The Reading Room: Time Travel (The Mailander's series)

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

People who know me are probably stunned to see my name on this page as the pilot of this wreckage, sorry, bold and merit-worthy enterprise. I’m afraid all this is nothing else than a huge misunderstanding from my part. Never should I have volunteered for reviewing stories I hadn’t read previously, from an author whose very name was unknown of me, and dealing with topics I had not a clue about.

The only explanation is I love time-travel themed stories and had watched and greatly appreciated the Quantum Leap TV show. I was convinced that Jane Mailander’s series was a cross-over with Quantum Leap. It is not. It has nothing to do with it, except the bare condition of the time-travel possibility. But, outside this (indeed, important) premise, QL is firmly rooted in very realistic historical backgrounds and, with some light touches of humour, quite seriously minded.

The universe created by Jane Mailander is exactly the opposite. It’s pure, wild, at places mad-raving fantasy! Totally alien to my imaginative DNA and literary tastes (with the only exception of Harry Potter, I don’t know why). I cannot force my nature; so, I propose you to inverse the roles : me as the ruthless critic, you as the valiant supporters and defenders.

As all the nine stories are not available on line, I was only able to read the two first ones: “Boyz i' the Hood” and “Bodiana Jones and The Eye of Argon” (the other titles are mentioned in byslantedlight’s presentation, posted yesterday. A short review of every story by Cassie Ingaben can be found on the proslib CD). I’d like to get your impressions and opinions if you have read one or some of them.

The basic idea laying under the whole series is Bodie and Doyle being sometimes, unexpectedly and for mysterious, never explained reasons, projected in other times and places, some of them historic and real, others purely mythic, legendary or imaginary (taken from literary works, for example). They don’t know why, “it” just happens. In their fantastic adventures, they meet not only mythic or historic heroes but, involved in the ongoing action, many characters from CI5 in very various roles, usually completely unaware of their twin identity. In a way they have just borrowed the appearance of their CI5 counterparts and that’s as well since they perfectly may be shown as stupid and ridiculous, or even get the part of the villain (I don’t think I can ever forgive the treatment reserved to Cowley, grrrr…)

In “Boyz i' the Hood” , Bodie and Doyle find themselves among the merry men of Sherwood, while in “Bodiana Jones and The Eye of Argon”, they’re re-playing the adventures of Indiana Jones, as archaeologists tracking a legendary treasure in the jungle of India, with Bodie as “Indigo Jones” (!!!) and Doyle as Ravenwood. And there, I meet my fate because I have only very vague memories of the Robin Hood’s legend (might have seen an old movie as a child) and absolutely no idea about the Indiana Jones trilogy: nothing, nitchevo, nada! (I never watched the movies, no more than any other Hollywood blockbusters of the kind, except LOTR and HP, not even Star Wars). So I would be at pain to guess who is who and what is set for what. I only noticed Cowley as the arch-villain (re grrrrr…)

The first fic reads like a rather pleasant, entertaining, though not thrilling adventure story; the author knows how to picture moves, action and settings. The second, well, if I tell you it’s abysmally silly and outlandishly crazy, take it as an understatement. The outcome is…I can’t tell how it is; I'd say: like having been written while on LSD.

The style is so-so (IMHO); the author aims at wit but the result sounds (to me) either flat or heavy; she seems to be perpetually hesitating between humour and drama and failing both.

Sorry not to play by the rules. I know I am unfair and shouldn’t have undertaken to present something so outside my personal boundaries. Then, readers, go to the rescue and prove me wrong!

Comments

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

In all seriousness, I think this is a great introduction! It is honest, it is not unkind (there is a difference between not liking something and being rude about it), and it tells me something about the stories. So - seriously - thanks. In all those respects, it's very helpful. I know I'm a new arrival here, but I don't think the reading room exists purely to recommend things that everybody adores, does it? It is here for discussion, and that means different opinions.

I have read those Jane Mailander stories that are on the CD (I think those are all online too), but none of these Quantum Leap ones. I couldn't quite 'get' her stories on the CD initially. I thought the Land Bridge ones were beautifully-written, but they involve a relationship I am much less interested in (almost as bad as B/C - er, wait, sorry!). And then there are a couple which are written in a different style, which are variations on legends and stories that are almost like fairy stories. So I get the impression that she enjoys trying out different genres and styles. I am not personally so interested in them, but I think they are good attempts to work with different worlds.

So I can entirely imagine that Quantum Leap would spring to her mind, and that they are going to be very varied indeed.

One thing that springs to mind is the name Eye of Argon. I presume that this is a reference to an infamously poor fantasy story of that name written by an over-keen and very young fantasy fan. (I feel rather sorry for him actually: I would hate to think that things I wrote at that age were circulating and being mocked all these years later.) I have not actually made it through it, but your descriptions - "abysmally silly and outlandishly crazy" do make it sound as though she has succeeded in imitating it.

On that basis, now that you have drawn attention to Boyz i'the Hood as a Robin Hood story, I would put money on it using the characters from HTV's 1980s Robin of Sherwood, in the first few episodes of which "Robin i'the Hood" is a repeating phrase. If in that story Guy of Gisbourne has floppy blond hair, Little John is from Hathersage, or there is a Saracen character called Nazir, then I shall feel I have some idea of what is going on. I watched that with far more attention than I ever paid to Quantum Leap!

Hope that others who have read it chip in. In the meantime, thanks!

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

Very interesting comments; I can't reply now: too late. We must wait for tomorrow. Thanks.

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

Here I am again! I don't feel I was kind though I intended to but failed. Everybody has a right to his own opinions but, as a rule, I prefer a review to be done from a positive point of view, except when there are serious moral issues at stake, which is not the case now, of course. That's why I think It's not a good idea to accept such a task while "in the blue", not knowing anything about the author or her work. At least I hope said author will never stumble on this lJ page and read it.

I'll try the "Land Brige" series someday, and surely "Hombathlay" because I love "Watership Down".

I'm curious about the awful story that you said could be the prototype of "Argon": could you tell more? About your questions, I have to admit I already forgot the secondary characters of the Sherwood fic, must check.

I like Quantum Leap for its originality (it's weird but not excessivly so; if you accept the premises, everything in it is consistent) and for its thoughtful approach of difficult social and moral problems.

I wanted to add a review of a genuine cross-over Pros/QL, which is also a Bodie/Cowley story (so probably not of your taste): "A Stranger and Afraid" by Jane Carnall and Ann Johnson. But it's not on line and wasn't put in the list initially. By the way, have you, actually, read a B/C story or is it just the idea that repells you? Because I was repelled myself at first!

Just out of curiosity, try to read the final scene of "Argon"; it's hallucinating!

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

the prototype of "Argon": could you tell more? Well, that's it, really: there was a bad heroic fantasy story that apparently did the rounds of fandom in the seventies and eighties and became a by-word for very bad heroic fantasy indeed. Wikipedia and Ansible have all the details, and copies of the story. If it became such a staple of the fandom scene, it would not surprise me that it would be referred to in fic.

have you, actually, read a B/C story or is it just the idea that repells you? Because I was repelled myself at first! I have read quite a few, yes. It's not that it repels me. I'm just not interested, because I don't see it in the episodes. I *do* see Bodie and Doyle there, and I do think that's what's going on, and that's what I want to read and write about.

So, by that token, if these QL stories are Bodie and Doyle, I would probably enjoy them more, even if they are based in historical and pseudo-historical AU!

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

I checked: there is a hint about Zorro and his thin mustache (Douglas Fairbanks?), so the movie taken as reference must be much older. I didn't noticed the other characters you mentioned.

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Oh, there is no need to go back and check! I just mentioned a couple of characteristics I remember which I believe were original to the eighties series. They are probably not the characteristics which an author would seize on.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Hi, Francis! *waves*

I admit I tried the first story and wasn't interested. I don't have an affinity for Quantum Leap overall and I found the story not to my taste. I do believe you presented your honest opinion. I know this author from another fandom and she does have a different/quirky/unusual way of writing that one either understands or doesn't. I admit I totally did not understand some of her TS stories. I have read a few of her other stories that were quite humourous also. I do think she experiments, which is great. People should spread their wings and have fun.

Thanks for the efforts and for leading a discussion.

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

Hi! Waves back!

For me the first story wasn't bad; I wasn't hooked but not bored either, though not very interested in the Sherwood settings (but that's just me). I had the impression that everything was seen from the outside by a cold, unaffected observer: no sincere emotion. I thought the second one would be better but it started foolish, hollow, cartoon-like and got more and more deliberately crazy; I gave up. The writer doesn't feel anything; she's just playing with words and images. It's a parody, not a personal creative work. And even as a parody, it's overly extravagant, to the point of being ludicrous.

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

I now wonder if, maybe, she wasn't, actually, writing a crack!fic. In some parts the ludicrous aspects seem quite deliberate. Probably I took it too seriously and didn't laugh at the right moments. During the classic period in France (17th, 18th centuries), there was among educated people a notion of something called "l'esprit de sérieux": it wasn't a compliment...

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I haven't read them so maybe I shouldn't be here? *looks round and takes deep breath*

I saw they were zine stories so didn't even try - I have read a few zines but have no access to most and there is so much fanfic online (and I am so multi-fandom) I haven't felt a need to spend money on them, which might be heresy but that's how it is for me!

What you have done - and done very well, is to let me know that these probably wouldn't be to my taste. I like sci-fi but not QL, and though I loved the 80s Robin Hood I loved it as a fantasy, not an adventure story... So, whilst you tell me two are available online, I shan't be rushing.

You have admirably fulfilled the purpose of the Reading Room which is to generate consideration and discussion of stories! Thank you!

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your appreciation. Maybe other stories from the series would be more our taste; two in nine is not much and the first one wasn't so bad.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

But those were the only online ones!! I travel a lot and tend not to read anything if I can't put it on my Kindle... I am perfectly willing to believe that this author has written intriguing stuff - and I find authors who experiment with style etc. very interesting - but alas! I will never read her work to find out *g*

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

Ah, ah! I too am plugged to my Kindle! Wonderful device though many of its applications are not working in my country for legal reasons (no access to internet, save of the Amazone's site, for example). I chose it precisely because its easy connection to Amazone since I read mostly in English and for the voice function (very useful in spite of the terrible American accent), but I intend to buy a more generalist e-reader soon, with the total touch screen and more formats.