Frienz/Issues 13-14

Frienz · Issues 01-02 · Issues 03-04 · Issues 05-06 · Issues 07-08 · Issues 09-10 · Issues 11-12 · Issues 13-14 · Issues 15-16 · Issues 17-18 · Issues 19-20 · Issues 21-22 · Issues 23-24 · Issues 25-26 · Issues 27-28 · Issues 29-30 · Issues 31-32 · Issues 33-34 · Issues 35-36 · Issues 37-38 · Issues 39-40 · Issues 41-42 · Issues 43-44 · Issues 45-46 · Issues 47-48 · Issues 49-50 · Supplements

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Frienz is a gen and non-explicit slash Starsky & Hutch letterzine.

They contain letters, want ads, con reports, clippings, flyers, and occasional fiction.

Issue 13 (April 1991)

Frienz 13 was published in April 1991 and contains 20 pages.

cover of issue #13

• TOTM; FANZINES—my favorite all time SH zine. Why? EPISODE—Huggy Bear: pimp, snitch, bar owner, or what? How does this guy stay out of jail. SURMISE—SH 1991...what are the guys doing today? (not the actors, the characters)
• the editor notes: "UK subs are up, but US subs are down. I hope to do a renewal outreach after this issue goes out. Regular subs keep the kitty purring. Numbers this issue are 21 for UK, 19 for US."
• there is a con report for ZirCon, see that page

Issue 13: Sample Fan Comments

Favorite zines:

It's difficult to pin down just one all time favorite. I'll always have a special feeling for the first ever SH zine, ZEBRA III #1, because of the unforgettable "Mojave Crossing" by Connie Faddis. At our Paul Muni Special con, the tenth anniversary of SH, Carol Davis and I gave out the "Encore Awards", so named because every piece of fanfiction, art, etc. since the beginning of SH fandom was eligible. And "Mojave Crossing" is the story that won "Very Favorite Story Over All". Everyone, whether you're into slash or non, can enjoy and appreciate this beautiful hurt/comfort story.

Also in ZEBRA III #1 is "Bomb Scare" a good story by Jan Linder. I'd read this zine years before actually getting involved in SH fandom, though.

Much, much later, the first slash SH I read was CODE 7 #2. But the zine that pushed me that extra step into the world of SH was WHO YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU KNOW AND HOW YOU KNOW IT, edited by Elaine Hauptman and Lucy Cribb (Walk). The two stories that were my favorites were [Rosemary C's] "The Last Charade" and Lynna Bright's "A Place to Hide". Although I love this zine, there are a couple of other stories that I don't re-read like the others.

The one zine that I still love and continue to re-read is MURDER ON SAN CARMELITAS. I did publish it, so it feels a little weird saying it's my favorite, but since I was the publisher rather than the author, it's not like I'm boasting' Lynna's story is beautiful, moving, hot and so true to the characters, and Suzan Lovett's artwork adds so much to the story that I'm really proud of this zine and pleased to know a lot of others feel the same about it as I do.

Favorite zines:

Depends on my mood. I always enjoy Suzan's duo—I am very fond of the Code Sevens—I am dazzled by Graven Images. Sorry, I don't have one favourite!

Favorite zine:

With fewer that 15 S&H zines, my choices are somewhat limited. But I would have to say "Wilderness". It was one of the first zines I got my hands on, and I couldn't stop reading and re reading it for weeks. Reminded me of my favorite episode (SHOOTOUT), so that must have had something to do with it, too.

Favorite zine:

...favourite, all-time SH zine? Did everyone have the same problem with this? I look forward to reading other replies. I tried. I tried a process of elimination. Tried short-listing. Just one zine? Is it possible? But you want names. And I can't pick just one. Names ... "The Thousandth Man" and 'The Goliath' by Suzan Lovett. Both. They're a set. Why? - you also wanted to know. Well... the writing ... non-derivative, totally free of cliche, the clear, direct style, never verbose yet never leaving out anything that should be there and gifted with that essential quality of insight into character, the balanced blending of characterization and story-line, the lines of poetry chosen to reflect the themes, and, of course, the superb, complementary artwork. Two SH novels to treasure. So - not bad for someone who couldn't choose?

And so many other titles come flocking in. How about anthologies? e.g. those ZEBRAS which were my first introduction to the warm and wonderful world of SH zines... back in 1979...

How about more recent collections? -'Code Seven x 4, 'Shadowplay', 'Nightlight'? The page-turning, original aspects of 'Scales of Justice'? The beautiful writing of 'San Carmelitas', with its bonus of beautiful illustrations? The imaginative insights of 'Coda'? or of 'Graven Images'? Could go on. And on. Couldn't I just cheat and have everything bound together in one vast volume? No?

Favorite zine:

My SH zine collection is somewhat limited, and I hate to pick just one favorite zine. The Zebra 3 zines are classics and a must for everyone. I was impressed by "Bonaventure" (missed "Celebration" as it was sold out when I learned about it) and enjoyed "Promises To Keep".

Favorite zine:

Impossible to choose just one favourite fanzine. I've had so much pleasure from so many zines containing innumerable S&H stories which have enriched my understanding of the characters. I do, perhaps, have a special affection for the early Zebra 3's, simply because these were the first zines I read, and were my introduction to the delights of fandom. Everything that followed was, and continues to be, a bonus.

A fan says she wouldn't see slash for either Starsky or Hutch if they had been married:

I see the characters as basically straight guys who have developed such intimate feelings for their partners that slash becomes possible; they have no one else to provide that kind of intimacy, the total bonding of soul and spirit and body. Why would they need to go to bed with their partner if they already have a sex partner, a life partner in a wife?

About females in S&H's world:

Yes, there were females who were worthy of mention -- I'm sometimes at a loss to understand the attitude of fans who would rather the lads never came within shouting distance of women, let alone had relationships with them. Misogyny is an odd thing to find in a fandom composed almost entirely of women, but that's what it's starting to look like. I'd make a guess that the worst offenders are the S/Hers. Don't all jump down my throat — I write S/H myself. However, the primary attraction for me has always been the relationship between the two guys, whether its '/' or straight, and since they live in a real world, they are going to interact with women. And while many of the women in S&H were less than worthy of notice, I'm not sure one should automatically take the scissors to them...

About the slash letterzine, Hanky Panky:

[M] takes us back some years with the reference to 'Hanky Panky'. I'm not sure that it entirely qualifies as a SH publication in the same way as, say, FRIENZ. There were doubtless good things in it but, apart from the correspondence, HP's primary invitation was: - write a '/' story. Just pick two characters and write a '/' story. Any two. Okay ... for anyone who wants to do it. But hardly central to SH. Light-hearted fun? - but maybe a little close to a somewhat mechanical, repetitive writing exercise. [M] comments, 'I never really enjoyed the style of HP.' Neither did I. Just too involved in one fandom, possibly. Whatever - I let my sub lapse. In my limited experience of it, HP never seemed like a SH zine. Perhaps it didn't mean to be.

About Vas & Dex:

...to all of you who have read/are reading/ might like to read the Vas and Dex universe! You might have wondered if we'd quit writing this — well, we haven't, we just needed to take time to write other things. Now we're back, and there's a whole load of new stuff available. And TRIVIAZINE, too. which contains one story so totally Over The Top that we never dared put it out elsewhere...

About zines:

This TOTM led to an hour or so's browsing among the zines. They present great variety, not to mention their neatness and originality. There are stories and story-endings which might be designated 'happily ever after', though I didn't notice even one which was written in terms of everything fine and perfect for ever and ever. No story seems to contain that sort of statement; there are no claims to unbroken, future bliss. But many feature an established, sure relationship, looking to a future with hope, though with no simplistic assumptions about permanence. Entirely credible. There are, in such stories, relationships grounded in constancy, which may grow and deepen, endure, whatever the external circumstances. Bonds of that kind last. They do exist. That's partly where the mythic element comes in. Realism isn't necessarily negative.

A fan is somewhat bi-fictional:

I'd guess that it would be fairly common in SH fandom for at least some to read/write both slash and straight fiction. I think it would depend on the individual. I've read a little slash (not all SH), mostly non-graphic, but it's not a habit. I'd definitely rather read straight fiction. As for writing slash, I have no desire to try because I'm uncomfortable with the premise. I'm glad that some fans that see the S&H relationship as slash also at times write straight fiction, too.

Issue 14 (July 1991)

Frienz 14 was published in July 1991 and contains 80 pages.

cover of issue #14, "Feelin' the Strain" by J. Jones

• TOTM: If you were writing a review of the show, how could you convince your readers that S&H is not "just another cop show"? (I was reading an old review of the show, I was sure the reviewer must have been watching some other show because all he talked about was guns and car chases.) SNOWSTORM...I watched this the other day. So here's somethings I thought about...did Hutch shoot that cop? Or, did the gun go off or what? I feel so bad for Hutch the way he's sitting there dejected. I just wanted to reach out to him. Do you think there was a review by IA about this shooting? Also, is this the first episode in which the guys share a cup? And, is it togetherness and closeness that causes them to drink out of the same cup or cheapness on Hutch's part?

Issue 14: Sample Fan Comments

A fan from the UK is inspired by the Tony Hillerman novels:

I've always wondered how S&H might respond to some of the American-Indian values, and these books fuelled speculation on such encounters. It's a theme I'd like to work into one of those post-'Decorated for death' stories - a lot of scope there.

Favorite zines:

I don't have one favorite zine, I don't think, but I do have my own categories. Most beautiful zine cover goes to Nightlight (though that will become a tie when Distant Shores comes out—of course, by the time you read this, it will be out! Those two covers alone are worth the price of admission) Hottest zine: Murder on San Carmelitas. Biggest impact: Gunther's Revenge (the first '/" I ever read) A forgotten multimedia is the first "&." Code 7 #4 has a place in my heart just because it arrived on a day when I was so up, it was like extra hot fudge on an ice cream sundae.... I guess I'd have to say that The Fix #6 would have to be my favorite; how can the zine in which your Huggy-winning story was published not be your favorite?

A fan address another fan regarding her remarks in the previous issue:

I understand your reasoning, but the dismissive tone made me feel like a poor relation. About sex getting in the way -- stuff getting in the way is pretty much what makes up the plot. Right? I mean, if everything went smoothly and nothing got in the way, what would we write about? Please don't quote me your "Love that dare not speak its name" quote. It's not original, it's very offensive, and as long as heterosexuals are encouraged to "flaunt" their relationships, and homosexuals are expected to keep their mouths shut about theirs, it's quite homophobic.

Several fans write that they enjoy the women in the series, and that:

Some of us are denying our womanhood (and displaying jealousy?) when objecting to females in important roles in S&H.