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Modern & Miscellaneous -
Master Story List
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An Autobiography of Jody Evans by Anne Azel
Recommended by: Emily Duncan - 08.03.03
Classification: OF: Modern & Misc.
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Short Story - Complete
This piece may not be for everyone, particularly those who are not familiar with Gertrude Stein and her work - but I encourage everyone to give it a try, because it really is exquisite. ‘An autobiography of Jody Evans’ echoes Gertrude Stein’s ‘An Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas,’ which was actually an autobiography of Gertrude Stein, seen through the eyes of the woman she loved. It is written in a style evocative of Gertrude Stein’s, and uses some direct quotes - which some may feel makes it less than original, but to my mind, this emulation of Stein’s powerful, wild style is quite an achievement. Azel is a talented writer - she captures the strange beauty of Stein’s disregard for grammar and punctuation, and manages to create some wonderfully rhythmic phrases that stayed with me long after I’d read them. I haven’t seen writing as creative as this anywhere else in the Xenaverse. So give it a try - I think you’ll be captivated. And thanks to Anne Azel for bringing one of literature’s great innovators into our little fictional world.
http://www.nextchapter.net/Fiction/Azel/autobiography_Jody.htm
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(The) Black Scarab and the Magic of Christmas by Leslie Ann Miller
Recommended by: Emily Duncan - 03.16.03
Classification: OF: Modern & Misc.
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Short Story - Complete
This story was produced for the Academy of Bards' 'Holiday Havoc' challenge, which, to my mind, makes it even more worthy of recommendation. Writing 'fiction to order' (i.e. when certain words or phrases have to be included) is a feat in itself - actually turning a list of random words into a quality original story is something else entirely. And Leslie Ann Miller manages to do exactly that with this piece. 'The Black Scarab and the Magic of Christmas' is a tale reminiscent of 'Men-in-Black' - it focuses on a secret government agency, but the operatives here are charged with controlling the use of magic (which is apparently more widespread than you might think), rather than hunting down little green men. You may think this sounds extremely derivative, but I can assure you that Miller's great fictional imagination soon makes you realise otherwise. To reduce it to the genre of 'Uber' - even though the two main characters are evocative of the archetypes - is also, in my opinion, to do the story a disservice. I don't want to spoil the tale by giving away too much - but the writing is flawless, the plot cute and whimsical, and it will definitely put a smile on your face.
http://wordscapefiction.tripod.com/Leslie/blackscarab.htm
Body and Soul by Lariel
Recommended by: Ann Braxton - 07.06.03
Classification: Original/Misc./Fantasy
Sex/Violence Content: Gen
Length: Short Story - 51 pages - Complete
Lariel wrote in a commentary that for ages she wanted to write a story about angels of death. And to write a truly original story. She’s done it, folks. And what a story it is.
With marvelously concise and descriptive language, Lariel creates an atmosphere of foreboding and urgency in the Prologue as the first character we meet, Fiona, hurries to an appointment, but not the one she intended. In a few paragraphs we learn enough to feel for her. The Angel of Death who, unseen, walks with Fiona, takes matters into his hands. This brings me to:
“Reincarnation (samsara) is the practical way in which one reaps the fruits of one’s deeds. Therefore, the self is forced to enter a new material existence until all karmic debt is paid.”
That is the ground rule, that souls must start their journey to reincarnation when the body dies. Interference is forbidden. Even if.....
All this sounds so serious and there are some important issues to ponder but believe me, Lariel’s usual scintillating humor is never far from the surface.
A renegade Angel of Death has to be dealt with, a new A of D recruit to the Homicide team has to prove himself and Angelus, well, rebel Angelus really puts HER/HIS/THEIR NIBS to the patience test. And the language...tsk tsk.
There was one dilemma for me. Where there is an Omnipotent I tend to expect that HE/SHE/IT knows all at all times. But as Lariel says, the concept is of a bureauracy, so I guess cell phones have their place even inter-dimensionally.
The ending brings to mind the famous clff-hanger "Lady or the Tiger?" by Frank Stockton. Body and Soul is worth your time and thought. I found it an estimable homage to J. Michael of Babylon 5 fame. Loved Angelus' surname too.
http://www.dreamcatching.netfirms.com/fiction/body1.htm
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HABÁNAME (Havana [Verb Transitive] Me) by Ana Ortiz
Recommended by: Valkyrie - 04.27.02
Classification: OF (Modern)/Uber
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Incomplete
There’s a lot of fanfiction that reads much like a soap opera watches. You can quickly scan entire paragraphs and not miss much if you don’t read every word, just like you can miss a week or two of a soap opera and not lose a bit of the storyline. Not so with Ana Ortiz’s “Habáname.” Every word and every sentence of this story counts, revealing richness, depth and beauty to unique characters while unveiling an intriguing plot. If you blink, you’ll miss something special. My advice: don’t blink, and catch every word of this story if you’re looking for an extremely well written piece of fiction that reads quite differently from most stories in the Xenaverse. This is truly “original fiction.”
A short summary can’t really do justice to the plot, but here’s a stab at it: Dr. Barbara Murphy travels to Cuba to assist the Cuban Health Ministry track down the puzzling cause of blindness suddenly afflicting thousands of Cubans. With new cases occurring every day, the urgency of Barbara’s mission is never far from the reader’s mind, and it adds a layer of compelling mystery to the story.
Chela Stevens is an intellectually starved Havana native who, like many others in similar situations, is forced to support her family through prostitution. Through a rather convoluted, yet believable, set of circumstances, Chela winds up as a translator/assistant on Barbara’s investigative medical team. As might be expected, sparks eventually fly between the two, but so do tempers, cross-cultural misunderstandings, and personality differences.
It’s wonderful to watch the miscommunication Ortiz sets up between two eloquent, bi-lingual individuals. Set against the backdrop of modern Cuban, she also does a marvelous job of bringing that country, with all its culture, history, trials and struggles, to life. Perhaps most impressive is her characterization of Barbara and Chela, both of whom are so skillfully portrayed that, just like real people, you sometimes love them, sometimes get angry with them, and always appreciate getting to know them a little bit better as the story progresses.
To provide a sample of Ortiz’ prose: “As she squeezed the cut digit, allowing the liquid to drop in a series of fat red tears upon the stone head, Chela prayed in a tongue that she knew only phonetically and in its effects, the specific meanings of the words lost to the members of her generation. ‘Laroye akiloye aguro tente onú apagurá akama sesé areletuse abamula omubatá okóloñiñi toni kan ofó omoró agun oyomna alayiki agó.’ She paused to consider what petition to make. I am tired of just asking for the minimum, for some luck, for a little money. She drew her breath in. ‘Open the doors, Elegba. Open them wide. Bring it all. Bring my fate.’ Then she stepped into the evening.”
I say, “Open the book, reader. Open it wide. Read it all.” And enjoy an evening with “Habáname.”
http://www.ausxip.com/fanfic19/habaname1.html
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Sharp by SL Bowers
Recommended by: JLynn - 05.12.02
Classification: OF Modern & Misc.
Sex/Violence Content: Alt/PG-17
Length: Short Story, 9 pages - Complete
One cannot have been reading fanfic long in the xenaverse before hearing about SL Bowers and her magnificent uber Lucifer Rising as well as her other XWP classic and uber pieces. What you may not know is that Ms Bowers has her own website with a plethora of other fan fiction and, to my great delight, several pieces of short original fiction. While I’d be happy to recommend any one of them to you, this one, entitled “Sharp”, is what first caught my eye.
It’s a story of a Southern woman, who feels out of touch with her life, out of focus if you will, unless and until she’s drinking. As the narrator herself puts it,
One friend complained, even after watching me systematically demolish a bottle of Jack Daniels, that she had never seen me “drunk.” I was just like myself, she said, only more so.
The key lies in the “more so.”
Discovering the reasons behind that “more so” is what gives the story its flavour and depth. Sharp is a treat to read, full of fabulous imagery that blossoms in your mind’s eye and gifts you with a flowing, colourful narrative style that pulls you in so effortlessly you’re unaware of anything but the story as it unfolds from the protagonist’s point of view.
http://www.sharonbowers.com/OriginalFiction/Sharp.htm
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Tasting Desire by Dragonspirit
Recommended by: Rocky - 04.27.02
Classification: OF Modern
Sex/Violence Content: Alt/NC-17
Length: Novella, 74 pages - Complete
New loves, Trey and Jace, take a weekend off from their academic pursuits to meet with a group of friends in the city. The visit carries on much as expected until Trey notices that something isn't quite right with one of their close personal friends. Their friend, Jess, finally admits that she is troubled and relates a tale of an intriguing encounter with a woman that is not as she seems...
I love a story with strong character development, by the end of the first section, I had been introduced to a handful of women that lived and breathed in my imagination. I immediately identified with Trey and her insatiable curiosity. (Gee I wonder why? )
While this is not an 'Uber' story per se, I could feel its influence throughout the narrative; the flavour is definitely there. Although the story is complete unto itself, I can't help but wonder about the further story of "Jess and Nix" and Yes this is very much a nudge to the author for MORE!
http://www.merwolf.com/academy/fanfic/d/dragonspirit_tasting1.html
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