A Voice on the Wind

Zine
Title:	A Voice on the Wind
Publisher:	Kathy Resch
Editor:
Author(s):	ChannelD
Cover Artist(s):	Romanse
Illustrator(s):
Date(s):	2013
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Man from UNCLE
Language:	English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

A Voice on the Wind is a slash Man from UNCLE 130-page novel by ChannelD. Cover and interior illustration by Romanse.

The artist's description and comments: "Title: A Voice in the Wind Cover, Description: Chalk Pastel Drawing. Would I do this cover over? Honestly, yes, I would. Sometimes things work well, and sometimes not."

Summary

From the publisher:

The Dome: A city sealed off from the polluted, lethal outside world, where everyone follows the Right Way. Everyone knows their duty and the world is organized by a strict social hierarchy. Napoleon, as the privileged son of a wealthy, upper class father, has never had any cause to question his way of life. Then, on his 20th birthday, he receives a Companion – one who functions as a servant and a sexual outlet. Napoleon is surprised to discover his Companion is male. And not just male – but an Other, one of the enemy, long since defeated in a brutal war. And though Napoleon believes he knows everything about his world, he is about to discover he knows nothing at all.

The Art

The artist posted the art at AO3 in 2014. See "A Voice In the Wind" Zine Novel Illustrations, ^{Archived version}.

Title: Companion. Description: Chalk Pastel Pencil Drawing (This scene depicts Napoleon’s acquisition of Illya by the decree of his father. The idea was to attempt to convey the fear that BOTH men are feeling at this first meeting.)

Title: Sail Away. Description: Chalk Pastel and Carbon Pencil Drawing (Napoleon and Illya take a long, perilous journey in a bid for freedom for them both.)

Title: Freedom Swim. Description: Chalk Pastel over Carbon Pencil Drawing (Freedom Swim depicts the joy and freedom Napoleon and Illya when they dive off the side of the ship into the sea.)

Title: Solo’s Gift. Description: Chalk Pastel and Carbon Pencil Drawing (After enduring separation, Solo gifts Illya with a small dog. Based on a picture of ChannelD’s real dog.)

Excerpts

The Other didn’t flinch under Napoleon’s touch, merely waited for whatever would come next.

Napoleon came back around. The blue eyes were lowered now, giving him an excellent opportunity to see and appreciate the long golden lashes, just a shade darker than his hair. Napoleon studied him some more, thinking of all the things he had learned about the Others. More animal than man, he had been taught. Vicious, savage brutes. But this one didn’t seem brutish. Captured young, Napoleon supposed, and trained rigorously. Still, it was something to think about, something to bear in mind. “You have no reason to fear,” he said finally. “You are under my protection now, and if you serve me well I will treat you well. Yes?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“How the devil do you know that?” Napoleon asked softly, but at the same time he saw his Companion, watching the teacher with that fixed, attentive gaze, and saw too the disappointment on his face when told to leave. “You were listening? To the instructor? Why?”

“I had to leave school when… and I hate being stupid!” Those last words came in a burst. “I hate not knowing anything! So when I can I read, and I listen. I have a good memory, I remember everything I hear and everything I read and I want to learn! I know I’m not supposed to,” he added, voice subdued. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again…” and his voice broke, as he promised away his future education in order to defuse Napoleon’s anger.

But Napoleon wasn’t angry. He was stupefied. He had never thought, no never once thought, of anyone in a lower place wanting to learn. Wanting to… to improve himself. Because that was what had caused all the problems in the world, wasn’t it? People not keeping their place, people trying to change what they were born to be.