True Vulcan Confessions

Zine
Title:	True Vulcan Confessions
Publisher:	Dusty Jones
Editor(s):
Date(s):	1986-1993
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:	Publisher's page
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True Vulcan Confessions is a gen Star Trek: TOS anthology edited by Dusty Jones.

Issue 1

True Vulcan Confessions 1 was published in 1986 (Tasmin 2286). It contains 57 pages, and has special features by C.M. Kelley, Pat and Judy Molnar, and T'Mertz. Cover by Jacqueline Droz. Edited by Dusty Jones. In Memoriam: Regulus, Black Lion of Axanar - In canine form, the heart of a lion. Photos 1974 Paramount Pictures Corp.

front cover of issue #1, Jacqueline Droz

• Editorial (1)
• To Sleep; Perchance To Dream by Wendy Schatz (3)
• Star Trek Censored: The Emasculation of "Killing Time'" by Gary Sanger (8)
• $ellout (a Krépe Paper) by Dusty Jones (9)
• Driver's Ed. by Adele Peterson (15)
• Little White Lies by L.L. MacLeod, illustrated by Mary Stacy-MacDonald (17)
• Babytalk or Babbling? Logic and the Vulcan Language by C. M. Kelley (53)

• 

  from "Little White Lies" from issue #1, by Mary Stacy-MacDonald

• 

  from issue #1, Mary Stacy-MacDonald

• 

  from issue #1

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

This gives the low-down on the logic-mongers of the Galaxy -- what they really do behind closed doors; Spock's second year at the Academy; how Sarek lost his shirt, his dignity, and his portable bidet; Includes 'Little White Lies,' the sequel to 'A Vulcan Tea Party' -- if he were 14, they would have told him everything, if he were 7 , he would have been too young to notice, but he was 10 years old, right in the middle and very frightened.

Recently, Dusty Jones came out with her long-awaited sequel to LIAPITA. The wait was worth it. TRUE VULCAN CONFESSIONS is its name and it is very good. Starting with a cover that looks like a Vulcan equivalent of the National Enquirer, TRUE VULCAN CONFESSIONS brings several wonderful stories to the reader. Included with the stories are two non-fiction articles and Dusty's usual ST filk songs. The art work ranges from good to great with easy-to-read print reproduction and a total lack of any typos (that I could find). The first story, "To Sleep, Perchance to Dream" tells of Spock's problems in adjusting to life at Starfleet Academy. See if you can spot the silly in-joke here. Another major story has Amanda bringing the concept of "yard sale" to Vulcan with embarrassing results. There are two very short stories with Amanda and two non-fiction articles. The first non-fiction article is a quick look at the KILLING TIME novel and the differences between the two versions. The other one is an article on Vulcan sentence structure. The main story of the issue, however, is "Little White Lies" by L. L. MacLeod. To say that it is a story about Spock's family as they await the birth of Spock's little sister is inadequate as it is much more than that. Unlike "Vulcan Tea Party," "Little White Lies" is a very private family drama with much of the actions and growth taking place within the family. Despite learning ouch about Vulcan tribal customs, inheritance laws, child raising, social customs and medicine 9 the real story is how this family and each person in it deals with the situations that take place. L. L. MacLeod is one of the best fanzine writers I have ever read bar none. It does not take much to make me cry but it does take something to reach in and grab me the way this story did. When the last line came at me with the force of a hammer's blow. "It was the first time he had ever lied to his wife," I knew that I had read something powerful. There are flaws in this zine; it is only 57 pages long, and could have used another twenty-five. Gary Sanger's article on KILLING TIME could have used a few examples of what he was talking about. Some people may know the ending of "Little White lies" but it is a powerful story nonetheless. Well worth an award, too.

Issue 2

True Vulcan Confessions 2 was published in 1991 (Mundots 2291) and contains 57 pages. The cover is by Dennis Bailey.

cover of issue #2, by Dennis Bailey

art for "Too Long a Frost" from issue #2, Mary Stacy-MacDonald

The editorial:

I used to read editorials and letters in Universal Translator or Datazine where other zine editors lamented their hard luck or made excuses for ever regressing publication dates: new job, death in the family, financial setbacks, car trouble – well you’ve heard them all, too. I shook my head in those days and rolled my eyes – all this from a good job five minutes away from home with flexible hours, a private office and phone, and a boss who left me alone. But as a friend of mine says, be careful what you say; the Zone may be listening….

In the years (9!) since the publication of the first True Vulcan Confessions, I’ve experienced… well, all of the above. Life and fannish pursuits have gone from the sublimely simple to the ridiculously trying. And yet, there were so many kind and encouraging letters , both for the zine and for the contributors themselves during these last years, that there isn’t space to acknowledge all of the correspondents (but I will anyways).

The following folks were most encouraging, either about the last issue of TBC or on a personal basis: Gerrie Benzing, Mary Busenbark, Ani Couch, Adrienne Deutsch, Barbara Erickson, Betty Herr (whose gift of stamps was well-timed), Heidi Huddle, Bill Hupe (whose LOC was almost funnier than the zine itself), Renita Lane, Elise Martin, Elizabeth Osbourne (thanks for the reviews!) Louise Pacheco, Susan Piotrowski, Donna Salter, Jackie Stanton (who freaks out her mundane visitors by leaving her copy of TVC -2286 on the coffee table with her other magazines), Sandy Scherrer, Pat Wisbauer and Sophie Wozniak.

One of the nicest things about publishing zines is when people become more than an address on an envelope: Mary Stacy-MacDonald (along with her son Chris and husband Vaughn), Mardy Lamski, JoAnne Schaefer (fellow Macaholic and TVC typist), Karen Mitchell, Robin Page, Lori Stagemyer, Michelle Toohig, Karen Swanson, Linda Cronin, and fellow ‘Chapelette’ Camilla Morton. If I’ve left out anyone, forgive me. So, I’m a dits. But, so is Spock these days so I’m in good company.

This issue was typeset and layed out using Macintosh computers with LaserWriter printers and with the unceasing assistance of C.M. Kelley. And while we’re on the subject, last issue, Dolores Peters did a lot of typing for me – specifically ‘Sellout’ – and from my handwritten notes, yet. And nowhere in that issue is this amazing feat mentioned. Sporry ‘Pete’ and I hope the complimentary copy of this issue makes up for it.

Now, what do we have for you this time? Gary Sanger is back with a complete run-down of the changed sequences in the Pocket Books novel Killing Time, which many of you asked for, along with an astronomically-based search for Vulcan among the known stars of our galaxy. He’s also put together this issue’s Krepe Paper, ‘Symmetry’.

Mary Stacy-MacDonald is with us again, not only as an artist but as a poet as well. You never know about people until you’ve spent a weekend with them guzzling cough syrup, endlessly blowing your noses, and watching QVC. T’Mertz has been busy scraping up the dirt with ‘Star Fleet Doc Sees UFO,’ and yours truly has a story in here that was originally commissioned by another zine after Star Trek III. The result is ‘Too Long a Frost’.

Before I shut up and you move on to the main events, let me say a special thanks to Marlena McClenny, Claire Gadzikowski, Masako Nuguchi, Anna Parrish and Gloria Young, who ate the price increase on the second printing of the first issue of True Vulcan Confessions without one word of complaint. This time, I’m starting out with a larger print run in the first place, and I hope the Zone is listening….

• Editorial (2)
• "...If You'll Scratch Mine" by Trekkigrrl ("Stonn makes a deal. (3)
• Killing Time: Changing a Star Trek Novel by Gary Sanger ("Gary Sanger compares the first and subsequent printings of the Trek novel Killing Time passage by passage. Now you'll know exactly what they didn't think you should see.") (4)
• What Could Have Been by Ann Hart ("Unmarried and approaching pon farr, Sarek must make a decision. And if Sarek won’t, someone else will.") (9)
• The World of Vulcan: Vulcan’s Sun by Gary Sanger ("Ever wonder if it's really out there: if the planet called Vulcan shown in the series and in the movies might fit the description of an actual known star system? Join us on a survey of the the 20 lightyears around us, and perhaps we’ll find the answer.") (34)
• Negative–4 by C. M. Kelley ("All they need are a few things for their camping trip, and Spock is driving them crazy.") (37)
• Sarek's Revelation by Anna Kathryn Peck ("Angela knew what they were planning—or did she?") (38)
• Symmetry by Gary Sanger (""Stately Estates" will never be the same. Shocking!") (43)
• Too Long a Frost by Dusty Jones ("Spock was back; he was alive again. But no one had thought to tell Amanda. A post-STIII tale.") (46)
• A Fairy Tale Swallowed Whole by Mary Stacy-MacDonald ("Well, he asked for it—and it served him right.") (60)

• 

  from issue #2

• 

  from issue #2

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

True Vulcan Confessions, a delightful piece of silliness edited by Dusty Jones. As the title indicates, this zine doesn't take itself too seriously. In addition to some thoroughly ridiculous advertisements and "articles" ("Star Fleet Doc: My Encounter With a UFO"), there are several stories of a romantic nature. (Well, what would you expect with a name like that!) For the serious-minded, there is an article which attempts to locate Vulcan's sun, and another which details some of the differences between the recalled version of Pocket Books' novel Killing Time, by Dela Van Hise, and the version which is now available. Both are by Gary Sanger, and he does an excellent job with them. This zine is beautifully put together. Although it's quite short (60 pages, double column, spiral bound), the care and attention put into its production are clearly visible. If you don't mind laughing at our Star Trek friends, or our fixation with them, this might be a zine for you.

Issue 3

True Vulcan Confessions 3 was published in 1993 (Rez Mundots 2293).

front cover of issue #3, Mary Stacy-MacDonald

flyer for issue #3

interior art for "No Lesser Nation," issue #3, by Mary Stacy-MacDonald

• ST: Is the Dream Dying?, article by Gary Sanger ("A look at the changing face of fandom from the perspective of the early 1990s—interestingly prophetic a decade later.")
• No Lesser Nation by Llwellyn S. MacLeod ("Alone at home in their new house in ShiKar, disaster strikes, and Amanda can't speak Vulcan.")
• Taboo by Mary Stacy-MacDonald (illustrated poetry)
• The World of Vulcan: Vulcan's Planetary System, article by Gary Sanger ("A "real-life" look at Vulcan, the planet.")
• Progressions by Ann Hart ("Sarek seeks a bride on Earth - a sequel to last issue's "What Could Have Been").
• The Vulcan Academy Murders: A Critical Look by Gary Sanger (review of The Vulcan Academy Murders - "An analysis of the book's contradictions, non sequiturs, and scientific impossibilities.")
• The Ambassador's Jailbait by Jasmine Lunardi ("The next steamy chapter…")
• Krépe to the Future by Trekkigrrl ("Fast-forward in time to Spock’s wedding -- another Krépe paper.").

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

These stories are slanted to a Vulcan edge. Editor Dusty Jones has a astute Vulcan eye for tales that will keep you interested and amused. With many people wanting stories of the green-blooded alien race that was almost cut from the original cast of STAR TREK, these stories are a lifeline in a cultural Vulcan desert of literature.