Sealie
Author at The Sibilant Storybook http://www.trickster.org/storybook/.
Almost A Sentinel (Sentinel/Champions)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 2000
Zine: Sentry Post
Issue: 6
Tags: Novel
(357K)
Now that this story is up on the web, I can direct your
eyes to the zine review that
I did of the zine containing this story.
Red, Red, Wine (Highlander)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 28th January 2003 (2)
Tags: Short Story
(30K)
I went over to Sealie's page looking for something else and ended up
reading this instead. It's a short piece with an inquisitve Duncan, an
elusive Methos, and leaves you quietly pondering. Nice.
Twenty Four Hours (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 25th September 2000 (3)
Tags: Novella
(172K)
This was very good. One of the most convincing stories of this
kind that I've read. And what is "this kind"? That very popular
staple in TS fic, where one of Our Heroes is deathly ill, and the other
hovers at his bedside. In this case, it's Blair who is ill, and Jim
who hovers. But the consultation with Doctor Robyn definitely shows
in all the glorious detail that is given:
"Mavis, I've got an adult male, 29, 150 pounds. One day history
of fever to 105, stiff neck." Reaching for a small light he
peeled back an eyelid and shone it into the kid's eyes. Blair
groaned painfully. "Photophobia; nausea and emesis times three;
temperature 105; pulse 120; respirations 35; blood pressure
00/60 and a GCS 2-4-4. Sat 98% on three litres via nasal
canunula. I.V. placed."
Jim was boggled by the alphabet soup.
But, no, it isn't all medical jargon. We have some strong original
characters; Blair's doctor and one of his nurses stand out. We also
have a touch of the mystical, which is subtle enough to leave us free
to choose either way. Was it all in his mind or not? Probably not,
but he'd be the last to admit it. Which is just our Jim all over.
Library
(1) Our Unconquerable Soul (Sentinel/Poltergeist the Legacy)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 25th September 2000 (1)
Tags: Novella
(240K)
This was good. I enjoyed this better than the other PtL
crossovers I've read so far, possibly because this was much more of a
Sentinel story than those others, but also because the author resisted
the urge to explain everything about these "guest" characters, even in
the bits which were from their point of view. They really were
guest-characters, and that's the way I like it.
I liked the subtlety of certain things here -- particularly the open
question as to whether Blair was Sensitive, whether he was tuned in to
Jim's reactions, or whether he was just a really good observer.
Likewise, the natural and supernatural explanations for things, side
by side. I liked the references to things, like the Adams Family, and
Narnia and people discussing the books they're reading, and all the
other little details here and there. I liked watching them piece
things together -- Jim's senses were used really well, as well as
Blair's researching abilities. Not to mention Blair's... pluckiness.
Things weren't too easy -- they had to work for answers -- even the
Legacy people had to work for answers, instead of coming across as
know-it-all and explaining everything.
I enjoyed the original characters and the portrayal of Father Callaghan
as someone solemn and serious and sad and concerned without being a
fountain of angst.
I was sort of surprised, given the closeness between Jim and Blair here
(evidenced at least by the Sentinel-Guide bond), that this is
apparently only set three months into their relationship, but I liked
their interactions, and the way the actually discussed things.
But would Blair really eat bacon sandwiches? (-8
Addendum: nominated for favourite horror/scary story in the 2001
Cascade Times Awards. Nominated for favourite series also.
(2) Death in the Family (Sentinel/Poltergeist the Legacy)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 25th September 2000 (2)
Tags: Novella
(244K)
This one is a sequel to Our Unconquerable Soul
and is only a crossover with PtL to the extent that it has Father
Callaghan in it. This one was even better. Again, you have the
subtlety of the mystical stuff in it, again you have the careful
details. The things I liked best about this one was the Blair-angst
that he had to work through (and the way that Blair's withdrawal
affected Jim) and the plot, turning from what looked like a simple
serial kidnapping, to something with a touch of dark magic, to
something that was both more and less simple than either of these.
(And the only hint I can give is, that if you liked this story, go off
and read the novel "The Perilous Gard" by Elizabeth Marie Pope, which
had a similar scenario) Three cheers for the way that Blair holds
himself in his perilous situation, and being himself finds
the way forward. I would really like to see more in this series.
(3) A Hope Amidst Sanguine Desolation (Sentinel/Poltergeist the Legacy)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 12th May 2001
This one is a sequel to Death In The Family
and also to Twenty Four Hours as well, even though that
story isn't officially in this series, this is set not long after,
while Blair is still recovering from his illness.
Again, this is barely a crossover with PtL, with only Father Callaghan
making much of an appearance from that. This is also a little crossover
with another series but to say what series would be a spoiler.
This was sure good. A little hard to get into at first, but soon I was
completely caught up.
I like the strong supporting characters in this; they support, whether
original or canon. Good Jim, good Blair, good Jim and Blair. Both of
them are caring about each other, both of them have hangups, and both of
them freaked out about things, but not both at the same time!
Also good was the way that Blair hadn't yet bounced back from what
happened in Twenty Four Hours, sleeping and lacking
energy, as usually happens after a serious illness.
A few mysteries were left to tease us, which makes it imperative that
another story be written, don't it?
(4) Watchman eye and watchman hand are spun of water, air and sand (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 7th May 2003 (10)
Tags: Novel
(450K)
While the other stories in this series could be considered
slightly AU, this one could be considered more so, because, if things
put in place here do get followed through with, it makes certain events
in canon very unlikely to happen -- hopefully. I really liked this one,
because it dealt with something that was so waiting to happen -- Jim's
refusing to deal with his past traumas is a bomb waiting to go off, a
vulnerability which he refuses to acknowledge; and this time he fails to
dodge the (figurative) bullet. I love it when plot is rooted in
character like that; so very personal, yet fitting. It was also nicely
subtle, as Blair wonders about the possible causes of Jim's behaviour,
whether it be natural, supernatural or psychological. Again, the author
manages to get a good balance in her Jim and Blair -- friends who care
without being soppy, both with faults and strengths; times when they
communicate and times when they take things all wrong.
I also liked the feel of all the research -- though the author said at
the end that she couldn't find a lot about what she was looking for, it
didn't feel sparse or lacking.