Ghost Writers in the Wind

Zine
Title:	Ghost Writers in the Wind
Publisher:	Del Floria's Press & Samizdat Press
Editor:
Author(s):	Alexi Tesla
Cover Artist(s):
Illustrator(s):
Date(s):	March 1999
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:	slash
Fandom:	Man from UNCLE
Language:	English
External Links:	Del Floria's Press
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Ghost Writers in the Wind is a Man from UNCLE slash 256-page novel by Alexi Tesla. It was edited by Sasha Sokolnikov and Mike Akers. It is expanded and revised from a story of the same name in Comrades #2.

front cover

Summary

Kuryakin becomes a novelist after leaving U.N.C.L.E., but he still harbors unrequited love for Solo.

Chapters

• A Letter from the Author (1)
• Son of Sinanju (3)
• Drakonouga (43)
• Ghost Writers in the Wind (105)
• Return of the Son of Sinanju (138)
• Riders of the 10% Purple Wage (208)
• Epilogue (248)

Letter from the Author

A long time ago in a fanzine far, far away, was a story called "Ghost Writers in the Wind" which was published by Samizdat Press in Comrades #2.

But after it was all done, I realised there had to be more. I loved the story, but there were things I kept wondering about. And judging from the letters that came in, other fans were wondering, too.

Like the letter-writters, I wondered: what Napoleon had been doing before he and Illya re-united? Six years is a long time. How had he spent it? And Illya... what on earth had triggered him to become a spy novelist (an occupation only slightly more credible than a fashion designer)?

And I wondered how they had gotten on together, up in that rambling house in Vermont, afterwards.

And so now, here is the rest of the story. Two prequels, if you will, and the sequel. The original short story, "Ghost Writers in the Wind," has been revised for its publication here. In one fell swoop, I've gone from short story to novel.

[snipped]

I take absolutely no responsibility for Kolya's sections of this story. But I can tell you it is a very strange feeling when the fictional characters you are writing about begin writing about their fictional characters. But "Kolya" insisted they be included so here they are.

Reactions and Reviews

It is a favorite of mine, and I think it's Telsa's strongest work to date.

This novel is both a prequel and a sequel to the previously published story of the same name, a revised version of which forms the center of the new, longer tale.

The author pulls out all stops in this amusing expansion of her earlier story. Humor is something 1 would like to see more of in U.N.C.L.E. fiction. Tesla is a master of the art, shifting from ludicrous to tongue-in-cheek to outright hilarious scenarios and dialogue throughout the story, all the while building upon the original plot and weaving in a delightful "story within the story." The novel is a very satisfying read and the affection between Napoleon and Illya comes off nicely.

At the back of the zine is an advertising section promising several more works in progress. It's great to see Del Fiona's Press/ Samizdat Press back in action.