From: Natasa Tucev tucev@tesla.rcub.bg.ac.yu
Wouldn't it be interesting to keep a record of how often this cave appears in B7 fanfic? There seems to be a need to isolate two characters within
some
confined space (preferably primitive, natural setting, rather than artificial one) so that they'd be forced to interact in a manner which otherwise wouldn't be conceivable.
I've seen a couple set on abandoned spaceships (with life-support failing, naturally), but caves do seem to be the number one choice of location. Dunno why. Maybe because the average womb isn't big enough to accommodate either of them, let alone both at the same time.
It almost inspires one to write a parody of the 'cave' sub-genre.
Some of them do a pretty good job of that without even trying.
So, could other people please tell me: what are your Top Ten B7 stories?
Despite rigorously excluding my own efforts, it justs so happens that my top three faves are in zines I've had a hand in myself. 'Course, like any top ten, a lot depends on the mood of the moment.
1. The Young Ladies Home Companion (Alison Page, Stadler Link) 2. Haunted (Nickey Barnard, Pressure Point) 3. With/Out Blake (Ika, TOFPA) 4. A Peculiar Alchemy (Judith Rolls, Horizon #20) 5. Love and Honour (Andrew Kearley, Star One) 6. For Jenna (Margaret Scroggs, Horizon #11) 7. The Power and the Glory (Helen Pitt, Horizon #10) 8. Streetcorner Girl (Pita Enriquez-Harris, Deadlier Than The Male) 9. All That Remains Are Regrets (Susan Barret, Star Three) 10. Hammer, Anvil, Forge (Russ Massey, Power)
I'm not sure quite why so many from Horizon zines. Maybe I remember them better because they were the first zines I read and their content seemed original at the time.
There's also the problem of the vast range that fanfic covers, in style and length. The above are all short stories, and all but the first are subcanonical. Other categories, like full-length novels, humorous stuff etc, ought to be listed separately, or at least so I think.
Top Ten humorous stories:
1. Dimples and Hairpiece (Wendy Ingle, Horizon #12) 2. My Late Lamented Friend (Fliss Davies, Horizon #11) 3. Heavy Petting (Lorna Breshears, Gambit #12) 4. Diary of a Rebel Somebody (Chris Blenkarn, Pressure Point) 5. Behind Blue Eyes (Catherine Kendall, The Way Back. Not meant to be humorous, but I certainly got a laugh out of it) 6. Afterdeath (Ros Williams, Horizon #10) 7. The Further Adventures of Mary Sue (Helen Pitt, D&U #3) 8. The Beeb Budget Cuts (Jan Harley, Interface #12) 9. All the Days of Christmas (Judith Seaman, Horizon #11) 10. Passable Features (Ellen A Rufkin, Horizon #19)
Yet more Horizon, but I think they really do have the pick of the crop of the funny stuff.
The thing I notice about both lists is the preponderance of UK authors. Hmmm...
Neil