UBER-XENA AND ORIGINAL FICTION REVIEWS
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Last modified: November 03 2012 12:33:12

Please make sure to read the EXPLANATORY NOTES before reading these reviews.

The file includes reviews of both uber-Xena and/or original fiction. It is a combined file of general and alternative stories. The alternative titles are designated as such with an [Alt] at the end of the title line.

Also, several of the uber stories deal with the characters of Mel Pappas and Janice Covington featured in the episode THE XENA SCROLLS. Mel/Janice stories are designated as such with a [M/J] at the end of the title line. You can also find them listed separately in the Mel/Janice Fan Fiction Reviews

**"I" OF THE BEHOLDER by Nene Adams - [Alt]
This uber story has immediately become one of my favorite guilty pleasures...in fanfic anyway. It's a tale that should SHOCK us - HORRIFY us - leave us wondering about the DEPRAVED state of the human condition!! ...But folks, Nene's latest is not just fun - it's WICKED fun at that! Set in Paris in 1905, the story takes the form of a letter from a British artiste of means as she tells her dear brother Charles of her fateful encounter with a delightful creature named Gabrielle d'Orsay - the angelic face that along with another beautiful dark figure has been haunting her dreams for a lifetime. Determined to give life to those dreams of torture and fear and blood, our crafty narrator sets out to seduce the trusting village girl inducing her to pose for her in exchange for boarding and some coins so she can remain in the city. The plan is to eventually turn Gabrielle d'Orsay into that broken slave envisioned in the dreams but much to her benefactor's chagrin, it's a plan that soon starts to go awry when others begin threatening her hold on the girl - including a fellow artiste who seems capable of seeing beauty and light and love where our sadistic narrator sees only the potential for pain and torture. One VERY sick puppy, Nene's narrator is nevertheless both hysterically amusing and frighteningly compelling. Ranking up there with the likes of Hanibal Lecter from SILENCE OF THE LAMBS fame, this depraved soul is a marvel of characterization. For any bard out there who wants to learn the finer subtleties of creating complex, interesting, engaging characterizations, Nene's fiction and this story in particular should be required reading. For the rest of us it's just one wonderfully entertaining read. This one gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! [Part of the CHAMBER OF HORRORS SERIES] - 15 pgs., 4/6/99
http://www.corrieweb.nl/beholder1.htm

I'D RATHER RIDE AROUND WITH YOU by MythBard - [Alt, M/J]
Sweet Mel/Janice piece that chronicles a milestone of sorts in their relationship when the archeologist shows up just as Mel is getting ready to go to her cousin's wedding and convinces her instead to spend a carefree afternoon with her. - 4 pgs., 8/30/99
http://www.xenafan.com/fiction/content5/mythbard_ride.html

I'M BORED, GABRIELLE by Verrath
A sequel to the delightful TELL ME, GABRIELLE, Verrath's latest finds little Gabby grounded as punishment for her recent misadventure with Sina - the Warrior Princess. Not one to stay out of trouble, however, Sina is soon deep in mischief once again and pulling her best pal into it right along with her! This story should probably be listed under the definition for "cute" in the dictionary. An uber for that kid in us all. DO NOT MISS! - 4 pgs., 4/14/99
http://verrath.de/tellme/imbored.htm
[German version: MIR IST LANGWEILIG, GABRIELLE translated by Verrath at http://verrath.de/tellme/imboredd.htm]

**I'VE BEEN TO POCATELLO, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ME by Vivian Darkbloom - [Alt]
An uber tribute (of sorts ;-) to seasons 3-4, Vivan's latest entry in the shamelessly decadent WHITE TRASH SERIES should carry a health warning marking it as EXTREMELY hazardous for your funny bone. In fact, I can guarantee many a funny bone is going to be overstimulated after this latest encounter with the trials and tribulations of Zina the fire fighter and her junk-food-loving poet Gabrielle. Starting with a hilarious and inevitable confrontation between the spunky (if somewhat dense) poet and their ever-so-righteous arch-enemy Callie, the story has Zina reuniting with her old love Boris, the Russian chess player, devising a plan to repay an old... debt...and almost losing her beloved poet to a lascivious exotic dancer named Natalie. With supporting appearances from Zina's pot-loving progenitor, a wise friend from the East and an assortment of other colorful personalities this story makes plodding through seasons 3-4 worth the effort just so you can enjoy the product of one highly skilled and thoroughly depraved bardic mind. So much fun it should probably be declared a sin, Vivian's latest is a MUST READ! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - 26 pgs., 3/25/99
http://viviandarkbloom.tripod.com/pocatello.htm
[Palm Pilot version available at XENA FAN FICTION FOR THE PALM PILOT]

**ICEHOLE by Kiera Dellacroix - [Alt]
Proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that she is FAR from a one-hit wonder, the brilliant talent behind ENGRAVINGS OF WRAITH returns with another unforgettable tale - a rivetting novel perfect for this spookiest of seasons. In the grand tradition of such horror sci-fi classics as THE THING and ALIENS, the story unfolds in one of the most remote outposts on Earth as Lt. Commander Malory Quinn Lovecraft is sent to take command of a top secret base in Antarctica. Months before, scientists working at the base detected "something" under the ice and the team there has been digging to try to get at it ever since. Harboring a strong dislike of military types, Dr. Corky Rivers, one of the civilians working on the project, expects not to like the new commander. In fact, she soon finds herself alternating between wanting to kill the frustrating woman...and wanting to jump her bones for an altogether different purpose ;-) An unorthodox relationship to say the LEAST, the back-and-forth between them soon follows its natural course as a very determined, sometimes unbelievably crass, but more often than not utterly charming Malory Lovecraft wins over not only the entire personnel at the base, but the elusive heart of one little spit-fire of a doctor. It's a romance that proceeds amidst the extreme challenges of living and working in one of the most isolated and hostile places on the planet - a challenge that becomes even more severe when the hole in the ice finally begins to yield some answers...and with those a horror unlike anything humanity has ever known. Trapped at the base by the fierce Antarctic Winter, the soldiers and civilian scientist must ban together to try to survive against a seemingly unstoppable enemy - their best hope of doing so lying in the indomitable will of a commander who now finds herself with a lot more to live for than she's ever had before. To say that Kiera has a knack for creating some of the most dynamic, unforgettable characters around is an understatement to say the least. Her leads have that uberish quality a Xenite will recognize, but they're also incredibly vibrant, original creations in their own right. Malory Lovecraft has to be one of the most unique characters I've ever come across in fiction - a compelling mixture of toughness and vulnerability, innocence and raw sexuality, a startlingly beautiful woman with a decidedly mischievous, at times even crude streak - a commander capable of inspiring the utmost loyalty and respect - a lover with no compunctions about sharing her very soul. This is one character you're gonna fall in love with right along with Corky Rivers. That ornery little doctor, meanwhile, is an amusing delight in her own right as she initially struggles against the inevitable only to later become the fiercest protector Malory Lovecraft has ever had. When these two come together sparks fly in just about EVERY sense of the word ;-) Beyond this charming romance, Kiera has also delivered here a TRULY horrific story with descriptions so vivid you can picture this as a film up on the big screen. Skillfully paced with plenty of those edge-of-your-seat moments to complement the more emotional and playful ones, the novel also features a terrific supporting cast all interwoven into a fictional experience the reader won't soon forget. PERFECT fodder for a series (HINT, HINT Ms. Dellacroix), this hopefully won't be the last time we visit with Malory, Corky and friends. One of the best of the year and the season, it gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! - 163 pgs., 10/31/01
http://www.femfic.org/halloween/kiera_icehole1.html

**INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF TWO DOLLS IN LOVE (THE): THE STORY OF RIGID XENA AND POSABLE GABRIELLE by Danae and L.N. James - [Alt]
In two years of reading Xena fanfic I have never come across something quite like this new tale but it should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with these two very talented, very creative, and very demented bards that a collaboration between them would lead to one of the most seriously outrageous story this fandom has ever seen. The inspiration for this little gem came in the form of an e-mail exchange we are made privy to in the prologue. In it a rather frustrated LN laments the rigidity of those new XWP action figures prompting Danae to start exploring what life must indeed be like for those action figures. Thus is born the tragic but hopeful tale of a little warrior doll who (literally) falls head over heels in love with a beautiful, posable blond bard doll. The little warrior must then struggle against her own rigidity and the many dangers in the life of an action figure as she tries to win the heart of her...oh-so-flexible love ;-) Cute beyond words, and even allegorical if you can stop grinning long enough to think about it on a more serious level, this is a "children's tale" in the grand tradition of LN's own BEDTIME FOR WARRIORS AND BARDS. Danae and LN use their very active imaginations along with a pair of really healthy libidos to bring us a tale guaranteed to delight even the most demanding of readers. All I want to know is when we should start an e-mail campaign encouraging Disney to turn this into the script for their next TOY STORY movie >:) Not a moments hesitation on this one folks - it gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!! [See the sequel MORE INCREDIBLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF TWO DOLLS IN LOVE: THE CONTINUING STORY OF RIGID XENA AND POSABLE GABRIELLE] - 8 pgs., 8/11/98
http://www.squonk.net/users/lnjames/TIT.htm

INFINITY SERIES - This series was begun by Redhawk who then invited other authors to participate. Below are the stories I've reviewed in the series. For an explanation of the premise behind the series go directly to Katrina's INFINITY page - [Alt].
AWARDS: "Constant Arousal" Swollen Bud Award (June 15, 2000)

**ONLY ONE by Redhawk
**OKTOBERFEST by Redhawk
TYGER, TYGER by Joseph Connell - [non-uber]
DISEMBODIED by Kristian S. Fischer
BAD TIMING by Kristian S. Fischer - [non-uber]
**THE BROKEN BLADE: A TALE OF CAMELOT by Llachlan
**THE LONGING by Protek
**FAREWELLS AND GREETINGS by Joseph Connell
BLOODLUST by Protek
**LONDON BLITZ by Joseph Connell
MIA by Kristian S. Fischer
**TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN by Protek
**THE BREAKING by Redhawk

**INTO THE DARK by Sharon Smith - [Alt]
You're gonna have to put aside at least an entire weekend to read this mammoth size novel but rest assure that it's gonna be one very entertaining weekend. An uber set amidst the fast-paced excitement, drama and perils of the music business, this is the story of Jordanna Fox, a megastar drummer and singer in one of the hottest rock bands touring. Assigned to do an article on the infamous rocker, reporter Rebecca Hurley has no idea what she's getting herself into when she enters Jordanna's world. Repulsed by the drummer's promiscuity and casual insensitivity, Rebecca nevertheless cannot deny the puzzling attraction she feels for the beautiful woman. It's an attraction returned in kind by Jordanna who sets her sights on the reporter the moment she sees her, certain she will be able to add Rebecca Hurley to her LONG list of conquests in little time at all. Things, however, don't work out exactly as planned for either woman as Rebecca soon starts to glimpse a vulnerability and tenderness within the drummer that draws her like a moth to a flame while Jordanna finds herself no longer wanting to simply make Rebecca one of her many conquests, wanting instead to win the reporter's heart. Together they'll embark on a very difficult journey that will have them both embracing new lives, dealing with the challenges of fame, the seductive dangers of the rock touring scene, the demons of addiction, and most of all - the fears of loving someone so completely that they become your only hope for salvation. With the two leads appearing in practically every scene, this is very much a relationship story made stronger by the solid, mesmerizing characterizations Sharon has crafted. Despite a brutal past that would give even a certain Warrior Princess a run for her dinars in the darkness department, Jordanna soon becomes a very sympathetic character through her treatment of Rebecca and the longing she has to find a semblance of normality in her life. She grasps the unconditional love Rebecca offers like a lifeline and then fights along with her lover to nurture that love and help it overcome dangers both past and present. Well-written and with enough angst to satisfy even angst addicts like myself, this lengthy yarn is great entertainment! Grab that Visine and enjoy! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [Note: story contains some mild S&M - see the sequel LEARNING TO CLIMB] - 760 pgs., 2/9/00
FANFIC ART: L.J. Maas Story Cover
http://members.aol.com/Elven29249/into.html
http://www.art-with-attitude.com/artist/Into.html

**IRON ROSE BLEEDING by Anne Azel - [Alt]
It's been a while since a story has kept me up reading 'til 3 am. Boy did this one do the trick. First you're reading non-stop trying to figure out what's going on - then you're reading non-stop because you simply can't put this down! One of the most UNUSUAL and original ubers I've ever read, Anne's latest follows the adventures of Courtney Hunter as the curious archivist tries to learn more about her enigmatic boss - the mysterious Taylor Alexandria Punga. Secretly obsessed with the tall, dark beauty, Courtney decides to do a little exploring in the restricted areas of "Tap's" compound only to soon find her life turned upside down when Tap discovers her and insists on bringing Courtney into the exclusive inner circle of her shadowy organization. Realizing that her escape attempts aren't getting her anywhere and more intrigued than ever by the sometimes threatening, sometimes solicitous, and always maddeningly sexy Tap, Courtney agrees to a one month training during which she is to stay under the watchful eye of Tap's security - including a rather creepy security system with some unnerving disembodied voices. The weeks that follow will be a whirlwind of activity for the young archivist as she accompanies her boss to international meetings with world leaders, learns to her dismay that all traces of her identity have been wiped out of existence, and finds herself nevertheless falling head over heels for a woman some of the most powerful people in the world seem frightened of. Slowly the mystery that is Taylor Alexandria Punga will start to reveal itself plunging Courtney into a personal hell as she begins to at last understand the enormity of what she's wandered into. An unthinkable betrayal of faith will finally bring things to a head between these two unlikely soulmates, threatening all they have known and nearly shattering the fragile connection between them. Their future and the very fate of the world will rest on their willingness to rebuild that connection and do the one thing Courtney can't seem to bring herself to do...trust. This is an AWESOME story folks, part mystery, part sci-fi, part romance. Anne does a masterful job of moving the plot along even as she maintains the mystery going, revealing the many layers to this tale one at a time at a very effective pace. We not only witness Courtney's confusion and frustration but we FEEL it ourselves as the urgency to know more increases with each page. The leads are exquisitely written, modern characters that are nevertheless reminiscent for us Xenites of a certain ancient twosome and actually - even suggesting in part an explanation for those many skills one of these had. With an underlying message about the world around us that should hopefully spark our collective concern, this is an educational thriller, a heartwarming romance and a fascinating sci-fi adventure all wrapped into one MARVELOUS reading experience easily earning my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! - 80 pgs., 2/4/02
http://www.ausxip.com/fanfic19/ironrose1-4.html

**IS THERE A DOCTOR ON THE DIG by Bat Morda - [Alt, M/J]
Absolutely delightful story which reunites our favorite archeologist and her Southern Belle of a companion, Janice and Mel from the XENA SCROLLS episode - this time in an alt. story (it's WILD what can I say!). Bat's latest has everything - adventure, suspense, COMEDY, romance, wild, passionate...uh...er - well, you know ;-) Not to worry, Xena and Gab DO make an appearance and the passages about them happen to be some of the loveliest and most moving I've ever read in XWP fiction. This is NOT TO BE MISSED! The first-ever Mel/Janice story released and a true classic! It carries my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! [See also L. Graham's PRELUDE TO A DIG and Bat's own sequel THE SEARCH FOR AMPHIPOLIS] - 90 pgs., 3/97
AWARDS: "Getting Serious" Swollen Bud Award (May 1, 2000)
FANFIC ART: