LUNACY'S FAN FICTION REVIEWS
Bat Morda
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Last modified: November 03 2012 12:33:02
Please make sure to read the EXPLANATORY NOTES before reading these reviews.
Alternative stories are designated as such with an [Alt] at the end of the title line.
This file features reviews of stories written by Bat Morda. For any other fiction by this bard please visit any of the Xena fan fiction indexes.
**ASSASSIN, ORACLE, BARD by Bat Morda -- [Alt]
One of Bat's first pieces of fan fiction, this is a suspenseful, poignant, passionate story that begins in a prison where an old enemy of the Warrior Princess goes to find her newest tool for revenge - an assassin named Raven with an uncanny resemblance to someone very, very close to Xena. Meanwhile, a beautiful oracle is having troubling visions involving three women whose lives are linked together - a vision which also predicts the death of one of them... Bat's characterizations are excellent in this particularly in her depiction of Raven whose haunted past and determination to reject all emotion makes her a surprisingly sympathetic figure. The story is engrossing, exceedingly well-written and a definite MUST READ! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 64 pgs., 3/97
FANFIC ART: Barron Story Cover
http://cousinliz.com/fanfic/batmorda_aob(1).html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]
**BINDS THAT TIE (THE) by Bat Morda -- [Alt]
Coming from the keyboard of Bat Morda it should be no surprise that this is one of the BEST Warlord/Slave stories written to date in XWP fan fiction and an absolute MUST READ! To help a monarch who once offered her army shelter, Xena agrees to try to intimidate a neighboring kingdom into abandoning any expansionist plans they may have. In order to do so, however, she must first convince the king there that she is still the feared warlord of old - an image which really doesn't allow for a bard as a companion. For Xena the solution seems simple - to go alone. For Gabrielle another solution is MUCH more rational - to go along as Xena's slave. Guess who wins ;-) Exceptionally well-written and edited, this is a romance that explores the attraction to things dark and dangerous. Words that come to mind - hot, sizzling, burning! DO NOT READ AT WORK (unless your co-workers are used to seeing you flushed and wearing a silly grin). Bat offers a few more warnings herself at the beginning of her story - make SURE to read those. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! [See also the sequel THE BINDS THAT TIE II: THE TACKY SEQUEL] - 36 pgs., 8/21/97
FANFIC ART: Barron Story Cover
http://cousinliz.com/fanfic/batmorda_tbtt.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]
**BINDS THAT TIE II: THE TACKY SEQUEL (THE) by Bat Morda -- [Alt]
In an unusual treat we get BOTH the original story and its sequel with this latest by the Xenaverse's favorite flying mammal :) Bat tried a very unique approach in this sequel - basically giving us the same story as the original but from a different perspective - this time as seen through Xena's eyes. The technique works really well enhancing the characterizations set forth in the first tale and revealing to an even greater degree the love beneath the passion. The same words come to mind as in the first story by the way - HOT, SIZZLING, BURNING - so this one gets the DO NOT READ AT WORK warning as well as a reminder to read Bat's disclaimers (they're too funny to miss anyway). VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! - 56 pgs., 9/97
FANFIC ART: Barron Story Cover
http://cousinliz.com/fanfic/batmorda_tbtt2.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]
**BROKEN ARROW by Bat Morda -- [Alt]
A "first time" story featuring a wonderful new character who helps Xena and Gabrielle admit the truth of their feelings to themselves and each other. Emotional, funny and EXCELLENTLY written. A classic of XWP alternative fan fiction and one of my early favorites. This gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!! - 110 pgs., 12/96
FANFIC ART: Barron Story Cover
http://cousinliz.com/fanfic/batmorda_tba(1).html
http://xenafan.com/fiction/content/brokenarrow.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]
**IS THERE A DOCTOR ON THE DIG by Bat Morda -- [Alt]
Absolutely delightful story which reunites our favorite archeologist and her Southern Belle of a companion, Janice and Mel from the XENA SCROLLS episode - this time in an alt. story (it's WILD what can I say!). Bat's latest has everything - adventure, suspense, COMEDY, romance, wild, passionate...uh...er - well, you know ;-) Not to worry, Xena and Gab DO make an appearance and the passages about them happen to be some of the loveliest and most moving I've ever read in XWP fiction. This is NOT TO BE MISSED! The first-ever Mel/Janice story released and a true classic! It carries my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! [See also L. Graham's PRELUDE TO A DIG and Bat's own sequel THE SEARCH FOR AMPHIPOLIS] - 90 pgs., 3/97
AWARDS: "Getting Serious" Swollen Bud Award (May 1, 2000)
FANFIC ART:
MEMO SERIES (THE) by Wordee and Batsky - [Alt]
Can you guys BELIEVE this pairing!!!! None other than the Bat and Ms. TRUTH OR DARE herself! This may possibly go down in history as one of the funniest parody series ever. Follow Wordee - that stoic, courageous Warrior of words as she joins with her bardly sidekick Batsky to make the world a better place. Poor Batsky has to deal with a costume that shows off her pasty white midriff, a MommaBat that absolutely loves helping out, and a Clan McBat that idolizes her, while Wordee, in trying to reform after her darker days as Destroyer of Phrases, now spends time singing National Anthems and recuperating from fractured...well - you just have to read this...no way to describe it. Written as a series of memos between our fearless two-some this warrants a very serious funny-bone alert! - 26 pgs., 7/11/97, re-released 4/01
http://cousinliz.com/fanfic/wordeebatsky_tms.html
**SEARCH FOR AMPHIPOLIS (THE) by Bat Morda -- [Alt]
With her award-winning story IS THERE A DOCTOR ON THE DIG Bat made history, bringing us the first fan fiction tale to feature the characters of Mel Pappas and Janice Covington from the episode XENA SCROLLS. A fantastic combination of humor, drama, adventure and romance which also featured appearances by and flashbacks of our heroines' Greek ancestors, ITADOTD has managed to capture the hearts of readers as few other stories have done and in so doing has inspired many other Mel/Janice stories, contributing greatly to the growing mythology associated with these two characters. Appearing in only one episode of the series to date, the Mel and Janice many readers know are more a product of the fan fiction than the show, with Bat's now classic story being perhaps the most influential in the perception viewers have of these characters. Now, at last we have available one of the most eagerly anticipated sequels in XWP fan fiction - THE SEARCH FOR AMPHIPOLIS continues the story of the spunky archeologist and her Southern Belle of a partner as they once again embark on another wild quest, this one to recover the bones of their ancestors and hopefully put a warrior and her bard forever beyond the reach of the dark forces still threatening them. The story features an unprecedented cast of characters, including another famous archeologist from the 1940's, a group of very dedicated descendants of some of Xena and Gabrielle's closest friends, and even a few names from the Xenaverse readers may recognize ;-) The relationship between Mel and Janice in this story has deepened and grown making for a truly beautiful romance. In addition to their tale, Bat also writes about a difficult time in the lives of Xena and Gabrielle - a time that challenged their love and their friendship as it had never been challenged before. TSFA is a remarkably entertaining and well-written story, a worthy sequel to ITADOTD which further assures Mel and Janice's standing as premier players in the continuing legend of XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS. Note: the story at Dax's OBSESSION site includes perhaps the first ever publicly released picture of Batsky playing her guitar. This tale is NOT to be missed folks - it carries my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!! [See also the sequel UBERMADNESS] - 130 pgs., 8/13/97
FANFIC ART:
**UBERMADNESS: THE BATTLE FOR THE THIRD AGE by Bat Morda -- [Alt]
The very talented Bat Morda returns with the long-awaited sequel to THE SEARCH FOR AMPHIPOLIS. Set one hundred years after that story, it chronicles the continuing struggle of Xena and Gabrielle's descendants against the God of War...only this time around those descendants may in fact be more than just descendants. The story begins with hacker extraordinaire Xero, deadly, beautiful and not keen on trusting people, narrowly escaping an assassination attempt. Soon she is joining forces with Rielle, a beautiful, green-eyed blonde who claims to know what is happening - but as a syscop, also happens to be a hackers worst enemy. All the while the skeptical Xero is learning more about a certain warrior of legend - and learning more about herself in the process. Bat does a wonderful job here of creating a futuristic world filled with personalities that should be familiar to many of you in the Xenaverse. Her Xero is a gritty, no-nonsense type very reminiscent of warlord Xena while Rielle embodies the best of Gabrielle - intelligent, determined, and very much ruled by her heart. This story is fun, passionate, emotional and decidedly original! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! - 151 pgs., 6/10/98
FANFIC ART: Barron Story Cover
http://cousinliz.com/fanfic/batmorda_u(1).html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]
WHAT IF by Bat Morda -- [Alt]
Another solid hit for this gifted bard! Set during the events in the episode COMEDY OF EROS, this is basically a "what if" tale that looks at what could have happened had Joxer NOT made his way in between a certain warrior and Gabrielle when the bard was hit by one of Cupid's arrow. Clever and funny. - 18 pgs., 8/21/97
FANFIC ART: Barron Story Cover
http://cousinliz.com/fanfic/batmorda_wi.html
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]
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