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XWP Bards - B
(The) Cage of the Muses by baermer
Recommended by: Viv - 12.06.99
Classification: Classic
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Novel - complete
Call me a masochist, but I love to read long stories. I even love to read them over lunch, which is why I have four-hour lunches sometimes and no viable career to show for it. Anyway, baermer is one of my favorite bards in which I can indulge this questionable pleasure. Her latest, "The Cage of the Muses," is a great, epic story: Xena & Gab are summoned to Alexandria by Cleopatra. Once there, they get caught up in oodles of political intrigue, and the Gabster is offered a position as a scholar within the city's magnificent library, which gets her embroiled in even more intrigue. (I loved reading all the "behind the scenes" machinations of the library and those within its walls.)
This is a richly detailed story-the bard has done an admirable amount of research, and these realistic touches are woven into the work very well. In addition, baermer raises some thoughtful questions about knowledge and learning, and its pursuit and misuses. I also enjoy the relationship she has created between Xena & Gabrielle-they come across as true equals who maintain a profound respect for and a sensitivity to each other's needs, beliefs, and desires.
In short, this is a great, rewarding read.
http://www.ausxip.com/fanfiction/m/Muses1-10.html
(The) Painting by Bongo Bear
Recommended by: Anima - 09.04.99
Classification: Uber
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Vignette - complete
This is a strikingly original piece, especially within the realms of fan fiction.
Jean, who appears to be a do-all-the-right-things-for-all-the-right-reasons woman, is doing battle with marriage preparations when she finds herself drawn to, and subsequently purchasing, a mysterious painting.
Seeming to parallel the usage of light and dark found within the composition of the painting, Bongo does the same with her narrative, so that what is omitted, like a shadow across the page, is as vital as what is illuminated. Storytelling that utilizes sparse, simple strokes, and opts to tell the story from a restricted point of view (very much like the elements of the painting that are so seductive to Jean), so that in the end the story's tone and style has a feeling of incompleteness to it.
While this type of story (one that uses style and form as an integral element to the storytelling) won't appeal to everyone (but then, what story does?), what Bongo has done here is truly interesting and quite creative. If all else fails, think of it as a slice of the Twilight Zone and enjoy! I know I did.
http://www.amazontrails.com/xena/painting.htm
Redemption by Sword'n'Quill (Susanne Beck)
Recommended by: laler - 09.27.99
Classification: Uber
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Novel - complete
In 'The Bog', a women's correctional facility, Angel is the narrator of this story by way of her journal writings. She takes us through the everyday life, and the not-so-everyday life, occurrences behind penitentiary walls: friendships, love, gangs, sex, and murder, and not necessarily in that order. Angel seems comfortable in her forced way of living until Ice, a prisoner with a considerable reputation, enters the picture throwing Angel's prison life into a spin. Since time is on Angel's side (so to speak), she commits herself to getting beyond Ice's barriers and to the inside. If it were all that simple to do this story would play out as expected, but there are twists and turns that are sometimes shocking, sometimes amusing.
Sword'n'Quill does an exceptional job weaving all the Uber-character relationships together as events unfold. This is a novel well thought out, and worth the time that will be invested in reading it.
http://www.ausxip.com/fanfiction/r/redemption.html
(The) Fast Ship by D.J. Belt
Recommended by: Valkyrie - 02.23.03
Classification: Classic
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Complete
I first discovered D.J. Belt when I read “The Amulet” and enjoyed it very much. I decided to review “The Fast Ship,” however, because I thought the supporting cast of characters in this story was so good. Not only did I like the way Belt portrayed Xena and Gabrielle, but I also liked the company they kept.
In this story, the crew of “The Fast Ship” (oddly enough, I couldn’t find its name) rescues Xena and Gabrielle after a shipwreck. Obviously able to hold their own as individual characters (Belt features them in a novel, An Amazons’ Moon), Syri, Ptomaniae, and Koenis are the crewmembers I enjoyed the most. Not only do they suck Xena and Gabrielle into a plot to rescue the family of an Athenian citizen kidnapped by a pirate named Otanes, they suck the reader in, too.
Belt’s writing style flows well, and good spelling and grammar enabled me to get into the story and stay there without switching into “editor” mode. It made for a fast read as well as an entertaining one. Particularly, Belt does a good job with action scenes (it does get a bit bloody, though not any worse than the show), striking the right blend of pace and description that provides the reader with a clear picture of what is happening without getting bogged down in details. The subplot in which Ptomaniae helps Gabrielle face some powerful emotional issues - and Gabrielle in turn helps out Ptomaniae - is also nicely done.
http://ils.merwolf.com/academy/fanfic/d/djbelt_thefastship.html
All the Way to Heaven: Or Lesbian Parlor Games
by S. Berry
Recommended by: AngelRad - 02.09.03
Classification: Uber
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Short Story - Complete
Okay. Okay. It's true. I enjoy any story that lets me reminisce about
college... the good ol' days... when acting like an adolescent was lauded, nay, truly admired. Ah yes, many fond memories to ponder... So you could naturally, (and correctly) conclude that I would have a real affinity for this story. I mean, honestly. Think back to your own college days. Who wouldn't have given their tuition money, all their meal tickets and the entire contents of their nightstand drawers just for seven minutes alone with a Gabrielle or Xena lookalike?
In All the Way to Heaven S.Berry takes a not-so-typical college party,
idealizes it and makes it cuter than a whole shopping cart full of beagle puppies. It begins with a little gathering, continues with some swell parlor games and concludes with a sweet little love connection. All the makings of a very entertaining read.
http://ils.merwolf.com/academy/fanfic/s/sberry_lesbianparlorgames.html
Dark Promise by Sharon Bowers and Katrina
Recommended by: angharad governal - 02.07.00
Classification: Other - XWP/BTVS crossover
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Incomplete
Part of Katrina's Blood and Roses realm (which explores the notion of Gabrielle as Bacchus' Daughter and Xena as Ares' Daughter), Dark Promise is a fun treat for fans of both XWP and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It is a typical day in Sunnydale (well, as typical as you can get at the edge of Hellmouth anyway,) and a mysterious blue eyed stranger (three guesses) arrives in a limo searching for Willow, Buffy's best friend and computer hacker extraordinare. From there, things get very interesting for the Scooby Doo Gang, as well as for our Immortal Warrior and Bard. A fun read.
http://bearblue.150m.com/library/1990s/STO/brose/buffy/willow.html
It’s A Beautiful Life or How Xena Got Her Groove Back by Brulee
Recommended by: Ann Braxton - 12.31.02
Classification: Classic
Sex/Violence Content: Alt
Length: Short Story, 40 Pages - Complete
On this last day of the year 2002 I offer a toast to the proprietor of that wondrous establishment, The Celestial Buffet. Brulee, this latest addition to your menu of entertaining and thoughtful entrees takes the proverbial cake. (OK. Enough)
To savor It’s a Beautiful Life is to recapture many of the good feelings inspired by early Xena and Gabrielle. As for the subtitle, How Xena Got Her Groove Back, well, the story is groovy. Especially the dialogue that is sprightly, clever, and instrumental in moving the story along at a good clip. Ditto Xena’s first-person narrative.
The sub genre stories of the XWP postFIN genre are, as I see it, the sad kind (XWP stays dead and Gabrielle goes on without her, may meet up with another lover, stay by herself, or meet Eve and go on from there); the happy kind wherein XWP returns by various imaginative ways, including reincarnation); and the parody kind which are laugh out loud happy too (love ‘em all).
This story expands the sub genre to include sci fi ala Bab 5 or Star Trek. The strange locale where we first find Xena is a kind of never neverland. Her companion is a “fuzzy, brightly colored pixie with no feet.”
Although Xena was noncorporeal she was still mental so she takes stock of what her life was like and is prepared to do whatever is required in this place. She becomes impatient to DO something, in the process upsetting pixie girl who squeaks: “Do?” “Yes, do”, says Xena. The sprite then tells Xena it’s better she stays put while her case is being processed because’...”I wouldn’t want to lose you. She smiled and giggled a bit.” Later she tells Xena that her data samples seemed “to have been corrupted” because of “an over abundance of extranormal wave activity”. That’s the kind of language we come to expect from glowing pixie. We learn that it was Xena’s experiences with the Olympians that messed with her data samples. A word about this character:
Glowing fuzzy pixie is an earnest and infatuated- with- Xena entity placed in the unfamiliar position of processing this newcomer to the realm of souls. Alerted to the fact that Xena’s energy mass was misdirected, she must find how to remedy this deviation. She’s an adorable entity because of her pixieish behavior and her unrelenting efforts to get Xena to where she recognizes Xena really belongs. At this point she needs to get the advice of her “caseload supervisor”.
So Xena meets her erstwhile mentor Lao Ma (actually a bundle of energy) who eventually enlists Xena as her Real Warrior Princess and gives her a special sword. She sternly reminds Xena that although she kept the name she never really earned it. One of the big shots in this land, Lao Ma knew something bad was afoot. Some guy, the one who misdirected Xena’s data samples, was playing around with a black hole for his nefarious scheme so Xena was needed to reenter Planet Earth in order to stop Gabrielle’s army.
Gabrielle’s army? Heh. Yes. Gabrielle, the Merciful Blade, became a conqueror beloved by all the people because she managed to stop the warring factions and unite them in one army for the greater good. Her further plans were what caused consternation in the land of souls because of the machinations of the bad character mentioned above. As for the Reunion...you have to read to learn about that. I'll just say Gab's pal 'Dite played a significant role in that.
Xena’s time of reentry is fortuitous as she lands in the midst of a battle and saves Gabrielle’s life. A little later, Xena sees a body fall from the sky into a lake and it is.....pixie girl except she is now corporeal and is called Enid. She was sent by Lao Ma to give Xena further instructions and to neutralize a disruptive force.
From beginning to end, Brulee holds your attention because of her artful use of dialogue to move the story along and entertain. Dialogue that can have you in stitches or rubbing your head to figure out what something means. (Xena herself asks for translations from time to time). But it’s fun nevertheless.
...because you can’t help loving that cute fuzzy pixie. She is more than cute; she’s earnest, very serious about her responsibility and very infatuated with Xena (oops, Xena’s fem...that’s... fine energy mass:)
...because the narrative flows smoothly as Xena tells her intriguing story. The suspense we are held in a good part of the way is gradually unraveled and there is a fine twist that is skillfully worked out and believable.
I have tried to present some of the atmosphere of the story but you really need to read Brulee’s words. It’s a lark to read. Especially the interaction between Xena/Pixie/Enid and Gabrielle/Xena before and after the break -through. Enjoy... as I did.
http://members.fortunecity.com/cremebrulee1/wrt2/ibl/ibl1.html
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