Zap!

Zine
Title:	Zap!
Publisher:
Editor(s):	Beth Hallam & Margaret Draper
Date(s):	1977-1979
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
	Click here for related articles on Fanlore.
	Contents 1 About Zap's Origins; 2 From a 1978 Ad; 3 Regarding Zap's Demise; 4 Issue 1; 5 Issue 2; 6 Issue 3; 7 Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3; 8 Issue 4; 9 References;

You may be looking for the proposed zine Z.A.P.

Zap! is a gen Star Trek: TOS get Kirk anthology fanzine by Beth Hallam and Margaret Draper. The last issue was called The Seacon Edition.

About Zap's Origins

A fan explains:

It was in those days that we learned the ingredients Janet considered essential for a good Star Trek story - Kirk had to be hurt, and hurt bad! And there just weren't enough of her type of story around. That was how Margaret Draper, Ann and I got bullied, flattered, cajoled and bribed into writing them for her. And write them we did, along with a few other people Janet got at, like Sheila. Just a few weeks ago, Margaret Draper and I went through "those Janet stories" and re-read them. Some of them were quite good, we decided. Why hasn't someone published a 'zine of them? So we decided to do just that, the result is 'Zap!' a Quartonly magazine. The first edition of 'Zap!' will be available at the con. Anybody interested in 'Zap!' should write to for information, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope...^[1]

From a 1978 Ad

... zines devoted to bonking stories. Agonise along with our heroes as you read some of the most applalling prose ever penned by Margaret Draper, Beth Hallam, Sheila Clarke, Marion Dougall, Ann Looker, etc. Guaranteed to bring a tear to the most hardened eye.^[2]

Regarding Zap's Demise

Margaret Draper and Beth Hallam are sorry to announce the death, by natural causes, of their zine 'Zap'. No flowers by request, donations to charity preferred.^[3]

Issue 1

front cover of issue #1, Beth Hallam

back cover of issue #1, Ann Looker and Jackie Wright

the editorial page

Zap! 1 was published in 1977 and contains 44 pages. The interior illustrations are mostly by Beth Hallam.

The editorial:

ZAP! a Quartonly magazine, Do not be fooled, gentle reader, by our description. It is not a result of the well known facts that Beth can't spell and Margaret can't type. We really do mean it 'Quartonly' magazine and not a quarterly one. Indeed, although we have plans for 'ZAP! 2' there is little sign that the 'zine will be published at any regular interval. The 'Quartonly' tag then refers to Janet of that ilk. For an explanation let us look back to the early days of STAR TREK fandom...
By a happy chance of circumstances we, Ann Looker, Margaret Austin, Jackie Wright, Janet and ourselves, all met and discovered a sympathy. On Tuesday evenings it became our custom to meet at Janet's tiny tied cottage in Chesham. There we would drink, coffee or wine according to our financial position, and rummage through Janet's drawers. This last activity was very rewarding because that was where she kept her fanzines. We would unearth such gems as T'Negative, Beta Niobe, Telemetry - all the early publications. We would read as much as we could there, not a great deal however because you were expected to take 'some' part in the conversation. Then, when leaving, we were frisked to establish what we were taking away. It wasn't that Janet objected to lending out her 'zines, it was just that she exacted a fine for every one taken. Jackie and Margaret Austin got off fairly lightly, we other three had to pay the terrible price of our vice...we could write ..... our punishment - to produce a story that Janet would like! And she was very exacting in her standards. Kirk had to be 'bonked' and 'bonked' badly, to the point of death! Spock and McCoy had to 'worry about Jim! The end had to be set in sickbay! Anything less and our pleasant night became a penitential slog, we had to finish, alter or re-write the story to Janet's specifications . . . , . ,
For many years these stories have been unread (except by Janet ) mouldering in files and drawers. Then one weekend we decided that there must be other Janets around, people who would enjoy such stirring tales. So here it is 'ZAP!' the violent one, a Quartonly magazine.

Fire! by 'Jinx' (11 pages)
Suspense Story by Ann Looker (11 pages)
Gory Story by Margaret Draper (8 pages, art by 'Maggi')
The Vindication of Montgomery Scott (12 pages)
Crossword by Beth Hallam (1 page)
Bugs Billy, poem by Helen Sneddon

inside page from issue #1, art by Beth Hallam for "Fire!"
inside page from issue #1, art by Beth Hallam for "Suspense Story"
inside page from issue #1, art by Maggi from "Gory Story"
inside page from issue #1, Sulu illo by Beth Hallam for "The Vindication of Montgomery Scott"

Issue 2

Zap! 2 was published in 1977 and contains 42 pages.

The editors say that if they don't get some contributions for the next issue, there won't be an issue #3.

front cover of issue #2, Beth Hallam

back cover of issue #2, Ann Looker and Jackie Wright

Desert Song by Margaret Draper, illoed by Sandy Sapatka
Jacobus Agonistes by Ann Looker, illoed by Beth Hallam
Headaches are Imaginary by Sheila Clark, illoed by Maggi
The Filler by M and B Tablets
Under the Knife by Beth Hallam, illoed by Beth Hallam

inside page from issue #2, illo by Sandy Sapatka
inside page from issue #2, illo by Sandy Sapatka
inside page from issue #2, illo by Beth Hallam
inside page from issue #2, illo by Maggi

Issue 3

Zap! 3 was published in 1979 and contains 51 pages.

back cover of issue #3, Ann Looker, Jackie Wright and Beth Hallam

front cover of issue #3, Maggi

From the editorial:

Zap 3' is the same formula as usual, 'Kirk-bonking Janet-Quarton-style,' with only one exception. The exception? It is a called 'Close Call, Mr. Spock,' and Chris Hall sent it to us. She started off to write a 'Kirk get'em', and ended up with a 'lie down and be quiet, Spock' tale. When typing up this stirring yarn, I came unexpectedly upon the line, 'She had hours to spend undisturbed in bending Mr. Spock to her will.' I looked twice, and my typewriter began to steam gently, causing my glasses to mist over. Surely not, not 'Zap', not printing that kind of story!!!??? Imagine my disappointment on discovering nothing more traumatic occurred to Spock than... no, you read the 'zine for yourself. But no one appears to have told our botanical friend on the back cover that it isn't that kind of 'zine.... pity.

All in the Mind by S. Meek (1)
McCoy's Triumph by Beth Hallam (5) (reprinted in The Trouble with Kittens)
Rescue by Sally Syrjala (19)
Dea ex machina by Marian Van der Voort (23)
Close Call, Mr. Spock by C.E. Hall (41)
front cover by Maggi, other illos by Beth Hallam and Maggi, back cover by Ann Looker, Jackie Wright and Beth Hallam

inside art from issue #3, Beth Hallam
inside art from issue #3, Maggi
inside art from issue #3, Maggi
inside art from issue #3, Maggi

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

Traditionally, 'Zap' has been dedicated to Kirk-bonking. But, ever alert to the subtle things of change, I suspected from S. Meek's hilarious prelude to issue #3, wherein our heroes ponder the probable perils of that issue, that tradition might be broken this time around. And I was right. Oh, Kirk gets it again, amusingly in 'MrCoy's Triumph,' and more seriously in stories by Syrjala and Van der Voort. But for all you Spock fans out there, smugly chuckling at our good captain's fate, 'Zap 3' brings Spock into the choice ranks of the 'bonked' in the dandy tale by C.E. Hall. You see, there's this woman who's obsessed with Spock, and who's never been able to control her desires. She's determined to get him by fair means or foul. Of course, our noble Vulcan is completely oblivious to her existence and thereby seals his fate. After careful investigation, she finds a secluded storage room and lures Spock into it... No, I won't tell. You'll have to read it yourself. 'Zap's' editors have obviously had fun putting this issue together, and you're certain to have fun reading it.^[4]

Issue 4

Zap! 4 is the "SeaCon Edition." It was published in 1979 and contains 56 pages.

front cover of issue #4, Richard Gardner

back cover of issue #4