MONDAY FAN FICTION REPORT - 8/18/97
[Previous report was for 8/17/97]

Hi guys!

GREAT THINGS tonight. First we have the very ANXIOUSLY anticipate conclusion to one of the finest XWP fan fiction novels written to date, M. Parnell's ORIGINS - an INCREDIBLE epic firmly rooted in the legend that is Xena - Warrior Princess. This one is a MUST folks!!

Also, there's a new article about fan fiction on the Web - this one originally published in the NEW YORK TIMES newspaper, is called "FANS SCRIBBLE OWN PLOTS TO FAVORITE SHOWS" by Amy Harmon. It mentions Xena fan fiction providing a link to Tom's Fan Fic Web site and points out how fan fiction may herald a return to the folk tradition of participatory storytelling. The article is available at:
http://www.sjmercury.com/news/fanfiction081797.htm

GENERAL FICTION:

RENDER UNTO CAESAR by Whattawoman
This talented bard brings us the first chapter of her new story - a mysterious tale which begins with a Roman soldier on watch at a Roman fortress in the land of the barbarians, thinking back on the number of soldiers killed recently - some right as they slept...
http://members.xoom.com/Nonamia/xena/

ALTERNATIVE FICTION:

ORIGINS by M. Parnell
The concluding chapters 39-50 of this story are now available. Finished at last, ORIGINS simply put is a masterpiece - and I'm not just referring to a good fan fiction tale here - this novel easily stands out among the best commercial fiction I've ever read as well. If the decision is ever made to make a XWP feature film - THIS should be it. The story begins as a personal quest of Xena's to discover the truth about her father. Before it is over the lives of countless will be changed, the future of a kingdom and possibly the whole of Greece will be decided, a new type of government will be born whose influence will reach through the ages, and the fates of a warrior and a bard will be forever altered. The final installments in Parnell's saga are a tour-de-force as all the players in this intricate tapestry of a story finally come together at Prestia where they will witness in all her glory the wonder and the terror that is Xena of Amphipolis - a warrior princess reborn. Having conquered some dangerous obstacles but still battling the memories of a green-eyed bard she desperately wants to forget, Xena returns to Prestia with the young heir to the throne in tow. She finds the king still reluctant to take immediate action against those threatening him. She finds Callisto with new power now playing a dangerous game. She finds the Amazons there on a mission of peace...and she finds Gabrielle. Refusing to face the pain and fear the bard stirs deep within her, Xena immerses herself in what she knows best - the quest for power, the quest to conquer the hearts of men, the quest to conquer the soul of a city and the loyalty of an army. The Xena that emerges is a riddle to her enemies and friends alike as they struggle to understand the incredible events unfolding before their eyes, not sure whether to fear the warrior or admire the woman. Motivated by a love that will not die, only one dares to challenge the veil of secrecy in which Xena has cloaked herself, determined to understand what is driving the Warrior Princess and toward what outcome she is headed. It is a quest which will reveal the true origins of what Xena is and all that her life has been as she accepts her role in finally bringing to an end a drama started long ago when immortals touched the lives of the warriors whose blood now runs through her veins. Parnell's depiction of the Xena/Gab relationship and the characterizations themselves in this novel are simply phenomenal - very deep, very psychological. The plot is among the most complicated you will ever read but so well-structured and so "tight" that it remains clear, with each chapter just drawing you into the next. One of the most intriguing aspects of Parnell's style is that she gives NOTHING away. This is one tale where the mysteries and the true motivations of the various characters aren't going to be revealed 'til the very end. In XWP fan fiction ORIGINS has become the ultimate experience. If you haven't guessed by now this story is a MUST READ! and carries my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!!! Previously reviewed on 4/3/97, 4/19/97, 5/12/97, 6/10/97, 7/8/97.
https://ausxip.com/fanfic.html
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/5038/alternative.html

THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR - BOOK 2: POTEIDAIA UNDER SIEGE by Baermer
Parts 12-14 of Book 2 in Baermer's epic war saga are now available. Having decided to stand with the people of Poteidaia against the Athenian army, Xena and Gabrielle immediately become primary players as the warrior lends the Poteidaians her battle expertise and the bard works to rekindle in her people their sense of community and hope. Even as they try to help the beleaguered villagers, Xena and Gabrielle struggle also against personal challenges as they confront the bard's family for the first time since becoming a couple and begin to suspect that they may be pawns in a very dangerous battle between immortals. In these latest sections, the gods once again test the warrior and her bard, endangering both their lives and their love. This story is exceedingly well-written with an intriguing, well-structured plot, great characterizations and a romance as epic as the historic events being depicted. Note that this tale is available in both subtext-explicit and subtext-lite versions. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
http://www.telepath.com/baermer/

FOUR ROCKS by Moonwarrior
This very sweet hurt/comfort story offers a rather REALISTIC look at the recuperative process after an injury. Well-written, romantic and funny!
http://www.amazontrails.com/xena/altfict.htm

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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