Down and Out

You may be looking for the K/S story, Down and Out and Under the Table.

Zine
Title:	Down and Out
Publisher:	Ashton Press
Editor:
Author(s):	Leah Rosenthal & Ann Wortham
Cover Artist(s):
Illustrator(s):
Date(s):	1998
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Blake's 7
Language:	English
External Links:
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Down and Out is a 79-page (71,000 words) gen Blake's 7 zine by Leah Rosenthal and Ann Wortham.

It is a reprint of two novellas, "Down and Out" (originally appeared in B7 Complex #11) and "Hawkwind (originally appeared in B7 Complex #16)." These two stories were re-edited with the addition of approximately 10,000 words and a full color cover.

The authors had originally planned to include a third story in this zine, but it is unknown if this occurred.

cover by Leah Rosenthal

Summary

The time is immediately following Gauda Prime. Commissioner Sleer has taken her prize prisoners, Kerr Avon and Roj Blake on a fast ship back to the Federation, where she hopes to use her capture of them to regain lost political ground. A crash landing on a remote planet changes has the potential to change not only Sleer's plans, but the entire course of Federation history! In the meantime, Jenna Stannis and the crew of the Hawkwind, have returned to Gauda Prime to find the rebel base in ruins and most of their friends and compatriots killed or fled. Only Vila Restal remains to tell the tale of what happened to Blake and the others...and he's determined that, one way or another, he's going to make certain that Kerr Avon is dead!

Authors' Proposal in 1991

From the editorial in Southern Seven #6:

We have been considering issuing a reprint of some of our older, serious style stories. The stories would be rewritten in some cases, and would probably also feature some illustration that didn't originally appear. Would any of you be interested in seeing this kind of reprint zine (sort of like the BIZARRO ZINE but with all of our serious work—especially the stuff that was printed in multi-media zines)??? If so, send me a SASE and a letter of interest! We'd also like to re-issue our Down and Out

HAWKWIND series featuring "Down and Out" and "Hawkwind," and adding the last story in the cycle (untitled, as of yet). With all three stories in one volume, the zine would be novel size. Any interest?

Reactions and Reviews

The Whole Zine

[zine]: What's a nice slash fan like me doing with this gen zine? I bought this post-Gauda Prime zine on a lark, and I adored it. It consists of two stories, Down and Out and Hawkwind. The first story details Sleer, Blake and Avon trapped on a uncolonized planet, and the second is Jenna and Vila's search for Blake and Avon. I do prefer the first story, because that's where my interest falls. This story might not be for everyone, because none of the characters are knights in shining armor. But, if that's what you're looking for in your fanfic, what are you doing reading Blake's 7?

The Single Story "Down and Out"

[Down and Out]: As you like Blake on GP, have you read "Down and Out" by Wortham & Rosenthal in B7 COMPLEX #11? It begins after GP, when Servalan takes a recovered Blake and Avon, whose injuries have him in an onboard cryo unit, in a pursuit ship to return to Earth in triumph - though by a very surreptitious route. The ship crashes on an undeveloped world. She has a broken arm and the crew is dead. She grimly realizes she must awaken Blake, who is strapped down, as she'll need help in surviving until, if ever, rescue arrives.

[Down and Out]: "Down and Out" ... was one of those hidden classics that leaped right off the page. Avon paralyzed, Blake mean, tough and deadly with a gun with Servalan as his huntress mate . . ay carumba! Wortham and Rosenthal know how to put on the Blake

[Down and Out]:I've read and enjoyed "Down and Out" by Wortham & Rosenthal ... That strikes me as a sinister but believable Blake. There's a companion story ("Hawkwind," in B7 Complex 16) about the concurrent adventures of Jenna and Vila, and I've heard that the authors plan eventually to write a third story and publish all of them together.

[Down and Out]: As you like Blake on GP, have you read "Down and Out" by Wortham & Rosenthal in B7 COMPLEX #11? It begins after GP, when Servalan takes a recovered Blake and Avon, whose injuries have him in an onboard cryo unit, in a pursuit ship to return to Earth in triumph - though by a very surreptitious route. The ship crashes on an undeveloped world. She has a broken arm and the crew is dead. She grimly realizes she must awaken Blake, who is strapped down, as she'll need help in surviving until, if ever, rescue arrives.

[Down and Out]: "Down and Out" in B7 Complex #11 was one of those hidden classics that leaped right off the page. Avon paralyzed, Blake mean, tough and deadly with a gun with Servalan as his huntress mate . . ay carumba! Wortham and Rosenthal know how to put on the Blake

[Down and Out]: I've read and enjoyed "Down and Out" by Wortham & Rosenthal (in B7 Complex 11). That strikes me as a sinister but believable Blake. There's a companion story ("Hawkwind," in B7 Complex 16) about the concurrent adventures of Jenna and Vila, and I've heard that the authors plan eventually to write a third story and publish all of them together.

[Down and Out]: ... slightly unsettling... "Down and Out" was powerful ... and disturbing. Logical as it was, and well-written, I have to say that I still prefer their "Season of Lies" as the "answer" to Gauda Prime.

[Down and Out]: "Down and Out" was intriguing, with interesting insights into the three main characters. I also hope for background and sequels to this tale.

[Down and Out]: "Down and Out" was superb —a different solution to the problems of Gauda Prime then that "Bobby Ewing" solutions of "it's all a dream, it didn't happen." And the personalities that emerge on the planet are believable, especially Blake as the ruthless survivor. I didn't know that Blake had a hard side 'til I watched "Shadow." Gan complains that the Terra Nostra are responsible for everything dirty, degrading and cruel on the all the Federated Worlds and Blake says "Earth is all I'm interested in," and he doesn't seem bothered by the idea of becoming an intergalactic dope peddler. I don't think either Servalan or Avon were gamma grades to start with, tho!

[Down and Out]: I found "Down and Out" to be very plausible; I was spellbound and read it at one time, Elegy" really got to me, too; it gave insights into Avon's mental processes. Thanks for publishing such a great zine!

[Down and Out]: I LOVED "Down and Out." I also very much appreciated the fact that Leah and Ann did a non-Bizarro 7 story. I was beginning to wonder if they had forgotten how to write anything else -- I am over-stuffed, over-anything-you-want-to-call-it on Bizarro 7 and if I never see another one, it'll be too soon. Yes, they were wonderful, but 10-15 stories is 8-13 too many, as far as I'm concerned. If they want to write stories of the caliber of "Down and Out," I'd pay to stand in line! Characterization, growth, plot, writing, all the things that make for reality in fiction are they.