Best Netfic
This is a selection of the best netfic I've reviewed; a subset of the main collection of reviews. Now, I don't score stories -- to reduce a story just to a single number rating is not only too much hard work, but also frought with wild inaccuracy. I don't actually have a check-list by which I would score stories. So this is not a collection of the top 20 highest-scoring stories, (or the top 10 or the top 100). What this is, is a collection of the stories that I thought were so excellent that they were "must-read" stories. So yes, that's subjective too, but it isn't limited to an arbitrary cut-off point.
[[!handytoc start=1 end=1]]These are the must-read stories sorted by universe (and series).
Blake's 7
Let There Be Light
By Nicola Mody
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 22nd December 2003 (1)
(61K)
I was taking a quick peek at "Vila Restal's Livejournal"
(http://www.livejournal.com/users/vila_restal/) when I followed the
reference to this, expecting something frivilous, and what I got was
something which was very much in character (she's got Vila's voice
all right) and at the same time, very moving. (And not at all sappy.
Then with Avon in the picture, it's impossible for anything to be sappy).
Vila's Emails
By Nicola Mody
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 18th May 2002 (2)
(841K)
This story (if story one could call this massive effort)
had also been mentioned on the Lyst, and I confess I was intrigued.
This chronicles Vila's emails to his mother (and various other people)
and their replies, covering the entire series from start to end. In
one sense, the whole idea is silly, since one couldn't realistically
expect, in such a hard-bitten and grim universe as Blake's 7, that
anybody could successfully get away with carrying on a correspondence
with his mother and not have dire repurcussions. But, if one considers
this a sort of alternative universe, a bit more light and fluffy than
the real one, then one can happily plunge in and be heartily
entertained. Even this light and fluffy universe couldn't ignore
the darkness of the fourth season; by the time we got to the
description of what happened in "Blake" I almost had a tear in my eye.
The characterisation of Vila was very good, offering plausible
explanations of some of the inconsistencies, and showing him in a far
better light than some of his compatriots might have imagined. It was
also good seeing the others, especially Avon's insults and Servalan's
intimations of what she'd do to Vila if she got her hands on him.
Doctor Who
Because We Have Survived
By Amy Wolf
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 19th June 2008 (1)
(83K)
Summary:It's a book. A stupid book. Cheap paper and blank pages.
How's it supposed to fix anything?
This story has two of my favourite things in it: an alien point of view,
and the healing of things broken.
The form of the story is a first-person journal, yes, but written by an
alien in a psych ward in the year 4992 who is afraid that everyone
thinks she's crazy. Except that we know she isn't. In walks Martha
Jones, and you realize that she and the Doctor are undercover... and the
plot thickens.
The whole thing works magnificently.
Psycho Savior, qu'est-ce que c'est?
By Kalima
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 29th April 2008 (13)
(48K)
Summary:A young woman contemplates suicide by power steering fluid.
"'Course you could just eat the gun like Cobain-- wait, what year is this?
He done that yet?"
(Warning: there is bad language, including the f-word.)
Wow. Compelling. Vivid descriptions; harsh and ugly and beautiful. The
Doctor, seen through the eyes of someone else. The Doctor is very much the
angry post-War pre-Rose Nine, and yet, no matter the pain, he's still a
Doctor. I read it, and then turned around and re-read it the next day and
it was just as compelling.
Upon A Time
By AstroGirl
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 18th December 2005 (6)
(8K)
What do you get when you mix the TARDIS-as-a-character,
and fairy tales? With AstroGirl at the helm, something so lovely!
Full of myths, symbolism, fittingness, resonance, love.
Walk Out with Me to the Unknown Region
By Rutsky
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 21st May 2009 (26)
(487K)
Summary:Given the slightest opportunity, chance, the universe's bastard child by chaos, tends toward life.
This follows on from "Parting of the Ways"; what happened on the Game Station,
afterwards. This story may or may not be AU, but it's an interesting idea:
What if Jack wasn't the only one touched by the Bad Wolf, not the only one
dragged back into life? Unfortunately, the summary of the story was so vague
that I never read this story until it was recced on Calufrax.
The writing style glints with the occasional gem. The Interludes about the
Controller, they sing.
I love the characterisation of Lynda; fighting against her own insecurities
because she has to. But not only that, the plot turns from aftermath into
epic; not just a disaster movie, but with further and interesting undercurrents
which are extrapolated so plausibly from what we know.
A lovely, lovely story.
With True Love and Brotherhood
By LizBee
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 21st May 2009 (17)
(5K)
Summary:The Doctor has an invitation, Rosita has a firm right hook, and there's a Yeti.
This is the perfect epilogue to the 2008 Christmas Special "The Next Doctor".
Contains spoilers, naturally.
I love this because it shows the awesomeness of Rosita, not just in the
adventuring, but in her attitude to the people around her; in this particular
case, she did something that made me want to cheer. The others are perfectly in
character, too.
This should be canon.
Doctor Who/Farscape
Travel Light
By AstroGirl
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 14th September 2005 (10)
(87K)
Here we come to my favourite of the Multivere 2005 crop. The Seventh
Doctor and Ace become involved in a rebellion against the Peacekeepers.
This makes perfect sense. Of course if the Doctor happens to drop into
a situation of rebellion against oppressors, he's going to help. It's
what the Doctor does! Since this is told from mainly Ace's point of view,
one doesn't have to be all that familiar with the Farscape universe,
really, though it helps.
This has got so much in it: adventure, rebellion, plans, betrayal, dilemmas,
good, evil, good intentions, gizmos, loyalty, encouragement, and a hopeful
ending. And Baniks, of course. With a great Stark, and Planning!Doctor
and GungHo!Ace, and, like, it's great, okay? Just read it.
Forever Knight/Touched By An Angel
Angels of Light
By Azar
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 23rd October 2001 (1)
(50K)
I loved this story. You may think that blending something as light
and sweet as Touched By An Angel with something as dark and brooding as
Forever Knight wouldn't work, but with the common thread of the search
for redemption, the author made it work. I'm glad to say that the
course of the story wasn't made too easy or trivial (I think) for Nick
(even though "divine intervention" was happening). It had a fittingness
about it. One thing I can't speak to is how well this story fitted in
with the particular episode of Forever Knight it was related to (the
last one, I think) because my watching of the last season was extremely
spotty. But I'd heard enough about it that I wasn't going "Huh? What's
going on?" but I probably would have gotten more out of it if I had
seen the episode before I read this. Even so, there was some very
thoughtful stuff (not just Nick brooding) and some zing! moments --
especially the scene in the hospital at the end. And there's some
lovely use of words in spots.
Of course, if you really can't stand reading TBAA stuff 'cuz they use
the G-word an awful lot, then you'd best pass this one by too.
But this managed, I think, not to be too sickly sweet.
Addendum: The archive in which I found this has it attributed to
Maygra de Rhema in the text of the story, as well as pointing to Maygra's
email address in the index, so I had originally assumed that the naming of
the author as Julie Jekel was a mistake. Fortunately, Maygra was able to
tell me that it indeed was Julie who had written the story, not her.
My apologies for misleading people as I was misled.
Addendum: Well, now that archive seems to have vanished, but fortunately
the story is also on the author's own page.
Harry Potter
Becoming Neville
By Jedi Rita
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 10th January 2010 (1)
(610K)
Summary:Neville's Gran breaks her hip just after his fifth year at Hogwarts, and he must spend the summer with Harry and Remus. They discover a hidden message in the candy wrappers his mother has been giving him, and begin to uncover the mystery.
This is a rare thing: a story about Neville Longbottom, from his point of view. Full of self-doubts and uncertainties, quiet, gentle, overlooked, underestimated, wishing he were brave like Harry. And yet what he needs is to learn how to be brave like Neville.
Neville here is very well written, and his Gran is just right. The author portrays very well how Neville's family mean well, and do care, but at the same time discourage him because of their low expectations of him.
Neville's parents are well done; Alice is crazy, but there are sadly poignant flickers of method in her madness.
The other supporting characters get a decent shot, particularly Snape and Lupin.
Then we have the mystery itself; the puzzle pieces fitting together into an intriguing whole.
Darkness and Light
(2) Personal Risks
By R.J. Anderson
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 26th October 2003 (6)
(178K)
She's done it again. In her 11th Doctor series, she managed to
do the unthinkable -- have a romance between the Doctor and a companion,
and make it believable. This time she's managed to hook up Snape and a
student (Our Heroine, Maud Moody) without us considering it to be
ridiculous -- and without removing any of Snape's faults, either.
Yay!
This is contemporary with _Order of the Phoenix_ as the author has
revised it to be compatible with that book, so it feels less of a wierd
AU than "The Polka Dot Plague" did, though this concentrates on what is
happening with Maud and Snape, and unexpectedly, with Maud's friendship
with George Weaseley. As well as enemies, enmities, plots, sacrifices and
unexpected miracles.
I loved this.
(3) If We Survive
By R.J. Anderson
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 26th October 2003 (9)
(411K)
The final one in the trilogy -- while definitely AU, as it
deals with the final battle with Voldemort, I'm wishing that it wasn't
AU, that this was the real story. But it can never be (despite the
fact that the author has left the deeds and actions of Harry Potter
her deliberately vague) since one of the main dramatic (and satisfying)
scenes in it requires the existance of Our Heroin Maud and her situation
with Snape, therefore it can never be. Wheras what happened with
Dumbledore here is so plausible and so fitting, that I wouldn't be
surprised if that hadn't been what JKR had had in mind in the first place
(and if she doesn't do it, then that will be kind of dissappointing).
Ahem.
This starts still overlapping with "Order of the Phoenix" and then
continues on, following Maud as she gets her first job, keeps secrets,
makes new friends, and plunges into the war with Voldemort. Action,
potions, enmity and betrayal; love and friendship, lies and sacrifices.
This is really really good.
Enemy Within
(1) Harry Potter and the Enemy Within
By Theowyn of HPG
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 6th September 2008 (8)
(965K)
Summary:In his sixth year at Hogwarts, Harry's mental link to
Voldemort is stronger than ever. Can Snape teach him to control the
nightmarish visions? And is their connection the key to ending Voldemort's
reign? (AU, set after OOTP)
I'm glad I came across Nomad's rec for this,
(http://community.livejournal.com/nomads_gen_recs/70381.html)
because I wouldn't have found this story otherwise, since it's archived at
fanfiction.net, and I would never have waded through the huge amounts
of badly-written Harry Potter fic in order to find it.
I didn't think I'd find something I liked better than "A Year Like None
Other" in terms of Harry-Snape reconciliation stories, but this impressed
me because it didn't have to go the hurt-comfort route in order to make
Harry and Snape stop hating each other. Instead, it was a more gradual
process, with many stumbling blocks along the way. Snape doesn't become
nice. Harry is just as much an emo teenager as ever. The Trio is the Trio,
with their own share of snark, banter, heartache, arguments and
reconciliations. Dumbledore is as nice and as scheming as ever. We also get
a new DADA teacher, who adds his own spice to the mix.
As compared to other HP AUs I've read, this story doesn't invent new magic
powers (though it adds some wrinkles to what we know about existing ones),
and stays close to Rowling's theme that "the power Voldemort knows not" is
love. It follows up certain loose ends I hadn't thought about, and makes
good use of them. There were points where I almost cried, and points where
I almost cheered. I really really liked it.
(2) Harry Potter and the Chained Souls
By Theowyn of HPG
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 27th September 2008 (18)
(1282K)
Summary:Harry must discover how Voldemort cheated death. He faces
Death Eaters, shadowy Ministry officials & suspicions that threaten to tear
his own allies apart. But the answers lie in the mind where victory can
only be won by freeing the chained souls.
I love this story. This continues with the themes of love, redemption and
self-sacrifice that were present in the first story, and keeps true to the
spirit of the books by making love be the key to Voldemort's defeat (though
in a different way than in canon, naturally). It uses an idea for
Voldemort's immortality which makes as much or more sense than Horcruxes,
and raises even more difficult dilemmas.
Excellent characterisation of Snape and Harry -- both still with their
faults and weaknesses and strengths, their mistakes and misunderstandings,
Harry's brave foolishness and Snape's "go to hell" attitude, it's all
there. The other characters are themselves, too, and we get a good original
character in the form of this year's new DADA teacher. There is snark and
suspicion, confusion, malice, division, unity, friendship, lies,
persuasion, cunning, foolishness, stubbornness and quiddich.
Well worth reading.
Resonance
(1) Resonance
By GreenGecko
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 27th September 2008 (9)
(2790K)
Summary:Year six and Harry needs rescuing by Dumbledore and Snape.
The resulting understanding between Harry and Snape is critical to
destroying Voldemort... (AU)
Warning: This story is massively, hugely long. It will suck you in and make
you lose sleep because you don't want to stop reading it. At least, it did
me.
PLOT
This is a Harry-Snape reconciliation fic, a genre of which I am rather
fond. It does start off in a somewhat predictable way, with hurt/comfort
leading to a better understanding between the two, which proves vital in
the defeat of Voldemort. This story is unusual in that Voldemort is
defeated relatively early in the piece, and the majority of the story deals
with the aftermath. For Harry, there is the accumulation of six years of
stress, the rootlessness of having fulfilled his purpose in life, the
unwelcomeness of fame, and some unexpected but plausible side-effects of
Voldemort's death. This being written before Half-Blood Prince, the means
of Voldemort's defeat is different than in canon, but I was pleased to see
that, like the best post-"Order of the Phoenix" AUs, the "power that
Voldemort knows not" is indeed love, as in canon, rather than power as in
magical might.
The story is also unusual in that Voldemort here is defeated in Year Six
rather than Year Seven, which means we have Harry still at school in the
aftermath. Not everything is safe, for there are still people trying to
kill Harry: death-eaters who were not all caught in the final battle. Not
to mention trouble with Year Seven's new professor. Plus the usual strains,
misunderstandings and reconciliations with the Trio, plus a sprinkling of
new friends and enemies.
I like the ending; everything comes full circle, and we are reminded just
how far everyone has come.
CHARACTERISATION
With a reconciliation fic, characterisation is critical. How would Snape
and Harry move from their mutual hatred to mutual respect and beyond? For
Harry, it starts because Snape helps when Harry needs help, and is the only
one who understands the darkness that haunts Harry. For Snape, it starts
with Harry's vulnerability, mutual goals (destroying the Dark Lord), not
having the awe that everyone else seems to have for Harry, realizing for
the first time that Harry does not want the adulation he is getting, and
being the only one to notice that not all is well with Harry after
Voldemort's defeat. I suspect also that this Snape might have considered
Harry a puzzle to be solved.
Snape does not become nice, though he does become not quite so nasty.
Harry is neither a saint nor a basket-case; he is sulky, short-tempered,
caring, thick, insightful, tongue-tied, talented, frustrated -- his usual
mix, though he also learns a lot and heals too. Indeed, both Snape and
Harry end up healing each other to a degree.
There is also strong characterisation from the supporting characters; Ron
(who gets to be a git, yes, no surprise there), Hermione, Ginny,
Dumbledore, McGonagall and the rest. Even Draco manages to be shown as
something more than a shallow villain.
There are good original characters. I especially liked Suze Zepher, the new
Slytherin Seeker, and Vineet, one of Harry's fellow Auror apprentices, but
they aren't the only ones.
WORLDBUILDING
This extends the Harry Potter world in interesting ways; not just new
spells, but extrapolations about the workings of magic, the nature of
Voldemort and Dark Creatures (and how that affects Harry), the Ministry and
Auror training, additions to Wizarding society such as their equivalent of
nunneries, and glimpses of Wizarding culture in other countries. Also
little details, like why Wizarding gardens tend to be infested with Garden
Gnomes, and more of Fred and George's inventions. There are also suitably
crazy Wizarding names, like Wereporridge and Tideweather.
STYLE
Despite revisions, there is still the occasional typo, but not often enough
to detract from the overall story. The pacing and dialogue are engaging,
especially important in such a long work. I can't remember any particular
passages or turns of phrase that stood out to me, but I was mainly caught
up in the characterisation and plot.
(2) Revolution
By GreenGecko
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 27th September 2008 (10)
(2171K)
Summary:Harry continues his Auror training and begins a journey of
mastering his unusual and growing powers. Harry, with the help of his
adoptive father, is finally making his own way, but fate and prophecy are
never completely absent.
This series continues with great characterisation and plot (and plot
twists) and worldbuilding. This actually takes account of some things from
Deathly Hallows as part of the plot, not because this was trying to be DH
compliant (because it is already AU) but because it was something that
would make the plot more interesting. I like how, in making Hary having
unusual powers, the author has actually made these powers cause as many
problems as they solve; or indeed, even more problems than they solve.
Things are not straightforward or obvious; Harry has to grow up even more,
for sometimes he is his own worst enemy.
Harry Potter/Buffy
The End of the Beginning
By Mariner
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 15th November 2003 (1)
(496K)
"London, 1981. Rupert Giles and Ethan Rayne may not be wizards, but
they thought they understood magic -- until the night they saw a glowing
green skull in the sky above a quiet London street. Now they're caught
up in a civil war in a world they never imagined existed. But can their
"Muggle" magic really win the war? And for which side?" -- story
description
Thanks to Johnathan for recommending this to me.
This very long story works very well in more than one aspect. It works
well as a crossover, weaving the two universes almost seamlessly and
doing both sets of characters justice. Of course Buffy fans may not be
that interested unless they like Giles (back in his youth) and/or Ethan
Rayne. No Buffy, and no Scoobies. But to make up for it, we have a
good look at Giles and Ethan, especially Ethan, at his weaselly selfish
best.
The other aspect this works well from is simply a telling of the days
leading up to the legend of The Boy Who Lived. We get to see them all,
James and Lily, Sirius, Peter and Remus, Dumbledore and a few new faces.
Even if you didn't know a thing about Buffy, it would be worth it from
that point of view. Lots of little details, and then how it all comes
together, like the footsteps of doom...
There are some things that don't fit, due to certain things that were
revealed in Order of the Phoenix which contradict things here. Also I
found it rather jarring that this has the pre-zapped Voldemort looking
like a non-human -- I'd always assumed that he was perfectly human (on
the outside) before his curse rebounded on him, and that it was his
restoration at the end of "Goblet of Fire" which gave him that non-human
appearance. On the other hand, it has been pointed out to me that
nobody has explicitly said that, and therefore another interpretation is
possible. I suppose so...
Anyway, that's not a big niggle. I really liked this.
Highlander
Yom Kippur
(1) Yom Kippur
By Teresa Coffman
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 31st March 2003 (13)
(25K)
Yom Kippur is the Jewish "Day of Atonement" and that is a very
fitting title for this piece. Set after "Revelation 6:8"; when Methos
enounters an old and dear friend, he is caught on the horns of a
dilemma, and it bites. The truth that slays and saves at the same time.
Really good.
Also at http://www.seventh-dimension.com/
(2) Communion
By Teresa Coffman
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 31st March 2003 (14)
(24K)
After the events of _Yom Kippur_, Macleod goes to see an
incommunicado Methos, and ends up with empathy rather than anger. The
way this describes how Duncan reads Methos' body language is
fascinating, as well as just the insights and thoughts and actions...
Very good again.
Also at http://www.seventh-dimension.com/
(3) Kaddish
By Teresa Coffman
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 31st March 2003 (15)
(91K)
The Kaddish is the Jewish prayer for the dead, and with a title
like that, I was expecting someone to die... This has got to be one of
the most serious and intense stories I've read regarding the question of
the possible reconciliation of Cassandra and Methos. There is
absolutely no attempt to whitewash Methos's past (hooray!); neither is
Cassandra demonized, nor is her pain belittled. (Warning: bad words are
said and awful things are described.)
"I was willing to let David help her! I am not willing to
eviscerate myself for her!"
The other cool thing about this story is that it points out that
Cassandra isn't the only one who needs things to be resolved.
"It's just that ..." MacLeod stopped, wordless. What was it about
the oldest immortal that irritated him so? Aside from the slaughter,
torture, and terrorism, that is. The ferret appropriated the warm spot
MacLeod had left on the sofa. That was it. "He's like a stray cat I used
to feed. When you want him, he's not there, and when you don't want him,
he's all over whatever you're doing and you can't get rid of him."
Grossman seemed to find this description of his friend very
amusing, and after a moment, so did MacLeod. "You can just stop feeding
them, you know," Grossman advised, smiling.
"I know. But then they might starve."
Now Grossman wasn't smiling. "That's right," he said softly.
Highly recommended (but read the earlier ones first).
Also at http://www.seventh-dimension.com/
(4) Pacing the Cage
By Teresa Coffman
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 31st March 2003 (16)
(14K)
This follows on immediately from the end of "Kaddish", and needs
to be read with that in mind. Again, we have this wonderful Duncan and
Methos interaction (even without words). Comfort, yes, but also some
unexpected and sharp truths. I wish I could write Duncan and Methos
like this.
Also at http://www.seventh-dimension.com/
Highlander/Narnia
Up in the Valley, Down on the Mountain
By Amand-r
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 22nd August 2000
(32K)
This story is absolutely wonderful. Stunning.
Written for the Crossover Lyric Wheel, it manages to
capture the true essence of Narnia, while also keeping
true to Highlander, and true to all the characters,
and yet shedding its transforming light on all of them.
Just read it.
He's not a tame lion.
Highlander/Touched By An Angel
A Gathering of Angels
By Maygra de Rhema
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 7th July 2000
(158K)
I find it hard to describe this wonderful story. Moving, deep,
full of angst and love. But not soppy. Three angels come to
Seacouver on a mission - Tess, Monica, and Andrew, the Angel of Death.
Angels can only guide, and how can they reconcile two friends, when
it's hard enough to get them into the same room? Particularly when
one of the parties already knows the Angel of Death, and wonders what
he's there for. And if the headhunters come looking, does one with a
wounded heart even care enough to fight for his own life?
This is really really good.
Narnia/Doctor Who
The Wooded World of Worlds
By Lady Yueh
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 6th January 2008 (3)
(8K)
There exists a place where trees grow tall...
The Wood Between The Worlds, Nine just post-Time War, just post-regeneration, losing himself in its peace, in its forgetfulness... is visited by a Lion.
This manages to work, and work lovely. Fantastic. Beautiful.
Sentinel
The Heart Hath Its Reasons
By Meredith Lynne
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 20th April 2001 (4)
I am very thankful to the folks on Senfic who reccommended this
story, because it is just so great! To start off with, we've got a
Blair-as-empath story which actually gives an explanation, instead of
just doing a what-if-Blair-was-empathic thing; weaving in little bits of
canon to add to the plausibility. The actual empathy itself isn't the
usual "sensing emotions" kind of thing so much as it is a really strong
intuition and insight; it doesn't come across as a catalogue of
emotion-names, but an impulse and a need to mend what is broken, and a
reaching for the right words, the communication with the other person...
And that's only the start. Yes, there's a bit of fanon there that says
that Jim can't control his senses very well without Blair there, but
that's only a small bit, and the only niggle I had. The character stuff
with Jim and Blair is just superb, insights and misunderstandings and
friendship and heroism. Drama and angst, banter and courage. Gotcha
moments. Leading us on, little by little, and then whamming us.
And lots of bits I want to quote.
"No, no. It's nothing like that." Jim had to kill a smile at the
worried tone in Simon's voice. On several occasions, Jim had caught
Simon watching Blair with a distinctly paternal light in his eyes. It
was reassuring. Blair sometimes needed more oppressive hovering than
one man could provide. "Just come over here and watch."
Or later...
Simon moved past him, into the dimly-lit room. "He can't hear you."
"Don't tell me what he can hear," Blair said. "I know what he can
hear."
"How do you know?"
"I just know."
With exaggerated patience: "How do you know?"
"I took a class," Blair said sharply, before he could catch
himself.
Or later...
Blair rolled his eyes as he was lifted bodily from his wheelchair
into the waiting Expedition by an orderly who looked like a cross
between King Kong and Ghengis Khan. He hoped the man had a lot of inner
beauty, because his outer form was the stuff of nightmares -- all hair
and muscle and big white teeth.
Or later...
Jim folded his arms across his chest and jerked his head toward
Blair's bedroom. "And put on something heavier than that T-shirt," he
ordered, scowling. "You just got out of the hospital."
"Got it, Jim." Blair ducked into his room for half a beat and
returned with a black-and-white checked shirt. "Wanna check behind my
ears? I scrubbed, man, I promise."
I better stop now. Just go and read it. And pester the author for a
sequel.
Addendum: nominated for favourite drama story in the 2001
Cascade Times Awards.
Pack Up The Moon
By Shelly
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 30th January 2000 (3)
(93K)
That was beautiful. Take out the tissues, folks. Yet even
through the tears, the dashes of humour sparkle through, and the woven
words.
Addendum: this story was nominated in the 2000 Cascade Times Awards
in the Dramatic category.
This Little Light
By Shelly
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 30th January 2000 (4)
(33K)
It moved me, man, it moved me. I'm never going to think of
that song (This little light of mine) the same way again.
I wish I could write like that.
Gates of Hell
(1) Bayou
By D L Witherspoon
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 8th March 2000 (5)
(255K)
First in the Gates of Hell series, though this follows
on from the first few stories in the Supernatural series,
so you could consider it part of that series too.
Wow. Up and down, darkness and light, sadness and suffering, love and
justice. What a ride!
Addendum: this story was nominated in the 2000 Cascade Times
Awards in the Scary/Horror category.
(3) Lilith
By D L Witherspoon
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 9th March 2000 (2)
(330K)
Third in the Gates of Hell series.
This one has a touch of crossover with Buffy (and Millennium at the
end). Very dark and intense, just as the author said.
One could have long arguments about the metaphysics but that just
shows that it's a thoughtful story also.
This was feeling more like an episode of Buffy or Millennium - it's
moved into their "zone", so to speak, with their themes, their
atmosphere, their tone - and I'm okay with that. It's changed
"channels", so to speak, and is no longer halfway between, which is
what I felt with the previous story.
Addendum: nominated for favourite horror/scary story in the 2001
Cascade Times Awards.
Watermark
(1) Watermark
By Tate
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 11th January 2000 (1)
(170K)
This is really good. Maybe I like it better because this time
the situation of hurt and comfort isn't artificially induced, but
comes straight out of the series. I liked Blair's astonishment at
Jim's actually saying what he feels - that's more like it!
If you read nothing else by Tate, read this.
Addendum: this story won the 2000 Cascade Times Awards
in the "Sentinel Too story" category, and the "best epilogue"
category.
It was also nominated in the Alternative Universe Story category.
Sentinel/Friday the Thirteenth
Gates of Hell
(4) Inferno
By D L Witherspoon
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 9th March 2000 (3)
(372K)
Fourth in the Gates of Hell series.
As well as the characters from Friday the Thirteenth as guests,
there are a couple of other cameos (including the continuing interest
of certain parties from Millennium). What next - Charmed? Actually
The Sandman would probably fit the dark tone better.
This was a long one! And sufficiently fitting to the spirit of
Dante's Inferno. Jim has changed a lot, but no? Had to.
I liked the Jim & Blair interaction on the way down, the mixture of
serious and not so - and Blair's reaction to the wood of suicides was
notable. There were some delightful bits - particularly the identity
of the other two souls in Hell - yay! Writing-wise, this still has
point-of-view problems, though it's probably that I'm noticing them
more since the first time I noticed it made me more aware of the
problem.
And what sinister things are planned next? How on earth could one top
a journey to Hell and back?
Sentinel/Nash Bridges/Millennium
Knitted Souls
(14) No Center Line
By LRH Balzer
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 10th January 2000
Zine: Knitted Souls
Issue: 7
(576K)
Sequel to Some Are Silver... The Others, Gold
and Double Room. Really really good, though very
nasty in places, be warned. She makes other stories which feature a
(psychic) connection between Jim and Blair look crude and clumsy by
comparison. Good use of Frank Black, definitely. I've never seen
Nash Bridges, but that wasn't a problem, there was enough backstory
for me not to be lost. The only thing I didn't get was the meaning
of the title, actually.
Addendum: this story won the 2000 Cascade Times
Awards in the Crossover category. Also, the "Jim and Simon give Blair
a bath" scene won the "best comfort scene" category.
Sentinel/X-Files
Earthly Bonds
(2) The Inquisitor
By Sorka
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 24th December 1999 (1)
(137K)
I really liked this. As far as my non-intensive viewing of
either show could tell, the author got both sets of characters
(X-Files and Sentinel) to the life, making it a well-balanced
crossover. And there were all these delightful bits, plus some exciting
action with a non-trivial nasty... all made for a great story.
Shadow
Anything Is Possible... And Nothing Is Impossible
By Kimberley Murphy-Smith
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 1st March 2000 (2)
(332K)
A novella based on the characters of The Shadow movie.
In The Hot Corner http://members.aol.com/hczine issue 4.
This tells the tale of how Ying Ko was redeemed. It is excellent,
plumbing the depths of Lamont Cranston's character, and showing
his growth, in character and in mental powers. Worth reading
repeatedly.
Star Trek: XI/Multiverse
People Who Repair Quantums, or Five Planets The Enterprise Never Visited
By Ignipes
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 10th June 2009 (4)
(18K)
Summary:"So you're a drug-addicted messianic cult dedicated to
drinking your own distilled urine so your descendants generations down the
road can grow palm trees. How's that working out for you?"
Part of the fun of reading this story is figuring out which well-known
science-fictional planets these are, but you don't need to know them in
order to enjoy this story. The first four sections vary from good to very
good, serious to funny, but the last one is just stunning, haunting,
evocative, and makes this story a must-read.
Stargate
The Midas Syndrome
By Rheanna
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 7th May 2000
(91K)
Another really good one. This one was told completely from
O'Neill's point of view, and, yeah, O'Neill is the one on the hard end
of the stick, again. This, again, could have been an episode; it
built up, step by step from an intriguing idea, there was hazard,
angst, humour, and bonding. The character stuff was spot on.
It was also nice to see something that was set early on in the series.
Some writers (particularly in an ongoing series) don't seem to be able
to cast their minds back to earlier parts of a series, only
remembering how the characters are now. This author had
no such problem.
There were some great bits:
"Everyone okay?" I called out. The replies rang out in the
darkness.
"Yes sir."
"I am uninjured."
"I think I broke my glasses. Wait, no, I didn't."
That last was from Daniel, the best argument in favour of contact
lenses you'll ever see.
I liked the SF idea in this; I think it held together nicely,
actually supplying a reason for all the... mess, that made sense.
It was good seeing Jack's reaction from inside his head, however stoic
he may have tried to be on the outside. And the others - not just
Carter, Daniel and Tea'lc, but also Janet Fraiser and General
Hammond - were painted well. This was good.
The Touch Of Your Hand
By Ellen Caldera
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 17th May 2000 (2)
(99K)
This was a lovely, poignant story. The author warns us that
this story is "one for the Danny Channel (All Danny, All the Time)",
but that said, one doesn't miss the presence of the others, because
this isn't about Daniel's relationships with the others, it's about
his compassion (and his curiosity). And about the guest-character for
this episode. This was really good.
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty, - that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
Stargate Atlantis/Doctor Who
The Holes in the Ground
By Fahye
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 10th December 2007 (8)
(31K)
Rodney has absolutely no clue what to do, what to say, but the Doctor keeps spinning and keeps talking and maybe all he's expected to do is sit there and listen.
The story written for me for Multiverse 2007 -- and even more amazing, it was a pinch-hit.
This was a fantastic, brilliant story. The characters were spot-on, and the plot was one of those lovely ones where people meet each other in different orders due to time travel. And it managed to be character-ful and poignant and light and dark and profound and snarky. Must-read.
Stargate/Highlander
A Square Peg in a Round Hole
By MarbleGlove
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 21st May 2009 (20)
(245K)
Summary:Methos was just spending a year as a highschool teacher; Jake O'Neil was just trying to be someone other than Jack O'Neill; neither are simple individuals.
I came across this first when it was still unfinished, so while I noted the
premise as intriguing, I didn't read more than the first chapter. Then I went
away and forgot about it. So I was very pleased to stumble across it again and
find that it was finished.
I love this story; it started off well, and kept on getting better and better.
Jake O'Neil is caught between what he was and what he will be; adrift and
alone, because what was his home does not belong to him any longer, and he has
not yet made a new home for himself. Then there's Methos, observant and
intrigued, who observes and deduces too much. I love the friendship that
develops between them; how Methos is cunning and manipulative, but also someone
who misses comradeship; how Jake is not stupid or immature, how he reads Methos
better than anyone else.
There's also lots of little things to like here:
how this reminds us that Teal'c is from an alien culture;
interesting stuff about quickenings;
Daniel Jackson being a smart cookie.
Tolkien
Spirits of the House
By Altariel
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 17th August 2004 (1)
(41K)
Though this was nominated in The Crossover Awards, I don't
actually consider it to be a crossover. It's only a crossover in the
sense that it has taken the basic plot from something else, and applied
it to this universe. The two most popular plots for this kind of thing
seem to be "It's A Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Carol". This story
has taken the latter and applied it well and spookily to Denathor. The
author describes this as an AU in which Denathor lives, but we don't
actually see that, we only see the seeds of it, and I for one would
really like to see the working out of it as well. But even so, I loved
this story, because she got Denathor so well, and I haven't forgiven
Jackson for totally messing up Denathor in the movie. Here, she makes
the good point that the Palantir was like an addiction; it wasn't just
the negativity which had driven Denathor to despair and madness.
And the style is very in keeping with LOTR. Good one.
Tomorrow People
Springtime
By Megan Freeman
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 15th September 2005 (1)
(32K)
As punishment, Jedikiah was stripped of his powers and sent out
into the world. But what happened after that? John is the only one
who wants to find out.
This is a moving and bittersweet story of darkness and light, of filth
and cleansing, of bitterness and redemption. Read it.
X-Files
Possessions
By R.J. Anderson
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 18th December 1999 (1)
(152K)
Really really good. Mulder loses his memory - and he doesn't like
what he sees of himself from outside. Soul-searching, and true to
character - but not mushy.
X-Files/Touched By An Angel/Piercing the Darkness
Divine Intervention
By Laura Picken
Reviewed by Kathryn Andersen on 16th January 2000 (2)
(249K)
Really good story. Drags you in and keeps you there, weaves
the three universes together very well. For those who don't know,
"Piercing the Darkness" is a fantasy novel by Frank Peretti, involving
the battle between angels and demons - and the human beings on each
side. The connection with TBAA is obvious - and the fact that Mulder
and Scully have encountered demonic forces before is also a linking
factor. So it all works. Good character stuff - how would
Mulder and Scully react when encountering the divine? And I like the
idea that someone is praying for them as a team which
explains why things always seem to go wrong when one of them hares off
without the other. (grin) This is also better than the usual TBAA
crossovers, because the PtD and X-Files factor means that it isn't just
about healing relationships, encouraging and forgiving people, but
there's murder and mayhem and danger as well.
Addendum: This story is available at http://www.gossamer.org/
but note that there is more than one story there called "Divine Intervention"
so check the author as well.