Considering that DS9 has finished its run (sniff!) and most Trek novels these days stink, what better way to get a DS9 fix (well, other than reruns and tapes) than fanfic? This is a board for recommendations of your favorite (and least favorite!) DS9 fan writing.
I highly recommend the work of Sally Vandershaf (aka Sparky the Wonderbat or Sparky the Defective Vorta -- long story), who wrote a really cool (albeit unfinished) alternate season seven, which can be found here:
http://crispin.net/kendra/StarTrekDS9.htm
Go to the Dominion War page, and look for "Sparky's Dominion War Arc" -- I think it's the only thing there at the moment. (My personal favorite story is "Chameleon"...)
Another of my favorite fan authors is John Burke, whose website is found at http://www.capecod.net/~sburke/Website.html
I especially recommend the DS9/TOS story "Temporal Mechanics," which is probably the best Trek crossover I've seen. I mean, it has a scene featuring Kirk and Weyoun! How could you not love that? :-)
(I also recommend his original Trek series, "Renegade." It has a really neat premise...)
I know this is a little off topic, but as a DS9 fan I agree that the novels haven't been up to snuff lately. I was less than impressed with that Rebels series that came out, one reason being that they defiant had more than four decks. I hope things get better. Ill try checking out some of these stories.
Well, I don't care how many decks the Defiant has, since I didn't know myself -- but you're right, most of the DS9 novels aren't very good. I think part of the problem is that since the novels are non-canon, so they can't change anything, and DS9 had the particular problem that things changed so quickly that the novel writers couldn't keep up. OTOH, fanfic writers have the freedom to rewrite canon, sometimes with really neat results. And I've read lots of fanfic of a higher quality than some of the stuff Pocket Books turns out (the examples I've recommended, for instance).
And besides, fanfic authors don't get paid, so bad fanfic isn't nearly as obnoxious as bad novels...
My favorite Garak fanfic (some Garak/Bashir slash, and many non-slash stories which feature their friendship or Garak alone) is by Arcady. Her fanfic can be found at
http://home.fastnet.co.uk/arcady/LIZ2.html
Thanks, Mark! That is some GOOD fanfic! I suspect that Garak attracts really erudite writers... :-)
My favorite from that page is probably "Eminence Grise," which is incredibly well-written. Though now I'm going nuts trying to remember who "l'Eminence Grise" was historically... (Anyone know?)
Another good archive for Garak/Bashir slash fans is
http://members.tripod.com/~GBLvr/contents.html
The archivist of that site also runs a bimonthly (semimonthly? whatever.) ezine devoted to G/B art, poetry, stories, essays, and such.
http://www.strangefits.com/sfop/cover.html
Wow, thanks Mark! (Kit Ramage mentioned your kind comments to me - I'll just blush). Historical eminence grises include lots of 'behind the throne' types and I'm not sure that it was ever applied to just one person (though if it was, I should think Machiavelli would be a strong contender....
cheers
Liz (aka Arcady)
Hi! I loved your fanfic!
As for the Eminence Grise thing -- maybe I'm just all mixed up. Or colorblind -- wasn't Richelieu called "l'Eminence Rouge"?
Hey, I just found this site! Thanks for "advertising" my fanfics, Lea...and I read Eminence Grise and loved it, too!
Leave it to you, Lea, to know details about Cardinal Richelieu...but I believe Eminence Grise refers to an old, wise person (gray eminence or something)??? I took it as a pun on the fact that Cardies look gray.
And speaking of Garak, Andy Robinson's book (coming out in May) just may reverse the trend towards dull and pointless DS9 books (actually, it 's a general Trek problem).
And more good news: I've heard rumors of the Vorta Vortex's revival!!!
Well, the expression "éminence grise" (which does indeed mean grey eminence) refers to a "power behind the throne" type. I suppose I was wrong about it being used for anyone in particular, though I know the Richelieu thing is true.
Didn't catch the Cardie-related pun, though. Hee!
Actually, there seems to be another Vortex fan lurking around here -- check the board for the DS9 episode "Vortex" to see what I mean... :-)
And more links for the Nitcentral Cardiethon:
Una McCormack's site has a lot of really well-done Garak fanfic. (See also my comment above re Garak fanfic.)
I also liked the story "My Name is Damar" by Michael Hollihan: Damar goes to AA. But it's not as goofy as it sounds...
Oh, and since I'm plugging Sparky's fanfic -- I also heartily recommend "Identity Crisis," which you can find at the address at the top of the page. Guess who made the comment mentioned in the intro? ;-)
Hey SPARKYYYYYYYY!!!!! How's it going there?
I also like to push Sparky's fic. I have read her stuff!!! Great Stuff!!! Read "Playing With Fire".
That was great!!!!! Very discriptive, and fascinating!!! LOVED IT!!!!
Found the origin of the "Gray Eminence": One of Richlieu's advisors was a Capuchin monk (Pere Joseph). He wore a gray cowl and was very influential.
THANK YOU, Electron! I believe you're right about that. See, I'm not insane! At least, not for that reason. :-)
(Although everyone else is also right that it's used generically as well...)