The Lion and the Lamb (Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea zine)
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Lion and the Lamb |
| Publisher: | |
| Editor: | Eileen Roy |
| Author(s): | Alexis Rogers |
| Cover Artist(s): | |
| Illustrator(s): | |
| Date(s): | 1995-1996 |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Lion and the Lamb is a 176-page slash Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea novel written by Alexis Rogers and edited by Eileen Roy. It has the subtitle, "A Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea love story."
It was first advertised as a single zine, but became too lengthy and was originally published in two parts. It was later republished as a single volume.
It required an age statement for anyone under 21 years of age.
The Author Described Writing This Novel
In July 1995, Rogers described the birth and journey of this novel:
When I sat down at my computer in April of this year, I had no idea a Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea novel was going to emerge. While some of you may think this is strange, please remember I was watching VBS before the Enterprise left space dock for the first time. And there are some strong similarities between VBS and Trek. For instance, Richard Basehart (Admiral Nelson) and William Shatner look enough alike to be brothers, And the characters of Lee Crane (played by David Hedison) and Spock are very strikingly similar. Their body have little or no types are classic long and lean, they smile rarely, —- sense of humor, and both have keen, logical minds.
While you may remember VBS for its dreadful storylines and garbage bag monsters, if you will look again, you might see an on-screen relationship that is stronger than anything you saw with Kirk and Spock.
I don't wish to offend anyone who does not share a slash viewpoint in this or any other fandom, but I do expect you to respect my point of view as I respect yours. Please be warned that most everything I write is slash in nature and is usually sexually explicit.
The writing experience of The Lion and the Lamb has been unique in a number of ways, I feel like I'm channeling because the story appears in my mind in random order without regard to time line or details. Some mornings I wake up with as many as three pictures in my head of events that I need to record. But the best part about this novel is sharing living quarters with another fan. Elaine takes the pages directly from the printer with red pen in hand, demands more, corrects the problems, fixes scenes I can't make work, and is there to talk through the story line. I've always wanted a writing partner and the reality is wonderful.
Understanding the nature of what I write, if you're interested in The Lion and the Lamb, please drop us a line.
The Second Part: In the Making
From a 1997 ad in Late for Breakfast #31:
"The Lion and the Lamb. Part 2 is the continuation of Part I. The story covers the events after the commitment in Part I as Admiral Nelson and Captain Crane adjust their relationship to fit their new living and working arrangements. Due Fall. 1996. SASE for price and availability. [Note: Ms. Rogers writes faster if she knows she has a waiting audience.] This zine contains sexually graphic material and homosexuality. It requires an age statement."[1]
Summaries
From a 1995 ad describing issue #1:
Do you like romantic fan fiction? Do you like long novels, with lots of background on the characters? Do you thrive on same-sex fiction? Are you still a VBS fan after all these years, and long for more? If you answered 'yes' to any or all of these questions, then THE LION AND THE LAMB is for you.
This novel is intertwined with the first aired episode, "Eleven Days to Zero", and gives us a glimpse of what happened before the action we see, plus what's going on in the background during the episode, and all the exciting and passionate events that transpire after the episode. Why were Lee and Harry so distant and cool and formal during the first aired episode and so chummy and close during the second episode?
THE LION AND THE LAMB is told strictly from Lee's point of view (which, of course, includes what Harry tells him). Learn about their childhoods, their educations, and how each lost his virginity; find out how and why NIMR was created; share Lee's and Harry's first time (was Lee the seducer or the seduced?); discover how Lee and Harry spend their honeymoon; find out what part Chip.plays in their lives; and learn why the Admiral refuses to re-sew his own buttons.
WRITTEN BY: Alexis Rogers, author of the award-winning S/H novel,"Cost of Love,"and many other fan stories. Edited by Elaine Hauptman, publisher of "Who You Know, What You Know, and How You Know It," the most romantic S/H zine ever. Their roots in fandom span almost 20 years. [2]
From a 1996 ad describing issue #1:
Yes. it finally happened...The Lion and the Lamb, the novel which has been in production for almost a year, grew so huge that it had to be split into two parts, or risk never being finished. The writer and publisher are proud to announce (TA DA!) that The Lion and the Lamb. Part One is now ready for distribution.
This novel is intertwined with the first aired episode; "Eleven Days to Zero", and presents a glimpse of what happened before the action the viewer sees, plus what is going on in the background during the episode. Part Two will continue the story with all the exciting and passionate events that transpire after the episode. Part One stands alone as a complete novel.
This story begins the tale of the Admiral and his Captain in an attempt to explain why the two men where so formal and reserved with each other in the first episode "Eleven Days to Zero", and so casually comfortable in the second episode. "The City Beneath the Sea". The story also provides an explanation for the obvious hostility of Fred Wilson toward Lee Crane for most of the episode, and the change in Dr. Wilson's attitude by the end of the show. The Lion and the iamb is a love story, but not an easy one as the protagonists are strong men with military careers conflicting with their emotions and hormones....READERS BEWARE! The lion and the Lamb. Part One is more sexually explicit than most slash zincs. DO NOT ORDER if you are offended or disturbed by extremely graphic descriptions of acts involving homosexuality, rape, psychological torture, sexual situations that involve Crane and Nelson with other partners and/or sexual situations that involve more than two people.
Media Monitor says it is a
... novel exploring the relationship between Crane/Nelson before, during and after the pilot episode, 'Eleven Days to Zero.' This sappy, sentimental, romantic zine is an sexually explicit novel that grew so huge it has been divided into 2 parts. Part 1 stands alone as a complete story...Part 2 continues the story begun in Part 1. The story continues an intricate universe which includes Lee's childhood, his love or Harriman Wilson, how their relationship began, how the Nelson Institute fits into their lives, and even where they honeymooned. Part 2 makes no sense without Part 1.
Gallery
front cover
a late 1995 flyer, advertising it before it was broken into two parts, printed in Late for Breakfast #27
flyer printed in the February 1996 issue of In the Belly of the Whale
a 1996 flyer for issue #1
a 1996 flyer which advertises issue #2
Reactions and Reviews
Speaking totally objectively (I swear I can be objective about this!), The Lion and the Lamb is an incredible story. It is very psychological and very complex, and is not necessarily.an easy story to read. It delves into the underlying reasons why things happen. Why do we (specifically, Captain Lee Crane) do what we do? What is the motivation? What activity buried in the subconscious is responsible for today's feelings, dreams or fears? This novel, which started out as a gratuitous sex scene because RAFFERTY was hungry to read VBS slash, has grown to about 500 pages so far, and is not finished yet. Helping with it by editing, proofing, encouraging, arguing, questioning, and totally supporting, has been one of the most profoundly creative things I've ever done. I recommend the novel to anybody who enjoys well-written slash fiction. I don't think you need to already be a VBS fan to enjoy this novel. [3]
References
- ^ The date discrepancy here is due to the lateness of the publication of the last issue of Late for Breakfast...
- ^ from Late for Breakfast #27 (1995)
- ^ from Late for Breakfast #27 (1995)