The Memory Flame
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Memory Flame |
| Publisher: | Mountain Rose Press |
| Editor(s): | Margaret Davis |
| Date(s): | 1990 |
| Series?: | |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Beauty and the Beast (TV) |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Memory Flame is a het Beauty and the Beast anthology.
Reactions and Reviews for Both Issues
These are both very well-written and well-produced zines. The artwork, all black and white, is very good, too, and is by many artists, e.g. Dragon. Barbara Gipson, Star, and several new (to me) artists, e.g. Paula Ollie and (Shirley Leonard.
The stories are a mixed bag as to type. Volume I has four "Catherine lives" stories, four "Catherine is dead" stories, and one that defies categorization. II has three Catherine is a spirit" one "Catherine lives," two no-category, and one vampire (!) story (Catherine is dead in the latter).
I leads off with a delightful parallel universe story by Linda Mooney that I wish had been longer. Amy Bechtel s connecting stories (one in each volume) fit no category. They feature an unusual, mysterious, and very moving relationship between Catherine and Diana.
I personally enjoy "Catherine as spirit" stories, and I liked the three in II.
One story in I features a romance between Vincent and Brigit O' Donnell. It's well done, but I don't care for any romance for Vincent besides Catherine.
Some of the "Catherine lives" stories are surprising and unusual in wonderful ways, e.g.," Monkeyface" by Guinn Berger in I.
I and ll have connecting stories by Sandra Saidak featuring a romance between Elliot and Diana. I enjoyed those; the author really makes it work.
There is also lots of enjoyable poetry in both volumes.
If you like a variety of stories along with lots of good artwork and poetry, these zines are for you.[1]
Issue 1
The Memory Flame 1 was published in December 1990 and contains 172 pages. Artists are Shirley Leonard, Barbara Gipson, Lisa Wildman, Jacquelyn Kapke, Star, Phyllis Berwick, Paula Ollie, J. Ley, Kerin Rose Houseburg, Chris Schacter, and Kathie Jacobson.
From the editorial:
No matter where we placed our hope in relation to the third season, there was a sense of loss. Loss of the show for future episodes, loss of Catherine, and for some, a loss in faith--that a love, which had come to mean so much to so many, could be rent asunder by the forces of evil. For some the only way to deal with such devastation was to deny its very existence; for others the only way was to pick up the pen and write.
The submissions for The Memory Flame poured in and they were all so good, that I couldn't stop accepting material. When it was evident that a second 'zine would be needed to print it all, I first thought to bring them out separately. However, all of the stories and poetry are so much an integral part of the whole, that the only choice was a two-volume issue.
People have asked me what is my focus in The Memory Flame and I share it here so there are no surprises. Much of the poetry speaks to loss and to grief, but there is also the hope of a love that will not die. The stories are a mixture -- in many Catherine appears in some form, in some she is gone and we see the effects on Vincent and others. Diana appears in several stories as a Helper and a trusted friend. We also have a Brigit O'Donnell story (Volume I) that is delightful, and a chilling story of the rise of Gabriel's successor (Volume II).
- Letter from the Editor (4)
- Meet the Contributors (5)
- Memory Flame by Margaret Davis (7)
- Call to Me by Linda Mooney (9)
- My Love, Come Back to Me by Kay Simon (31)
- The Wings of a Dove by Kerin Rose Houseburg (33)
- You and I by Lisa K. Wildman (35)
- One Last Time by RAGS (37)
- Cherish the Memories by Margaret Davis (41)
- Alone Again by Anita Hooson (43)
- Silence by Linda Jordon (45)
- When Dreams Come True by D.J.S. (47)
- Everything by Kerin Rose Houseburg (55)
- Alone by Linda Jordon (57)
- Walk Slowly by Adelaide Love (59)
- Surprised by Joy by Amy Bechtel (61)
- Would That It Be True by Kathleen F. Hall (81)
- Primal Screams by Lisa K. Wildman (83)
- A Time to Weep and a Time to Laugh by Sandra Saidak (85)
- The Crystal Cavern by Kerin Rose Hosueburg (95)
- Monkeyface by Gwinn Berger (97)
- The Dark One's Song by Roxanne Shearer Koogler (105)
- The Fury of Illusions by Lisa K. Wildman (106)
- Begotten by Despair by Margaret Davis (107)
- A Sweet Goodnight by T.J. Wildman (125)
- Eclipse by Linda Mooney (127)
- My Son! by Lisa K. Wildman (135)
- A Healing Placeby MariLynn (137)
from issue #1, Shirley Leonard
from issue #1, Barbara Gipson, portrays Elliot Burch
from issue #1, Phyllis Berwick
from issue #1, Chris Schacter
from issue #1, ?
from issue #1, ?
from issue #1, Phyllis Berwick, portrays Devin Wells and Diana Bennett
from issue #1, Kerin Rose Houseburg
from issue #1, Phyllis Berwick
from issue #1, J. Ley
from issue #1, Shirley Leonard
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1
A well-crafted zine containing some of the first cathartic stories that were written in the aftermath of 3rd season. Some SND, some “Catherine as a ghost,” some alternate reality. Linda Mooney's “Call to Me” is, without a doubt, the most unusual SND story ever penned; Amy Bechtel's “Surprised by Joy” shows Diana becoming slowly obsessed with Vincent's tragedy...and offers her a chance to redeem it. (Be warned: this story continues in TMF-2; don't read one without the other close at hand!). Interesting glimpses of Diana in some stories, and a Brigit O'Donnell story. Also some poetry.[2]
Issue 2
The Memory Flame 2 was published in December 1990 and contains 192 pages. Art by Shirley Leonard, Jacquelyn Kapke, Barbara Gipson, Chris Schacter, Kathy Jacobson, Kerin Rose Houseburg, Paula Ollie, Holly Riedel, Doris Sizemore, J. Ley, and Dragon.
More variations on the aftermath of Catherine's death on fandom--and on Vincent. In several stories, people including Father, a former teacher, and Catherine herself attempt to talk Vincent out of survivor's guilt. Vincent does not move on beyond his grief for Catherine in this zine. In SND variations, Catherine appears as a ghost, a starved escapee from the witness protection program, and an amnesiac. Besides Amy Bectel's 'Forever Yours, Catherine,' that continues the story of 'Surprised by Joy,' in MF-1, another installment of Pat Dunn and Diana Smith's vampires Below saga of Nicholas and Varina, 'The Fellowship,' discloses that Gabriel was a vampire, too. Diana appears as a friend in this zine.[3]
- One to Watch by BeeDrew
- Forever Yours, Catherine by Amy Brechtel
- The Fellowship by Pat Dunn and Diana Smith (a Nicholas & Varina crossover) (reprinted in The Collected Nicholas and Varina)
- A Father's Wish by Linda Mooney
- Creating Paradise by Kathy Ono
- Descent of the Phoenix by Kay Simon
- Death's Other Kingdom by Margaret Davis
- A Time to Mourn, a Time to Dance by Sandra Saidak
from issue #2, Jacquelyn Kapke
from issue #2, Barbara Gipson
from issue #2, Phyllis Berwick
from issue #2, Shirley Leonard
from issue #2, Phyllis Berwick
from issue #2, Kerin Rose Houseburg
from issue #2, ?
from issue #2, Doris Sizemore
from issue #2, Jacquelyn Kapke
from issue #2, Phyllis Berwick
from issue #2, J. Ley, portrays Diana Bennett
from issue #2, Dragon, from "The Fellowship, a Nicholas & Varina crossover
from issue #2, Dragon, from "The Fellowship, a Nicholas & Varina crossover
from issue #2, Dragon, from "The Fellowship, a Nicholas & Varina crossover, a fan-casted Kerr Avon
from issue #2, Phyllis Berwick, portrays Vincent Wells, Diana Bennett, and Elliot Burch
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2
More variations on the aftermath of Catherine's death on fandom-and on Vincent. In several stories, people including Father, a former teacher, and Catherine herself attempt to talk Vincent out of survivor's guilt. Though there are promising indications such as his delivering a Winterfest candle to Diana, Vincent does not, in fact, move on beyond his grief for Catherine in this zine. In SND variations, Catherine appears as a ghost, a starved escapee from the witness protection program, and an amnesiac. Besides Amy Bectel's “Forever Yours, Catherine,” that continues the story of “Surprised by Joy,” in MF-1, another installment of Pat Dunn and Diana Smith's “vampires Below” saga of Nicholas and Varina, “The Fellowship,” discloses that Gabriel was a vampire, too. The poetry is very strong in this second volume.[4]
References
- ^ from a fan in Tunneltalk v.2 n.3 (May 1991)
- ^ from Helpers' Network Quality Fanzine Review -- 1997, Archived version
- ^ from the Helpers' Network Quality Fanzine Review Online
- ^ from Helpers' Network Quality Fanzine Review -- 1997, Archived version