For Jenna

Fanfiction
Title:	For Jenna
Author(s):	Margaret Scroggs
Date(s):	1988
Length:	15 pages
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	Blake's 7
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For Jenna is Blake's 7 story by Margaret Scroggs.

It was published in Horizon #11 in January 1988.

Summary

'For Jenna' by M. Scroggs - Blake seeks to avenge Jenna's death (From an ad in Horizon Newsletter #19)

Reactions and Reviews

If I had to pick an all-time favourite out of the Horizon offerings it has to be Margaret Scroggs' For Jenna. THIS is the kind of B7 stuff I want to read: It operates on a sensible scale of proportion, treats its hardware with respect a humgrommet-free zone), and oozes with deliciously sleazy atmosphere. Despite the odd trite moralising platitude about drugs (when's someone going to give us a first hand account of a Shadow trip?) the story radiates decadence and menace, and avoids two pitfalls that have marred some other tales. First, it makes clear that frontier dwellers do not live like idealised medieval peasants (as they seem to in, for example, Judith Seaman's Fruits of the Moon Tree, a bit whimsical for my tastes but with superb dialogue -- the characters words alone identified them much of the time, and that's rare). Second, the Federation's evil black-clad troopers were portrayed in a refreshingly ambivalent light, reminding us that there are human beings under those helmets and not monomaniacal thugs. It was, in many ways, a good Spaghetti Western, and that's a compliment.

I really enjoyed HORIZON 11, I prefer short stories anyway, and some of these were really brilliant. Particular favourites were Faye Bull's "Visiting Hours." "Never Say Die" by Lee Steadman, and "For Jenna" by Margaret Scroggs.

I do remember that "For Jenna" was good, so if you have it you might consider rereading that before you start the series of small novelettes [which begins with Fightback]. I wouldn't go out and get the zine on purpose, though. Anyway, I was thrilled to be reading some new B7, even if it is gen, that has a lot of Blake in it. Actually, it has everyone in it, except Jenna, Cally, Gan, and Zen (if you count "him" as a rebel). All of the characters are treated well. Even Tarrant and Vila get juicy roles. Avon is wonderful, though slightly psycho once briefly. Blake is great, well, is great after some major brain surgery which gives him extra powers. I have a quibble with that, but I don't want to give away too much. I may like Blake, but I don't have to have him be "super." I prefer the more fallible Blake. Her Blake does get into a lot of trouble, though, and does make mistakes, so he's still a believable Blake. As for plot and characters, I do get terribly tired of the brat from the HORIZON 6 story. And of all things there's an "effing" elf in the story. Sheesh! If you like h/c, Blake gets hurt a lot, though the comfort is definitely missing. This is not a thinly disguised B/A story. I'm under the impression that Scroggs either likes both equally or likes both with Avon having a slightly bigger bit of her affection. My only problem with this series is that the font is reduced, and the print quality is poor. We are talking major eye strain.

Most of the Scroggs stories were written in the late 80's. I only bought these because they were dirt cheap. Actually, I had never heard of them. It's just when something is for sale for $1 to $2, it's worth a risk. How many of you have read this series? Did you like it? I realize most of the people in this APA are more critical than I am. Can you think of some other Blake works that might be worthwhile that aren't widely known?

Looking fine, ah, an interesting way to make Blake a bounty hunter. Good.