Fan Scene Tardis 77 Issue 4

The fourth issue heralds news of Robert Holmes’ replacement in the form of Anthony Read as well as more information about the DWAS’ forthcoming first ever convention. We also find out that the new editor of the zine will be Geraldine Landen. The season poll results are in and in the introduction it is commented that members did find it harder to vote for than the previous year. I wonder how people today would rate these stories especially people who voted in this poll 41 years ago. The results are interspersed with dramatized scenes from the top four stories penned by Andrew Smith. Is this the same Andrew Smith who would write `Full Circle` three years later? 

So in last place with 490 points was `The Deadly Assassin` described as “much criticised”. Fifth place with 534 points was `The Face of Evil` which I would probably have put last even though it has good points. Coming in at number four was `Masque of Mandragora` scoring 579 points. A quieter story compared to some of the others this would have no doubt placed higher in a lower quality season. In third place with 638 points was `The Hand of Fear`. Sarah’s departure probably pushed this higher up and I wouldn’t think it would score quite so highly now. Coming second (robbed!) was `The Robots of Death` which I remember I was obsessed with at the time and would definitely have put at number 1`. It scored 724 points.  The winner of course was `Talons of Weng Chiang` and to be honest I’d probably put it first myself nowadays though the two stories are so totally different and excellent it is difficult to say which is the better. Scoring 814 points this was no runaway win though for Magnus Greel and co. 

In his column Jan Vincent-Rudzki discusses the new idea of local groups. As you may recall last issue the first ever DWAS local group- in Stoke on Trent- was advertised and Jan spends time discussing what the relationship between these groups and the DWAS may be. Oh and the difference between a group and a branch. I suppose this shows that from the start there was an uneasy relationship between these parties with the Exec concerned that groups may approach other bodies claiming to represent the DWAS and then doing something that the DWAS may not approve of.

Part 2 of a Raymond Cusick interview (see below) is followed by the always lively letters section. At this stage it still includes some very fannish theories and questions as well as opinions. Pleased to see Tim Dollin standing up for `Robots of Death` after last issue’s review.

Uh oh- the person reviewing `Talons` is none other than Jan Vincent-Rudzki. Does he enjoy this any more than he did `Deadly Assassin`? Its odd that it doesn’t matter so much as the poll results have already confirmed how much the membership liked the story. On the whole he does like it –“atmospheric and enjoyable” he calls it. It’s a balanced review of the kind that really should have been given to `Deadly Assassin`. I’ve not mentioned it but there’s been a comic strip called `The Planet Blasters` running across these issues. It features the Dominators, nobody’s favourite villains.

The CT section includes an advert to buy cassette tape covers for your own audio recordings of the show and people are still advertising these recordings (albeit for swaps only). One chap says he has over a hundred recordings and is after pre `Day of the Daleks` stories. It’s another world and possibly a legal minefield! Rather nice to see too that old issues of `Tardis ` itself are being mentioned as Wanted. The issue concludes with an interview with `monster man` Steve Balon, who it turns out stalked the Blackpool Exhibition in costume.(see below).