Hmmmm. My top ten, eh? Please excuse if these are old, and the ink of memory faint... And in no particular order, and probably not ten...
Favourite long/novellas/novels ------------------------------
"The Pattern of Infinity" by Ana Dorfstad (Enarrare B7 Special) http://www.katspace.com/enarrare For me, the definitive PGP story... very clever in twisting what appeared to be going on in "Blake" back on itself. And good if you like Avon.
"The Totally Imaginary Cheeseboard" by Jean Airey & Laurie Haldeman Avon and Paul Darrow get swapped at a convention. The premise is silly, but the authors roll with it in complete seriousness and care, with some character insight (cool!). I keep on re-reading it. I can't remember if Judith P is the one doing reprints of this or not. http://www.Blakes-7.com
"The Mind of Man is a Double-Edged Sword" by Susan Matthews First and best of an AU trilogy. Unfortunately since the author went pro, this zine is very hard to find.
Program, Ghost by Judith Seaman Only for the Avon fans. A PGP serial where Avon is the suffering hero, with new characters and twists. Is it available from Horizon or the Avon club? http://www.horizon.org.uk http://www.avon-paul-darrow.co.uk
"Crucible" by Michelle Douglas (Dark Between The Stars II) A PGP novella, another Avoncentric story, but it isn't your usual blow-up-the-bad-guys thing... more of a rite of passage. I got this second-hand, don't know if it's still in print.
Jabberwocky by Sheila Paulson An AU series where season 4 didn't happen. The characters here may get along more than expected, but there is still drama and tension (and I like things with psi stuff too). Available from Judith P.
The Machiavelli Factor by Lillian Shepherd Another AU where season 4 didn't happen. Very good Blake and Avon, and intrigue and politics too. Available from Judith P.
"Key" by Jenny Hayward & Marie Logan (Enarrare, Chronicles) I shouldn't mention this one, but I will anyway. Guess what, it's an Avoncentric PGP... (rolls eyes) with some original characters... and not everyone is who they seem to be.
"Morgan" by Judith Proctor A time-travel PGP AU crossover... (with Morgan's Boy). Ahem... it's Avoncentric again! Sorry! (grin) I like it for the characterization, and also Avon's encounters with the 20th century. (see ourselves as others see us...) Available from Judith P.
"The Quibell Abduction" by Lillian Shepherd Just to show that I'm not a total Avon fanatic -- this one does a very good Cally. Sculduggery and undercovery and aliens... good. Available from Judith P.
Favourite not-so-long stories -----------------------------
"A Human Face" by Felicity Millerd. (Horizon) Where myth and reality meet.
"All The Kings Horses/The Gate Beyond Winter" by Marie Logan (ConQuest conZine 7/Enarrare 8) Another one where myth and reality meet. One reason I love this story is that it's all a matter of perception -- where the narrator sees Elvin lords and Goblins, they wouldn't actually call themselves that. The reason why there are two titles here is that there are two versions of the story, with different endings. It's really that there are two different *tellings* of the same story; one to an audience of children, the other to more skeptical adults. I like both versions, I can't choose between them. (but you're more likely to find The Gate Beyond Winter, because Enarrare 8 is still in print)
"Walking the Wind" by Leah Rosenthal (Southern Seven, Chronicles) http://members.aol.com/ashton7/ashton.htm Yet another very mythic one (no, I'm not obsessed with mythic-y B7, it's just that I've loved it when I've encountered it).
"Dangerous Legacy" by Adam Jenson (Syndicated Images 1) As a contrast... an action/mystery with an intriguing premise. Neil would like this one. Alas, it's out of print.
"Irregularity" by Russ Massey (Refractions #2) http://www.katspace.com/zines A Blake's 7/Sapphire & Steel crossover, true to both series (though a bit AU) nicely atmospheric...
"Beautiful World" by Kate Orman (Refractions #5) Ever wondered what it takes to be Servalan's tailor? This is also archived on the author's web page (can't remember the URL)
"Fireplay" by Marie Logan (Enarrare B7 special) Atmospheric, and Avon.
"The Devil's Loom" by Ana Dorfstad (Enarrare 8) Avon apparently killed hundreds of people. Is he innocent, has he gone mad - or is it something worse? I think Neil would like this one too.
"Thicker Than Water" by Ellynne G. (Blake's 7/Buffy) (Staked Blake) http://www.katspace.com/zines A nice, long, involved crossover with lotsa suspicion and sneakiness, true to both series. Particularly nice if you like Avon or Willow, but Cally, Vila and the Buffyverse folks all get good shrift too. (So how's the sequel going, Ellynne?)
Kathryn Andersen -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "You claim you can kill me. You'd better get on with it. Make me die. There's nothing else you can make me do." -- Kerr Avon to the alien (Blake's 7: Sarcophagus [C9])
In message 20011020105144.A15301@welkin.apana.org.au, Kathryn Andersen kat@welkin.apana.org.au writes
"The Totally Imaginary Cheeseboard" by Jean Airey & Laurie Haldeman Avon and Paul Darrow get swapped at a convention. The premise is silly, but the authors roll with it in complete seriousness and care, with some character insight (cool!). I keep on re-reading it. I can't remember if Judith P is the one doing reprints of this or not. http://www.Blakes-7.com
Judith does this and the sequel "The Other Side of the Coin". The sequel deals with Paul Darrow's experiences on the Liberator. I don't think it's as good as the original, but it's worst reading.
From: Julia Jones julia.lysator@jajones.demon.co.uk
Judith does this and the sequel "The Other Side of the Coin". The sequel deals with Paul Darrow's experiences on the Liberator. I don't think it's as good as the original, but it's worst reading.
Ooh, what a giveaway!
Or did you mean 'worth'
Neil
In message 000601c15946$9dc990a0$e535fea9@neilfaulkner, Neil Faulkner N.Faulkner@tesco.net writes
From: Julia Jones julia.lysator@jajones.demon.co.uk
Judith does this and the sequel "The Other Side of the Coin". The sequel deals with Paul Darrow's experiences on the Liberator. I don't think it's as good as the original, but it's worst reading.
Ooh, what a giveaway!
Or did you mean 'worth'
I meant worth. I think I should pay more attention to what my spell- checker wants to replace my typos with.
Kathryn wrote:
Hmmmm. My top ten, eh?
[snip]
"The Mind of Man is a Double-Edged Sword" by Susan Matthews First and best of an AU trilogy. Unfortunately since the author went pro, this zine is very hard to find.
Damn, yes, forgot that one. Bloody brilliant.
I think I could easily have done a top 15 or 20.
"Fireplay" by Marie Logan (Enarrare B7 special) Atmospheric, and Avon.
Oh yes, another classic I forgot.
Your list reminds me to beg you *please* to get permission to archive the Enarrare B7 stories on the web somewhere; *please*, *please*!! I'd love to read all those stories from the early ones again.
Una