Frienz/Issues 25-26

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 25 (June 1994)

Frienz 25 was published in June 1994 and contains 20 pages.

cover of issue #25

• TOTM: You've tried the rest, but you keep coming back to the best. What is it about S&H that keeps you interested and coming back for more?

Issue 25: Sample Fan Comments

It's been a bit of a turn down for zines:

Sorry to hear of the cancellation of Londa's Home for the Holidays Isn't that something like the third S&H zine cancelled within a year? I know Linda's "..Turned to Fire" will be out later this year, and Nanci Casad is tentatively planning another zine (straight stories only), but that doesn't seem like very much for a fandom that used to be so large. Where have all the S&H writers gone?! Probably to other fandoms like I have, as well as lacking new ideas for S&H. Too bad—I still very much enjoy reading S&H. Tabby, I hope your Renascence proposed in Frienz #24 is getting lots of submissions and going well.

Not everyone wants to go to a con:

It's certainly been a fast winter. Hard to believe it's already Spring. By the time this is published another MediaWest will be over too. I hope it had a good attendance, and that S&H was well represented too. Since I have no interest in attending any Cons in person, I support them vicariously (and buy LOTS of the new zines released every year too!)

A fan had a great time at MediaWest:

I just got back from MediaWest, where I had a fabulous time! I highly recommend this con to anyone interested in more than one fandom who wants access to tons of zines, and likes the idea of being at a con that takes over an entire hotel!

Some on MediaWest:

Well, and here it is only 51 weeks to the next MediaWest! This past one was great fun, even if I did have dismal zine hunting. Usually I come back with half a dozen or so new zine3—this year only one. The S&H panel was good even if sparsely attended; we strongly suspected many others who would otherwise have come were standing in the next year's con registration line instead. I think there were more people at the S&H room party than were at the panel. The room party was also instructive. I've been to similar affairs before, where episodes of a series are to be shown; usually they end up just forming background noise for fannish conversations. Not so here, there was almost total silence as everyone focused their attention on the screen. Some people said they hadn't seen the series for about 20 years. I hope we picked up some 'new souls for the faith', as another fandom puts it.

The best slash:

And though I know others will disagree, S&H (to me) also provides the most beautiful basis for the slash premise of any series I've yet to see. Their relationship is obviously the deepest possible sort of friendship and a great deal more. It's no surprise many of the stories with the most intense emotional content are S&H.

The recent conflicts between slash and gen fans, and the situation involving Amapola Press, have made some fans step back from this fandom:

Admittedly it's become more difficult for me to keep "coming back for more" recently, both due to my expanding fandom interests and the dissension here. No one wants to deal with bickering and arguing in fandom; there's more than enough of that in the "real world." Now that things have settled down, S&H fandom is again becoming more pleasant, and I'm enjoying it more again. Doesn't help me come up with any plot inspirations, but stories by others are always fun to read.

Zines as a barometer of fandom health:

There are times I think this fandom is in a revival, but then I see proposed zines getting cancelled left and right for lack of submissions, and I have to wonder.

Reading what's available:

I don't refuse to read S/H, but consider it strictly alternate universe. Unfortunately, if one wants to read SH, it's about all there is.

A fan proposes the lending library:

Recently we seem to have quite a few new people discovering SH fandom. (Yea!) In addition to episodes, all these folks want to get their hot little hands on—yes -- zines. Problem: Many zines -- "&" and "/" -- are out of print and virtually impossible to find second-hand, especially if one can't go to cons.

It's occurred to some of us that a lending library, similar to the one [Karen B] runs for "The Professionals", might be a good solution. We would have a collection of out of print zines available for loan at a nominal fee. The borrower would reimburse the postage costs and return the zine within a reasonable period of time, during which she could, if desired, make her own copy. Zines which are still available (such as the Zebra 3's) would not be included. If we do this, the question arises of where to get the loaner zines (Xeroxes would be fine). I have a couple I could contribute to the cause, and could copy a couple more, but I frankly can't afford to reproduce my entire collection, and no longer want to ship out my originals.

An effort like this would require the support of more than one or two fans. So I thought I'd toss the idea out and see how it sounds to you. We have a responsible party who's volunteered to handle the library. Does this seem like a good idea to you? Is it a service you might use? Is it an idea you're willing to support in any way?

For example: 1) Do you have extra copies or unwanted zines you could donate to the library on a more-or-less permanent basis? 2) Do you have access to copying, so you could donate cloned copies, or could copy other people's zines at no charge for inclusion in the library? 3) Would you be willing to donate cash toward copying costs? I have a friend in another fandom who has her own machine and will xerox zines for us at a small cost. (She doesn't want to make a business of copying SH zines for others, but would make us a single copy of a zine for use in the library.) Once again, this seems like a possible way to feed new fans (and any older ones whose collections are incomplete!). But one or two fans can't do it alone, nor should they be expected to. So, are you willing to help in whatever way(s) you can? Please write to me at home or through the l/z with your ideas, suggestions, and offers of assistance.

Complaints about an illo, one which was later printed as the cover of Frienz #27:

I recently heard a comment on an illo in a zine 'Bonaventure') which I published in 1990. Remember Suzi's frontispiece, 'Hero's Heart'? — which I've always thought of as a beautiful example of SH artwork. This comment called it 'disgusting' ... 'it reeks of S/H.' I can find no rational response, is there one??

Virtually all slash?

I don't believe that SH fandom has ever been 'virtually exclusively slash'. I agree that much of the later fanzine fiction accepts the '/' premise... I hope there will always be a place for all opinions and interpretations. I hope any good SH zine would find eager readers—I have no grounds for assuming that it wouldn't. [M] refers to 'slash fanatics'... I don't think I'm one; I'm just someone who welcomes any good, insightful, perceptive writing—and that of course, could be '/' or non-'/'. I'd never take up a pre-determined position, refusing in advance to read anything in one category or the other.

Issue 26 (August 1994)

Frienz 26 was published in August 1994 and contains 28 pages.

cover of issue #26

• TOTM: What episodes or stories in zines would you use to introduce new fans to Starsky & Hutch? Is there a single episode that stands out in your mind when you explain that S&H is mot just another cops n' robbers show?
• fiction, "Alternate Tag to 'Satan's Witches'" by Theresa Kyle

Issue 26: Sample Fan Comments

Regarding the illo "Hero's Heart," from Bonaventure (and printed as the cover of the next issue of Frienz):

I also think Suzan Lovett's "Hero's Heart" is beautiful, but I can understand how it might upset someone who is violently anti-slash.

Regarding "Hero's Heart":

'Hero's Heart' -- was good to learn how many people love that lovely drawing. Any question about '/' or non'/' is immaterial. It's just beautiful artwork. Either is fine.

Regarding "Hero's Heart":

I was dismayed when Tabby recounted her experience with a fan who wrote to tell her that she considered "Hero's Heart" ~ the frontispiece to Tabby's zine, Bonaventure - "disgusting." The illo, for anyone who hasn't seen it, is in an oval format and shows S and H from the shoulders up, fully clothed. H is behind and to the left of S, and has his arms around S's shoulders. S's arm, in turn, is reaching back to rest beside/behind H's head. Both are looking "at the camera." Around the piece is the quote," What makes you special, a breed apart? You're my friend, and you have a hero's heart." While I don't dispute anyone's Constitutional right to like and dislike whatever she chooses, or even to be as homophobic as she likes, I do question the courtesy of writing an editor of a zine to tell her she found an illo to be "disgusting," especially an innocuous piece such as this one. Come on, now, it's not a Gayle F! If this fan thinks the idea of S and H hugging one another "reeks of slash" and is "disgusting," I find myself asking why she's in this fandom? Perhaps she might be more comfortable with "Dragnet." While I never really watched the show, I feel fairly confident that Joe Friday and Bill Gannon didn't touch much!

A UK fan does not like the word "slash":

I've never like the word... it sounds abrasive, aggressive, harsh. In English idiom the word for that virgule can be stroke. I like that better. But I recognize that 'slash' is just a useful word.

A fan writes:

SH fandom is growing. I even have friends on the internet asking and I gave them your address for more info on S&H.

The lending library:

Good news first: Ladies, it looks as if the Lending Library is going to happen! So far we've had about fourteen zines donated, (Thank you, Barbara, Trish, Kath, Kathleen and Nancy) with several more promised (Lyria, Nanci, Monica Rose, Pat, Marian). We've also had some folks promise to send money toward copying costs. Yes! But, (she says, cheer leader-like), this doesn't mean people should just sit back and expect others to take care of things; we still need help from everyone. If you need to know what we already have, drop me a line and I'll tell you. If there are particular titles you'd like to see included, let us know that as well. Wouldn't it be great if we could offer all the out of print zines? [K S] had what I think is a great idea: At the front of each zine in the library will be a page or frontispiece thanking the person who contributed it. Besides giving credit where it's due, it will let those who donate cash know how their money was spent.

A fan will donate her zines to be copied for the lending library:

I may be able to help. I have lots of nice, out of print zines. I lack lots of postage money to ship them for copying. My Mustang needed a carb rebuild and I'm now broke. Can anyone donate postage? All I want is my zines returned to me in the same condition that I sent them in.

More on the lending library:

...copying permission is hereby given for all the 10-13 zines (with the exception of 3-11, and NEA, in case Paula or Jody still have a copy or two left. Interested parties should contact them) -- I think the idea of a SH fan library is terrific. Would I use it? Possibly -- though international postage might be prohibitive as well as risky...

A fan responds to another who'd asked if Mary Sues "were still being written":

Yes, sad to say Mary Sue's are still out there. I bought a ghastly Alien Nation zine that wound up being the most hideous example of a Mary Sue since ...name your zine. Of course, the bond between the boys almost precludes such a story, but...

Too close?:

... I have something I'd like to ask. Does anyone aside from me think that Starsky and Hutch's relationship, (while lovely to watch) could be damaging to them? Think about it. They seem to mostly only share their positive, nurturing and protective qualities with each other. I know it's because they know they can only trust each other, and they spend so much time together. But can such complete, total intimacy be self-destructive? Can two friends become too close? The reason I'd like input is because I have a story idea...

Regarding tolerance:

How I agree with your comment that you hope "there would always be space for all POV." I do too! Unfortunately many non-slash fans are so completely intolerant of slash that it makes me wonder how the two factions have ever survived without starting World War III.

About cons:

I don't get to a lot of cons, but I can't imagine not attending any at all. One of my regular con roommates has described MediaWest as "a combination of religious revival and family reunion," which pretty well covers it. It's something I look forward to all year, even if the way it's run does sometimes prove very irritating.

A ZebraCon memory:

I find I attended one more ZCon in'89, then none until 1993. I was still disappointed in last year's so far as SH programming went. Let's face it folks, if we want more than 'the obligatory S&H panel at ZCon, we're going to have to do it ourselves. Even if it means a group sitting around on the floor of the hotel lobby. One idea I'd had, reinforced by your comments, would be something like a "writers jam," a gathering to exchange and sort of brainstorm story ideas. This way we could share our stories and problems with each other instead of unloading them on poor Pat! And maybe inspire more SH writing?

Slash as the majority?:

You say that you don't believe SH fandom was ever "virtually exclusively slash." That may be, but if there were any non-slash elements around in 1986 and following, I sure couldn't find 'em!