QL Fanzine Reviews File #1
Mary Anne Espenshade
1991. Some of these may be out of print but so far as I know most are
still available, also check used zine boxes at cons. If anyone else
would like their reviews added to list, send me mail. So far they are
all just my opinions. I have one entry for the 1993 file from someone
else on the net (thanks Pam!), but that's it so far.
--
Mary Anne Espenshade
m...@aplexus.jhuapl.edu
!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WARNING - Here There Be Spoilers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
***** the "even more details" part of the QL zine list *****
Reviews.1 - Zines from 1991 and before.
I put a rating with each title, on a five star scale.
The Fan Quality Awards (or Fan Qs for short) are voted on each year by
members of MediaWest*Con.
**** Accelerator Accidents #1 (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL Zine)
Edited by Kitty Woldow - inventor of the fannish term smarm, so there
is a *lot* of it in this zine. Even, as a guide for neos, an analysis
of it - large quantities can be harmful!
Color cover, illos by Sheila Paulson and Ann Larimer. Our own LB is
a co-author on one of these. Two of Elliott Buchholz's cross universe
parodies, one of which was posted to rec.arts.startrek, are included.
Some special stand-out stories here that remain vivid long after
reading them plus lots of leaps into Al's past.
"Home" - Sheila Paulson
Sam has leaped home ... but it's not a happy ending.
"To Do Or Die" - Rebecca Reeves
Sam's a nun, assistant to a medical researcher. The cure they're
working on will have far reaching consequences for Project Quantum Leap.
Wonderfully involved time paradox.
"P.R.N." - Cheryl Sulls
Sam sees Shock Theater form the other side - working in a maximum
security state psychiatric hospital. An episode-like story, Sam is
there to help a fellow worker.
"Spilled Ink" - Greg Lemieux
A different take on time travel - Al fills Sam in on the future of
someone he helped during a leap. Most of the story is Sam remembering
the leap, into a private detective solving a murder case. The framing
story is about the future of the model accused of the crime.
Straightforward action episode.
"Bar None" - Louann Qualls
Sam finds a place where he can be himself - Callahan's Crosstime Saloon.
Wonderful cross-universe story, also looking into a turning point in
Al's past. One of my very favorites.
"To Erase a Name - August 13, 1971" - Cinda Gillilan
Another story set in Al's past. Sam's back in Vietnam, as a POW this
time. Lots of angst, and a surprise cross-universe, as they meet
fellow prisoner Paul Ironhorse.
"Double Indemnity - August 15, 1954" - Kitty Woldow, L. A. Carr, with
Sally Smith.
Sam is a doctor once again, with an inner city practice. My one
problem with this is having Al in the Navy early enough to have been in
Korea in 1953.
"A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing" - Cindy Rancourt
More cross universe, another Ghostbusters tale. Sam leaps into a
criminal so that his medical knowledge can save someone seriously
injured in a plane crash. But the demon the Ghostbusters were
transporting on the plane wants them all to die.
"Reunion" - Sheila Paulson
My favorite in the zine and one of my favorite QL stories anywhere.
Sam leaps into a nightclub singer in the project's present. Al gets to
help in person for a change.
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*** Adventures in Slime + Time, 5/91
Three Ghostbusters stories, two QL and one that combines the two and
throws in Shadow Chasers for a little variety. What is it about
Ghostbusters that it is the universe I have so frequently seen crossed
with QL (2nd only to Beauty and the Beast)?
"An Al a Day Better Keep the Doctor Away" March 17, 1954 - Kathy Hintze.
Sam spends a leap as a polio stricken child. The kid has an IQ to rival
Sam's, so Al has some explaining to do in the waiting room.
"Nine Tenths of the Law" - Sheila Paulson.
Sam leaps into Jonathan MacKensie, but the demon possessing Jonathan at
the time is split by the leap. It takes the Ghostbusters to get the
possessions sorted out. Lots of fun.
"Visit from a Not so Proper Stranger" - "Artemis Gordon"
Sam has a choice to make as he leaps out of Vietnam into a different
sort of waiting room. Interesting concept, but I've seen other similar
ones I liked better.
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**** Best of Two Worlds, 5/91 (1992 Fan Q winner - Best QL Novel)
novel by Sandy Hall + Amy Miller, some adult content,
nice cover, no interior art.
A story of Sam's future after he's returned home from leaping (written
pre-The Leap Back), a sequel of sorts to "Second Circle" in Oh Boy #1.
Sam's taking time off to relax and recover ... and get another PhD, in
literature this time. His advisor is Dr. Amanda Hunter, professor of
English lit. with a secret fiction writing career on the side. Sam
finally decides to ask Amanda out when he sees that the drama department
is doing Man of La Mancha. At a party for Tom, Sam and Al get to meet
Herbert "Magic" Williams, who thinks Al looks familiar from somewhere.
Lots of good character interaction, Al and Tom both tease Sam into
pursuing Amanda, but the relationship hits a snag when Sam learns more
than he wants to know about one of Amanda's past relationships.
Romantic story, the characters stay in character, well written dialog,
overall a very enjoyable zine, though it no longer fits the series
continuity.
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** Faces of Clay 3/91 (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL Novel)
cross universe novel by Ann Walton - QL/Crime Story/with a little Twin
Peaks thrown in - very nice.
Sam, as a janitor in an art gallery, meets a blind sculptor, Paige
Cooper, who sculpts his real face (this would match the details learned
in 8 1/2 Months, that others see the aura of the person they expect;
since Paige can't actually "see" Frankie, the face she touches is
Sam's). It's 1971 in Washington DC and Paige has a weird little
brother, Dale, who wants to be either a Tibetian monk or an FBI agent.
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***** Green Eggs and Ham #1 (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL Zine), 3/91
This is currently my choice for best QL zine. I haven't been able to
put it down, I must have reread it five times! My favorite stories are
A Little Bit of Hell and Friendly Fire, but they're all good. I'm not
much on poetry but I liked Time for a Friend and Most Clever Request for
Information - ouch, Dr. Suess is my level of understanding poetry!
Art - uniformly gorgeous. The cover is to die for, by Kate Nuernberg.
Cartoons - uniformly bizarre - as expected from Leah Rosenthal!
On to the stories:
"A Little Bit of Hell" - Kathy Hintze.
I loved this one because I am always pulled into character background
stories and this is about Lt. Calavicci in 1973. The real kick was the
ending.
"Show Me the Way to Go Home" - Sheila Paulson writes a very interesting
Galactica cross universe story. I can just see Al and Starbuck getting
along fabulously, trading cigars and pilot stories.
"The Nail" - Esther Reese writes a short a kiss with history and a
turning point in Al's life.
"Shrouded in Murmuring Hemlock" - Linda Terrell, a change of pace leap.
I was in stitches over the first paragraph, Sam trying to sort out four
feet and non-binocular vision, "I'm Bambi".
"Friends" and "The Letter" - Kelly Hill.
I'm glad to see Sam get home safely, though I agree that he will
probably have some trouble adjusting. Interesting comparison of leaping
and dragonriders going between.
"Voices" - Sheila Paulson. (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL story)
I could see this one as an episode.
Sam leaps in to hear the reading of a will, and "he" inherits most of
the wealth. Nobody else is pleased with this and someone is out to get
him. The only problem I had was that I don't think Brian could have
discovered that much classified information about Project Quantum Leap
that quickly, and believe that it could actually be happening.
"Mystifying Leap" - "Dr. Suess".
Sam learns about fandom the hard way, putting out a zine. I agree with
others comments that Sam would not react so casually to reading Chalk
and Cheese.
"Allies" - Esther Reese.
Senator McBride visits the project. She finally remembered why she
recognized the name Sam Beckett and has a message for Al.
"Short Hop" - Linda Terrell.
An OK story but it's mostly a gimmick, Sam leaps into KITT.
Especially liked Al's comments to KITT and KITT's comment about Al's
outfit overloading his color sensors.
"Friendly Fire" - Esther Reese. (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL story)
I didn't watch the A Team but I had no trouble following this story,
the best one in the zine. Sam is an Army officer working with the Team
and they've been captured on a Navy base. Then they meet the Admiral in
command of the base, oh boy.
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** Look Before You Leap #1: (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL Zine), 1991
The art is largely awful, but the stories are OK so I can ignore the
pictures.
"The Psychic" by Sheila Paulson is the one standout story here, along
with two shorter pieces by Louann Qualls.
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***** A Matter of Time #1 (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL Zine), 2/91
A Matter of Time #1 is 115 pages with a gorgeous color cover, edited by
Julie Barrett and Louann Qualls. The reason I rate this zine most
highly is the stories - they go into a lot of character background.
"Genesis", by Louann, is about Sam's decision to make the initial leap.
"To Thine Own Self Be True", by Sheila Paulson (one of my favorite fan
authors in a few other fandoms too), is a typical episode-like story,
with Sam leaping into a short-order cook in a small town in 1987, who
just happens to be an ex-college professor with 2 PhD's taking time off
from teaching to write a play.
"One of Those Days", by Julie, introduces an assistant observer, Al is
in DC at Congressional budget hearings again. Sam leaps several times
in the course of the story, first into a PI, then into someone working
on the Project. He gets to spend some time at home, even though it
isn't in his own body, and deal with an attempt to sabotage the Project.
"Shipwrecked" by Sylvia Colston, deals with Sam's feelings of failure
when someone he was trying to protect dies anyway, and it gives a
glimpse of the project's far future.
"The Leap Forward", by Louann and Julie is the other side of "The Leap
Home" that we were all so anxious to hear about - 16 year old Sam in the
waiting room. There are also some very short stories and articles. All
the writers have a very good handle on the characters and don't break
any of the important "rules" of the show (unlike some other zines on the
list). Unlike many of the other QL zines, and nearly all the QL stories
in mixed zines, none of the stories in MoT is cross-universe.
***** A Matter of Time #2 (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL Zine), 1991
Another beautiful issue. Unique touch - recycling tips scattered
throughout the zine.
"Where Unicorns Come to Die" - Mary Robertson (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL story)
This one is a heart-wrencher. Sam leaps into an elderly janitor in an
asylum in 1953 New York. In his spare time he tells the children
stories. He meets a sick teenage girl who can see him as himself. Her
favorite possession is a white plastic horse. Her brother had told her
it was a magical unicorn with an invisible horn.
"Borrowed Time" - Julie Barrett
Sam leaps into a CIA agent in 1973. The leapee is undergoing
chemotherapy. Sam tries to help his step-son, whose real father also
died of cancer, deal with the situation. The big problems are back at
the project. Jim Stevens assumes he's been kidnapped by the other side.
He doesn't believe Al's explanations and he doesn't want to give this
healthy body back. Mainly an adventure story.
"Flash Forward" - Louann Qualls
Al steps out of the imaging chamber to meet a "contingent time line".
Great practical joke at the end.
"Pod People" - Sheila Paulson
A leap seen mostly from the leapee's point of view. Are you insane
when you can't recognize yourself or remember many details? Melanie
kept a journal at home, so she tries to remember what's happening as
journal entries. Her fears bring up bad memories for Al and her actions
cause some new ones. Lots of hurt/comfort.
"Amazon Fever" - Patricia Dunn and Diana Smith
Sam is trapped in the Amazon, leaping in after a plane crash. He is a
journalist on assignment for National Geographic. Basic adventure story.
"Warming the Core" - Louann Qualls
Set before the initial leap, Sam learns some of Al's past and trys to
help him stop drinking.
"Pillow Talk" - Phyllis Arrondeiger
Any synopsis would spoil the joke :-)
"Baby, Oh, Baby" - Julie Barrett
Sam as a toddler. His mom takes him and his little cousin to the park
so dad, an MIT student, can study physics with his tutor, a doctoral
student - the "classic picture of the 1970's nerd." Guess who! A time
paradox here.
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**** Oh Boy! #1 (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL Zine)
(Sandy and Sharon were also nominated for the Best Editor Fan Q,
and the cover artist <minds-eye-view> was nominated as well.)
Wonderful cover and interior art by <minds-eye-view>, with Nola Frame
Gray cartoons throughout. Longer stories with a few poems interspersed.
The pair of poems entitled "April 1, 1969", by Melissa Mastoris, were
nominated for the QL poetry Fan Q award.
"The Waiting Room - Young Sam" - Crystal Olson
This was an idea from the editors to be continued in future issues -
the waiting room side of aired-episode leaps. The obvious starting
point is Sam himself from The Leap Home. Being a smart kid, he goes
exploring.
"High Road Home" - Sheila Paulson
Sam may only be travelling in his own lifetime, but other methods have
no such restraints. Orac has talked Zen into a plan without informing
the human crew and goes back in time to meet Ziggy. Avon's captured by
Project security while Sam explores the Liberator. Sheila came up with
a way to cross QL and Blakes Seven without leaving Sam's timeline.
Al's thrilled to be in space again, especially with such a lovely pilot.
"A Lesson Learned" - Sandy Hall (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL story)
Sam leaps into a woman on a date and teaches the man she's seeing a
serious lesson about safe sex, saving both their lives.
"Sweet Survivor" - Kristen Hunter
Sam's a taxi driver, there to help a little boy named Nick get adopted.
Nick's best friend is a couple years older and already sneaking into
the girl's dorm.
"The Last Yesterday" - Sharon Wisdom (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL story)
Sam's a doctor taking a vacation at an archeology dig. Lot's of project
background and time paradox, very hard to describe.
"Second Circle" - Sharon Wisdom (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL story)
Set after Sam has leaped back and he and Al are doing the physics
conference circuit. Sam's almost convinced Al to quit smoking, but
after a bad day, he goes in search of cigars and meets a very familiar
woman at the store. One of my favorite stories, continued in the novel
"The Best of Two Worlds".
**** Oh Boy! #2 (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL Zine)
Both covers by <minds-i-view> this time, more Nola Frame Gray cartoons,
and an LOC section covering #1. The poetry includes two more Fan Q
nominated poems, "Pulitzer Prize for Photography, 1970" (the winner) and
"9 April 1970", both by Jane Mailander. Lots of in-joke stories this
issue and some unusual cross-universes.
"Oh, Boy" - Sharon Wisdom and Sandy Hall
Sam leaps into a waiter and can't fathom what the ladies at table 4 are
talking about. They started in archeology, moved on through comparing
types of interrogation drugs and hypnosis, to obstetrical procedures and
timeline splits. Meanwhile he has to doge the ladies at table 6, having
dinner before going on to a Chippendale's show. Fun in-joke, especially
if the topics ring a bell.
"Prelude" - Jennifer Smallwood
Another look at how government bureaucrats drove Sam to the initial leap.
This issue's Waiting Room story features Joshua Raye. But wait a minute,
you say, how long was he really in the waiting room. Let's just say that
you-know-who wasn't only there to torment Sam.
"Do You Remember" - <minds-i-view> (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL story)
Al's side of MIA.
"Greatest American Leaper" - Elaine and Anne Batterby
Two of Elaine and Anne's light cross-universe tales are in this issue.
Sam doesn't get the hang of the suit any better than Ralph did.
followed by "Leap into Knight (Michael, That Is...)"
KITT can tell Sam isn't Michael, and can detect Al, so they have a
little trouble getting his cooperation.
Both are adventure stories with lots of "how does Sam fit in" jokes.
"Reunion" - D. J. Waters
Another "after the end" story. Al drags Sam along to a reunion at
Mayport Naval Station. Everything's fine until Al sees a familiar face
across the room. Eerie tale.
"Troubled Waters" - Terri Librande and Crystal Olson
Sam leaps into a dying hospital patient, to make one last request. A
sad love story.
"Role Reversal" - Sheila Paulson (1992 Fan Q nominee - Best QL story)
Another Ghostbusters tale. Al has a little trouble with a large purple
dog on a NY street, then gets caught in the Ghostbusters beams, pulling
him into 1990. Wonderfully fun story. Slimer, of course, wants to be
Al's friend... he doesn't like the idea much, but he needs their help
to get home again.
"Say It" - Janna Stockinger
Al consulting Dr. Beeks during Shock Theater. Weird.
"What are You Doing the Rest of Your Life" - Rebecca Reeves
Sam leaps well into his own future, to a very unpleasant society.
Interesting view of how a government with too much power would deal with
a genius like Sam.
"Detour Into Night" - Barbara Jackson
Sam and Al in the twilight zone, a dimension of vampires and strange
goings-on in a haunted castle. Interesting, but doesn't fit the show
very well.
"Mark of Sinanju (or the Case of the Reluctant Assassin)" - Sandy Hall
Another cross-universe, but I never saw the original movie.
Adventure tale, with Sam learning skills to re-integrate his memory,
maybe.
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** Out of the Blue, 11/90
Average zine, the only real standouts are a set of three very short
pieces. One nice touch, the editor arranged to connect the long stories
leap out to leap in. The stories are: "Double Take" by Kay Simon, Sam's
a spy who may be a double agent. "The 'Write' Stuff" by Lee Kirkland,
Sam has to deal with fandom, as a zine writer. He may speak 7 languages,
but he can't understand what his "roommate" is talking about. Al just
appreciates being in the women's dorm. "Mother's Day" by Kay is a more
serious leap, into a poor, black mother of three, with a fourth on the
way and a 16 year old sister who is also pregnant. Al says the next baby
will be an important Senator, but Sam isn't sure who he is really there
to help. "Ghost of a Chance" by Pat Dunn and Diana Smith, asks what
happens if Sam changes places with a ghost. This one is the most
far-fetched, I've seen a much better version of a similar situation in
another zine. Some fun though, as Sam has to deal with ghosts of the
leapee's ancestors. "The *Which* Generation?" by Kay, makes Sam a TV
writer on a dying show. Should it hold on another year or go into
syndication? In "East Leaps West" by Margaret Davis, Sam gets to dance
again. He's a Russian Prima Ballerina on a US tour. Can he and Al stay
clear of the KGB? Lots of leaps into women here. The best stuff in the
zine is a set of a poem and 2 short looks at the character's motivations,
all centering on MIA and Vietnam - a poem by Roxanne Koogler, "A Country
of the Heart", an entry in Al's "Observer's Log", also by Roxanne, and
"In Sam's Head" by Kay.
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**** Out of the Frying Pan, 5/91
How Sheila had time to edit a zine on top of all the stories and illos,
I have no idea, but I'm glad she did. Lots of Al stories here. Nice
computer layout and borders. This issue has a little poetry, with two
filks (by Mysti Frank and Claire Cross) and a poem by Sharon Wisdom.
Other different filler is some word puzzles.
"Legacy" - Esther Reese
Sam's the big brother this time, there to help his little sister get
the confidence she needs to go to MIT and become an astronaut in spite
of her parents disapproval. They think she should be doing something
more practical, like getting married, but she has a letter from an
astronaut to inspire her. Some interesting bits of Al's background and
his "present" back at the project.
"A Tale of Two Als" - Sheila Paulson
Sam leaps into Al, just ahead of the present, so to speak. Between Sam
as Al, Al as Sam and Al as a hologram, who's who at any one time can get
confusing. They don't want the rest of the staff (or Tina) to know
what's happening until they can find out why Al is in danger. Perfect
leap-in, as Sam tries to figure out who the beautiful woman in bed with
him is and how to escape to a mirror.
"Youth and Treachery" - Louann Qualls
An Al + Tina story. Sam's between leaps so Al has time for a night out
- without Tina - but things don't quite go as planned. Some of Sam's
good points must be influencing Al, as he helps a woman escape from her
abusive husband and realizes some things he's been denying about his
relationship with Tina.
"Paradox" - Rebecca Reeves
Time travel can strike too close to home. Sam's minor change to get two
couples together causes tragedy a generation later. The story spans
three leaps, causing the problem, correcting it, and a cute scene with
a little boy in the library. From the hints that have been dropped
(between Sally and USA Today), I expect something similar to this
scenario in the season 4 finale.
"Time and Teapots Wait for No One - September 8, 1995" - Kathy Hintze
Did the project really work, or is Sam in a hospital in a coma? I don't
much like the implications of this story, though she does keep it
somewhat ambiguous.
"Interlude" - Esther Reese
Al's thoughts on the project and his life. Weird ending. One of many
stories that assumes Al has been covering for Sam with his family,
sending letters and cards.
"Cages - April 27, 1974" - Sheila Paulson
Combine elements of "Vietnam" and "Dreams" and you've got the idea. Sam
is having the leapee's war flashbacks, to his squad (under Sgt. Rick
Simon) and another failed POW rescue mission. Lots of character
development and history, as Sam learns more than Al really wanted him
to know.
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*** Outatime, 1991
a novel by J. Robert Holmes, Mary Jean Holmes and Mary Wood
Sam leaps into Dr. Emmett Brown in 1985 just as the DeLorean hits 87
miles per hour. While he's trying to decide whether to slow down, it
hits 88 and he's somewhere(when) else. Outside the Project's parameters,
Ziggy can't locate him right away. Dr. Brown is intrigued by the
project, figuring out a great deal of what has happened to him, and
offers to help. The story follows both Sam's adventure in 2015 and Al
and Dr. Brown working at the Project. Gushy (yes, that's how they
spelled it this time) comes across as very different from what little
we've seen of him on the show, reporting Al to the committee for letting
Dr. Brown work on their equipment and trying to stop them changing the
system with Dr. Brown's suggestions. Other than that, it's a good
adventure story, fitting right in between Back to the Future #1 and #2.
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***** Play It Again #1 (1992 Fan Q winner - Best QL Zine), 1991
(Kate also won 1992 Fan Q awards as best QL artist and best editor)
Nice overall organization, the stories follow the Project from the
beginning, through leaps, to the end. Lovely art, some poetry.
"Wild Winds of Fortune" - Signe Hovde
Sam and Al fight for funding, the story of how Sam is driven to the
initial leap. Nice background speculations.
"From a Certain Point of View" - Claudia Rufus
Yet another view of the pilot from the Project side - Gooshie, Verbena
Beeks and Al, and how the committee reacts to the initial news,
something similar stories haven't touched on.
"If I Should Die Before I Leap" - Sheila Paulson (1992 Fan Q nominee -
Best QL story)
Al is late getting back to the project and a leap has gone drasticly
wrong. Sam saves the child from being hit by the car, but is killed in
the attempt. Al risks using the accelerator himself to go to the rescue.
"Futureshock" - Marcia Brin
aftershocks of Halloween, she also has a poem on the same theme.
"Eagle Feathers" - Debra Hicks
I've lost track of who Sam's rescued more often, Catherine Chandler or
Paul Ironhorse. Fans don't like bean counters - network or otherwise -
messing with `their' characters. This is another War of the Worlds
series cross. Sam leaps into Norton this time, but Debra skirts the
"can Sam walk if the host is in a wheelchair" issue. I still don't buy
WotW in the QL timeline, sorry.
"A Little Glitch" - Sheila Paulson
Sam spends a day in the park, successfully saving a woman from a mugger.
Al's having a little trouble tuning in, there's a "little glitch" in
the imaging chamber software. I joined Sam in helpless laughter.
"Where the Hell is Poughkeepsie?" - Elizabeth Carpenter
I'm an ElfQuest fan, this won't make a great deal of sense if you're
not, but this story just didn't work. Having Sam leap clear off Earth,
to an unrelated time period and still have Ziggy supply information
just doesn't make it. My suspension of disbelief snapped.
"Imagine" - Kate Nuernberg (1992 Fan Q winner - Best QL story)
Sam is home. He takes off for Hawaii, without permission of the
government types that aren't through with him yet. Excellent story but
I don't agree with part of her premise, though there's really no way of
knowing. She has Sam remembering only the initial history and none of
the changes. Lovely scenes with his family though. Katie finally can
explain to her mom why she crashed her bike and needed stitches - the
DJ played Imagine for the first time and she ran into a car.
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* QL+ ... #1, 2/91
I have some reservations about the editor's requirements, all stories
are to be cross universe, Sam must leap into a central character from
the other show, and the change must affect something we know happened
in the other show, a few too many restrictions for my taste
(especially the one about leaping into a central character). After
all that she goes and breaks the 53-90's rule and says the 2nd show
can be from any time period. That I strongly disagree with, but since
the first issue has "WKRP", "Starsky and Hutch" and "Shadow Chasers"
the problem hasn't come up yet.
I was at somewhat of a disadvantage here, as I'm not very familiar with
any of the shows QL is crossed with in these stories. I never watched
WKRP or Shadow Chasers, and it's been years since I've seen any Starsky
and Hutch.
"Radio Blues" by Sheila Paulson
Sam leaps into the manager of a radio station and has to keep it from
being sold. His secretary turns out to be an old girlfriend of Al's.
"Limits" by Alison Wilson
OK, I guess, but something about this story didn't sit right. Sam leaps
into Ken Hutchinson, to keep him from having an affair with his partner's
girlfriend and to get Starsky to ditch the woman.
"Demon Run" by Autumn Lee
I liked this one the best. Sam leaps into Edgar Benedek, a reporter with
a clothing sense very similar to Al's, investigating "demons" in a small
town. If you liked the Halloween Episode you should like this one.
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**** Quantum Beast - All's Well that Ends Well
**** QB - "The Waiting Room", a "sequel", the concurrent events in 1995
Novels by Lee Kirkland
Yes it is what you think - and it's wonderful! Sam leaps into Vincent
and has some trouble adjusting. In the sequel, Vincent, finding himself
in the waiting room, thinks he's been captured for some scientific
experiment. But growling at people doesn't have the same effect it
used to. :-)
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* Quantum Jones: The Search for the Golden Doors
Novel by Sharon Wells, 11/90
The first of a series "Sam Beckett, Man About Time", catchy title.
This is OK, but takes some liberties with the premise that I don't like
very much. Sam is leaped back before 1953, into Professor Indiana Jones
in the 1940s. The sole justification for this seems to be so that
Sharon can write in a gimmick of Sam and Al seeing each other in
black+white, like an old movie. Cute, but unnecessary. The story could
easily have been set 10 years later, especially since she makes a major
point of Indy not aging, having drunk from the Holy Grail. Al even
meets an unchanged Indy in 199?.
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** Quantum Mechanics, 6 connected stories by Jessica Farrow, 1990
I'm not familiar with Jessica's other work (the zine lists a ST:TNG fan
novel and a vampire story), but this is a pleasant collection of
connected leaps. "Police Action" takes Sam to the London rock music
scene in the 70's as a drummer with a band just starting out. On a
more serious note, in "Dakota on Horseback", he leaps into a wilderness
vacation that originally ended in tragedy. "Birth of a Cliche'" is a
short leap into a TV extra to say the right phrase to the right writer.
"Jinx", working on a cruise ship in the Caribbean in April 1961, Sam
has leaped into more than a ship's steward. If he's the spy, which side
is he on? "Walk With Me", Sam leaps into United flight 232 crashing in
Iowa, too late for the person he was to replace. The leapee died in the
crash, is Sam dead or alive, wandering the cornfields? Al franticly
searches through the flaming wreckage, but Sam can't communicate with
him - out of a body, Al can't see him either. Sam can help the soul of
the leapee move on, but may be trapped to follow himself. In "All
Things Equal", the one cross-universe story in this set, a bemused Sam
finds himself in an elegant New York apartment, with an impressive
arsenal hidden behind one wall. As Robert McCall, Sam has to stop an
assassination. Since these are all by one author, there are references
between stories much more than the show does. This zine was one of the
first QL zines out so these stories were written very early in the series.
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Sam's Run
Yes, that's 0 stars. Don't bother unless you're an absolute completist.
Sending Sam as far into the future as Logan's Run is set just doesn't
work at all for me.
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*** Temporary Difficulties Beyond Our Control... Please Stand By
July 26, 1979
Temp. Diff. is a short story by Susan Garrett, published as a digest
size zine.
cover artist Ann Larimer nominated for 1992 QL Artist Fan Q
I've been reading Susan's work in other universes for many years. She
claims in her editorial not to be a big QL fan, don't believe it, she
must be to have written this story. She set out to write a "thinking"
story that couldn't be done on the show, a leap where Sam spends most
of the time thinking about the changes he's making to the lives of the
people he's leaped into - in this case Peter Matteo, on the first day
of his new job in a hi-tech research lab in Texas. Nobody there knows
Peter any better than Sam does. Ziggy's struggling with a hardware
failure, so Sam is left to unpack Peter's belongings and dwell on why
he's leaping. As Al's link is flickering out and they may have to shut
down Ziggy entirely, Sam must solve both their problems. Wonderful
character interaction, not for action/adventure fans.