SUNDAY FAN FICTION REPORT - 8/16/98
[Previous report was for 8/11/98]

Hi all,

Some changes to announce over at the Lunacy Reviews site. I have added links to FANFIC ART through the reviews. From now on any art pieces acknowledged to have been inspired by particular fanfic stories will be linked through the corresponding reviews. Many thanks to the FANFIC ART Web masters for their sites and the permission to link to these. Do make sure to check out that FANFIC ART by the way - it's really fun to see how others conceptualize the characters we're reading about.

Artists - if you make available on the Web FANFIC ART please drop me a line. If I've reviewed the story your piece is based on I'd love to link to it so more Xenites can become aware of it. Do note that I will only link to FANFIC ART when a specific story is identified on the Web as the inspiration.

Also, I've added some new links to the BARD'S REFERENCE LIBRARY'S collection, including pointers to Simahoyo's THE WRITER'S TOOLBOX, ARGOS (an ancient and medieval search engine) and the PERSEUS PROJECT, a terrific resource of information about Ancient Greece. THE BARD'S REFERENCE LIBRARY is at: https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/reference.htm

TOM'S XENA PAGE has a new editor, Shannon Moon (Welcome Shannon!) with some exciting plans for the site. Shannon is currently looking for some assistant editors to help with those plans. If you're interested contact her at editor@xenafan.com.

Barron has added a couple of new FAN FICTION COVERS to his ART GALLERY. Covers are now available for B L Miller's THE CLOAK and Ogami's SUBTEXT. The ART GALLERY is at: http://barron.simplenet.com/Content-Xena/CoversGraphic.html

Ashera has opened a new site called ASHERA'S ADULT XENA FAN FICTION. She will be hosting all sorts of adult fanfic here including alt. and heterosexual erotic fiction. The site is at: http://members.tripod.com/~AsherasJez/xenaadultfic/main.html

Also, there's a site on the Net called MORGAN'S FAN FICTION LIBRARY which is dedicated mostly to HERCULES fanfic but does include some stories with the Warrior Princess. The site is at: http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Studio/9490/fiction.html

Been busy this weekend - lots of new stuff.

GENERAL FICTION:

CAESAR'S VENGEANCE by The Rabbit in Pink Rabbit Productions
The Rabbit brings us a visually stunning art piece set in the Roman Colosseum and a story fragment describing Xena's rescue of her bard there. -- 1 pg.
https://www.altfic.com//xena/digital/gladiator.htm

THE TEMPLE by The Rabbit in Pink Rabbit Productions
Story fragment/digital art combo set after the events in A NECESSARY EVIL as a young Amazon queen prays to the patron goddess of her people. -- 1 pg.
https://www.altfic.com//xena/digital/Temple.htm

LOST SOULS by The Rabbit in Pink Rabbit Productions
Surreal story fragment/digital art combo showing Callisto amusing herself after her capture by Hercules just prior to the episode A NECESSARY EVIL. Stunning lighting in the art piece. -- 1 pg.
https://www.altfic.com//xena/digital/Callisto.htm

IN THE TWILIGHT HOUR by Raistlyn
In the tradition of Katrina's BLOOD AND ROSES vampire alt. series comes this new tale from Raistlyn which puts a slightly different spin on things with a three thousand year old warrior recalling the time so long ago when her life would change for ever and the little bard whose love would always be a part of her. Nicely poignant - DO NOT MISS! -- 5 pgs.
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Chamber/7473/twilighthour.html

A WARRIOR'S HEART by Linda Tellez (aka Saahira)
An epilogue to Linda's SOLSTICE MOON which finds Xena suffering from her wounds and a god learning more about himself than he ever wanted to learn. Different and nicely written. -- 9 pgs.
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Chamber/7473/warriorsheart.html

PRELUDE TO WAR by Cat
This talented author brings us the first part of a new story which finds Gabrielle with a small group of Amazons on a diplomatic mission to a village bordering Amazon lands when an unexpected development leaves the Queen and her escorts in a deadly situation with the Warrior Princess nowhere in site. Terrific potential in this one. DO NOT MISS! [unfinished] -- 15 pgs.
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~pres0049/Prelude.htm

BERRIES by Cat
Parts 2-3 of this story are now available. This is a poignant hurt/comfort tale that begins with Xena and the bard getting separated after a fierce skirmish Injured Gabrielle then sets out to try to find her partner, determined to keep a brave front when she's reunited with the stoic warrior and the two old friends which end up joining them. In these latest parts, a battle further debilitates the young bard as a desperate Xena realizes that her partner's condition may be a lot worse that they first thought. This is a nicely dramatic effort with a great sense or camaraderie among the friends and solid sense of caring in the Xena/Gab dynamics. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! [unfinished] -- 26 pgs.
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~pres0049/Berries.html

ALTERNATIVE FICTION:

ALL I EVER NEED by K.P. West
This first story by a new bard is a rather original uber piece set in the present day which finds loner Jaime Bennet unemployed and in need of physical therapy after she's diagnosed with a mysterious illness. Her existence becomes a predictable routine until the day a new physical therapist comes into her life sporting the most beautiful green eyes Jamie has ever seen... Nice storyline with good potential. -- 9 pgs.
http://members.aol.com/kaypwest/aien.html

NIGHT TOUCH by The Rabbit in Pink Rabbit Productions
Nice story fragment featuring a sweet, loving exchange between the warrior and her bard. The story fragment is supplemented by one of The Rabbit's breathtakingly beautiful digital art pieces and by the poem MY HEART AND SOUL'S DESIRE by Tori Thello. -- 1 pg.
https://www.altfic.com//xena/digital/Cheektocheek.htm

SUNSET by The Rabbit in Pink Rabbit Productions and CN Winters
A very effective little story fragment from CN Winters to go along with another marvelous digital art offering from The Rabbit. -- 1 pg.
https://www.altfic.com//xena/digital/kiss.htm

THE KISS by Jeannie and CN Winters
Yet another story fragment/digital art combination featuring a tender moment of discovery between warrior and bard. -- 1 pg.
https://www.altfic.com//xena/digital/thekiss.htm

STEAM HEAT by The Rabbit in Pink Rabbit Productions
Xena and her bard manage to get themselves into a slightly compromising position in this - er - steamy story fragment/ digital art combination. -- 1 pg.
https://www.altfic.com//xena/digital/Steamy.htm

ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT by The Rabbit in Pink Rabbit Productions
A stunning digital art piece supplement by a gentle exchange between warrior and bard as they prepare for sleep. -- 1 pg.
https://www.altfic.com//xena/digital/bed.htm

TORCHES by The Rabbit in Pink Rabbit Productions
This story fragment/digital art combo offers a very different look at the Queen of the Amazons as she prepares to avenge a treasured friend. -- 1 pg.
https://www.altfic.com//xena/digital/Torches.htm

THE SEA CAVE by The Rabbit in Pink Rabbit Productions and Katrina
A sizzling digital art piece by The Rabbit, supplemented by a passionate story fragment from Katrina - a moment of surrender in a cave by the sea. -- 1 pg.
https://www.altfic.com//xena/digital/cave.htm

UNTITLED by The Rabbit in Pink Rabbit Productions, Phoenix and Skya
The Rabbit contributes another beautiful digital art piece - this time supplemented by the story fragments EPHINY by Phoenix and DREAMING by Skya both capturing a timeless moment as the regent of the Amazons reflects on the love between warrior and bard. -- 1 pg.
https://www.altfic.com//xena/digital/Profiles.htm

UNDER STARRY SKIES by The Rabbit in Pink Rabbit Productions and Dora
An epilogue to the end of A DAY IN THE LIFE which has Gabrielle thinking about the events of the evening and wanting only to feel closer to her warrior. Breathtaking digital art by The rabbit combines with Dora's story. -- 1 pg.
https://www.altfic.com//xena/digital/understars.htm

THE STONE MEN by The Rabbit in Pink Rabbit Productions and Lady Phoenix
Poignant story fragment/digital art combination showing a day of reckoning for Xena and her bard as they return to the place where their nightmares began so long ago. -- 1 pg.
https://www.altfic.com//xena/digital/stonehenge.htm

WHAT'S THE QUESTION? by Lace Priest
A not so innocent question leads to all sorts of new experiences for warrior and bard ;-) Spicy. -- 5 pgs.
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Labyrinth/6338/question.html

DENY OR EMBRACE by D. Joan Leib
Part 5 of this story is now available. D. Joan's latest is an intriguing tale that finds the warrior and bard enjoying the countryside on a seemingly normal day when a terrifying vision brings them to a standstill. Determined to learn more about what may have sparked that vision the two decide to spend time at a nearby village where preparations for an annual ritual have come to a halt after an important part of that ritual turns up missing. In this latest part the two solve one mystery but another remains... Joan does a skillful job of building the sense of mystery in this. Solid writing in a tale developing nicely. -- 4 pgs.
http://www.englishchick.com/fic/xena/deny.htm

SEVEN DAYS IN POMPEII by DJWP
Chapters 9-13 are now available. One of the most popular talents in XWP fanfic returns to once again help us deal with XWS as she did exactly one year ago with the release of the much loved classic A BARD DAY'S NIGHT. Set after the end of season three, DJ's latest finds Xena on a lonely stretch of beach, dazed after the loss of her soulmate, turning to the one place where she knows she'll feel the bard's spirit most of all - in Gabrielle's scrolls. Alone with Argo she begins reading those scrolls and reminiscing back to one of the last adventures they shared while on a fateful visit to a city named...Pompeii. With their relationship still not fully healed from the horror of the rift, this was a time full of insecurities and worries for them but also filled with a renewed sense of hope amidst the infectious joviality of a city preparing for one of its grandest festivals. They are even further drawn into the Pompeiian's excitement when they happen across an old friend well-versed in the art of FUN - the incomparable Sappho who we first me in A BARD DAY'S NIGHT and who is soon once again doing what she does best - getting them all into TROUBLE! In this latest part, Gabrielle tries to help Sappho with her love life - even as her own continues to suffer from misunderstandings and insecurities. DJ's Sappho is one of the greatest creations in fanfic while her treatment of the Xena/Gab partnership remains heartfelt and wonderfully compelling, made even more so this time around by the poignancy of seeing the warrior remember a time when they were both so stubbornly holding on to the love between them. As an added bonus, DJ is including some nice pictures and maps of Pompeii to give the story that added flavor. SEVEN DAYS is already a worthy addition to this bard's outstanding body of work - one of the best to come out this year. It receives my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!! [Note: review is based on a little more of the story than what is actually now available] [unfinished] -- 56 pgs.
https://ausxip.com/bards.html#djwp

CYBEREPIC by Redhawk
Part 4 is now available. This talented bard's second uber-Xena story is a promising Cyberpunk tale set in the 21st century in a North America torn by war. As the conflict rages on between the government and the power-hungry corporations, the last surviving members of the Red Wolves Clan struggle to survive, seeking vengeance on those who've harmed them and placing all their hopes on the shoulders of their enigmatic, fearless leader. Not suspecting the danger she's about to head into, Canadian Shannon Elias accepts a job as a courier - embarking on a mission that will take her into the heart of the conflict...and to a meeting with destiny. In this latest part the Red Wolves fight for their lives and the true nature of the electronic package Shannon is carrying is finally revealed. Redhawk's fiction is well-written, with an intriguing plot that successfully merges cyberpunk with uber-Xena. The uber-characters are original while recalling familiar elements of Xena and Gabrielle. Entertaining read. [unfinished] -- 18 pgs.
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Atrium/2385/CyberEpic1.html

DON'T LOOK BACK by Kieron Grey
Part 5 is now available. A suspenseful new uber tale that is also a contemporary mystery as the authorities find themselves baffled by a series of gruesome murders. Particularly affected by the killings is Detective Catherine Jackson who bears an eerie resemblance to all the victims - a resemblance which seems coincidental until the killer lets her know otherwise. Concerned, Catherine's superior brings in a new player to help in the case - a profiler named Morgan Grayson with a ready confidence and an intoxicating allure that soon has the young detective preoccupied with more than just the serial murders. In this latest part Morgan and Catherine get to know one another better as a very tortured mind thinks back on a moment of betrayal. Solid writing in a story that is effectively combining suspense with a sexy romance. [unfinished] -- 9 pgs.
http://dadbcatha.simplenet.com/Story/dontlook.htm

FESTIVAL by Melissa Good
Part four is now being posted. This is the sequel to PROMISES KEPT which finds the warrior and bard on their way to the Amazons to celebrate the Festival of Dyonisus, participate in games, enjoy some delightfully tasty nutbread, and generally just get into a lot of trouble ;-) Missy maintains the general sense of playfulness and happiness the warrior and bard achieved in PROMISES KEPT after learning that their little family will be growing. The opening of this latest offering embodies what makes this bard's fiction so very special - a magical sense of connection and trust and love between two soulmates reveling in the simple pleasure of being together. In this latest part, the Amazons party unsuspecting of the danger drawing near. Don't even bother with reviews of a Melissa Good story - just go read. The flashbacks alone in Missy's stories will leave you totally enraptured with her characters. FESTIVAL gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! :) [unfinished] -- 24 pgs. http://www.merwolf.com/xena.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-)