Strong Enough

(1) Strong Enough To Be Your Friend (Sentinel)

By Kim Heggen
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 20th March 2000 (2)
Tags: Novella
(216K)

This one was very good! Jim angst, Blair angst, a plausible (interesting and devastating) problem, a plausible (much sought and not too easy) solution, tears, laughter, arguments, and soppy stories. My favourite bits:

- "Strong enough to be your friend." (sniff) - Blair puts his foot down - They actually consulted a doctor! - Soap suds - Lovely turns of phrase.

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

(2) And Time Will Wash Me Clean (Sentinel)

By Kim Heggen
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 20th March 2000 (3)
Tags: Novelette
(96K)

Sequel to Strong Enough To Be Your Friend. It follows on almost immediately from the end of the previous story, well, it's the next day. This one is done from Jim's point of view, and isn't as dramatic (okay, a bit of peril, but wasn't as emotionally dramatic). We just get a good sense of closure from the previous story; a coming-to-terms, a sense of peace. Good.

(3) The Space of a Single Breath (Sentinel)

By Kim Heggen
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 19th September 2000
Tags: Novella
(202K)

I was looking forward to reading this when it got finished. I'm not patient, so I didn't want to torment myself by reading it as a work in progress. But I've finally read it now, and I wasn't disappointed. Unlike many TS authors, Kim Heggen isn't into hurting Blair - she's into hurting Jim! Which makes for an interesting change. This is set after "Strong Enough to be Your Friend" and "And Time Will Wash Me Clean" but it only refers back to them a little, and brings back a supporting character introduced there. Like "Strong Enough to be Your Friend", this story had a combination of factors to bring a plausible unusual illness (but a different illness this time!). We had a cool use of another Sentinel ability, well, probably. (And the way Blair got to work was... interesting). I liked the dreams that Jim kept on having. There was also a chilling piece of foreshadowing. And Jim and Blair were really good in the character department. I could just see Jim dismissing the illness, and not telling Blair quite how bad it was, until he absolutely couldn't avoid it. And the way that Blair was upset wasn't over the top. And I really enjoyed the irony that, yes, the talisman Blair had been given on his trip, really did help him to choose his path. Just not in a way that he'd expected. Sometimes the way to wisdom is through suffering.

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