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blakes7-d Digest Volume 98 : Issue 97
Today's Topics:
Re: [B7L] AFTERLIFE
[B7L] Thanks
Re: [B7L] AFTERLIFE
[B7L] Stadler Link review
[B7L] Space City
[B7L] Re: Afterlife and PGP
Re: [B7L] Re: Heavy drinking and sleep deprivation
[B7L] Afterlife
[B7L] Chris Boucher's panel
[B7L] Opps
[B7L] Seattle Regional Blake-a-thon! The Rabble Return
[B7L] Time Lines
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 18:34:22 +0000 (GMT)
From: Judith Proctor <Judith@blakes-7.demon.co.uk>
To: Lysator List <Blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] AFTERLIFE
Message-ID: <Marcel-1.42-0331183422-b07Rr9i@blakes-7.demon.co.uk>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
On Tue 31 Mar, Ian Lay wrote:
> I think some people don't like the book for one very good reason. And that is
> they don't like the reason for why Blake died. Tony Attwood covers this at
> the end of the book and I think upset many fans. Just my opinion of course.
I disliked many things. The bitty nature of the story, the fact that Tarrant
was casually bumped off (and I'm not even a Tarrant fan) and the whole thing
with MIND was just silly.
> Having said that I'm sure some of the fanfic is more interesting. I haven't
> had the priviledge of reading much of it. Do you know where I can get hold
> of some of the better fanfic?
Yes <totally unashamed grin>. From me. See my web page (address below) for
details of my zines and those of every other Blake's 7 fanzine dealer that I
know of.
I'd recommend 'The Machiavelli Factor' for an excellent introduction to fanfic.
Judith
--
http://www.hermit.org/Blakes7
Redemption 99 - The Blakes 7/Babylon 5 convention
26-28 February 1999, Ashford International Hotel, Kent
http://www.smof.com/redemption/
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 11:28:51 +0100
From: Ian Lay <ian@pacific-cc.demon.co.uk>
To: "Blake's 7 list" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Thanks
Message-ID: <01bd5d58$f6eeeb00$f2dadec2@pacific-cc.demon.co.uk>
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Thanks everyone for you comments on Afterlife. I knew when I started
debating aspects of it that I was in the minority of people who liked the
book. But maybe this is because this is about the only continuation novel
of the series I have read (bar 1 or 2 very short fanfic some time ago which
weren't continutation anyway). Once I've read some more fanfic I expect my
opinion of Afterlife may change!! :-)
Take care,
-------------------------------------------------------------
Ian "Temperatures of over 101 are NOT fun" Lay
///
:-)
\\\
Watford Internet Football Club
ian@pacific-cc.demon.co.uk or
wifc@wfc.net
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 06:33:25 -0500
From: ay648@yfn.ysu.edu (Carol A. McCoy)
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] AFTERLIFE
Message-ID: <199804011133.GAA28382@yfn.ysu.edu>
Reuben wrote:
>I'd still very much like to get a copy. Against plenty of advice I did go
>ahead and buy a copy of the Sevenfold Crown and having only listened to it
>once (so far) did actually quite enjoy it (aside from the first 15 minutes).
>
>Any leads on obtaining a copy?
I've seen used copies for sale at cons on occasion. Other possibilities:
used bookstores, place a "Want" ad in Horizon Newsletter. A good
possibility is The White Hart (Baltimore-area, I think, bookstore;
the owner frequents many cons where she both buys and sells fannish
publications). I don't have an address for it, but perhaps you
could find it on one of those Web yellow pages or perhaps a fan in
the D.C.-Baltimore area could get it for you.
Carol McCoy
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 14:43:23 +0100
From: Russ Massey <russ@wriding.demon.co.uk>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Stadler Link review
Message-ID: <1Gch0FA7RkI1EwKc@wriding.demon.co.uk>
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STADLER LINK REVIEW
Stadler Link is the name of the first zine edited by Neil Faulkner, and I picked
up a copy at Deliverance both because I'm quite a fan of Neil's writing and
because I was curious to see how his selection of submissions would differ
(if at all) from those of, shall we say, more traditional zine editors.
The zine is A4, photocopied. stapled and 66 pages long. It could probably
have done with a stiffer cover, as the corners get creased fairly easily, but I'm
not personally too worried about such matters. The internal layout is basic,
clean and functional - easy to read except perhaps for some of the smallest
fonts used for footnotes and the like.
Susan Bennett kicks off with a poetic lament at the ridiculously restrictive
guidelines that Neil laid down for Stadler Link (no erotica, no clich‚s, being
faithful to established character, preferably harder edged, perhaps more hard
science than the usual etc.). As Neil says in his introduction, in the end he
didn't turn down anything as one measure of a good story is that it gives you
something you didn't know you wanted in the first place.
The first story proper is Neil's 'A Casting of Swords', starring a very
different Olag Gan before the start of the series and before his limiter implant.
This is as close to Gibsonesque cyberpunk as B7 gets. The ruined Earth
outside the domes, half brutalised/half ignored by its wealthy Federation
overlords comes over as a place that makes Gauda Prime look like a holiday
camp, though Neil does get a bit adjective happy when he's describing the
terrain. Aside from Gan there is only one other character of any significance,
and the bulk of the 6 pages is taken up with the interaction between Doctor
Do-Right and Gan. The Doctor is a much modified human a Jamaican
accented data bandit in true cyberpunk style. He has something that Gan
wants, and the dialogue between the two is extremely clever, often amusing
and almost completely unlike anything we saw in the series. For me this
wasn't a problem. I'm happy to read a pastiche of Gibson's style any day if
it's as good as this, but I can see that it won't appeal to everyone. Well worth
persevering with though, just for the new slant it gives on the generally
slighted Gan.
Next is 'Blake's Seven: The Way Forward?' by Chris Blenkarn. This is a
comedy story told by means of excerpts from the diaries of the various 1st
season crew, as well as fragments from other documents. Essentially it is a
parody of modern management consultancy and their style of training
courses. Blake is swept up by enthusiasm for a course in honing his
management skills, and tries to put them into practice despite the lack of
enthusiasm from the rest. It's funnier than anything in the issue of Bizarro I
bought, and I can't say fairer than that.
'Mary Sue Meets the Language Barrier', by Marian Mendez, is a short (3
pages) humour piece on the problems faced by an American Mary Sue on
the English-speaking Liberator. There's a glossary at the end to explain any of
the meanings that might have escaped the culturally-insular among us, and
overall the comedy works pretty well. Just the right length to avoid flogging a
dead horse (which is just the sort of phrase likely to cause confusion in the
story.)
'Give the People What They Want' is another light hearted story, this time by
Neil again. I was getting a bit worried that the entire zine was going to turn out
to be comedy - not my favourite fanfic genre by any means - but in fact it's
just unfortunate that the three humour stories are all together. I asked Neil,
and he said he'd printed the stories in chronological order. I can understand
that, but still would have preferred a different ordering. 'Give the People...'
details what happens when a pushy, attractive and completely unscrupulous
journalist is allowed on board the Liberator to help publicise the cause.
Needless to say, the final article is not quite what Blake expected, and there
are a few good laughs in the three pages.
The next story is the standout piece, and will, I think, already be familiar to
most of the readers of Space City. It's Alison Page's 'The Young Ladies
Home Companion'. It's a tale of how an abused young girl finds a way to
escape her grim situation and find comfort in an artificial world based around
an elderly SF series. It's about familiar characters discovering they are
fictional creations and how they deal with it. It's bloody well written and it
brought a lump to my throat more than once while I was reading it.
Magnificent stuff that defies categorisation. If any of the authors can be said
to have taken Neil's instructions to try something new to heart it has to be
Alison.
'Terminal II' by Susan Riaz and DC Morris is a short and funny alternate look
at some of the implausibilitys in the eponymous episode, as well as some in-
jokes and post-modern metatextualisation of the source material in a way that
both shatters and yet somehow reinforces the notion that... hang on. Sorry,
slipped into Neil's style for a moment. Er... it's short and funny. Nuff said.
'Cycles', by Brad Black, is one of the few stories I've read that uses time
travel in B7 in a convincing way. The story is set around Blake's base before
the final events of the series, and his investigation of strange happenings that
have Klyn and Deva very disturbed. There's a wonderful moment when
everything suddenly becomes clear, and you want to hold your head in your
hands and scream 'No!' Very clever and quite moving.
Nicky Barnard's 'Dreamshadow' is my second favourite story. In nine
densely written pages she manages to encapsulate the complete progress of
the fourth season from the POV of Avon's continued interactions with the
artificial construct of Blake from Terminal. The characterisations are spot on,
the concept of the 'unreal' Blake acting as Avon's secret confidant as
everything starts to fall to pieces is brilliantly realised, and Soolin also gets to
strut her emotional stuff in some compelling scenes with Avon. For me it
ended too soon. I would have been quite happy for this story to have been
expanded to twice the size.
Brad Black's 'Transmogrification' is plain weird. I get the feeling it's a
crossover story with a series that I know nothing about, but I can't say much
more without giving away the plotline. It deals with a sub-genre that's not one
of my favourites, and all I can say is that it's well written, but didn't strike any
chord with me. It's set PGP and deals with Avon's continued survival. That's
about all I can say without spoiling it for prospective readers.
The final story is Neil's 'The Last Waltz'. It also deals with Avon's continued
survival PGP, but in a bleaker way. Servalan has taken a moment from her
busy schedule to visit him in hospital, where he lies on the brink of death.
Their conversation covers politics, history, unseen events in 'Rumours...' and
certain possibilities. Chilling in its d‚nouement, and quite satisfying despite its
downbeat nature.
So what's my final opinion? Buy it. It's worth œ3.90 for 'The Young Ladies'
Home Companion' and for 'Dreamshadow' alone. My only personal
reservation is the proportion devoted to humorous stories. I like 'em, but
only in small quantities and four in one zine was a bit too much for me.
YMMV.
--
Russ Massey
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 17:14:50 +0100
From: "Jill Beach" <Jill.Beach@beachy.demon.co.uk>
To: <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Space City
Message-ID: <01bd5d89$4c0d88a0$LocalHost@default>
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Could someone please tell a ignorant lurker what space City is and can I
subscribe to it Thanks Jill
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 12:30:32 -0500
From: Harriet Monkhouse <101637.2064@compuserve.com>
To: "Blake's 7 (Lysator)" <BLAKES7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Re: Afterlife and PGP
Message-ID: <199804011230_MC2-38A4-FE29@compuserve.com>
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Bill Billingsley (the Loch Mess Monster) wrote:
>
> I suppose I've got this on the brain now, but...
>
> You wonder if it'd be an idea for BBC Books
>to do a series of PGP novels, all happening
>immediately after Blake, but each giving a
>different possible continuation.
Bill, you're a genius! Though I doubt the BBC has the nous to appreciate
you.
Harriet
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 18:48:31 +0100 (BST)
From: Iain Coleman <ijc@mail.nerc-bas.ac.uk>
To: "Blake's 7 (Lysator)" <BLAKES7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] Re: Heavy drinking and sleep deprivation
Message-Id: <Pine.OSF.3.96.980401184118.18765A-100000@bsauasc>
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On Tue, 31 Mar 1998, Helen Krummenacker wrote:
> Harriet Monkhouse wrote:
> >
> > Iain said:
> >
> > >2) I was struck by a sensation of nameless dread
> > >when I realised, some time on Sunday, that the
> > >cabaret had probably been video recorded.
> >
> > If I were ever to buy the con video, it would be for the sole reason that
> > Iain's performance with David Walsh would probably be on it...
> And how can us Yankees purchase a copy? Heh, heh.
You wouldn't want to, it was rubbish, trust me. Move along folks, there's
nothing to see here, etc.
> >
> > >5) Why wasn't Chris Boucher's workshop packed out?
> > >He wrote half the damn show, but everybody just wants
> > >to see the guys that recited his words.
> >
> > Cos I was still trying to get back from the cricket statisticians' AGM in
> > Birmingham.
> And I wasn't there at all. But I love Chris's stories. A lot of us a
> writers, by hobby or profession. I wonder if the scheduling was poorly
> done? I've often found that the case at American cons... a would-be
> popular panel is practically killed by being put at lunchtime, and
> across from an even-more popular panel, and was originally printed as
> being at a different time.
There were a few tough decisions to make when attractive panels coincided,
but I think that just indicated how much good stuff was on, not any
incompetence on the part of the organisers. Still, the fundamental fact is
that hardly anybody is that bothered about writers, or even appreciates
what they do. Harlan Ellison wrote a lovely rant^H^H^H^H essay called "The
Words in Spock's Mouth" which deals with this at length.
Iain
------------------------------
Date: 1 Apr 1998 10:35:05 -0800
From: "Buck, Courtney" <buck#m#_courtney@ssdgwy.mdc.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Afterlife
Message-ID: <n1320695189.13520@SSDGWY.mdc.com>
>Reuben wrote:
>Against plenty of advice I did go ahead and buy a copy of the
>Sevenfold Crown and having only listened to it once (so far) did
>actually quite enjoy it (aside from the first 15 minutes).
*I* also enjoyed it. Granted, there *is* A LOT wrong with it, but, as a whole,
it was very enjoyable. I just closed my eyes and listened -- ignoring it's
faults. Much like watching the show itself. I just watch and enjoy and
overlook the faults. ;)
As for "Afterlife" -- I hated it. My reason had nothing to do with Blake (how
he died or whether he died). As an Avon fan, I hated it.
Courtney
150% AVON
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 10:49:08 +0100
From: Julia Jones <Julia.lysator@jajones.demon.co.uk>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Chris Boucher's panel
Message-ID: <Xt3FaBAU2gI1Ewth@jajones.demon.co.uk>
In message <3521A43D.51D4@jps.net>, Helen Krummenacker <avona@jps.net>
writes
>Harriet Monkhouse wrote:
>And I wasn't there at all. But I love Chris's stories. A lot of us a
>writers, by hobby or profession. I wonder if the scheduling was poorly
>done? I've often found that the case at American cons... a would-be
>popular panel is practically killed by being put at lunchtime, and
>across from an even-more popular panel, and was originally printed as
>being at a different time.
>
Looking at my programme:
On at 1400 hours, against a panel in main hall with G Thomas, P
Tuddenham and D Jackson. And a costume workshop in the fan room. This
may explain a lot.
--
Julia Jones
"Don't philosophise with me, you electronic moron!"
The Turing test - as interpreted by Kerr Avon.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 18:59:46 EST
From: MLytle <MLytle@aol.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Opps
Message-ID: <e6e30e3d.3522d4f5@aol.com>
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Sorry about that last message. My 3 year old is "helping play my e-mail
game".
Maggie
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 00:36:24 EST
From: penny_kjelgaard@juno.com
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Seattle Regional Blake-a-thon! The Rabble Return
Message-ID: <19980401.213002.13591.1.Penny_Kjelgaard@juno.com>
Hey, gang. Its time for our next Blake Bash! Saturday April 18.
Soup/bread/salad dinner with cheesecake for dessert. Be there or be a
Trekkie.
Please e mail me if you are interested in coming.
Sandi Steiner??? Are you still alive? How are you, girl?
Peace,
Penny
PS. Oh, what wonderful convertion reports. I was MELONcholy about not
attending but I think the reports and HORIZON's web page have help
immensely.
_____________________________________________________________________
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Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 04:49:13 PST
From: "Don Trower" <gammablue@hotmail.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Time Lines
Message-ID: <19980402124914.25961.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain
IMHO
When Blake and co. boarded the ship for the first time it was called DSV
what ever it was called by The System from the episode Redeption, Zen's
security systems scanned their minds to use their thoughts and memories
against them. Hence DSV ??? being renamed by Jenna to The Liberator by
Zen from her thoughts.
Wouldn't a clever computer then use her's and Blake thoughts and terms
of reference to re calibrate the ships speed mesaurements. So standard
would be the standard speed that they were used to ?
Or (sitting on the fence) the standard speed of the ship, which I think
is a better answer as it is clear that Blake is suprised that they get
to CA so fast, the clothes is just a continuity cock up.
Don.
The Anorak's own book of mindless facts shows the following:-
from Star Trek. If C is the speed of light...
Warp 1 is C
Warp 2 is 10C
Warp 3 is 39C
Warp 4 is 102C
Warp 9 is 1516C
Was there a TD to Warp convertion ?
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End of blakes7-d Digest V98 Issue #97
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