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crack_van2013-12-14 10:12 am
aralias.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2013-12-14 10:12 am
Compassion by Irish (R)
Fandom: BLAKE'S 7
Pairing: Blake/Avon, Scorpio crew
Length: 13,500
Why this must be read: Less of a leap between years now - the chart I linked to a few days ago shows that B7 zines were at their peak 1988-91, but B/A (my favourite pairing and the pairing that ultimately dominates the fandom) peaked (at least in zines) around 1993-95 with 72 stories published in 1993 as opposed to 21 in 1988.
This fic was originally published in 1995 as part of the zine Love and Sacrifice, which a review by one of my favourite B/A authors, Nova, describes as containing four stories that "all take some unexpected and interesting approaches to the canon". This fic is what would become known as a mundane AU - but written before they were cool. There are only about 10 other mundane/historical AUs in the fandom - that I know of. Without even having a long-established genre to subvert, 'Compassion' makes some very interesting choices regarding the new lives taken by the characters - as Nova's review observes: 'a less imaginative writer would probably have cast Avon as the researcher and Blake as the man of action', instead we have a fic where Blake is a scientist passionately searching for the cure to AIDS while Avon (who was, in the show as aired, dragged unwilling into Blake's quest for freedom and used to protect him without really meaning to) is the head of Scorpio, a company hired explicitly to protect Blake. The rest of the crew make a good showing and all get interesting and fun moments with Blake (it works well to have him as an outsider, given your usual PGP fic set up, but also here gives B and A a chance to have a different meeting), but it's Avon who goes above and beyond the call of duty - and it's Avon who tells Blake he's an idiot and then works very hard to make sure Blake can give the speech he needs to give.
It's excellently and cleverly characterised - I love how hard they both fight for what they believe in and how their attraction to and trust in each other softens that fight. Great dialogue, as well, which I hope will make you accept the somewhat purple (but compelling!) 1990s prose. Nova ends her review by saying - "One of my personal favourites, if you haven't worked that out already." And so I end by saying - "ditto".
Excerpt: This is how the fic begins.
Link: Compassion
Pairing: Blake/Avon, Scorpio crew
Length: 13,500
Why this must be read: Less of a leap between years now - the chart I linked to a few days ago shows that B7 zines were at their peak 1988-91, but B/A (my favourite pairing and the pairing that ultimately dominates the fandom) peaked (at least in zines) around 1993-95 with 72 stories published in 1993 as opposed to 21 in 1988.
This fic was originally published in 1995 as part of the zine Love and Sacrifice, which a review by one of my favourite B/A authors, Nova, describes as containing four stories that "all take some unexpected and interesting approaches to the canon". This fic is what would become known as a mundane AU - but written before they were cool. There are only about 10 other mundane/historical AUs in the fandom - that I know of. Without even having a long-established genre to subvert, 'Compassion' makes some very interesting choices regarding the new lives taken by the characters - as Nova's review observes: 'a less imaginative writer would probably have cast Avon as the researcher and Blake as the man of action', instead we have a fic where Blake is a scientist passionately searching for the cure to AIDS while Avon (who was, in the show as aired, dragged unwilling into Blake's quest for freedom and used to protect him without really meaning to) is the head of Scorpio, a company hired explicitly to protect Blake. The rest of the crew make a good showing and all get interesting and fun moments with Blake (it works well to have him as an outsider, given your usual PGP fic set up, but also here gives B and A a chance to have a different meeting), but it's Avon who goes above and beyond the call of duty - and it's Avon who tells Blake he's an idiot and then works very hard to make sure Blake can give the speech he needs to give.
It's excellently and cleverly characterised - I love how hard they both fight for what they believe in and how their attraction to and trust in each other softens that fight. Great dialogue, as well, which I hope will make you accept the somewhat purple (but compelling!) 1990s prose. Nova ends her review by saying - "One of my personal favourites, if you haven't worked that out already." And so I end by saying - "ditto".
Excerpt: This is how the fic begins.
"Bang. You're dead."
The soft voice brought Blake's attention up from the paper he was reading as he walked into his bedroom. Startled, he stared at the black-clad stranger who stood before him, arms crossed, head cocked, dark eyes impassive. "Who the hell are you?"
With the perfect aplomb one might have expected had the man been in his own home instead of Blake's bedroom, the intruder responded, "I might have been your assassin. You obviously do not believe you are vulnerable."
Something clicked, particularly when Blake saw the shoulder holster and gun. "Security. You're from that security agency they hired."
"Fortunately for you." The man moved toward the double windows that led out onto a balcony and the fine vista of the City for which Blake paid a great deal on his lease. Turning back towards Blake, he said, "You'll have to move out of here for a start."
Blake laughed. "Not a chance. It's absurd to think that my life is at risk. That vehicle simply didn't see me step out from the verge." Briefly, he shivered, recalling the near-miss. Still, Blake was positive it had not been an attempt to murder him. The fact that he'd announced a breakthrough two days before was coincidence.
The stranger blinked. "Fine." He looked past Blake, who only now realized there was someone behind him. "Call and tell them we don't want the job, Vila. The target has a death wish."
Link: Compassion