BLAKE'S 7 IN THE MAINSTREAM / BLAKE'S 7 AVATAR FILE
===================================================
Version 1.1
Last Update: 5/5/95
Compiled and maintained by Jen Hawthorne
(jen@mit.edu, maytree@aol.com)
Comments and suggestions welcome, as long as you're polite.
This file is copyright c 1995 by the contributors. Please ask before
including this file in any kind of publication (electronic or paper.)
The purpose of this file is to maintain a list of mainstream works
that have a connection to Blake's 7 -- either a factual connection (the
author has admitted to basing a character in the work on a Blake's 7
character) or a thematic connection (characters and/or situations are
similar and so may be of interest to Blake's 7 fans.) I hope this
list will help fans track down works they might like to read and/or
spark some amusing discussions of the works in question.
HOW ITEMS ARE ADDED TO THIS FILE
================================
Because of the rampant disagreement among B7 fans over 1) whether
character A is really that much like Avon/Blake/whoever, 2) whether
the author intended it to be that way, and 3) how good the book is in
general, regardless of the degree of similarity to anyone in Blake's
7, I plan to set this file up as a survey, not as the Gospel Truth.
Anyone who wants to submit a book (or movie, or record, or whatever)
to the B7 Avatar File can do so, and I'll include the entry. All
submissions will be tagged with the submitter's name.
I'd appreciate it if submissions were mailed to me in the following
format, though I'll accept unformatted submissions. (I may whine about
it, however. You have been warned.)
AUTHOR : BOOK : YEAR PUB : ISBN (Look inside the cover for this.)
Submitter:
Why this book was submitted:
Submitter's comments:
Please don't submit any strictly fannish works, or pro works that are
a direct part of Blake's 7 (such as "Afterlife" or "Avon: A Terrible
Aspect.") This list is for *mainstream* works.
Please submit! All submissions are accepted; if you disagree with the
inclusion of a work in this list or the opinions expressed about it,
you may submit SHORT, POLITE comments for inclusion in this file. You
might be better off starting a discussion with the submitter of the
work, however. Also, if you have information about a work for which
the entry is incomplete, please send it in!
In addition, anyone is welcome to send comments on someone else's
submission, agreeing, disagreeing, elaborating, or whatever, and the
comment will be appended to the appropriate entry. HOWEVER, KEEP IT
BRIEF. Any really long comments will be brutally chopped down by
yours truly to keep the file to a manageable size. If you don't like
the way I've edited your comments, please do send me your own edited
version, as long as it's *short*, and I'll include it, verbatim. Got
it? Good. (And keep it civil, please!)
If a book is submitted by more than one person, the first submitter
gets the credit for it, although I may excerpt comments from other
submitters if they seem to add a different or interesting viewpoint.
Feel free to post this to other services if you like. The more
the merrier. Please be sure to keep the file intact, however, and
please don't publish it beyond the realm of electronic mail without
asking permission first.
Don't flame the compiler about the works or opinions on this list
(unless she was the submitter, of course). The compiler will ignore
such flames.
Have Fun!
Jen Hawthorne
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Format Notes
============
Works are listed in alphabetical order by the author's last name. If
the author is unknown, the work will appear at the end of the file. If
any works that are not books are submitted, they will appear in a
separate section of their own at the end of the file. At the moment I
don't know of any such works, but I'd be delighted to hear about them,
if they exist.
There are four main sections to this file:
Part One: The General Book List.
Part Two: One-liners -- books whose only connection to Blake's is the
appearance of a single quote from the series. (Exact quotes should be
provided by the submitter if possible.)
Part Three: Non-Print Media.
Part Four: List of contributors.
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Print Materials
==================================================================
Bujold, Lois McMaster: BROTHERS IN ARMS: 1989 : ISBN 0-671-69799-4
Submitter: Jen Hawthorne
Description: This book is science fiction and part of the "Barrayar" series.
Why this book was submitted: Lois Bujold based the character of Duv Galeni
on Kerr Avon (by her own admission, I think.) The character's appearance is
nearly exact, and there is one scene that is a virtual copy of the
opening scene of "Rumours of Death."
Submitter's comments: Despite Galeni's appearance and the copied
scene, I don't actually think Duv Galeni is much like Avon. I can't
see Avon shuffling papers for the Barrayaran Military for years on end.
I think it's an excellent book in its own right, however. Galeni
doesn't appear in any of the other Barrayar books so far, but rumor
has it that Lois is including him in an upcoming book in the series.
Sarah Thompson adds: There's also a passage reminiscent of "Blake."
I think there's influence from fanfic as well; "nutmeg" as a term for
eye color has got to be lifted from Susan Matthews. The whole series
is heartily recommended on general grounds, even aside from the
special B7 interest.
------------------------
Bujold, Lois McMaster: THE VOR GAME : 1990 : ISBN 0-617-72014-7
Submitter: Sarah Thompson
Description: See BROTHERS IN ARMS
Why this book was submitted: The villainess of the book, Cavilo, is in
many ways very much like Servalan (even the names have a similar sound.)
Submitter's comments: Another Miles
Vorkosigan book, with a dandy villainess who has Servalan's
ruthlessness, her femininity, and her "Gambit" costume, but not
much resemblance otherwise. She's a petite blonde, more like Anna
Grant in physical appearance.
--------------------
Carl, Lillian Stewart: ASHES TO ASHES : 1990 : ISBN (?)
Submitter: Sarah Thompson
Description: A long romantic mystery in the Barbara Michaels vein.
Why this book was submitted: One of the characters is a
handsome, charming lawyer with a big nose and dubious morals.
Submitter's comments: He
didn't seem very Avon-like to me, aside from the "Roman coin"
simile lifted from Tanith Lee, but I've been told (by the author's
former agent) that the published version differs considerably from
the original manuscript. Another possibility, suggested by Pat, is
that the character is based more on Paul Darrow than on Avon. The
author is, or at least was, a B7 fan and had a good story,
"Beauty," in Probability Square.
Ann Wortham adds: The Avon avatar isn't. He is most definitely an avatar of
Paul Darrow. He looks like Paul, he talks like Paul (sans British accent), he
dresses like Paul, and some of the things that happen to him actually
happened to Paul (there is an incident with a cat near the end which really
happened to Darrow, albeit under entirely different circumstances and with an
entirely different outcome). This explains why one reader said she didn't
think the character was very "Avonish." The character's name, btw, is "Eric
Adler."
--------------------
Cassidy, Carla : SILHOUETTE SHADOWS '93 : 1993 : ISBN 0-373-48263-9
Submitter: Heather MacKenzie
Description: Collection of three short stories. The relevant one is a
horror-gothic romance.
Why this book was submitted: The character of Quintin Marshall in the story
titled "Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" reminded me of Avon (IMHO).
Submitter's comments: The story is only maybe 20 pages long, but
Quintin seems like he's part of all the evil going on. Described as
devilishly handsome, a dark, cold, mysterious character.
--------------------
Cherryh, C.J.: HELLBURNER: 1992 : ISBN: 0-446-51617-1
Submitter: Jen Hawthorne
Description: Hard SF set in Cherryh's "Downbelow Station" universe
Why this book was submitted: One character, Paul Dekker, strikes me as
very much like Tarrant, and another, Ben Pollard, as very much like
Avon except that he lacks Avon's most notable trait -- his emotional
reserve.
Submitter's comments: At least one other person I mentioned this to
said she knew of someone (an Avon fan) who thought Paul Dekker was
like *Avon*, and suggested that even the similarity in names (Paul
Dekker/Paul Darrow) was intentional. I don't buy it, but YMMV! Also,
one of the other characters, Sal Aboujib, is a lot like Dayna. As for
the book in general, if you like Cherryh's style, this is a very good
example of it and you'll enjoy the book; if you can't deal with
Cherryh, you should stay away.
Sarah Thompson adds: I don't see the above character similarities, but
the two women reminded me a little of older, harder versions of Dayna
and Soolin.
Jen Hawthorne adds: I agree Sal = Dayna is a good match, but if I were
going to match Meg Kady with anyone I think it would be Jenna. I'm not
inclined to match Meg with anyone B7, though, since I think she's
*Carolyn's* avatar in the novel.
--------------------
Cherryh, C.J. : HEAVY TIME: 1991 : ISBN 0-446-51616-3
Submitter: Jen Hawthorne
Description: See HELLBURNER
Why this book was submitted: The prequel to HELLBURNER, though both
books stand alone.
Submitter's comments: The character similarities I see in HELLBURNER
aren't nearly as clear in this book since the characters changed
(grew) a fair amount between the two books.
--------------------
Dumas, Alexandre (Jr.) : THE THREE MUSKETEERS : ? : ISBN (?)
Submitter: Judith Proctor
Description: An historical romance set in France.
Why this book was submitted: Athos isn't Avon, but there are points
where the two resonate very strongly.
Submitter's comments: There's an aristocratic feel to him, and the
tragedy in Athos's background, cannot fail to bring Anna Grant to
mind. He too was betrayed by someone he loved. Knowing Avon, I find
that I now identify far more closely with Athos. He's reserved about
himself and has a strong sense of honour. The parallel isn't total,
but it's certainly worthy of note.
--------------------
Elrod, P.N. : ART IN THE BLOOD : 1991 : ISBN (not given)
Submitter: Kathryn Andersen
Description: Vampire detective investigates murder of an artist. (This
book is part of a series)
Why this book was submitted: This book contains avatars of Blake,
Avon, Vila, Cally and Servalan. The use is conscious (the author is a
fan).
Submitter's comments: The actual book itself is
fairly average; I don't care for vampires in general, and though the
Avon and Servalan characters flew off the page, the others weren't so
enjoyable.
Sarah Thompson adds: From the "Vampire Files" series featuring vampire
detective Jack Fleming. The entire late-second-season crew as artists
in 1930s Chicago, with Servalan as intrepid girl reporter. Lotsa
fun, though some may object to who turns out to have dunnit.
Anna Sawitzky adds: Avon is Alex Adrian, the darkly handsome painter.
His pal, Evan Robey, is Vila. Both like to gamble and drink. His
sister, Sandra, is Cally. Fellow artist Leighton Brett is Blake, and
his wife is Jenna in disguise. I believe the murdered wife was Soolin
and Servalan is the trashy tabloid reporter still in love with Alex.
Her name is Barb Steler {short, jet black hair and a milky white
complexion}.
--------------------
Elrod, P.N.: I, STRAHD : 1993 : ISBN (?)
Submitter: Sarah Thompson
Description: A Vampire novel, part of the "Ravenloft" RPG series
Why this book was submitted: Avon appears as the vampire Strahd Von
Zarovich, with Tarrant as his ill-fated henchman.
Submitter's comments: The resemblance to the originals is not
all that close-- I would never have guessed if the author hadn't
mentioned it in the Tarrant apa-- but the book is a good read
anyway.
--------------------
Feyrer, Gayle : PRINCE OF CUPS : ISBN (?)
Submitter: Sarah Thompson
Description: A "hot kind of romance".
Why this book was submitted: There is supposed to be an Avon-like
character in it. [Ed. Note: The book is not due out until July 1995.]
--------------------
Friedman, C.S.: BLACK SUN RISING: 1991 : ISBN 0-88677-527-2
Submitter: Jen Hawthorne
Description: A fantasy with a medieval flavor. Lots of magic and a
thin science-fictional veneer over the top to explain it.
Why this book was submitted: One of the main characters is named
Gerald Tarrant, but is not at *all* Tarrantish. However, a number of
people think he's a lot like Avon, and his relationship with the other
main character, Damien Vryce, is similar to the Avon/Blake
relationship.
Submitter's comments: I read this book on recommendation of another B7
fan, but don't actually feel that the Tarrant=Avon, Vryce=Blake
analogy is all that close. Rumor has it Friedman's a fan, though, so
try it for yourself and see what you think. Overall I'd say the book
is moderately good; many of the ideas are very good, but the execution
is poor in spots.
Sue Clerc adds: Thinking of Damien as Blake and Gerald as Avon gave
the characters an extra emotional edge for me. It also made the
narrative a tad too Avonocentric, but at least Damien wasn't trashed.
Given other pro B7 avatars, this is probably proof no connection was
intended.
---------------
Friedman, C.S. : WHEN TRUE NIGHT FALLS: 1993 : ISBN (Unknown)
Submitter: Jen Hawthorne
Description: See BLACK SUN RISING
Why this book was submitted: The sequel to BLACK SUN RISING, with the
same characters.
--------------------------
Green, Sharon: THE REBEL PRINCE :1987 : ISBN (?)
Submitter:Sarah Thompson
Description: Science fiction romance
Why this book was submitted: The prince's name is Gareth.
Submitter's comments: I dislike this author and
couldn't get through the book, so I'm not really in a position to
judge properly, but personally, I think any resemblance to Blake is
purely coincidental.
--------------------
Lee, Tanith: KILL THE DEAD : 1980 : ISBN 0 09 966360 0
Submitter: Kathryn Andersen
Description: A medievalish fantasy with a lot of magic.
Why this book was submitted: Parl Dro = Avon, Myal Lemyal = Vila, it's
dedicated to "Valentine" (which apparently refers to Paul Darrow) and
it is a terrific book, a skein of irony (and if anyone tells you the
end you should shoot them). It is copyright 1980, so it seems
extremely likely that the characters were consciously based on the
Blake's 7 characters.
Sarah Thompson adds: Fans generally see Myal as Vila, but in this case
the resemblance is less obvious. At one time Lee was quite open about
the book's B7 connection, but in more recent years she has denied
it, possibly due to copyright worries.
Anna Sawitzky adds: Cally is either Cilny or Ciddey.
Note: Tanith Lee wrote two filmed B7 scripts, "Sarcophagus" and "Sand."
--------------------------
Lee, Tanith: COMPANIONS ON THE ROAD : (?) : ISBN (not given)
Submitter: Kathryn Andersen
Description: Three companions flee down the road, carrying their loot,
with ghosts following them, bent on vengeance.
Why this book was submitted: The three main characters could be taken
to be avatars of Blake, Avon and Vila.
Submitter's comments: I think the book was actually written before
Blake's 7 was around - the timing was cutting it fine, anyway. It's a
fairly good book though, if you go for gothics.
--------------------
Lee, Tanith: THE BOOKS OF PARADYS : (?) : ISBN (?)
Submitter: Leigh Moto'oka
Description:
Why this book was submitted: Johannos Martin and Judit aren't
*exactly* B7 avatars, but I think Tanith Lee based them on Paul Darrow
and Jacqueline Pearce (not Avon and Servalan.)
--------------------
Lorrah, Jean: SURVIVORS (ST:TNG #4) : 1989 : ISBN (?)
Submitter: Kathryn Andersen
Description: A Star Trek: The Next Generation book.
Why this book was submitted: Darryl Adin is an Avon avatar. The avatar
is deliberate (the author is a fan).
Sarah Thompson adds: Avon as Tasha Yar's former lover. I kid you not.
They make a pretty good pair, actually. Vila turns up as a follower
later on.
Lorna Breshears adds: I also heard that Adin and his crew had a much
larger part in Metamorphosis but were edited down to almost nil due to
Paramount/Roddenberry wishes to limit "original" characters in ST
novels to one or two appearances, period. The author was not
thrilled, needless to say.
-------------------------------
Lorrah, Jean : METAMORPHOSIS : 1990 : ISBN 0-671-68402-7
Submitter: Kathryn Andersen
Description: A Star Trek: The Next Generation book. Explores what
might happen if Data became human.
Why this book was submitted: Darryl Adin of SURVIVORS reappears
briefly.
Submitter's comments: The book is a good read if you like Data; Darryl
Adin is hardly noticeable.
--------------------
Lorrah, Jean: THE IDIC EPIDEMIC: (?) : ISBN 0-671-70768-X.
Submitter:Sarah Thompson, Michelle Moyer
Description: A Star Trek: Original Series book
Why this book was submitted: There is brief mention of "Landing Party
Seven," whose members (given very sketchy descriptions) fit the
original B7 crew extremely well; one of them, the computer expert
named Chevron, is *definitely* Avon. And the author's a fan, of
course.
--------------------
Lorrah, Jean: EMPRESS UNBORN : 1988 : ISBN (?)
Submitter: Sarah Thompson
Description: From the "Savage Empire" series.
Why this book was submitted: Avon and Vila appear as a burnt-out
telepath and his faithful companion.
Sue Clerc adds: Pyrrhus and Wicket are based on Avon and Vila.
--------------------
Paul, Barbara : YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT : 1992 : ISBN
Submitter: Sarah Thompson
Description: A modern-day detective mystery, part of the Marian Larch
series.
Why this book was submitted: Cynical hacker Curt Holland is thought by
many to be an Avon Clone.
Submitter's comments: The author swears that
cynical hacker Curt Holland is definitely NOT Kerr Avon, but
personally I think she protests too much. She says that the title of
the second book, which is also the title of a play within the
story, does NOT refer to the apostrophe-less B7 logo. Read the
books and decide for yourself. They are excellent mysteries by a
well-established writer in the genre, police procedurals set in
contemporary New York. There are also some earlier books about
detective Marian Larch prior to her meeting with Holland, and
additional books in the series are planned.
Kelsey Adams adds: Apparently, Ms. Paul denies having Avonified
Holland intentionally, but likes the idea now, rumor has it. Some
people think Holland's partner, Trevor Page, is Blakian -- I say no,
but Ms. Paul probably meant it that way. I enjoyed this book and
would say it was worth reading apart from the B7 connection.
--------------------------
Paul, Barbara: THE APOSTROPHE THIEF: 1993 : ISBN (?)
Submitter:Sarah Thompson
Description: See YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
Why this book was submitted: See YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT.
--------------------
Paul, Barbara: FARE PLAY : 1995 : ISBN (?)
Submitter: Sarah Thompson
Description: See YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
Why this book was submitted: See YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
--------------------
Wein, Elizabeth E.: THE WINTER PRINCE: 1994 : ISBN (unknown)
Submitter: Jen Hawthorne
Description: An Arthurian fantasy, more historical than mythical in
flavor.
Why this book was submitted: A friend recommended it to me, saying
that Medraut = Avon and Lleu = Blake.
Submitter's comments: I'm willing to buy the Medraut = Avon, but not
the Lleu = Blake. This book also plays fast and loose with Arthurian
legend to the point where I wondered why the author bothered to make
it Arthurian at all. I thought it was a pretty good book overall,
though.
--------------------
Wrede, Patricia C. : THE RAVEN RING : 1995 : ISBN (?)
Submitter: Ann Wortham
Description: Part of the "Lyra" series. A "medieval urban fantasy."
Why this book was submitted: I haven't read the book yet but I was
told it was going to have a "Vila" avatar in it.
Submitter's comments: I understand Patricia C. Wrede is a friend of
Lois McMaster Bujold's.
Beth Friedman adds: Karvonen is indeed a Vila avatar, and Pat never
even considered changing the name when I pointed out that it was
almost an anagram of "Kerr Avon" -- that was his name. Daner is _not_
an Avon avatar, though, nor is he meant to be.
--------------------
Zahn, Timothy: HEIR TO THE EMPIRE (Star Wars) : 1991 : ISBN (?)
Submitter: Sarah Thompson
Description: A Star Wars book.
Why this book was submitted: The character Talon Karrde is said to be
based on Avon.
Submitter's comments: I didn't seem much resemblance myself. The one
thing that made me think of B7 was when Karrde, a smuggler, puts together a
smugglers' alliance in opposition to the Empire, rather like Avon's
attempted alliance in "Warlord."
--------------------
Zahn, Timothy: DARK FORCE RISING (Star Wars): 1992 : ISBN
Submitter: Sarah Thompson
Description: See HEIR TO THE EMPIRE
Why this book was submitted: See HEIR TO THE EMPIRE
--------------------
Zahn, Timothy: THE LAST COMMAND (Star Wars) : 1993 : ISBN
Submitter: Sarah Thompson
Description: See HEIR TO THE EMPIRE
Why this book was submitted: See HEIR TO THE EMPIRE
===============================================================
ONE- LINERS
===============================================================
Brust, Steven: TALTOS : (?) : ISBN (?)
Submitter: Sarah Thompson
Description: Dark fantasy, part of the JHEREG series
Why this book was submitted: The "I'm not stupid, I'm not expendable,
and I'm not going" quote appears.
--------------------
Carl, Lillian Stewart : DUST TO DUST : (?) : ISBN (?)
Submitter: Sarah Thompson
Description: Sequel to ASHES TO ASHES (see above)
Why this book was submitted: A character appears wearing a T-shirt
saying "I'm not stupid, I'm not expendable, and I'm not going."
--------------------
David, Peter: SIEGE (Deep Space Nine #2): 1993 : ISBN: 0-671-87083-1
Submitter: Jen Hawthorne
Description: A Deep Space Nine original novel
Quote, Chapter Fourteen, p. 181:
"One of the freedom fighters in Bajoran history was a man named Ayvon
of the Seven," said Kira. "He had many famous sayings, and I think
that paraphrasing one here would be appropriate: I'm not Starfleet,
I'm not a coward, and I'm not going."
--------------------
Lackey, Mercedes & Ellen Guon: SUMMONED TO TOURNEY :1992: ISBN 0671721224
Submitter: Claudia Mastroianni
Description: Urban fantasy with elves on motorcycles
Why this book was submitted: It has a B7 near-quotation at the
beginning of chapter 10: "I'm not insane, I'm not expendable, and I'm not
going."
Submitter's comments: If you like urban fantasy, it's well worth it, but
don't read it because of the B7 connection
--------------------
McCrumb, Sharyn: BIMBOS OF THE DEATH SUN: (?) : ISBN # (?)
Submitter: Agnes Tomorrow
Description: A murder mystery set at a Science Fiction convention
Why this book was submitted: A character appears wearing a badge that
says, "I'm not expendable, I'm not stupid and I'm not going"
--------------------
Paul, Barbara: GOOD KING SAUERKRAUT : 1989 : ISBN 0-684-19089-3
Submitter: Sarah Thompson
Description: A Marian Larch mystery of the pre-Holland era.
Why this book was submitted: On page 197, the contents of a New York
bag lady's bag are listed, and they include "two Blake's 7 buttons."
--------------------
Simpson, Dorothy: PUPPET FOR A CORPSE: (?) : ISBN (?)
Submitter: Susan Adair, Didi Johnson
Description: A contemporary mystery, part of the Inspector Luke Thanet series.
Why this book was submitted: Some character is described (by the
author) as looking like Servalan.
Didi Johnson adds: Thanet meets a woman who, Simpson says, reminds him
of the actress who played Servalan in B7. She doesn't seem to have
singled out B7, for other Inspector Thanet titles also contain passing
references to British television shows, including Dr. Who.
==============================================================
NON-PRINT MATERIALS
===============================================================
DC Comics: L.E.G.I.O.N/R.E.B.E.L.S. : Ongoing comic series, Feb. 1989-present
Submitter: Mang S. Chin, Tracey Miyata
Description: Originally a single comic book series, L.E.G.I.O.N.,
recently renamed to R.E.B.E.L.S. (L.E.G.I.O.N. should not be confused
with "Legion," a book by the same company but about different
characters. Look for the periods.)
Why this book was submitted: Character similarities include Vril Dox
= Avon and/or Blake and Garryn Bek = Vila.
Submitter's comments: Vril Dox (not Drox) is kind of the keystone of
the bunch, so he's still around. Bek has not appeared since the
series has been renamed. Originally, for the 5 year run of LEGION,
the series was based on an intergalactic police force. To shake
things up, the creators changed the series and put the core group on
the run (6 members now that Lobo left and 1 sentient space craft which
doesn't talk).
Dox basically began as sort of a Avon/Blake combine, but later on became
more Avon-ish. He's cold, calculating, and usually believes that the
ends justify the means. He hides his feelings pretty well, except when
he loses his temper. On the other hand, he guided his life pretty much
on an idealistic dream, which has since, been destroyed. He's the leader
of the crew and one heck of a genius.
Garryn Bek bears only a slight resemblance to Vila in that he gets no
respect and spends most of his time whining and complaining. Bek is
a fearless hero (originally a good cop in a corrupt force). He does
boast a bit, like Vila does on occasion, but Bek can be goaded into
action pretty quickly, and he definitely prefers fighting in field duty
over administrative work (volunteering for teleport duty, anyone?)
There are some other mild similarities between the characters in
the series (Adam Blake and Roj Blake; Stealth and Dayna;
Phase and Jenna), but those are really subject to the eye of the
beholder. The only clear resemblance is Dox and Avon.
LEGION was basically terminated and REBELS started where it left
off...basically the same characters but with a different storyline.
Tracey Miyata adds: Garryn Bek was once a cowardly pilot, but that was
in the early days. He was originally a cowardly drug agent on the
planet Cairn ruled by drug lords. The theory went: Garryn Bek= Bek
from "Shadow," maybe added to Gerren from "Games" but the drug
connection seems pretty forthright. The series began with the
original protagonists trapped on a prison ship. They manage to break
out and eventually go on to form L.E.G.I.O.N., a group dedicated to
protecting defenseless planets from the bad guys... except it's run by
the Avon avatar, so of course he charges them for the service... I no
longer read that title but the early issues (89-90) were probably more
B7-ish, anyway.
--------------------
STAR COPS (UK TV show)
Submitter: Judith Proctor
Description: A British TV series that lasted for 9 episodes, written
by Chris Boucher. Cops in outer space.
Why this work was submitted: Box = ORAC. Nathan Spring, an honest
policemen in a fairly corrupt force has something in common with Blake
(not too strong a similarity - Nathan's his own man). Kenzie reminds
me a fair bit of Avon. Devis could be compared to Vila a little bit -
but only in his sense of humour and appreciation of the opposite sex.
And a love of being a slob, possibly. And a dislike of hard work.
Actually, apart from being a cop as opposed to a thief, there's a fair
bit there. None of the humourous cowardice though.
Submitter's comments: Kenzie is a bent cop, she's out to get what
money she can, by whatever means she can. Nathan wants to fire her,
but unfortunately she pulls off a hero stunt publicly, and
effectively blackmails him into keeping her in the force. Kenzie and
Nathan gradually grow on each other. They argue, they snipe at each
other, but there's a growing respect over time in spite of all the
arguments. Sound familiar? If you want to know what Avon would have
been like as a brash assertive Australian woman, then try Star Cops.
It may sound unlikely, but trust me, Chris Boucher knew what he was
doing.
The whole of Star Cops has a very B7 flavour to the dialogue. Backbiting,
fast repartee, strongly developed characters. Some scenes such as an
exterior shot of a spaceship, while we hear the two occupants talking, have
a very B7 feel as well.
Frances Teagle adds: Kenzie has some serious troubles in her past. Remember
her conversation with Nathan about why she hates shrinks? "Nobody
really knows why you break down." Kenzie's been there.
--------------------
Malibu Comics : DEEP SPACE NINE: THE MAQUIS (Mini Series) : 1995
Submitter:Becky Dowgiert
Description: A comic book series based on the Star Trek:Deep Space
Nine TV series.
Why this work was submitted: A Maquis leader named Blake appears.
===============================================================
Contributors List:
Jen Hawthorne (jen@mit.edu, maytree@aol.com)
Kelsey Adams (SKA7188@OCVAXA.CC.OBERLIN.EDU)
Kathryn Andersen (kat@welkin.apana.org.au)
Sarah Thompson (s.thompson8@genie.geis.com)
Anna Sawitzky
Michelle Moyer (MichelleM1@aol.com)
Agnes Tomorrow (agnest@u.washington.edu)
Lorna Breshears (lorna@cs.utk.edu)
Ann Wortham (ashton7@aol.com)
Beth Friedman (bjf@terrabit.mn.org)
Heather MacKenzie (amiree@aol.com)
Sue Clerc (sclerc@bgsuvax.bgsu.edu)
Judith Proctor (100031.604@compuserve.com)
Becky Dowgiert (dowgiert@warren.med.harvard.edu)
Susan Adair (adairh@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu)
Didi Johnson (djohnson@wcupa.edu)
Claudia Mastroianni (claudia@zen.fandom-house.org)
Mang S. Chin (chinm@rpi.edu)
Tracey Miyata (satrina@aol.com)
Frances Teagle (Frances.Teagle@nessie.mcc.ac.uk)