The Price to Pay

Fanzine at http://www.blakes-7.com/

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 2002-2-19

One-story zine by Judith Proctor 68 pages, A4, perfect bound. The only picture is on the cover.

"When the past catches up with you and what seemed like a right decision at the time seems like a very bad one in retrospect, what price are you willing to pay?"

Judith Proctor has done it again. She has written a novel with a strong theme, with nifty ideas, strong characterisation, and unexpected twists. It just happens to be a Stargate story rather than a Blake's 7 one. But she has the characters right; though it is interesting that, besides Jack, the key characters here are minor ones: Maybourne (which one would already know by looking at the cover) and, unexpectedly, Cassandra. She gives us plausible insight into both of them, making them more than just cyphers for "conventient bad guy" or "convenient sufferer". I like the original characters too.

Note that, besides liking Maybourne, the other thing that Judith likes is Sam and Jack romance -- but if that kind of thing makes you run screaming, don't worry, it's only a very minor part of the story, mainly just adding to the angst. And there is surely angst here. No, they don't live happily ever after, just hopefully. There are loose ends, which is presumably why the author intends to write a sequel.

Now I just have to wait for it.