ci5hq | Oct. 27th, 2011

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!