The Clipper Trade Ship/Issues 71-79

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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 71

front cover of issue #71, Joy Riddle
back cover of issue #71, Joy Riddle

The Clipper Trade Ship 71 was published in April 1991 and is 36 pages long.

The art is by Joy Riddle, Melody Frame, Nola Frame-Gray, Clayton George, Karen Kling, J. Alan Tyler, Sue Frank, Pegasus Hogan, Gennie Summers, Richard Parks, Susan Landerman.

From the editorial:

With Winter once again departed and Spring thrust upon the land, 'tis time once more to sit and type these stories in such demand. Good day, and welcome to the seventy-first issue of THE CLIPPER TRADE SHIP (TCTS).

Seventy-one issues. Phew. That means we've been doing this...how many years? Seventeen? Eighteen? What drives someone to do something like this? The urge to be creative. Drawings, words, and such to amuse, entertain, preach. We do it because it's allegedly fun, that we eventually get joy and satisfaction from the completion of each issue (rushed as they are). It's fun to write, fun to draw, fun to be appreciated by others-The same can be said for editing, but at times it's a very thankless, frustrating job. There are the joys of receiving great stories and art, hacking away at the typewriter whilst doing an issue, having the mail bring new subscribers and letters of comment... But there is the downside of it, too. (Mothers, don't let your children grow up to be editors!) The rare outright rejection letter you must write on a submission, or having to give up on a piece if the author is unwilling or doesn't have the time to do a rewrite, or the unhappy letters from readers and contributors alike. We don't expect to please everybody, but on the other hand, we do have a certain vision on how we want to handle and guide our fanzines.

There is another minor but annoying problem we had the past year from several contributors that were unaware they were creating a problem. They sent submissions to us, as well as simultaneously sending the same material to other editors. There is nothing wrong in wanting the largest possible audience for your work, but the trouble here was that we were accepting material, and then finding it being printed elsewhere. Should we have printed any of this work we could have been sued for copyright violation (as one publication heartily threatened to do). So far no waves have been stirred up from us printing one piece we did discover later had seen print in another zine (the weird thing was that other zine never sent the artist a contributor's copy, and we had accidentally received two copies, so we forwarded the spare copy).

Simultaneous submission in fandom, as well as the professional world, is considered unethical at best, especially when prospective editors are not notified of pieces being accepted elsewhere. We try to use first-run material only; only in rare cases do we 'reprint' material (such as if it has only seen the light of day in a tiny clubzine newsletter with a circulation of fifty or less). We want to bring material that is new to you and us, not bore you with reruns. If something slips by us that has seen print elsewhere, please forgive us; we're not trying to deceive you.

  • inside issue #71

    inside issue #71

  • inside issue #71

    inside issue #71

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 71

Thanks very much for my contrib's copy of TCTS #71. I was interested to read your editorial
 regarding simultaneous submissions. As a frequent submitter to semi-pro/literary magazines, as well as fanzines, I have long thought rules needed to be set out for media-related fiction. Fan-fic and zines in general are becoming far more professional; therefore, we need some code of standards to work by. If editors are getting to the point of threatening to sue over copyright infringement that was committed unintentionally, it may be necessary, even in fandom,to have written agreements with the author of works, stating that the editor is purchasing FIRST serial rights, all rights et cetera.

Interestingly, I know of a recent case which seems to be the flip of the coin to the simultaneous submission issue. A writer submitted a piece which had been printed 4-5 years ago to a friend's zine. The editor of the zine that originally published the story found out and asked (politely) that my friend pull the piece, as the first zine was still in print. The story was indeed pulled, but I really question whether this was entirely ethical. Again, unless there is written or verbal contract stating that ALL RIGHTS are purchased, rights normally should revert to the AUTHOR upon publication. If another editor wants to use it as a reprint (with appropriate credit given) there shouldn't be a problem just because the original publication is still available.[1]

[reply from the editor]:There's no easy solution, but it is basically up to the editor to spell out the conditions for accepting a piece. Having the rights revert back to the author or artist upon publication can lead to problems — especially if the piece in question is a novel. I'd be pretty unhappy if I printed 300 copies of someone's novel, sold 100 copies, then find out that the author had someone else reprint the novel with prettier cover and illustrations, and nobody would want to buy the other 200 copies I've got left. And would it be the right of the author, upon publication, to withdraw a story in a zine & demand all remaining copies to be withdrawn? Okay, okay, don't hit me! I'm just playing Devil's Advocate, looking at a few extreme possibilities. I think a form letter on the conditions of submissions and acceptance is a good idea, hoping that they don't scare off potential contributors. We won't be adopting such a plan at this time, and, hopefully, we won't ever have to, relying on an honor and trust system in fandom. [2]

As usual, the artwork is great I loved Sue Frank's "Reflection On a Matter of Honor." Of course, being a Riker fan has nothing to do with it in the least! But it was good story, and gave a little better feel for what Riker was going through. But I just can't imagine Riker having a good time with a Klingon female! Little Riker Klingon children running loose in the universe...

I wasn't so sure about "Search For the Stars." Kirk and Spock were way too honest about their being from the future and about future technology with people they knew nothing about. Even if these people did talk about computers and such. What happened to not changing the past? Or letting slip that you are from the future? I gathered no effort was made to disguise Spock's ears. I don't know — the story just didn't ring true for me.

I liked "Elegy" as well -- the story was well written and showed Matt's confusion and mixed thoughts. I wish they'd let us see what happened to George's family instead of leaving the show a cliffhanger for all eternity. One or two more shows won't break the studios, and it will solve the mystery.

"What a Card" was hilarious! I can just see Roger Rabbit and his toon friends wreaking havoc on the Enterprise. More! More!

"Avalon" shows an interesting end to the legends that were. You go to wait for eternity, and the need for heroes and legends again. But what would they come back as in our day and age? Or for that matter, in the future of Star Trek? Would they come back at all? Terrible to wait an eternity only to be never needed again. [3]

Issue 72


The Clipper Trade Ship 72 was published in July 1991 and is 36 pages long. 300 copies were printed.

back cover of issue #72, Gayle Schultz
front cover of issue #72, Zaquia Tarhuntassa

The art is by J. Alan Tyler, Karen Kling, Diana Ablard, Clayton George, Jack Kusler, Pegasus Hogan, Richard Parks, Gennie Summers, Lyne Masamitsu, Nola Frame-Gray, Lorie A. Johnson.

From the editorial:

Death and taxes. Well, we don't want to talk about death, so let's talk tax. California, like most other states, has run into very big budgetary woes, and has recently changed the tax code so that all periodicals (even newspapers) are taxable. That includes fanzines. And being honest folks that we are, we're gonna have to come up with some formula to have tax included on in-state sales of our zines, and the myriad of zines we carry for other people.

It's unclear as to whether subscriptions are taxable, so until we find out otherwise, subscriptions won't be taxed.

On the other hand, the legislature also raised the tax rate, which gives an added cost to printing. And the postal service is lobbying for another postal increase already. We have yet to find a peaceful evening to sit down, calculate all the expenses, and restructure the prices of any and all of our zines. Granted, fanzines are non-profit, but we'd like to keep our losses each year under $3,000.

  • inside issue #72

    inside issue #72

  • inside issue #72

    inside issue #72

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 72

You guys are devils to intercut Michele's poetic Vincent piece with Karen's mischievous cartoon. Isn't it fun being an editor? I loved the quick turn in "Still Lost." Dr. Smith -just right. Yes, I think I like crossovers like this best--a swift kick in the expectations, a revelation of familiar characters in odd combinations. Loved Nola's Worf provoking Data. Just right with those groaner filks from Susan and DW. You two do this just to make us scream, don't you! When I try to follow the perverse humor in that, can't do anything but smile again. Nice use of "Memory" for Wendy's "Avon's Answer." That pivotal moment in that last Blake's 7 show. I guess we'll not ever get over it any more than we get over Hamlet "doing" Polonius or Luke dealing with Vader. Aha! Picard's worst nightmare! Rotten little kids wreaking havoc all over the Enterprise bridge! Thank you, Karen, from the bottom of my Klingon heart... And congratulations to Lorie for getting Picard and Beverly so happily together in "Command Decision." Neat idea—to send us to a part of space where nothing much is going on outside, so we can turn our attention inboard. "I'm a physician, not a priestess." Nice. Love J. Tyler's horde of grimacing knotheads (p. 33). They are funny/scary in bunches, aren't they? Just wait till ST VI! [4]

Liked the Egyptian art on the bottom of page 4 as well. And "Adventures with Spock" is always good for a laugh! Of course, I can always see Catherine having a "litter" instead of just one baby, although the idea hadn't occurred to me until I saw the cartoon! Just like Vincent to say "What's with her?" Typical father type person!

"We Loved Revisited" was good. A different ending to what happened, and an explanation for how Vincent came to term with himself. Although I'm neither a Doctor who fan or a Lost in Space fan, I had to laugh at the story by William Albert, "Still Lost." So close to being rescued, yet so far! Too bad the Doctor had to move on in such a hurry, or I'm sure he would have helped the Robinsons!

"Command Decision" was great! Two people waltzing around each other misunderstanding everything that is said and done. And when they finally realize what's going on — then poor Beverly has to leave! Or makes the choice to leave. And I liked how Beverly used simple herbs to turn the poor Captain on. Much better than drugging him! And quite appropriate. The healer using ancient ways to get what she wants. You can't stop a horny woman!

And of course, "The Tour" was superb. Don't know why I say that--I couldn't have been the one to write it! I'll stop patting myself on the back now... And the drawing of the Klingons at the end seemed a perfect end to the story. Granted, Worf is only one Klingon, but kids do tend to have a wild imagination, and yon know how the "bad guy" always multiply, and the fish always grows, when the story is retold. [5]

Issue 73

front cover issue #73, Richard Parks
back cover of issue #73, Joy Riddle

The Clipper Trade Ship 73 was published in December 1991 and is 36 pages long. 300 copies were printed.

The art is by Michael Parks, Gennie Summers, Anja Gruber, Jack Kusler, Tommy Wadford II, Diane Hawley, J. Alan Tyler, Joy Riddle.

From the editorial:

Though the new year is just around the corner, I'm going to be optimistic and mark this the October issue, three months late as it is. That means I still have a faint ray of hope that the January issue can come out sometime before May. There has always been a possibility that TCTS may slip into an irregular printing schedule, and that time nay be here.

Once, when I was young many, many years ago, I had time to write and edit and publish and type and answer mail and draw. As I grew older, time sped up, and I found myself no longer being able to do all the things I once had time for. I rarely have the time to write or draw any more (that's why I married Melody, so I wouldn't have to draw), and the way things have gone this past year, it's getting exceedingly difficult to edit, type, and publish. Melody's job and responsibilities (i.e., editing DATA ENTRIES) leaves TCTS almost solely to me again, along with trying to answer 96% of the mail...

With roughly 100 subscribers to TCTS (hey, you out there, reading this nifty zine you picked up at a convention, why dontcha subscribe, hint hint?), 250 for Data Entries, and 900 for Quantum Quarterly, you might get an idea as to why I'm having a difficult time answering all the mail AND type TCTS...

  • inside page from issue #73

    inside page from issue #73

  • inside page from issue #73

    inside page from issue #73

  • inside page from issue #73, an ad for a Gene Roddenberry memorial t-shirt

    inside page from issue #73, an ad for a Gene Roddenberry memorial t-shirt

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 73

The cover immediately caught my attention; I thought perhaps the Klingons had wandered into the Star Wars universe and I was hoping to read about what they thought of the "force." A good cover.

In the Captain's Cabin was also interesting, thanks for taking the space to explain the problem. 1 know it helps me to wait for the zine if I know why it may be late.

The letters are always fun to read. I am glad to know that I am not the only one who has such a high opinion of your zine. And the little cartoons (illustrations) that are interspersed between and around the letters are a nice treat too.

On to the stories. First, "A Little Christmas Cheer" by CarolMel Ambassador was a nice little treat. In less than a page she captured all the principals perfectly, have them a nice little twist, and had them all stay in character. A great job. I am not sure what the Vulcans at the bottom of the page are mad at but I do know that I don't want a bunch of Vulcans mad at me.

The second story, "The New, Improved ShaLaZu 2000," was a great romp. I couldn't put it down as I just had to read what would happen next. Linda Slusher built the world of the story perfectly and even threw in some neat touches — Kalin hiccupping, Lt. Kinar knitting, and the Klingon curses were fun also. I had a rollicking good time following Kalin planning, laying, and then almost not being able to get out of his trap. Great writing, Linda. And the bit at the end about playing with the Kzin out of sheer "sadism, pettiness, and a generally childish inclination to discharge my considerable frustrations on the nearest available target" was priceless. Just a great story; I hope to read more adventures of the redoubtable Kalin in future issues of the zine.

So overall, while I didn't like waiting for the zine, it was worth the wait as I had a good time reading it. I just wish all the zines I read were as much fun and as well written. Oh, before I forget, I liked all the illustrations that accompanied Linda's story as well. [6]

Issue 74

The Clipper Trade Ship 74 was published in January 1992 and is 36 pages long.

front cover of issue #74, Gennie Summers
back cover of issue #74, Joy Riddle

The art is by Gennie Summers, Karen Kling, Anja Gruber, Nola Frame-Gray, Roy D. Pounds, Carrie Dougherty, Susan Leinbach, Richard Parks, J. Alan Tyler, Joy Riddle.

From the editorial:

It is only through the grace of Paramount Pictures that fanzines are allowed to exist. It is quite within any studio's rights to squash a zine if they should so desire, but we, the fans, have been fortunate so far. After all, it's someone else's characters we're playing with. The studios and such have all the legal rights.

I remind you of this because of two recent incidents that remind fanzines of their mortality. In one case, a science fiction author objected to the use of one of their characters, and sent their lawyer to go beyond a simple cease-and-desist demand. Such a scary situation can occur at any time for a zine editor, especially if a studio changes its policy.

Can you imagine what would happen if Paramount clamped down on Star Trek fanzines? I wouldn't want to think about it. The potential is there, as elsewhere, such as with Quantum Leap. At a recent Quantum Leap convention, a representative from MCA/Universal made hints that any Quantum Leap zine would have to be licensed, and was supposed to come back to me to explain further, but never returned by the end of the con. All we need is one studio to set a trend and the floodgates may open. Fanzines could be driven far underground, out of business, or way up in price (and with studio control) for those willing to be above board. The FBI could be sent in to arrest belligerent zine editors, assets seized, and copyright infringement charges made to stick.

Just a fantasy, a horror tale to be shrugged off? I wish it were. Fanzines are currently tolerated by the studios (if they've even aware of them). And if they should think that money could be made off of zines for themselves or by others in these tough economic times, they could easily cast their eyes this way.

It can happen here.

  • inside issue #74

    inside issue #74

  • inside issue #74

    inside issue #74

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 74

Loved the cartoon on the bottom of page 1 - poor Klingons! Also feel sorry for Alexander in the cartoon at the bottom of page 3 -- I'd rather have the dessert! Totally evil looking Ferengi at the bottom of page 24 -- I'd hate to meet him in a dark alley somewhere! Then again, sometimes I think some of the people we get late at night in our surgery look like that...

The poem "Song of the Overloaded Fan" sure fits me lately -- every time I go to a con, now that I'm earning money, I want to buy the place out! I'll be going to a convention in another two weeks -- it's a good thing I'm driving, or I'll probably weigh down the plane coming home!

Enjoyed "Rank Hath Its...?" although I didn't quite feel the premise was right. I don't think Q would bring back someone from the future just to test her, and the crew of the Enterprise. I know Q doesn't care about interfering with the future, but I still think he'd stick with those in the present of the Enterprise instead of bringing someone back. Other than that, it was an enjoyable story!

"Bird of Prey" was great as well, and since I used to watch Buck Rogers, I could follow the characterizations. I didn't see anything terribly wrong with the story, and liked reading it. "Little Sister" was also well written.

Apologies to Jeff Long, but I just could not get into "Operation Stellar Storm." I only read the first page or two, and just couldn't finish it. It didn't grab my attention and keep it. I know it was based on Desert Storm, but I found the format he used jarring. I just couldn't keep my interest up to read it, so I skimmed through it. [7]

First, the cover by Gennie Summers of Lt. Commander Data, my favorite android. I especially liked her attention to detail, catching Data just right down to the wisp of a smile and the empty pip on his collar.

Onto the inside... In the Captain's Cabin was informative and a little scary. I, like you, am hopeful that the studios will never decide to crack down on all the fanzines running around or a lot of fans are going to be very deprived. The BS.B cartoon at the bottom of the page was funny also.

As always the letters and the illustrations, especially the one of Diana at the bottom of page 2, were great. I sure wish I could draw that well—what a talent to have.

"Future Tense" by Debbie Santianna was a great Wesley story. It was well constructed and fully believable all the way through. I really liked the neat twist at the end. Until then I had no idea this was a holodeck story. A good job; I look forward to her next one. And the Doctor Who illustration on page 11 was great.

"Replication" by Karen Emerson was a great little short story that built on one of my favorite ST:TNG stories and expanded it nicely and then wrapped it up in a totally believable way. I also got a good laugh out of the illustrations at the bottom of page 13. Hasn't Data figured out the Chinese finger puzzle yet?

"Pioneer" by Harvey Miles was interesting and well done and very detailed and a great read. And I liked the upbeat ending. The filksongs were varied and while I enjoyed all of them, my favorite has to be "Vila's Lament" by Romana A. Solo. It was great and caught Vila perfectly.

"Eye of the Sulator" by James Fitzsimmons was an interesting story, as it was about my favorite Klingon, Lt. Worf. It filled in some questions I had about his background, growing up among us Humans, yet remaining so in touch with his racial background and heritage. It created and explained an entirely believable solution that let all the characters remain true to the show. All in all, a good story.

In closing I Have to say that THE CLIPPER TRADE SHIP just keeps getting better and better. Number 74 was almost perfect, it had some filksongs and a lot of great illustrations. I also got a big laugh from the illustration on the back cover. What a terrible thing to do to a Dalek! Funny, though- I just wish that every zine I got was as good as CLIPPER #74 was. Please keep up the good work. [8]

Issue 75

front cover of issue #75, Diane Hawley
back cover of issue #75, Gennie Summers

The Clipper Trade Ship 75 was published in January 1994 and is 37 pages long. It was published a full two years after the previous issue.

The art is by Diane Hawley, Gennie Summers, Nola Frame-Gray, Michael Parks, Roy Pounds II, J. Alan Tyler, Pegasus Hogan, Karen Kling, and Sue Frank.

From the editorial:

Alas, the economics of the times have caught up with us. Because of our dwindling income and buying power, with this issue we're forced to drop the 'all off-set' quality of the printing, and take our chances with photocopy for the interior. With the dwindling number of subscribers, it's much more practical to run off copies as we need them (until we reach the maximum of three hundred), rather than have half the print run sitting as back issues. And each issue creates more back issues that take up room. But by using on demand printing we won't be using storage space as rapidly.

When a fan suggested Jim Rondeau get a computer, pointing out it would solve a lot of his typewriter and other production problems, Jim replied:

A computer? You mean, a computer, monitor, support software, printer of near-laser quality, and nifty scanner so we'd be able to combine text and art work, such as on this page? It's a good idea, but besides beyond our affordability, my experience with computers is twenty years outdated. (I studied Fortran IV; who remembers that?) With the severance pay from her last job. Melody bought the kind of computer she had been trained to animate on — an Amiga — which few fan writers seem to own. And after having it a year, she still doesn't how how to do anything on it besides animate. And we finally got printer for it last night (a trade deal), which our computer expert friend couldn't figure how to access the fonts. Maybe in ten or twenty years... [9]

Shirley Maiewski replied to Jim Rondeau's editorial in the previous issue regarding fanzines and the fear of being shut down by TPTB:

Your editorial in TCTS is scary. The part about possible trouble with the studios regarding fanzines, I mean. You mention in passing that you wonder if they are even aware of them -- in are even aware of them — in one way, I doubt if they do — they seem to ignore Fandom as a rule, but if it meant they could squeeze more money from these non-existent beings, I'm sure they would! I have heard of zine editors being told to cease and desist — in the past, many years ago, however not recently. That happened about three or four years before ST:TMP came out, and it was a zine in which the Federation and the Klingons worked together to meet a threat of something coming from outer space. Strange that just a few years later V'ger came along, isn't it?

I'm afraid that now that Gene Roddenberry is gone that others may try to take over, regarding Fandom. True, Mr. Roddenberry was not well the last year, but he was still there, and knew what was going on. If anyone appreciated the fans of Star Trek, it was Gene Roddenberry! And, although some may not really realize it, Richard Arnold, too. He was a fan long before he began to work for Mr. Roddenberry, and always remained one, until somebody at Paramount decided they did not have to bother with "all that fan foolishness" and Richard was fired. You are right — we fans have something to worry about! [10]

  • inside issue #75

    inside issue #75

  • inside issue #75

    inside issue #75

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 75

Congratulations on your twentieth anniversary! I had heard TCTS had been around a long time, but I didn't realize how long. Funny how Star Trek fandom spans so many generations... The Clipper Trade set sail the year I was born, and now here I am contributing to it! Let's see... I guess I'll start at the beginning—I loved Diane Hawley's picture of Troi on the cover! She's a talented artist and I'll have to look for more of her work.

In a sick sort of way, the cartoon of Data at the bottom of page 2 was hysterical.

I read TCTS mostly for the Star Trek stories, but I'm also a Quantum Leap fan, and I liked "Go West, Young Man," by April D. Fairchild, especially the first few paragraphs. San as a "temporal white knight" — interesting way of looking at it. I also liked that the whole story was from Sam's point of view. I wasn't so sure about Sam jumping into bed to eagerly with Maria, he's usually much more...shy, but I suppose the tequila helped him release his inhibitions.

I loved "Final Farewells," by Kim Pederson. It brought tears to my eyes when Ambassador Spock hugged the holographic image of Captain Kirk. I found it to be a fascinating, thought-provoking story about friendship and loss. It was interesting that Spock and Saavik would up getting married. He always seemed to be more of a father figure to her. Of course, you couldn't help but like that little bundle of energy, Melaun. And I could just picture little James, a miniature version of Spock, always trying to be serious and never quite succeeding. I hope to see more stories by Kim in the future. [11]

I want to tell you how much I enjoyed TCTS 75. (That Issue number has to be some sort of record!)

I'm a sucker for Quantum Leap stories anyway, and "Go West, Young Man" had a number of chuckles in it. (And I remember High Chaparral some from when it was on a looong time ago.) Teri Sarick did a pretty terrific job of using the song "Suzanne" as the basis for her filk — and I wouldn't have thought that was possible! I always loved that song, and this was an amazingly apt fit. The filler illos were well done as usual, and I got a laugh out of Nola Frame-Gray's Data 'toon. But the best was Kimberly Pederson's "Final Farewells." Excellent. I wasn't bothered one whit by the apparent contradictions to the 'official' timeline; this was an alternate universe I loved visiting. Thank you! I'm looking forward to #76. [12]

Issue 76

front cover of issue #76, Sue Frank
back cover of issue #76, Terry Slate

The Clipper Trade Ship 76 was published in October 1994 and is 36 pages long. It has a a Kor (Klingon) cover by Sue Frank.

Art is by Sue Frank, Roy D. Pounds, Nola Frame-Gray, Gennie Summers, Ginny Chan, Karen Kling, Shona Jackson, Richard Parks, J. Alan Tyler, Lyne Masamitsu, Melody Rondeau, S.L Wickham, Diane Hawley, Terry Slate.

  • In the Captain's Cabin (1)
  • Letters (2)
  • inside issue #76

    inside issue #76

  • inside issue #76

    inside issue #76

Issue 77

The Clipper Trade Ship 77 was published in January 1995 and is 36 pages long.

front cover of issue #77, Roy D. Pounds II
cover of issue #77, Terry Slate

The art is by Roy D. Pounds, Terry Slate, Tommy Wadford II, Richard Parks, Anja Gruber, Gennie Summers, Nola Frame-Gray, J. Alan Tyler, Lorie Johnson, Ginny Chan, Joy Riddle.

There are no letters of comment in this issue.

From the editorial:

My continuing apologies to contributors, patiently waiting seemingly forever to see their work in print. At last there's a little light at the end of the tunnel, and we're catching up on story submissions. I think there's enough for about two more issues. So now is the tine to start considering sending more stories our way. Please?

  • inside issue #77

    inside issue #77

  • inside issue #77

    inside issue #77

  • inside issue #77

    inside issue #77

  • inside issue #77

    inside issue #77

Issue 78/79

front cover of issue #79/79, Anja Gruber
back cover of issue #78/79, Jim Stetson

The Clipper Trade Ship 78/79 was published in December 1997 and is 69 pages long.

The art is by Zaquia Tarhuntassa, Nola Frame-Gray, Anna Defrietas, Naomi Neumark, Anja Gruber, J. Alan Tyler, Diane Hawley, Susan D. Landerman, Gennie Summers, Roy Pounds II, Richard Parks, Lorie Johnson, Pegasus Hogan, Melody Rondeau, S.L. Wickham, Shona Jackson, Jim Stetson.

[The editorial]:

In early June, 1995, while on vacation in Colorado, with trusty typewriter in hand, I typed up most of what was supposed to be the 78th issue of THE CLIPPER TRADE SHIP (TCTS). Once home, all I needed was one free weekend to wrap it up. Just one free weekend...

That weekend never came... until the middle of November, 1997.

In that weekend, using what little knowledge my mind had been able to retain on how to use the computer and scanner we've ended up with, I scanned/corrected everything that had been typed, and then emptied the fiction file completely, in order to produce the double issue you now hold.

But now we're at a crossroads. The thing that had been eating up so much of my time the past five years seems to be going away. We now have the technology to do issues on computers and accept submissions on disk. But readership is down, there are no known stories in the pipeline, and new fanzines in general are dwindling, thanks to the Internet. TCTS cannot continue on a quarterly basis even if I wanted to. There are plenty of filksongs, poems, and artwork on hand, but that's all. So where do we go from here?

Fold? Continue to publish irregularly? Those who want a refund on the remainder of their subscription are welcome to ask for one. Those contributors who'd like their artwork, etc. back need only to contact me. But at the moment, the plan is to go on. Seek out new stories, new civilizations, to boldly go to do what I can when I can. Who knows? I might be able to build back up to quarterly again. (But I'm not that optimistic.)

Thank you.

[From a fan letter, written in October 1996]:

Some years ago, I was called in by a Star Trek club, though not currently a member, in order to produce their zine. The reason for that was that none of them had any idea how to assemble a print publication. These weren't raw teenagers. Some were in their thirties and well educated. However, their entire focus was on video entertainment. Many were computer literate, but used their computers for anything except text. They just couldn't imagine how to do this job. This group fit the profile of many recent recruits to SF clubs. They didn't read as much as previous generations of print-focused SF fans, and what they read was always related to their personal media preoccupation. There was a narrowness of outlook that I have been seeing more and more in recent years at various types of clubs' meetings. The open-mindedness about other people's areas of interest or the world around them doesn't seem to be there any more. Sometimes it makes me wonder about the future of SF fandom. Organized SF fandom is about 65 years old, now; I wonder what form it will take in the next 65?

On a related matter, a lot of people don't remember that fiction zines started in those days before extensive syndication, before videotape, to try and keep alive something that was both extremely ephemeral and hard to access, because it was only available when a TV station decided to show it. If fiction zines are allowed to die out, then all that will be left for fans (apart from what the entertainment industry pumps out at high cost) is the Internet, and everyone seems to forget that this is an ephemeral medium too. At present, the forms in which files are available on the net are rather limited; certainly no-one is going to get a beautifully bound and illustrated zine out of their modem and printer. Plus, zines are alive on your bookshelves for as long as you keep them; where do those ephemeral Net files go when they are erased? I wonder if the Net could keep fans in touch, keep a show alive, and even revive it the way that fans have done with print these last thirty years?

Only the passage of time will indicate the long-term effect of the Net of fandom. However, I am sure that if fandom, all the various fandoms, lose their literacy, then the part of us that is creative, analytical and responsive will be dead and all that will be left is a mob of passive consumers eager to soak up what the entertainment conglomerates produce. I am not looking forward to that day.

  • inside page from issue #78/79

    inside page from issue #78/79

  • inside page from issue #78/79

    inside page from issue #78/79

References

  1. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #72
  2. ^ from Jim Rondeau in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #72
  3. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #72
  4. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #73
  5. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #73
  6. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #74
  7. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #78/79
  8. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #75
  9. ^ from "The Clipper Trade Ship" #75
  10. ^ from "The Clipper Trade Ship" #75
  11. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #76
  12. ^ from an LoC in "The Clipper Trade Ship" #76
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