The Legacy of K/S in Letterzines: Series by K.S. Langley

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Title:	Title on the article itself: The Legacy of K/S in Letterzines (subtitle: "The Sound and the Fury: Early Lettercols and Letterzines 1975-1981"). Title in the table of contents: Letterzines: The Sound and the Fury: Early Lettercols and Letterzines.
Creator:	K.S. Langley
Date(s):	July 2007
Medium:	print, CD
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Topic:	K/S in early letterzines
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The Legacy of K/S in Letterzines: Series by K.S. Langley is a series of articles by K.S. Langley that were published in four issues of Legacy.

A similar series is by Dorothy Laoang, one which includes interviews, was published in Legacy #5.

From Legacy 1

The first part has an introduction by Dorothy Laoang called "Fans Like to Talk." In this introduction, Laoang defines lettercol, letterzine, and APA. She writes that "APAs were considered personal correspondence and were not to be sold or distributed outside the group. For that reason, Legacy will not quote from APAs."

In the main body of this article, Langley includes excerpts in LoCs from Gerry Downes, Connie Faddis and many others. The article examines the premise of K/S as it was discussed by fans.

One big topic was fan comments regarding The SekWester*Con Porn Debate.

From Legacy 2

This part of the series is subtitled: "Letterzines: The Sound and the Fury: Interstat 1978-1989."

The article consists of a brief description of the letterzine Interstat as well as many excerpts.

From Legacy 3

This part of the series is subtitled: "A Letterzine of Our Own: Not Tonight Spock! Issues 1-6."

The article consists of a brief description of the letterzine Not Tonight, Spock! as well as many excerpts.

From Legacy 4

Legacy 4 contains ""A Letterzine of Our Own: Not Tonight Spock! Issues 7-10" and "A Letterzine of Our Own: Not Tonight Spock! Issues 11-13."

The article consists of a brief description of the letterzine Not Tonight, Spock! as well as many excerpts.

Excerpt

The debate over K/S raged furiously through the seventies, and it spilled over into letter columns in zines and in letterzines. In this article, that debate is traced through several early Star Trek publications: Halkan Council, Implosion, Warped Space, Obsc'zine, Menagerie, R&R, Enterprise Incidents, and Trekism at Length.

Reactions and Reviews

The legacy of K/S in letterzines, was well written and interesting. So please know, when I say this section throughout was my least favorite is no reflection on the article or the amount of research required. I admire the time and commitment tremendously. One reason for my negativity is the arguments that went on in letterzines during those years and from a personal perspective, there was so much bitterness and anger from both camps K/S and K&S that I have trouble reading this due to my own memories influencing me as I read these articles. But it does make me appreciate K/S Press all the more, it is always a joy to read, with positive comments and criticism without the mean, hateful remarks that occurred with past letterzines.

While I appreciate all the work that went into reproducing the letterzine squabbles of those early days, I find it makes me quite uncomfortable to read them. I’m happy I came along a little later when we no longer had to debate K/S but just settle in and enjoy it. All the K/S controversy recounted in Legacy makes me kind of sick to my stomach. I'm glad I missed all that tripe and discovered K/S at a time it was probably as accepted as it will ever be. Such venomous, hateful, personal attacks. It wasn't K/S that was giving Star Trek a bad name at that time - it was the fans who had totally lost all control of themselves and their opposing types of bigotry.

There’s a nice introduction by Dorothy Laoang, explaining what these were and where they were found, and there’s a nice list, starting with Obsc'zine in 1977 and ending right here with the K/S Press. The title of the next chapter where the actual excerpts of these early letterzines and lettcols is compiled is perfect: The Sound and the Fury. It ranges from 1975 to 1981, and after reading it I have to agree there was plenty of sound and fury. Many of the very early ones are hot debates on whether there could/should be a sexual relationship between Kirk and Spock. One letter-writer in particular called those interested in K/S “sick and sorry”, and that it was, in essence, “degrading” the characters, a “sexual perversion” that “ripped off fans” and was dangerous. Dangerous. Two people in love expressing that love physically was dangerous. Another wrote that “zines are obsessed with the latest popular sentimental fad in vice”, listing then rape and homosexuality. Rape, porn, degradation, perversion, vice – This is how some perceived K/S in its infancy. What these particular letters/essays are saying to me is how narrow minded/prejudiced, these people were, and how fearful they were to open themselves to something new or different. I can’t imagine how difficult it was to write and/or draw in those times, in the face of such hostility. It was just the dawning of K/S, and if not for the strength and conviction of those who liked and believed in it enough to stand up for it, K/S might not have survived, never mind flourished for decades. A HUGE Thank-You to all those strong, persistent, stubborn women who kept at it despite all that opposition. Those of us who came into it later never had to fight those battles because you did it for us. While we’re still a long way from total acceptance, things have come a long way indeed.

There were also examples of people who did eventually come around to see K/S. It was with quite a bit of amusement that I read the comments written by the late Gerry Downes in December 1975, where she very clearly stated she believed Kirk and Spock loved each other but there was absolutely NO WAY that their feelings would put them in a sexual relationship. Then in August of 1976 she is defending the concept, and it’s noted that at the end of her LoC, Gerry announced she is working on a zine Alternative: The Epilog To Orion, which just happened to be the first stand-alone K/S zine. The idea obviously grew on her.

Beverly C.’s comments comparing Kirk and Spock with Alexander and Hephaistion, a comparison that is common today but fresh and new then, was very good. Her comments on how it worked better because Spock was an alien, a Vulcan were very interesting, even as others stated it wouldn’t work precisely because Spock was Vulcan. It was nice to read some good, thoughtful differences of opinion that were devoid of all the mud- slinging. All in all, every aspect was debated, and I have to say the defenders of K/S answered negative, often nasty and hostile comments with grace, aplomb, and sense. There were times I felt like writing responses, until I remembered these were all written years ago! Many excerpts showed the sensitivity, insight, intelligence, and refreshing tolerance of those who ‘got’ the idea of K/S. Altogether a wonderful insight into K/S’s beginnings, it’s challenges and defenders.