Classic Who Fanzine Recs?

[penfold_x]

As I mentioned in my desert isle fics list, I'm new to OldSchool!Who fanfiction, but what I've read I'm really enjoying. I love print zines and finishing up work on The Brotherhood 7 (which features a Ten, Donna, and Jack story by wendymr crafted from the purest awesome) has made me long for more print fic.

MediaWest, only a few weeks away, is my best shot at scoring Classic Who fanzines, but like a lot of things in DW fandom, it's difficult to know where to start. There's a huge number of zines that were in print, but many of those were letter/info zines or a mix of fiction and essays, and of course, fanworks vary widely in quality.

I'd really value recommendations. My peculiarities are:
* I would probably enjoy the commentary zines, but I'd prefer to start with zines that are at least half fic.
* I'm more about the characters than the awesome aliens/timey-wimey stuff.
* I lean toward the hurt/comfort side of the force.
* Gen, please.

Making recs brings fannish karma. Scientific fact.

Comments

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I've been sent by wendymr (and I'll be at MediaWest, if you want to say "hi" - most easily found yapping at the Big Finish panel).

To the best of my knowledge, there are no good new Classic Who zines. (There were a couple a few years ago that... don't. Just don't.) (ETA: I haven't read any DWIN and thus that comment is not aimed at them.)

Tales from the White Hart is going to have the best selection of classic Who zines from back in the day. The rule of thumb "good art = good zine" is a relatively reliable one for making snap judgments. My favorites from back in the day were Roving Reporter (all Sarah Jane related), Rassilon's Star, and Jelly Baby Chronicles. Time Log has an excellent rep.

Having seen your journal I couldn't resist friending...

[penfold-x.livejournal.com]

Thank you! This is extraordinarily helpful. I've enjoyed DW for many years, but it's only recently something activated the fic part of my brain for this show, so I have just no idea where to begin.

The rule of thumb "good art = good zine" is a relatively reliable one for making snap judgments.

I've never considered this but from the examples I can think of off the top of my head, I think it works. I'll hit Kathy as soon as she opens.

Having seen your journal I couldn't resist friending...

Likewise. :)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I have just no idea where to begin.

I'm assuming you're familiar with calufrax? That's a good online source.

I've never considered this but from the examples I can think of off the top of my head, I think it works

The one thing I miss in moving away from print zines was the impetus to constantly improve to get into the "good" ones. The reputable ones could demand the best in art and fic, and got it.

[penfold-x.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming you're familiar with [info]calufrax? That's a good online source.

Yes, thanks. It made getting around Teaspoon a lot less frustrating! Am I correct in ascertaining that there aren't any other major archives? It seems like most of the pre-Nine fic concentrates at Teaspoon or was in zines. I haven't found anything really in the way of small vanity websites by old tribbers, etc. (thought not having names makes that more difficult than it might be).

The one thing I miss in moving away from print zines was the impetus to constantly improve to get into the "good" ones. The reputable ones could demand the best in art and fic, and got it.

That's part of why I love working on The Brotherhood--finding great authors and trying to get them on board is a challenge. And it's also, I think, why I enjoy old fanzines; once you find a good editor/producer, you can be fairly sure that what you buy is going to be quality, even if you don't recognize all the authors' names.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Am I correct in ascertaining that there aren't any other major archives?

There's Lost Luggage (I'd have to go look up the link for that) but it's more of an online zine than an archive.

You're one of the Brotherhood team? I'll make a point of saying "hi" when I come buy my copy of 7.

[penfold-x.livejournal.com]

Lost Luggage = http://www.lostluggage.org.uk/ ?

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Yes. I'm sorry to say that I haven't been there in ages; I noted it when it went up and then never got time to get back to it.