Blood and Fire (Professionals zine)

Zine
Title:	Blood and Fire
Publisher:	The Nut Hatch
Editor:
Author(s):	Jane
Cover Artist(s):
Illustrator(s):
Date(s):	1994
Series?:	yes
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Professionals
Language:	English
External Links:
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another edition, undated

Blood and Fire is a slash AU Professionals 165-page novel by Jane.

See List of Professionals Fanworks by Jane of Australia.

Series: The Wolven Trilogy

All three novels were also published in one 450-page volume called Wolven Trilogy Omnibus.

• Flesh and Steel
• Blood and Fire
• Soul and Storm

Jane Said: Zine's Editorial

Just a very few words from me this time, because I said almost everything last time! With this novel (larger than Flesh And Steel by quite a considerable amount!) I was basically building on foundations that had already been laid. That didn't make it easy, but ... easier!

A number of readers had written, giving me a pretty good idea of what people wanted from a second episode, and I hope (fingers crossed!) that I've addressed all points satisfyingly, within the story's framework. But if I botched the job anywhere, I know you'll tell me!

By the end of this piece, it's fairly obvious that there is more to come. I've been asked, will it be one or two more episodes? And I honestly don't know! If I do one, it'll be a very large one ... or would readers prefer two smaller ones? I thought I would put this question to you, with this part, and perhaps plan according to majority preference! So please, do write and say what you would like best: one epic or two smaller books.

I also want to make one more tiny historical note before I leave this introduction. In fact, I'm rewriting history, 'freeform,' as I go and I admit that there are vast departures from what actually happened in the late Fifteen Century. Please accept this as an alternate history, and in the interests of mental health, don't try to hammer this fantasy world into the framework of 'real' history, because it just won't go! But wouldn't it have been wonderful if history had turned out this way?

Your letters of comment will not only be most welcome, but will be of tremendous assistance when I come to plot and write the next (last?) part of this story. So please, write!

My warmest regards to all, Jane.

Jane Said: Interview

WHAT ABOUT THE RESEARCH FOR FLESH/BLOOD/SOUL?: I hate to disillusion people, but that story is almost entirely a fantasy. There are very few points of actual history in it! Most of the research was in geography ... the majority of those towns and cities do exist. One or two were invented. I borrowed a little from this century, a little from that ... The Gustav, for instance -- the monstrous cannon from SOUL AND STORM, was borrowed from a railway gun of the First World War ? it really existed, albeit as a Howitzer, not a muzzle-loading cannon. I did a little research into Egyptian history and mythology for the backgrounding of the Old Ones, but the Atlan backstory is my invention. The world of the Fifteenth Century is also very much sanitized -- so much so that these stories would no doubt vastly annoy a purist historian! My perspective: who cares -- get real -- it's a fantasy -- it's only for fun!

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR STORY IDEAS?: That's a hard question! Some pop into my mind full-formed, some take weeks to work out. FLESH AND STEEL came from a fever dream, when I had 'flu a few years ago.

Summary from a Flyer

The so-called army of the night takes to the road, to fight again at a hell-town on the French Border. They are victorious ... but at what cost? Bodie's skills as a scryer are highly prized, but his wolven blood is even more valuable. For the second time, he goes to war with Tanis ... and this time, the aftermath of the victory at Bruyeres is bittersweet. Raymond has secured the allegiance of the Moor, the Saracen; and what of the English? The whole world is at war, and surely it must soon be over. Amid blood and glory, Bodie is on his own quest: the quest for freedom. The road is not easy, for Kyris the Persian has been left behind in the new-born city of Beaujolais, and a new slavemaster has joined the war-bound army. Bodie fears the worst. And with Raymond on the road back from the Moorish heartlands are several more of the `old ones,' among them, the son of Lodovico d'Elan, just twenty years old, and in love with Tanis. It is on Lucien's account that Tanis takes up his sword and walks in danger's way, on the night when the hell-town of Bruyeres falls ... and what shall become of Tanis? For Raymond, the march to Rome is long and weary, but Bodie's presence has begun to light the way, and at the fall of Bruyeres, he has a remarkable gift for the wolven.

Reactions and Reviews

Unknown Date

Flesh and Steel Trilogy by Jane from Nut Hatch

Jane has written a flamboyant and imaginative fantasy set in an age where vampires, witches, were wolves, sorcerers and witches are not myths, but real and the Christian church is waging a bitter, brutal and bloody battle to root out and destroy them. The setting is an alternate 15th century, with the Moor and the Saracen in partnership with the vampires, and allies, against their mutual enemy.

In Flesh and Steel, Raymond D'Elan, the vampire general, leads his army against the 'devil cardinal' while the wolven Bodie, prays for release from his five years of torture, poisoning and abuse as the prisoner and involuntary 'scryer' for the cardinal, and see the city's, and his, green eyed, wild ringlet haired, leather clad rescuer in his visions.

As this is the first of a trilogy, some time is spent in setting up the main characters and providing them with backgrounds and motivations for their actions. Much of this is quite fascinating, as is the description of the powers that the vampire, witches etc. possess. Jane has given her vampires the ability to consume the life force of humans, but has chosen for them to eat, and drink normal food and not be reliant on blood for nourishment. She has also made them ancient and ageless. Bodie, the wolven is a wolf at the full moon, but human the rest of the time, and possessed with the gift of farsight.

The main story is about Raymond and Bodie, their meeting and their instant attraction, counterpoised with the vampire's distrust of him. Bodie convinces Raymond and his more sceptical lieutenants, Sabin and Tanis, of his sincerity in wanting to be part of them, and in so doing introduces us to Sebastian, the troubled priest, and Domenico, Bodie's one-eyed mentor. Once accepted, Bodie has to go through a years probation and service before he can be fully accepted into Raymond's clan. The story finishes with Raymond off to battle and Bodie beginning his indentured service.

Blood and Fire and Soul and Storm are the second and third parts of the trilogy. Blood and Fire is the preparation for the final routing of Rome with Raymond called away to fight and plan and Bodie left at the mercy of the Slave master and the traditions and daily humiliations of slavery. I found this part variable and a little repetitive, while Soul and Storm brought the trilogy to a magnificent end with Bodie, now a free man, in great demand as a highly skilled scryer. He scrys for the Scotlanders, who will support the pagano army if the auguries are favourable, and foretells victory, but tells no one, not even his lover Raymond, the truth. Bodie grows in stature, strength and self esteem as he commands his own troop of men, despite Raymond's misgivings, and their relationship slowly becomes one of true equals.

I'd heard a great deal about this trilogy before I read it, much of it totally contradictory, but what did come through was the rich imagery of the story. Having now read all of it I think that the setting, the style, the descriptions, the characters, the imaginative plot and the sheer flamboyance of the piece far outweighs any occasional tumbles into somewhat verbose purple prose and repetitions. I also like the characterisation of the alternate Bodie and Doyle, despite Bodie's initial weakened and subservient position. There were sufficient similarities to the originals to engage me, and Jane managed to maintain the plots momentum and intrigue, while developing Raymond and Bodie's relationship throughout the three books.

1997

The "Blood and Fire" series (2 novels to date, the third is in the writing stage). Deliciously gothic, and damned erotic!

A/U, set in an analogue C16th. world where vampires and werewolves exist and, like the Jews, were driven out of a Spain dominated by an oppressive Catholic church. Great, rumbustious fun

if you're prepared to suspend your disbelief. Gothic, decadent, richly ornate; Doyle as a long-lived vampire, captain-general of the Regiment from Hell, come to take back their ancient home; Bodie as a young werewolf and seer who falls in love with Doyle on sight. Witches, magic, eldritch creatures, blood and thunder, lots & lots of sex -- think swashbuckling and you've got it. Sort of reminded me of those old piratical Errol Flynn films in tone, tho' a lot less innocent! Found it very page-turning - Jane has a real gift for gripping narrative when she puts her mind to it - and it had some remarkable images. Definitely a Guilty Pleasure.

2008

One of the first things I ever read in Pros was Jane's Wolven trilogy - Flesh and Steel (1994), Blood and Fire (1994) and Soul and Storm (1999).

Bearing in mind that it's well over five years since I read these stories, my recollection of them is that Doyle is the dominant character here - he's a vampire, the leader of an army, and a man who knows exactly what he wants and doesn't hesitate to take it. Bodie is a werewolf who can foresee the future and is a far more submissive character, readily agreeing to a life in Doyle's service until such time as he can prove himself to be as great a leader of men as his master. By the end of the trilogy the two are living together as equals.

It's quite likely that the passage of time may have clouded my remembrance of these stories, but I'm fairly certain that I haven't seen this same Bodie/Doyle dynamic in any of Jane's other stories. If there are any that follow a similar pattern then I'd be very happy to read them!