And Memories Die

Fanfiction
Title:	And Memories Die
Author(s):	Ellis Ward
Date(s):	1989-1990
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	The Professionals
Relationship(s):	Bodie/Doyle
External Links:	Part I on AO3 Part II on AO3
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

And Memories Die is a Professionals slash series written by Ellis Ward.

This story sometimes appears on fans' Desert Island lists.

And Memories Die, Part I appeared in the zine Walking in the Moonlight and Part II appeared in Other Times and Places #1. They are both unauthorized sequels to Felicity M. Parkinson's Looking Glass Universe which appeared as a paper circuit story.

Parkinson apparently did not have an issue with Ward's sequels:

I was fascinated to read that a Looking Glass World novella has been written. That's the second Looking Glass World story I've come across from the U.S. in the past few months. As the author of the original story I'm intrigued to see that after many years (the story was written circa 1982) there's suddenly been an upsurge of interest in the idea. I've also had various people suggesting I write a sequel, perhaps I'll do that yet.

Awards

'And Memories Die Part 1' won a FanQ award in 1990 for Best Short Story - The Professionals.

Looking Glass Universe

• Looking Glass World (original circuit story by Felicity M. Parkinson)
• And Memories Die (unauthorized sequel in two parts by Ellis Ward)

Summaries

In 2000, two fans Cassie Ingaben and Dagger compiled an index of many of the circuit stories. They also wrote brief summaries:

[And Memories Due I]: Cassie: Time has passed from the interlude in the Mirror universe, and D still has not remembered his month spent as a hustler, and even B's anxiety over the possibility is fading. The lads are still together, and all goes well—in a series of flashback B remembers how they got through revelations about their past traumas (D's mum killed by his father; B's father kicking him out for having an affair with his stepmother). Then D remembers, and goes into a crisis: but their love eventually pushes them through this one as well. All is happy in this universe: but in the Mirror one, the Mirror B has just lost his Mirror D to death, and cannot deal with the end of their stormy and dysfunctional relationship. So he starts planning ways to get to the Other universe to look for the Other D... "

Background

At the time the stories were written, many of the paper circuit stories contained no author name, so when Ellis Ward wrote her 'sequel' to Felicity M Parkinson's Looking Glass World, she had no idea who to contact to obtain permission. In the 1990s Ellis Ward explained that her two stories were not sequels per se, but more "inspired by" Looking Glass World. The original story by Felicity M Parkinson was a take on the Star Trek Mirror universe where the characters are unpleasant (as in the Star Trek Mirror 'verse) and gay (not in the original Star Trek Mirror 'verse.) In "And Memories Die I" Ellis wanted to explore what Doyle might experience when he finally remembered what he had done (and what had been done to him) in the mirror universe. In "And Memories Die II" she wondered might happen if the Mirror characters were to once again come into contact with 'our' Bodie and Doyle. Ellis later explained in a letterzine that Felicity M Parkinson was not pleased with the sequels as she (a) had not given permission and (b) would not have taken them in the direction that Ellis had chosen. In her letter, Ellis explained that as far as she was concerned Felicity M Parkinson's "is the only "authorized" version and should she ever write a sequel, it will be the "official" sequel." Ellis also apologized for failing to obtain permission.

Reactions/Reviews

1990

I recommend parts I and II by Ellis Ward, I'm in favor of part II, as it's in my zine. I consider myself merely the extremely fortunate recipient of this masterpiece.

1991

I loved this story, having read the original on which it was based 'The Looking Glass World', a while back. I love it when Bodie gets jealous, as he seems to through most of this story, and I particularly liked the part at the beginning where Doyle gets kidnapped by Bodie's counterpart so he can have his evil way with him. It was interesting to see a Bodie and Doyle so much more cynical and hardbitten than our own due to the environment they had to exist in. Both sets of couples pull through in the end, one with an almost domesticated, but very loving relationship, like a good marriage, the others living on the edge but maybe not so close to going over by the end of the story, although still too close for comfort. The connection between the two couples and how much they need their respective partners is shown by their Bodie's near insanity after he believes his Doyle is dead, and which-leads to his reason for coming searching this world for our Doyle; our Bodie is just as desperate to keep his Doyle from any harm, especially that threatened by his counterpart.

I would recommend that 'The Looking Glass World' be read before this story as it would save a lot of confusion on the part of the reader. I believe there is a story in between the first story and 'And Memories Die, Part 2', but I have not read this and I don't feel it is necessary to have done so. 80 pages.

1992

I like just about anything written by Ellis Ward. But these two featuring the 'looking glass universe' really held me in their spell.

2005

I don't think you can go wrong with anything Ellis Ward wrote but this is one of my favorites. The story begins eighteen months into their relationship as Bodie wakes and knows what he's hearing is Doyle. And something is wrong. From there, the progression of their relationship is presented in flashbacks, giving you the background on what has been built and what will be needed in order for them to survive a final confrontation. There's a sequel, also in the circuit archive, but that's another tale.

2007

Yes, anti-AU-little me is putting an AU this high up the list! What can I say? It’s the other Doyle and Bodie, the delicious interplay when worlds collide and all four are together. My jaw drops at how well she handles it, making the similarites and differences in their outlooks, behaviour, etc both subtle and instantly distinct. Her other Doyle is much rougher, more..exotic and unrestrained – a Ray grown up without rules, maybe, (he’s an assassin). The other Doyle is presumed dead, Ray is missing and both Bodies are looking for him. While driving they suddenly comes across *both* Doyles…

2010

A Bodie and Doyle relationship tale with fascinating twists.