(Alt) Uber, novella
 Review by ArdentTly  December 14, 2000

Although this story came out last year, I'm just getting around to reading it now.

Ever find yourself unable to turn the pages of a book fast enough, the feast that good?  Well, you'll find quite a delicious meal with this story.

It takes place in the present time in a world we all have witnessed on the 6:00 news: an important figure has a family that needs protecting from the 'crazies' that want their 15 minutes of fame.  In this story, a senior secret service agent is tasked to guard the daughter of such a man.  Both seem to have quite a bit of emotional baggage as they enter their very strained relationship.  Neither one seems willing to give any more than they have to, fearing to do so makes them vulnerable.  As time passes and their constant exposure to one another is intensified because of death threats, both women see something they need in the other.  Although originally manifested in sexual attraction for one of them, the other is feeling something very akin to love; something neither one ever thought they'd feel again.  Suddenly a duty becomes an honour, and honour a liberation.

I don't think I've ever read anything so enjoyable since Lucifer Rising or Persistence of Memory.  The action is fast paced, the characters well defined, the language and syntax flowing, and the plot riveting. The images created by the author literally jump right off the pages, drawing the reader in until we care about each and every one of the characters.

My only complaint?  It ended much too soon.

http://ausxip.com/fanfiction/a/aboveallhonor.html

General, Uber, To Date: Six stories plus a Companion Piece
Reviewed by: P.D. (wonder12@concentric.net)  August 5, 1999

Sina and Gabby along with their faithful bike Argo take you along on their hilarious childhood adventures.  Vivid imaginations and a love for Xena: Warrior Princess pit the dynamic duo against quarry monsters, a crabby neighbor, solar eclipses, a sleep over, things that go bump in the night, and camp counselors.  Gabby's vivid imagination and Sina's fearlessness and sense of adventure often get the girls into trouble, but their hearts are always in the right place.

Verrath presents a sense of nostalgia as Sina and Gabby become Xena and Gabrielle. Transforming daily life to mythical misadventures.  These feel good stories bring a smile to your face as you watch the girls take on all that life has to throw at them with typical childhood enthusiasm, drama, and friendship.  Sina and Gabby possess many of the traits a familiar mythical duo possess, yet they have their own unique personalities.  Above all, they are best friends who risk everything important - being grounded, missing desert, extra chores - for each other.

The companion piece, "Remember When, Gabrielle?" brings a very grown up Sina and Gabby back together after years of separation.  This is a bittersweet piece that brings the friendship full circle.

Story Index:
http://fan-fic.com/Verrath/index.htm

The Stories:
Tell Me, Gabrielle
http://fan-fic.com/Verrath/tellme/tellme.htm

I'm Bored, Gabrielle
http://fan-fic.com/Verrath/tellme/imbored.htm

What's With The Sun?
http://fan-fic.com/Verrath/tellme/thesun.htm

Pillow Talk
http://fan-fic.com/Verrath/tellme/pillow.htm

We Got Him, Gabrielle!
http://fan-fic.com/Verrath/tellme/wegothim.htm

Summer Slave Camp
http://fan-fic.com/Verrath/tellme/camp.htm

Companion Piece: *please note that this companion piece can be/is classified by indexes as ALT*
Remember When, Gabrielle?
http://fan-fic.com/Verrath/tellme/remember.htm

Alt-Uber NC-14, Novel 135 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 11/21/00

Surprisingly this is the story of 'Alix' a young woman poised on the
brink of adulthood.  She is madly in love with her best friend, and she
bemoans the fact that she has agreed to be her maid of honor at her
wedding.  Enter Valerie, a waitress/bartender Alix meets in a dance
club.  Like a frog on a hot plate, poor Alix doesn't know which way to
hop.

Fresh and funny. I found my self warming to the well crafted characters
and laughing out loud at the unique perspective Alix has as a young
woman in an unusual situation.  I'd almost forgotten what it is like to
be a young adult, this story helped me to remember, I'm so glad I made
it out alive.

http://homepages.go.com/~darkmyst0/Alix.htm

Alt-Uber/Classic NC-17, Novel 234 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 9/29/99

Not since the "Sunne in Scarlet" (Nene Adams) have I read a  Brilliant Dramatic Romance like this one.  Set in the twilight of  the dark ages this wonderful story pulls you along with little effort at all.

An Amazon chooses to leave the land of her birth to follow her lover, a crusader captured on Amazon lands, when he is freed to return to his home.  Their Daughter stands at the portal of two worlds not willing to step fully into either one until a dark assassin comes calling.  And the rest, at least in Dawn Lamanne's "Amazon Awakenings," is history.

http://ausxip.com/fanfiction/a/amazonawake1.html

Alt-Uber/original fiction  PG-13, Short Story 21 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 12/30/00

This is a total contradiction of terms.  So much emotion simply can't be packed into so few words.  Yet it is.  The economy of words that convey the life time of a friendship is what gives beauty and 'realness' to the characters to Melly and Randy.

I recommend a cup of tea (or the comfort beverage of your choice) and box of tissues when you read this one, a sad, feel-good story.  Despite the relative briefness, the reader is left with a feeling of closure that denotes a truly well written short.

http://blmiller.net/room/drama/angel.html

Alt, Uber, Finished, Novelette
Reviewed by laler 10/15/99

The author's special note on "The Seasons Series" reads, "This four part series deals with the quiet sort of courage that it takes to be female and/or gay in today's world."  In the first of her series, Anne Azel delivers exactly what she has promised.

Robbie, an actor/director/playwright, attends her brother's funeral and is taken off-guard when she discovers that she has a sister-in-law and a niece. Since Robbie is the head of her prominent family, she takes it upon herself to make a good impression for the media in regards to the unexpected
additions to her family.  In doing so, Robbie soon imposes on Janet (her new sister-in-law) and Rebecca's (her niece) tranquil lives.  With Janet being the principal at The Bartlett School for the Gifted, and Robbie being a "rude, overbearing, egocentric workaholic," their differing temperaments are staunchly evident and the relationship with the new in-laws is not off to a good start.  But when Janet needs support and a friend, Robbie is the first one Janet turns to, and the first one there for her.  This is a story of a budding romantic relationship filled with courage, dignity, love, and friendship. This is a very enjoyable story that will take you through a range of emotions.

http://xenite.simplenet.com/fanfiction/a/awpart1.html

Alt-Uber Rated R, Novel 767 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 6/27/00

Okay I admit it, when I saw the size of the file for this puppy I almost choked; but you know what?  When I was done (yes I read it in one sitting <g>) I was wishing there was more. Jamie Evans is 'The Girl Next Door.'  She is a junior English major at Berkeley, engaged to Jack Townsend a 3rd year Stanford Law student. She's rich, she's pretty and has her life all plotted out.  She needs an easy 3 hour psych class that fits her schedule: Psychology 197 - The Psychology of the Lesbian Experience.  It's at 8am, no final, just some projects done with a partner.  Perfect.  ...Enter Ryan O'Flaherty.

Pack a lunch, it's a long trip but you'll be glad you went.

http://lynka.simplenet.com/foundmyheart.htm

See also Book 2: Beginnings:
http://lynka.simplenet.com/beginningsonefile.htm

Alt, Uber, Novel, Finished
Recommended by Penumbra (penumbra@clinched.net) November 6, 1999

I'm a sucker for well-written fiction that deals with feudal Japan (must be all the years of Aikido...) and this is, I must say, a story par excellence in that genre.

The first of an ongoing series called KWAIDAN - SUPERNATURAL TALES OF THE FLOATING WORLD, set in the fictional island of Wa, the tale begins with a dreary day for samurai Ichijo Ayumi, retainer to a rather poor daimyo. She loses the purpose of her life but is saved from further shame by a young lady in the imperial court, Fujiwara no Kimiko, a great admirer of the brusque samurai woman and, unwittingly, the cause of an even greather threat to her life and limb. 

The setting is imaginative, bestowing a brilliant, glittering wealth of the customs, dress code and intrigue of palace politics in a society so rigid it has no choice but to be rotten inside. Subterfuge and lust reign in a court where one snide word, one wrong alliance can mean anything from loss of mien to loss of internal organs. The language is rich, the dialogue following the intricate twists and turns of formal parlance of the feodal period, adding yet another touch of authenticity. All I can say is, for a dose of fascinating history and a rollicky exciting story, this is one of the best, most promising new series to see the light of day.

http://www.corrieweb.com/japan/kwaidan1.htm

Alt, Uber, Novella, Finished
Recommended by Penumbra (Penumbra@clinched.net) October 28, 1999

This is amongst the very few fanfiction pieces that have managed to evoke uneasiness and compassion in me. Very dark (I like 'em dark), very sci-fi (excellent!), very Orwellian (always a good thing), this story is a tale of totalitarianism in the future. 

Caroline is fresh, new and idealistic, as well as an employee of a medical facility. The exact nature of the research that is conducted there is unclear to her but her naivete and arduous endeavours to carve out her niche in life don't allow her to see the truth. Not until Elizabeth arrives and Caroline is assigned to her case. In terror, this story is clandestine; in emotions, volatile. Caroline's life comes to a crossroads -- which one will she choose, her future or her independence?

This story evokes images that stay with you for a long time, and for me, it was something refreshingly new since sci-fi Uber is for some reason very rare.

http://ausxip.com/fanfic/judy/battle.html

Alt-Uber Rated R,Novel 512 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 6/27/00

The Annual California AIDS ride is a 500 mile Bicycle trip between S.F. and L.A.  Jamie has been training with Ryan to go in the ride.  They have both had to make sacrifices and learned a lot about themselves and each other in this endeavor.  This novel chronicles their experiences from one end of the ride to the other and the discoveries they make along the way.

Yup, it's another longy, and again it's worth it.  Can't wait for the next one.

http://lynka.simplenet.com/beginningsonefile.htm

See also Book 1: Awakenings:
http://lynka.simplenet.com/foundmyheart.htm

ALT, Uber, Novel (series, first part), Finished
Reviewed by Penumbra (penumbra@clinched.net) Aug 21, 1999

In Victorian London, things are not looking good for Rhiannon Moore. She's reduced to live on the streets and off her body and when, on one dark and deadly night, Jack the Ripper sets his sights on her, all seems to be lost. But in the blink of an eye, Rhiannon's life is both saved and changed by one Evangeline St. Claire, a controversial figure in the upper echelons of the British societal pecking order.

Being an entusiastic fan of 18th centruy literature, this is a dream come true. Sherlock Holmes with a twist, the whole gaslight series (of which this is the first part) portrays Victorian London vividly and accurately, with exciting plots and a charmingly periodical tongue. 

http://www.corrieweb.com/gaslighttitle.htm

Alt - Uberx2 - Novella - Finished
Recommended by Anima 9.10.99

Add two parts Uber (XWP and the film "Dead Again") stir gently, pour over a Los Angeles landscape, and you have "Breaking Chains."

Faith, a private investigator with a specialty in missing persons, is called when a woman with amnesia, and terrifying nightmares, materializes on the doorstep of the convent where Faith was raised. Just as this is an Uber within an Uber, so is it a story within a story. A scandalous, love-gone-wrong murder involving a famous actress (Blythe Dawson, and her lover Josephina Wright) that rocked Los Angeles some fifty years previous, seems to be the key as to why Gabrielle (yup, that's what they decide to call her until she remembers who she is ;~) is having night terrors. And, believe me, these pesky dreams are as bloodcurdling as they are real.

Soon the question begs: Did Josephine kill Blythe? More importantly, will history repeat itself? These are not idle questions, but ones that actively pull us through the story at a crisp, clean pace. You'll care about the back-story as much as the present one because they are so inextricably intertwined.

This story reminds me a little bit of an old-style, mystery-thriller, detective story, especially because this genre has always utilized the Los Angeles landscape as a sort of secondary character. So, especially fun is Rooks taking us around the city. I loved the thrift shop named "Surrender Dorothy";  a fun wink at those of us who know the real "Dorothy's Surrender." Okay, now that I'm done with my little self-indulgence <g>. Do take a peek at this story, it's a terrifically entertaining read.

http://xenite.simplenet.com/fanfiction/b/breaking1.html

Alt, Uber, Finished
Recommended by Lariel  28 November 2000

What are the three essential ingredients for a really good uber? Romance, adventure and mystery? Ghosts, criminals and dodgy sheep farmers? Beautiful scenery, deserted youth hostels and hospitals?

No. For a really good uber, you need a cute but mischievous Dorothy, a tall, dark and grumpy Cowardly Lion and a gangling, Abba obsessed Tin Man. Then, to start it off, you dump our three intrepid heroes (two of whom hate each other on first sight - guess which two?) in the middle of a small Welsh coastal town, with strict instructions to "make your way back here - without using maps or money - in three days time." What could possibly go wrong??

Barbara Davies tells us as the story unfolds, through believable characterisation, great dialogue and solid plotting. Starting off their journey rattling around blindfolded in the back of a transit van, our trial bound threesome painfully make their way through three days of gently humourous adventure as they cut across Snowdonia national park in full fledged Wizard of Oz costumes in the pouring rain. You will have to read the story to find out how they manage to spend a night in a police cell/get squashed three in a bed in a haunted house/end up at hospital with a near fatal case of wasp sting.

And if that wasn't enough, you've got the hesitantly blossoming romance between Charlie (Dorothy) and Jen (the Cowardly Lion) as they fight mutual antagonism, their own libidos, three in a bed romps and communal showers. And not even a kiss in sight..........<g>

http://members.fortunecity.com/midgitbard/break1.htm

Alt-Uber , 37 pages - incomplete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 11/04/99

Every so often I go out surfing the web rings in search of lost treasure that have missed the major indexes and deserve a notice. A very promising new story is "Breaking the Silence" by Eponin.  Although there is only the first four chapters available at this time the writing style is crisp and entertaining. 

Cassiel is fleeing a resent personal tragedy which becomes exacerbated when she discovers a  dangerous family secret.  On the run, she finds herself at a quaint restaurant on the beach operated by a mysterious woman named Jael. 

Jael agrees to hide Cassiel and soon they are beginning to discover each other. 

I look forward to more of this story, and I hope readers who find it as intriguing as I did will encourage the author to post more. 

http://www.amazonbard.com/breaking1.html

Alt, Uber, Unfinished
Reviewed by laler 01.13.00

It may, or may not be, a coincidence when Logan (an award-winning investigative reporter) rescues Frith Buchanan (a computer consultant and ex-Greenpeace worker) from an attack by a security guard outside of the Tall Trees hydroponics complex.  Once Frith reveals that she has stumbled across information that has raised her suspicions about a possible government cover-up that involves the previously quiet complex, she asks for Logan's help in seeking out the truth.

Logan, who has been mysteriously out of circulation for a few months, must call upon her old friends (and possibly her enemies) to find out what is going on behind the gates at Tall Trees.  This doesn't seem to be an easy task because everyone seems to have their own secrets, nor are they readily willing to share them.  As the story unfolds, information is uncovered that points to something larger than Logan, and perhaps even Frith, can imagine.

From the very beginning, Karen Malevich keeps the reader guessing with this erotic thriller.  Karen manages to draw together a very captivating plot that combines sex, suspense, and intrigue in a story that will hold your attention throughout.

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~swimss/index1.htm

Alt-Uber Nc-21 Novella 122 pages
Reviewed by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 8/24/99

Sam is at the end of her rope, leaving home for something new, she finds herself searching her soul in the mirror of the restroom of the Rainbow Bar & Dance Club. Eppi the Manger there befriends the lost young woman triggering a fear of intimacy that spirals down to a nightmare of circumstances

 "Cape of Fear" By Jam is an endearing story about two souls that come crashing together in the worst possible set of circumstances.  I'd love to give you a synopsis but the intrigue that sets the tone of the story is there from the onset.  The only disappointing thing about this story is that there isn't more of it.  I sincerely hope there is a sequel coming soon.

  ...I've heard from the Author, there is a sequel in the works!

http://www.xenafiction.net/scrolls/jam_cof.hts

Alt-Uber  NC-17, Novel 191 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 10/19/99

In a word "Wow".  I have just been on a magical journey and I invite everyone to take the same trip.  "The Chosen One" by Verda.

Ryshta is a land of the ruling class and the slaves that serve them. When Lord Athol sends his only daughter to meet the man he has chosen as her husband, she is caught in the middle of a slave rebellion.  Lost and alone Roslin tries to find her way home.

Brice is the chosen one, foretold to be the leader who will set his people free.  He finds a dying young woman and brings her to his mother, a healer, to save her life.  This sets in motion a tale of love that will that will make your heart soar.

The characters are so full and rich, and the crafting so skillful that you'd swear you just watched a movie.  I do hope that some day Verda decides to breathe life into the yet another tale of Ryshta and the friends I met there.

http://lynka.simplenet.com/chosenone.htm

Alt, Uber, Finished, Novelette
Reviewed by laler 11/16/99

At virtually the last minute, Attorney Claire Easton is taken away from corporate law and is given her first criminal case from Maylor and Moore. Once she reviews and hears the case the prosecutor (Claire's closest friend) has presented to the Judge, she is certain of the outcome of the trial.  So when an unexpected verdict astounds everyone, Claire is resolved to find out exactly what happened.  Soon the attorney finds herself at the Cornerstone Clinic, (which has a contract with the state correctional system) and in the presence of Amanda Greer and Jody Penbrook, founders of the clinic.  As Amanda and Claire start to explore an attraction for each other, other lives are brought into the story to create a plot that will keep you guessing. Advocate and Rsawest have successfully intertwined relationships and events to create a story that shows just how small the world can be.

http://xenafiction.net/scrolls/advocate_rsawest_connections1.hts

ALT, NC17 for violence and sexual situations, UBER, Novella, finished
Recommended by ArdentTly, (ArdentTly@yahoo.com)  December 1, 2000. 

The story is about a tall brunette attorney who finds herself embroiled in a drug deal gone terribly awry.  She and her friend Mark, another lawyer, find themselves unable to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Amongst all the turmoil enters a  psychologist/therapist who not only piques the attorney's interest but her curiosity, too.  Just how does the cute blonde figure into the dark goings on she seems entangled in? While the piece doesn't quite answer all the questions put forward, the plot is well-thought out. Fast paced and filled with wit, humour, danger, drama and hurt/comfort, the reader will find this feast to be one of pure enjoyment.

While in seven parts, the reader won't mind a bit because this piece is that good. Although not terribly graphic, the reader should be aware that there is nudity and sexual situations. This is a finished uber novella with a second story lead in called Crimson Snow, by Advocate. 

http://www.btinternet.com/~a.e.c/con1.htm

Alt-Uber Pg-14, Novel 121 pages Complete
Recommended by Rocky(shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 08.31.01

I feel like I've just watched the pilot for a new TV show and I am sorely disappointed that it wasn't picked up by one of the networks. "The Coward" has to be the most fun I've had reading a Mystery, Action/Adventure, Buddy Story/Romance--Comedy. ( There's really no other way to describe it.)

Nikki Takis spots two bouncers trying unsuccessfully to oust a nosey PI from the club she's patronizing.  Impressed by the spectacle, she tries to hire the said PI when extortionists threaten her employment.  The PI doesn't take her seriously until she collapses on her front step.

Terri Farmer is a Jane of all trades Private Investigator, She wants for nothing and has a strong love of her own personal space.  She takes what she thinks is going to be a simple Body Guarding job only to find herself nose deep in Blonde Greek/American  trouble.

It's not too long.  It's not too short.  No, it's juuuust right.

http://www.merwolf.com/academy/fanfic/m/mark_annetts_tc1.html

OR...

http://home.iprimus.com.au/kirsten_c/coward1.htm

Alt, Uber, Finished, Novelette
Reviewed by laler

In this sequel to "Connections", Claire has thrown herself into her new job as a prosecutor and Amanda continues her practice at the Cornerstone Clinic. When Amanda realizes that one of her patients is acting inappropriately during his sessions with her (by misinterpreting their therapist/client relationship), she has to terminate the counseling sessions.  Unbeknownst to Amanda, the patient has developed a psychotic obsession with her.  As the obsession grows, friends and family become a factor until we are treated to a thrilling outcome.

During this engaging story, Advocate effectively shows us with humor and compromise how Amanda and Claire are learning to deal with their relationship.  Including most of the same characters from "Connections", Advocate has created a riveting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

http://xenafiction.net/scrolls/advocate_cs1.hts

uber/general/short story/finished
Reviewed by Viv (viviandarkbloom@hotmail.com) 7-11-00

Quick, look for snowballs! Because I thought hell might freeze over before I would ever review a "general" and not alternative story. But damned if this piece did not prove me wrong.

I started reading this story because of the title alone-it's from a Walt Whitman poem. In fact, Anon uses-quite liberally and to marvelous effect-many passages from Whitman's "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" as well as "Leaves of Grass" in this small tale of an emotionally traumatized woman who is riding the ferry just to forget her troubles, her destination unknown even to herself. But once on board she meets a kind yet familiar stranger, someone who may turn out to be the best friend she's ever had.

Whitman's lyricism really infuses this story; rather than detracting or distracting one from Anon's graceful, moving writing, his poetry seems to inspire it. It's like a dance, done with consummate skill as well as both love and empathy for the characters.

http://www.caveofchoirs.org/stories/fanfic/xenaff/ferry.htm

Uber ALT Finished
Recommended by Bedbard (bedbard@hotmail.com)  03/14/01

A refreshing take on our two favorite women. Sunstar the Elven Princess and Nightshade a Dark Elf, find themselves running from the bad guys leading into what begins as an uneasy trust and into something much more. Violence and sexual innuedo abound in this tale. Not for the faint of heart or young readers, but certainly worth the read for the stout heart and the adults.

http://tiggsxenapage.com/XenaVerse/JF/DarkElf1.htm

Alt/Screenplay/Uber/Unfinished
Reviewed by Viv (lat18@columbia.edu) 1/14/00

One of the funniest ubers I've ever read, "DC" is set, natch, in Washington, DC. A dour Secret Service agent, Zora Dexter, is assigned watch over the new president's daughter, a horny, skirt-chasing, politically incorrect cokehead named Nellie Corrigan.  Talk about a rough road to romance! On one level it's pure fun, as we watch Nellie incessantly bait Zora with a barrage of come-ons, insults, and generally outrageous behavior (and on occasion the no-nonsense Zora gives as good as she gets).  However, the characters--both lead and supporting--are fleshed out so well that it's not just two-dimensional and sitcom-like. At times (well, really, most of the time) Zora and Nellie seethe in their frustrated attempts to communicate honestly with each other and the result is a painfully accurate modern romance. And, as a bonus, we get sexy KGB twins too! What more could you want out of uber, Natasha? Moose and Squirrel?

http://members.aol.com/Radigund/DCP.html

Alt, Uber, Novel, Finished (parts 1-12)
Reviewed by Yernod (Yernod@aol.com)  [8/4/99/] 10/19/99

The seemingly disparate worlds of television news, professional golf and small-town romance merge delightfully in M. Ryan's uber story "The Deal." After a moment of anger almost ends her promising career, news director Laura Kasdan is forced to cut a deal to save her job: give up the high-profile Dallas market for lowly Burkett Falls, where if all goes well, she will redeem herself and earn the chance to return to Texas. Intent on making the best of a bad situation, "Kaz" is pleasantly surprised by the quality of the local station, especially the talent of reporter-turned-anchor Christine Hanson. Against her better judgment, Kaz finds the ruling passions of her life -- work and golf -- expanding to include the determined and charming young woman.

Though fully utilizing familiar aspects of Xena and Gabrielle, Ryan continues the welcome trend in recent uber fiction of creating original characters and situations, as opposed to simply updating or re-telling X:WP canon. Kaz and Chris are both smart and likable, and their personalities are well defined; even better, they are supported by well-developed secondary characters. Most impressive, however, is Ryan's ability to make the plot and storyline surrounding the lead duo every bit as interesting as their moving romance. Whether it's the frantic pace of the newsroom, the ins and outs of golf, or simply an accurate look at life in a small town, first-time author M. Ryan makes each aspect of her story credible and compelling.

http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Satellite/6813/TheDeal1.html

Alt-Uber, 243 pages - incomplete
Reviewed by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) [08/16/99] 11/02/99 12/18/00

Some really great Uber happening here.  "Debts" by Alecto is well constructed and easy to read.

When Taylor Williams is sent out to work as an assistant to the reclusive Jack McDermott the last thing she expected was the most stubborn person she ever met.  As she struggles to fit in with the large McDermott clan, life steals up behind her and grabs her by the heart. Though it's not finished it's definitely one to watch for.

http://alectostavern.com/Debts1.htm

Alt- Uber Pg-13, Novel 205pages incomplete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) [9/19/99] 11/02/99

Looking for something a little different?  Here's an incomplete Uber serial about the  American Military called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  by D.R.

A young recruit suffers through boot camp only to discover that her  former Drill Sergeant has transferred to her first posting.  I enjoyed  following along as their relationship is twisted and turned by events  that can only be blamed on the fates.  I guess you can't call it a page  turner, anymore so I'd dub it a scroller that leaves you wanting more.

http://www.fortunecity.com/rivendell/hobgoblin/688/fiction/dadt.htm

Uber/Vignette, Finished
Reviewed by Yernod (Yernod@aol.com) 8/17/99

One of the latest offerings from prolific author Wishes, this beautiful little vignette reveals a master's touch despite a deceptively simple style. "The Edge of the World" is a story of survival and choices, beginning with the fateful decision to put the women and children passengers of a doomed, sinking ship into the only lifeboat and launch them into the night. Long-presumed dead, a chance sighting leads to their rescue, and the women and children leave the island that has been their home for the past three years -- three years that might as well have been an eternity, for the changes time has wrought.

As her nameless characters offer few details of their ordeal (one woman, asked how they survived, replies only that "they did what needed to be done"), so does the author reveal her clues sparingly. The economy of words, however, suits the story, and enhances its appeal.

If "The Edge of the World" were a painting, it would be a collaboration between artist and viewer; in sure, swift strokes, Wishes has provided the canvas and the characters, while leaving the viewer (or reader) to complete the portrait, filling in the shadows and adding the background to his or her satisfaction. Though "Edge" takes only a few minutes to read, you'll likely ponder its characters and your own interpretation of them for some time.

http://xenite.simplenet.com/fanfiction/t/theedge.html

Alt-Uber  NC-17,  Novel 451 pages Complete
Reviewed by Rocky(shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 7/14/01

I have to admit that it took me three tries to start reading this story.  I was still bummed out...  (Gee I wonder why?)  and I wanted something light and flakey to take my mind off  things.  Three must be the charm, because am I ever glad that I sat myself down and said to myself: "Self, you know how much you like nice long juicy ubers.  Leave the shorts alone for a bit and try to get into this epic."  I think I should listen to myself more often!

Bailey has spent nearly all of her life in the pocket of a government agency because they hold a sword of Damocles over her life.  She has found some measure of peace for the past few years when the beast stirs again and she must demonstrate to them why she 'always' wins.  In the meantime Piper sees a side to this 'Princess of Darkness' that no one else can and with gentle care, helps her boss to see new possibilities.

This long tale is a bit disjointed in the beginning but if you can stick with it for the first few pages and especially if you read the whole thing; the beginning will make perfect sense.  The plot is complex and clever, the characters are multifaceted and interesting and the villains are original and believable.  The ending was solidly satisfying, unlike the thing that had bummed me out in the first place.  Excellent read, thank you Kiera!

http://www.merwolf.com/academy/fanfic/k/kiera_wraith1.html

Alt-Uber NC-17 ; Novel 569 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) Jan 21, 2001

Stephanie Grant is young, in a relationship and starting a new job as a history professor.  A picture postcard of today's modern woman.  The only thing that could make this less than the ideal, is the arrogant,chain-smoking slob she has to share an office with.

Allison Kendell was hard core, stone cold lawyer.  Life tried to make her crash and burn but she took a ninety degree turn away from the power and the money into the sedate and quiet world of a small college.  She didn't want or need any complications in her  existence but fate has other ideas that end up twisting her around like a cork screw.

This is one of those wonderful stories that I could cheerfully crawl into and live.  The characters are so full of life that they burst right off of the page/monitor.  The plot is intelligent with a secondary counterpart that could easily be a delicious story all on it's own, and the love scenes are steamy and breath taking.  I could go on and on, but I doubt I could do it justice.  I don't just recommend you read it, I insist.

http://tiggsxenapage.com/XenaVerse/Mavis/Finding1.htm

Uber - Alt - Short Story - Finished
Recommended by Anima 10.5.99

Two, two, two bards in one! And two of my fav bards at that! Am I dreaming? Quick, some one pinch me. Lower. ;~)

Stash is a paranoid, sneering, experimental artiste. Carson is a horny, neurotic, hair consultant. They both have skeletons in their closet that no one in their right mind would claim! Immediately their paths cross and the stalking, er, I mean the hair consulting begins. Underscore this with a supporting cast which includes senior stylist Paolo (bitchy and too fabulous for anyone's own good-God, I love Paolo) and a cameo by Linda Fucking Tripp, and what do you have? Oh my dears, you have pure pop-melodrama of GIGANTIC proportions! A must-be-read-to-be-believed story that left this reader yearning for Chia art, tatted undies, and "down there" hair art.

Now, just because I am president of the Stash and Carson Fan Club does not mean I have *no* objectivity in this matter. I can honestly say, with complete detachment, that like Stash's Chia art, this story will grow on you. So, let us all join hands and sing of Stash and Carson. Let us light our Uber candles at the altar of LN and Viv. Let the cult begin.

http://www.squonk.net/users/lnjames/hair.htm

Alt, Uber, Short Story, Finished
Recommended by Penumbra (penumbra@clinched.net) October 19, 1999

This story simply defies my archive of applicable adjectives. Or rather, it utilises all of the good ones, leaving me with scroungy ones like "good" or "fabulous" that are, quite obviously, way too 
one-dimensional to give this story the credit it deserves.

OK, we have here two of the funkiest, funniest writers in Xenaverse, switching into parody mode, sowing similes that absolutely defy the grammar of the English language, creating two characters as wild as their creators. Read this story, just for the heck of it, or for a mind ride no amount of good weed can provide; this is all I can say to do justice to this story. Bring your own Cheetos.

Fab, darlin'. Ta.

http://www.squonk.net/users/lnjames/hair.htm

Novel Uber - Alt - Finished
Reviewed by laler 10/29/99

When Police Officer Desiree "Dez" Reilly responds to an emergency call, she has her first encounter with Jaylynn Savage.  When Jay's eyes first meets Dez's, she instantly feels a connection with the officer, so much so that Jay sets off to join the St. Paul Police Academy.  Although Dez senses a connection, she is not up to addressing her feelings.  Put a gruff veteran police officer and a rookie who wears her heart on her sleeve together as partners and they are bound to clash in both their public and private lives.

Lorelei does a wonderful job of taking us through the days and nights of these two officers while showing us how their lives slowly intertwine causing them to become reliant on one another.  While letting the main relationship develop, Lorelei also creates a story that encompasses outside relationships with friends and family, evoking an atmosphere that has a wonderful sense of comfort and belonging.

http://ausxip.com/fanfiction/g/gunshy1.html

General, Uber,  parody, finished PG -13
Recommended by Taleweaver (taleweaver@hotmail.com) March 20 2001

 Although this is an older story, written in January of 1999, it is in no way lessened. "Heroes" is a parody of the popular show "Cops" and without a doubt, it's a gas!

Xena and Gabrielle pursue a warlord in true "Cops" fashion, and it's a chase for your funnybone, believe me. There are so many gems in this story that I can't share too many without giving away the story, but here is just a glimpse of Joanna's sense of humor...

Xena (shouting): "We're in pursuit! Do your thing Gabrielle!"
Gabrielle starts imitating a siren as they chase the warlord.

 With Joanna's bardic record,she could probably take a grocery list and have it emerge as a side splitter. With a foot chase, a helpful warlord who appears to be a henbane dealer and a dumpling stop for our heroes, I feel I should warn you not to drink anything while you read this. So put down the danish and coffee and enjoy Joanna's "Heroes". This story can be found at

http://cousinliz.com/fanfic/joanna_h.html

Alt-Uber NC-17 Novel 353 pages - Complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 02/19/00

Move over Annie there's a new blood in town!  I have to admit that this one had me hooked from the get-go.  Don't let the size of it scare you off I flew through this one, and am eagerly seeking more.  Please Jp, I sure hope the next book is well on it's way 'cause I can hardly wait!

Yoshima Miakoda is a Hunter, protector of the innocent, slayer of vampires.  The product of nearly a millennium of living after being adopted by Japanese parents.  All that she has come to believe in is
rudely turned upside down in the form of a Gallery worker named Clarion Larieux.  Their meeting is unusual to say the least, as Yoshi saves Clarion from the grasp of a gang of vampires. Yoshi has a hidden past...  but so does Clarion.

The subtle dance these two weave around each other is fun, fast paced, and enthralling.  Even non-goth fans will enjoy this one.

http://www.whitefearn.com/jp/hunter1.htm

Alt-Uber Rated R, Novel 767 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 6/27/00

Okay I admit it, when I saw the size of the file for this puppy I almost choked; but you know what?  When I was done (yes I read it in one sitting <g>) I was wishing there was more. Jamie Evans is 'The Girl Next Door.'  She is a junior English major at Berkeley, engaged to Jack Townsend a 3rd year Stanford Law student. She's rich, she's pretty and has her life all plotted out.  She needs an easy 3 hour psych class that fits her schedule: Psychology 197 - The Psychology of the Lesbian Experience.  It's at 8am, no final, just some projects done with a partner.  Perfect.  ...Enter Ryan O'Flaherty.

Pack a lunch, it's a long trip but you'll be glad you went.

http://lynka.simplenet.com/foundmyheart.htm

See also Book 2: Beginnings:
http://lynka.simplenet.com/beginningsonefile.htm

Alt-Uber Rated R,Novel 512 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 6/27/00

The Annual California AIDS ride is a 500 mile Bicycle trip between S.F. and L.A.  Jamie has been training with Ryan to go in the ride.  They have both had to make sacrifices and learned a lot about themselves and each other in this endeavor.  This novel chronicles their experiences from one end of the ride to the other and the discoveries they make along the way.

Yup, it's another longy, and again it's worth it.  Can't wait for the next one.

http://lynka.simplenet.com/beginningsonefile.htm

See also Book 1: Awakenings:
http://lynka.simplenet.com/foundmyheart.htm

Alt - Uber Pg-13; 77 pages Novella; complete
reviewed by  Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 8/16/99

This is a complete story in two parts with lots of room for a Sequel. 

A lonely girl ( Holly ) in a small town bumps into ( Robin ) a Gypsy trucker, who steps in to rescue her from a abusive father and a unwanted suitor. Well written on an original theme.  This is a sweet little Uber that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.  I for one, hope there's going to be more!

http://members.tripod.lycos.nl/ElysianBards/itywm.html

ALT, Uber, Novella, Finished
Reviewed by Penumbra (penumbra@clinched.net) Aug 17, 1999

Viv's White Trash Trilogy is an outstanding piece of mind-numbing, ridiculously funny Uber parody in itself, and in this sequel to such classics as "Love and Death in the Trailer Park", our Uber-gals Zina and Gabrielle are at it again. You got it all: Gabrielle's fetish on Zima's fireman's helmet and her Avengers flashbacks; Zina's exes and the resulting happy get-together in the spirit of ice skating; a missing puppy and resulting brouhaha....

Be prepared. Don't eat anything and especially don't consume Miller Lite while reading this baby here.

http://rampages.onramp.net/~ccgddos/txm/pocatelo.htm

Alt-Uber PG-13 Novella 58 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 06/28/01

In one of the dimensions of the land of Uber, there is an ancient house that sits high above a sandy beach.  In this lofty abode there dwells, Creed, Helga and Jackie.  One is a dog, one is a young woman, ...and one is a ghost.  This unlikely trio learn to exist together under odd and sometimes funny circumstances.

I loved everything about this story, it's originality, the easy comfortable way that it is told, and the way everything is left more or less to faith.  There are no big secrets laid bare, no truly violent events; rather it is the tale of a redemption without all the usual trappings, although no less heroic.

A light, enjoyable tale that left me, entertained and satisfied.

http://www.forevaxena.com/fanfictiondelights/fanfic/jfalconer/istlaid/iveseenthelightanditsdark.html

Alt-Uber-finished
Recommended by odd bird (odd-bird@webtv.net) 10/22/99

Kill Shot left me wanting more and completely satisfied at the same time. It is a thrilling and riveting read involving an assasin and her intended target. To tell more would take all the fun out of it. I enjoyed everything about this story-the writing style, the reversal of uber archetypes, the plot twists, the ending and the fact that I couldn't stop reading until I finished it.

http://ausxip.com/fanfiction/k/killshot1.html

Alt/Uber/Short Story
Review by Viv (lat18@columbia.edu) 10-25-99

On the surface, "Kill Shot" resembles a standard uber thriller: Corey is an embittered, emotionally vulnerable assassin, and Jill-her intended target-is a sweetly naïve bookstore manager.  But before you can scream "couples therapy!"  the story grabs you by the throat, courtesy of a sleek, complex (yet readily understandable and entirely believable) narrative with shifting perspectives and effective flashbacks,  plot twists, great dialogue, and a writing style so tight you could bounce a dime off it-indeed, in the fanfic world, Lela's writing is the Gab's Abs (as opposed to the bee's knees).  Did I just say that? Ignore me now, and go read.or else I'll put a contract out on you.

http://ausxip.com/fanfiction/k/killshot1.html

Alt-Uber, 261 pages, complete 
Review by Taleweaver ( taleweaver1@home.com )  2001-07-13 

I enjoyed 'Madame President' for a variety of reasons. Devlyn Marlowe is an openly gay woman who just happens to be a mother and the President of the United States in the year 2020. She is brave, dedicated and tireless. When she decides to have her biography written, she chooses her favourite writer to do it. Lauren Strayer is a talented novelist with a couple of biographies under her belt already, and puzzled by the President's proposal. But the fact that Lauren voted for Devlyn's opponent doesn't bother the President one bit. After much negotiating, Lauren accepts the job and moves into the White House. I won't ruin the plot for you but I will tell you that this large novel quickly lodged itself in my favourites list. We are taken along as silent passengers on a journey that is filled with tenderness, bravery, strength, vulnerability and integrity. We are given an intimate look at the President's family, introduced to an ugly and amorous dog, and shown that it IS possible to achieve our dreams. This story became a favourite for all the reasons above, but also because the characters (right down to a specific Secret Service Agent) are downright unforgettable. 

You won't regret reading this one! 

http://ausxip.com/fanfic13/mp.html 

Uber, ALT, Novella, Finished
Recommended by Angharad Governal  15 Sept 1999

Take one part popular culture, two parts XWP, add a healthy dose of intelligently wicked, side-splitting humor, spread liberally with excellent writing, put it in a blender, hit frappe, and you get one of the best Uber series in  Xenaverse fan fiction - "The White Trash Series" by Vivian Darkbloom. Mayonnaise and Its Discontents, the third novella in the series, takes readers on a laugh out loud romp in the lives of Zina Amphipolitti and Gabrielle Hockenberry as they endure one of America's most beloved (and hated) collective experiences, "The Summer Vacation". Darkbloom gives a subtle nudge and wink to the show, and American popular culture,  that are equal parts endearing, insightful, and pee-in-your-pants-funny. Along this mad, irreverent peek in the lives of our uberesque heroines, adventures ensue involving classic cars, old rivals, drinking, drugs, flashbacks, and as the title suggests, mayonnaise. 

(Suffice it to say that you should read the entire "White Trash" series, and for that matter, read the entire Darkbloom "canon", which ranges from the insane humor of the "White Trash" series to the poignant musings of  "Venezia".) 

http://rampages.onramp.net/~ccgddos/txm/maid.htm

Alt-Uber PG-13 Novella - 142 pages complete
Reviewed by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 8/20/99

Theater is the setting for this on again, off again romance...  Standard Uber fare with a twist.

Jen is the stage manager for a chaotic production of Shakespeare's "Much Ado about Nothing".  She wins the right to take Lauren ( an actress ) home, in a poker game.  These two dance around each other until Jen's crew decide to give cupid a hand.  Poto's style is easy on the eyes and fun to read.

http://xenite.simplenet.com/fanfiction/m/muchado.html

Alt - Uber Sci Fi - Novella - Finished
Recommended by Anima 9.4.99

I admit, I'm a sucker for those adult Anime stories. If you are too, then this will be a real treat. I had no problem imagining the whole thing animated, and I must admit, I would truly love to see it done!

Wilder has created a story with sexy characters and a provocative predicament. Set in the distant future and in another world altogether, Uber Gab is Princess Sarika and Uber Xena is Major Ramsey. There is intrigue aplenty, as the evil Elder Tai-Po sets out shortly after the suspicious death of Sarika's mother, to usurp the Princess' position by marrying her and taking over the empire as her Protector.

Onto the scene comes Major Ramsey, an outsider from a distant world, who is immediately enslaved by Tai-Po. In a world where slavery is a common part of life, Ramsey is a rebellious troublemaker that Tai-Po sees as an enemy. And escalating matters, Princess Sarika, upon her first heated glimpse of Ramsey, believes the dark woman is destined to be her true mate and Protector.

Deliciously compounding the situation, Princess Sarika is entering her time to mate and has a real, er, *need* to bond. <g> To not join with her mate by the prescribed time, would be physically dangerous for the young princess. So, she must find a way to convince Ramsey, the proud outsider who has been forced to wear the collar of the slave by the Princess' most persistent and powerful suitor, to become her mate and Protector.

Wilder has imagined a world that is romantic, sexy, colorful and loads of fun. Truly animation for the mind!

http://story.simplenet.com/myprote1.htm
http://www.sff.net/people/SapphicVoices/scifi/protect1.html

Alt-Uber Rated R, Novel 180 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 9/29/99

Is there something in the water?  I don't know, but some of the fiction that is coming out of the wood work is so good, I almost feel like I'm stealing by reading it for free!  Please feed the bards, they are crafting these wonderful tales in a labour of love and your notes are their only payment.

Is Uber?  I've read it twice now and I still can't be sure.  What it is, is excellent!  Wakar's "The Mystery of the Forbidden Attic" is a one sitting read in that once you start you won't want to stop.  So take the phone off the hook, lock the door and enjoy this engrossing tale of love in many forms.

Vanessa has just lost her best friend and begins to question where her life is headed.   What started out as boredom relief in the form of charity coils steadily down into a mystery that not even peeking to the last page will help, you simply have to sign on for the whole ride.

http://www.sff.net/people/SapphicVoices/fantasy/motfa1_5.html

UBER, ALT, short story, finished
Reviewed by angharad governal  08 October 2000

There are certain moments in the lives of readers, a moment where the sentiment and politics of words fall away, and all is left is clarity.  It is the blindingly clear understanding of the joy and beauty of words.  Moments like these are points of conversion and re-conversion.  It is where, as readers, we fall in love with the possibility of language.  It turns us from mere ordinary readers into lovers of words.  We become enamored by the possibility of the written text.  Happy in our delirium, we hope (for the first time or for the hundredth) that the sickness will be life-long and incurable.

For many of us, this incredible feeling of the magnificent possible of the world of written language -- that feeling of clarity -- comes very rarely.  We read voraciously, hoping, amid the mountain of letter and sound, grammar and syntax, verb, noun, adjective, and adverb to experience that moment of unadulterated beauty once more.  I, as a happy sufferer and lover of words, am pleased to announce that I have experienced that fleeting moment of beauty in the most unlikely of places -- fan fiction.  And the name of that glimpse into the possible is, "A Narcoleptic's Guide to Romance" by Vivian Darkbloom. 

Darkbloom's use of language has always astounded me.  She is best known for her comedic writing -- the oft-praised, "White Trash / Trailer Park" series. However, it is with her more "serious" and "thought-provoking" work that highlights her immense talent for the written word.  "Narcoleptic" is a bittersweet reflection of the possible, the "might haves" and "should haves" that permeate life.  Readers will note that the tale is tinged with a sense of paralyzing bitterness and fear ;  indeed, this sense of paralysis -- reflected in the title -- is manifested by its two main characters, Danny and Kate.  Both characters are thoroughly complex and infuriatingly human.  Their faults and foibles are laid bare on the screen for all the world to see. 

The brevity of this tale, this brief glimpse into the lives of two very flawed individuals, is in part, what makes it all the more extraordinary.  Readers are thrown into the midst and mindset, of the attitudes and insanity, of the world of Danny and Kate, with such a force, speed, and beauty that boggles the senses. It is catharsis -- the purging of passionate emotions through art -- at its very best.

http://viviandarkbloom.tripod.com/narco.htm

Alt-Uber NC-17, Short Story 24 pages Complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 07/28/01

I love Vampire stories (I've even written one or two of them that will probably never see the light of day. <g>) These days, there seems to be a plague of bad, bad, bad fang and blood stories and it's a thrill to find one that is well written and not tired and clichéd.

This story while short, is full and rich and the author had left lots of room for further tales of Alaina MacKenzie and Lindsey Carrington. (Yes, damn it! that's a hint)

Got a few minutes and you've a hankering for a love story with a little 'bite' to it?  Then this one is for you.

http://www.amazontrails.com/fiction/obsession.htm

Alt - Uber, Finished, Short story
Reviewed by Anima   8.7.99

This fine piece follows the characters in Penumbra's KINK SERIES. Ghis finds herself ruminating about recent events (an unconventional marriage ceremony of sorts) and mulling over the why of it all. It's a moment of reflection that's filled with sensory imagery that's hard to shake long after you've put the story down. Most striking is the constant, and vivid, gentleness within the dynamics of this relationship, that when juxtaposed with the painful ritual invoked in their joining, creates an almost poetic dichotomy. How does this happen, you wonder? Well, as Ghis learns through her own pondering, perhaps it's not important to understand, or to know why it all works so seamlessly . It just does.

http://www.clinched.net/umbrae/scrolls/occamsrazor.html

Alt - Uber, Novel, Finished
Reviewed by Anima   8.7.99

When Rosalind Olchawski is set up on a blind date that takes her to a drag night at a trendy local gay bar, the last thing she expects is to ditch her boring blind date for the handsome drag king performing that night. Taryn and Ros enter each other's lives and re-create each other's world. But the enigmatic Rhea turns out to be a piece of the puzzle that must be solved in order for them to find enduring happiness.

Prose that has moments when it reads like poetry, Smitty remains true to the back-story of XWP, which is sure to please Uber fans. At the same time, she creates something totally original that is compelling reading in or out of the ff realm. This is a book I would pick up off the shelf of my local bookstore for the drag king aspect alone.

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Field/8093/Drag1.htm

Alt, Uber/Immortal, story completed. I give this tale an R rating.
Recommended by Taleweaver (taleweaver_@excite.com) December 9/2000

WARNING:    This is a very adult story containing drug use, rape, homelessness, murder, bribery and love making of the same sex persuasion. In short, a graphic dose of reality. That said, it is a wonderful story and definitely worth the read.

 "Only One" seems at first glance to be a harsh tale if the warning above is taken literally.  But for those who are willing to venture further, it soon becomes a captivating read. Its central character is an immortal Xena who makes a living as a private investigator in Portland, Oregon. Not where I would expect Xena to be. But the setting is not as important to the story as the characters. The Xena portrayed in "Only One" is a complex, mysterious individual. She is deep, fierce and lonely, with an ages-old yearning for a soul mate that passed over long before. She is just as strong and determined as we have seen her painted by other fan fiction writers, but in this tale she has a cockiness about her that only adds to the character's depth But with that depth comes a frightening darkness that rings true to the never completely vanquished brutality of RenPics Xena.

We find a reincarnated Gabrielle in a street kid named Ricky. She looks like Xena's beloved, has an appetite of similar caliber and can find trouble just as easily as the bard of old. This golden haired storyteller however, is a witness to not one, but two murders and while under Xena's protection finds herself drawn to the ageless warrior. They both have their own demons and attractions to overcome and accept, and throughout the tale find themselves drawn to one another.

 Discovery, trust and renewed faith are the truly captivating elements of this tale, and what kept me reading long into the night when I knew I should have been asleep in bed. The two women must battle much more than what they expect when someone from Xena's past comes calling. Once again Xena must pull off the impossible and unexpected, and I was impressed by how smoothly Redhawk accomplishes this. No jerky dialogue, no over-use of flashbacks, just a well-written solid tale that was a joy to read. Yes, "Only One" does have it's darker elements, but this a Xena tale after all. Because the tale is set in modern day Oregon, and focuses to some extent on the life of a street kid, it is not all roses and chocolate. It is gritty, has nasty moments, down right blood chilling scenes at times but is very much worth the read. If you've got the constitution to get through the darker moments and enjoy reading "Immortal" tales, (which are quickly becoming a genre all their own in fan fiction) then this is the story for you. When you come to the end and realize you want to see more of these two characters you may breathe easy, there is a sequel. Redhawk has been kind enough to write "Oktoberfest", in which Xena and Ricky go to Europe for the famous festival. But that is another story, and another review! This tale should not be missed! 

I may be reached for discussion or debate at taleweaver@hotmail.com

http://members.spree.com/romance/dmredhwk/Only/One1.html

Alt, Uber, Unfinished
Reviewed by laler 11.30.99

When the band Sam is a member of performs at her older sister's twenty-fifth reunion, she gets a chance to meet Tina Mellekas.  Having been fascinated by Tina in her high school years, Sam is determined to find out what she is really like.  Tina, having been away for ten years, is not the easiest person to get to know.  Simply by Sam offering her friendship, the walls around Tina start to crumble.  As Tina starts to open herself up, it reinforces what Sam already knows: Tina is the one!

This is a refreshing portrait of two women who have to deal with age and the side effects that come with it whether it is a few extra pounds, gray hairs, or weakening eyesight.  Jenah shows how during the process of discovering a relationship, a person can become comfortable with someone else beyond their own expectations.

http://www.fortunecity.com/rivendell/hobgoblin/688/fiction/r1.htm

Alt - Uber - Vignette - Finished
Recommended by Anima 9.4.99

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://story.simplenet.com/thepaint.htm
http://lynka.simplenet.com/painting.htm

Uber - Alt -Novella -Finished
 Reviewed by Laler    8.4.99

When the Director of the Pendragon Cove Musician's Seminar has to suddenly depart, he leaves Bethany Tredinnick in charge of the annual event. Bethany, a woman who is trapped in a small town and its narrow mentality, finds herself having to look after the maestros and their students.  This includes the fragile maestro Claudia Holbrook, a woman who is still grieving from recent losses. She is an  accomplished English violinist who has reluctantly agreed to teach at the seminar at the last minute.

Set in the picturesque Cornish countryside, Barbara Davies creates a beautiful, tranquil atmosphere as a backdrop for theses two women who are drawn together. It's a developing relationship that teaches the grieving violinist and the small town volunteer how to deal with their past, present, and future.

http://members.fortunecity.com/midgitbard/cove1.htm

Alt-Uber  Not rated as yet, Novel 117 pages - incomplete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 02/03/00

From out of the blue comes a heart rending story of love in its purest form.  Chris is a special person who has been given many special skills to make up for a quiet, simple mentality.  She meets a hard boiled lawyer, who discovers that she too has inadequacies in her life that Chis helps her to fill.

This mismatched friendship is a joy to experience as two people help each other discover and surmount the things missing in their lives. This is not your run of the mill Uber, it is a delicate love story with lush, vibrant characters who will sit in the back of your mind long after the reading is done!

My hat is off to J. C. for surprising me in the most marvelous of ways.

http://story.simplenet.com/perfect1.htm

alt/uber/novel/finished
Reviewed by Viv (viviandarkbloom@hotmail.com) 5/4/00

I liked this story because it has all sorts of nasty stuff in it, and for some reason that appeals to me. (And while it may also be appealing to psychoanalyze me, I think reading the story would be far more entertaining.) It has guns, drugs, violence, murder, sex, more violence, and a cynical, hard-boiled narrator named Charlie who is trying to protect a cute rich bitch named Wade from forces unknown, and to get the bothersome girl to the safety of her nefarious, corrupt but (one assumes) loving daddy. An unforeseen death and a certain black book add to the complications. The writing is smart and funny; it's a good read and worth ignoring the work piled on your desk.

http://story.simplenet.com/practica.htm

Alt - Uber - Novel - Finished
Reviewed by laler 9.27.99

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

Alt/Uber  PG13  Finished
Reviewed  by Kamouraskan (Kamouraskan@yahoo.com) 03/09/00

Easily one of the most prolific bards in the Xenaverse, Willowluvyr is known for the broad spectrum that is covered by her Ubers, as well as the multitude of them. Though in my opinion some of her pieces are pretty rough, in this story she has seemlessly worked her narrative style into an authentic Early American voice, which combined with realistic characters, and a multitude of true and imagined details, makes this a wonderful read.

The story is told by Mar, Warrior Eyes, a female Mountain Man who is hired to escort a group of Mormons which, of course, happens to include a spunky strawberry-blonde. Their meeting, the gradual growth of trust changing to romance, is the core of this story. But it is the details, real and invented, and the exceptional recreation of the old aboriginal and western world, that really is the star. This story is perfect for the lover of the western, of strong well defined characters, and of excellent storytelling.

http://xenafiction.net/scrolls/willowluvyr_rr1.hts

Uber, ALT,  Finished 
Recommended by Lariel  2nd February 2001 

Regret, loss, goodbye...the flavours of a lost soul as it stands at the edge of the world, saying its farewells to the life and the love that it once knew. This is a beautifully crafted and poignantly written story, one that will make your heart weep at the lost love that seeps from every aching memory that the narrator relives. What else can a splintered soul do, but take to the highway on a bike and run from its past, its memories, its pain? 

But what happens when the journey is finally over? Jordan sets a scene for us that has us assuming we know the answer here - its obvious, the narrator is missing a lost love. Suicide seems their only option. And just when we think we have it straight, the whole premise of this story is turned upside down, and we realise how wrong we’ve been. And then it comes - the anger, the resentment...the sacrifice...of love wrenched from each others arms for the greater good. 

http://www.tingleywebcreations.com/forevaxena/fanfictiondelights/fanfic/jfalconer/requiem.html

Alt-Uber PG-13 Novel- 447 pages- complete
Reviewed by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) [8/20/99] 11/02/99

This one picks you up and never lets you back down again.  Set in the Barrio of East LA a young blonde college student ( Jennifer ) is running for her life from the gangs.  The only thing standing between her and death is a six foot brunette ( Resa ) former gang leader, and a convent full of nuns.

http://xenite.simplenet.com/fanfiction/r/resa.html

Alt Uber/ Mel & Janice  NC-17, Novel 170 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky 11/17/99

A strange woman is found dangling off the side of a mountain.  How she got there is a mystery.  When Taylor pulls the woman from certain death, she feels the need to find out more about her.

This a story about grief, love and making mistakes.  Kandis Glasgow had to write this sequel, other wise people would have hunted her down and forced her to do it.  And I am grateful she did.

http://www.xenafiction.net/scrolls/kandis_glasgow_rtr1.hts

Alt, Uber, Finished, Novelette
Reviewed by laler 10/15/99

The author's special note on "The Seasons Series" reads, "This four part series deals with the quiet sort of courage that it takes to be female and/or gay in today's world."  In the first of her series, Anne Azel delivers exactly what she has promised.

Robbie, an actor/director/playwright, attends her brother's funeral and is taken off-guard when she discovers that she has a sister-in-law and a niece. Since Robbie is the head of her prominent family, she takes it upon herself to make a good impression for the media in regards to the unexpected
additions to her family.  In doing so, Robbie soon imposes on Janet (her new sister-in-law) and Rebecca's (her niece) tranquil lives.  With Janet being the principal at The Bartlett School for the Gifted, and Robbie being a "rude, overbearing, egocentric workaholic," their differing temperaments are staunchly evident and the relationship with the new in-laws is not off to a good start.  But when Janet needs support and a friend, Robbie is the first one Janet turns to, and the first one there for her.  This is a story of a budding romantic relationship filled with courage, dignity, love, and friendship. This is a very enjoyable story that will take you through a range of emotions.

http://xenite.simplenet.com/fanfiction/a/awpart1.html

Reviewed by Lariel May/June 2001
Alt, Uber(ish), Finished

Not your typical uber by any means - in fact, it probably doesn't even qualify as one, but it's a damn fine read nevertheless, especially if you like them dark, disturbing and psychologically taut. What starts out as a "they meet on a desert island when shipwrecked" tale soon becomes something much more, as real life forces drastic action and desperate measures to ensure that Laura and Charlie's relationship sustains. And halfway through this story, you'll suddenly realise that what you thought was a romantic love story has gone off the rails somewhere and you're reading something much different...

I can't give the plot away. But I can tell you that you'll find this story compelling, shocking and extremely disturbing. Don't read it if you like the sugar and hearts type of story, but if you like a bit more bite to your fiction, go for it. 

http://amazontrails.com/fiction/seductionoflaura.htm

Alt/Uber/Novel/Finished
Recommended by Yernod (Yernod@aol.com) 10/31/99

"Several Devils" has to be one of the most original, funny and just plain entertaining stories I've read in a while. Perhaps the Xenaverse's first black comedy, "Devils" is the story of Devlin Kerry, the "assistant creative director in charge of sex" for J/J/G Advertising. Despite her knack for creating risque and controversial ads, Devvy is having second thoughts about her career in advertising -- or "telling lies for a living," as she puts it. At the center of her unease is a growing resentment for a job in which sex is used to sell everything. 

Professionally, Devvy's problem manifests itself in a creative block. Personally, it appears in the form of Monica, a beautiful raven-haired demon with a penchant for wearing black lingerie and showing up at all the wrong places. With sharp humor (and even sharper fangs), Monica is about to drag Devvy from the proverbial closet and force her to face her deepest fears, desires and prejudices. If all this sounds a little heavier than a typical romantic tale, trust me: despite the serious look at sexual stereotyping and prejudice, "Devils" is first and foremost a clever and entertaining story. Much like Monica herself, it's both sexy and funny, and sometimes just downright wicked.

ROCFanKat has written some fantastic dialogue, including a few hilariously lethal exchanges between Devvy and her best friend, Cassie Wolfe. Written in the first person from Devvy's point of view, "Several Devils" is also a wonderful technical example of how to advance both plot and character development through dialogue rather than omnipotent narration. As readers, we are not so much "told" this story, we simply experience it. (Followed by the sequel, "The Average of Deviance," unfinished, Parts 1-16 available.)

http://www.the-devils-workshop.com/stories/devils/cover.html

Alt, Uber, Finished
Reviewed by Lariel 29 May 2001/posted June 24 

An evocative tale of soulmates, of chances not taken and regretted. But above all, it's the story of two women who lock eyes on a subway, feel something shift inside themselves and know that this is it. The decision made whether to follow an impulse or not will affect the rest of their lives. And if one of those characters is already near emotional breaking point, how long will she wait for her soulmate to battle her own fears and realise that this is their one chance?

The two lovers' voices are clear, poignant and strike right at the heart. To hear Stash talking of her fears, to hear Lariel talking of giving up...this is poignant writing at its best, and is counterpointed with the most evocative choice of song lyrics.

The central image of the candle, representing the brief flickering hope of love, is strongly held through the piece and lends to the mood of half life and half hope that pervades the story. As the candle burns, the light will begin to die in these people's lives unless they grasp the flame that is flickering in and for each other.

A beautifully soulful story, tender and hopeful and ultimately uplifting. Makes us wonder who our subway soulmate is, and whether we would take the risks that true love demands to be with them.

http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/xg/candle.htm

 ALT Uber/ reincarnation PG-13, Short story 21 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 11/17/99

In New York there is a funny little shop filled with unique things that is run by a odd old lady.  A stranger rolls up to her door one day with an item more unusual than anything in her shop ...and a proposition.

I loved this sweet tale of how the best things 'are' really worth waiting for.  For those of you who don't have time for the multi page epics, this is a short story that sweeps over the centuries and leaves lots of room for the future.  Go ahead, read it, your heart will be richer for it.

http://www.xenafiction.net/scrolls/kamouraskan_sonnet.hts

Alt, Uber, Novel in progress
Reviewed by  Anima 8.10.99

Looking for something a little different than you've been reading? Maybe something that departs a bit from the traditional romance formula? Perhaps something a little less vanilla?

Harper McFadden, professor and poet, has little in common with Adrian Xanthakis, a tattoo artist with a penchant for rough trade. With a dark history and a take-no-prisoners attitude, Adrian has the worst reputation in town, so much so that no self-respecting dyke wants to be seen with her-though secretly they would all give their left (insert favorite body part) to sleep with her. Coming from completely different worlds, the only things they have in common are their more carnal needs. In essence, Adrian and Harper are drawn together for purely sexual reasons sans any emotional attachment. The suspense that lures the reader along in this story isn't when will they consummate but rather when will they fall in love?

Michal and Joann have written a romance walking backwards. Since sex is what brings the two characters together rather than a more orthodox set up (a shared setting or mutual dilemma), sex is no longer the end, but a means to the end. Approaching it this way is intriguing because the sexual tension is continuously satisfied, leaving the emotional connection between the two characters the thing the reader yearns for. Because the story's very foundation is built upon the desires revolving around BDSM play this won't be to everyone's taste. However, if you're feeling adventurous, the subject is treated with a welcome above-board sophistication. And if this is your cuppa tea, you'll be oh-so happy!

http://www.clinched.net/gmta/speed1.html

Alt-Uber NC-21; Novel - 449 pages - incomplete
Reviewed by  Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) [8/16/99] 11/02/99

I realize that this style of fiction is not for everyone but since it's so beautifully written take a peek with an open mind.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

"The Speed of the Beat of My heart" By Michal Salat & Joann Muscolo, brings together two people who couldn't be more different if they tried; the delightful part is when they start to discover startling similarities they didn't know existed.

Warning:  Not recommended for reading at work or while visiting Grandma.

http://www.clinched.net/gmta/index.html

Alt Uber/Classic X-over NC-17, Novel 314 pages - complete
Recommended by Rocky 11/117/99

I enjoy long involved stories with well developed characters.  Kandis Glasgow has provided a story that neatly fits the bill. Candace has been having dreams.  These dreams tell her she must prepare for a journey.  What Candace doesn't know is that this jouney will forever change her life and that she never had any choice about going in the first place. I strongly recomend this story for any romantics out there, complete with a beverage and hankie alert.

http://www.xenafiction.net/scrolls/kandis_glasgow_sp1.hts

See the sequel "Return to Reality"
http://www.xenafiction.net/scrolls/kandis_glasgow_rtr1.hts

Alt/ Uber/ Unfinished/ Parts 1-2 posted 
Recommended by Yernod (Yernod@aol.com)  10/31/99

Meet Kelly and Jessie, best friends and roommates, both fairly content with their lives. They have their work, their friends, their families and, most importantly, each other. The only problem, it seems, is this one small area of misunderstanding: everyone who knows them (or seems them on the street together, for that matter) assumes they're gay ... and a couple. Even their own mothers don't buy their denials, one going so far as reading books on the gay lifestyle in anticipation of her daughter's enlightenment.

So begins Inyx's promising new uber story, "Strings Attached." Funny and quirky, the story neatly twists the popular portrayal of a couple, united in love, defending their lifestyle to everyone with this portrayal of a couple, equally united and defending their lifestyle, but this time in reverse. "We're not gay!" they proclaim (not that there's anything wrong with that, of course!)

To make matters worse, or at least more interesting, Jessie's pregnant. Now if only they could convince everyone that Kelly's not the father! 

Well written and shifting from both the first person (from Kelly's POV) and regular narration, Inyx has created an original and interesting setup with very likable leads. Now if only they would get a clue ...

http://www.angelfire.com/ut/inyxfanfiction/strings1.html

Alt-Uber NC-13 Novella 158 pages - Complete
Recommended by Rocky (shaunday@connect.ab.ca) 01/05/00

If this story is ever made into a movie, I will be first in line to see it.  Funny, funny, FUNNY!  Do not read this at work, everyone will want to know why you are laughing so hard, and do not ( that is if you love your keyboard ) drink while reading it. How Advocate could write a story about anger, deceit, denial, and vengeance and keep me in stitches totally escapes me.  I swear...  I will never be able to look at a squirrel the same way ever again.

Randi knows she is being stalked, and she is bound and determined to find out who.  When Mac comes into her life everything she believes will be stood on it's ear-- In Spades! This is a twisted Road Trip story that makes Hope and Crosby look like rank amateurs.  How else could one writer combine references to Fahrvergnugen, Freddy Krugger, and Snow White.  Don't ask--Just go read it.

http://www.btinternet.com/~a.e.c/me1.htm

Alt/ Uber  Finished PG 13 
Reviewed by Kamouraskan (kamouraskan@Yahoo.com) 01/11/00

Though I love a good romance, if you don't have Xena and Gabrielle, I demand that there also be at least  some thought to the plotting, some originality in the characterizations, and a few  other personalities who
interest me. 

Advocate has exceeded all of these requirements and placed her ladies in a wickedly humourous situation where one of our Uber Heroines is stalked by the other, and later talked into (guess which does what to whom) to take the Road Trip From Hell across America. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles should have been this funny. All this, while telling a very satisfying and realistic love story. Not as much a departure from her stories Connections and Crimson Snow, as a free fall into insanity, Advocate charms from the first paragraphs to the last. Oh, and did I mention the talking squirrels?

http://ausxip.com/fanfiction/u/untitled1.html

Alt, Uber, Finished
Reviewed by laler  01.04.99

Summer Walsh, the owner of 'Summer's Circus', has a lot on her hands. Her circus is plagued by pickpockets, thieves, and the local scum trying to get protection money.  So when free-lance journalist Alison Carmichael comes to do an article on the Big Top, Summer welcomes the offer of the free publicity.  As Alison is shown around the circus, she is not only taken aback by the trapeze act, etcetera, she is also taken aback by Summer herself.

Set around Cheltenham, Barbara Davies does a wonderful job of illustrating the ambience of the circus and the area's countryside while developing an enjoyable story showing these two women who start to form a relationship around a circus that is struggling to survive.

http://members.fortunecity.com/midgitbard/circus1.htm

Alt. Uber, Finished, Novelette
Reviewed by laler  01.13.00

While Summer attends stunt school, Allison is roped into taking over the organization of her school's reunion.  From the very beginning, Allison has a feeling that everything is not going to go as smoothly as promised.  It's not long before she finds out that she was right.  After one things leads to another, she is left with only her (and of course Summer's) imagination.

While Allison is dealing with old fears springing from her past, Summer has fears of her own to deal with when it comes to her profession and how it affects the person she loves.  But each must find a way to bury their fears so they may move beyond them and continue with the life they are building together.

Yet again, we are treated to another well-written story by Barbara Davies. Presented in an entertaining way, we see a relationship that continues to grow as realistic issues are dealt with.  This is a very fun and enjoyable sequel.

http://www.xenafiction.net/scrolls/barbara_davies_asr1.hts

ALT, Uber, Novel, finished
Recommended by angharad governal  07 Feb 2000

Set in a mythic, medieval Irish past, Sunne In Gold tells the tale of a knight, Cathelin O'Cameron - known as Blacksunne - (uber Xe) who has come home from the Crusades only to learn that her kingdom is in chaos.  After driving her evil uncle away from her lands,  she discovers a very frightened and very beautiful Muslim slave, Madrigal (Uber Gab) chained in her private chambers. Taking full advantage of the historical romance novel genre made popular by Sir Walter Scott in the early 17th Century, Nene Adams' Sunne In Gold richly blends vivid (and nicely convincing) detail of the popular vision of life in medieval times with romance and adventure. A fun read.

http://www.corrieweb.com/sunne01.htm

General, Uber, To Date: Six stories plus a Companion Piece
Reviewed by: P.D. (wonder12@concentric.net)  August 5, 1999

Sina and Gabby along with their faithful bike Argo take you along on their hilarious childhood adventures.  Vivid imaginations and a love for Xena: Warrior Princess pit the dynamic duo against quarry monsters, a crabby neighbor, solar eclipses, a sleep over, things that go bump in the night, and camp counselors.  Gabby's vivid imagination and Sina's fearlessness and sense of adventure often get the girls into trouble, but their hearts are always in the right place.

Verrath presents a sense of nostalgia as Sina and Gabby become Xena and Gabrielle. Transforming daily life to mythical misadventures.  These feel good stories bring a smile to your face as you watch the girls take on all that life has to throw at them with typical childhood enthusiasm, drama, and friendship.  Sina and Gabby possess many of the traits a familiar mythical duo possess, yet they have their own unique personalities.  Above all, they are best friends who risk everything important - being grounded, missing desert, extra chores - for each other.

The companion piece, "Remember When, Gabrielle?" brings a very grown up Sina and Gabby back together after years of separation.  This is a bittersweet piece that brings the friendship full circle.

Story Index:
http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/Verrath/index1.htm

The Stories:
Tell Me, Gabrielle
http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/Verrath/tellme/tellme.htm

I'm Bored, Gabrielle
http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/Verrath/tellme/imbored.htm

What's With The Sun?
http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/Verrath/tellme/thesun.htm

Pillow Talk
http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/Verrath/tellme/pillow.htm

We Got Him, Gabrielle!
http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/Verrath/tellme/wegothim.htm

Summer Slave Camp
http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/Verrath/tellme/camp.htm

Companion Piece:
Remember When, Gabrielle?
http://members.xoom.com/_XOOM/Verrath/tellme/remember.htm

Alt, Uber, Novel, Finished
Reviewed by Anima  [7.19.99] 10/20/99

This historical romance follows a Lakota Warrior and an Irish immigrant to America. Each is destined to become the other's future in this compelling story that's very solidly written. As a female warrior, Cinski (later called Anpo) is an oddity. Her place in the tribe rests on her skills, visions, and the manifestation of those visions, part of which includes Kathleen (the pale woman with the yellow hair).

Redhawk is fully into the voice of this story, giving it an authentic tone. That, combined with a traditional romance story structure, creates a delightful blend. It's also simply fascinating to imagine this coupling in this time period and wonder what it might have really been like. Although now a finished story, Redhawk thrills me with her ability to keep a story that's being written in parts on track! You just gotta love that.<g>

http://members.spree.com/romance/dmredhawk/Tiopa/Lakota1.html

Uber, Finished
Recommended by Lariel 25 August 2001

Yee-har!! A rootinest, shootinest, chewin-tobaccyest tale o' the wildest westest adventures ya'll ever did read in a long time!

The little frontier town of Hangman's Gulch is in peril - yes, I said PERIL!  What with Tex Maverick the Scourge of the Sagebrush, Rowdy Roscoe Ringo and  his Hole In The Outhouse gang, and corrupt cattle baron Major Fuller Bull...just who is man enough to clean out the town? Cue Belinda Bonanza -  and believe me, the name is apt - the mysterious stranger who is  packing...packing everything you can possibly think of, and boy does she  know how to use it. But has the tough gunslinger met her match, with the  sweet, innocent ways of Miz Connie Lingus? And just how CAN a prim  schoolmarm from Philadelphia tame the wild lusts of frontier life? And  should a virginal Miz really be reading THOSE kinds of trashy dime store  romance noveletta's anyway?? Read on, and find out!!

http://www.corrieweb.com/misc/tinstar.htm

Alt, Uber, Unfinished
Reviewed by laler 11.30.99

When Evin Morin, a high-profile attorney, agrees to do a favor for one of her old professors, she is thrown into a case with law student Sydney Parker.  Together the two must find out why a large corporation is trying to illegally acquire land from a poor farm family.   With the nature of the case (which is of no monetary value) and Sydney's idealism, Evin is reminded of why she started practicing law.  Feelings start to surface for both women that leave them scared and intrigued.  With emotions running rampant, the working relationship between Sydney and Evin is anything but stable.

Troubleshooter intertwines the legal case and the attraction of the two characters into an enjoyable, sometimes humorous, and entertaining story.

http://www.fortunecity.com/rivendell/hobgoblin/688/fiction/toc.htm

Uber and Classic X&G, ALT, Short Story, Finished
Recommended by Angharad Governal  15 Sept 1999

I love the idea of concept stories - stories that make you want to smack your forehead with the palm of your hand and say, "Damn! That's a great idea!" What makes it even better is when the said concept is executed in a simple and beautifully elegant manner that belies the complexity of the creation. Triptych Home (and for that matter, its predecessor, Triptych Sex) is such a creation. As the title suggests, Anima takes the concept of "home" and explores it in three very different stories; it is this common thread that both binds and differentiates each separate tale. It's difficult to summarize (much less coalesce) what happens within the framework of this tripartite short story into a single sentence that will cover the numerous threads each part explores. However, each "section" - a World War II Uber, a classic X&G story, and a modern day Uber - is a complete entity in and of itself, but taken together, it becomes magnified into something quite unique and simply, well, "cool".

http://home.att.net/~ianima/triphome.htm

Alt Uber Pg-13; Completed story
Recommended by Taleweaver (taleweaver_@excite.com)  March 13, 2001

This story is a cute explanation of what might have happened if Xena were a housewife in 1956. It opens with Xena killing a tomato, and ruefully she admits that she can throw a knife better than she can cook and she and her husband Ares have to settle for take-out. This opening does just what it's supposed to, grab your attention and keep it. During a Friday night card game with "the girls" we are introduced to Xena's friends; Altina, Effy, Callisandra and the new neighbour, Gabriella. It is during this card game that we witness Xena being toyed with like never before, which of course disturbs and intrigues her. I can promise some chuckles for the reader, but I should warn you not to drink anything while reading this story. Innocently, I did, and it wasn't long before I sprayed my monitor with coffee. So don't subject your computer to food or drink projectiles, wait until after reading the story.

Xena's first lesbian kiss apparently overwhelms her so much, that her blood rushes somewhere other than her brain and she passes out. Ares finds his wife's head in Gabriella's lap, and the requested explanation prompted
me to spray the computer with a mouthfull of coffee yet again. With a potentially ugly confrontation out of the way, feminism gains another warrior and Xena's idyllic 1956 lifestyle is changed forever.

I highly recommend "Warrior...Princess...Housewife". While you read it, I think I'll go out and get a moisture-proof cover for my computer. Just to be ready for the next funny tale Emily Mills shares with us. "Warrior...Princess...Housewife" can be found at

http://merwolf.com/academy/emills_wph.html

Alt, Uber, Finished, Novelette
Reviewed by laler 11/16/99

All is not well with our couple in the second part of "The Season Series". The story starts off with Janet and Robbie dealing with the aftermath of Janet's breast surgery while they still try to keep on top of their careers. When Janet finally decides to try and break the barriers down that has built up between Robbie and herself over the last months, Robbie suddenly leaves Janet with no explanation. Unbeknownst to Janet, Robbie's departure has to do with a secret from her past that she has harbored for years.  Once the secret is revealed, Janet and Robbie can start to build their family. Robbie, who has never really had a sense of family, begins to realize what having one means, as well as the responsibility that goes along with it.

Anne Azel takes us through the story by addressing serious subjects while dealing with them in sensitive, compassionate and entertaining ways. She shows us how these women overcome obstacles while keeping intact their ability to be human and female. This is an enjoyable story that will be having you pondering what could possibly be in the next part of this series.

http://xenite.simplenet.com/fanfiction/w/wintersnows.html

Uber, Alt, In Progress
Reviewed by Bongo Bear  August 9, 1999

Working Lunch Part 5,  Malevich's latest alternative offering, has been bestowed the Amazon Ice Award.  By the time I finished the story, there was nothing left but clouds of steam.   Xena is an expensive call girl and Gabrielle, an uptight professional of a different sort, is her client. Together they create some of the hottest scenes in fanfiction.  Taken as individual vignettes, the Working Lunch stories are light on plot.  But a reader starting from Part 1, slowly begins to see their relationship growing from detached sexual encounters to something looking an awful lot like love.

http://bearblue.simplenet.com/STO/wildfic/workinglunch5.htm