A Sentinel's Guide

(1) A Test (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 22nd December 1999 (1)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 1

Good straightforward story. Interesting idea, executed with attention and fun.

(2) Victims (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 22nd December 1999 (2)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 1

Good. It is nice to see stuff set earlier in the series, looking at how things develop, nice to see Jim wondering, hey, how much do I know about this guy, nice to see Blair being scared-but-brave.

(3) Avalanche (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 22nd December 1999 (3)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 1

Solid adventure and character stuff. I just relax and enjoy.

(4) Scapegoat (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 24th December 1999 (1)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 1

Not so much a whodunit as a how-did-they-do-it. I was actually worried for Blair at some points. (smile)

(5) Retribution (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 24th December 1999 (2)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 1

The Return of Lee Brackett. The only thing wrong with this is, really, Lee Brackett's revenge motivation. I can see him doing game-playing (and that was well set up) but I can't quite see that character (as we saw him in the series) actually wasting his time with revenge when there is power and money to be gained by doing something else. But then again, maybe I simply don't understand revenge. Anyway, if LB were to do a revenge, the way he does it here is probably a very LB way of doing it. So it's just a little quibble. Everything else here flows nicely. I liked the thing with the white-noise generators, nifty idea.

(6) Legend (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 24th December 1999 (3)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 1
Tags: Novella
(177K)

Solid adventure, with some nice caring bits - though one starts to wonder if Jim has spider-senses instead of hyperactive senses, since someone Jim doesn't like usually ends up as the villain. But that's story logic for you - after all, it wouldn't do for somebody nice to be wicked, would it? Though I take it all back, because I didn't figure out who was framing Blair in Scapegoat until it was pretty obvious.

Another addendum: this story was nominated in the 2000 Cascade Times Awards in the "It could have been an episode" category.

(7) The Game (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 3rd February 2000 (1)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 2

Good, but, darn, is Lee Brackett an immortal?

(8) Steal (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 3rd February 2000 (2)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 2

Good. Nice foreshadowing of Sentinel Too in the thoughts of Our Guys. Good sense stuff. Good character stuff.

(10) Babylon (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 3rd February 2000 (3)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 2

Good standard crime mystery... though maybe the villains are a bit too obvious. The murder nicely spotted by Jim, though, as a detective.

(11) Choices (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 4th February 2000
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 2

Good character piece - both their misgivings, I'm so glad is isn't just a "Blair has no confidence" thing. Both of them are human beings with doubts, darn it. Nice fun things there, and ends with a... (!) (smile)

(12) Shadow of a Doubt (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 5th February 2000 (1)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 2

This was really good. Not only a courtroom drama, but an emotional rollercoaster (and post-courtroom drama). Desperation and hopelessness and courage. And, indeed, relief (in the end).

Addendum: nominated for favourite long story in the 2001 Cascade Times Awards.

(14) Mistake (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 6th February 2000
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 3

Very good. (I think this author gets better as she goes along). Danger, and aftermath. Ultimatums and changing minds. And a deft and delicate touch of the psi. I like the symmetry of how, when Jim has finally realized that he does need Blair with him, Blair had decided that Jim was originally right, and Jim has to persuade him otherwise.

(15) Flashback (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 7th February 2000 (1)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 3

Good again! Good characterisation, good description, a satisfying bit of Jim-angst. I like how this author does a good Jim as well as a good Blair. Most people seem to concentrate on Blair.

(16) Target (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 7th February 2000 (2)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 3

Very interesting group dynamics - and personal dynamics. Blair gets analytical - but insufficiently introspective. Misunderstandings ensue. Very good.

(17) China White (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 8th February 2000 (1)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 4

Good again. Well done showing the effect on Jim's senses - and the emotional trauma, poor fellows!

(18) Adrift (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 8th February 2000 (2)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 4

Gee, they can't even go boating without attracting trouble! (smile) Good again.

Addendum: nominated for favourite long story in the 2001 Cascade Times Awards.

(19) Silent Thunder (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 8th February 2000 (3)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 4

Cracking good idea. Lovely misdirection. Is it psychological? Is it something else? And I loved how it tied in with previous events in this series. Great! (How's that for a spoiler-free review?)

(20) The Hell Within (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 9th February 2000 (1)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 4

Jim is a really dangerous man when he needs to be...

(21) Forest in the Sky (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 9th February 2000 (2)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 4

Post-"Warriors" story. Lovely. Worries and affirmation - again. (happy sigh)

(22) Blackout (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 9th February 2000 (3)

I like titles with double meanings. It was good again. And that little touch at the end, leaves you wondering.

(23) A Fresh Perspective (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 7th February 2000 (3)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 3

Seems like this is more of a sequel to Crash than anything. Just a nice interaction between Our Boys. (smile)

(24) The Dancing (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 10th February 2000

And another good one. Mountains and mole-hills. And another final reassurance.

(25) Crash/Thanks Jim (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 5th February 2000 (2)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 3

A short, indeed. Just a good helping hand. Nice (but tastefully so).

(26) Identity Crisis (Sentinel)

By Kristine Williams
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 5th February 2000 (3)
Zine: A Sentinel's Guide
Issue: 3

A what-if nightmare, and some emotional reassurance. Very good.