Visions (Star Trek & Star Wars zine)

Zine
Title:	Visions
Publisher:	Winged Heart Press
Editor(s):	Elizabeth Hoolahan
Date(s):	1982-1983
Series?:
Medium:	print zine
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS & Star Wars
Language:	English
External Links:
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Visions is a gen Star Trek: TOS and Star Wars anthology.

From an ad in Kessel Run #4: "This SW/ST zine is a 'relative' issue with mothers, fathers and offspring in various and sometimes unexpected arrangements."

Visions 1

front cover of issue #1, Liz Hoolahan

back cover of issue #1, JR Dunster

Visions 1 was published in May 1982 and is 95 pages long.

The art is by Arlene Bahrenburg, JR Dunster (back cover), Liz Hoolahan (front cover, interior), Karen Kellington, Carol McPherson, Bonnie Reitz, Mary Stacy-McDonald, Kiel Stuart, and Felicia Telsey.

From the editorial:

Nothing amazes me more at this point than the fact that VISIONS ti! I suppose that that is quite normal for a first issue. You advertise, you write a lot of letters, you rediscover prayer, you work-work-work, and little by little it actually begins to come together! Right before your very eyes! It isn't as good as kissing a frog and seeing him turn into a handsome, wealthy prince who wants to marry you, but it certainly ranks!

And since this is a first issue, I thought you might like to know how I come to be doing a fanzine. I'm always curious as to what drives people to do such a crazy thing and here I am, in the position of having to explain it myself. (Not that I have, to, but it does take up space!)

To be frank, I did not know what I was getting myself into. I'd only read one zine in my entire life and I had no realization of the numbers of people and zines involved in fandom. But that one zine got me to the Star Trek America con last September, and I saw people, and I saw zines. LOTS of zines. If I was hooked before, I was caught hook, line, sinker, scaled and fried right then! I just had to do my own zine my own way.

Thus we find ourselves at VISIONS 1.

In the future (and since I didn't have a nervous breakdown this time, there Mitt be a future!), I'd like to have VISIONS come out twice a year, probably May § September. It will be basically the same ST/SW format, and we will see what happens! Hopefully, excellent things!

As to what is in this issue...we have drama, comedy, poetry, romance - a little of this and a little of that. A "rescue Han" story (I love to see that poor man rescued!), a parody of the ST episode FRIDAY'S CHILD (delightfully irreverent!), a rather different Trek story called HEROES, a story about how Yoda came to the Jedi, lottsa art, plus encounters with various favorite characters, in action, and in self-discovery, and in fun!

• "Visionary" Quote (1)
• Editorial (4)
• Hidden from our Sight, poem by Jane Yambe (science fiction) (5)
• a request for Letters of Comment ("We will be printing addresses, unless otherwise requested, and we will edit out vulgarity and other nastiness. Other than that, feel free!") (6)
• Call of the Bird, poem by B.J. Skurlock (Star Trek: TOS) (7)
• A Game of Chess, fiction by Rowena Warner (Star Trek: TOS) (reprinted in Atypical #3) (9)
• The "Other" Poll (9)
• The Rescue, fiction by Marcia Brin (Star Wars) (13)
• We Have No Time for Our Sorrows…, fiction by Elizabeth Hoolahan (Star Wars) (19)
• The Discovery by Alicia Marie Priore (Star Wars)
• Kolinahar, poem by Karen Kellington (Star Trek: TOS) (27)
• Thank God It’s Friday!, fiction by Kiel Stuart (starring Captain Jerk and Doctor McCrotch) (Star Trek: TOS) (29)
• A Good Reason, fiction by Rowena Warner (Star Trek: TOS) (39)
• I Don't Even Pretend, poem by Jane Yambe (Star Trek: TOS) (41)
• Heroes by Lynnette Knox (Star Trek TOS) (43)
• Parted from Her and Never Parted, poem by Karen Kellington (Star Trek TOS) (47)
• Ephemeris, fiction by Debbie Gilbert (Star Wars) (48)
• Risk, poem by Liz Hoolahan (Star Wars) (53)
• The Way of the Master, fiction by Arlene Bahrenburg (Star Wars) (56)
• Advertisements (96)

• 

  from issue #1

• 

  from issue #1

• 

  from issue #1, The Other Poll

• 

  from issue #1, Carol McPherson

• 

  from issue #1, Liz Hoolahan

• 

  from issue #1, Karen Kellington

• 

  from issue #1, Kiel Stuart

• 

  from issue #1, Bonnie Reitz

• 

  from issue #1, Karen Kellington

• 

  from issue #1, Karen Kellington

• 

  from issue #1, Mary Stacy-MacDonald

• 

  from issue #1, Liz Hoolahan

• 

  from issue #1, Arlene Bahrenburg

• 

  from issue #1, Arlene Bahrenburg

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

[Heroes]: I recently came across a most touchingly beautiful fan story by Lynnette Knox in the ST/SW zine, Visions. In my opinion, it is the best ST story I've read to date that expresses the real meaning and purpose of STAR TREK and ST fandom.— to lift us all a little beyond ourselves and our limitations, to enable us to see beyond ourselves and to help us realize how our actions affect those around us, to endow us with the hope and the belief in a brighter and better future than we might otherwise envision. No, I haven't told you exactly what the story is about; the story deserves to be allowed to unfold itself to each of you in its own wonderful way. (For the cynics in the audience, let me make it perfectly clear that: 1) I am not the editor of the zine. 2) I am not a contributor to the zine. 3) I do not personally know either the editor or the author.) If anyone is interested (and I hope you all are as I would like to share this experience with you), the title of the story is "Heroes".

[zine]: Star Trek/Star Wars fanzine. Great novelette by Arlene Bahrenburg - "The Way of the Master" - on how Yoda became a Jedi. Art, stories, poetry, and a great chess game duo-log between Spock and Kirk. An impressive effort. 96 pages, side-stapled with cardstock covers.

[zine]: This is another first issue of a brand new fanzine. Looking at the excellent repro, layout and lettering, I would say that the editor really did do her homework. Visions contains both Star Wars and Star Trek material, the latter being very well written and worth the price of the zine all by itself. However, this is for prospective buyers of Star Wars material, so here we go. The lead story is "The Rescue" by Marcia Brin. This is fluff, quick to read and absorb without much depth of character or development of plot or detail of background. If I quibble with any of this, it is my concern with the tired old cliches which Marcia changes to "spacer" cliches. Lines like the proverbial "plugged credit" and "Hot Time in the Old Port Tonight" do not succeed in achieving the famous "willing suspension of disbelief". However since such lines are important to the success of the piece, I could be considered as splitting hairs needlessly. Elizabeth Hoolahan, like so many editors in their first zine, has some of her own material up some of the contents. "We Have No Time For Our Sorrows" is an example of the-editor-as-writer-needing-an-editor. It's no re- flection on the writer; it is simply a problem many writers have with editing their own work. Liz loses the mood she sets up so well in the first third of the story, to crack as she broods privately. The falseness creeps in through the formality with which Leia talks to herself. The elusive swiftness of a train of thought does not allow for lines like "What would you say to me, Father?" Yet the same formality is quite successful in "The Discovery" by Alicia Marie Priore. I like the idea of a little bitterness in the love between Han and Leia. It makes the entire relationship much more human. "Ephemeris" by Debbie Gilbert, accompanied by a wonderful illo from Mary Stacey-McDonald, is one of those romantic vignettes about the boy in the desert sun dreaming of he's not sure what. This has a real feel for the dreamy boy of the first movie, and I enjoyed it immensely. Immediately following is another dramatic monologue, "Risk", by Liz Hoolahan. This is an excellent rendition of the famous Sabaac game that put the Falcon up for grabs to the best cardplayer. It is very good. Finally, the longest contribution to the entire zine is the story of Yoda's beginnings, "The Way of The Master" by Arlene Bahrenberg. The plot follows Yoda's growth in the ways of the Force and the Jedi, and is too weak to maintain its 40-page length. This was in drastic need of tightening, simply to bring into focus the actual people. By and large, this is above average as first fanzines go. I believe that it has a great deal of potential which I want to see developed.

[zine]: The best story is also the last - a clear concise telling of Yoda and his training in becoming Jedi Master. The Force is explained and developed but the placement of Jedi Knights in the Galaxy structure has to be developed further. Maybe future issues will do this. Imagination plays a great part to appreciate "The Rescue" and Thank god its Friday!". A good all-round effort, with the artwork varied to suit each story.

[zine]: ZOWlE! WHAT A ZINE! This is a first issue?! Gawd, what's number 2 gonna be like? (I want your first order.) Gave it the "Quick Leafthrough & Make Grunting noises" Routine and was startled, pleased, and happily delighted at the quality of the artwork. Then the stories! (Don't lie to me, humble person; you've secretly put out 60 zines before and you're just a pseudonym, right?)... "A Game of Chess" was nifty. I do like that back-and-forth style.

And then there was "Heroes"... What can I say. That was the singular, most wonderful, deeply emotional masterpiece I have ever read. When I was done with it, crying quietly in joy, I had to put aside the zine and leave the other stories until later. To go on reading would have spoiled the moment... Whenever I go back to it, I cry once more. Please tell Lynnette that's a story that doesn't belong to Star Trek, it belongs to the world. I'm glad it was there.

Of the "Poetry" (they're not stories, I don't know what to call them) "The Discovery" and "A Good Reason" and "Risk" were the most enjoyable. "Risk" caught characters well, well, well.

Can't give any legitimate comments on the SW stuff, because it always all reads alike to me, but I read those the whole way through, which is more than the usual first-few-pages-until-my-interest-wanes. I think the problem (at least for me, anyway) is the framework the SW universe has to be written in. It's a run-for-your-life. They're Out There to Get you story line, like the Incredible Hulk, Battlestar Galactica, The Fugitive, etc. Limits things more than an exploratory/Challenge/Mystery-Solving line like Trek or Dr. Who.

Things I Hated About the Zine - A B & C - IT WAS TOO SHORT! It didn't even last through my spaghetti. Let's have MORE next time. (Or else)...

I SAW THE MOVIE! YA-HOO! Gawd, they ACT in this one! That Spock is an absolute delight! ("You lied!" "I exaggerated.") Bought the book first at the mall where it was showing & sat outside, leafing through it, since I had Great Reservations about shelling out $$ for a bunch of bat guano like the first. The book didn't help. Kept wondering, do I really want to see Chekov's brain sucked out by a leech? Took a chance and was transported! (pun, son.) The "Balance of Terror'-type battle in the nebula is Kirk the Captain at his best. The Special Effects stayed in the background where they belong. Creebs - 1. Why did Scotty bring the injured crewman to the bridge instead of RIGHT TO SICK BAY 2. They sure got far on impulse power alone - and fast. 3. Spock's funeral was so stretched out for effect it became a giggle. No old-time movie cowboy ever stayed alive so long to give his Last Speech and then sink gracefully into the sunset. 4. Why doesn't Saavik have slanted) eyebrows?

Ever think on what a great deterrent weapon the Genesis Wave would be? "Back off, you scuzzy Klingons, or we'll turn you into wheat! You'll be pushing up daisies for real!"

PS - You need a name for your LOC page.

[zine]: Hi! I just got my copy of Visions, I think it's great! It has a very "high quality" look to it - the general lay-out, the art work, the lack of typos (my "pet-peeve"!) - are all excellent! I think all the other stories are excellent, too, (I can't speak for my own, other people will have to decide that.) although I'm not really very "into"' Star Wars. In fact, the only suggestion I might make is to have less "Wars" and more "Trek". Of course, if you had nothing but ST I'd tell you to print more "the girl gets Spock" stories. If you had nothing but The Girl Gets Spock stories, I'd tell you to print more dirty The Girl Gets Spock stories... Well, I think you get my general drift...ha, ha! Seriously, I think Visions has a nice balance of ST/SW. I did notice a couple of minor editorial changes in my story, which I did not get to see before it was printed. That's a no-no! (ed. Ummm, sorry! I'm afraid I have this really bad habit, which my current writers are probably going to hate me for. See, when I type the final copy, I see all these things that I didn't notice before, and, naturally. It's like the night before I'm ready to go to print so there's no time to get back to the authors. So I, uh, blaze ahead and hope that guilt is punishment enough for my sins.) Well, I'll forgive you this time, but only because in each case you were right and the change was an improvement! (There, see how sweet and reasonable I am?) Actually, I think you did an excellent editing job. I've been reading a lot of zines lately, and believe me, there are quite a few editors that I would not entrust a story to. I love the way "Heroes" looks, I feel like I gave "my baby" into good hands! I'll try to get something in for "#3 also, although 1 have nothing definite in mind at the moment. But I'm trying to think of something!... Well, I'll let you go now. Just wanted to make this a quick note to tell you how much I like Visions. Oh, wait! One more little thing... It's Lynnette (with two "n's"). (ed. oops! SORRY!)

[zine]: I am not a great one for doing LOCs, but I will say a few words about the zine. Your layout is fine, very readable and crisp and clean, and that is quite an accomplishment for a first zine. Your art is uniformly good and you've spaced it well. The blend of fiction and poetry is good - also the blend of ST and SW. It will be interesting to see what your writers will do with post 'Wrath of Khan" possibilities within ST. Your explorations of Leia in prose and poetry were a welcome sight. Being a Leia fan I am always delighted to see people writing about her. It used to be nothing was ever done with Leia in fan fiction. TESB helped some, but I hope the best is yet to come. Rumor has it that Leia's growth in ROTJ will be apparent and surprising to some. I will be glad to see it. (ed. Amen to that' It's wonderful to have a strong female character to work with, and I've always been surprised that many fan writers ignore Leia or dump on her - especially since most of fan writers are women themselves!!!) You also maintained a good balance within the zine, in respective universes with regard to characters, I don't feel anyone was slighted by non-inclusion. All in all, I firmly believe you've got a zine with tremendous potential. What faults I find are very minor and not worth repeating. 1 will look forward to future issues.

[zine]: Thank you very much for the copy of Visions, and the TLC in its handling. The same goes for your respectful treatment of my story; I didn't find any typos in it.

Let me start by Saying that I wasn't expecting very much. Please don't take offense at that, but no one, no matter how talented, achieves perfection their very first zine effort. As it is, there is some room for improvement in the production values (as the one who put it together, I'm sure you're well aware of this.) (ed. Oh, yeah!) But I was very pleasantly surprised by the content. The zine seemed to have a personality, a warmth and humor which is lacking in many of the more expertly produced zines. My favorite piece in the entire zine is "A Game of Chess" by Rowena Warner. It is one of the most delightful things I have ever read. I could easily imagine Spock and Jim facing one another at the table, saying those words to each other. Rowena really has their speech patterns right.

"The Rescue" started out interesting. I liked seeing Leia take matters into her own hands. But the ending didn't reing true. Marcia Brin must think she's the O. Henry of fandom; she always closes the story with odd twist. I was touched by "We Have No Time for Our Sorrows." It showed us the side of Leia she hides from the world -- a little girl who is confused by her troubled emotions. I identify strongly with Leia, and this vulnerable aspect is one that I like to explore in my own stories.

"Thank God It's Friday!" was absolutely hilarious. Over the years I have read dozens of Star Trek parodies, but I don't recall any that played upon a specific episode as this one did. The humor was irreverent and slightly naughty. I liked the way everyone's accents were exaggerated, and the way everyone was in it for their own selfish gain, but most of all, I liked the names. Shmuck the Vulgarian! The starship Enteritis! Dr. Balls McCrotch! I laughed continuously as I read it.

"Heroes" was a most unusual story. It reminded me that Star Trek has given many people the courage to overcome problems in their lives, and that Star Trek can form bonds between people who apparently have nothing else in common.

"The Way of the Master" made me a little jealous, as such stories often do, because the writer (in this case, Arlene Bahrenburg) was blessed with an imagination far greater than mine. It didn't occur to me to wonder where Yoda got his Jedi training, because he is, after all, at least 800 years old, and anyone who taught him must be long dead. I never would have pictured Yoda's training happening the way Arlene sees it, but it was indeed an interesting story. Why is Tamar pictured with Obi-wans face? Is that supposed to mean something I didn't catch?....

Speaking of the artwork, I really liked JR Dunster"s Leia on the back cover, but I was not greatly impressed by anything in the interior. The best of the lot were Karen (Wellington's Star Trek drawings on pages 8, 40, and 47. Most of the others had stilted figures or faulty proportions, and I didn't find the cartoons terribly funny. Mary Stacy-McDonald's illo of my story shows a very pretty lady, but her face looks far more like Marion Ravenwood than Leia Organa. On the other hand, Carol McPherson on page 15 has captured Leia's face exactly, but it looks out of place with the Corellian hairstyle and clothes. (Wow, this really is a Leia issue, isn't it?)

The poetry was not bad, but not very memorable either. In Jane Yambe's poem on page 41, I could not figure out who was speaking to whom. A well-chosen title would have greatly aided my understanding, and therefore my enjoyment. Some poets feel a title will detract from their poem; others think it is sophisticated to have an "Untitled". Two fallacies. I had similar confusion in your poem, "Risk". I wasn't always sure when it was Han or Lando talking. Mo, I take that back; I re-read it a few times and realized that it is all Han. But the two men had such similar personalities that it was difficult to tell them apart by their thoughts. Maybe you should have just come out and said "Lando" rather than cryptic phrases like "almost-friend". (ed. Awww, that was my favorite phrase, too!!) Han is Lando's almost-friend, too. And what does "sabacc" mean? Maybe I'm just dumb not to understand the poetry, but I think too many poets feel the greater the obscurity, the greater the poem'. Dot so. (ed. "Sabacc" is one of those terms floating around fandom that I'm not sure what the source is, whether it is from one of The Books, or an invention. However it got around, "sabacc" is the SWars version of poker, or some other such bet-a-lot-of-money card game.)

All in all, very good for a first try and I really enjoyed reading it. You achieved a nice balance of ST and SW. There's plenty to satisfy either type of fan. I hope that in issue 2 you can maintain this SW/ST balance, with more of both. In other words, let's have a longer zine. Most people want to get their money's worth of material. Don't worry, I'll help you fill up the space! I need to let you go now so I can go work on my story. Keep up the good work! The Force is with you.

[zine]: I was very pleased with VISIONS I! First of all, the cover was fantastic! I've been reading Tarot cards for about 14 years now and, of course, recognized the Seven of Cups right away! (It even matched my set!) It was an appropriate card for visions, dreams, and imagination — all those wonderful forces that are such a vast part of Star Trek and Star Wars.

As far as content went, my special favorites were "A Game of Chess" and "A Good Reason", both by Rowena Wamer — proving that there is great beauty in a simplicity of detail — and "Heroes" by Lynnette Knox was a moving evocation of the spirit of Star Trek, (not only that, it made me cry!) I also have to single out "The Way of the Master" by Arlene Bahrenburg as being very good and also a little sad. (Tears again!)

But the greatest praise of all that I can give your zine is by enclosing a SASE for information about how, when, etc. to order *2! I'll look forward to it! If it is of the same quality as 1, it is certain to be enjoyable reading! Also, should I get my act together and get some stories written and re-written, will you be looking for submissions to "3? ... Thanks again for several very enjoyable hours of reading!

[zine]: ...first, I really liked your lay-out. I'm so glad you didn't put a border around everything! I like the white space, makes the zine more classy-looking. The typefaces you chose for your headlines are nice, too.

The cover was interesting, but I would've preferred to see a portrait there; It would've been more eyecatching. The back cover is beautiful, I love JR's work. She did some terrific work for us, too. (ed. Rebecca co-publishes the zine LEGENDS OF LIGHT. Check it out!) The frontpiece is nice, too. Like the saying.

One problem with the layout. Now, this is not my complaint, but I have seen other editors point this out. That is: a story should not start on the left-hand side of a page. You only did this twice, with "Ephemeris" and "The Way of the Master." I would've like to see the illo for "Ephemeris" as a frontpiece opposite the start of the story, or on page 49 to break up the copy. That's being picky. But I do think the major story should've started on the right. It's easier to match when flipping through the zine that way.

Now, on to individual pieces.

I like the poems, and the accompanying artwork. Especially like Karen Kellington's art -- excellent! Where was she when I needed a Trek artist?!? (Mind giving me her address?) [ed. Unfortunately for fandom, Karen has gafiated (Gotten Away From It All).]

"A Game of Chess was really good: the illo really set it off.

"The Rescue" was a little uneven, perhaps too short for the action. Somehow I don't think it'll be a coincidence like that, but... Anyway, I thought the story was too brief and simple. I would've liked to read a longer (but still as well written) version of it.

"We Have No Time For Our Sorrows..." was very good, an excellent Leia study. I really enjoyed reading it. Again, though, would've liked to see the illo a page or two before it actually appears.

"Thank God It's Friday" was great -- I like satires, especially when they show imagination. A good comedy piece to break up the serious stuff.

"A Good Reason" was cute, but the cartoon at the bottom of the page distracted from it.

"Heroes" was my favorite story. It's different from what is always in zines and shows "the other side" of fandom, ie., not a fiction involving characters from ST or SW, but fiction involving real people and how they relate to the ST and SW characters. It was a heart-warming and very well-written story.

"Ephemeris" was interesting. I enjoy insightful stories about Luke, because I rarely see them in zines. Only problem was the last sentence -- it was a little abrupt as an ending. It would've been better to say something conclusive about Luke, rather than "... Luke Skywalker farmed the sands of Tatooine."

Now, on to "The Way of the Master." I have some reservations about this story, which is a shame since it's the major story in the zine. After reading all the excellent material up to that point, I was disappointed by it. In fact, if I hadn't been planning to write an LOC to you, I probably wouldn't have finished the story. First of all, I admire the author's attempt to write a story on Yoda's beginnings. It's the first I've read, I think. However, the story was too long and drawn out (and boring at times, actually) in the beginning and middle, and then too rushed during the ending. I could've done with less of the former and more of the latter.

Also, I had a few problems with the author's assumptions, though those are merely personal preferences. I couldn't believe that Yoda is an outcast or deformed member of his race. It's like we're supposed to feel sorry for him right from the start, so we're sympathetic for him. It would've been a better idea to write the story as if he were normal. The outcast idea is too easy an "out" for his becoming a recluse and Jedi. I guess that what I'm looking for here is more conflict and complexities. Yoda was just "too cute" for my tastes.

The story as a whole wasn't bad, but I don't think it had the quality of the other material in the zine, which is regrettable since it takes up so much of the zine. Also, I think more people would be interested in a Han/Leia/Luke/Chewie/Vader story (oops, forgot Lando!)... rather than a Yoda story. I'll be anxious to see what your other readers think.

Well, I guess that's all for now. I really enjoyed the zine as a whole and look forward to issue #2!

[zine]: On VISIONS 1: first of all, I like the cover very much. Your front cover illo is an original and interesting idea, well handled. JR Dunster's Leia on the back is lovely. And I do like wraparounds simply for the appearance. The staples are a bit of a nuisance, though—I'll have to put tape over them to protect my fingers.

Visions 2

Visions 2 was published in 1983 and has 138 pages. Artwork by Laury Barnes, Arlene Bahrenburg, Elizabeth Hoolahan, Anne Marie Colford, Lilia Eden, Cami Forsell, Wanda Lybarger, Carol McPherson, Kathy Moore, Patrisha O'Toole, Bonnie Reitz, Danny Tetro, and Mel White.

cover of issue #2, artist is uncredited

It contains stories, poetry, art, original music, several filks, and a story based on a memo exchange board at rebel alliance HQ.

A publisher's ad in Universal Translator #20 says it is "a 'relative' issue, with mothers, fathers, and offspring in various and sometimes unexpected arrangements."

From the editorial:

I enjoyed The Wrath of Khan immensely. William Shatner did a marvelous job, Spock's death was touching, and right (except for Amazing Grace), and I LOVE Ricardo Montalban especially his chest (and it better not be fake!). Is that man built, or what? I hear Leonard Nimoy is directing Movie 3...which I have mixed feelings about which I will not go into here. having no desire to call down the Wrath of Fen on my head.

By the time Visions sees print, or rather, is seen in print, RETURN OF THE JEDI will be out. Hurray, I think. I've heard so many rumors I feel like crying. Life, the Universe, and Everything. Who KNOWS what this movie is about. And someone's going to buy it. I mean, Bite the Big One. My feeling is that it's going to be Chewie. I hope not, though. It just too depressing. And if more than one of Our Gang buys it...WAH...! And if Luke falls, and if Han and Leia don't get together, and if Darth turns out to be a Good Guy (sorry Joyce), and Artoo and Threepio get disassembled, and Yoda dies, and... Yikes, there are a lot of horrible rumors going around! I vowed I wouldn't listen to the rumors, but it's hard not to. At this point, I have no expectations, and whatever happens happens.

So, if this movie doesn't decimate SWars fannish population (myself included), there will be a VISIONS 3, and if JEDI doesn't make everybody happy, I hope it makes enough people happy enough to continue writing!

• "Visionary Quotes" (1)
• Editorial by Elizabeth Hoolahan (4)
• Letters of Comment (5)
• The Lesson, poem by Elizabeth Hoolahan (Star Wars) (12)
• Possibilities, poem by Cheri (credited mistakenly as Elaine) Tripp (Star Wars) (14)
• The Light by Rowena Warner (A captive Spock is chained to a wall in complete darkness. We share his struggles against the cold and his fear of the darkness and we learn of his concern for the safety of his friends. Spock reviews their past experiences and analyzes their character as he waits for rescue.) (Star Trek: TOS) (16)
• Eulogy to My Friend, poem by Jane Yambe (Star Wars) (25)
• Han Solo's Lament, filk by Patrisha O'Toole and Anne Marie Colford (Star Wars) (26)
• A Relative Hope by Pat Nussman (Star Wars) (27)
• The "Other" Poll (Five respondents: three thought it would be a new female character who was a Jedi and love interest for Luke, one fan though it would be Leia, and one thought it would be Han.) (Star Wars) (32)
• Bachelor Party by Elizabeth Hoolahan (Star Wars) (34)
• Of Cabbages ... and Kings by Marcia Brin (Star Wars) (36)
• Star Wars Word Search by Lynda Vandiver (Star Wars) (38)
• A Matter of Ganks by Pat Nussman (Hareboun's back, and he's brought his "friends" with him. Han and Leia find themselves in a very squishy situation as they face of one of their arch-enemies in this alternate universe story) (reprinted in You Could Use a Good Kiss) (Star Wars) (39)
• The Wrath of Khan, poem by Debbie Gilbert (Star Trek: TOS) (60)
• A Matter or Relative Importance by Ann E. Mass (Star Wars) (62)
• Daughter of the Jedi by Kathy Moore (Star Wars) (64)
• Words, poem by Kathryn Agel (Star Wars) (82)
• The Struggle is More, poem by Jane Yambe (Star Trek: TOS) (83)
• The Rift by Debbie Gilbert (Star Trek: TOS) (84)
• We Can Hope for Someday, poem by Rowena Warner (Star Trek: TOS) (90)
• Kikyo (Return) by Jane Yambe (Star Trek: TOS) (91)
• Two Halves -- Different, Yet Alike, poem by Rowena Warner (Star Trek: TOS) (92)
• His Side of the Family by Marcia Brin (Star Wars) (94)
• The Fortune Game by Susan J. Bridges (Star Wars) (98)
• Love Me Leia by Kathryn Agel (Star Wars) (100)
• Some Things Never Change, poem by Rowena Warner (Star Trek: TOS) (101)
• Alphabet Soup by Linda Vandiver (Star Wars) (102)
• Memo Wars by Patrisha O'Toole and Anne Marie Colford (Star Wars) (103)
• Winner or Loser? by Rowena Warner (Star Trek: TOS) (Star Trek: TOS) (137)
• Master, poem by Alicia Marie Priore (Star Wars) (138)

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Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

Star Trek/Star Wars fanzine (w/errata slip). Stories, poetry, art, and a great 'story' based on a memo exchange board at rebel alliance HQ. 138 pages, staple and tape bound with cardstock covers.

Exactly one year ago this column [in Communications Console ] contained a review of a brand-new zine, VISIONS, which in my opinion had "& long way to go" but exhibited "great promise". What a pleasure it is to now report that VISIONS has fulfilled that promise and wore. Its first issue was 93 pages pages of unreduced type, bound by staples. It was neat and by no means amateurish, yet there was an unsettled, experimental feel to it.

But editor Liz Hoolahan learns fast; issue #2 is definitely state-of-the-art. Its 138 paces are perfect-bound, and its stories are printed in two-column word processor type. Despite the new look, however, the warmth and "personality" of the first issue are still there.

But appearance is irrelevant; it's the contents that count, right? VISIONS was intended to offer a 50/50 balance between Star Trek and Star Wars. It achieved this objective in its first issue, but now it faces a problem common to almost all "mixed" zines: not enough Star Trek material is reaching the editor's desk. (This is no time for subtle hints. Fellow writers, get to work and send those stories in to VISIONS #3.)

There are two Trek stories in #2. "The Light" by Rowena Warner is an astonishment. In this gripping portrayal, Spock uses his mental discipline to survive an odceal that would have pushed a human to the brink of insanity. I don't mind a "get Spock" story if it's this well written.

The other Trek story is 'The Rift" by an obscure writer named D.S. Gilbert. It describes the circumstances under which Jim Kirk and Carol Marcus conceived a child, and how their relationship was dissolved soon afterwards. This story is such enhanced by Arlene Bahrenberg's wonderfully appropriate illustration.

There is also a nice sampling of Star Wars stories, though I was disappointed that none featured Luke as a strong major character. Even if you are only mildly fond of Star Wars, you can't help but enjoy "Memo Wars". This unique and witty feature defies classification; neither story nor cartoon, but whatever it is, it's funny. This spoof comprises 25% of the total pages, it alone is worth the zine's price.

The poetry is not bad, but not outstanding either. My favorite is Liz Hoolahan's soul-searching portrait of Luke, "The Lesson".

Of the Star Trek poems, Jane Yambe's "Eulogy To My Friend" is better than the actual lines spoken by Kirk in the movie's funeral scene.

There is a variety of artwork; almost all of it is high quality; plus cartoons, puzzles, and a few surprises. So VISIONS has come of age, and I can state smugly that I recognized its incipient talent. Be nice to yourself, and get a copy.

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For all of you who are turned off by blatant K/S and explicit sex, and who would like a good, clean, all-around enjoyable fanzine, any or all of the three described above would make fine additions to your zine library.