**DEEP, BLACK WATER by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Lariel.shtm.htm">Lariel
This has GOT to be one of the STRANGEST stories I've ever read. Can't really tell you much without giving away the impact of this little gem. It features a fateful meeting between two strangers on a bridge - one at the end of her rope, the other with troubles of her own. Lets just say Lariel gives new meaning to the greater good here in a masterpiece of dark humor. DO NOT MISS! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 7 pgs., 3/15/00
http://www.dreamworker-magazine.com/frontpage/blackwater.html

**DEEP COVER by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/C_Paradee.shtm.htm">C Paradee - [Alt]
A top analyst with the CIA, Shelby Carson is known for her unique ability at discerning unusual patterns and discrepancies. It is one such observation that will change her life drastically when Shelby uncovers clues that point to a potential double agent. Recalled from a mission in the Middle East to work on the resulting investigation, Kristina Bartley, code name "Blue", is less than thrilled with the assignment. The deadly operative has a lot to hide and little time to waste but to her surprise long-standing priorities start to change the more she gets to know Shelby Carson and the clearer it becomes that the young woman may be in some very serious danger. Suddenly the analyst's well-being is something the infamous Blue very much wants to ensure - but is her proximity to the young woman keeping her safe...or the very thing putting Shelby most at risk? C Paradee is doing a nice job here crafting a suspenseful spy thriller. The story is unraveling slowly, never letting us know much more than the characters themselves know. The relationship between the leads is an engaging one, pairing two women who are very different and who aren't necessarily looking to become involved with someone but who find themselves thrown together by circumstances and soon discover an undeniable attraction of the heart, body and spirit. One to keep tabs on in the weeks ahead, this one comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [unfinished] - 48 pgs., 2/10/01
http://www.storycorner.org/cparadee/DC1.htm

DESPERATE MEASURES by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Candy.shtm.htm">Candy - [Alt]
This contemporary uber story pairs bestselling author Dru Warlord, popularly known as the Queen of Mystery, with a young proofreader named Kasey Lovett. Having met the talented writer at a professional get-together, Kasey jumps at the chance of working with her - an opportunity which presents itself when Dru's agent hires the fledgling proofreader to help his client meet her deadline. The arrangement works incredibly well as both women start to appreciate each others' dedication and company but soon enough other concerns enter their thoughts when it starts to become clear that someone does not want Dru to finish her latest mystery - a mystery based on a real, unsolved murder - a mystery which neither Dru nor Kasey may live long enough to solve... This is very well written, with Candy doing a terrific job both with the characterizations and the gradual development of the relationship. DO NOT MISS! [See the sequel EXTREME MEASURES] - 46 pgs., 4/14/99
Pt.1 - a href="http://www.jps.net/rizzo/fiction/desperate1.htm">http://www.jps.net/rizzo/fiction/desperate1.htm
Pt.2 - a href="http://www.jps.net/rizzo/fiction/desperate2.htm">http://www.jps.net/rizzo/fiction/desperate2.htm
Pt.3 - a href="http://www.jps.net/rizzo/fiction/desperate3.htm">http://www.jps.net/rizzo/fiction/desperate3.htm
Pt.4 - a href="http://www.jps.net/rizzo/fiction/desperate4.htm">http://www.jps.net/rizzo/fiction/desperate4.htm

**DESTINED BY GODS by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Inyx.shtm.htm">Inyx - [Alt]
Marking a VERY impressive debut for a gifted new writer, this historical uber is set in Ancient Ireland where seventeen year-old Rhiannon Kelan is living with her brother and his wife after an attack by an enemy clan leaves her orphaned. A headstrong, independent beauty determined to find her own way in the world, Rhian doesn't want to be beholden to anyone so she's reluctant to accompany her brother and sister-in-law when the two are invited into the employment of a powerful friend of the family. Eventually agreeing to the move, Rhian uproots her life once again, taking with her a parting gift from a mysterious old healer and promising to deliver a second gift to her family's benefactor - the Lady Caitlin O'Brennan - better known as the legendary warrior, Cat of Caerloach. Dedicated to protecting her lands and her people, Caitlin is ever vigilant, ready to challenge whatever force of arms might threaten but there are other ways to conquer a warrior's heart and one little redheaded is about to show her just that. Blending a touch of magic, with celtic mythology, beautifully crafted characterizations, a rich, atmospheric setting, a compelling love story, and a formidable command of Irish dialect, Inyx first fanfic effort is top notch. One for the MUST READ list folks. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 132 pgs., 9/17/99
http://www.angelfire.com/ut/inyxfanfiction/destined.html

DESTINY AT THE AMPHIPILI NURSING HOME by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/HikNboots.shtm.htm">HikNboots - [Alt]
It never ceases to amaze me how creative our Xenite bards are getting with those uber tales. This latest one is a very original little story set in contemporary times that has Katy Hammonds trying to help her beloved grandma Mavis and the old woman's life-long partner Cass escape the abuse in a nursing home when a beautiful mechanic with startling blue eyes comes into their lives - a young woman with a surprising physical similarity to Cass and a spirit very much like that of the warrior woman Mavis has always told stories about. With some funny moments and a sentimental transition between generations, this is an enjoyable read. -- 9 pgs., 8/22/98
FANFIC ART: a href="http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Bungalow/2591/index.html#Stevie">"Stevie" by Barbara Maclay
http://www.XenaWeb.com/Xena/Hik-DATANH.html

**DEVIL'S ADVOCATE (THE) by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Nene_Adams.shtm.htm">Nene Adams - [Alt]
The adventures of Lady Evangeline "Lina" St. Claire and Rhiannon Moore continue in this FANTASTIC sequel to Nene's first uber-Xena story BLACK BY GASLIGHT. This time the intrepid private investigator and her secretary are faced with a mystery strangely connected to Lina's own past - a mystery involving the disappearance of two people, the gruesome murder of an old friend, the growing strength of a secretive cult and clues horrid enough to scare even the bravest of hearts. Extremely well-written, this story reflects Nene's impressive historical and literary knowledge with an incredible attention to detail. In Lina and Rhiannon she has created characters which although based on the warrior and her bard, are in themselves unique and fascinating. Still unfinished, this story promises to be something different and thoroughly entertaining. This is the second entry in Nene's GASLIGHT SERIES. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 8/31/97
http://www.corrieweb.com/deviltitle.htm

**DISASTER FOLLOWS by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Nova.shtm.htm">Nova - [Alt]
A very original uber story with a lot of atmosphere, this bard's first fanfic offering is set in Halifax, Nova Scotia in the 1920's, just a few years after the disastrous Halifax Explosion of 1917 which killed thousands when two ships, one carrying munitions, collided in the Harbor. Detective Allison Burton remembers the disaster well which is one reason she doubts she'll be able to find Virginia Potts' fiancee alive when the beautiful green-eyed American explains that he's been missing since that time and hires her to find him. It soon becomes apparent, however, that the intriguing little foreigner isn't as interested in the missing man perse as she is in something he possessed - a secret others are also desperately seeking and more than willing to kill for. Nova's story has the feel of one of those great detective murder movies like THE MALTESE FALCON with Allison being very reminiscent of the type of private eye Bogie typically played. A shifting point-of-view approach makes the similarity with these classic films even stronger - with the one notable difference being that NEITHER of Nova's heroines is the damsel in distress Hollywood typically used to give us. Allison and Virginia are both very strong, very capable, very determined women. The storyline is cleverly constructed with some surprising twists and a very thought-provoking resolution. This one should particularly please fans of mystery fiction. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 51 pgs., 12/1/98
https://www.altfic.com//subtextfic/uber/nova/disasterfollows1.htm

**DISCOVERY by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Rooks.shtm.htm">Rooks - [Alt]
Rooks continues the contemporary uber-story begun in SEARCH with an OUTSTANDING sequel set in Athens where former college student Denise Alexander and artist Rachel Perry are now making a life for themselves and growing ever closer, surrendering to feelings that are both new and at the same time strangely familiar. When a beloved family member presents them with the opportunity to further solidify things between them, Denise couldn't be happier but for the brooding artist a lifetime of fears and insecurities and guilt can't be exchanged for happiness quite that easily. Rooks does a fantastic job with the relationship here, developing the trust and the friendship into a very passionate, endearing partnership. Flashbacks contribute to the characterizations and help to flesh out an intelligent storyline about two people from very different worlds discovering in one another the strength to find themselves. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 63 pgs., 12/7/98
http://njdingle.hispeed.com/xena/fanfiction/discovery1.html
https://ausxip.com/fanfic5/discovery1.html

DISEMBODIED by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Kristian_S_Fischer.shtm.htm">Kristian S. Fischer - [Alt]
The latest entry in the INFINITY SERIES begun by Redhawk, this new offering by Kristian continues the tale of the immortal Xena and her beloved Rickie as they enjoy a quiet time in Portland, reveling in their love and remembering moments from their life together over two thousand years ago. It's a quiet time that is soon interrupted when an old friend of Xena pays them a visit, warning of dangers drawing near and a game about to begin all over again for the ancient warrior. Kristian does a nice job with the treatment of the Xena/Rickie pairing maintaining the sense of commitment and deep love it's had throughout the series. Good action sequence in this. - 20 pgs., 1/5/99
http://members.spree.com/romance/dmredhawk/Shorts/Disembodied.html

DISTURBING REVELATIONS by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Enginerd.shtm.htm">Enginerd - [Alt, M/J]
Enginerd's first foray into the uber-Xena genre is an amusing little tale that has Mel and Janice wondering how they're going to explain certain revelations from Gabrielle's scrolls to the scientific community...only the archeologist and her partner are not quite thinking about the same thing ;-) Very cute! [Note: This story is not explicit]. - 3/26/98
https://ausxip.com/fanfic2/disturbing.html
[Palm Pilot version available at a href="http://members.xoom.com/xenadocs/enginerd.htm">XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

DO YOU? by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Archaeobard.shtm.htm">Archaeobard - [Alt, M/J]
A Mel/Janice vignette packing QUITE a punch that has the archeologist feeling very depressed about her inability to show her real feelings for the woman she loves when said woman insists on knowing what's wrong. This one will put an unexpected grin on your face :) [See the sequel YOU DO?] - 3 pgs., 2/27/00
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/d/doyou.html

**DOLLIES ALL AT SEA by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/KTL.shtm.htm">KTL
In the grand tradition of Danae and L.N. James' INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF TWO DOLLS IN LOVE (THE): THE STORY OF RIGID XENA AND POSABLE GABRIELLE, comes this DELIGHTFUL little chronicle of the adventure of some Xena dollies while vacationing with a Xenite in Houston. In this first entry in the series, Xena, Gabrielle, Callisto and Auto enjoy life aboard a boat. What can I say - you just have to read this to get the full impact :) Suffice it to say that KTL beats TPTB hands down with her characterizations. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [See the sequel FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE DOLLIES AT SEA] - 1 pg., 3/27/00
http://www.dreamworker-magazine.com/fanfic/dollies1.html

DOLOROSA: OUR LADY OF DARKNESS by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Nene_Adams.shtm.htm">Nene Adams - [Alt]
Nene celebrates Halloween with an eerie new offering about obsession, guilt, injustice and the power of love. Told in first person, this is the story of a talented Scottish artist heir to a crumbling estate deep in debt. To survive, our narrator travels to Paris where she makes herself a career painting portraits of the wealthy. It's a life that changes drastically when she meets Jenny Dolorosa, a beautiful maid who becomes the love of her life - and soon the sole subject of her paintings. With their illicit affair revealed, the two are forced back to Scotland where our narrator's obsession with her art soon has terrible repercussions for the lovely Jenny Dolorosa plunging them into a living nightmare of separation and grief as one struggles with guilt - and the other struggles to reveal the truth about a world very different from the one they've known. Poignant, creepy and reaffirming all at once, this one very effectively blends the ingredients required of alt. fiction with those of Halloween tales. - 6 pgs., 10/26/99
http://www.corrieweb.com/dolorosa1.htm

DON'T LOOK BACK by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Kieron_Grey.shtm.htm">Kieron Grey - [Alt]
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. This is nicely written and has definite potential. - 6/21/98
FANFIC ART: a href="http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Bungalow/2591/page25.html">"Morgan" by Barbara Maclay
http://dadbcatha.simplenet.com/Story/dontlook.htm

**DREAMER AND THE DREAM (THE) by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Wishes.shtm.htm">Wishes - [Alt]
Wishes and 3 pages - all the necessary ingredients for yet another brilliant exercise in storytelling by one of the masters in this fanfic. It's the future - it's a world in which some human beings have the ability to make their dreams seem very real - it's a dangerous ability so these mutants have been deemed a threat to society and they're hunted like rabid animals. On this night Officer Washington and her partner Palmer are on patrol. The dreamer they're hunting is different from others - the manifestations far from deadly, at times...cute - and as Officer Washington is about to discover, even rather personal. AWESOME guys - don't even hesitate on this one. Delightful and marvelously effective! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 3 pgs., 11/18/99
https://ausxip.com/fanfiction/d/dreameranddream.html

**DREAMS FROM THE DARKNESS by a href="https://lunacyreviews.ausxip.com/Tomihawk.shtm.htm">Tomihawk
Initially set in the London of the 1920's, this is a very well-written, sophisticated uber that mixes history with fantasy in what is also a good, old-fashioned adventure thriller. For Lori Winters life has been a series of responsibilities and dreams unfulfilled as she spends her days helping out her grandfather in his antique book shop, reading those old books and finding the inspiration in them to write about a great hero living grand adventures she's certain she'll never experience. All that changes the day Kay Ridgeway walks into the bookshop needing to consult some of the old titles available there. A professor involved in some very obscure research, Kay is impressed when the young shopkeeper reveals an extraordinary knowledge of those old books and an intelligence and zest for life that seem to belie her rather mundane existence. Drawn to the young woman, Kay invites her along as her research assistant for a trip to Rome, opening up a new world for Lori but unsuspectingly leading her also into a darkness Kay had hoped never to revisit. As Lori is about to learn - the world outside her quiet London bookshop holds many wonders but also hides many secrets - including some so evil that real heros must rise up to face them...and where heroes thread...sidekicks naturally, must follow. Tomihawk has combined here the intensity of a good Indiana Jones story, with the suspense of a murder-mystery into a tale that very much recalls the Xena canon. Kay and Lori are fascinating characters - reminiscent of a certain warrior and bard but intriguing in their own right. Still unfinished, this one is DEFINITELY one to follow in the weeks ahead. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 131 pgs., 1/21/00
http://www.tomihawk.com/fanfic/DreamsFromTheDarkness/Part1.html