Time After Time and Time Again

Zine
Title:	Time After Time and Time Again
Publisher:	Ruff & Ready Press
Editor:
Author(s):	Michael Ruff
Cover Artist(s):
Illustrator(s):	see below
Date(s):	1993
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	Star Trek: TNG/Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
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front cover signed C.L. Barnard

Time After Time and Time Again is a gen crossover 124-page novel by Michael Ruff.

The art is by Jamaica Fisher, Cindy Barnard, Nan Nelson, Yvonne Bowhay, Michael Ruff, Beverly Chick, and David Lawrence.

Summary

Description by Randy Landers: "Sequel novel to Time and Time Again. This crossover work features the crews from both generations reuniting to correct a time problem left unanswered in the original novel. Both Data and Worf will be lost if Picard and Geordi can't repair the time rift created by their earlier encounter with the Classic Trek crew. Luckily, Kirk and Spock will be there to help."

Reactions and Reviews

If you love mixing your universes, if you can't wait till the new Star Trek movie comes out with its promise of Kirk and Co. together with Picard and Co., and especially if you enjoy any type of story dealing with time travel and all its convolutions and paradoxes, then sit down and pull up a chair because, my friend, these zines are for you. I happen to be a sucker for crossover and time travel stories... The sequel Time After Time and Time Again, is 124 pages long and features artwork by many different artists. Ruff comes up with a good tie-in to his first zine. In T&TA there is a short scene where Wesley and Data discuss a replicate chip they create for Data's neural network. When last seen, Wesley had the chip and no further mention is made of this in the story. TAT&TA opens with Data receiving an ion discharge while examining an ancient artifact. Data is severely Injured requiring the neural replicate chip to continue functioning. At this point, the crew discovers that the chip was left on board Kirk's Enterprise during the earlier adventure. LaForge is left with the bleak diagnosis that without the chip, Data's mind will slowly disintegrate in a condition similar to senility in humans. When informed of the incident, Picard rightly decides that no matter how valued a crew member, they would not attempt to retrieve the chip. But circumstances require him to change that decision. In the most disturbing scene in TAT&TA, Worf is enjoying a game of Precis square with Chief O'Brien when he suddenly and viciously injures him. He then calls up a holodeck program where he proceeds to systematically slaughter a human army. Troi discovers Worf's entire perception of himself has changed and this, in turn leads to the discovery that the loss of Data's replicate chip in the past has led to a new reality where the Klingons have not allied themselves with the Federation and exist in almost a state of war as they prepare an android army of nonsentient robotic Datas. The crew uses Dr. Manheim's theories to time travel and reunite with Kirk's crew as they attempt to reacquire the chip and restore the timelines. This leads to their invervention in a small uprising on the planet of Jacob III. The premise is well written but once the action reaches the planet the pace slows down and the zine begins to lose interest. There is less interaction between the crews and the aliens, while visually creative, lack personality and character depth. There is a surprise visit from Q in the ending. My final score is 80 points for Time and Time Again and 60 points for Time After Time and Time Again. Both zines include extensive artwork and are value priced. Deductions are in the area of writing — the necessity to write scenes for so many characters leads to a little lack of depth in the character portrayals and interactions. But if you enjoy crossover zines, then I do recommend both stories.

This sequel, unfortunately, is not nearly so much fun as its predecessor, and seems pretty much unedited. Data is damaged and needs his back-up chip. Unfortunately, Kirk's crew confiscated it from Wesley while he was in the past, and he never got it back. Funny things are happening to the timeline - and Worf's loyalties - as the Klingons of Kirk's era get hold of the chip and create a race of android warriors. So, Picard, Data, Worf and Geordie head off into the previous frontier to recover the chip and avoid damaging their timeline - where they meet Kirk and his crew trying to prevent the Klingons from taking over a world inhabited by a people who have been genetically cobbled together in various combinations of races. There's a little romance for Geordie and Uhura. Best bits are Kirk and Picard taking their rather different approaches to the Prime Directive.