Phaser (Star Trek: TOS zine)

Zine
Title:	Phaser
Publisher:	Wersgor Publications, out of Philadelphia, PA, the fan club That Which Survives
Editor(s):	Michael Fisher
Date(s):	1975-1976
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:	full-size
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Phaser is a gen Star Trek: TOS zine published by a Philadelphia, PA fan club called That Which Survives.

Print is not reduced; Phaser is mimeoed.

Regarding "Geoffrey Michaeljohn," from Trexindex v.2/3 (1978):

Some people find that collaboration works best. Mike Fisher worked on several stories with Geoffrey Hammell and John Wagner, which were published in Phaser under the name "Geoffrey Michaeljohn". "We usually work on the stories as if they were shooting scripts," Mike explains. "We set up the outline: where we want the plot to go, where the action breaks, and what will happen in each scene. Then we each take a scene or two and go home and work on it. After that we get back together again and smooth it out. The last stage is where the screaming starts -- we have to switch the scenes around to make the story more coherent.

Issue 1

cover of issue #1, G. Hamell

Phaser 1 was published in February 1975, single-side type printed on 65 pages (65 pages of text total) of 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Held together by brass paper fasteners. Art is by Swoboda, Milton Streeter, Lisa Gould, Janet Wagner, Mike Fisher, Geoffrey Hamell, Tobar, and David Lomazoff.

• editorial (3)
• Log of the Lost - Milton Streeter (4)
• The Saboteur- an original script by Geoffrey Michaeljohn (9)
• editorial by Mike Fisher (36)
• "Goodbye" - Geoffrey Hamell (36)
• Vulcan Regret - David Lomazoff (38)
• The Last Voyage- Mike Fisher & Geoffrey Hamell (41)
• Star Mess - Mike Fisher (45)
• The Chronicles of Kirk Part I - Geoffrey Michaeljohn (47)
• word search by Weller (55)
• Transporter Operations - David Lomazoff (56)
• The Man from B.L.I.S.H - Mike Fisher (58)
• Et Tu Brute - Mike Fisher (59)
• An Interview with Leonard Nimoy - Harry Harris (62)
• crossword puzzle by John R. Wagner (65)

• 

  issue #1, back cover

• 

  art from issue #1, a very, very early TACS

• 

  art from issue #1,

• 

  art from issue #1, TACS

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

Phaser contains both humorous and serious Star Trek fiction. Non-fiction inclusions take the form of reviews, LoC's, regular columns, and puzzles and word games. Stories of Kirk at the Academy and on-board the Enterprise seem most prevalent. Milton Street's non-fiction on Star Trek seems to have been heavily researched and some of the artwork is passable. Unfortunately, most of the stories are written in script form, which is, more often than not, dull reading. Phaser's fiction is rated fair to fair-good, with the non-fiction rated good. Perhaps the best feature of the first issue was the back cover—Christine Chapel looking into a mirror where Number 1 is reflected with the caption, 'For all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'It might have been.'" Quite effective. Phaser might be a touch high-priced, but the 'zine seems to be improving. With a year to work on between issues, this 'zine could improve considerably.

Issue 2

cover of issue #2, S. Benson

issue #2

Phaser 2 was published in January 1976, is double-sided typed print on 35 pages (70 pages of text total) of 8 1/2 x 11 paper, with cardstock front and back covers, held together by three staples. The front cover is by S. Benson, the back cover by M. Streeter, the interior art is by Mary Bloemker, M. Fisher, G. Hamell, S. Lupo and Jan Wagner.

• The Ritual- an original script by Geoffrey Michaeljohn
• Where Someone Has Gone Before - Geoffrey Hamell
• Interview with Captain Kirk - Carl Coalworth and Geoffrey Hamell
• Where Have All The Crewmen Gone?- an original script by Geoffrey Michaeljohn
• Hypothetical Discussion of Dilithium Crystals- David Krouse
• The Other Choice- Geoffrey Hamell
• Last Request- Geoffrey Hamell
• The Chronicles of Kirk Part II - Geoffrey Michaeljohn & John Palmer
• The Trouble with More Tribbles - Michael B. Fisher

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

This monster issue contains a lot of material, much of it in two scripts by the trio of authors who call their collective self Geoffrey Michaeljohn. There is a short article by G. Hamell that examines the parallels between some of Star Trek and the SF novel "The Voyage of the Space Beagle" by A.E. Van Vogt. He seems to be making the point that while there is a large coincidence between much of it, no slight is intended. And there is a story called "One Out of Ten"—-part II in the "Chronicles of Kirk." The setting is at the Academy, and the story mainly covers some of the beginnings of Kirk's confrontations with Finney, his arch rival. The story was fairly complete, but some of the incidents seemed a bit forced.

On the whole an admirable effort. Art was plentiful, but of low caliber, except for the works of Milton Streeter. It seems to me on the move, and is really not so bad for a second issue, considering its size. Next time, I hope they (the editors) concentrate more on quality and less on quantity.

Mike not only sent me a free review copy of PHASER 2, but prepared a small issue of PHASER 1 from left over pages for my benefit, and sent me a copy of his new KOLCHAK, The Night Stalker offset poster (11x17 inches) that goes for only $1 plus postage. And he announces a fanzine called THE KOLCHAK PAPERS. Sounds eirie. And strangewierd.

Issue 3

Phaser 3 was published in September 1977 and contains 85 pages.

cover of issue #3

• The Kirk Chronicles Part 3: Assignment: Judas, fiction by Scott M. Benson & Geoffrey Hamell
• For Honor, Queen, and Troyius!, fiction by Geoffrey Hamell, Michael Fisher & Scott M. Benson ("our swashbuckling original script")
• The Storm, fiction by Scott M. Benson & Geoffrey Hamell
• Where No Klingon..., fiction by Geoffrey Hamell
• poetry and art