I apologize for the long break between postings. Such is my life that I cannot control my own schedule.

So far in the blog I have focused on Barker and his group in the Twin Cities. However, Barker always ostensibly encouraged other players to make Tékumel their own. One enthusiastic player named Jim Roach in Downers Grove, Illinois did just that.

Roach ran an Empire of the Petal Throne (EPT) campaign at the Aurora [Illinois] Friday Night Gamers Club. He described many of those adventures in his collectible fanzine “Realms of Wonder: The Magazine of Role Playing on Alien Worlds,” (In June, 1993 the subtitle changed to “The Magazine of Science Fiction and Swords and Sorcery Role Playing on Alien Worlds”), to which he offered subscriptions for $24 per year (12 issues). The precise dates of the fanzine are not clear to me. Roach writes in “Volume 2 Issue 1” (October, 1992), “welcome to issue one of Realms of Wonder.” And in later issues, he sometimes refers back to this issue as “the first issue.” But why “Volume 2” then? The last issue I own is Volume 2, Issue 22 (July 1995). However, there may have been subsequent issues.

Roach was a man of great energy. Each issue was packed with original writing (usually stories based on his EPT campaign), original art, and photos. The monthly folio-sized fanzine soon swelled to 40 pages. The magazine had photos of painted miniatures, model buildings (e.g. a Temple of Karakan), costumes (modeled by his friends), as well as computer and hand drawn illustrations. Unfortunately, the graphic design was, as David Cheng charitably described, “not so good to passable.” The fiction that constituted the primary content of the fanzine was run-on and cliched. Frankly I was not able to get through much of it. Themes were also those that often appealed to adolescent boys of the time. (Roach however was an adult; he wrote about his ex-wife in one piece.) This is a kind description; some of the pieces crossed into creepy. Nonetheless, there is something attractive about all the energy and enthusiasm devoted to the crafting of costumes, dioramas, and other items for the mythos.

The highpoint of the fanzine was probably the color Issue 11 in August 1993. Color photos of models in in action scenes in Tékumelani dress support the storyline of the fiction.

Roach was eager for Barker’s approval. He writes how he once played in Barker’s game in Minnesota. In several issues he discusses his communications with Barker and proudly relates in Issue 8 that “copies of Realms of Wonder I’ve sent [Barker] are sitting on his gaming table.” However, Roach also acknowledges that he receives feedback “pro and con” from Tékumel fans.

Barker, and the mainstream fans that clustered around Barker, were ambivalent toward Roach. Though Barker encouraged players to develop their own versions of Tékumel, contemporaries report that Roach’s version was a little too “out there” for his tastes. In general, Barker was not comfortable with players that strayed too far from canon Tékumel. As for the fans, many people in the Tékumel community take pride in their great knowledge of canon Tékumel and prize orthodoxy. Roach’s concentration on unbridled fun and creativity rather than orthodoxy made these fans uncomfortable. And the adolescent themes probably didn’t help either, though canon Tékumel does not lack for them either.

Roach’s story turned out to end sadly In the December, 1994 issue of Realms of Wonder, Roach notes that publishing the issue has been a “great struggle,” and “my doctor was is very surprised I’m still alive.” With characteristic energy and optimism he goes on to say “I’ve lost over 60 lbs. and facing more surgery. But I’m still here and still plugging away.” Then in the June, 1995 issue he previews the next issue and says “and by then we will all find out if I survive my latest surgery.” He made it that time, and the July issue appeared. I have no subsequent issues after Volume 2 #22 (July, 1995), but I think some were published — if anyone can clarify what was the last issue, I’d be grateful.

In any case, David Cheng later posted in the Blue Room (message 535) that Roach had died on July 26, 1997. David rebukes the Tékumel fans who discounted Roach’s fanzine because of its subpar graphics and “alternateness.” Cheng praises Roach for having the gumption to run a fanzine promoting Tékumel, which was “more than most of us have done.” Barker offered a brief, gracious but qualified reply, “I did not always agree with his view of Tekumelani society, but I did respect his energy and loyalty to the mythos.” No other fans posted any condolences.

For all his “alternateness,” indeed because of his alternateness, Roach was a great addition to the Tékumel community. We will all eventually make our journey to the Isles of Teretane. When I set sail myself, I hope to meet Jim Roach.

Postscript: If you were involved with the Aurora Friday Night Gamers or otherwise knew Jim, I’d welcome your comments below.

Summary: Realms of Wonder Fanzine
Publisher: Jim Roach
Date: October 1992 – (at least) July 1995
Authors:  Jim Roach, Martha Marion, Curt Rostenbauch, Trey Thoelcke
Artists: Jim Roach, Beth Dupont, Alan Gillespie, Tim Eichhorst, Mark Kobrak, Doug Helwig, David C. Sutherland, E raig Eslain
Size: 8.5″ x 5.5″ usually 40 pages but ranging from 22 to 60..
Original Price: $2.00 each.
Number published: Unknown.
Rarity: Very Rare.
Value: Difficult to say.
Collecting Notes: I have never seen any of these for sale. Rare, but there’s really no market for them either.