Subspace Chatter: Official publication of the UFP

From humble beginnings with just six members in 1975, the UFP grew into one of the longest-running Star Trek fan organizations in the Southwest. During the summer of 1984, member Deborah Lorshbough proposed creating an official club newsletter. Her vision reached far beyond a simple bulletin of events, encouraging members to share their creativity and enthusiasm. As Deborah wrote, "It is vital to the newsletter's success that the club members get involved. Any and all suggestions, ideas, movie reviews, artwork, cartoons, etc., would be deeply appreciated." Later that summer, the first issue of Subspace Chatter was published as a black-and-white mimeographed newsletter. Over time it evolved to include some of the features that had appeared in Phoenician Star Galley, the club's earlier fanzine, including hand-drawn comics, articles about upcoming Star Trek films and coverage of club activities.

For more than four decades, Subspace Chatter has remained a cornerstone of the UFP. As both the club and Star Trek fandom evolved, so did the publication. A succession of dedicated editors, including John Wheeler, Dave Williams, David Bluestein, Mike Fett and most recently David Matteson, each left a lasting mark on its direction. Regular contributors like Kim Smith, Lee Whiteside, Geoff Hurn and countless others continue to give Subspace Chatter the unique voice of the UFP. In recent years, Subspace Chatter was reimagined as a glossy, full-color magazine featuring original articles by club members, including contributors who have worked with NASA and on visual effects for Star Trek television series.

Subspace Chatter has always been driven by the passion and creativity of its members. Its future will continue to evolve in exciting and unexpected ways while honoring the collaborative spirit envisioned by Deborah Lorshbough more than forty years earlier.

Read back issues of Subpsace Chatter!

Today, Subspace Chatter has returned to its newsletter roots and is once again published exclusively for UFP members as a benefit of membership. A selection of publicly available back issues from the archives can be downloaded below, offering a look back at the publication's rich history and the club's enduring legacy.