Vermont Avenue

Zine
Title:	Vermont Avenue
Publisher:
Editor:
Author(s):	S. Soliste/Susan M. Menke
Cover Artist(s):
Illustrator(s):
Date(s):	the first three stories were sold as a collection of stories in February 1981, but they were pass-around collection before then, the remaining stories were written in 1982)
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Starsky and Hutch
Language:	English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Vermont Avenue is a pass-around 142-page Starsky and Hutch novel by S. Soliste/Susan M. Menke.

cover

It is sometimes referred to "Vermont Avenue/Homecoming."

It contains a single piece of interior art by Carol Davis titled "Congratulations."

Some fans refer to it as slash, but it must have been gen enough to be included in the very gen S & H Genzine Lending Library, at least the "Vermont Avenue" chapter.

These stories take place in the same universe as Teri White's gen series that starts from Copkiller and ends with My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, which were gen. Teri White was a friend of Susan, and she had Teri's blessing to write "Vermont Avenue" both in her universe, but also in her style.

See some context and notes by Flamingo.

Publishing Vermont Avenue and Homecoming

The first three stories (66 pages) in this fanwork were advertised for sale S and H #20 (April 1981). At that time, the stories were "Vermont Avenue," "10708," and "Baby & Blondie".

VERMONT AVENUE: 3 related S&H stories in private-eye mode. Some violence, happy ending. One-sided ditto, 66 pp., unilloed. $6.85/lst, $6/3rd.

From the author in S and H #21:

Thanks, folks, for all the orders of "Son of Starsky & Hutch" (aka VERMONT AVENUE)—I hope you have as much fun reading it as I had writing it.

Other stories were added in 1982.

There has been some dispute about what constitutes "publishing" and "private." A fan in 2002 wrote:

When we did the Paul Muni Special con back in '85, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of SH and we had fanfiction awards where everything published in the fandom up to that time was considered together, a lot of people had wanted to vote for that story but we had to leave [Homecoming] out due to that last part, the slash "Homecoming" not being published. I remember ads the writer placed in the letterzines for the "Vermont Avenue" stories, but I'm pretty sure she never actually sold "published" versions of "Homecoming.""

This fan was, however, mistaken, as it was offered for sale at least once in 1982: About "Homecoming" from S and H #30:

To my "Vermont Avenue" friends who've written to ask what happens when S&H bring the baby home from the hospital: there's a 6000 word sequel, "Homecoming." If you like it, I may write some more eventually, but I'm too busy with other writing now to publish another zine. "Homecoming" will cost six stamps (or $1.20, check or money order) to xerox and mail. Thank you, folks, for your comments and interest over the last ten months. I really enjoy hearing from you.

From the Foreword

Flamingo says in the foreword of the zine:

Susan (M's) 'Vermont Avenue' and 'Homecoming' stories, when joined together, create a unique novel. The stories were never published as a zine. Written before personal computers or the Internet, the stories were passed fan-to-fan when access to photocopying was not so common. The Vermont Avenue universe was the creation of Susan's friend, Teri White. Teri wrote several gen novels in SH in the same 'universe.' When Susan wrote these stories, her readership was familiar with Teri's work. Today, Teri's works are becoming available again on the Starsky and Hutch Archive, but many fans have not yet read them, and so important references in Susan's work will not have the same meaning to them..." In these stories, "Hutch becomes more and more disillusioned with police work in Teri's novel, Copkiller, but stays out of loyalty to Starsky. In Hopscotch, Hutch is imprisoned for a murder he didn't commit and at the same time, Starsky disappears. They are separated for nearly a year, while Hutch languishes in jail... In Teri's final novel My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, both men quit the police force to start a private detective firm. They take on the case of a missing young cowboy, the parter of an older bronc rider. Soon, it becomes apparent that these men were lovers. The older cowboy's fear that his best friend and only may be love causes Hutch to think about his own feelings... Susan recreates Teri's universe and builds on it with the first three stories in the series, usually called, 'The Vermont Avenue Stores.' Consisting of 'Vermont Avenue,' '10708' and 'Baby & Blondie,' these stories are considered gen, but they are gen only with a surface reading. Susan does an amazing job of mimicking Teri's style and recreating her story-telling flavor. The chain of events moves along at a breakneck pace, so quickly, that if you aren't paying attention, and you haven't read Teri's work, then you might miss subtle character changes and hints of conflicts to come... The three Vermont Avenue stories are followed by five more referred to as the 'Sequel to the Vermont Avenue Stories' or 'Homecoming,' the title of the first story of the group.

The Contents

• Vermont Avenue (dated 2-81) (16 pages)
• 10708 (dated 2-81) (13 pages)
• Baby & Blondie (dated 2-81) (36 pages)
• Homecoming (dated 1-22-82) (13 pages)
• Pac-Man (dated 4-6-82) (22 pages)
• Rash Moves (dated 5-3-82) (18 pages)
• Pledges (dated 6-82) (28 pages)
• Sidewalk Valentine (dated 9-82) (32 pages)

Sample Interior

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"Last week in Starsky & Hutch"

These are from the notes by Flamingo for "Vermont Avenue" when it was presented at the Starsky & Hutch Lending Library after Flamingo became the archivist.

Last week in Starsky and Hutch...

Whenever the show presented two part episodes it would begin the second one with that announcement before showing clips to bring you up to date. That's what this introduction is for, to give you some history on these stories and background to help you enjoy them better.

Susan Menke's Vermont Avenue and Homecoming stories, when joined together, create a unique novel. The stories were never published as a zine. Written before personal computers or the Internet, the stories were passed fan-to-fan when access to photocopying was not so common. The Vermont Avenue universe was the creation of Susan's friend, Teri White. Teri wrote several gen novels in SH in the same "universe."

When Susan wrote these stories, her readership was familiar with Teri's work. Today, Teri's works are becoming available again on the Starsky & Hutch Gen Archive, but many fans have not yet read them, and so important references in Susan's work will not have the same meaning to them. This brief synopsis is an attempt at a fannish Cliff Notes to fill in those gaps. Or, as the man said: Last week in Starsky and Hutch...

Hutch becomes more and more disillusioned with police work in Teri's novel, Copkiller, but stays out of loyalty to Starsky. In Hopscotch. Hutch is imprisoned for a murder he didn't commit and at the same time, Starsky disappears. They are separated for nearly a year, while Hutch languishes in jail. When Starsky finally returns, their first meeting is in the prison, with a plate glass window between them.

[dialogue snipped]]

These two scenes from Teri's work figure strongly in Susan's stories. She recreates Teri's universe and builds on it with the first three stories in the series usually called "The Vermont Avenue Stories." Consisting of Vermont Avenue, 10708, and Baby & Blondie. these stories are considered gen, but they are gen only with a surface reading.

Susan does an amazing job of mimicking Teri's style and recreating her story-telling flavor. The chain of events moves along at a breakneck pace, so quickly, that if you aren't paying attention, and if you haven't read Teri's work, then you might miss subtle character changes and hints of conflicts to come. Which would be too bad, because they're the building blocks of the unique, complex, and beautifully written story that develops into one of the best romances in SH's library.

The three Vermont Avenue stories are followed by five more referred to as the Sequel to the Vermont Avenue Stories, or Homecoming. the title of the first story of the group.

The first time I read these stories I was mesmerized by the clean, crisp writing style, the strong voice of the characters, and the complicated and unique plot. These stories don't tread familiar ground, and are still unique today. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Because photocopies of those old typewritten and carbon-copied pages have, after twenty years, become nearly illegible, and because my own copy has become ragged due to numerous loans, I have scanned and carefully proofed Susan's manuscripts, put them in a more modern

typeface, and assembled them in a convenient format. Fans can continue to share Susan's stories, either by photocopying this more legible manuscript, lending it to one another, borrowing it from the S&H Lending Library, or getting copies from me which they can copy for themselves. I am not selling it, as it is not mine to sell. If you receive a copy of this manuscript, feel free to pass it or a clean copy on to another friend. The beauty of this story needs to be shared. It is a lost classic, reclaimed.

In Teri's final novel, Mv Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, both men quit the police force to start a private detective firm. They take on a case of a missing young cowboy, the partner of an older bronc rider. Soon, it becomes apparent that these men were lovers. The older cowboy's fear that his best friend and only love may be dead causes Hutch to think about his own feelings. He and Starsky have an interesting discussion:

(Starsky says) "Tyler's hurting now. Hutch, but he'll be okay." "You keep saying that."

Starsky only looked at him.

"The disapproval is written all over your face," Hutch said.

He frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Hutch sighed. "His relationship with Andy. Thought maybe you'd gotten over some of those hang-ups after John Blaine."

I don't have any hang-ups," Starsky said, sounding defensive. "Maybe I just have a hard time understanding it."

"What's to understand? They love each other." Hutch drank thoughtfully. "Tyler's all alone now. Like I was last year."

"That's different." Starsky snapped a pretzel in two.

"Why? Because you and I don't sleep together?"

"You make it sound like that doesn't matter."

"Does it?" Hutch smiled a little. "We love each other, right?"

Starsky was staring at the table. "Yeah, sure, but it's not the same."

"Of course it's not exactly the same, partner. But maybe the difference isn't as vast

as you'd like to think." Hutch was quiet for a moment, running his index finger up and down the side of the beer glass. "When two people are so close...! mean, can you honestly say that in all these years it's never once crossed your mind?"

"What?"

"Getting it on."

Starsky only shrugged, still not looking up.

"I've thought about it."

Now Starsky glanced at him. "Yeah?"

"Sure," Hutch finished the beer. "That's one of the benefits of a college education, Starsk. You read all the books and you learn all the theories. Gives you lots to think about."

"Like jumping into bed with me?" Starsky spoke lightly, but his eyes were solemn.

"Like all kinds of things. You don't have to worry, though, Starsk. I haven't spent

days and days sitting around lusting after you. Didn't I already say you're a rotten kisser?" He waited for Starsky to laugh a little. "Whenever I thought about it, though, you know what I decided?" "What?"

"There was an episode of Mary Tyler Moore once, where Mary and Mr. Grant went on a date. But it didn't work out. They really cared about each other, but

romantically and sexually, it just made them laugh. They kissed and started giggling." He smiled. "I always sort of figured it would be that way with us. If that makes any sense."

After a moment, Starsky grinned. "Yeah, I see what you mean."

"But what I want to say is, just because you and I don't go to bed...that doesn't

make us any better than other people. Any better than Tyler and Andy." He paused, then added, "Hell, maybe they just have the courage of their convictions."

Reactions and Reviews

1981

Vermont Avenue is a collection of three -- I hesitate to call the genre S&H, but Starsky and Hutch are the lead characters -- private detective stories, all by [S M]. Not only are the circumstances of this trilogy derived from Teri White's My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys, but [M] uses an interpretation of S&H similar to Teri's in her earlier and, and unhappily, worse work. Hutch spends half the stories either getting conked on the head or recovering from getting conked on the head, while Starsky eats Cheerios with chocolate sauce. This does not show great imagination. [S M] is very derivative; unless you've already read MHHABC, it's difficult to figure out the stories' background. The characters are not even as a deeply written as Teri White left them. There are stock characters and stock plots in the three stories... The atmosphere is as if time stood still at 1947, what with all the gypsy palm-readers, dry-cleaners and liquor plotters, the only somewhat contemporary note is struck by having the Gangster sue Starsky... Craftwise, the first two stories in particular are choppy and defy the reader's involvement... She could also do well to minimize the narrative, the sections entirely composed of he-went, he-told, they-did, not only because it would make the story more interesting, but because her dialogue is rather well done. S&H at least do sound like detective partners. She can create a plot, even if a far from original one, and spin it to an end; 'Baby and Blondie' is of the quality you might find in one of the lesser detective magazines. Certainly people who enjoyed MHHABC may be apt to find something to like in this. But for me, these stories are awfully dull for six dollars, with not even a classy cover to recommend themselves with.

1993

Technically a set of circuit stories, but it works as a novel better than most of those "stories written on the installment plan."

1995

I'd also plug Vermont Ave, though I admit it is waaaaay my kink, and therefor I probably can't be trusted to recommend it. (Not the rape kink, sillys, the 'we do it, but never talk about it' kink.) It is a collection of connected stories by the same author; i.e., almost a novel, but not quite.

Yes, you are getting the grey matter in my brain to function and I do remember more of Vermont Avenue. Don't let the kid scare you off as there have been several stories-with-kids popping up in fandom. whether or not I want to saddle my heroes with kids doesn't detract from a well-written story. I don't have to agree to enjoy it.

2002

[Homecoming]: I remember in the unpublished story, "Homecoming" when they finally were ready to become lovers, Hutch bought an entire case of K-Y cause he was too embarrassed to go to the drug store they usually shopped at and he instead ordered it from a wholesale place!... It is available from The S&H Library. It's one of my very favorite stories, and I wanted to contact the writer, who dropped out of fandom totally many years ago, but a woman who is still friends with her warned me against it. She said she was sure the writer would forbid from even making copies available through the library. She no longer wants any association with fandom, which is too bad, since she was a terrific writer. But Homecoming, the copies of which was so pale it was unreadable, has been restored, and is available from the library.

The "Vermont Avenue" gen, detective stories were sorta unmemorable and unremarkable, but I don't think I'm alone in believing that "Homecoming" is one of the best stories ever written in SH.

2003

[Vermont Avenue and Homecoming]: This slash "zine" was a loose collection of stories that started where Teri White's gen novels ended. I love this "novel", I love S. Soliste's spare writing. She accomplishes in a paragraph what would take me a 100 pages to accomplish, and does it beautifully. This novel will never be on the net as the writer is out of fandom and would rather her stuff disappear.