with the sentiments expressed by Susan Landerman, under his nose, as it were. Christina's "Book and Cover" — nice title! Lovely kicker! Don't tell Ripley. She's just recovering from androidphobia. And Bill N. 's apotheosis of Spook, "The Last Unofficial Act," seemed so logical. What a decent way to conserve the Vulcan's essence, his acquired experiences, his love for his friends. Some of us would prefer to go out with a blaze of glory. Others, I guess, would rather be respectfully input.

Melody's Master cat and fleeing Who mice is a smile. I don't know if I've mentioned it before that I've been enjoying your work all over the place, from Costume Con reports to LAPP TREK ("Lt. Marysue Repels a Klingon Attack." Yep. You did it, and Kor and Komany are going to git you!) to GRIP, and back to the charming Data covers you've done for TCTS. [5]

Issue 64

The Clipper Trade Ship 64 was published in July 1989 and contains 36 pages. 300 copies were printed.

front cover of issue #64, Melody Rondeau
back cover of issue #64, Richard Parks

The art is by Melody Rondeau, Sue Frank, Pegasus Hogan, Gennie Summers, Julie Cesari, Richard Parks, Cynthia Case, Shona Jackson, Nola Frame-Gray, Susan Landerman, Tommy Wadford II, Clayton George.

From the editorial:

The only thing for the editorial this time is sort of a postscript to our editorial back in TCTS #60. We talked about fanzine awards and the lack of any real strong or complete means of judging fanzines - that came out every year. Nothing has changed since then, of course, except, either ironically or humorously (as we like to believe), somehow an issue of TCTS got nominated for a Fan-Q award.

The details are sketchy. We first heard reports that Melody had been nominated for her art. Unfortunately, a number of different people nominated different pieces, so the minimum of three votes for a particular piece was never met. Then came notification to us that TCTS #61 (we think) made it to the final ballot, suspicious as it sounded. Melody, being a supporting member of MediaWest, the sponsors of the Fan-Q awards, received a, voting ballot -- actually while the convention was in progress, far too late to vote, because the person running the awards sent her ballot to Seattle, Washington to another editor's address.

Did TCTS get an award? We doubt it, especially as we've heard no results, though we've heard a rumor that Gennie Summers won for Best Star Treks: The Next Generation artist.

So much for our shot at fame and fortune. But we were amused by the whole thing.

This issue has a letter by Shirley Maiewski which comments on Dian Hardison's letter in issue #63:

I am very tired of being told that I am some kind of an ignoramus to be enjoying Star Trek: The Next Generation. I like the show -'nuf said, period. However, from the tone of the lead letter in issue #63 and from the editorial comments regarding ST:TNG, I get the impression that I must be very stupid and much too easy to please - not to mention being compared to a mundane!

I do DO NOT consider myself stupid! I have been a fan of Star Trek since the beginning - going on 23 years! I was an early subscriber to TCTS when we were all excited new fans, eager to be in touch with others and happy to have a source through which we could contact other fans and share our love and excitement for the show. I have been Chairman of the Star Trek Welcommittee for twelve years, and I defy anyone to question my commitment to Star Trek, in ALL ITS FORMS! Now I read in Dian Hardison's letter that a show that I have come to enjoy is "crap" and that Gene Roddenberry doesn't know what he is doing, and it makes me mad! Her letter makes me wonder why she watches it at all - I don't know of any TV set that does not have an off switch or at least a channel changer. Obviously she has a set so equipped, because she has found Miami Vice - welcome to it! If the last episode of it is an example of what she likes, obviously Star Trek isn't it. Blood, murder, drugs, violence - unbelievable situations - for example, at least two times and maybe more, six or seven Bad Guys with automatic weapons broke in on the Good Guys firing madly and spraying the room with hundreds of bullets and they didn't hit anybody! But the Good Guys, with just hand guns, killed them all! Come on! This is drama? This is good acting? Dian hasn't read the ST novels for 15 years because "...of the soap-opera writing..." Fine, but how does she know if she hasn't read them? Seems odd...

Yes, to quote the editor, "Star Trek has its faults." Of course it does - both original Trek and TNG. Any real fan will admit that, but both have a lot to offer as well. Hope for a future - something we worry about after watching the six o'clock news - a hope we must begin to work on right now or we'11 never have it! A future in which people will patience with one another, if nothing else!

Yes, Dian's letter made me angry and THAT makes me angry, too! I do not get any pleasure out of writing a letter like this, but here I am doing it. This is the fourth version so far and it gets harder every time. I don't LIKE to write letters like this, but I also do not like someone telling me I should not like Star Trek: the Next Generation. And so do many, many others, Dian. We don't ask that you do, just let us enjoy it, please.

Yes, I'm enclosing my check for renewal - if for nothing else than Melody's wonderful cartoons! FAN-tastic! Worth the $?.00!

  • inside issue #64

    inside issue #64

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 64

So maybe TCTS didn't get a Fan-Q. We don't always get what we deserve. As you Earthers sometimes say, "C'est
 la vie." But you've got us, right?

Of course, it was a kick to be part of this latest TCTS. Ron Murillo's Wesley story is a gem. A "Get Wesley" story that makes us happy without brutalizing the poor kid. Every adolescent's nightmare of humiliation in full color. And a Buck Rogers story with our hero tied to a chair and subjected to Russian roulette by a furious female! Joann's story had some of the simple, vibrant appeal of an old serial installment. You bet I enjoyed the spectacle of the wacky Ghostbusters team 'busting' a beautiful Klingon ghost. Giddy lunacy from Sundae as only we fans can deliver it. Don't you wonder sometimes what non-fans must think as they read over our shoulders? Well, come to think of it, I don't spend too much time on the question any more. The people who read the New York Times don't seem to notice my expression of dismay as I contemplate their absorbtion in that medium. "How can they stand it," I'm wondering, "the tiny type, the dirt, the smell, the bad news??" They could be enjoying a lovely little zine with entertaining stories that bring Doctor Who to life, or an elegantly constructed poem about Max Headroom. Boy, did I like that one, Teri.

And Kai Richard Parks! He shouldn't stop now! [6]

Issue 65

The Clipper Trade Ship 65 was published in October 1989 and contains 36 pages. 300 copies were printed.

This was the last issue to contain zine reviews.

front cover of issue #65, Amy Falkowitz and Melody Rondeau
back cover of issue #65, Melody Rondeau

The art is by Amy Falkowitz, Melody Rondeau, Julie Cesari, Pegasus Hogan, Gennie Summers, Nola Frame-Gray, Richard Parks, Tommy Wadford, Lynne Alisse Witten, Lyne Masamitsu, Sue Frank, Cynthia Case, and Susan Landerman.

From the editorial:

Welcome aboard to the sixty-fifth voyage of THE CLIPPER TRADE SHIP (TCTS) as we make our way around the horn with another cargo of stories and stuff to make our way into your mailboxes, your conventions, your homes, your hands, and...pirates?!

Pirates!!

Well, TCTS may have little to fear from pirates, but there are pirates out there nonetheless. Fanzine pirates. Those who will buy (presumably buy, as opposed to steal) a single issue of a zine, then run off copies — ten, one hundred, five hundred -- and sell them themselves at a profit and pocketing the money for their own nefarious purposes. There is little a fanzine editor can do. Sure, the editor can copyright a zine, but that is a questionable grey area, legally speaking, as fanzines are virtually derivative of the TV and movies they are based on (we're talking media-oriented zines here). Paramount and other such studios, for the most part, are simply "looking the other way" when fanzines are concerned. And there's no money in fanzines for the editor or publisher — by their very nature they are non-profit...unless the price is jacked way up by an unscrupulous editor or pirate. And the pirate only has to run to a cheap photocopier to put out any number of copies he or she wants to.

For an editor to pursue a pirate on copyright grounds, not only would it cost more money than it is worth, it could open the whole can of worms of whether media zines can legally exist--rock the boat and possibly sink us all.

It's a matter of ethics. The pirate is definitely being unethical in the act of piracy. Besides deriving an editor of sales and making it take longer for an editor to sell out of an issue, some pirates won't even give credit where credit is due. Before they reproduce the pirated zine they will white out all addresses and references to the editor. We don't believe any of them have been dumb enough to insert their own addresses.

Pirates do have some "positive" benefits. The material gets far wider distribution (usually it's at conventions these pirated copies show up, to an audience that wouldn't normally be aware that these zines exist), and, in the case where the original editor's name and address is left intact, followup orders may incur where otherwise there would be none.

Another "benefit" is bringing into print fanzines that have been long out of print, saving the reader money over trying to track down virtually impossible to find copies at exorbitant prices. Fanzines usually have a print run of under five hundred issues — some as low as fifty -- and there are how many fans out there? Hundreds of thousands? Supply and demand. The editors won't or can't keep everything in print, so the pirate finds a ready market.

What can be done? We don't know. At conventions you can question someone selling fanzines if it's an "original" or a "reprint," and decide for yourself if you wish to pursue and further questions if it's a reprint to find out if it is authorized or not (some editors do give their permission to other editors to reprint zines). It's a personal decision as to whether you will willingly support pirates or not. Any other suggestions' Yes, we need to identify the pirates and get the word out into fandom. So far we've only had some vague reports — such as some Florida group that puts on conventions have pirated a few zines of the T'Kutian Press and Orion Press, and allegedly have kicked people out of their cons who have complained about the piracy.

This issue has a long letter from Dian Hardison that addresses the dust-up her letter in issue #63 initiated:

Whoo, what a nest I stirred up! At least you
 can't complain you didn't get any letters on that issue! I only have a few words to say in reply, and will try to keep them polite [...] Yes, my TV has an "off" switch, which rarely gets used, since I turn the TV on less than one hour a week. "Certain people" quit watching ST:TNG long ago, and only make an exception when ^someone I trust recommends a particular episode, which so far has only reinforced my decision. (As for the last episode of Miami Vice, the only people I know who really hated it are Reagan-worshippers. MV was never intended to be realistic; the concept was MTV, remember? MV at its best was a mood piece, engaging your emotions; the characters, relationships, and situations were not intended to be either subtle or realistic. The guns and drugs were just window dressing.) Nor does it take more than two minutes, browsing through a book, to recognize soap-opera or just plain bad writing. I hold out hope, always. But I refuse to subsidize mediocrity, dammit, or to let half-assed work get by just because it has potential! (Especially when it has potential!)

And that's what you, Shirley, and you, Gennie, and all you other uncritical fans of ST:TNG are doing. I don't give a quark what you watch or like; I still watch Man From Atlantis, but I do it in private, and wash my hands afterward.) If you don't demand excellence, or even improvement, you won't get it. Roddenberry is in the business to make money. Whatever visions he once had shine very dimly.

Shirley even said something profound, though from her subsequent words I don't think she realized it. "Hope for a future...a hope we must begin to work on right now, or we'll never have it!" Damn right. So how do each of you, in your own individual way, work on it? By being chairperson of a fan club? (No one's questioning your commitment to a TV show, love, nor your intelligence.) By winning fan awards? (Melody's cartoons, of course, are a delight — Mel, you could probably make a living at political cartooning.) Sure, fandom is relaxing and fun. Do you also go to school board meetings, and demand that science courses not be watered down with "creationism" and English not be restricted to sentence dissection? Do you go to City Councils, County Commissions, rational political events? Do you participate in community activities for the environment, adult literacy, the space program? Do you research the candidates before you vote?

I do. There may not be a starship in my lifetime, but I'll do everything in my power to at least ensure there's a planet capable of launching one. That's the vision I got out of Star Trek.

There's room for all of us in IDIC. But there's not room for complacency. If you want to get mad, get mad at the parts oi this world that need changing. You're only wasting your energy getting mad at me.

  • inside issue #65

    inside issue #65

  • inside issue #65

    inside issue #65

Issue 66

The Clipper Trade Ship 66 was published in January 1990 and contains 36 pages.

front cover of issue #66, Bruce Gardner. "Yes, we goofed," says the editor in the last issue. "We sent out some issues with '65' on the cover, rather than '66.'"
back cover of issue #66, Gennie Summers

From the editorial:

This issue... this issue is sort of strange, what with one story, the annual elfl tale, and the huge letters section. Sort of a preview of things to come, as there are several very long stories in the to-be-printed file, and very, very few short stories. Consider this a hint that we need more short stories that you writers out there can whip up, but not necessarily limit yourselves to only short stories; any length, of course, is welcome! One thing we're trying to steer away from is non-media science fiction and fantasy stories (though as long as the elfls remain popular, they'll stay!), real short ones are still okay. This is a media-related zine. We don't care much for outright horror stories, not even straight outright Freddie's Nightmares and such, as we're looking for slightly broader kinds of entertainment. Beetle juice aboard the Enterprise; now there's an idea...

The art is by Bruce Gardner, Gennie Summers, Melody Rondeau, Richard Arnold, Richard Parks, Julie Cesari, Nola Frame-Gray, J. Alan Tyler, Fran Wong, Susan Landerman, Tom Howard.

  • inside page from issue #66

    inside page from issue #66

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 66

Amy's "Jenna's Defense" catches that mischief spark I love in Blake's 7 fandom, (Have you ever seen the scandal sheet of an East Coast Blake group called the Sopron Alliance? They are a uniquely bonkers set of admirers of the BBC's renegades. I think Amy would appreciate them). Wendy's wild Doctor Who crossover verse made me smile. You can do that with the Enterprise too, you know! You just need to know which buttons to keel over onto. You have about as much control as you do in the good Doctor's TARDIS—if this is Thursday, maybe we're in Romulan space? — but how nice to know you'll always get home alive. More than I can say with confidence about trips to the corner store!

Dwight Humphries' pieces are exceptionally beautiful. Phrases jumped me — "I am now alone guarding emptiness," "A cat—something of lethal grace that will steal your soul's breath..." And "The Companion." It makes a moving "companion" piece to a song on the same theme by Leslie Fish which I heard on a tape called "Where No Man.,." from the Firebird Arts filk folks. Amazing how those old shows keep stirring up bright new reactions.

Karen Emerson's "A Change of Mind" paid off for me at its close. Poor Riker! I guess we put him through these miseries because he looks like a survivor. But it's that end, with its distinctively ST-TNG mood that grabbed me. Here's Riker, bruised and bashed, pleased to see the miserable creature that almost done him in happily transplanted into a more suitable body. The new series and this story show a feeling of forgiveness and regard for the alien on its own dangerous terms that I still find a bit beyond my reach. Generation gap, maybe? I admire it. but I'm not there yet! Guess I still want to see the little wretches beamed out on wide dispersal or laughed into oblivion.

It wouldn't be a Winter Solstice without those wicked elfl punsters. A Wyatt Christmas, indeed! Eggnog goes down before those jokes come up??

A glorious khestn
 New Year to you and yours. [7]

Just a few notes TRADE SHIP 66... The art was up to the usual standards of very good to excellent. The

most notable pieces were Melo
dy's little dragons on page 2, Fran Wong's dra
gons on page 10, and of course the humor of No la
 Frame-Gray on page 6; and let's not forget to 
mention Gennie Summers' backcover and the Vulcan 
novelty. All are quite good. [8]

Issue 67

The Clipper Trade Ship 67 was published in April 1990 and contains 36 pages. Guest editor: Shirley S. Maiewski.

front cover of issue #67, Joy Riddle
back cover of issue #67, Tom Howard

The art is by Joy Riddle, Gennie Summers, Julie Cesari, Nola Frame-Gray, K. Lebherzi, Lynn McVey, Tommy Wadford II, Richard Parks, Lynne Alisse Witten, Melody Rondeau, Karen Kling, Tom Howard.

From the editorial:

[The Star Trek Welcommittee] is a lot of work, takes much of our time and resources, to keep it going, I say "Our time and resources" — I mean that of our members, who are all volunteers. STW is completely non-profit, in fact if it were not for the generous help of our own members and other fans, we could not continue. Our publications, such as our Directory of STAR TREK Organizations, Pen Pal List, Neofan's Guide to Fandom, Convention Listing, Fan's "Little Guide" to Throwing Your Own Con, etc., are all sold at cost. Mo one in STW makes a red cent for their efforts, and if we do not get a SASE with a question, our people pay for their own postage and stationery costs.

Why do we do it? Because we love STAR TREK -- in all forms — and get a lot of pleasure out of helping others. You would be surprised at the number of great friends one makes through letter writing! STW is world-wide in scope — we have representatives in Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, and New Zealand and receive mail from many other countries as well. Oh, I must not not forget Canada, too, of course. We have surprisingly little turnover in our membership. Many of our people have been with us since the beginning — that's dedication, folks!

All we ask is that ever-loving SASE for a reply sent to our Mailroom, STW, PO Box 12, Saranac, MI 48881, and patience. Please allow up to 6 weeks for an answer—our people are busy folks and try to keep up with what is required, Often we can answer sooner and do try.

  • inside page from issue #67

    inside page from issue #67

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 67

Very nice covers by Joy Riddle and Tom Howard. One small criticism, though, the Doctor's head looks like the Master shot it with the TCE gun (or did the headhunter from "Beetlejuice" sprinkle some dust on it?). Jim and Melody, I definitely like the starry logo (or was that there last time?) — very cosmic.

Very nice editorial by Shirley Maiewski. I've always wondered what the Star Trek Welcomittee did. The picture on the same page by Gennie Summers is a delight. I have wondered if Will's eating habits suffered since serving with the Klingons (pun intended!). [9]

Issue 68

front cover of issue #68, Susie Leinbach
back cover of issue #68, Joy Riddle

The Clipper Trade Ship 68 was published in July 1990 and contains 36 pages. 300 copies were printed.

The art is by Susie Leinback, Diane Hawley, Melody Rondeau, Karen Kling, Gennie Summers, Nola Frame-Gray, Sue Frank, Richard Parks, Tommy Wadford III, Lynne Alisse Witten, Lyne Masamitsu, Shona Jackson, Lori A. Johnson, and Joy Riddle.

  • inside page from issue #68

    inside page from issue #68

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 68

"Lonely is the Shadow" is one of the best Trek stories I've read in a long time. As an expansion of the original episode, it would have made for a dandy two-parter that would have held its own with "Best of Both Worlds" for suspense and fascination. I particularly enjoyed the overall "feel" of characterization and background; even the aliens were done convincingly. Re: "Funhouse" by Fran Wong; oooo, the fun I could have with the holo-deck!! If Troi thought her reputation suffered, imagine what M'ress might think! ...heh, heh, heh... [10]

Liked how you solved the cover dilemma! No, I will attest to the fact that you don't have a 'Conan the Editor' cap, but you did fail to mention the head office of 'Con-goers Anonymous' mysteriously shares your address... '2 Groans' for Still Another "Luke's Hand" song. Fran Wong continues to display her good storytelling I mentioned in a previous issue. And Lorie's "Lonely is the Shadow" is absolutely fantastic! Damn fine read! This woman can write! Quite interesting the (intentional?) borrowing of an idea from Quantum Leap with the children. I sat up part of the night reading the story! just couldn't put it down. [11]

Issue 69

front cover of issue #69, Gennie Summers
back cover of issue #69, Jim Stetson

The Clipper Trade Ship 69 was published in October 1990 and contains 36 pages. 300 copies were printed.

The art is by Gennie Summers, Melody Rondeau, Nola Frame-Gray, Jim Stetson, Shona Jackson, Susan Landerman, Susan Leinbach.

From the editorial:

As promised, we've switched over to our new typewriter... and have actually gone out to buy a second one. Debuting last issue is the new electric stapler, replacing sixteen years or so of folding over staples with thumbnails. Only a hundred and twelve more years before we're ready to move over to a Mac. Hopefully you can read this—we fear the print will be a teensier smaller. It's been a while since we've clambered atop our soapbox. We used to expound regularly on important topics, rattling our sabres, kicking up the dust. We've mellowed a bit over the years, but those days are not gone completely. There are a few topics we've been mulling over of late, and will present them in due time.

But not now. Space is at a premium this issue, and we do not wish to ignore our fine artists completely.

  • inside page from issue #69

    inside page from issue #69

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 69

Kudos to Gennie for the very good cover. And Susi Leinbach again attests to the 'pictures can say a thousand words' department. She' got a knack for drawing Data... Enjoyed all the filks, "Filk-Writer's Theme Song" and "TARDIS Brand Music" take the cake, though. Ann Miller's novella was well-handed Mary Sue (yes, I know some might say that's not possible), and extremely well-written. [12]

Finally, a Spock-made-love-to-me story that had a believable plot and a sensible outcome! Or was this a Mary Sue story? Whatever, it was good story. While reading it I never say any false characterizations at all in the story. And boy did she skewer us Terrans good! Liz was a great "ugly Terran." I just hope that a sequel is in the works and will appear soon. If it isn't I may try to write one as I can't let these characters alone." [13]

Issue 70

front cover issue #70, Richard Parks
back cover of issue #70, Richard Parks

The Clipper Trade Ship 70 was published in January 1991 and contains 36 pages.

The art is by Richard Parks, Shona Jackson, Diane Hawley, Karen Kling, Gennie Summers, Lynne Alisse Witten, Nola Frame-Gray, S.L. Wickham.

  • inside issue #70

    inside issue #70

  • inside issue #70

    inside issue #70

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 70

Absolutely loved the cover! "Special Friends" by Traci Dowen was an excellent look at the young Tasha Yar. Although I pretty much suspected the ending, that certainly was a drawback for me. Extremely well-written. "Psychobabble" by Linda Slusher was a good read. Although I certainly enjoyed it, it did seem to plod a bit at some points. A good look at Klingons, which Linda handles extremely well and is never disappointing. The rest of the art was also good. [14]

References

  1. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #62
  2. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #62
  3. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #63
  4. ^ from an LoC by Bill Hupe in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #63
  5. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #64
  6. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #66
  7. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #67
  8. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #67
  9. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #70
  10. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #70
  11. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #71
  12. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #71
  13. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #71
  14. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #71
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