From: blakes7-d-request@lysator.liu.se Subject: blakes7-d Digest V98 #236 X-Loop: blakes7-d@lysator.liu.se X-Mailing-List: <blakes7-d@lysator.liu.se> archive/volume98/236 Precedence: list MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/digest; boundary="----------------------------" To: blakes7-d@lysator.liu.se Reply-To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se ------------------------------ Content-Type: text/plain blakes7-d Digest Volume 98 : Issue 236 Today's Topics: [B7L] NO CROSSOVER (was Re: BBC Books) [B7L] Novel by Trevor Holy of the first 4 episodes [B7L] The moments which define Blake?- was Tarrant & cats & dogs [B7L] Australian zines Re: [B7L]Videos 8&9 RE: [B7L] raining cats & dogs ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 15:03:47 +0100 From: "Dangermouse" <master@sol.co.uk> To: "Sue Cowley-WW" <sue.cowley@bbc.co.uk>, "'B7'" <Blakes7@lysator.liu.se> Subject: [B7L] NO CROSSOVER (was Re: BBC Books) Message-Id: <199809121431.PAA14467@gnasher.sol.co.uk> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > From: Sue Cowley-WW <sue.cowley@bbc.co.uk> > > Just delurking to say that if we ever stood a chance of getting some "real" > B7 novels out there then now is the time to write to BBC Books and tell em > you want them... I agree - I've been pressing Steve for this, cos I want to write one! > The crossover thing in Chris B's second book is a golden > opportunity. (my lips are sealed on the identity of the crossover > character, except to say that (he) is "undoubtedly the sexiest...") Since it's already been revealed on RADW last week that it's Carnell... *But* Chris himself said last week there's *no* crossover - the book he's about to start on is a straight sequel to Robots Of Death, and he doesn't know where the rumour of a B7 crossover came from. And that's straight from the horse's mouth. Unless he's fibbing. > Watch this space - i'll try to mole out any additional info on the next CB > book i can. Please tho, if you want to see B7 novels then write and call > and say NOW (and for god sake buy Chris's next book!!) and it has a real > chance of happening. Seconded. And I'll keep pushing on the grounds of wanting to *write* one. BTW, Steve Cole's post is now not "Doctor Who Books" but has recently changed to read "Scifi/Fantasy Publishing" at BBC books - which suggests at least the possibility of diversification. > Write to BBC Books at Woodlands, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0TT. And tell them how much you enjoyed my books... ;) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Sep 98 16:01:55 From: pdbean@argonet.co.uk (Patrick Bean) To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se Subject: [B7L] Novel by Trevor Holy of the first 4 episodes Message-Id: <E0zHrK0-0004qH-00@golden.argonet.co.uk> Content-Type: text/plain I have just got hold of a copy of this book, it tells the story of the first 4 episodes in a lot of detail. Some dialog is not quite the same, this leads me to wonder if it was written from the early scripts before they were cut down to fit the episodes time limits. The descriptions of the characters personalities is spot on. However that of the scenery is not, for example the teleport is described as having individual cylinders within it. The book also seams to answer one of the long standing questions, that of teleport range, Avon says to Jenna "As far as I can see it has a maximum range of about fifteen hundred spacils" This would make sence as they would most often orbit a planit at about 1,000 there by being comfortable within teleport range. -- __ __ __ __ __ ___ _____________________________________________ |__||__)/ __/ \|\ ||_ | / pdbean@argonet.co.uk (Patrick David Bean) | || \\__/\__/| \||__ | /...Internet access for all Acorn RISC machines ___________________________/ Web http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/pdbean ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 13:23:33 +1000 From: "Afenech" <Fenech@onaustralia.com.au> To: <blakes7@lysator.liu.se> Subject: [B7L] The moments which define Blake?- was Tarrant & cats & dogs Message-Id: <03150100872349@domain3.bigpond.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Terry O said most perceptively (and I quote almost in full because I feel it bears repeating): > may I point out that both Vila and Avon were holding guns on the > s.o.b. who was letting Gan die just to buy time for the Federation to > get there. It took Blake and his insightful threat to the surgeon to > get him back to work on Gan. > > And he would've carried out that threat, not because he was a > vicious man, but because Gan was his friend and he'd do anything he > had to to save him. Just like he would've destroyed all Sarkoff's > toys to get through his thick skull that his people needed him. to which I feel inclined to add a word, or two -smile- I have been reading this discussion with considerable frustration as I havent had enough time to really sit down and think of something coherent to add, particularly in rebuttal -smile- thanks Terry for doing it -smile- it frustrates me because I feel that these 'ruthless' moments are siezed upon and used against Blake without consideration of the context, both the particular of the story and the larger one, which are important when considering these actions 'Get back to your position' was mentioned: to me anyway this is not so terribly remarkable. Avon throughout this story was being particularly annoying, withholding information so he can show off how clever he is at Blake's expense, and here he is afterwards still being provocative. Blake has had all the worry of the 'Liberator' being taken over and commandeered, had to stand by as the slave who had saved his life is killed, suffered torture from the Altas and all the rest and so, to my perception anyway, is entitled to be a mite testy -smile- Yes it's autocratic, but Avon more or less ignores it, as perhaps it should have been. Just my perception -smile- Then there is Kayn's hands: it's just a threat after all, an intelligent one -smile- and personally I find it impossible to be sympathetic to Kayn - even if Blake had carried it out. As Terry alluded to, Kayn is supposed to be a doctor and yet he is indifferent to his patient's suffering, instead is prolonging it quite deliberately to further his ends. I cannot see how this episode suggests anything more than that Blake is using whatever is available to get done what must be done. And this can be applied more generally. I do not know how those who suggest such moments reflect badly on Blake (if I am misinterpreting apologies, but this is how it read to me) consider the underlying assumptions of 'Blakes 7', but for me anyway they are... that Blake is the 'good' side of the story, battling the 'Evil empire' and that is really mitigation enough, for me, for anything he chooses to do in this battle. But above and beyond that is so much else which builds to provide the context to these supposedly reprehensible actions. He is one man and a tiny, motley, crew against a totalitarian empire. Yes he has some rebellion support, on occasion, but generally it's himself alone. He is not a trained soldier (that we know of), yes he has considerable assets in the 'Liberator', Orac and Avon but he is still one versus the multitudes with realistically small chance of success. In these circumstances it seems to me that he would be less than as intelligent as he obviously is if he did not use the few advantages he does have ruthlessly. To me it seems an odd thing to be criticising. What should he have done? Be chivalrous to all? He'd have been dead in a day, let alone a week! To me its easier to argue that he is not ruthless enough, all things considered. Pat F ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 09:31:05 +0100 (BST) From: Judith Proctor <Judith@blakes-7.demon.co.uk> To: Space City <Space-city@world.std.com> cc: Lysator List <Blakes7@lysator.liu.se> Subject: [B7L] Australian zines Message-ID: <Marcel-1.46-0913083105-965Rr9i@blakes-7.demon.co.uk> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII My husband's just told me that he's going to Australia on a business trip in early October. Being the nice man that he is <smile>, he's offered to carry zines over for me. If any Australians want the chance to buy any of my zines (mine, not Linda's as they come from the US) at the UK price without paying all that horrendous ari-mail postage, then get your orders in now. I'll also send Gareth photos that way (including those already requested by Australian fans). I can't tell you an exact price until I've worked out roughly what Australian postal charges are like, but if you want to get your order in now, I'll tell you a price once the sums are done. You can still pay via Pat Fenech, but don't ask her to work out the costs as she won't have the figures until I've worked them out. I reckon you'll save around $4 AUS on many zines, upto Aus $8 on the thicker ones. (Assuming Aus postage costs to be similar to UK ones) Judith -- http://www.hermit.org/Blakes7 Redemption 99 - The Blakes 7/Babylon 5 convention 26-28 February 1999, Ashford International Hotel, Kent http://www.smof.com/redemption/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 14:47:50 +0100 From: JMR <jager@clara.net> To: <blakes7@lysator.liu.se> Subject: Re: [B7L]Videos 8&9 Message-Id: <3.0.2.32.19980913144750.0069fbc4@clara.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" At 14:25 11/09/98 +0100, Julie Horner wrote: > In the last Horizon newsletter it said that Fantastic Films were >releasing tapes 8 and 9 on the 7th September. However, HMV in Stockport, >which usually gets them on the day of release, still hadn't got them on >sale yesterday. Does anyone know if this release date has changed? >Julie Horner Yes, apparently the release date for vols 8 and 9 has been changed to Monday 14th September, but if anyone ordered them from "Horizon", Diane has already posted those that were ordered at least a fortnight before the original release date. Judith J.M. Rolls jager@clara.net ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1998 18:21:44 +0500 From: Jem Dixon <JemD@skyview.demon.co.uk> To: blakes7@lysator.liu.se Subject: RE: [B7L] raining cats & dogs Message-ID: <yam7560.2229.18498976@post.demon.co.uk> Content-Type: text/plain Oh yes, Vila is definitely a dog. Dogs wan't to be liked and enjoy human company, much like Vila. They are loyal, even if their master mistreats them, and Vila did stick with Avon, even after Malodaar. My old dog used to behave in a very Vila like manner when she was scared, hiding behind my Mum, or under the table, depending on the circumstances. I also know of several dogs who know how to open doors, especially one beautiful black smooth coated retriever who visits my local pub. If anyone could produce a "hang dog" expression, it was Vila. Finally, it has been mentioned that cat people like Avon and dog people like Blake, well I'm a dog person (if you hadn't guessed already :p), and Vila is definitely my favourite character. As for what breed, well it's probably that smooth coated retriever, what better then a dog which can open doors and was bred to find and fetch things, though perhaps it should be the labrador, which has probably the least hair of the retrievers (my apologies to Mike Keating). -- Yours, Jem. -------------------------------- End of blakes7-d Digest V98 Issue #236 **************************************