Beta Energy

Fanfiction
Title:	Beta Energy
Author(s):	Jemima
Date(s):	2002
Length:
Genre(s):
Fandom(s):
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External Links:	Beta Energy on Jemima's site
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Beta Energy is a Star Trek: VOY story by Jemima.

It was the winner of a 2002 ASC Award.

Reactions and Reviews

Ah, the very clever and very witty Jemima strikes again. One of the things I love most about a Jemima parody is that she knows how to let it unfold so that she expertly reveals the "joke" at just the right time. Timing is everything - and it's a rare and precious skill to have.

I laughed almost non-stop as Jemima trotted out every single convention of badfic--stemming from the lack of beta energy of the title. Just as I was thinking that the only thing missing was the Amazing Mary Sue, there she was! So many great touches throughout, from B'Elanna threatening to decapitate anyone who called her "B'E" to yet another Harry's Dead to Chakotay's 'normal' blankness. No one should miss this story.

This story was fun from the first: Janeway telling B'Elanna she needed "is" in a sentence only to be followed by Tuvok observing that the captain's own sentences lacked verbs. I loved the line about the engineer being in two places at once given all the times on Trek when the engineer is on the bridge. That wasn't the only wry observation on stock situations in Trek. I loved all the consequences of running low on that "beta energy." The bit with Harry Kim was hilarious and best of all was the appearance of a certain figure ubiquitous in fan fiction. The ending was perfection.

Bwahahaha! "Beta Energy" by Jemima is a real hoot and one of my favorite stories of this year. Trust Jemima to come up with a fic this original and this clever. It's truly a wonderful story and really fun (and funny) meta commentary too. I have too many favorites in this piece ot name them all, but some of the highlights include Tuvok telling the Captain she requires verbs, an out-of-character Tuvok offering love advice to the Captain and Tom proposing to "B'E". Andd oh yes, the losing of Ensign Kim yet again, that hilarious staff meeting with characters slipping in and out of character - there are so many great moments in here that it's hard to list them all including all of the implausibilities and the plot holes that happen when there is low beta energy. This story is so much fun and a pefect example of why one ought to find a beta 'high' in energy and avoid some of the common pitfalls that occur. I highly recommend this story as a "must-read."

An absolutely hilarious tribute to beta readers everywhere. The "Show-Don't-Tell Spaghetti" was absolutely inspired, but mostly, it was Jemima's subtle sense of humour that made this so brilliant.