Doppleganger by Suzan Lovett (PG)

[aralias.livejournal.com]

Fandom: BLAKE'S 7
Pairing: Gen (apparently). Avon, Blake's clone (Roj)/Rashel, series 4 ensemble, particularly Tarrant and Vila
Length: 29,000
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: http://tarrantnostra.com/suzan/main.htm
Why this must be read: This fic was also published in 1988 - in a zine that I own (thanks eBay), accompanied by various nice illustrations by Jean Clissol. I've taken a photograph of the fic in situ, which you can find beneath the cut.

Suzan Lovett is one of the B-est BNFs there are (not just in this fandom - others include ST:TOS, Pros, S&H and more recently House MD). Although she's most known for her art, she is also justly celebrated for her fic, which is incredible. 'Road to Hell' and 'Gemini Rising' have already been recced here, which is good because it means I can rec this one, which is my personal favourite and one of my favourite 5 fics in the fandom, but not perhaps as accessible as RtH (which I also strongly recommend and which is more standalone). This isn't one you can leap into without watching the show, because I think to appreciate how gorgeous 'Doppleganger' is you have to know Avon and his weird, intense relationship (of heroism, disbelief and denial) with Blake.

This fic is about the absence of Blake, made obvious by the presence of someone who both is and isn't him (i.e. his clone - introduced in episode 2x3), and what that absense forces Avon to do and feel - and it twangs every heartstring I have about a million times over the course of its word count. And yes, I know that is an exceptionally high word count, but the fic's really easy to read, so give it a try. And don't be put off by the epithets. In terms of emotion derived from character, and in terms of character dialogue, there are none finer than Lovett. She needed that word count, and I'm pretty sure I hugged the zine after I finished reading this fic.

Excerpt:

[Avon] had had enough of highfaluting notions from Blake. He wasn't taking it from this man who wasn't even Blake. "Get out of my way," he hissed threateningly, and brought the gun up.

Roj didn't react to the threat, didn't move, didn't say a word, didn't so much as blink. He simply stood his ground, a solid block of resolution.

At that instant all discrepancies fell away and Avon found himself looking into Blake's eyes, felt himself again crashing head-first into that formidable will, bigger even than the man, a tangible force in its implacability. His next feeling was one of...resignation? Yes, alongside the anger that had always been a symbiotic companion of resignation for the man who never could surrender gracefully. But also...contrarily...

Relief, he identified it. In some small measure, relief. As if an askew scale had righted itself.

Neither man said a word or made a move for a long minute, but at the end of it something seemed to be settled.

"Close the panel, Avon," Roj said levelly, quietly, although he could have just as easily closed it himself, and closing it or leaving it open did not matter in the slightest for any practical purpose.

Slowly, Avon reached back and closed it.

Link: Doppleganger

Comments

[clocketpatch]

I copy-pasted it into Word because the word count on all of her fics seemed a bit... off. It's 28,886 words with the author's note removed. Still long, but doable in a night (I do wish it were longer, because it is amazing and sad and gives me fluttery feelings in my heart).

This information is offered in the hopes that potential readers will not be scared away by the thought of this fic being longer than it actually is.

[aralias.livejournal.com]

Yes. on.... fifth thoughts, That makes a lot of sense...

I have amended! Thank you <3

[twigged.livejournal.com]

Hi, please also tag your posts with the type(s) of rec: fanfic, fanvid, crossover, etc.

[aralias.livejournal.com]

sorry. i will from now on!

[klangley56.livejournal.com]

You probably are not aware, but Suzan does not care to have images of her artwork out and about online without her permission. She knows she can't stop the eBayers, but she did ask Fanlore to take down the art images they had posted without her permission.

I don't know how Jean Clissold feels about it, although I could ask her if you want . . .

[aralias.livejournal.com]

Hi. Thanks for letting me know. It's not my intention to upset anyone or represent their work in a way they would feel uncomfortable with. In fact, quite the opposite.

That said, I posted the images for a reason - that being: to help illustrate how fandom at this stage in its history operated. There are many people not only in Blake fandom, but also more widely who have never seen a zine, and will probably never see one in real life (but might be prompted to own one after seeing a rec for it, just as I would hope that perhaps people might be compelled to read the fic after reading this rec). I know there are other pictures of other zines out there on the internet, but I thought it was nice to use this zine, since it was a particularly attractive example of the genre and since I purchased it, after reading the fic online, because I liked the physical product so much.

If possible, I would like to express my request to use their images in this fashion directly to the artists in question - if you would be willing to PM me some active contact details, I would be very happy to write to them. If you would prefer not to do this, please do ask on my behalf - linking to this post if possible.

As you may know, I can only edit crack_van for a limited period of time. If I haven't heard back from you or the artists before my final days of reccing (5/6th of January), I will remove all the images.