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blakes7-d Digest Volume 00 : Issue 84
Today's Topics:
Re: [B7L] Volcano question
Re: [B7L] Cally & Avon
Re: [B7L] Avon and That Image
Re: [B7L] Volcano question
[B7L] Avon's Name
[B7L] Horizon
[B7L] First Impressions: "Seek-Locate-Destroy"
Re: [B7L] Re: Guest Stars
Re: [B7L] First Impressions: "Seek-Locate-Destroy"
Re: [B7L] Volcano question
Re: [B7L] Avon's Name
[B7L] Horizon
Re: [B7L] Avon's Name
Re: [B7L] Cally & Avon
Re: [B7L] Volcano question
[B7L] Re: Space Fall Question
Re: [B7L] Volcano question
RE: [B7L] horizon
Re: [B7L] First Impressions: "Seek-Locate-Destroy"
Re: [B7L] Horizon
Re: [B7L] RPG Female Fans
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 01:36:11 PST
From: "Sally Manton" <smanton@hotmail.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Volcano question
Message-ID: <20000326093611.33119.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Mistral wrote:
<Avon has sent his younglings out for bait. Dayna and Tarrant have yet to
prove themselves, and he's not willing to risk Cally and Vila and the ship,
so Dayna and Tarrant have got to make it on their own. Or not.
<snip> If Avon had mentioned it, Tarrant and Dayna might have refused to go,
or Cally might have objected to sending them.>
I rather like this explanation, and it's quite Avonish - it fits awfully
well with the *way* he uses the other crew members (yes, yes, *these* two
may have charged down anyway, but as yet Avon wouldn't have grasped the full
extent of their - errr - youthful enthusiasm). Interesting that Cally lets
him get away with it so easily…
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Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 01:37:10 PST
From: "Sally Manton" <smanton@hotmail.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Cally & Avon
Message-ID: <20000326093710.59304.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
After I wrote: <And going on the few scraps of information we have, she's
*physically* more his type (slim and fragile-seeming but tough,>
Mistral objected:
<Eh? I believe you're overlooking a couple of things on this. First off,
Cally is long and angular, Anna compact and slim but well-proportioned,
Soolin compact and curvy. I'd say Anna's as close or closer to Soolin's
build as Cally's.>
Anna *seems* more delicate IMO (the voice does add to that aura, especially
when she's arguing with Hob or Avon at the end). I've no doubt that - when
she was an double agent - she played on the small and fragile bit quite a
lot (less obviously and excrutiatingly than Piri does with Tarrant, we hope
:-)) And Avon does have a rarely used but strong protective streak for such
a self-centred bastard - though it is truly fascinating just *who* brings it
out most strongly - Cally (most obviously in Avalon and Sarcophagus as I
recall), Dayna, occasionally Vila (City and Moloch), Meegat, maybe Nebrox in
Assassin, Vena in Headhunter…and Roj Blake, who is about as fragile and
delicate as the battering ram he sometimes resembles.
<Second, we know that Avon considers Soolin his type physically--he as much
as says so in Rescue.>
He does acknowledge that she's beautiful, yes. It's not quite the same
thing…
<All you need to do is get Soolin (yes, it has to be Soolin) to make the
first move. There's enough evidence in Headhunter all by itself to indicate
that she's not indifferent to Avon's well-being.>
Oh, I agree that the first move would have to come from Soolin (and I agree
about the Beautiful Suffering ;-) but you knew I would, didn't you?) The
problem is that neither of them is anywhere near thawed as we leave them…as
witnessed by
[a] his (admittedly brief) reaction in Warlord, where she appeared to turn
on him - that one cold, wary, mocking look (and yes, I do think he believed
it in that moment). It's a lot like his first reaction to Tynus's - and
nothing like that for Anna or Blake;
[b] his indifference to her reaction to the mention of Gauda Prime;
[c] that sharp "I really could be quite annoyed…" comment on Gauda Prime.
There are good things about their partnership - he's comfortable with her,
he understands the way her mind works (though he shows little interest in
her mind as such, one of my prerequisites for him *taking* a personal
interest in someone), and she's phlegmatic and pragmatic enough to be able
to live with his formidable ghosts (as I very much doubt Cally was before
she *became* one of them :-)).
<C'mon, Sally. Clap your hands together and say, "I do believe in Soolin, I
do believe in Soolin!" You can do it if you try!!!>
Actually, I *want* to, Mistral, truly…vastly preferring Soolin to Cally as I
do. (And I do agree with Jan Chappell that Blake is more Cally's sort than
Avon is. Cally clearly does not agree, mutter grumble).
But then, look at it this way. Avon does IMO have absolutely AWFUL taste in
women (Anna, Servalan), nearly as bad as Tarrant's (Piri, Servalan, Zeeona).
Soolin is probably too - too - what is the word - un-absolutely-awful to
take either of their fancy…
Vila, OTOH, is not that discriminating, is he? ;-)
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Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 01:38:10 PST
From: "Sally Manton" <smanton@hotmail.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Avon and That Image
Message-ID: <20000326093810.2824.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
After I wrote:
<Ellyne gives possibilities 1-4...And I'll offer no 5 - the obvious one, I
guess.>
Neil offered:
<Whereas I automatically went for Option 6 - Terry Nation hadn't thought
about Anna Grant yet. Really really obvious, even if it doesn't play the
game.>
<blank look> But where's the fun in that? (Terry Nation? Never heard of him
- or Chris Boucher) The mere fact that some of the 'playing the game'
solutions (some of mine, at least) make rather less sense than the original
plot hole shouldn't be allowed to get in the way of a good convoluted
theory.
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Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 15:08:05 +0200
From: "Marian de Haan" <maya@multiweb.nl>
To: "B7 List" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] Volcano question
Message-ID: <001401bf9724$545a8ae0$daed72c3@marian-de-haan.multiweb.nl>
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Mistral, your explanation makes perfect sense. Thank you for solving that
annoying riddle.
>Marian! You just made my day :) :) :)
Always glad to be of service :-)
>Volcano is my favourite ep for introducing a non-SF fan to B7,
>because of the marvelous A-V.
Yes, Vila's tender care for the wounded Avon is great. I love his "Never
mind, we're still here." Shows he's as much a selfish bastard as Avon :-)
Marian
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 10:56:49 -0500
From: "Dana Shilling" <dshilling@worldnet.att.net>
To: "b7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Avon's Name
Message-ID: <001601bf973c$31cb4420$09604e0c@dshilling>
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I don't think he would contemplate so trivial an alias, but it's certainly
possible that Avon IS his first name and Kerr his last (like Montague
Tigg/Tigg Montague in the Dickens novel). Certainly that would be easy to
remember, confuses people who are looking for the file folder in the H-K
drawer, and bypasses the common mistake of choosing an alias with one's
original initials.
Then again, maybe. IMHOTEP (In My Pharaonic Opinion), in the Federation, as
in Austenworld, the oldest sibling is "Mr. Soandso" or "Miss Soandso" and
the younger siblings are Mr. Whatzis Soandso and Miss Whoozie
Soandso"--i.e., Jane is "Miss Bennet" and the future Mrs. Darcy is "Miss
Elizabeth Bennet." Or, if my conjecture about the Avon family constellation
is incorrect, the oldest son might be The Avon of that Ilk.
-(Y)
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 17:39:19 GMT
From: "Andrew Spencer" <stickman1968@hotmail.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Horizon
Message-ID: <20000326173919.91100.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
>From : Emily Darby
>what does everyone think of the Horizon latest newsletter ?
Well I have been a member of Horizon for about ten years and the only reason
I am still a member is because there isn't an alternative.
As of issue 38 and 39 it looked like it was vastly improving in look and
content. 39.5 looks okay but surely the apology that it ammount's to could
have been distributed on a single sheet of A4. The rest of the content's
could have been included in issue 40, as they were out of date for the most
part anyway.
>From : Andrew Ellis
>OK it is VERY late. OK it is very light compared to the usual >offering.
>But
>1) They have apologised, and were not paying for this one.
>2) Even if that was the usual quarterly newsletter, it is infinitely
> >better than a lot of other fan clubs.
Yes it is very late, so late it can't really call itself a "News" letter
anymore.
Apologies don't really make interesting reading.
We may not be paying for 39.5 directly but surely the money has to come from
the club funds? So are we not paying for it indirectly?
Since when has it ever been "the usual quarterly newsletter"?
Being infinitely better than a lot of other fan clubs, doesn't mean it has
to take infinitely longer to produce!
Michael
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Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 20:03:38 +0100
From: "Ariana" <ariana@ndirect.co.uk>
To: "b7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>, "Judith Proctor" <Judith@blakes-7.com>
Subject: [B7L] First Impressions: "Seek-Locate-Destroy"
Message-ID: <001701bf9756$01338b00$b3e407c3@ariana>
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You know, a few weeks ago, I would have sworn I had seen no more than two or
three episodes of Blake's 7 in my life. It turns out Ed made me watch more
of UK Gold's late evening/early morning reruns than I had realised. Yes,
I've seen this one once before too...
Blake had better watch out -- there's finally a worthy adversary after him.
And no, I don't mean that twerp Travis!
When the BBC first started their run of B7, someone on alt.fan.blakes-7
advised us all that things improved dramatically after the sixth episode. I
can see that. All the elements of the series have fallen into place now, and
there was a definite improvement in pace after last week.
I gather some time has passed since last week's episode. The Liberator crew
seem more comfortable with each other -- as comfortable as they can be with
Mr Charming in their midst, at least. We also get our first glimpse of the
other side since the days of the London. It's interesting to see how
effective Blake and his crew are; they've gone from being nobodies on an
alien vessel to being enough of a threat to warrant official interest.
The new glimpses of the Federation make it seem a very human place... in
every possible sense. The politicians and their need for secrecy, the
internal power struggles between Earth and its outer dependencies, the
pressure of public opinion even in the face of a tightly-controled
government machine -- this is the universe humans build for themselves. It
is evil, but not Evil. There is a human face under its mask of
totalitarianism. This latter point beautifully demonstrated by the scene
where Cally's guard relaxes and takes his mask off, revealing the face of an
ordinary, rather sympathetic-looking bloke.
There were some nice moments in the construction of some of the scenes.
Vila's disappearing act at the beginning of the episode, and his sudden
appearance behind Blake were beautiful touches. The transition from Travis's
retelling of his meeting with Blake to Blake's retelling of the same was
nicely done as well. Good to see the Liberator crew relaxing a bit too.
It seemed a bit odd that such a small crew wouldn't notice that only four of
them teleported back up instead of five. But the scene where they realise
Cally is missing had some nice drama to it, particularly with everyone
arguing against Blake's desire to go back for her.
There were a couple of not-so-satisfying moments all the same. Servalan's
conversation with the politicians dragged on a bit, and I felt that the
scene between Blake and Jenna regarding Cally's disappearance fell flat. Not
that Jenna consoling Blake was a bad idea, and both actors were doing their
best; but the conversation just didn't make enough sense. Too much
disjointed mumbo-jumbo about guilt and shame, IMHO.
Upon second viewing, it seemed obvious to me that the Liberator's first pass
was to drop off Blake. But I remember that it came as a surprise when I
watched it first, so it's not a major problem. The voice-over at the end was
corny to the fullest, but on the whole, I thought this was a good episode.
I'm looking forward to more like this.
Character stuff:
================
Despite having seen this episode before, I couldn't quite remember what
Servalan looked like -- aside from a passing resemblance to the French
cabaret star Zizi Jeanmaire. I didn't expect her to look so, well, *cute*.
An impression that vanishes almost as soon as she opens her mouth, of
course. ;)
Given the potential of the lovely actress who plays her, it's a pity
Servalan is such a walking stereotype. Funny how powerful women written by
male authors always seem to be glamorous and sexually voracious. I suppose
that with female sexuality being the ultimate threat to traditional male
authority, it seems "natural" for any woman with power to use sexual
attraction as an additional weapon. It's annoying, and something that TV
shows are just beginning to break away from (sort of). Still, as a sort of
forerunner for Alexis Carrington, Servalan should be entertaining to watch.
Some of her intonations while she was talking to Bercol and Rontane reminded
me a bit of Margaret Thatcher (whereupon I got a vision of Blake being
pursued by Thatcher: poor fellow wouldn't stand a chance -- and *she*
wouldn't waste time flirting with him). Still, I think Servalan could be a
very interesting character, given the right writing.
If Servalan is a walking stereotype, then Travis is doing a sprint right
behind her. Mr Cruel-With-A-Grudge. Ho-hum. I wish Cally and Blake had just
shot him and let Servalan come after them instead.
Vila didn't get much to do last week (except get clobbered), but he got some
good scenes today. Though there were a lot of references to his cowardice --
all coming from Vila himself -- it was good to see him participate in the
action. His facility with doors is evidently well established, and for all
his obvious desire to be somewhere else, he did make himself useful by
distracting those guards, for instance. OTOH, I thought it was interesting
that he chose to run after the guard who raised the alarm, rather than shoot
him with the weapon he was carrying. Vila might be a convicted criminal, but
he doesn't have the killer instinct (yet?).
On the whole, I'm starting to like Vila a lot. There were a couple of
moments in this episode which also made me think Vila could turn out to be a
good foil for Avon. There's an interesting contrast between Vila's cheerful
good nature and Avon's sarcastic gloom. I hope this is something that will
be explored in future episodes.
Are we sure Blake isn't a Star Trek captain in disguise? He seems to share
not only their tendency to be distracted by the wonders of space, but
equally their desire to be the first to rush into any dangerous situation.
Still, this is easily explained in B7, since it's obvious that Blake would
get no brownie points for teleporting *someone else* into the action.
Nitpicks and Preposterous Props:
================================
The picnic box is back! And the complex looked rather like the factory from
"Time Squad" filmed from a different angle. Well, at least it shows
consistency in the Liberator's props and the Federation's architecture.
Was that cardboard robot really necessary? I half expected it to cry out
"exterminate, exterminate" -- and yes, I know how ironic that would be. ;)
Later, Avon asks for a "basic descrambler" and is handed a pair of
earphones. Talking about funny props: the device the technician Prell uses
(applied to his jaw) is something I saw demonstrated on a snippet from
Tomorrow's World in the 60s or 70s. The device was supposed to pick up
vibrations from the speaker's jawbone and then transmit them as audio
signals to the other end. No points for guessing why it never caught on.
Those pictures of Blake that Travis was viewing were weird. They looked like
ads for some avant-garde play. I wonder if they came from Gareth Thomas's
portfolio.
"Just *shoot* him!" exclaimed my boyfriend when Blake and Cally got Travis
strapped in that chair. But no, we're back in that frustrating TV show
business of the Hero and his Arch-Enemy never actually getting around to
killing each other despite numerous opportunities. Let me guess, now... this
is the only time it happens in B7, right? <sigh> No, I didn't think so.
Dialogue Gems:
==============
JENNA: [into comm] Hold on, just checking. [to Vila] Are you ready?
VILA: Tell him I've just worked out a completely new strategy.
It's called running away.
======
BLAKE: There it is. That must be the way in. Can you open those gates or are
we going to have to climb them?
[[Not good dialogue, but my boyfriend's reaction was "why don't they just
crawl under them?"]]
======
VILA: There isn't a lock I can't open -- if I'm scared enough.
======
BLAKE [calls softly] Oy.
[[Nice to know the Rebellion is led by true blue Brits :) ]]
======
AVON: It had better be right. A fraction out and you could put us down in
the middle of the security barracks.
JENNA: Don't tempt me.
======
JENNA: [lays device on control panel] So you got it.
BLAKE: It was close though.
AVON: Too close. Another few seconds we'd have all been blown up.
VILA: Well, it wasn't my fault.
AVON: Well, whose fault was it? I thought you were supposed to
guard the corridor.
VILA: You were supposed to disconnect that thing, not rely on Gan
to tear it loose with his teeth.
JENNA: All right, all right, now calm down.
[[Nice to know Our Heroes are all friends :) ]]
======
VOICE: Space commander Travis's ship has just docked.
SERVALAN: Have him report to me immediately. [pause] No, have him
wait outside until I send for him.
======
BLAKE: She's alive.
VILA: I knew she wasn't dead.
AVON: No, you didn't.
VILA: No, I didn't. I'm going to tell Gan. [exits]
======
VILA: Welcome back. We thought you'd decided to stay.
BLAKE: Bit close that time, Jenna.
VILA: Anyway, we're glad you are safe, aren't we? [Looks over at
Avon who is standing silently.] Aren't we?
AVON: Yes, I'm glad you're all right.
Miscellaneous:
==============
It's the return of the Eskimo suit for Vila, and Avon is wearing that tunic
with the switches on the front again. But everyone gets to wear
colour-coordinated moonboots and pull-over anoraks for the expedition.
Sensiblewear.
BTW, white was definitely *the* colour for Seventies sci-fi, wasn't it? Just
recall various sets for sci-fi ranging from 2001 to Star Trek: The Motion
Picture, through Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and, of course, Space:1999,
and you have a clear trend emerging. Servalan's office is another
illustration of this.
Comments and discussion welcome!
Ariana
======
"Anyway, we're glad you are safe, aren't we? Aren't we?"
"Yes... I'm glad you're all right."
-- Vila and Avon in "Seek-Locate-Destroy"
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 21:08:23 -0000
From: "Andrew Ellis" <Andrew.D.Ellis@btinternet.com>
To: <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] Re: Guest Stars
Message-ID: <000001bf9755$98a30ca0$4cac01d5@leanet.futures.bt.co.uk>
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I said....
>Weeelll, we didn't actually SEE Raiker die.
>>HE insights a revolt on the return to Earth with the more mercenary of the
>>crew and becomes a renegade as well, with four objectives. 1) Become rich.
>>2) Humiliate Avon 3) Kill Blake.
To which Mat Shayde asked...
>and the 4th objective would be? :)
For Mat, and anybody else for whom this was too subtle.
There are four main characters at the point where Raiker doesn't die....
Raiker - Raiker would like to see Raiker rich
Avon - Raiker would like to humiliate Avon
Blake - Raiker would like to kill him
Jenna - Raiker would like to - ooops, wrong list.
'nough said.
But going back to the main point. We didn't SEE Raiker die. So if you want
to bring him back, it would be somewhat easier than bringing Blake back from
GP.
Andrew
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 21:11:22 +0100
From: "Kerry Hale" <kerry.hale@zoom.co.uk>
To: "b7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] First Impressions: "Seek-Locate-Destroy"
Message-ID: <002301bf975f$9f814640$58c828c3@default>
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
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I'm watching Blake's Seven for the first time since their original showings
on British TV and I'm really enjoying Ariana's essay after each episode.
Please keep them up.
Kerry
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 13:21:41 PST
From: "Sally Manton" <smanton@hotmail.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Volcano question
Message-ID: <20000326212141.86707.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Marian wrote:
<Yes, Vila's tender care for the wounded Avon is great. I love his "Never
mind, we're still here." Shows he's as much a selfish bastard as Avon :-)>
He simply had his priorities straight :-)
Volcano has a few good moments clustered around the takeover bit (Avon&Zen,
Avon&Vila) but the rest of it is extremely soporific. And when it became
clear that Our Heroes/The federation was to be turned into that private
petty spat between Servalan and the crew, my heart definitely leapt down. If
this had been my intro to B7, I'd never have made it to Dawn of the...oh
god, then there's Children...
S'pose it could be worse. Would anyone who came in on Rescue/Power/Stardrive
still be around today <eg>
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Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 16:28:16 EST
From: Pherber@aol.com
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Avon's Name
Message-ID: <40.216b7ac.260fdaf0@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
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In a message dated 3/24/00 3:25:56 PM Mountain Standard Time,
smanton@hotmail.com writes:
<< Kerr *is* an alias. His parents were from the Secret (But Not Very
Sensible)
Order of Secular Puritans and his real name is Jehoiakerr Melchizedek Ram
Oneisiphorous Be-courteous Avon. >>
<choke> Well, *that* would explain a lot of his bad temper!
<snicker>
Nina
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 22:41:07 GMT
From: "David Fielding" <davidft10@hotmail.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] Horizon
Message-ID: <20000326224107.57902.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Hello,
I’m sorry that my first email to the list has got to be a negative one,
but since when Mr Ellis, has the Horizon ever been quarterly?
Usually you’re lucky to get one every nine months. I regard Horizon 39.5,
as an insult. Thank god it’s free. I certainly wouldn’t pay for it.
(though I get my copies second hand anyway!)
After a 15-month wait, what do the members get? Qualified excuses and buck
passing, a load of egocentric waffle about committee changes (which I doubt
anyone gives a dam about), a poorly written article on the B7 movie (I like
the bit that goes ‘Although Brian Lighthill was originally due to direct the
Movie, Andrew says, “The original idea was that Brian was going to direct”‘
Classic!!!) taken from an event that happened six months ago, another
article called Over the Moon about something that happened on BBC Choice a
year and 5 months ago, and then 5 and a half pages of adverts for stuff to
buy, most of which I can get elsewhere on the net, cheaper.
Perhaps Diane Gies should start calling it an “Oldnewsletter”, because
there’s no “New” news in it.
Then there’s the Deliverance 98 (!!!?) video debacle. On the front cover of
39.5 it patronisingly screams, “D98. Are the Deliverance videos a myth?” If
they are a myth then there are going to be a lot of people wanting their
money (and over 1 years interest) back.
Usually if you send off for something you wait 28 days. With the
Deliverance 98 (!!!?) video offer it appears to be 28 months, perhaps even
28 years, before the poor fans get their vids.
In a cretinous article called “Deliverance Videos. A hit? Or just a myth?”
the (understandably) anonymous author writes, “Up until now we have been
unable to confirm what the full price will be for each tape.”
So what is the price?
“As soon as the tapes are ready for duplication, the final price can be
calculated!”
So basically they still don’t know. Sounds like an embarrassing cock-up to
me.
The article then has the cheek to say “In the meantime, we are still
accepting £5.00 deposit!” They must think we are all gullible fools.
I don’t go a bundle on the “new” layout either. I always thought that a
“newlook” was meant to improve the style of the publication, but not here.
NL39.5 is definitely not as good as the previous issue.
I’m sorry that Diane Gies has had problems with her “ladies bit”, but how
does that stop the Horizon committee from carrying on and doing the NL in
her absence? |
Did you know that in the time it has taken the 39.5 pamphlet to come out, I
have bought a house, got married, and fathered a child!
So what do the rest of you think?
Has Horizon had its day?
And as for the website…
David F.
“They took living fans, treated them with contempt and produced the ultimate
creature”
Ronson from “Genesis of Horizon”
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Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 09:03:48 EST
From: "J MacQueen" <j_macqueen@hotmail.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Avon's Name
Message-ID: <20000326230348.35648.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
>From: "Sally Manton" <smanton@hotmail.com>
>My Second Theory...
>
>Kerr *is* an alias. His parents were from the Secret (But Not Very
>Sensible)
>Order of Secular Puritans and his real name is Jehoiakerr Melchizedek Ram
>Oneisiphorous Be-courteous Avon.
I was expecting something like this from you, Sally, after naming Jarriere
"Obadiah". So what is Roj short for?
Regards
Joanne
(having the tone set for her Monday morning...)
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Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 09:15:28 EST
From: "J MacQueen" <j_macqueen@hotmail.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Cally & Avon
Message-ID: <20000326231529.79663.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
>From: "Sally Manton" <smanton@hotmail.com>
><Second, we know that Avon considers Soolin his type physically--he as much
>as says so in Rescue.>
>He does acknowledge that she's beautiful, yes. It's not quite the same
>thing…
SOOLIN What happens to Tarrant and the others meantime?
AVON Well, during the manoeuvre they are entirely on their own, but once we
are back in our new orbit, the teleport system should function quite
normally. Oh, it's a calculated risk. But at least you and I can be certain
that we can get away when we want to.
[From "Games"]
Avon's speech is followed by what, from memory, looks horribly like a leer
<shudder>, so it may not necessarily his sense of aesthetics in operation.
I'd hate to suggest that he's thinking with his trousers, but maybe he is
thinking with his trousers, where Soolin's concerned.
Don't want to think about this any further, at least not now, but if anyone
else wants to, feel free.
>Vila, OTOH, is not that discriminating, is he? ;-)
You have to ask? <grin>
Regards
Joanne
(and I like Vila!)
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Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 09:17:02 EST
From: "J MacQueen" <j_macqueen@hotmail.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Volcano question
Message-ID: <20000326231702.51138.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
>From: "Sally Manton" <smanton@hotmail.com>
>S'pose it could be worse. Would anyone who came in on
>Rescue/Power/Stardrive
>still be around today <eg>
I came in with Traitor - how I missed Stardrive and Animals I've no idea...
Regards
Joanne
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Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2000 22:26:25 -0500
From: "Dana Shilling" <dshilling@worldnet.att.net>
To: "b7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: [B7L] Re: Space Fall Question
Message-ID: <000501bf979c$3d5a8ca0$796b4e0c@dshilling>
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
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I never think of middle children as mediators--rather, as people who will do
absolutely anything for attention. At some point, Avon's Mum (I think her
name is Jean) made the crucial mistake of saying something like, "Oh, Kerr
never gives me a moment's trouble...as long as he can stick his nose in a
book, he's good as gold." It was all up after that.
And people get the space shuttles they deserve, don't they? I assume that
Avon conjured it up much as the crew can conjure up hideous clothing.
-(Y)
Do you think that Zen thinks of [pronoun] self as a widow with three
daughters and Orac as a widower with three sons, or vice versa?
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 100 10:05:15 +0200 (CEST)
From: "Jeroen J. Kwast" <jeroenkw@gns.getronics.nl>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] Volcano question
Message-Id: <200003270805.KAA27277@pampus.gns.getronics.nl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
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>
>
> S'pose it could be worse. Would anyone who came in on Rescue/Power/Stardrive
> still be around today <eg>
>
OK: I give you Stardrive but ....
What is wrong with Rescue and Power?????? I used the Rescue/Power tape a few times to get some people hooked for good!!!
Jeroen
PS: The downside is that I lost my 26 tapes repeatedly for weeks! :)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 09:06:41 +0100
From: "Helm, Troy" <thelm@csw.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: RE: [B7L] horizon
Message-Id: <200003270808.CAA01850@interlock.csw.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
I think the problem is that there isn't really that much going on to fill a
fanzine.
I'm happy with the content and layout quality (fewer 'amateur' drawings) but
not the quantity.
It might be a smart move for them to publish online have a smaller
subscription charge.
Troy
-----Original Message-----
From: Emily Darby [mailto:emilydarby@yahoo.co.uk]
Sent: 24 March 2000 19:46
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: [B7L] horizon
Hi
what does everyone else think of the Horizon latest
newsletter ?
I am seriuosly thinking of cancelling my subscription
I wonder if it is time they just gave up, it seems to
me that no one cares about it anymore ,it is full of
exuses and apologies
Okay i know everyone runs these things in spare time
,i know i have precious little of it myself but nearly
2 years for the Con videos from Deliverance 98 is
dreadful (yeah i know i've read all the exuses in the
newsletter and the mailshot!)
what does anyone else think now i've finshed ranting
Emily
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------------------------------
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 09:22:37 +0100
From: "Una McCormack" <una@q-research.connectfree.co.uk>
To: "b7" <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] First Impressions: "Seek-Locate-Destroy"
Message-ID: <08c101bf97c6$34ad88d0$0d01a8c0@codex>
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
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Ariana wrote:
> Some of her intonations while she was talking to Bercol and Rontane
reminded
> me a bit of Margaret Thatcher
What's interesting, of course, is that Thatch only became PM in 1979, and
S-L-D was transmitted at the start of 1978 (so presumably conceived and
written in 1977). Thatch was still in her very high-pitched voice and
flowery blouses stage at this point, and hadn't had the blue suit power make
over yet. Maybe Servie was an inspiration.
> (whereupon I got a vision of Blake being
> pursued by Thatcher: poor fellow wouldn't stand a chance -- and *she*
> wouldn't waste time flirting with him).
Don't think Thatch could even spell the word.
Una
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 09:24:50 +0100
From: "Una McCormack" <una@q-research.connectfree.co.uk>
To: <blakes7@lysator.liu.se>
Subject: Re: [B7L] Horizon
Message-ID: <08c201bf97c6$37604cc0$0d01a8c0@codex>
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
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David Fielding wrote:
> Did you know that in the time it has taken the 39.5 pamphlet to come out,
I
have bought a house, got married, and fathered a child!
Wow! The B7 equivalent of the Great Wall of China! I wonder if you can see
it from space too?
Una
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 12:42:59 GMT
From: "Mat Shayde" <dorian17@hotmail.com>
To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se
Subject: Re: [B7L] RPG Female Fans
Message-ID: <20000327124259.91933.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
> > Oh, I quite like the system, the whole percentile thing makes it really
>easy and smooth. (mind you I tend to gloss over the rolling in favour of
>just fixing results to get the plot bits I want. Naughty GM! Also roles are
>more important than rules to me.)
>Roles are obviously important, but I find they need (a) lashings of
>background material and (b) players prepared to absorb it. Most >players,
>in my experience, don't want masses of world background, >they just want to
>get out there and kill things. Which is why I >think there is a lot to be
>said for using a background with which >the players are familiar, so long
>as they all interpret it in >roughly the same way.
Hhhm, I'm glad I have my players and not yours. :) I tend to find it's the
other way round, in my experiece players are more than happy to absorb
background in order to create a fun character but don't want to spend time
learning dull rules and game mechanisms.
I'm not saying that rules *aren't* important, God knows, I've played Amber
the diceless, free-form roleplaying game and it was a complete and utter
shambles, it's just that I think that plot and characterisation are more
important. If my players just wanted to roll dice and kill things I'd get
them to play a war-game. (not that there is anything wrong with war-gaming
either!)
>But B7 is open to more individual interpretation than most F/SF
> >backgrounds (far more so than say Star Wars or Star Trek) which >makes it
>harder to use as a rolegame setting.
Hhhm, I'm not sure that's really the case. The characters and politics are
certainly more 'grey' than either Wars or Trek, but the basis of the game,
at it's simplest, is that the Federation is 'the enemy' and that you are
fighting them, whatever your reasons may be. I suppose it depends upon
whether or not your players are fans. Only fans are as obsessive about
interpretation as we are! :)
>Rules I come down heavily in favour of. I think they should always be
>there, if only as something to resort to. My own system is definitely
>'rules heavy', though it's really a few standard procedures that can be
>applied in many different ways. I certainly don't like ruleless freispiel
>as I don't think that many GMs can adjudicate fairly and reasonably on a
>lot of the situations that come up in a rolegame session. Suppose someone
>falls out of a 5th floor window? Is s/he killed outright, or does s/he
>survive with nothing more than a few bruises? Any freispiel decision is
>going to be open to accusations of favouritism or victimisation (or both at
>the same
>time), whereas recourse to rules passes the buck onto an independent
>authority (the dice) which can be viewed by all parties as neutral.
mercifully my players don't argue too much, and I in turn don't argue much
when I am a player. Besides the most complicated and involved arguement I
can recall came in the rules heavy game AD&D and concerned the casting of a
Reverse Time spell! Sometimes the GM just has to make a decision and if the
players are reasonable they'll abide by it regardless of whether they agree
with it or not.
> > I found the generation system ok (if a bit
> > complicated to explain to new players) it creates interesting characters
> > without producing super-characters.
>
>It also fails to discriminate between young and old characters (the latter
>should have lots more skills), and entails lots of points allocation,
>time-consuming min-maxing etc. I knocked up a far more streamlined version
>that better reflects professional background and takes age into account.
True, however it seems to me that very few character generation systems do
take account of character age. I think my favourite system is Ars Magica
which enables you to create interesting and flexible characters fairly
easily. I know it's a bit cheeky, but you don't have a copy of your new,
improved system that you could e-mail me do you...? <endearing grin>
Dorian - "You mean you're here by choice?"
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End of blakes7-d Digest V00 Issue #84
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