Trek (Star Trek: TOS zine)

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You may be looking for the zine Star Trek.

Zine
Title: Trek
Publisher: New Eye Studio
Editor(s): Walter Irwin and G.B. Love
Date(s): 1974-1990s
Frequency:
Medium: print
Size:
Fandom: Star Trek: TOS
Language: English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Trek is a hybrid magazine. It has many elements of amateur zines (fan fiction, some fan art, con reports, fan letters, interviews with fans), but it was very much a for-profit venture.

It began in 1974 and ran for nearly twenty years. The first three issues, perhaps more, are tabloid-sized (11 x 16). The most popular articles were eventually collected into 18 The Best of Trek books published from 1978 to 1996. More information is here at Trek Today.

Throughout TREK's run, several articles were published with speculations on the connection between Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes, Doc Savage, and the Wold Newton Family. There were also a few articles comparing and contrasting James Kirk and Horatio Hornblower.

Relationship to "Enterprise Incidents

Regarding the connections, or lack thereof, to Enterprise Incidents (US):

On the subject of TREK, the only real connection between ENTERPRISE INCIDENTS and TREK is what they mentioned themselves recently in a letter column. Both zines are printed at the same shop. I also know the editors of TREK but we have completely different ideas on what we want to do with our magazines. TREK does features that I don't do, and I do features that TREK doesn't do, which is as it should be. There'd be no point if we duplicated each other. This way you get completely different approaches. Thus there are people who prefer TREK over EI and people who prefer EI over TREK, which shows that we have succeeded in being two completely different magazines. [1]

Some of This Content Online

See Best of Trek #1 (1978).

1978 -- Why "Trek"?

From "Best of Trek"

In 1978, the editors told fans why they started this zine series -- from the introduction to "Best of Trek," an annotated pro-book collection of things from the zines:

Thanks to Star Trek, our society and technology is about to take a quantum leap in the next fifty years or so. Why? Consider this: Millions of young, impressionable people are out there, right now, watching Star Trek. And they see a wonderfully advanced technology; men and aliens working together. They see what could be. And then they go out into the world and see what is. Can anyone wonder that these people are going to prefer the idealized Star Trek vision and carry it with them all their lives?

And here's the exciting part. Some of these people (not all of them, or even most of them, but some) will go on and gain the necessary skills to change our technology and society. And with the enthusiasm and determination that the idealized view of Star Trek has given them, they will indeed start to transform our world into that vision.

It’s wonderful, and if will happen. We have no doubt. It’s one of the primary reasons we started Trek. Sure. Trek is a labor of love, but it is also our statement of belief in this wave of change which will happen because of Star Trek.

We started Trek almost three years ago with a specific purpose in mind; to give Star Trek fans a professionally produced magazine in which their interests would be upper- most, We wanted to augment the personal views; to push the dreams along a little bit.

So, no facet of Star Trek has been too small for too big!) for us to cover, as long as we felt that it would be interesting, entertaining, and educational to our readers. In this vein, we have mu articles on everything from the mechanics of the Enterprise warp drive to a guide for making a Star Trek needlepoint wall display. And we are constantly on the lookout for new writers with fresh ideas. So if you have an article or feature which you feel would be suitable for Trek, please send it to us.

As we know our readers are very much graphics-oriented (thanks to the wonder of television), we supplement these articles with photos and artwork, and constantly strive for a fresh and exciting presentation of our articles and features.

Thanks to the enthusiasm of our readers and contributors, Trek has become the leading Star Trek magazine. This is especially gratifying as Trek is sold only by mail and is not readily available to most of our readers. [2]

From "Starlog" -- "Why Should I Subscribe to Trek?"

From a March 1978 ad in Starlog #12:

a March 1978 ad in Starlog

It seems as if there isn't a Star Trek fan anywhere who doesn't love TREK the moment he lays eyes on a copy. And the reason why is no mystery.

Star Trek fans know that TREK is the magazine for Star Trek Fans by Star Trek fans. We make no bones about it. The editors, writers, artists, and everyone else who contributes to TREK are all hard-core Star Trek fans. We care about the series, the characters, and the personalities; and we care about our readers — our fellow fans. We never publish anything in TREK which we would not be interested in ourselves, or that we would not enjoy reading.

And TREK is the only Star Trek magazine by fans which is laid out and printed by professionals. We will not compromise on the quality of TREK. Each and every copy must be one which any fan will be proud to own. and will last forever. So we print TREK on high-quality, heavy coated paper, with a permanent binding in extra-heavy, full-color covers. Each article is fully typeset, and photos are reproduced in sharp, vivid halftones. Because we know that all of our subscribers are also Star Trek collectors, each copy of TREK is mailed flat, in a heavy envelope. No need for you to ever have to suffer the pain of your copy arriving folded in half, ripped, or with an unsightly subscription sticker on the front Add to all of this the great articles and features listed below, and you can understand why TREK is the nation's leading Star Trek magazine. So join the legion of your fellow Star Trek fans, and subscribe to TREK. Don't miss another issue! Order your sample copy — or better yet — subscribe today!

Remember, if you are a Star Trek fan, then TREK is the magazine for you! [3]

Issue 1

Trek 1 was published in 1974. 11.5” x 16” – 24 pages – STAR TREK: THEN & NOW by Roy Glennister, Star Trek ’75 ad, Complete Star Trek Index (episode index incl. original airdates, writers, guest stars, brief plot descriptions), THE KLINGONS: THEIR HISTORY & EMPIRE by Leslie Thompson (3 pgs), & Star Trek Clubs + LOTS of b/w photos incl. full-pg photos of Kirk from Amok Time, Uhura, Spock, The Enterprise, Spock with his parents, Kirk in dress uniform, & Spock with phaser.

  • front cover of issue #1

  • back cover of issue #1

Issue 2

Trek 2 was published in 1974 and contains 24 pages. 11.5” x 16”. It is a "Special City on the Edge of Forever Issue."

  • A Brief Look at Kirk's Career by Leslie Thompson (relates Kirk to Tarzan, the Lone Ranger, and Doc Savage)
  • Kirk and Hornblower by G.B. Love
  • many b/w photos incl. full-pg photos of Spock from Amok Time, Kirk/Edith Keeler, Kirk/McCoy, Spock & his mother & more – , Monsters of ST, ST ’75, City on the Edge of Forever: In the Beginning, ST Clubs, What if…?, Star Talk, Trek Roundtable, ads, red/white art print on back cover.

  • front cover of issue #2

  • back cover issue #2

Issue 3

Trek 3 was published in 1975. 11.5” x 16” – 24 pages – From the Bridge/Editorial, ST Bloopers You Never Saw, Star Talk, ads including full 2-pg spread for ST: Houston 1976, The Romulans – article by Leslie Thompson, Chicago Con: $100,000 Fan Ripoff?, Trek Roundtable.

front cover of issue #3
back cover of issue #3


Issue 4

Trek 4 was published in 1976 and contains 40 pages.

issue #4
flyer for issue #4, and other Trek swag
  • "A Theory of Relativity" by Paul Schwartz (Holmes was a Vulcan)
  • "The Star Trek Family Tree" by Jaclyn J. Murphy (Wold Newton relations: Spock is descended from Holmes; Kirk and Uhura are also Wold Newton Family members)
  • other unknown content

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4

TREK is truly impressive. With the lithographed repro, dozens of great photographs, and good articles, you can't go wrong.

This TREK is a "Special Spock Issue." Along with this theme, then, are presented three articles - nearly half of the zine - concerning Spock. The first is "Mr. Spock: Supporting Cast to Superstar" by Janet Smith, discussing the character's growth within the series and in public popularity. Next comes an interesting feature: "Spock Scrapbook"- reprints of portions of articles (from Janet 3nith's collection) that appeared in the late Sixties in the TV and teen gossip magazines. I hope these are continued. And finally, "Mr. Spock: A Personal Memoir" by Leslie Thompson, about the impact the character of Mr, Spock had on her personal outlook towards life. There is also a good-sized article, replete with great photos, about "Space 1399." It was obviously written before 1999 began showing here in the U.S., and is mainly concerned with a trip to the studios where it is filmed. The authors, Kike Clark and Marc Wielage are fans of the "Super-mar ionation" TV shows of the 1999's producers, Garry ana Sylvia Anderson.

There is no fannishhess about TREK. Everything is geared toward a professional looking slick format. The emphasis is on articles and lots of photos. The one convention report by James Van Hise of the 1975 N.Y. ST Con (Feb.14-17), while being well written, didn't really contribute to establishing a feeling/mood of intimacy that marks the admittedly amateurish fan publication. That that this is bad or undesirable, however. What Star Trek fandom could really use at this time is a good, professional, regularly appearing magazine devoted to Star Trek and associated fringe interests, that doesn't try to rip off Star Trek fans with an outrageously high price or by just printing a whole lot of photographs, or some other exploitive editorial attitude. And the more I look at it, the more convinced I become that TREK now is, or could someday be just that magazine. On the whole, then, and with little exception, the articles are all easy to read and are entertaining as well as informative. A good buy at the price. Recommended. [4]

Issue 5

Trek 5 was published in July 1976 and contains 40 pages. Back cover by Steve Fabian, interior illos by D.F. Holman.

issue #5


Issue 6

Trek 6 was published in 1976 and contains 40 pages.

cover of issue #6


Issue 7

Trek 7 was published in 1977.

issue #7
  • Star Trek And Me
  • Interview Grace Lee Whitney
  • Star Trek Comic Books
  • The Thing: Star Trek Fan Poll
  • Inside Trek: Trek trivia
  • ST Comix
  • Spock Scrapbook Extra
  • Trek Roundtable
  • Stills


Issue 8

Trek 8 was published in June 1977 and contains 40 pages.

  • "Spock Savage or the Vulcan of Bronze" by C.J. Nicastro (Doc Savage was a Vulcan)
  • "A Note on Spock" by C.J. Nicastro (Amanda Grayson is descended from Dick (Robin/Batman II) Grayson, and therefore so is Spock)
  • The Prime Directive
  • Fan Poll Results
  • An Evening with Gene Roddenberry
  • Trek Roundtable
  • Fan of the Month
  • The Psychology of Mr. Spock
  • Animated Star Trek Review and Index
  • Star Trek Mysteries Solved!
  • photos and illustrations (b/w)

  • issue #8

  • inside issue #8

  • inside page of issue #8

Issue 9

Trek 9 An Evening With George Takei; A Look at Leonard McCoy; Time Travels In Star Trek (with a rebuttal), and a special 11 page Star Wars section with a review, credits, special effects and photos. Also: Trek Roundtable.

Issue 10

Trek 10 was published in 1978 and contains 40 pages. It is a "Special Kirk Issue."

  • Jim's Little Black Book by Walter Irwin
  • A Brief Look at Kirk's Career by Leslie Thompson
  • A Phone Call From William Shatner
  • Recipe For A Starship Captain
  • Bill Shatner, An Acting Critique
  • The Psychology of Captain Kirk's Popularity
  • Captain Kirk's Duties
  • photographs
  • other unknown content

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 10

If you are a Kirk fan, an insatiable Shatner devotee, or a Trekker, with a special interest in starship commanders, then this issue is a good investment... It is 40 pages of marvelous Kirk/Shatner. The articles range from 'Jim's Little Black Book' by Irwin to 'A Brief Look at Kirk's Career' by Leslie Thompson. Included with these articles are a large number of photographs. All in all, well done. An article by Mark Schooney called 'Bill Shatner, An Acting Critique' is a short history of Shatner's career and includes some excellent photographs such as the one from 'Kingdom of the Spiders'... If you are an insatiable Shatner fan, as I am, this issue is well worth the price [$2.50]. If you're interested in Trek fiction , then you'll have to look elsewhere. [5]

Issue 11

Trek 11 was published in 1978 and contains 44 pages. Wraparound cover by Mike Minor.

front cover of issue #11
front and back covers of issue #11
  • article on the announcement of STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE.
  • "A Problem of Identity: Was Holmes a Vulcan?" by Patricia Dunn (debunks the Schwartz article from #4)
  • "The Man at the Helm: Captains Kirk and Hornblower" by Mark Alfred
  • City vs City
  • Kirk's Fair Damsel
  • The Starlost
  • Shortcuts Through Space In Star Trek
  • The Fotonovels
  • A Star Trek Needlepoint Design
  • Trekviews
  • Trek Trivia
  • other unknown content


Issue 12

Trek 12 was published in November 1978 and contains 40 pages.

front cover of issue #12
inside page of issue #12
  • The Romulan - Klingon Alliance
  • Ranger Force (United Federation Star Rangers)
  • Trek Roundtable
  • The Rise of the Federation – Part 1: The Eugenics Wars
  • Another View of Mr. Spock's Popularity
  • The Fall of the Federation
  • Vulcan Costume Designs
  • some photos and illustrations (b/w)


Issue 13

Trek 13 was published in March 1979 and contains 40 pages. It was to be the first issue to contain zine reviews.

cover of issue #13
back cover of issue #13


Issue 14

Trek 14 was published in Fall 1979 and contains 40 pages.

cover of issue #14
  • Women in the Federation by Pam Rose
  • 88 Character Universe by Russell Bates
  • The Keys To The Trekdom by Kendra Hunter
  • Speculations on Spock's Past by Pam Rose
  • Ship to Surface Transportation by Richard G. Van Treuern
  • Star Trek-Who needs it and why by Pam Trelli
  • Subspace Radio and Space Warps by Mark Golding
  • Log Entry by James Sharp


Issue 15

Trek 15 was published in the Winter of 1980 and contains 40 pages.

front cover of issue #15
  • A Review of Star Trek The Motion Picture by Walter Irwin
  • Changes in Star Trek The Motion Picture by G.B. Love
  • A Look At Star Trek The Novel by James Van Houston
  • Walter Koenig - An Interview (conducted by Walter Irwin and G.B. Love at Houstoncon 1979)
  • Trek Roundtable (LOCs)
  • The Klingons in Star Trek: The Motion Picture by Leslie Thompson
  • Parallels in Star Trek: The Motion Picture vs The Series by Lynn Adams


Issue 16

Trek 16 was published in the Summer of 1980 and contains 40 pages.

  • Vulcan As A Patriarchy by Rebecca Hoffman
  • 88 Character Universe by Russell Bates
  • More Star Trek Mysteries Solved by Leslie Thompson and our readers
  • A Trek Into Geneology by Linda Frankel
  • Trek Roundtable
  • Alternative Universes in Star Trek by Mark Golding


Trek First Issue Special Vol. 2 #1

Trek First Issue Special Vol. 2 #1 (Fall 1988) 64 pages. Contains: A Guide To Star Trek Blueprints. "The Q Of Gothos." "The Star Trek Video And Computer Games." "The Star Trek Trilogy", "A Look At Star Trek In Print".

cover of special issue


Issue 17

Trek 17 was published in winter 1981 and contains 40 pages.

front cover of issue #17
inside page from issue #17
  • Command Decision Crisis – A Star Trek Fan Fiction Parody by Walter Irwin
  • A Brief Look at Mr. Spock’s Career by Leslie Thompson
  • Bridging the Gap --- The Promethean Star Trek (a discussion of ways religion is treated in Star Trek) by Joyce Tullock
  • Sulu’s Profile by Colleen Arima
  • Trek Roundtable
  • lots of photos (b/w) and some fan art


Issue 18

Trek 18 was published in Spring 1981 and contains 40 pages.

  • 88 Character Universe
  • The Beginning of a New Human Adventure (the meaning in ST: TMP and the aftermath)
  • A Woman Looks at Jim’s Little Black Book (by Beth Carlson)
  • A Letter From…Judith Wolper
  • Friendship in the Balance (an exploration of the Kirk-Spock-McCoy relationship by Joyce Tullock)
  • She Walks in Beauty (Uhura) by G.B. Love
  • Trek Roundtable
  • lots of photos (b/w) and some fan art

  • issue #18

  • inside page from issue #18

  • inside page from issue #18

Issue 19

Trek 19 was published in Fall 1988.

front cover of issue #19
  • 88 Character Universe
  • Empires, Gods, and Other Interested Parties – An examination of aliens in Star Trek by Walter Irwin
  • Computed… and On the Screen (a 7-page article on the optical processes of viewing screens for TOS)
  • The Villains of Star Trek
  • The Preservers (introduced in the episode “The Paradise Syndrome”)
  • Alternate Universes in Star Trek Fan Fiction (7-page discussion of alternate universe fan fic, including the Kraith Vulcans, as well as storylines from Alternate Universe 4, Epilog, The Weight, Southern Star (werewolves in Star Trek?), Berengaria, Landing Party Six (from Warped Space), Spock Enslaved, The Daneswoman, Delta Triad (Kirk/Uhura), the Spock/Christine Crossroads series, and many others, including several hurt/comfort, K/S , and crossover universe stories. It includes this bit: "The most bizzare [sic] alternate universe (and often the least justified) could be the outgrowth of the above [ hurt/comfort ], simply because it concerns the relationship between Kirk and Spock. However, this carries the relationship to extremes. In Star Trek, we saw two men who have a close friendship. There is love, but it is the love of brothers, of comrades. The genre known as K/S -- to my mind, and the minds of many others, the most alternate of alternate universes -- presents the two as participating in a physical love with one another. This particular alternate universe has aroused a great deal of controversy these past few years, and while most of these stories fall into the category of sexual fantasies (of women, no less), there are some which are justified."
  • The Crew in Star Trek: The Motion Picture
  • Immortality in Star Trek
  • Trek Roundtable
  • lots of photos (b/w) and some very nice fan art

  • inside page from issue #19

  • inside page from issue #19

  • inside page from issue #19

  • inside page from issue #19

  • inside page from issue #19

  • inside page from issue #19

  • inside page from issue #19

References

  1. ^ from Enterprise Incidents (US) #6 (1978)
  2. ^ See the entire editorial here
  3. ^ online here
  4. ^ from Stardate #8
  5. ^ from Scuttlebutt #9
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