The Crystal Calls

Zine
Title:	The Crystal Calls
Publisher:	Jim Crawford
Editor(s):
Date(s):	around 1985
Series?:
Medium:	print
Size:	each about 30 pages
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	The Dark Crystal, fantasy
Language:	English
External Links:
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The Crystal Calls is a fantasy zine, with an emphasis on Dark Crystal.

Issue 1

The Crystal Calls 1 was published in 1985 and contains 30 pages.

cover of issue #2, Gennie Summers

• Gelfling Chronology
• an article on Gelfling characteristics
• Memorabilia, part one
• art
• other unknown content

• 

  from issue #2 article on Gelfling characteristics

• 

  from issue #2, Gelfling Chronology

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

Jim Henson and crew invented a whole new intriguing world in DARK CRYSTAL, and Jim Crawford promptly fell in love with it. He then spent many long nights painstakingly building and improvising on the meager 'facts' presented in the film, and created the world's first Dark Crystal fanzine to share his research with others.

A good start: the first issue presents non-fiction, including a gelfling chronology (spanning more than 4400 years), a lengthy dissertation, on gelflings, and a partial listing of Dark Crystal memorabilia the collector can look for.

Gennie Summers did the interior illo, as well as a very striking cover.

Recommended for all serious Dark Crystal fans, especially as a 'table' to write fiction for future issues. Also of interest to writers as an example of world-building.

There are, unfortunately, a few minor glitches in the printing (paste-up shadows), and there is a lot of wasted space—wide margins, double spacing, and the like. A good starting point; hope there are enough fans out there to keep it alive.

Issue 2

The Crystal Calls 2 has a front cover by Gennie Summers.

• article on gelfling origins by David Krause
• article on speculative evolution of intelligent lifeforms on the planet Thra
• Messenger, fiction
• Kira's Dream, fiction by Gennie Summers
• Dark Crystal crossword puzzle
• letter from Jim Henson

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2

THE CRYSTAL CALLS is a fanzine devoted to Dark Crystal, although recently the editor announced plans for expanding the contents to include other positive fantasy series, such as Narnia and Oz, in future issues. And like #1, both issues feature covers & interior art by Gennie Summers.

#2 features scholarly speculations on gelfling origins. By David Krause, it is very well written and shows a great deal of thought. There's also an article on speculative evolution of the intelligent life forms on Thra, the planet of the Dark Crystal. Fiction in this issue is short, several pieces no more than vignettes. "Messenger" is one such piece which, though it has a self-contained little mystery, hardly explores the gelflings' reactions to it. "Kira's Dream" by Gennie Summers is constructed better and gives a fleeting glimpse of Kira's life with the podlings. My favorite story in the issue is an unlikely cross-universe that strangely enough works where the Prisoner finally 'escapes' the Village — sort of.

Other tidbits include a Dark Crystal crossword puzzle, a letter from Jim Henson, a listing of articles on Dark Crystal, and a largely unreadable 'translated' epistle of an ancient gelfling (the choice of quasi-medieval English is unfortunate).

Issue 3

The Crystal Calls 3 was published in 1985 and contains 30 pages.

front cover of issue #3, Gennie Summers

a page from the game review from issue #3

From the zine:

This is our special humor/pathos issue of THE CRYSTAL CALLS. In this issue we will have more of our regular series of articles, but we will also feature a section of humorous cartoons by Gennie Summers, and a series of stories/chronology items featuring what would have happened had things not worked out as they did in the movie.

We also begin an experiment this issue in the use of a regular Letters Column, so if you have some comments about our fanzine send them along so we can include them in the next issue.

Another experiment this issue involves the use of an Apple II computer linked to a Star Gemini 10 printer, along with the use of the Printshop program to produce some page borders and some of the stories in this issue. If you like these added touches let us know so we can continue them in future issues.

The CHRONICLES OF THRA special fanzine is proceeding, and at the moment will feature two stories by David Krouse, artwork, and a series of items from the diary of Mark Johnson, a character from our story THE SHAPES OF KINDNESS. The sequel to that story, THE POWER OF LOVE, is soon to be available. Back issues of our fanzine are always available at $2 per issue.

• Editorial
• The Dark Crystal Game Review
• Letters Column
• articles
• cartoons by Gennie Summers and James T. Crawford
• other unknown content

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

THE CRYSTAL CALLS #3 is a special "humor/pathos" issue and is chock full of wonderfully silly cartoons by Crawford and Summers. Fiction is a bit sparser this time with a bit of a first person narrative from a human on Thra which I assume to be part of a larger work. It serves as a 'lecture' here on various aspects of gelflings and their world via the Ifell of Destiny. Despite ray general dislike of his approach to presenting 'facts,' I did find this enjoyable. According to my dictionary, the terra 'pathos' is to 'evoke pity or compassion through an element of experience or artistic representation.' Unfortunately, that does not apply to the story "Alternate" which is just outright depressing, even with its 'moral' ending. None of the pieces in the section labeled Pathos fit the bill. They are, instead, interesting glimpses at what-ifs and lternate Dark Crystal timelines.

Issue 4

The Crystal Calls 4 was published in June 1986 and contains 25 pages.

cover of issue #4, artist is Gennie Summers

The editor was James T. Crawford.

An ad in Pop Stand Express #10 says that "Dark Crystal stories are also available for $3.00 each."

• Dorothy and the Grumpalot, fiction (Wizard of Oz)
• reviews of fantasy games on computer
• reviews of fantasy books
• an article about The Prisoner
• a cartoon about elves by Ted Delorme
• Dave's Corner, a column by Dave Krouse
• entries from the personal diary of Mark Johnson about his life on Thra (Dark Crystal)
• classified ads for magazines, books, and fanzines
• The Shapes of Kindness, fiction
• Love's Bright Power, fiction

• 

  from issue #4

• 

  from issue #4

Issue 5

The Crystal Calls 5 was published in November 1987 and contains 37 pages.

cover of issue #5, artist is Gennie Summers (dated 1982)

• Labyrinth: The Alternative Movie, article
• commentary and reviews about books and movies
• article on Fragglerock
• other unknown content