The Way Back (Blake's 7 anthology by various authors)

Zine
Title:	The Way Back
Publisher:	Waveney (Judith Proctor and Jean Graham), the agent was Bill Hupe
Editor(s):
Date(s):	1995
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Blake's 7
Language:	English
External Links:
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front cover by Lucia Cassarella Moore

flyer

The Way Back is a gen 139-page Blake's 7 charity zine anthology, published simultaneously by Judith Proctor and Jean Graham in the UK and the US. It contains a forward by Paul Darrow, who played Kerr Avon in the show.

The cover art is by Lucia Cassarella Moore. The interior art is by Whitby27, Kathryn Andersen, and Lucia Cassarella Moore.

About

Judith Proctor wrote:

'The Way Back' is unusual in fanzines in that it was jointly edited by two fans on opposites sides of the Atlantic who to this day have never actually met each other... It was published in two editions, quarto in the US and A4 from me. Both editions contain the same stories and the same artwork, the only minor differences are in the page layout.

Jean Graham wrote:

Though she had never met Leigh, Judith Proctor heard of her accident and wanted to help. She suggested a benefit zine, christened it 'The Way Back', and wondered if we could simultaneously publish it on both sides of the Atlantic. It's been an interesting experiment - helped greatly by the speed advantage of e-mail - but here it is. The zine will be available from Peacock Press in the U.S. and from both Judith Proctor and Horizon: The B7 Society in the U.K.

From a flyer:

This zine is being produced to raise money for Leigh Arnold. Leigh was the editor of Magnificent 7, an American Blake's 7 zine. In the summer of 1994 she had a riding accident and subsequently spent five months in a coma. She is now slowly recovering. It's a long way back though. Some memories are probably gone forever, but she does remember Blake's 7 and fandom. Physically too, she is making progress. Now (Feb 95). Leigh is able to talk to people again, and is able to walk (although she still needs a wheelchair to go any great distance). All profits from this zine will go to Leigh's medical fund. The introduction to the zine is written by Paul Darrow.

From an ad:

This is a very special anthology with a very special goal, simultaneously brought to the US by Jean Graham and the UK by Judith Proctor. The Way Back is a benefit zine with the proceeds going to help pay fan/writer Leigh Arnold's medical and therapy expenses. Leigh took a nearly-fatal fall from a horse and was not expected to come out of her coma but she has and is on a slow and expensive road to recovery. Included in the zine is a special forward by Mr. Paul Darrow. From Pre-Series A to Post-Gauda Prime the stories unfold in order ... beginning with Shadow by Irene Stubbs - From the first page of this zine we are reminded of Travis' obsession with Blake. Pets by Judith Proctor - here is how things might have happened if pets had been given their due role ... Pulling Strings by Marian Mendez —what if Gan was intentionally placed with the other members of Liberator and it is all a carefully thought out plan of a puppet-master? Remember Me by Helen Parkinson — When Avon agrees to help Blake break through his conditioning the matter takes a wild turn when the computer tech discovers his own forgotten past ... and the tie he had with Roj Blake long before the Liberator. Command by Neal Faulkner - Unable to feel grief, numb to physical and emotional pain, one who knew Blake survives with only one goal - to avenge him. Anniversary by Anna Richmond - As the Empire celebrates its 25th anniversary of the downfall of the Federation, its leader recalls Gauda Prime and the final lines of dialogue in the tracking gallery take a strange twist ... There is also a post Gauda Prime novella by Vega, filks, poetry, puzzles, photos, art, and many mores stories.

Contents

• Shadow, fiction by Irene Stubbs (Pre-Series A) (5)

• Riches, fiction by C. K. Smith (Series A) (7)
• Vocation, fiction by Patti E. McClellan (Series A) (8)
• Rosa, fiction by Judith Proctor ("Can looked defiantly at Blake. "I killed the last man who laid hands on her; I went to Cygnus Alpha for her, and now I don't even know if she's still alive."") (Series A) (9)

• Pets, fiction by Judith Proctor (Series B) (14)
• The Morning After, fiction by Russell Massey (Series B) (16)
• Pulling Strings, fiction by Marian Mendez (Series B) (19)
• Remember Me, fiction by Helen Parkinson ("Orac persuades Avon to help Blake regain his memories, but Orac knows more than it's letting on...") (Series B) (25)

• Resting, fiction by David A. McIntee (Series C) (34)
• The Liberator Crew Go Shopping, fiction by Peter Borg ("Safeway's never used to be like this... "I want to push the trolley - after all, I am the pilot," Tarrant said.") (Series C) (36)
• Retribution, fiction by Jean Graham (Series C) (39)
• Behind Blue Eyes, fiction by Catherine Kendall, art by Whitby27 (Series C) (41)

• Substitute, fiction by Judith Seaman, art by Kathryn Anderson ("Soolin has to work out where she stands after Avon kills Dr Plaxton. Can Avon be trusted? Is he ignoring Vila's safety?") (Series D) (56)
• Orbit—The Final Alternative, fiction by Neil Faulkner (Series D) (66)
• Booty, fiction by Neil Faulkner (Series D) (67)
• Which If Not Victory, Is Yet Revenge, fiction by Chris Long, art by Whitby27 (Series D) (69)

• Committed, fiction by Neil Faulkner (Series E, Post Gauda Prime) (75)
• Rest In Peace, fiction by Judith Proctor (Series E, Post Gauda Prime) (76)
• Question Time, fiction by Neil Faulkner ("Pure comedy, as Avon, Servalan and Blake take part in a game show.") (Series E, Post Gauda Prime) (77)
• Anniversary, fiction by Anna Richmond (Series E, Post Gauda Prime) (78)
• Reminiscences, fiction by J.R. (Series E, Post Gauda Prime) (79)
• Investments, fiction by Vega, art by Lucia Casarella Moore ("A novella length PGP with a difference. Maybe Blake's way of tackling the Federation wasn't the only way to do it? Jenna considers what do do with Avon after he killed Blake.") (Series E, Post Gauda Prime) (83)

• The Worst Blake 7 Stories Never Written ("The truly groan-inducing results of a competition to invent the worst possible opening for a Blake's 7 story. Over 80 entries, ranging from bad to excruciating.") (142)

• Thirteen About the Seven, puzzle by Mark W. Johnson (18)
• Word Search, puzzle by Mark W. Johnson (35)
• Word Search, puzzle with Clues by Andrew Down (55)
• Solutions to all puzzles (148)

• Faith, poem by Judith Proctor (3)
• The Scorpio Song, poem or filk by by Judith Proctor (14)
• Once a Jolly Rebel, poem or filk by by Judith Proctor (15)
• Life Sentence, poem by by Anne Stullken (18)
• Sanity Slain, poem by by Melissa Mastoris (33)
• Once and For All, poem by by Melissa Mastoris (40)
• Sleight of Hand, poem by by Michelle R. Moyer (65)
• The Price of a Legend, poem by by Anne Stullken (66)
• Ode on a Psychopathic Computer, poem by by Anon, art - Whitby27 (68)
• Jenna's Last Moments, poem by by Melissa Mastoris (75)
• Only Time Heals, poem by by Anne Stullken (76)
• Bring Back Blake's 7, poem or filk by by Judith Proctor (82)

Fandom in Action

The forewords from Darrow and the editors all dwell on the power of fandom and the relationships fandom has created:

Paul Darrow: The wonder of, "fandom", and all of who who become involved with it in one way or another, is that, when push comes to shove, we care about each other. We care enough to have arguments and to vent our spleen over differences of opinion and we care enough to put any differences aside when circumstances dictate.

We now have an opportunity to show how much we care for Leigh.

I do not doubt that, without exception, everyone with whom I have come into contact in, "fandom", will show they care and we, the actors, will look forward to the day when Leigh is quite well again. With our support and her guts, she cannot fail.

Jean Graham: Responses to our fundraising from the global fan community - in the form of prayers, good wishes and both zine and monetary donations - has been extremely encouraging. Our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you from your contributions.

Judith Proctor: To me, fandom is people - Blake's 7 fandom has brought me friends on three continents. I've met people through local fan club meetings, letterzine, the Blake's 7 list on the Internet, conventions, zine editing, etc. And they are great people - thoughtful, amusing, provocative - Blake's 7 seems to attract interesting people. I like to think of us as a community - scattered globally, but still a community. Leigh was a part of that community, and, in the end, we look after our own. ... It's a big world out there. Wars and international politics we can do nothing about, but on a small level, we can sometimes make a difference.

'Faith' (poem) by Judith Proctor: Jean would say God's love unbounded/Reaches out to all who live;/I would say that human nature/Flawed, imperfect though it is -/ Makes us want to help another,/ Past the bounds of race and clime,/ Makes us want to know each other,/ Makes us reach 'cross sea and time. ...

Sample Interior

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  Foreword by Paul Darrow

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  Editorial by Jean Graham and Judith Proctor

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  sample story text

• 

  sample poem

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  sample photo and puzzle

Fan Reactions and Reviews

On THE WAY BACK: I liked several stories, the best ones being "Vocation" by Patti McClellan (favorite story), "The Morning After" by Russell Massey, "Remember Me"

by Helen Parkinson, "Resting" by David Mclntee, and "The Worst B7 Stories Never Written" - loved this! A riot!

I'm reading through THE WAY BACK and enjoying it heartily. The thing that delighted me at the outset was how large it is. The way fandom responded to the emergency is awesome. (Plus, I was glad to note that the perpetual gripe about fanfic ~ that it's all done by women ~ is inapplicable here: you've got a solid male representation.)

The zine simply looks handsome. From the lovely color reproductions on the cover to the very clear, very dark typefaces to the big, professional layouts of the pages. It is a tempting, attractively put-together magazine. The illustrations are most impressive. Not- only good printing, but, more to the point, you've got some fine artwork.

Naturally, being human flesh, I found my way to the back immediately to wallow in those worst openings (and closings) to our favorite form of literature. Now, that is divine wallow-mud!

I was delightfully surprised to find THE WAY BACK beginning with that statement from Paul; the epigraph of the book, so to speak. The man's forte is communicating, not writing. The verbidization is rather stiff, which doesn't matter at all, because the feeling shines through.

Your "Retribution" could seamlessly fit into "Rumours of Death" ~ just a scene that had to be omitted in the final edit because of time constraints. ("Ninety seconds have got to go. So which's it gonna be?" "Ahh, we'll trim the Vila/Cally bit, keep the whole business of the major training the section leader. Well, it gives some balance to the picture of Federation people." "Yeah, but the episode's theme is--" "I know, but the audience is already familiar with Blake. The troopers give 'em something new." "All right, but I still think it'd help to know why Vila would do something like that, go down to Earth alone and set up the cave...")