THURSDAY FAN FICTION REPORT - 2/4/99
[Previous report was for 2/2/99]

That EXPERTS page I mentioned a few weeks back in one of my fanfic reports is coming to fruition and should be ready by this weekend. I sent out a note last night to all those who volunteered to be included. IF you did not get a note from me last night and you had previously e-mailed me volunteering for that EXPERTS page PLEASE SEND ME YOUR MESSAGE AGAIN. I get a TON of e-mail because of all the XWP and work-related lists I'm on so messages sometimes are accidentally deleted. E-mail me at lunacy@dc.seflin.org

There's a French version of B L Miller's saucy little alt. tale, CARDS ANYONE? now available. If you want to read it in the language of love, it's titled COMBIEN DE CARTES? and now available at: http://blmiller.net/cards/Page1French.html

Llachlan has returned to the Web with a new site called CAER LLACHLAN at: http://www.merwolf.com/llachlan. The library housing Llach's fanfic is at: http://www.merwolf.com/llachlan/scrolls.html

Xenrielle's XWP fanfic site has moved. The new site called WL-TRIPLET-A is at http://www.ozemail.com.au/~xenriele/wl-triplet-a.html

Terrific new fanfic tonight - 9 new ones and 2 updates.

GENERAL FICTION:

THE MAGICIAN by LZClotho
An unsuspecting magician touches a wistful chord within the Warrior Princess, bringing back memories of a more innocent time still full of wonder and hope. Compelling look at the ex-warlord in one of her unguarded moments. - 3 pgs.
http://members.xoom.com/LZClotho/gen/themagician.html

ALTERNATIVE FICTION:

FOR THE LOVE OF IRINA by Nene Adams
Based upon J. Sheridan LeFanu's CARMILLA and Bram Stoker's DRACULA, this EXCEPTIONAL uber story set in 18th century Romania, does the horror genre proud combining those classic tales with familiar faces from XWP in a reading experience you wont soon forget. Anxious for some companionship to brighten the lonely existence in her father's Romanian castle, lady Gabriella is intrigued when a beautiful stranger is brought to stay with them while she recovers from an accident. For the younger Gabriella, Irina is an irresistible enigma - a mysterious figure with no past who begins to weave a seductive spell around the girl. As the surrounding villages are marked by a series of unexplained and gory deaths, Gabriella begins to suffer from strange nightmares - dreams of a forbidden passion and a deadly hunger - dreams which she soon realizes are all too real when she gazes into the portrait of a long-dead countess only to find familiar blue eyes starring back at her. Thus begins to unfold a story of horror and heartbreak, of soulmates separated by the lust for revenge and of dark passions that even the fiercest of loves may not be able to tame. One of the top writing talents in this fandom, Nene easily displays here her skill with the written word, delivering an exquisitely written piece that is in fact quite reminiscent in style to the 19th century literary classics on which it is partly based. Meanwhile, the storyline is also a very nice homage to some of the screen versions of these classics, in particular Francis Ford Coppola recent BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA. Nene does a great job of tweaking the familiar vampire scenario to suit her uber-Xena heroines even incorporating some familiar faces as supporting players. Masterful storytelling in a piece that is a delight to read and should be particularly appealing to fans of the horror genre. This gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! - 35 pgs.
http://www.corrieweb.com/chamber/irina1.htm

THE CHAGELING MOON by Nene Adams
One of the first uber series ever written and still among the finest in XWP fanfic, Nene's at GASLIGHT SERIES continues with yet another EXCEPTIONAL installment in the continuing adventures of Victorian private eye, Lady Evangeline St. Claire and her beloved parter, Rhianon Moore. Still suffering emotionally from the horror experienced during their recent trek to Egypt, Rhiannon has sunk into the depths of despair as this story begins. It's a despair that leads to a desperate act but which also marks the slow rebuilding of a relationship neither can live without. Emerging from this challenge stronger than ever, the two soon find themselves in the middle of a decades old mystery after Rhianon buys a painting and becomes determine to learn more about the tragic figure who painted it. What begins as a curious inquiry quickly becomes a search for justice as the two partners begin to uncover a hen ious tale of madness and murder - a truth so evil that its unveiling could shake the very foundations of the British Empire. Among the most accomplished fiction writers I've ever read, Nene can weave a tale of mystery and suspense like few others in the business - commercial authors included. There are simply NO weaknesses in this story. The characteriza- tions are outstanding as has been the case throughout the GASLIGHT SERIES. For Xenites, Lina and Rhiannon will seem very familiar but they're also original characters in their own right with great depth and a relationship that is complex, passionate, loving, playful, and totally engaging. The mystery here is exquisitely crafted - unraveling slowly like a puzzle with each piece carefully moved into place at just the right time. For fans of those old Sherlock Holmes movies, reading this series will be particularly gratifying but ANYONE who enjoys a quality story should put this one at the top of their MUST READ list. Making excellent use of the Web's multi-media qualities Nene supplements the story with newspaper clippings and breathtaking graphics, turning this tale into a feast for the eyes that gets HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! - 67 pgs.
http://www.corrieweb.com/gaslight/changeling1.htm

TO SLEEP PERCHANCE by LZClotho
Adorable little story about some slight sleeping incompatibilities that have one very tired bard grabbing that shut-eye in unlikely places, and a very worried Warrior Princess never suspecting herself as the reason for her partner's exhaustion. Nice slice-of-life piece about the everyday little challenges partners sometimes have to deal with. - 7 pgs.
http://merwolf.com/academy/lzclotho_sleep.html

THE WATER'S EDGE by Tegan Jovanka
Playful offering set in the fourth season which has the warrior and bard engaging in some distracting water sports under a moonlit sky. Sweet and sexy. - 8 pgs.
https://www.altfic.com//subtextfic/Xena/teganjovanka/watersedge.htm

HER HANDS by GabTBard
A very sensual, touching tribute to the feelings a warrior's toughened hands can create in one who loves her. Very nice. First entry in the series TALES OF THE WARRIOR PRINCESS: THE PRIVATE SCROLLS OF GABRIELLE THE BARD WHO LOVED HER. - 2 pgs.
http://members.aol.com/GabTBard/hands.html

CONTROL by GabTBard
Intriguing interpretation of the power dynamics between two very different soulmates. Solid character-study. Second entry in the series TALES OF THE WARRIOR PRINCESS: THE PRIVATE SCROLLS OF GABRIELLE THE BARD WHO LOVED HER. [Note: web page includes a dark border that may make the story hard to read on certain browsers. If that is the case with your browser save the story and read it with an ASCII editor or a word processing program] - 2 pgs.
http://members.aol.com/GabTBard/control.html

WITNESS TO A HUNDRED DEATHS by GabTBard
This bittersweet third entry in the series TALES OF THE WARRIOR PRINCESS: THE PRIVATE SCROLLS OF GABRIELLE THE BARD WHO LOVED HER is both a tribute to the expressiveness in a pair of beautiful blue eyes, and a lamentation at the horrors those eyes have witnessed. Nicely written with a very strong sense of love in its presentation. DO NOT MISS! - 3 pgs.
http://members.aol.com/GabTBard/witness.html

ROAD HUMOR by GabTBard
This fifth entry in the series TALES OF THE WARRIOR PRINCESS: THE PRIVATE SCROLLS OF GABRIELLE THE BARD WHO LOVED HER deals with the lighter side of the Warrior Princess as Gabrielle remembers their ever playful banter. Sweet. - 2 pgs.
http://members.aol.com/GabTBard/humor.html

HOPE FOR HOPE by Marion D. Tuttle
Part 2 is now available. Created to be her father's tool of destruction but having failed time and time again a despondent Hope faces a god's wrath all the while wishing deep inside for the only source of comfort she's ever known. Meanwhile, a warrior and bard talk about the direction their lives have taken never suspecting that's about to change once again. In this latest part, Xena and Gabrielle find themselves with an unlikely traveling companion once again facing an old enemy. Marion delivers some very solid characterizations here in a storyline with great promise and a hint at what might have been... DO NOT MISS! [unfinished] - 7 pgs.
Pt.1: http://www.amazontrails.com/xena/hopefor1.htm
Pt.2: http://www.amazontrails.com/xena/hopefor2.htm

AFTERMATH: THE TREE OF LIFE by XWP Fanatic
The conclusion is now available. Set in the world of Xena the Conqueror we first met in the HERCULES episode ARMAGEDDON NOW, this OUTSTANDING tale has the ruthless empress holding a contest to try to determine what "truth" is...with dire consequences for the losers. Undaunted and despite having first- hand knowledge of the woman's cruelty, Gabrielle chooses to participate, driven by this stubborn need to somehow reach the ice cold heart no one else seems capable of breaching. It marks the beginning of a difficult journey for both of them as the Conqueror finds herself intrigued by the young upstart and Gabrielle finds herself suddenly a part of the empress' life - forced to join her on a campaign against the very enemy that helped to make her into the dreaded Destroyer of Nations. In this final, Xena makes peace with the army and then at long last concentrates her attention on a certain Head of State. Very well written, with a fascinating premise and great characterizations of the Xena and Gabrielle from that alternate world, this one is GUARANTEED to keep you hooked. XWP Fanatic excels in the depiction of the Xena/Gab relationship giving it a gentle quality that is deeply captivating in light of the Conqueror's innate harshness. A MUST READ, this gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!! - 12 pgs.
https://ausxip.com/bards3.html

For those of you reading this post who are not familiar with the term alternative (alt.), it refers to ADULT stories that add a romantic element to the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle, depicting them as more than just friends.

Happy reading!

Lunacy 8-)