Future Winnings
(1) Future Winnings (X-Files/Star Trek: Voyager)
By Ecolea
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 24th January 2001 (3)
Tags: Novelette
(95K)
Yes again, this author demonstrates that she knows how to write
good crossovers. She takes the premise, that Mulder ended up
cryogenically frozen on an alien ship, and woken up by the crew of the
Voyager, and she runs with it. How does the Voyager crew react to
this 20th-century wanderer? How does Mulder react to being in the 24th
century? The Voyager crew are their usual friendly, naive welcoming
selves, and Mulder, of course, is wary. And then Janeway decides she'd
better make use of this unexpected resource... and not for his FBI
training... Though that ends up coming unexpectedly handy anyway.
Now, maybe this story comes across a little as a Mulder-Sue
except that he does actually have the skills in question, which enable
him to (spoilers deleted). Because we also see from Mulder's point of
view, how vulnerable and lost and alone he feels at times, so I liked
it. And I loved the way he put his finger on the Voyager crew's, er,
babe-in-the-woods attitudes.
(2) Cafe Americano (X-Files/Star Trek: Voyager)
By Ecolea
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 24th January 2001 (4)
Tags: Novelette
(95K)
The story continues, with good insights into Mulder as he
has to face some of his fears, as he sees insights into Tom Paris
and Seven-of-Nine. I particularly liked his reactions to the Voyager
crew's unconscious attitudes to her; they tell her to be more human, but
they don't treat her like one. And then we get to the meat of the
story, a crisis with aliens and.. more aliens. There's parts of it I
don't like - take heed of the R (M) rating. But we get some good
Mulder-angst out of it, and that's good.
(3) Snookered (X-Files/Star Trek: Voyager)
By Ecolea
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 24th January 2001 (5)
Tags: Novelette
(99K)
This opens with calm, Mulder and Paris, Mulder and Seven,
and then the shore leave they take turns into a crime investigation,
where, of course, Mulder is in his element... and Janeway doesn't
understand. I like how this series doesn't let the Voyager crew
get away with their self-satisfied Starfleet smugness; not that it's
attacking them at all, no no, it's just that seeing things through
Mulder's eyes shows up their already-known attitudes in a sharper light.
And seeing Our Heroes through others eyes is something I adore about good
crossovers.
(4) Oil on Wood (X-Files/Star Trek: Voyager)
By Ecolea
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 24th January 2001 (6)
Tags: Novelette
(95K)
Mulder thought he'd left it all behind... only to find that it
was still Out There. Mulder gets caught up in obsession once more, but
this time he's on his own. But others won't let it stay that way.
Hmmm, I kinda get the impression this author isn't too fond of Janeway.
On the other hand, it seems plausible enough. Certainly her reaction
to the directive is typical -- typical Starfleet. I also like how every
now and then, in this series, we have it hitting Mulder that he misses
Scully -- and then he pulls himself together and gets on.
(5) The Way of the Cross (X-Files/Star Trek: Voyager)
By Ecolea
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 24th January 2001 (7)
Tags: Novella
(127K)
The Voyager travels back in time... just so Mulder can be clever
again. Or that's what it felt like. Not that I don't enjoy watching
Mulder be clever. Particularly enjoyed the subtle things that can trip
one up in Elizabethan times... (the reason for the abduction was...
priceless). I'm just wondering if this isn't getting a bit too
Mulder-Sue-ish; he seems to be the only one with a brain, here.
But I like watching him come to terms with things.
One thing I'm finding a bit difficult about this series is that it's
referring to particular Voyager episodes as if the reader has seen them
all, and knows what is being referred to, and I haven't; so the
narrative goes ker-thunk every now and then.
But I'm still going to read the next one, whenever it happens.