Gambit (US Blake's 7 anthology)/Issue 004

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Issue 4

front cover of issue #4, Adrian Morgan

back cover of issue#4, Kathy Hanson

flyer printed in Fire and Ice #1

Gambit 4 was published in May 1989 and is 275 pages long.

The art is by Adrian Morgan (front cover), Sonja Van den Ende, A. Hamilton, Bruce Mitchell, Suzie Molnar, Michael Williams, Jean B. Hubb, Denise Loague, Mary Gerstner, Kathy Hanson (back cover), Judith Boguslawski, and Jennifer Tifft.

From the editorial:

Those of you with word processors, please send us your material on disk with applicable system specs (Your type of computer and word processor.) We also appreciate ASCII files, if possible. We can read from many formats, either 5 1/4 or 3 1/2". If for any reason we cannot read your disk, we’ll ask for hard copy, but the less re-typing we have to do, the better for all concerned, and the fewer typos you’re likely to find in the final version of your story!

Typewriter-generated contributions are still more than welcome. We realize not everyone out there has an Orac or a Zen or a Slave...

We frequently get asked how we can produce a zine this ’fat’ for such a comparatively low cost, and it’s come to our attention, in fact, that some fans have used GAMBIT as a price-measuring rod in order to criticize editors whose zines cost considerably more. Having conducted several ’market tests’ of our own, we can tell you first-hand that there is a considerable disparity between printing/copying prices on the east and west coasts. California is an extremely competitive graphics market: 2.5 cents per page is not at all uncommon. This same price quote, however, has literally evoked laughter in east coast printshops everywhere from Boston to Miami, where prices per page were two and sometimes three times that amount.

Please don’t be too quick to judge our fellow zine-publishers. GAMBIT is printed under near-ideal conditions, using an employee discount well below 2.5 cents per page and produced on a high-quality Xerox 8200 auto-collating ’monster’ copier. Ye Editor works for the printing company and is thus her own printer as well as ’quality control supervisor,' cover-collator, bindery, and mailing service. We’ve managed several ’inside’ methods of saving money that aren’t necessarily available to other editors in other areas. So by all means enjoy these advantages along with us, but do keep in mind that they’re the exception rather than the rule.

the staff of GAMBIT would like to make doubly clear that two of the stories found in the 'Other Dimensions’ section of this issue are parody, and, as the admittedly tongue-in-cheek prefaces were meant to convey, should by no means be construed as personal attacks against anyone, in whole or in part as a unit, our staff avows fan-pacifism. We do this for fun. And if we can’t laugh a little at ourselves in the process, well, what’s the point in bothering to do this at all?

• Editor's Forum, editorial by Jean Graham

• Brothers, fiction by Paulie Kay (Series A) (4)
• The Gambler's Bane, fiction by Mary Gerstner (Series A) (10)
• Vila's Song, filk by Teresa Ward (20)
• Carleen, fiction by Susan Murrie Eoff (Series A) (22)
• The Rules, fiction by J.S. Mulvey (Series A) (25)
• A Man of His Word, fiction by Pamela London & Holly Hutchison (Series A) (28)
• Hammer Into Anvil, fiction by Alicia Ann Fox (Series A) (29)
• Seven Days to Karma, fiction by Juli Cleveland (Series A) (30)
• Roj Blake, filk, Pamela V. London (42)
• A Fate Than Worse than Death, fiction by Cyndi Hubb (Series B) (44)
• Soliloquy, poem by Margaret Scroggs (50)
• Relations, fiction by Jeanne DeVore (Series B) (51)
• The Sounds of Screaming, filk by Rosanna Filipello (63)
• Slash?, fiction by Wolf Klauschie (Series B) (63)
• A Question of Priorities, fiction by Sheila Paulson (Series B) (64)
• Star Struck, fiction by Michelle Moyer (Series B) (79)
• untitled, fiction by Steve Oualline (Series B) (85)
• In Memorium, poem by Cindy Rancourt (91)
• The Inmates and the Asylum, fiction by Tom Beck (Series B) (92)
• Things that Go Bang, fiction by Nancy Klauschie (Series C) (109)
• The Clarity of Darkness, fiction by April Giordano (Series C)(121)
• Snips 'N' Snails 'N' Puppy Dogs' Tails, fiction by K.D. Swan (Series C) (147)
• Realm of Darkness, fiction by Jean B. Hubb (Series C) (161)
• Purpose, poem by Alicia Ann Fox (175)
• Pairing Off on the Quiet, fiction Aya Katzby (Series C) (176)

• The 12 Days of Christmas -- Sung by Servalan, filk by Rosanna Filipello (182)
• A Light in the Dark, fiction by Mary Pat Cheney (Series C) (183)
• Dreams Lost, poem by Teri Sarick (198)
• Xiaodan, fiction by Catherine Kendall (Series C) (199)
• Love Granted, poem by Teri Sarick (207)
• Arrival, fiction Alicia Ann Foxby (Series C) (208)
• The Knife, poem by Jennifer Tifft (210)
• Legacies, fiction by Roxie Ray (Series C) (211)
• Freedom's Son, filk by Sharyn Sobel & Leah Rosenthal (217)
• Duck, Duck, Goose, fiction by K. Rae Travers (Series C) (218)
• Unrelenting, poem by Teri Sarick (227)
• Blake & Crew, filk by Rosanna Filipello (228)
• Where the Shadows Are, fiction by Ana Dorfstad (Series D) (229)
• A New Beginning, fiction by Steve Oualline (Series D) (236)
• A Chance for Life, fiction by Kimberly Wigmore (Series D) (238)
• Second Thoughts, poem by Teresa Ward (239)
• Taken by Chance, fiction by Sophia R. Mulvey (Series D) (240)
• After, poem by Teri Sarick (251)
• 73 Kilos of Ballast, fiction by Adrian Morgan & Brendan O'Cullane (Series D) (reprinted in Double Vision) (Series D) (253)

• Suffer Thee, poem by Alana McShane (255)
• Rest Ye Merry, fiction by Dee Beetum (Series E) (256)
• Crew, filk by Rosanna Filipello (257)
• Tenth Annual Blake's 7/Marysue Convention, fiction by Teresa Ward (Other Dimensions) (258)
• Blake's Christmas, filk by Teri Sarick (259)
• Federation, filk by Sharyn Sobel & Jean Stevenson (260)
• News Break, fiction by Janet Walker (Other Dimensions) (261)
• At My Will, filk by Pamela V. London (262)
• Conventional Warfare, fiction by Steve Oualline & Sandra Lyons (Other Dimensions) (263)
• O'Servalan, filk by Rosanna Filipello (272)
• Letters of Comment (273)

• 

  from issue #4, Mary Gerstner

• 

  from issue #4, Susan Landerman

• 

  from issue #4, Sonja Van den Ende

• 

  from issue #4, Judith Boguslawski

• 

  from issue #4, Mary Gerstner

• 

  from issue #4, Jean B. Hubb

• 

  from issue #4, Bruce Mitchell

• 

  from issue #4, Adrian Morgan

• 

  from issue #4, Adrian Morgan

• 

  from issue #4, A. Hamilton

• 

  from issue #4, Adrian Morgan

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4

[Seven Days to Karma]: Set in Series 1, this could easily have been one of the episodes of the show. Accidentally stranded in the wilderness, while the Liberator is away delivering medical supplies, Avon and Vila must trek for 7 days to reach the nearest inhabited city. The characterisations of Avon and Vila are perfect, the banter clever and the plot exciting.

[zine]: A lot of zine for the price... nice!; laid out and readable, eveness [sic] of quality throughout. Of particular interest is the disturbingly funny "Conventional Warfare", which was presented as a skit at ORAC last year. This series of zine just seems to get better and better.

[zine]:

This genzine has six pre-series stories (pp 4-29) one series A (pp30-42) seven series B (pp44-107) ten series C (pp109-227) five series D (pp229-255) and one PGP (pp 256-7); a further three are listed under "Other Dimensions", and there are twenty poems.

"Brothers?" by Paulie Kay is an Avon-and-Vila-as-brothers story starting with their childhood and ending when they/'ve spent a year on Liberator. Its basic premise is that Avon is Vila's older brother but doesn't remember him because he has been mindwiped following their parents involvement with rebels; Vila escaped and became a delta. The basic idea is reasonable but the writing is a bit stilted and the action moves too quickly to let their relationship develop beyond a rudimentary level.

"The Gambler's Bane" has a young Cally involved in drug dealing and motherhood. The violent story heavily involves her father, sister and son, and ends just before she goes to Saurian Major. This is a well constructed story but I couldn't really see the Cally we know in the series. There is a sequel in Gambit 6.

"Carleen" is a short account of the death of Gan's woman. "The Rules" by J.S. Mulvey is a well above average Avon and Vila as boys encounter, in which Avon is rescued by Vila; the second half of the story involves Orbit. I don't usually get much from childhood stories but this one is written with real insight and neatly relates to the situation in which the adult characters find themselves.

"Hammer into Anvil" by Alicia Ann Fox is a one-pager describing Tarrant's thoughts as a cadet.

"Seven days to Karma" by Juli Cleveland is the only series A story. It covers familiar ground, a seven day slog through inhospitable country for Avon and Vila, with the usual unspoken camaraderie underneath the sniping. Quite enjoyable, but it didn't tell me anything new.

"A Fate Worse Than Death" by Cyndi Hubb starts with Blake getting a request for help from an old acquaintance; is it or is it not a trap? Avon and Vila are stranded separately on an inhospitable planet; will Vila help Avon and if so, why? This is not the standard view of the two as loyal friends. I found this story believable, except for the ease with which the bracelets were retrieved. Avon actually says at one point "The first thing I will do when we get back is to fix these bracelets, they fall off far too easily". Hallelujah! I wonder what stopped him?

"Relations" by Jan DeVore is about Jenna. Blake persuades her to meet her estranged father, a Federation governor whom Blake thinks may be sympathetic to the Cause. The story expresses well the tentative relationships between Blake, Jenna and Avon and the problems all the Liberator crew have in understanding and trusting one another.

My favourite story was Sheila Paulson's "A Question of Priorities" which takes place immediately after Avon and Grant have disabled the solium radiation device on Albion. Blake's high handed refusal to allow Vila and himself to be transported until the very last minute so infuriates Vila that he contemplates jumping ship. In the course of the story Blake sees the error of his ways, in part courtesy of Avon, and Vila gets to be the hero. This is a satisfyingly good read, and not just for Vila fans.

"Star Struck" by Michelle Moyer is a humorous story in which Avon - does he really wear R2D2 pyjamas - meets his idol and is disappointed. Zen gets all the best lines here.

"Untitled" by Steve Oualline is another light-hearted story, this time featuring a dragon from another dimension. "The Inmates and the Asylum" by Tom Beck is told entirely in the present tense, an interesting idea but after a page or two I began to irritated by it, a pity because the basic story line is amusing enough. Avon and Vila attempt to rescue someone from a high security asylum and have an unusual personality problem.

The first of the Series C stories "Things that Go Bang!" by Nancy Klauschie is a sequel to "Stealing's Quicker" in Gambit 3. In the earlier story Vila became leader of Liberator following Star One, with Avon's support. Here he continues to establish his new persona and leadership style, not just with the new crew but with Jenna; nice story, happy endings are in sight.

"The Clarity of Darkness" by April Giordano is an alternative Cally story featuring the Thaarn. The dead Cally is locked into a mental struggle with him; meanwhile Liberator answers a distress call from Auron. Servalan and Anna also make an appearance, as does Terminal. This one absolutely does not have a happy ending.

"Snips 'n Snails n' Puppy Dogs' Tails" by K.D Swan is an enjoyable Vila story which puts his childhood experience into a Liberator context. It includes some amusing moments, especially between Tarrant and maple syrup.

"Realm of Darkness" by Jean B. Hubb tells what Blake is doing these days. He helps a group of miners and an alien entity against Servalan, during which he contacts the Liberator incognito via Orac; the ending is inconclusive, suggesting that Avon knew his identity, but giving little hint about anyone's motivations.

"Pairing off on the Quiet" by Aya Katz is a convoluted Cally and Avon story whose themes would have been more at home in an adult zine. I didn't think it rang true of either of them.

"A Light in the Dark" follows Anna's death. Vila takes Avon for an enforced rest in Avalon's safe house, where they meet a rather unconvincingly drawn young female rebel to whom Avon is attracted. Back massage comes into it, but not much else.

"Xiaodan" by Catherine Kendall introduces Avon's brother Paatrov on a plague planet. Avon and Dayna contract the plague, and Avon's differences with his brother are resolved.

"Legacies" by Roxie Ray starts with Zelda's death and Cally's collapse. It revolves around Franton's proposal that the Liberator crew provide each provide a genetic sample to help start building a new Auron race. There is an appealing Cally/Vila conversation on the topic.

In "Duck, Duck, Goose" Vila becomes seriously ill after being got at by the Federation in a way that I cannot describe without giving away the plot. He then does the noble thing (twice in one zine - is this a record?) by his comrades and survives to enjoy his cure.

"Where the Shadows Are" by Ana Dorfstad takes place on Terminal after the loss of Liberator and explains why Cally called out Blake's name. "A Chance for Life" is a macabre one-page alternative to what happened immediately following Dorian's death.

In the post-Malodaar "Taken by Chance" by Sophia F. Mulvey, Vila decides to leave but encounters trouble from an old acquaintance. Subsequently he has to rescue his crewmates, and ends up back on board. I liked this story, which had some deft plot twists, except for the final reconciliation between Vila and Avon which was much too easily brought about.

"73 Kilos of Ballast" - I wonder what this one's about? A short, adroit and ironic Orbit alternative by Adrian Morgan and Brendan O'Cullane.

"Rest Ye Merry" by Dee Beetem has them all settled down with their kids for Xmas; as a comic story, this didn't work for me.

Listed under Other Dimensions is an amusing story by Teresa Ward "10th Annual Blake's7 - Mary Sue Convention", "News Break" by Janet Walker, and "Conventional Warfare" an entertaining account of what might happen at American conventions.

Overall this edition of Gambit should appeal particularly to fans of Vila, Avon and Cally. The others have their moments, but they are not strongly featured.

[zine]:

I received my contributor's copy of GAMBIT 4 and wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it! The zine looked beautiful and had a terrific cross-section of stories and other material. I particularly loved Susan Landerman's 'cat characters' on pages 21 and 160. Ha! You'll have to tie her down and make her do some more for future issues!

[zine]: Needless to say, I was delighted with GAMBIT 4. A LIGHT IN THE DARK made the biggest impression here. But I seriously doubt that Avon would EVER use catsup'.

[zine]: I must say that you put out one of the most professional looking zines I've ever seen. I can appreciate the fact that working in a print shop helps; I work in one too. My absolute favorite story in GAMBIT 4 is CONVENTIONAL WAR- FARE! Wonderful, and right on the mark. It sounded a lot like my first con experience, especially the allotted time for autographs and the pay-for- privileges concerning the guest. I've only ever been able to observe that, being too poor to afford such luxuries myself. I just hope none of your zines are booby-trapped! Thanks for a great series of zines.

[zine]: I personally thought that THE CLARITY OF DARKNESS was a wonderful idea, skillfully drawn out. The thoughtfully- executed poetry, particularly THE KNIFE, was very stirring and sensitive. I'm looking forward to seeing more.

[zine]: ut my favorites from this issue all seem to feature Cally; i.e. GAMBLER'S BANE, PAIRING OFF ON THE QUIET and THE CLARITY OF DARKNESS, the latter being an absolute killer of a story. It affected me the same way that the end of "Blake" did. I was left stunned.

[zine]: While I was writing, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed GAMBIT IV. My favorite story was THINGS THAT GO BANG and I hope Nancy Klauschie writes more tales in that universe. Vila is delightful! I also especially liked XIAODAN and LEGACIES. 73 KILOS OF BALLAST and the accom- panying illustrations were chilling, definitely not bedtime reading. The OTHER DIMENSIONS section was an unexpected delight. I hope I get to attend Teresa Ward's TENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION to be one of the handful of fans hovering about Tarrant. And, at last, a sensible approach to the fan wars, CONVENTIONAL WARFARE. Hopefully, laughing over the dirty business will help ameliorate the hostilities. I guess the only complaint I can think of, and it is probably beyond your control, is the scarcity of PGP stories - I love reading all the fan-generated fifth seasons. As usual, a great zine and a great buy (and how considerate of you to explain your bargain pricing). Thanks for all of your hard work producing it.

[zine]: I am working my way through GAMBIT 4, and I think it is the best one yet. The quality of the stories is high throughout, and I was delighted to find CONVENTIONAL WARFARE in there-what a great skit. [For those who may not know, CON- VENTIONAL WARFARE was performed in a masquerade skit version at UNICON in Concord, CA in June of 1989, with Paul Darrow, Michael Keating and Terry Nation judging. Paul Darrow spent the rest of the evening telling the players how 'true to life it was, and the performance won "Most Authentic" in the contest. -- ED].

[zine]: This issue was the nicest looking yet. The artwork by A. Hamilton, Bruce Mitchell and Judith Boguslawski was first rate. Mary Gerstner's work for THE CLARITY OF DARKNESS fit the overall feeling of the piece. (Brr! Interesting story, but I'd hate to think of Cally ending up like that.) And I was delighted by Adrian Morgan' s illo accompanying my story, LEGACIES. He did a really nice job on Cally. Please pass along my compliments. As for the stories: Sheila Paulson's story was wonderful, but then she's always wonderful, as are K. Rae Travers and Sophia Mulvey. All these are strong Vila stories. Do I detect a patter here? CONVENTIONAL WARFARE was inspired madness. This is good satire; it's funny yet it makes a point. We should be working together, not trying to tear each other apart (oops, sorry, that's the Southern Baptist in my escaping.) THE GAMBLER'S BANE was a good story, but I found Cally's character a little hard to swal- low. Good writing, though. STAR STRUCK was a stitch, I hope Michelle Moyer will continue to write 'silly' stories. Everyone needs a good laugh now and again. She provides quite nicely. Nancy Klauschie's THINGS THAT GO BANG was a good follow-up to STEALING'S QUICKER. More please. All in all, an enjoyable read. You do great work. It's appreciated.

[zine]:

Congratulations on producing another terrific zine. GAMBIT 4 is awesome. Rabid 4th series fanatic that I am, I'm delighted to see the other Gambit on the cover. And the info in the editorial about the economics of zine printing is fascinating. Unusual that there's more pre-series A than PGP this time. I especially liked CARLEEN and HAMMER INTO ANVIL. It's always nice to read about the 'lesser' characters; I find them just as interesting as Avon and Vila. (Yes, even Gan.) // THINGS THAT GO BANG was utterly absorbing. Nancy Sounds like you're in an ideal situation for a zine-ed!//Unusual that there's more pre-series A than PGP this time. I especially liked CARLEEN and HAMMER INTO ANVIL. It's always nice to read about the "lesser" characters; I find them just as interesting as Avon and Vila. (Yes, even Gan.)

THINGS THAT GO BANG was utterly absorbing. Nancy keeps getting better and better with each issue. Vila putting Tarrant, Avon and Jenna in their places-- totally trippy! Now, what happens when they find Blake? // Some very somber stories this time around. The Cally of THE CLARITY OF DARKNESS and the Avon of PAIRING OFF ON THE QUIET deserve each other. (It wasn't nice of the crew to be so willing to abandon Cally to the Thaarn, but still, yech.,) // XIAODAN illuminated both Avon's and Tarrant's back- grounds. I liked Paatrov, as well as the idea that Tarrant once served under Servalan. (That would explain how she knew so much about him in 'Harvest of Kairos.') I hope to see lots more of Catherine's writing. // 73 KILOS OF BALLAST - Adrian & Brendan have a knack for the short and blood- cur- dling. // The OTHER DIMENSIONS sections was exceedingly entertaining. MARY SUE CONVENTION Teresa sure doesn't have to worry about much competition, with Travis and Tarrant as her favorites! NEWS BREAK was delightfully droll. However, I must protest CONVENTIONAL WARFARE. What do you mean, "the 'Chicago Mob' sounds a heck of a lot better than the 'Pokeepsie Mob???!! [Well, the spelling was changed to protect the guilty...er...innocent! - Ed.] You'll be sorry, Steve and Sandy, when we put a hit on you... Seriously, the story was hilarious. This must be what cons are like on Beta lotia. [We's tried ta set one up dere, but dey wouldn' give us a piece o' the action!--Ed.] Poetry and filks lots of excellent stuff. Particularly liked SECOND THOUGHTS (touching yet under- stated) and BLAKE'S CHRISTMAS (sick, but funny as hell!) II Ant - I liked the diversity of your artists' styles. Mary Gerster's pieces are pleasantly distinctive. I also liked A. Hamilton's delicate Cally on pg. 231, and Adrian's lively Vila and Cally on pg. 216. Jennifer Tifft's little fillers are cute, too. // LOCs: I didn't expect you to print my LOC on MIRAGE. I'm afraid I leaked practically every one of your plot twists! Hope I didn't ruin the story for anyone. You really shouldn't print letters like that without some kind of warning to the readers. (And I really should learn to be more discreet.)