Other fandom content, as well as ruthless, pointless, frequently inflamatory content-if'n the impulse siezes, of course. Also...
This ain't no kidsblog Expect adult content, language, and...stuff!
Tuesday, October 29, 2002
pennies from heaven…
The change to the page above reflects Farscape Ally's ongoing support of the Save Farscape Campaign. And yep, we know… kinda wugly just sittin' there lookin' all brown-like. But until someone tells me what's supposed to go in the big blank brown spot, we all have to just live with it and hope it inspires a craving for chocolate at the very least.
Helpfully enough, we've also included a button for donating to the Beyond Hope fund via Paypal. This is for your convenience alone (and ours), and should, in no way, be considered an obligation to donate. I've no idea why anyone would feel that way, but, you know, caveat and all that. ... ... However, this isn't to say that any and all donations wouldn't be vastly appreciated. After all, five bucks is five bucks and five more than the fund would have if you didn't donate. *g*
A link to an FAQ on the Beyond Hope Fund is also provided above and should answer all of your questions. We are very satisfied that all funds generated by the generous people donating to the Beyond Hope Fund are being put to good purpose, and that the more resources we have of this type, the better chance we have to get our campaign into the public eye and make someone see reason to bring us another season of Farscape!
An informational page on all organized fundraising efforts and their purpose, is also provided by those kind folks at Save Farscape.
Oh, and, just so you know, Fox may axe Firefly if more people don't start watching. Apologies to all Ff fans if this is the first you've heard. But if you love the show— well, we all know from experience now, that the sooner the better— write, call or drop by Entertainment Weekly on line, read the snippet article that may spell their doom, leave a comment and watch the show. Personally, I don't want anyone thinking that SciFi isn't a viable programming alternative.
Continuing in a series, still a wip, those following know why I am, so yadda yadda, okay? By now Betan is happy Ally doesn't know where the author resides. *g*
We are completely entranced by another of Crash's original characters. Original character generation and development is only one of Crash's gigantic strengths, but this time... well, I'm still bangin' my head against the table. To say more would to spoil it shamelessly. Awesome, Crash.
And because the fans begged for it (what is wrong with you people. Beggin' for smut… tsk. Er. Thanks) here's the ::NC17:: rated version. Lovely style, sweet rhythm. Love it when my head gets twisted on backward.
Wandering around and found this little gem, I'm sure I've read it before but not sure I've recc'd it. Probably have. Gotta update pages! Anyway, you don't need an altered state of consciousness to appreciate this fic, but it might add another level to appreciate. *g*
More of that gorgeous SV romance. This one is my favorite Mako story. Read in order, all of Mako's stories reveal a developing writer whose style and imagery just gets better and better as you go along. I just prop my chin in hand and watch them, a goofy smile on my face.
Henry Jones is also amazingly good at the romance. This one's just a short vignette, but contains one of the best kisses ever put to paper. The imagery is intense. Don't deprive yourself of the author's other works.
Got word from orchid that the car, the birds, the cat, the hubby and the kid have all made it safely through Canada. Alaska, through Canada to the US in just 7 days. Whew. My backside hurts just thinkin' about that. We are promised humorous stories at some point.
Oh, and hey, I'm hearing that the link for Crash's Child of the Night, Part 16 and 17 isn't working. This is another 'works for me' situation. I'm thinking it's a hit or miss kind of thing. My only suggestion is that you keep trying. Maybe Crash will post the story on Leviathan as well (hint hint).
Dominion archive changes post URLs... news at 5
*snerk*
As all who are familiar with board archives over at scifi.com/farscape are aware, posts to the current board all have URLs that begin with:
http://bboard.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/984/ and finish with a final five digit number (sequential in order of posts made).
When the board was archived at the end of August 2002, all the URLs for the posts made between August 2001 and August 2002 changed to: http://bboard.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/2925/ ... note that the change from /984/ to /2925/ is the only change. So, if you had a post bookmarked at:
Please note that the BBQ hasn't had an opp to change all the links to the stories that were archived, no matter how much Ally badgers, so if you get a "This post no longer available" notice when you click on the link, just change the "984" to "2925" on your browser bar and hit enter again, it'll take you to the story.
ally's pics
FARSCAPE:
Rippling out from Unrealized Reality. Fialka gives us Finer, and Maayan drops Two Bones. Sublime imagery.
Post Promises, in Cognitive Dissonance, cofax lends us an inside look at Sikozu, one would think a character constructed of clear glass, but given here motives and ideologies that lend reason to that off center personality.
Also reading a couple of longer stories pre-recc, but if you love to read, check out Leviathan, a few new stories there in the last few days, and authors are posting faster than I can read over at ScapeRoute.
Mm, jenn. A butterfly flaps it's wings and reality branches off from a moment in time, a reality where Lex didn't hesitate that third time. Beautiful story, beautifully crafted, breathtaking imagery, a vortex of emotion. Gawd, I love this author! Spoilers for Vortex, sorta.
Technically, we love porn. Lemme amend that and say we love very good porn. Well executed porn. Porn that goes to paper without a speck of naivete, and with, please God, just a bit of plot, or even just interesting style choices. Te is excellent at the style choices.
Trifecta alert, and oh, lovely the way the POV shifts among the trio. Just love that. Very good porn and a lovely stylistic choice to go with. Plus, I like the way she makes me giggle.
Still no time to read, but experience tells me that these may just be worth your time. If you do read, please feed the authors. It's the only sustenance they get.
From time to time we're privledged to see the process our writers go through to produce a story. I'm happy for the opportunity to read an author endorsed 'new and improved' version, and I have to admit, this is one of my all time favorite challenge responses. The original version had me laughing until I ached, and left me with an odd craving for chocolate. *g*
I'm not sure Crash has written NC17 before, but in the end it shouldn't matter. The story as a whole has been excellent and Crash can't be blamed if John and Aeryn can't get down and dirty while hundreds of people watch. Hey, someone let me know if it's hot. I'm backed up to Part 13 with no end in sight.
Atana Mirtai also wrapped up Deja New today at ScapeRoute. Only 20 parts, the BBQ needs to read all 20.
Hey… remember a while ago when I was bitching about no fic to read? Heh.
I may have recc'd this one already, but it's going on my 'must read' list. The story is complex with plenty of twists and turns in the plot. I'd like to ask more from a Beta 'cause that just annoys me from time to time, but the writing more than makes up for the occassional goofball slips. Metaphors are sparkling and sharp taking me from warm smiles to the heat of vicarious lust. Thamaris reaches inside with words and just twists your heart until you feel the hot sting of tears. Lovely story.
I'm gonna say, right here, how much I adore the Save Farscape Forum. That puppy can do so many neat things that once it can go fetch a fresh soda and keep my feet warm I won't really need anything else. You really need to check it out.
And we're not just sayin' that 'cause it's the new home of Chainmale Trivia (even if it is spelled wrong for now… it's Chainmale Trivia, guys). The thing is bitchin' cool.
That being said, I've lost Red's blog. The link is dead. Red's moved or something. Red? You out there?
Speaking of Chainmale Trivia… players new and old, old and young, need to watch Rhapsody in Blue tonight 'cause Sunshiner's gonna post the first question sometime tomorrow on the Save Farscape Forum and it's an all RIB all the time game until it closes sometime Sunday. Git yer trivia booties on. The BBQ is all over that.
No time for fic. Long day at work and it's almost our bedtime. *sigh* Where does that time thing go? Feelin' a bit fragmented. Hm.
Busy pouting over lack of time for actual fic reading, which is making us pickier than ever to fling the actual recc. The following is happily submitted for your pleasure.
FARSCAPE
Child of the Night, by Kernil Crash
Can I get a 'Hell yeah!'?
Fic of epic proportions in an awesome story by Crash. Ally is wallowing in all the lovely words, not skipping a one. The plot takes the concept of tabula rasa and wraps it around the characters for a detailed and not too angsty story, inserted throughout with brilliant moments of tenderness, and tempered with a dash of action. The author's warnings notwithstanding, The BBQ has thick skin and Chapter 7 didn't hurt us… much, but we are waiting on the big one with just the tiniest bit of anxiety.
The story installments pop up with soothing regularity over at the ScapeRoute Bulletin Board, Kansas, and is a work in progress, although the finished work will be posted. Crash just likes to torture. *G*
The story is rated R, although the final part (17) will be rated NC17 for 'friskiness'. Some of the story content is guaranteed to disturb some readers. Please note the disclaimers in Part 1 and proceed to read informed.
And we gotta quote scrubschick: "<sigh> It's perfect!"
And boy are my arms... okay, I won't go there. Had a lovely long weekend, seeing and being seen. No time for something new/new tonight, but here's some lovely stuff I was saving up before I had to tear out of here late on Saturday. Hope everyone else enjoyed their weekend.
I'm thinking of starting a stamp pool from which I will send stamps to those in need. I can't imagine anyone having more stamina than stamps, so it's probably not a critical need. Occassionally I'm crocked. Let me know.
On to the... stuff:
cofax has done what the BBQ has been threatening to do, and has updated her recc's page with a whole bunch of old and new fic. Check out these puppys for a nice Farscape Fix.
Max is looking for con-goers… can we call 'em "con-artists"? to help in The Cause. If you're a con-artist, check in and see if you can lend a hand.
Fifth of Farscape, San Francisco Rally pics are up here. We didn't all just stand around and take mug shots, actual converting occurred! Still have to put up my pics along with a brief report, but time being what it is...
Found where Chainmail Trivia is going to be played. It's just laying there. Teasing me. Game's been moved to the WDSection Board in the Uncharted Territories section. Just scroll down the page and click on "Chainmail Trivia". First game is still to be announced. *g*
In the aftermath of Duplicity (Ep 2:03), Sara T gives us a series of tiny looks at Lionel, coming to grips with his remaining senses. The story plays off a somewhat hacknied moment when Lex states that his father's doctor had indicated that Lionel's 'other senses' were compensating for his loss of sight—and she makes 'hacknied' a beautiful word; and the other, that poigniant moment in the tag when Lionel reached out, touched his son, and Lex didn't evade the contact. Lyrical, beautiful, a joy to read.
Just by happenstance I went by Suncoast today and saw Vol 3 of the S2 DVDs had just been put up on the shelves. Amazon.com isn't even listing Vol 3 yet, although I did notice someone on the Dominion Board said they'd seen Vol 3 at Best Buy. The episodes on the DVD are: Out of Their Minds, My Three Crichtons, and Look at the Princess, Parts 1-3, so that's 5 episodes in Vol 3 which sold for $40.00 at Suncoast. So it looks as if the release pattern for the S2 DVDs has increased as we've been told to expect [a result of the cancellation perhaps?]. The clerk at Suncoast indicated that I could preorder Vol 4. I was at the 'wrong' Suncoast so I declined, and forgot to ask what the release date is. Additional features noted are Deleted Scenes, and various other stuff which is the typical BS from earlier DVDs.
Monday to-do list
The Monday To-Do List. Happily C.A.S.E.'d from the Save Farscape campaign. We don't know where they find the time!
Four targets this Monday. Seven letters in all.
1. The Press
Long-term, we're looking at the November cons as being our best opportunity to attract some major magazines to do a story on the campaign. Those stories will hit the stands in December or early January, depending on their production schedule. We will schedule events, including photo opportunities, and send formal press releases closer to the date, but starting here, starting now, let's drum up the interest.
Here are the first two magazines we want to target. Tell them about yourself, what you're doing to save Farscape, and why the show means so much to you. Stress the internet campaign as the focus -- the way we've been using it to set up rallies, letter-writing campaigns, etc. Feel free to drop Renay San Miguel's name and the CNN-HLN coverage.
Tell them about the other great Farscape people you've met through the campaign, the skills you've put to use. Suggest that the campaign, together with interviews with the actors and production team, might make a great story. And if you're planning on going to either the LA or NY conventions, mention that too.
Snail mail only: no calls, faxes or emails. We want to incite interest, not piss people off.
Martha Nelson, Managing Editor
People Magazine
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020-1300
Michael Small, Executive Editor
Entertainment Weekly
1675 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
2. The SCI FI Channel.
The letter-writing directed at the SCI FI Channel continues.
There's are a few questions we would like answered. Let's start asking -- politely -- or continue, if that's the case. When is the show coming back in January, why are there no reruns scheduled before the Chain Reaction, and why was that scheduled on the worst day of the year? What are their plans to rerun Farscape in the future? How many blocks/runs do they have left? Why not sell the rerun rights to the back 88 after 422 airs, when they'll fetch the best possible price, and let it go elsewhere, should another network wish to pick it up? It's doubtless that anyone new is going to start watching a show they know is going to be cut off at a cliffhanger, and the core fangroup will not need to see the episodes again.
Bonnie Hammer
President
The Sci-Fi Channel
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Fax: 212-413-6531
Fax: 212-413-6522
3. Other Networks
We would like you to keep writing possible homes for Farscape, with a core message Red sums up eloquently as: "No, check it out, we really are devoted. We'll be devoted to your network. See, we're still here. Yep. Still here. Hey there, we're still here. You want Farscape. You'll love Farscape." ;-)
Be extra nice. They're the good guys. Tell them why you love the show, mention how well it would go with Enterprise and Buffy -- a nice bridge between the space show lovers and aficionados of the deep yet wacky -- and don't forget to list your demographics. You can include the demographics of the online fandom by printing the page here: word document, or rich text document (open in any text editor).
Kevin Levy
Senior Vice-President, Schedule & Aquisitions
United Paramount Network
11800 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Fax: 310 575 7210
Matthew Duda
Vice President, Aquisitions and Planning
Showtime Networks
10880 Wilshire Blvd. Stes. 1500 & 1600
Los Angeles, CA 90024
4. Sponsors
We'd also like you to write to two sponsors today, both of which advertise heavily on Farscape. Some guidelines when writing letters to sponsors: Sponsors aren't as concerned about hand-written letters. Hand-written is great, yes, but legible is better. Spell-checked and professional-looking is best.
Let them know you're a smart viewer and a loyal customer, and you'd be very grateful to them if they supported Farscape either at Sci-Fi or in a move to another network. Emphasize your demographics -- what do you do, how much you make, how old you are, what other shows you watch. And, of course, mention that you saw their advertisement during the show.
Kim Britt, Director of Entertainment Marketing
Dell Computer Corporation
One Dell Way
Round Rock, Texas 78682
FYI: Kim Britt is fairly new to Dell. She's working on branding the product, which hasn't happened yet, at least according to industry insiders. Dell works on the "Direct-to-Customer" marketing strategy.
Chris Clouser, Executive Vice President & Chief Global Marketing Officer
Dana Frydman, Vice President, Product Marketing
Burger King Corporation
5505 Blue Lagoon Drive
Miami, FL 33126
FYI: Frydman reports to Clouser, but she's probably a better target for letters. If you've got the time and the inclination, write to both.
Note that BK's had some problems marketing themselves in the past, so we're trying to sell the fact that we're hardcore fans. Emphasize you're a "Big Kid". Also, they recently did a promotional event with the character of Jimmy Neutron. They also, almost a year ago, signed up to promote Dreamworks SKG products.
For those of you in South Florida, BK began as a Miami joint in the mid-50's. You might want to reference this knowledge to indicate consumer loyalty.
And finally, all of you who attended rallies -- we need reports! That data will come in handy in press releases. Please feel free to drop by FMD and post a rally report.
all too easy
Christine, an attendee at the Australian Convention 'Holodiction', kindly provides a link to her report on the Farscape Puppeteers segment of the convention. Sounds like it was informative and fun! Thanks, Chris.
The author admits to some serious John bashing within the story so all SACCers may wish to have plenty of medication on hand. *g* The story is rated R for violent themes which may disturb some readers. The author also notes that Part 7 will be rated NC17 for "friskyness". If any of these warnings give you second thoughts and you go ahead and read anyway, please do not write and bitch at the author, 'cause, you know, you've been warned. *g*
As promised BetanSurvey gives us Part 22 of Golden Apples. This story has been going on so long that I'm now a better reader than when Part 1 was published. Betan was already a damn good writer at the time. Enjoy. Sole warning: This is a work in progress (wip).
Reposting parts 20 and 21, part 22 is new. I know many readers are following this story with great interest. It's a complex UR story that branches off sometime after Fractures. Facinating and complex on the order of a SciFi novel.
And, okay, I didn't know you could add a part to a story after an epilogue, but apparently aeryncrichton did the smut so well in the epilogue (the bbq applauds) that she's been pressured to add a bit more to a story that's already as perfect as they get. Here ya go:
Smut ahoy. The author does not admit to plot, but, smut. Is there a better reason for fic?
Atana calls this one a disgustingly shippy ficlet, and you guys know how much I hate those... but it's Atana, so. Here it is. Enjoy. Plus, it's rated NC16 for bad porn. Hm. This is a must read for the BBQ. *g*
A short story gone a bit AU after the events of Vortex, but I love it. Great character study of the friendship/relationship and that supersized guilt trip Clark struggles with every day.
Okay, this one I've read three times now and I've finally gotten around to recc'ing it. Once you can get your mind wrapped around the key plot device that drives the story you can really get down to appreciating this nicely woven tale. The POV shifts between the main four characters and they are very nicely done, plus an original character to die for, so finely developed I could see and hear him in my head. And as an added bonus, here's one of the few authors who knows that 'Damn it' is two words. *the BBQ grins; smugly triumphant*
This may sound a bit odd, but you may want to read Common Ground first and then read Divergence. Accidentally, that's the way I read it and I think it helped me appreciate the story more. This story is completely AU from the series. It's a little UR of it's own.
But once you get started, you definitely want to finish the story…
First: Oy, can you handle that pseudonym? Totally cool. Second: Uh, wow. This is an incredible post VORTEX story (EP 2:01), reasonably examining the events from Lex's POV (In that sweetly subtexty 'Lex loves Clark' way), the metaphor tangling with emotion so that we know he feels without crumbling over into dramatic angst-o-rama. God love Basingstoke!
San Francisco Save Farscape Rally
Well, I don't have time for that tonight, maybe more tomorrow— with pictures! Well, a couple of pictures.
Pam passes along a link to an interview with Jonathan Hardy who has some encouraging words for fans participating in the save 'scape campaigns. Thanks to Karlsweb E-Zine for providing the info.
If you haven't yet—and if you haven't why haven't you?—be sure to check out the intel on the 5th of Farscape global rally information at SaveFarscape.com.
Looks like Farscape Trivia could be coming to a bulletin board near you. I'll let you know more as information comes in, but it looks like the BBQ may actually get to play this time around, and leave the work to someone else. So. Bitchin'.
Extremely well received over on the Kansas Bulletin Board. To quote a satisfied reader: "Chock full of shippy goodness." Oh, and my favorite reader quote: "You ask me, smut is good for the troops!" Okay, well, you can't argue with that!
We're also wondering what Atana is up to with the now 11 part Deja New over on the Kansas bulletin board. Looks like it's being well received and the readers are whining nicely for additional parts. Looks kind of torturous to me. We're stickin' to our no wips guns, although we are sweating a bit.
Also, news from BetanSurvey. Betan is still around, just like the rest of us, turns out the letter writing and hand wringing is taking a lot of time, but the fall back position to boosting the morale of the troops with fic is also taking its toll so the next part of Golden Apples is looming on the horizon.
I admit, had a tough time recc'ing this one because I felt horribly manipulated, as it's an AU/deathfic (sorta) story, but on second read I couldn't help but be captivated by the narrative exposure that so carefully, throughly and painfully examines the mechanics of grief. Hey, any fic that can make me cry 'during' the sex is something special.
This is what friends are for. Gotta love that subtext tho. Hope's a genius with the language, and we're very partial to the banter as well. Love the banter.
Jenn reminds me how much I loved a fic, but wrestled with the recc because I actually saw Urban Legend [Michael was brilliant but the writer/director didn't make me believe he deserved to be killed by the insane wacko--and the fate of Hootie--that was just plain mean]. All that notwithstanding, the fic itself is oh so gorgeous, sweet and funny, but I kept sniveling about the dog, and Thamaris made Parker much more obnoxious than he really was [hehe]! Eh. Hell with it, here's the recc, in Jenn's words 'cause hers are so much better! Thanks Jenn:
How to Lose Your Virginity and Other Old Tricks, by Thamiris::NC17::
"Did you read Thamiris's How to Lose Your Virginity and Other Old Tricks?
I did, and I'm glad. As a rule, I avoid crossovers, and this one, with its two different MR [Michael Rosenbaum aka 'Lex'] roles, is just that much weirder, but the second half (okay, the sex half, but still) is really quite nice--somehow, once Parker gets out of the picture and it's just Clark and Lex, the writing gets much less frenetic and more poetic, with some lovely recurring metaphors.
"Lex's skin is like water against his tongue, and Clark wants to drink it." Then, "Lex... freezes like he's a river in winter."
