The zine, Timeless Vol. 1, was originally published by Flamingo in October 2003 to premiere at ZebraCon 16. Timeless was an Alternate Universe (AU) slash zine.
As we do with most of the zines on the archive, individual works are linked through the Table of Contents below.
The zine’s cover, by Suzan Lovett, was a fold out with a clear acetate on with printing. The unfolded cover art with additional information can be found here.
TIMELESS Cover Art by Suzan Lovett
INTRO by Flamingo (below Table of Contents)
THE HORSEMASTER by Charlotte Frost
Title Art for Brother’s Keeper
BROTHER’S KEEPER by Elizabeth Lowry
Title Art for GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES by Virginia Sky
GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES by Dana Austin Marsh
ME AND THEE by James
Title Art for ANOTHER DAWN PATROL by Virginia Sky
ANOTHER DAWN PATROL by jat sapphire
Introduction
From the Bird’s Beak:
Here’s irony for you—I’ve never been a big fan of AU—Alternate Universe—stories. I fell in love with Starsky and Hutch as a pair of unconventional cops in the 70’s in LA, so why would I want to read about them as some other people, in some other place, some other time, some other… when? Traditionally, there have never been many AUs in SH, especially in comparison with Trek or Pros. In fact, Mirror Universe stories—a Star Trek canon concept of another universe where the same characters exist but in malevolent roles—can be found in almost every other fandom… except Starsky & Hutch.
Not that I cared. While I’d devoured the few classic AU offerings we had, I didn’t think much about the lack of it after that. Until one evening, while visiting Rosemary in her old Brooklyn apartment. I’d sprained a muscle, so when she walked her dog, I stayed behind. Looking for something to read, I found an old Star Trek zine, an AU with beautiful illos. The story was captivating, and as I turned a page there was the most stunning artwork of a nearly nude Spock, in ornate bejeweled and engraved manacles and chains. It was breathtaking.
When Rosemary and her pup returned, I met her at the door waving this illo, demanding in righteous outrage, “Why don’t we have stories and art like this in Starsky & Hutch? Where are our AU zines? Where’s our Starsky Enslaved art? Look at this thing, it’s gorgeous! I want this stuff in SH!” Poor Rosemary’s dismayed and befuddled reaction was, “But… I was only gone ten minutes!”
If you are still unsure of just what is an alternate universe story, at least by my standards… it can be as complex as putting our boys into another country and another time, say England in 1858, or France during World War I. Or it can mean just changing one thing about their normal universe, such as, what might have happened if Starsky’s dad never died, and he was never sent to LA as a kid, and became a cop in New York instead. It can be even subtler than that—how different would their lives be if Hutch did have a brother? Or you can tilt their known Bay City universe just by hiding a telltale pointy ear tip under a magical glamour.
The biggest irony of all is that I’ve become a total AU fan. These stories are wonderful. Romantic and exciting and dramatic and funny and heart-rending and wonderfully plotted and so cleverly written, they’re exactly what we’re looking for when we’re searching for new fanfic. I mean, this is why we read fanfic, especially slash fanfic, in the first place, isn’t it? To experience things we never got to see on the show but wanted to?
I love these stories. And I’m very grateful to the writers who trusted them to me, especially for their incredible patience. And I’m very grateful, too, to the artists who contributed wonderful images to the project. Suzan Lovett’s fold out cover astounded me when I first saw it. (For some slashy fun, take a closer look at the column in the background. The tiny figures on it are from erotic Greek urns!) And Virginia Sky has always been generous in her contributions to my zines. I love her work. Thanks again, Virginia!
I have to thank Suzan, too, for the zine’s title. It was the name of the cover art, and it was perfect for the zine! Starsky and Hutch are timeless, and these writers show how well they can fit other times and places and still be so much themselves. Maybe that’s because their love is so strong, so real, that setting and place have to yield to it.
Let me know what you think of the stories. I’ll be happy to pass the word along.
Flamingo
Premiering at ZebraCon 16, October 2003
Have any thoughts?
Share your reaction or leave a quick response — we’d love to hear what you think!
-
5
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
-
0
