TUESDAY FAN FICTION REPORT - 7/22/97
[Previous report was for 7/21/97]
Hey guys,

First of all - BIG congratulations to EVERYONE who participated in the SECOND XENITE BARD CONTEST now finally closed. The Grand Prize Winner was B L Miller whose entry is reviewed below. Second Place went to Maggie and Peribear's A WEEK IN THE LIVES OR THE WEEK THAT WAS (reviewed 7/21/97) while third place went to Snow Ravens poem SALVO. The top three entries in all the categories have been posted at: http://www.xenite.com/bard/winners.htm

Meanwhile, if you haven't yet read some of the stories/poems and would like to do so now, they are available through the XENITE MESSAGE BOARD (a discussion forum very much like the NetForum) at:
http://www.xenite.com/forum/default.asp

I'd personally like to take the time to thank on behalf of my fellow fan fic addicts, ALL the bards who participated in the contest, all the readers who read and voted and most especially Iapetus for putting this contest together. For the bards, I have a personal request - please make sure to post your stories at one of the fan fic archives so these remain PERMANENTLY available through the Web for all Xenites to enjoy, including those to come.

Tonight's report - in additon to including a recognized winner in B.L.'s effort, also includes a number of other EXCELLENT stories. If there was ever ANY doubt that XWP bards are among the best EVER, the stories below should put that to rest. All the ones reviewed today are alt. stories.

ALTERNATIVE FICTION:

ABOUT ARTEMIS by B L Miller
Responsible for a number of stories which have already become classics of XWP fan fic, among them THE CABIN, THE SILENT BARD and the very poignant A QUEEN'S SACRIFICE (all reviewed at https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/
alt.htm, B L Miller returns with yet another excellent story - this one a proven winner having taken the top spot in the just concluded Second Xenite Bard Contest. ABOUT ARTEMIS is a story about courage, determination and the first stirings of a love too-long denied. It has a suddenly all-too human Artemis asking Gabrielle and Xena for help in regaining a godhood stripped from her as punishment for interfering with what the Fates had already decreed. The quest they embark on will hold lessons for them all as the goddess, in experiencing what it means to be human, learns also the importance of leaving mortals to their fate, while the warrior and her bard struggle with a calling of the heart they've been afraid of for much too long. Exceedingly well-written, this story depicts the Xena/Gab relationship with the very special closeness that is a hallmark of B.L.'s fiction. A definite MUST READ! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
http://www.eve.net/~timwellman/fiction.html

THE SECOND TIME by L. Graham
This is one of the most delightful, passionate and sweetest XWP story you will ever read. A WONDERFUL debut for a new bard that is fantastically well-written and extremely CLEVER! It is the morning after an evening spent drinking and Xena awakes to the shock of her life - a little development which quickly changes everything for the Warrior Princess but which deep inside she refuses to believe, fearful that her darkness played a part and never suspecting the true extent to which a heart has welcomed her in. Absolutely beautiful tale meant for the romantic in us all. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
http://www.eve.net/~timwellman/fiction.html

MYTH-UNDERSTANDINGS by Nene Adams
This may very well turn out to be the ULTIMATE comedy of errors in XWP fan fiction! I doubt ANY of you have ever read something quite like this - I know I certainly haven't and I can only warn you that you better have health insurance before tackling this tale because your funny bone is going to incur some SERIOUS damage!! The story begins innocently enough with Iolus, Hercules' intrepid partner, walking through the woods when suddenly he overhears a rather loud Gabrielle yelling at the top of her lung...urging Xena on! The blonde warrior immediately jumps to conclusions setting off a series of misunderstandings that will soon include Hercules and have even the gods on Mount Olympus roaring with laughter. Amidst the confusion and hilarity, however, one truth will surface at last - binding two souls into one - as they were always meant to be... DO NOT MISS!!
http://www.eve.net/~timwellman/fiction.html

THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR - BOOK I: PRECURSORS by Baermer
Part 9 of this story are now available. Also - the story is now available in subtext-lite and subtext-explicit version. Baermer's latest continues the tale begun in her excellent THE ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES (review at https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/alt.htm). Set in an epic period of Ancient Greek history amidst the saga of the Peloponnesian War, this promises to be a heck of a story. In this latest installment, a desperate Xena looks for her missing bard. Previously reviewed 7/16/97 and 7/19/97.
http://www.telepath.com/baermer/

ENEMY MINE by G.L. Dartt
The concluding two chapters of this story are now available. In this unusual story, Xena returns to the village she left Gabrielle in to go on a mission only to find the bard gone and the townspeople reluctant to tell her what happened. Desperate, she initiates an interrogation which comes to an abrupt end soon after when a VERY unlikely ally makes an appearance - none other than Callisto, hating her as usual but determined this time to help her save Gabrielle. Together the two embark on a journey to find the bard - a journey which will change their lives forever, forging from hatred the chance for a love to finally ignite and for a heart to find peace. EXCELLENT story which both Xenites and Callisto fans will LOVE. The love scenes in this are among the most carefully crafted and passionate I've read so be warned that this DOES carry a DO NOT READ AT WORK warning ;-) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
http://www.eve.net/~timwellman/fiction.html

MATCHMAKER by Katrina
Parts 21-27 of this story are now available. Based on a clever premise, this story is still not finished but is turning out to be a FANTASTIC read! A VERY concerned Toris asks Xena for help when he overhears his mom talking with Gabrielle's mom about matchmaking and assumes the two mothers are going to try to make a match between him and Lilla. Little do they know that although correct about the matchmaking efforts - Torris has gotten the principals all wrong...>:) In these latest installments the contest to try to determine an appropriate suitor for the available party finally takes place with - unexpected results. A FUNNY, romantic and VERY passionate tale.
http://whoosh.org/katrina/xenafic.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 Gabby, depicting them as more than just friends.

Happy reading!

Lunacy 8-)

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