Summer of 1999
(1) "Blair Gets a Job" (Sentinel)
By Helen W
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 8th July 2004 (1)
(14K)
A post-TSbyBS piece, in which Blair is cheered up by the
number of people outside of academia who are willing to employ him.
Good Blair voice, and a nice bit of smarm.
(2) "A Long Night's Conversation Regarding Long Ago" (Sentinel/Stargate)
By Helen W
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 8th July 2004 (2)
(22K)
This one is more of an interlude, because, as the author
herself says, the end sort of trails off. This introduces the
Stargate folks, with the "no, we know your thesis isn't a fake", but
this is really then just left, to be taken up later in later stories
in the series. I'm not sure whether it works or not.
(3) "The Fruits of Java" (Sentinel)
By Helen W
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 8th July 2004 (3)
(57K)
This is a nice travelogue and a chance for Jim and Blair to
sort themselves out with each other. And some interesting side-bits
that prompted me to do some research on my own.
I like titles with double meanings.
(4) "Grace, Naomi, Sally, Mary Margaret" (Sentinel)
By Helen W
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 26th October 2003 (2)
(26K)
This is described as "a short play about what happens when all the
mother figures in Jim's life share Chinese take-out", and it sounded
intriguing enough for me to take a chance on it. I don't usually read
fic scripts, but this one worked; I could see it happening in my mind's
eye. It also had some interesting explanations of Jim's background.
Though this is part of a series, it made enough sense standing on its own.
(5) "The Serpent and the Sentinel" (Sentinel/Stargate)
By Helen W
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 8th July 2004 (4)
(60K)
This is where things really take off: following on from events
of "The Fruits of Java", somebody finds an American Sentinel
irresistable, and Bad Things happen. It doesn't really matter that
one can guess immediately with the title what's going to happen,
because with the interesting PoV here, the tale is in the telling.
And there are surprises here anyway, as we get the unique Sandburg
Zone reaction to events. This is a good crossover.
(6) "No More Lies" (Sentinel/Stargate)
By Helen W
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 8th July 2004 (5)
(35K)
This continues on the story of "The Serpent and the Sentinel"
from Blair's point of view, jumping forwards and backwards a little.
We have fallings out and fallings in, hurt and comfort, anger and
reconciliation.
I really liked the bits with Naomi and Mary Margaret (and that
little note that Blair writes to himself as he's recalling the
events). One thing I'm not so sure about is the whole infection
thing leading to bone damage -- huh? It doesn't make sense to me,
and is a bit too convenient. But that's just a little niggle.
(7) "Inquisition" (Sentinel/Stargate)
By Helen W
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 8th July 2004 (6)
(70K)
Ah, another lovely double-meaning title. This is again an
overlapping timeline; this time of the events of "No More Lies",
from Jim's point of view, where we find out more of what motivated
Jim's actions there, and where we have some major angst, as Jim
flashbacks to memories that aren't his own.
Now I can't wait for the next story.
(9) "Pieces" (Sentinel/Stargate)
By Helen W
Reviewed by Kathryn A on 10th July 2004
(88K)
And here is the next story, just what the reader ordered! More
angst, more memories, more pain, more comfort. Mind you, I want to
shake them all, silly people! Being perfectly in character and
dropping the ball (or shall we say, dropping the vase? Ooops!) Blair
gets a little shake for not explaining more. Jim gets a big shake for
not trusting Blair -- geeze, after all they've been through! But I
guess that's the thing; in a crisis, one's flaws come to the fore, the
faultlines crack in the old patterns. And the rest of them deserve
the shaking for pushing too far, but then they don't know how
idiosyncratic Sentinels are...
As an aside, it's quite different having a Daniel who actually doesn't
like Blair, since most crossovers of this sort have them being old
friends. It was also interesting, again, looking at the memories of a
gou'ald who was not as bad as your average System Lord. Still bad,
though.
What Jim needs now is a nice, long, holiday. With Blair.