Hope (Sentinel novel)

Zine
Title:	Hope
Publisher:	NoShaman Press Quantum Fire Press
Editor:
Author(s):	Sue Walker
Cover Artist(s):
Illustrator(s):
Date(s):	May 1998
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	The Sentinel
Language:	English
External Links:
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Front cover: "The cover for the zine is rather interesting in effect. The front is a fuzzy b&w screen capture from "Warriors" with Jim and Blair, along with the title and author and such you would expect to find. The back cover is the negative and mirror image of the front. It's an unusual look I found kind of interesting and definitely different." -- from the review below

back cover

the editorial

sample page

Hope is a 144-page slash Sentinel novel by Sue Walker.

It is published later as part of Faith and Hope. "Faith" appeared in Beefstick and Lambchop #1.

About

The anxiously awaited sequel to the 1997 STIFfie-nominated novella, "Faith" (which appeared in the zine "Beefstick and Lambchop"). If you enjoyed the original you won't want to miss the further trials and tribulations in the life of Jim Ellison and Blair Sandburg, as they come to terms with their relationship, and a whole host of complications on the road to love and understanding ... A lot has happened in the months since Jim and Blair became lovers. While battling personal demons and struggling to be accepted for who he is, Jim's future with the Cascade P.D. is threatened by an unfortunate series of events -- and his life is threatened by an unexpected adversary. In his tug-of-war between honor and duty, he risks everything for what he believes in. But who will pay the price for his choice?

This novel takes place in the same universe as the story “Faith” which appeared in ‘Beefsteak and Lambchop #2’. The author is not quite sure it could strictly be called a sequel, since some time and changes have taken place in the characters since that story. It follows episode timeline for awhile, there are some episode references—but it’s not intended to be canonical as such. With the show still on the air, that would be a likely impossibility.

Reactions and Reviews

Sue has done a wonderful job with the plot. Very tight and neat. A great "frame Jim" story.

Long notes: See the note marked "Everything You Wanted to Know About Reviews--With More Words".

Short notes: Just my opinion, so salt to taste. Differing opinions on any or all aspects of the story or zine mentioned are encouraged, begged for, hoped for. The best way to give a well rounded view of a zine to others is to give more than one, after all. There might be some spoilers in here, but I'll try to keep them to a basic minimum.

[zine info omitted]

Short overall impression: Good.

Longer impressions: Really good.

Okay, okay. HOPE is set in the same universe and set about a month or two after the events in the author's story "Faith" from BEEFSTICK & LAMBCHOP, which is still one of the best, most balanced anthology Sent zines to come out so far. "Faith" was a good story, the best in B&L and I was more than pleasantly surprised to see a novel length sequel out at Media West, but I think in many ways, HOPE surpasses it.

When the story opens, Jim and Blair are just returning from a three week vacation, during which, they actually managed to stay out of trouble. They're both happy, rested and totally cool with each other and their new found love. This state of affairs, as you can imagine, doesn't last very long. They come back and everyone's acting strangely, especially Simon. There's also an increased bit of tension in the new love affair mainly having to do with Blair's old love affairs--and not helped by the unannounced appearance of Naomi on their doorstep. And then it gets really complicated, with a plot which deals with a serial bomber, a 60s dissident, Jim having problems with his sense and just about every person he knows.

What really impressed me was the consistent level of characterization throughout the story. Not only were Jim *and* Blair written well (it's hard to find a tender and helpful, but strong and non-Wimp Boy Blair sometimes), but so are several of the supporting characters, especially Naomi. Naomi has never been one of my favorites, but I think she's given short shrift a lot of the time in the fanfic. Or made into the Yenta character, which I can see more, at least, than when Simon is written that way. Here, she's seen as a three-dimensional, if still slightly grating to Jim the Cop, character. In fact, I think the way Jim and Naomi's differening views of the world and circumstances is dealt with here better than I've seen it before.

There's a level of tension throughout the novel which is very well handled, but there are some nice, cozy and even sexy moments, too. But never does the sap seem to overwhelm anything.

If I have any complaint, it has more to do with the serious lack of commas in some sections, particularly when one character is addressing another. The mistakes aren't consistent and don't happen every time, which makes me think it just needed to be proofread once more. The problems weren't so numerous as to really interfere all that much with my enjoyment of the story, but they were noticeable.

The cover for the zine is rather interesting in effect. The front is a fuzzy b&w screen capture from "Warriors" with Jim and Blair, along with the title and author and such you would expect to find. The back cover is the negative and mirror image of the front. It's an unusual look I found kind of interesting and definitely different.

So, overall, I would definitely recommend this zine. Reading "Faith" would possibly help, but I don't think it's necessary to enjoy the story or characterization in this one, since it's not a direct sequel.

Established relationship, Blair as a true child of Naomi & Jim resentful.