The Other Side of the Galaxy
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Other Side of the Galaxy |
| Publisher: | Betsi Ashton |
| Editor: | Betsi Ashton |
| Author(s): | Betsi Ashton |
| Cover Artist(s): | |
| Illustrator(s): | |
| Date(s): | 1982 |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | 201 pages |
| Genre: | Het |
| Fandom: | Star Trek TOS |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Other Side of the Galaxy is a Star Trek TOS fan fiction story written and published by South Australian fan Betsi Ashton in 1982.This 201-page, novel-length publication featured four female protagonists who, in a Mary Sue style adventure, visit the Enterprise and save the day while also having close relationships with prominent male crewmembers.
The book is dedicated to three fan friends, who are identified by the fictional names that are used in the story. It might be speculated that these three friends are the women whose reviews of her book appear on the back cover, with Betsi herself comprising the fourth Mary Sue character.
Betsi was also an author of fanpoetry or fan fiction that had been published in a number of other fanzines, including Beyond Antares #12 (1980), #13 (1979) and #22 (1982); Spock #15 (1979), #19 (1980), #40 (1985), #42 (1985) and #44 (1986); Medical Journal #4 (1986); and The Character of Conflict (1990). Her final poetry anthology, Portals of Time, collected all her poems together in 1986.
Gender/Transgender Empowerment
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Significantly for its era, three introduced characters in TOSOTS change their gender from female to male (and species from human to Vulcan) during the story. Because the narrative remains predominantly presented through the perspective of het cisgendered females, the transition would appear to be for political comment regarding gender roles and empowerment of females, rather than for any authentic transgender exploration. Nevertheless, due to its totally non-judgemental nature, it might be seen as a groundbreaking exploration for its time, in Australia at least.
The metaphoric nature of this gender swap can be inferred in a number of implied references, such as the title of the book itself, and in one of the book reviews published on the back cover:
Have you ever wanted to join the crew of the 'Enterprise'?Here's your chance to become involved in events which may change the nature of interplanetary alliances! [1]
A more direct reference to the gender reassignment appears to concentrate upon the physical rather than the psychological/identity or political/sociological aspects of such transition; however, when one considers that it is also featuring a transition between humans and Vulcans, layers of metaphor and nuance might be read within the words:
A figure appeared at the bedside between them. T'Luel looked from one to the other of her patients and smiled. "Before you both start talking, be fully aware of what has happened to you. You are men, now! Your voices are different, you will feel different. Your physical strength will far exceed what you have been used to. Be careful how you grasp anything. Do not move too suddenly. Although you should feel no pain, you will feel a certain stiffness, here and there. Machines have massaged and exercised your bodies, but sudden weight on your feet may cause a slight vertigo, temporarily. Your skin pigmentation also is different; and your ears and faces.[2]
The reception by others to the gender (and species) reassignment is positive and welcoming:
"Oh! My... gosh!"She stood, rooted. "I just -- don't -- believe it!"
They looked across the room and saw a pretty Earth female, with a thick rope of blonde hair curling around one side of her neck.
She saw -- Alex; tall, deep chested; hair dark-brown and cut in a style similar to Spock's; upswept eyebrows; ears delicately pointed. And Les; black hair curt in the same style; dark eyes under sweeping eye-brows; husky; tall; pointy-eared. Lastly, Karm; in inch taller than the others, but not as husky; dark blond [sic] hair; up-swept eye-brows over green eyes. And, too, the elegantly pointed ears. His hair styled as the others'.
Three men - Vulcans - and she was startled! "Is it -- is that really you, Karm?"
"It is, indeed, I. And Les and Alex." Karm's voice was as deep toned as the others'.
"Well! It's great to see you all, I've really missed you. But I've been too busy to be lonely! Anyway, how are you all?" [3]
By contrast, the 1991 episode of Star Trek:TNG ("The Host") featured a gender reassignment that ultimately had Dr Crusher presenting a negative and transphobic/homophobic response. This might raise questions about differences between the proclaimed inclusivity of franchise canon compared to its actual fan base.