Whalesong

Zine
Title:	Whalesong
Publisher:	Kalomi Press
Editor(s):	April Valentine
Date(s):	1987-1990
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
	Click here for related articles on Fanlore.
	Contents 1 Issue 1; 2 Issue 2; 3 Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2; 4 Issue 3; 5 References;

You may be looking for Whale Song, the official newsletter of the University of Alabama Star Trek Club.

Whalesong is a gen Star Trek zine of fiction based on the movie universe.

There are three issues.

Issue 1

front cover of issue #1, TACS

back cover of issue #1, Arleen Geller

Whalesong 1 was published in July 1987 and contains 164 pages.

It has a cover by TACS. The interior art is by Cheryl Meidinger-Carter, Cheryl Frashure, Arleen Geller (back cover), Gina Godwin (reprinted from Insatiable Curiosity), Suzan Lovett (reprinted from "Insatiable Curiosity"), Mary Stacy-MacDonald, Christine Myers, Caren Parnes, and TACS.

From the editorial:

Welcome to WHALESONG. It's really been fun doing a Trekzine again. Like Kirk and company, I feel I've made a voyage home.
Among the contributors are some well-known names and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to work with these old friends again. Thanks to all, especially the writers who so eagerly responded to my request for stories.
[snipped]
Not only writers and artists help an editor get a zine together. I'd like to thank Marion McChesney for the binding machine and all the commiseration, Carol Davis for expediting my press type acquisition, Nancy Goodwin for a timely visit for proofreading, and Janna Silverstein for the same, plus much enjoyable conversation and a budding friendship.
The stories included here present some scenes we didn't see from ST II and III, plus several interpretations of what happens during the three months the crew spends on Vulcan before the voyage home begins. If you saw the flyer, you know one of the stories presents the K/S relationship -- a valid premise, I believe, given the movie universe. There is, however, nothing explicit or graphic, just a description of a love that stands the test of time and death, and I'm proud to include Ellen Kobrin's moving "Interlude" within these pages. There are also a couple of stories that speculate on the further adventures of Gillian, Kirk and Spock, Saavik and of course, George and Gracie. But I think we've just scratched the surface.
[snipped]
On the title page of this zine, you will find its price: $12.00 by hand. If you are a Trek fan who, after enjoying the zine, may decide to pass it on, you can certainly do so. When an out of print zine is sold from one reader to another, its price is set by the first owner and the buyer usually knows what she is getting and pays what she feels is fair. Sometimes though, zines are purchased by dealers and re-sold at double or more of the cover price. That's fair neither to the consumer nor the editor. When buying zines, check the publication date. If it's recent, still in print, you should be paying the cover price only. KALOMI PRESS publications are sold only by the editor or her authorized representatives.
Now, without further ado, I send you in quest of a whalesong. This is not a zine only about whales. It's intent is to capture the spirit embodied in The Voyage Home, the joy and triumph of the space-going crew we all love.

Transparent Aluminum, editorial (iv)
Whalesong, song by April Valentine (1)
After the Fall by Jennifer Weston (2)
Revenge, song by April Valentine (7)
Interlude by Ellen L. Kobrin (8)
Broken Wings by April Valentine (19)
Raison d'Etre, poem by Marion McChesney (30)
The Human Factor by Deborah Cummins (31)
Admiral's Log by Beverly Volker (47)
When Eagles Cry by Ginna LaCroix (The Fal Tor Pan has just been completed and Spock is secluded with the healers. Both McCoy and Kirk are struggling to overcome the physical and emotional trauma they have experienced in the rescue of Spock and the uncertainty about Spock's recovery and their future in Starfleet.) (51)
Your Eyes, song by April Valentine (93)
How Do You Feel?, song by April Valentine (96)
Balance on Demand, poem by Beverly Volker (97)
Another Ship, poem by April Valentine (98)
Whale Songs in My Sleep, poem by Ellen Morris (99)
Held Too Tightly by Lynn Syck and Laurel Ridener (It is 3 weeks since the reassignment to the new Enterprise. Spock does not know how to handle his human feelings, especially where Jim Kirk is concerned, and prepares to leave the ship. McCoy does all he can to prevent a hasty departure by the Vulcan and to prepare Jim Kirk it the parting does occur.) (100)
Love Song, poem by Beverley Volker (113)
Blood Rite by Ellen Morris (114)
Silent Seas by Martha Valentine (153)
One Lesson More, poem by Lynn Syck and Laurel Ridener (164)

from issue #1, Christine Myers
from issue #1, Christine Myers
from issue #1, Cheryl Meidinger-Carter
from issue #1, Suzan Lovett, first printed in Insatiable Curiosity in 1983
from issue #1, Cheryl Frashure, portrays Saavik and an original character, Thomas
from issue #1, Cheryl Frashure, portrays Saavik and her Romulan tattoo
from issue #1, Mary Stacy-MacDonald
from issue #1, TACS
from issue #1, Caren Parnes
from issue #1, Arleen Geller

Issue 2

Whalesong 2 was published in February 1989 and contains 214 pages.

It won a 1990 Fan Q Award.

The art is by Chris Soto, Gina Godwin, LaVena Kay Kidd, L.S. Lee, Mary Mills, April Valentine and Ian Bonds.

This issue is dedicated to Gina Godwin, and it includes a memorial page to her that has a photo of her and her infant son. Her baby is dressed as a Vulcan.

front cover of issue #2, Chris Soto

back cover of issue #2, Ian Bonds

The editorial also discusses Godwin:

We were watching songtapes in our hotel room at Shoreleave IX, in July of 1987. (If you've never enjoyed this particular bit of fannish creativity, you've missed something wonderful. Take videos of the episodes and movies, lay down a soundtrack of a popular record, and cut in special scenes to illuminate the lyrics.) That night, Saturday night of the con, I believe, we were enjoying some songtapes we'd never seen before, ones that highlighted the bond between Kirk and Spock. The hotel room was full of friends, and we were crowded on the double beds, sitting where we could see the TV. We were fairly quiet, each of us letting the emotional beauty of the tapes wash over us. I was sitting next to my roommate at the con, Gina Godwin. Suddenly, Gina sighed, and in a voice thick with tears she gushed, "I love them. I love their love!" We giggled, a little, but we all knew what she meant. We all felt the same way. The pure love, whichever way a fan writer chooses to express it, between Kirk and Spock is timeless, immortal, breathtaking. Few of us here on planet Earth in the twentieth century will ever know something so beautiful, so powerful. But we'd all like to have that kind of love in our lives.
I never knew, that night, that the time we would have to share with Gina was limited. Looking back now, missing her, I wish she'd had the kind of love we saw in those tapes. She certainly deserved it, if anyone did. She also believed in the Star Trek ideal, the hope that we'll somehow make it into the future, that mankind will be around in several hundred more years. And she believed in life out there, thataway. Maybe right now, she's seeing things we've only dreamed about. I hope so. This issue of WHALESONG is dedicated to Gina. It contains a few pieces of her artwork, and the story that bears both our names was completed by me from the fragment she left behind. The wonderful thing about the printed page, it assures that something of us will be left behind to be remembered. It's been precisely a year now, and these things help me feel she's still around, looking over my shoulder as I get this issue ready for the printer.
To all of you who sent condolences, thank you very much. Your thoughts and kind words did help. I hope the readers haven't been made too uncomfortable by my writing about my friend this way; I just felt more needed to be said than what is included on the dedication page. This issue, like the first WHALESONG, is a zine about hope, about survival, about dreams we won't let go. Doing it has made me feel very happy, very good about life, and I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed putting it together.

Transparent Aluminum (editoral) (2)
Transcendance, song by April Valentine (3)
Linkage by Jessamyn Fox (4)
Injured Party by CarolMel Ambassador (49)
Last Song, song by April Valentine (55)
Aftermath by Lynn Syck & Laurel Ridener (56)
untitled by Alyns Lawchilde (61)
Sarek: The Voice, poem by Michell Perry (62)
Trinity, song by April Valentine (64)
Moments... and Days by Ginna LaCroix (66)
Sarek's Last Thoughts, poem by Michelle Perry (97)
Celebrities by Winston A. Howlett (98)
Unfinished Voyage by Gina Godwin & April Valentine (105)
Decisions by C.E. Roush (123)
Sing No Sad Songs by Beverly Volker (142)
Close to the Edge by Ellen Morris (148)
untitled by Alyns Lawchilde (213)
Past Forgetting, poem by April Valentine (214)

from issue #2, the dedication page for Gina Godwin
from issue #2, Chris Soto
from issue #2, Mary Mills
from issue #2, Chris Soto
from issue #2, LaVena Kay Kidd
from issue #2, L.S. Lee: Saavik and original character, Thomas
from issue #2, L.S. Lee, original characters, brothers Thomas and Darran
from issue #2, Gina Godwin

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

I wish to recommend WHALESONG 2, It is a zine based on the Star Trek movies. The color cover by Chris Soto is a beautiful rendition of Kirk and Spock watching the whales from the sinking Bird-of-Prey of STAR TREK IV. There is another color picture by Soto of Admiral Kirk and Captain Spock in uniform but I really loved the cover.
The whole zine is dedicated in memory of Gina Godwin and has a picture of her and her little son on the inside page. Also, Gina had an unfinished story she had been working on which [April Valentine] completed and included called "Unfinished Voyage." It involves Gillian, Kirk, and Spock as they attempt to understand the whales.
The first story, a post-STAR TREK I by Jessamyn Fox called "linkage" introduced an interesting alien called a "Cheshire" after the cat in ALICE IN WONDERLAND. This wa smy favorite in the zine and I see in the editorial that a sequel is planned. Other good stories are by Ambassador, Syck and Ridener, LaCroix, Winston Howlett, who did a cute one on the whales' point of view, Rousch, Bev Volker, and Morris.
The Morris story, "Close to the Edge," is a sequel to the Saavik story in WHALESONG #1 called "Blood Rite." There is some poetry also.
My favorite was the one on the last page by [April Valentine] called, "Past Forgetting." It is in the first person, presumably Kirk, reflecting on the miracle of Spock's rebirth. However, I can relate it to my own feelings, as I was devastated over the death of a "legend." To me, Spock is like Sherlock Holmes, a legend who should live forever. And, just like with Spock, Doyle tried to kill off Holmes, but his public wouldn't let him!
Other poets include Lawchilde, Perry, and more by Bonds. Other artists include Kidd, Lee, Mills, Valentine, and 6 by Gina Godwin. All in all, an enjoyable zine worth the price! ^[1]

Issue 3

Whalesong 3 was published in October 1990 and contains 86 pages.

The art is by David Kippax, Maggie Manlove, Christine Myers, April Valentine, SVE, Laurraine Tutihasi, and Ian Bonds.

front cover of issue #3, SVE

back cover of issue #3, Ian Bonds