First Transfer

March 1987

From the Sosectu's Desk

For those of you who are receiving this for the first time, let me extend a warm welcome to Jacqueline Lichtenberg's and Jean Lorrah's Fandom. We're very glad to have you aboard.

A lot of exciting things are happening in the S/G Fandom these days. All three zines are nearing their publication dates. See the announcement column on page 2 for more information.

The Welcommittee itself has just been reorganized with me as the new chairperson. Thus I'm currently looking for people and ideas. If you have an idea for a project or just want to do something please let me know.

We are starting a Question and Answer Department as a function of the Wel. That's assuming we get some good questions. So, if there's anything you're puzzled about in any of Jacqueline's or Jean's universes, please write me. Even if your question doesn't get printed you will personally receive an answer. Jacqueline has requested that you make your S/G questions specific as to time and place. In a lot of cases the answer can vary.

We're also going to be starting some Round Robins in the near future. So let me know it you want to participate or have an idea for a topic. I'm also looking for a Robin Master, someone to coordinate this. If interested let me know.

FYI Fantasy Review November 1986 has run a more or less favorable review of Zelerod's Doom that you may find interesting. If you're going to read it, read Jacqueline's Corner in FT first, and be prepared to chuckle.

Yours in Unity,

Marjorie Robbins, Sosectu in Chanel

Wordsearch based on names and places in Zelerod's Doom.

W E D M A D I S O N O S

E K O I R M K I T T Y C

S M O R N Z B L O R D A

L U S R D N E R Y R Z P

E R R T I M Y L U D A I

N Y E S E N I V E T R T

I I N U R A N I D R D A

S N I S E B D R Q I O L

D E D I V A S E V S P D

H E R D S I V N K A A S

U T E G I C R A Z M S I

G U L F I O M E P O S F

H B I S K O R E N S R M

A S T A N N E N L A D I

AMBRU

AMOS

ARDOPASS

BAI

BISKOR

CAPITOL

DINNY

DIORN

DSIF

EDIVA

EMSTEAD

ENID

GULF

HUGH

KITTY

KLYD

KORIN

LENIS

MADISON

MOR

NIVET

RISA

SUSI

TANNEN

VIRENA

ZELEROD

ZOR

--contributed by Hajene Kerry (Schaefer) ambrov Zeor

Announcements

Zeor Forum #6 is ready for printing. Katie Filipowicz is taking advance orders. SASE her for details. Katie also has back issues of Zeor Forum, P.O. Box 290, Monsey, NY 10952.

Companion in Zeor #9 will be ready soon, possibly April. It is edited by Karen Litman, (street address removed), Somers Pt., NJ 08244. Karen has some back issues available--SASE her for details.

Ambrov Zeor #15 will be available sometime this month. SASE Editor Kerry Schaefer, Box 39, S. Yarmouth, MA 02644. She has all back issues available, plus the songbook and Postsyndrome, a one shot zine concerning sexuality in the S/G universe. SASE her for details.

Ambrov Zeor and Companion in Zeor are currently conducting a mail in auction to raise money for the equipment necessary to put S/G material on tape for the blind and handicapped. This will be followed later this spring by a book sale. This project is very important to Jacqueline. Please support her by supporting it. SASE either editor for details of the auction and your order form. Dates of the book sale will be in First Transfer as soon as they are available.

First Transfer is the official newsletter of the Sime/Gen Welcommittee, sponsored by Householding Chanel under authority of the Tecton Printing Office. It will be published quarterly with content to depend on contributions from fans. We're looking for anything anyone wants to do in any of the JL's universes (except poetry or fan fiction). The current issue of FT is available to all first contacts as part of the official welcome to S/G fandom. Otherwise, SASE Householding Chanel c/o Sosectu Marjorie Robbins, (street address removed), Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 and please specify which issue you want next.

Householding Chanel also has a penpal database available to anyone looking for new friends.

Welcommittee Staff

Marjorie Robbins, (street address removed), Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Torun Almer, (street address removed), Sacramento, CA 95825

Lisa Calhoun, P.O. Box 397, Roberta, GA 31078

James Bryson, (street address removed), Manakawkin, NJ 08056

Beth Ann Wempe, (street address removed), Redlands, CA 92373

Joan Panachella, (street address removed), Avenel, NJ 07001

Jacqueline's Corner

People often argue about the correct order in which to read the S/G novels, and reviewers confuse matters more by declaring that this or that title is only for the aficionado of the S/G universe.

From the POB 290 mail, I have learned that it truly does not matter which S/G novel you read first, you will find a complete and satisfying story in it. You will believe fervently that the one you read first is the correct place to start.

As you read another novel, you'll likely discover that you completely misunderstood that first novel, but NOW you really have it all down pat.

When you've read a third and fourth novel, you will begin to reread the books and find that they are totally different books than in the beginning, but Now you really do understand what was actually happening. And so on with each new novel you read, until you are also telling people, as the reviewers do, that you can't start with this newest novel, but have to have read all the others first before you have any hope of understanding this one.

But actually, this newest novel (whichever it is) is now being read as a first S/G novel by new people who are convinced it is the best place to start, and that they fully understand this simple story.

The fact is that every S/G book contains within it many novels, most of which are invisible to the first time S/G reader. And every S/G book contains one easy-to-understand novel, which appears to be the whole content of the book.

It is only when you start applying what you've learned from other novels to the current one that you begin to see what was really going on, and you begin to realize that the new readers are hopelessly confused.

Only they aren't. A lot of them are perfectly happy.

Now, there are always a few readers who have "double vision" and begin to see into the deeper stories before they've learned all the background from the other books. Such people may be frustrated and confused, or get the feeling the books are unclear. That's because that are unusually perceptive. Most of them get hooked very quickly, and soon are writing stories of their own.

It is unfortunate that some people are frustrated like this, but it seems inevitable, because my philosophy is that books cost too much. To make it worth your while to buy a book, I feel I must provide you with more than 2 or 3 hours of entertainment. So I layer my novels in such a way that the more you know, the more different stories you find inside the book, the more times you reread the book. I try to make my books re-readable so you'll get your money's worth.

I can only hope I've succeeded.

Jacqueline Lichtenberg

Questions and Answers

Just exactly what does TN stand for? I know it is a type of proficiency ranking. But that is about all. And what does QN stand for as well? --Lisa Calhoun

QN stands for channel. QN1 being First Order, QN2 Second Order, and QN3 third order. TN stands for Donor, technical class I.E. the gens who serve a channel's need. TN1 being First Order, TN2 Second Order, and TN3 Third Order.

Householding News

HOUSEHOLDING TAKEAR

Attention, Fellow Fen! This is a letter to any and all who might be interested in joining a Householding. I just registered a new club Householding I have named Takear. Takear's motto is to express an individual's full creativity and talents, and House colors are light metallic silver and bright red.

Takear is too new right now to try and do anything but attract members--hence this letter. This householding will be dedicated to the exchange of information and ideas between members on S/G and other SF universes the membership is interested in. Penpalling will also be a major part of Takear, and so will just plain fun. Role-playing and the extent of involvement will be up to the individual.

After Takear has an established membership I hope to do an In-house newsletter anyone can subscribe to. I have several activities Takear can do once it has a membership ... All house projects will be voluntary, of course ... no one has to do anything they don't want to do.

To receive more info or if you are interested in pledging Takear, please contact me at P.O. Box 397, Roberta GA, 31078.

--Lisa Calhoun, Sectuib in Takear

(Sosectu's note, the Sectuib in Takear is responsible for the lovely appearance of FT. Lisa does the masters for me.)

HOUSEHOLDING CHANEL

Chanel is a Daughter House of Zeor whose specialty is Psychology, its virtue Service and its motto He Rises Highest who Helps others up. Originally created for fan fiction, Chanel has recently accepted two pledges and has assisted in the creation of a daughter house, Householding Alger, created by Donell Meadows.

Membership is by invitation only. It is my intention to keep Chanel small, (though I won't say no to anyone who has a good reason for wanting to pledge) and use it as background for my Sime/Gen stories.

--Marjorie Robbins, Sosectu in Chanel

(Sosectu's note, announcements from other Householdings are welcome. Hopefully in the future issues I will have room to run the whole Householding register. Let me hear from you.)