Besterette
"Circle of Life" (Sentinel/Stargate)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 29th July 2001 (5)
I looked at this initially in the hope that it might be a sequel to
"The Ridiculous and the Obscure" but it wasn't. It doesn't appear to be
related, anyway, though it has the common thread that Daniel and Blair were
friends in College.
I'm torn about this one, because the idea is delicious, but I can't buy
it. The name set-up worked nicely, but I couldn't believe that the
woman was who she was said to be; not enough resemblance. Let alone
resemblance between the other two parties supposed to resemble each
other... (how's that for avoiding spoilers?)
This is a one-idea story, written with the author's usual good style,
but it didn't work for me.
"Eavesdropping" (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th July 2000 (8)
This one made me feel bad. I'm not of the school of thought
that thought Christine (in Cypher) was a bitch, so reading a story
which turns her into a shallow selfish gold-digger really left a bad
taste in my mouth. Wish I hadn't read it.
"The Grocery List" (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th July 2000 (11)
(3K)
That was fun. Sharp lean style, little quips in there. When
one can manage to do a dialogue-only piece (or in this case, dialogue
plus shopping list), and it works, that makes things even more
interesting. Loved the "lean ground beef", "purina hippie chow" and
"extra ammo" items.
"Home Invasion" (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th July 2000 (14)
(3K)
Lol! Ah, what fun. Improbable, but a delightfully worthwhile
antidote to all those Hurt Blair stories out there.
"Jimmy and the Easter Eggs" (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th July 2000 (12)
(3K)
A nice little Jim's-childhood story. And it wasnt angsty!
Just nice. I liked how Jimmy was unselfish. And that Grace wasn't
portrayed as a horrible person.
"Merging Traffic" (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th July 2000 (10)
(5K)
A post-Sentinel Too story. A very intriguing idea,
well-presented. Crept up upon. I like the way that Blair made Jim
realize what was going on. I'd really like to see this followed up
on, it's too much fun to leave it at one little short story! So what
if it's AU. I like AU. Well, I like some AU. And I like this one.
Did I mention that I like this?
"O.J." (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 10th June 2000 (2)
Drabble, therefore very short. But it got a laugh out of me!
"Obfustcator" (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 12th August 2001 (7)
(23K)
An interesting little What-if? Alternative Universe story. What
if Jim had been invalided out of the army for his zone-outs? This is a
first-person told from Blair's point of view... a Blair who is slightly
different from the Blair we know (well, I think so!). I don't think
Steven would be like that either... though it isn't so very far from
possibility. This story is really just an introduction, but I doubt
very much there will be a sequel, alas.
"The Ridiculous And The Obscure" (Stargate/Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th July 2000 (7)
(6K)
I liked this! Looking at the whole TSbyBS mess from another
point of view. And just showing that those who really know someone,
or who are interested in the truth, wouldn't believe the honourable
lie. And I liked the parallel drawn between Daniel and Blair.
I would really like to see this followed up, a sequel or something.
"Ring A Bell?" (Sentinel/Xena)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th July 2000 (9)
This one is more for the Xena fans, I found it hard to follow.
I vaguely know who Joxer is, but not really well enough to appreciate
it.
"Small World" (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 23rd October 2000
(10K)
That was lovely. The way that Blair can cast light and
affirmation about, just by being himself. I can't really say much
more, because it's a very short story, and anything more would be
spoilers. I wish it were longer, or that she would write a sequel.
"Stick Figures" (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 17th July 2002 (3)
(10K)
The interesting thing about this story is the style. Someone
else might have taken the same events, and made of them a trite and
flimsy thing. But this story, it was sanded smooth, slowly showing the
grain beneath.
"Thief of Hearts" (Sentinel/Highlander)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 10th June 2000 (1)
This was good. I must admit, I get an extra kick out of
Highlander crossovers where the mortals don't find out about
immortality, where no-one dies and becomes immortal - even though I
enjoy the other kind too. This was very good. Amanda was so Amanda.
And Jim & Blair were themselves too, though this was mostly from
Amanda's point of view. This had one of the things I like about
crossovers - getting to see Our Heroes from someone else's point of
view. We saw Amanda looking at them, and we saw (a little) Blair
reading the Chronicle. I enjoyed this. (Warning: M for implied
hanky panky)
"Till Human Voices Wake Us" (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th August 2000
(10K)
A post-Sentinel Too story, that I didn't want to read until I'd
actually seen the episode. This was well done, particularly the
initial segment when you are trying to figure out whose point of view
it is, and you realize, and you say, oh my. Sympathetic and in
character for Jim and Blair. And the last line hits you there.
This story was nominated in the 2000 Cascade Times Awards in the
"best epilogue" category.
"The Wall" (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 10th January 2001
A pensive and thoughtful piece, well-written. I can't say much more,
for fear of spoilers, since it was quite short. I liked the stylishness
of the opening paragraph, the pictures painted, the way you weren't
beaten over the head.
A Sense of Honor
(1) "A Sense of Honor (One)" (Sentinel/Vorkosiverse)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 11th October 2000 (1)
(47K)
This is so cool! Two of my favourite things together:
The Sentinel, and Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan universe. And it
fits so well! James Vorellison, military man, Barrayaran aristocrat,
prisoner of war with a secret shame. Blair Sandburg, cosmopolitan
Betan anthropologist, finding his life's work -- a Sentinel.
A perfect blending of both worlds, with all these little touches and
details (like Naomi's "single-parent licence" or the fact that Blair
spent a year on Athos, the offhand remarks about Jackson's Whole, and
so on). I don't know how someone who wasn't familiar with Lois
McMaster Bujold's work would cope reading this story -- there are a
number of subtle details that they would miss (one of them, at the end,
quite important in its implications). But I like the subtlety of
the details very much.
The characterisations are spot on: James is reserved, suspicious,
short-tempered with a tendency to use violence, honourable, dutiful.
Blair is enthusiastic, academic, non-violent, freethinking, been
everywhere, man... The little we see of Naomi is good too.
This is terrific! The possibilities are fascinating.
I can't wait (even though I have to) for the next one.
(2) "A Sense of Honor (Two)" (Sentinel/Vorkosiverse)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 29th July 2001 (13)
(56K)
I was looking forward to this one. More of the story of a What If
Blair Sandburg and James Ellison had been born into Lois McMaster Bujold's
far-future "Vorkosigan" universe. (It's a bit hard to figure out what to
call the universe... I've chosen to call it after one of the planets,
Barrayar, which is better than calling it after the family name of some
of the characters -- Vorkosigan -- because the Vorkosigans don't turn up
at all here!) This is the sequel to "A Sense of Honor One" and follows
on immediately from it. You absolutely need to read the first one
first. I like, again, the way the Barrayar universe stuff is woven in
as needed; it fits very well. Some things didn't fit with Barrayar
though -- "bus" and "taxicab" and a few other terms really jarred.
It felt too short. There were things I would have liked to have seen in
much more detail. For example, I would have liked to have savoured
every moment of Blair's appointment with Barrayaran Imperial Security;
instead we only get a taste.
I liked the character of Carolyn (what we saw of her), and it was nice
to see cameos of various well-known names. Megan was a bit of a cypher,
though. On the upside, there were some choice remarks scattered all
through, which I can't repeat because they would be spoilers.
Sparrowhawk Sandburg
(1) "Sparrowhawk Sandburg series" (Sentinel)
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th July 2000 (6)
This series of stories (no, I can't remember all the titles
right now) about Blair Sandburg's half-sister, Sparrowhawk Rainbow
Sandburg (aka Beau), is okay. I don't really buy the Consort thing
(being a conservative person who will readily point out that even the
term "Guide" isn't strictly canonical, and therefore tossing in other
Titles besides Sentinel and Guide may perhaps be going a bit far) but,
anyway, it's enjoyable enough. Actually, my favourite is the WWII
Drabbles because of the nifty ideas of the origins of a few things,
like the Golden Fire People etc. And I like Sandburg's grandmother
(whom we see in Mimsy's Wedding!)