FIRST TRANSFER#3 8709.01

Greetings, fellow fans. It's hard to believe that autumn is almost here and it is time to put together the fall issue. But here I am, chained to my computer bench when I could be out enjoying the sun. Never let it be said that the channels do all the work.

First let me extend a warm welcome to all new fans. We are glad that you have chosen to contact us, and I hope that you will enjoy your association with our fandom.

Due to the fact that I am going to spend part of October, all of November and part of December touring the eastern Tecton districts, this will be a combined September/December issue.

If anyone wishes to write me during that time period, I can be reached in care of Karen Litman from 23 October until 7 November. After that, until about December 1 I will be with Kerry Lindemann-Schaefer. Both of these gals are zine eds and their addresses are on the announcement page.

Now on to Tecton business. Jacqueline reports that THOSE OF MY BLOOD, her vampire novel, is going well. She has finished the first draft. It promises to be an interesting story. She was gracious enough to take time from her busy schedule to favor us with a plot synopsis. You'll find this in "Jacqueline's Corner."

The Welcommittee is expanding again. Donna Banzhoff is joining us as head of the new role-playing department. If you have a persona or wish to get involved in this aspect of fandom, contact her.

I'm also pleased to welcome Timothy Carney to our ranks. He has consented to head the newly formed Dushau department. His job will be to assist Dushau fans in getting in contact with each other, answer Dushau questions and generally oversee that area of our fandom.

The zine index is now available. This was donated by Lynn Gibbs and is residing in my computer. A printout is available for a legal SASE with two stamps. It is my intention to update it once a year. But the time will vary according to the almost uncontrollable zine production schedules. To be sure of not missing it, keep a SASE on file with me.

For this issue only, we are including a copy of Jacqueline's book order form. With Christmas coming up. I would like to suggest that books make a excellent gift. If you have no use for the form. Jacqueline suggests you send it to a friend who might be interested. She currently has ample supplies of all her books, except CHANNEL'S DESTINY. That she is getting low on.

And finally, the First Transfer file is getting a little skinny. This newsletter depends on you and your creativity to keep going. I can use art, jokes, puzzles, announcements, con reports or any small items you think might be of interest to S/G fans.

Yours in Unity,

Marge R

Sosectu in Chanel

Announcements

ZEOR FORUM #6 has been printed and should be in the mail in October or November. SASE Katie Filipowicz for information. Her address is (street address removed), Spring Valley, NY 10977. She has some back issues available.

COMPANION IN ZEOR #9 has had printing problems, but should be available by September 1. SASE Karen Litman for details. Her address is (street address removed), Somers Pt, NJ, 08244. She also has some back issues available.

AMBROV ZEOR #15 is now available from Kerry Lindemann-Schaefer. SASE her at Box 39 (street address removed), S. Yarmouth, MA 02664. Kerry also has back issues of AZ, some of CZ, Postsyndrome, a one-shot on sexuality in the S/G universe, and a very lovely S/G Songbook.

HOUSEHOLDING CHANEL INQUIRER is now available from Marjorie Robbins, (street address removed), Cedar Rapids, IA 52403. HCI is a question and answer zine devoted to Jacqueline's universes. We do have JL's permission to do future issues, so we are looking for questions from you, all questions used will receive a complimentary copy of the issue they appear in.

Send your questions neatly typed or written one to a page to the Q&A dept at my address. All questions will receive a personal answer from me or JL.

Karen Litman is in charge of the taping project. This involves putting S/G books and zines on tape for the blind and handicapped. She has recently expanded this to include Jean Lorrah's Savage Empire series. If you would like to read for this project or receive the tapes, please SASE Karen.

She has also asked the Wel to compile vocabulary lists so that JL can make pronunciation tapes for the readers. This is going fairly well, but we could use some more help with the S/G books. Write to Marjorie Robbins if you would like to help with this project.

First Transfer is the official newsletter of the Sime/Gen Welcommittee sponsored by Householding Chanel and printed under the authority of the Tecton printing office. It is published quarterly with content to depend on contributions from fans.

The current issue is available to all new contacts as part of their welcome to S/G fandom. Otherwise file a sase with Marjorie Robbins, editor, (street address removed), Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.

A special thank you goes to Octavene Epps for a most generous donation to first Transfer. This is deeply appreciated.

Jacqueline's Corner

Why a Vampire novel?

by

Jacqueline Lichtenberg

Since my vampire novel, THOSE OF MY BLOOD was bought by St. Martin's Press for hard and soft cover release, (probably 1988), I've been asked why I, of all people, would write a vampire novel, and the question bewilders me.

Vampire stories have always fascinated and frustrated me because I always felt that they lacked something. Even the good ones such as ASYLUM and Yarbro's St. Germaine novels edge up to the real issue, then retreat without confronting it. Marion Zimmer Bradley taught me that pulling punches like that leaves the readers dissatisfied. Maybe calling my novel a "vampire novel" is a mistake because it won't be like all those very frustrating vampire novels. (It will probably be frustrating in a completely different way.)

Mine is, of course, not a horror novel, though. It contains some of the horrible things common to horror novels. We have the lab specimen on the mortuary slab who wakes up starving for blood. We have the female lead character who discovers that she's been sleeping with a 'thing' and worse yet, liking it. We have the isolated group of humans in a dome on the moon left to die in quarantine to prevent 'contagion.' We have plenty of blood and gore, murder, explosions, intrigue assassinations, and confusion about which are the 'good guys.'

But the mere presence of these motifs does not make a horror novel any more than a space ship captain with a half-human first officer makes STAR TREK. I have discovered that "genre" is defined more by what is absent than by what is present. THOSE OF MY BLOOD also contains Sf as well as horror, love as well as sex.

My vampires (they call themselves "luren") are (apparently) nonhumans from outer space whose ancestors crashed on earth. Their food-beasts all perished in the crash, and they learned to live on human blood. Problem: they also interbreed with humans.

Half the vampires (the Tourist faction) believe that their species is thus dying out and they must send an SOS home and ask to be rescued. The other half (the Residents faction) think of earth as their home, and believe that if the rescue comes, there is the real possibility that earth's luren won't be considered legally enfranchised since none of them are pure-bred anymore. They could also become food beasts.

Another luren spaceship crashes, this time on the moon, and earth sets up a space station around it and prepares to send a message back to its point of origin saying. Here we are ready to trade!" The Tourists send a secret agent to the moon base to add an SOS message "under" the humans' message describing Earth's situation. The Residents send an agent to stop the Tourists' message from getting out.

The main character, Titus Shiddehara, is the Residents' agent. Problem: the Tourists' agent is Abbot Nandoham, the vampire who brought Titus to life after he died (a natural part of luren life-cycle), and who is thus Titus' vampire father, the one with real power over him.

All the myths and legends about vampires that we know of have arisen from the "luren" on Earth, but few vampire traits are exactly as humans have thought them to be. Yet Abbot does have real, compelling power over Titus as well as legal rights under luren law. Titus' options are severely limited from the start of his mission, and though he wins a few points against his father, he loses the one woman he has chosen as a source of nourishment. And Abbot is within his legal rights to have taken her from Titus. All if this is delineated in the first three chapters. Then the real complication comes in.

Titus just arrives in his Lunar laboratory to go to work when he discovers that his chief assistant is Inea Cellura, his ex-fiancee, the woman who saw him die in a car crash, saw him buried, and has grieved for him ever since. He still loves her more than life itself. Right in front of a dozen humans, she recognizes him, and he has to use his powers to prevent her from revealing that he was not always known as Titus Shiddehara. (a really tight computer check would reveal the existence of the luren on Earth which could trigger a genocidal pogrom against them.)

Meanwhile, the Tourist faction has scored against Titus, depriving him of the powdered cloned blood he lives on. He must also have what the luren call ectoplasm directly from a human, but between the smallness of the closed community of the dome and the ethics of the Residents, Titus has a hard time with this simple problem too. Furthermore, Titus has a lot of trouble convincing Inea that he is a vampire risen from the grave rather than a murderer who had somebody else buried in his coffin. When she finally does accept it, and realizes that he's starving and offers to feed him, he then begins to let her in on the more complex nature of his mission.

In bed one morning, he reveals that he is not wholly human and that the "corpse" they have recovered from the wreck is not dead, not quite, not entirely. She can't tolerate this final revelation and turns from him. He leaves, but still has the problem of protecting her from his father, and preventing his father from learning that Inea is his achilles heel. But it isn't long before he finds Inea in a catatonic state from having been mind-raped by his father.

From there on, things begin to get complicated as the pace of the action increases. His father magnanimously uses his luren powers to save Titus from accidentally revealing the existence of luren, the "corpse" awakens, and Titus and his father have to form an alliance to protect the existence of luren on Earth while they are both starving.

The reader learns more about the situation in the galaxy than the humans on earth ever do, but still the wakened "corpse's". H'lim's motives remain in this volume, a total mystery. At one point H'lim's whole attitude shifts when he discovers that humans and Earth-luren dream. The reason for this will be revealed in another novel, if I ever sell it, which takes us out into the galactic war, but with a different set of characters.

Inea and the wakened "corpse" (named H'lim) are both independent heroes of their own stories and make decisions that affect Titus' available options. I won't tell you who wins (I keep changing my mind), but there is a final confrontation between Titus and his father, and you won't like his father any better than Titus does.

Welcommittee Staff

Marjorie Robbins, (street address removed), Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 - Wel Head

Joan Panichella, (street address removed,) Avenel, NJ 07001 - Contact Letters

Linda Whitten, (street address removed), Anaheim, CA 92805 - Robin Master

Donna Banzhoff, (street address removed), El Cajon, CA 92020 - Roleplaying Dept

Torun Almer, (street address removed), Sacramento, CA 95825 - Contact Letters

Mark Kadey, (street address removed), Oshawa, Ontario L1J-5X8 - contact letters

Beth Anne Wempe, (street address removed), Redlands, CA 92373 - Contact Letters

Lisa Calhoun, POB 397, Roberta, GA 31078 - Contact Letters

Timothy Carney, c/o S/G Welcommittee, (street address removed), Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 - Dushau Dept

Puzzle Page

Pledge Puzzle by Lynn Gibbs

Zeor, Keon, Imil and Rior have each received a new pledge. The new members are Arnel, Barko, Pernen, and Tunon. They come from Westfield, Capitol, Madison, and Gulf. Their ratings are QN1, TN1, GN1, and RN.

Can you match each pledge's name with his House, rating and home territory?

1. Keon gets a new renSime

2. Barko comes from Capitol

3. The Gulf resident pledged Imil

4. Arnel is QN1

5. Tunon is not from Westfield or Madison

6. Zeor's pledge I is not a Gen

7. The channel is from Westfield

8. Tunon is a Technical Class Donor

9. Pernen pledged unto Rior

Channel in the Middle by James Bryson

(Sosectu's note: The game has not been tried in Chanel, so I have no idea what it can lead to. Play it at your own risk.)

One player is chosen as the channel. The others divide into two groups: one is Sime, the other Gen. (there should be one more Sime than Gen)

After each of the Gens finds a rock, the two groups form lines about ten paces apart, facing each other. When the channel takes his/her place between the two lines, the Simes chant a song. (there are many songs for this game which often causes arguments if the players don't agree on what to sing) The channel takes a rock from one of the Gens. (the rock represents selyn) When the chanting is over, one of the Simes races for a Gen that is still holding a rock. (after the Sime leaves the chanting starts again) The channel must intercept the Sime and get him into transfer position. (defined as holding the other person's arms. Some players include lip contact) If the channel succeeds in this, then the Sime must take the channel's rock and stay, where he is. Then the channel can get another Gen's rock and try to intercept another Sime.

If the Sime gets to a rock-holding Gen, then the channel must try to pull them apart in time, then he can take the Sime into transfer position.

If however, the Sime succeeds in getting the Gen into transfer position, the Simes win and a new channel is chosen. But if the channel successfully intercepts all the Simes, the Gens win, the channel gets to be channel again, and the game starts over.

Householding News

Due to a definite lack of space, I'm only listing Householdings that are currently accepting new pledges. For a complete list, SASE Pat Munson-Siter, (street address removed), Ellsworth AFB, SD 57706. I will be glad to run Householding announcements in future editions of this newsletter.

Householding Takear

motto To express creativity and talents

colors red and metallic grey

membership open

Sectuib Lisa Calhoun, POB 397 Roberta GA 31078

Householding Kamali

motto A lie is the most destructive when you tell it to yourself

virtue truth

colors amber and silver

Sectuib Mark Kadey, (street address removed), Oshawa, ONT. L1J-5X8 Canada

Householding Glen Eyrie

Sosectu Dana Dickens, (street address removed), Aravada, CO 80003

Householding Turan

crest two mountains and a tree

colors gold and brown

virtue wholeness

motto from division to unity

Sosectu Julie Hines, (street address removed), Louisville, KY 40206

Householding Chanel

Specialty Psychology

motto he rises highest who helps others up

virtue service

colors red, gold, brown

membership by invitation

Sosectu Marjorie Robbins

Householding Larien

motto keeping nature in balance

virtue the preservation of environmental quality

colors gold and turquoise blue

roleplaying encouraged

Sectuib Donna Banzhoff, (street address removed), El Cajon, CA 92020

HOUSES ACCEPTING NEW PLEDGES

(Sosectu's note: I have moved since the last issue of FT and some of my records got more that a little messed up. If I've missed anybody, let me know and I will run it next ish)

Takear - Bruce Adams, Michelle Dunco, Donna Banzoff, Donell Meadows

Kamali - Marjorie Robbins

Chanel - Linda Whitten, Bruce Adams, Lynn Gibbs, Michelle Weaver, Mark Kadey

Householding Mitar has informed the Wel that it will begin having regular meetings again soon. If anyone in the eastern Massachusetts area is interested contact Sosectu Meryl Gross at (street address removed), Billerica, MA 01821

Householding Chanel, while still willing to accept new pledges, would like to encourage those of you who are seeking a "home" to give the smaller Houses a chance. There are some good Sectuibs and Sosectus out there who could use your talents. And remember dual membership is perfectly legal in the "Ancient" Tecton. So, if you really feel that Chanel has to be your House, please feel free to let us know. We've never said no to anyone with a good reason for wanting to join us.

Marge Robbins, Sosectu in Chanel

ORDER FORM -- Fall 1986

FROM ENDORSED BOOKS, PO BOX 290, MONSEY, NY 10952: All prices include autograph, postage and mailer. Make checks payable to Jacqueline Lichtenberg.

SIME/GEN WORKS:

HOUSE OF ZEOR: hardcover ..... file SASE

paperback .....$ 3.50

UNTO ZEOR, FOREVER: hard ....$ 9.25

pb .....$ 3.50

FIRST CHANNEL: hard .....$11.25

pb .....$ 3.75

MAHOGANY TRINROSE: hard .....$12.25

pb .....$ 3.75

CHANNEL'S DESTINY:

DAW pb .....$ 4.25

RENSIME hard .....$13.25

DAW pb .....$ 4.25

ZELEROD'S DOOM DAW pb .....$ 4.75

AMBROV KEON DAW pb ..... (now available from Jean Lorrah)

The above titles are Sime/Gen novels set on Earth in the distant future when humanity has mutated into Sime and Gen. Simes don't create life-energy, and must take it from Gens who do. Gens often die when Simes take energy from them. A Channel is a Sime able to take energy from Gens without killing and give it to Simes to prevent them from having to kill Gens. A chronology of 2 thousand years of history is in RENSIME paperback, listing books and stories in order, but they can be read in any order.

"Channel's Exemption" is a S/G short story from Galileo Magazine, issue #4. It's cheaper to order from Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop, 339 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115 but EB has a few copies at $6.50 each.

NON-SIME/GEN WORKS:

The following three titles are the Books of the First Lifewave, set in a galactic civilization where humans and aliens become karmicly linked, sometimes intimately.

MOLT BROTHER: Berkley paperback .....$3.75

CITY OF A MILLION LEGENDS: Bkly pb .....$4.00

LAST PERSUADERS: to be written

The following three titles are the DUSHAU trilogy, an interstellar love story between a human woman and an alien male who is virtually immortal DUSHAU won the Romantic Times Award for BEST SF Novel 1985.

DUSHAU: Questar pb.....$4.25

FARFETCH: Questar pb.....$4.25

OUTREACH: Questar pb.....$4.75

KEEPER'S PRICE- Darkover Anthology (with a JLs collaboration) pb.....$4.25

"Recompense" is a non-S/G short story in Galileo #2. (See "Channel's Exemption" for ordering info above) Lichtenberg has written no other story in this universe.

"Aventura" is a Lichtenberg short story in the second issue of the revived IF MAGAZINE, available from WORLDS OF IF, P.O. Box 93 Hicksville, NY 11802. Subscriptions started at $6.50 for 6 issues; $1.95 per copy on newsstands.

"Through the Moon Gate" is a Lichtenberg short story which will appear in one of Andre Norton's WITCH WORLD Anthologies and will introduce (good) vampires to Witch World.

NAME: .................................

ADDRESS: ..............................

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