In Another Life (Sentinel zine)
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| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | In Another Life |
| Publisher: | Agent With Style |
| Editor: | |
| Author(s): | Saraid Sinead |
| Cover Artist(s): | K9 |
| Illustrator(s): | |
| Date(s): | July 1999 |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | The Sentinel |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
In Another Life is a 144-page slash (not J/B) Sentinel novel by Saraid and Sinead. The art was also used for a My Mongoose story.
Summary
Saraid and Sinead have rewritten and expanded this previously-posted net story by over 100 pages, turning it into a must-read novel! Though deeply in love with Jim, Blair hides his feelings and stands by as Jim gets married and has children. Jim is aware of Blair's feelings and, though he can't return them, loves Blair in his own way, and worries desperately as Blair works his way through many of Cascade's underground sex clubs. What can make this situation turn out right? What could possibly help a doomed love like Blair's? [1]
Reactions and Reviews
I was bawling like a baby at the end... and you know what? It didn't matter! It was just so good and so beautiful and so sweet and so loving. But it is a death story, so those who don't like those should be aware. And there are no J/B scenes. But again, it's so beautiful and loving that I, the J/B slash fanatic, didn't even care! [2]
I have been a long time fan of Saraid and I was not disappointed in the quality of writing in this 'zine. She and Sinead make a great team. However as great a Saraid writes and as much as I've enjoyed her other fic, even this duo cannot make the theme one I'll ever be fond of. A real tear jerker of a novel. It's not slash in the traditional since of the word. It's more like "would be slash if we had not missed the clue bus all these years". Jim gets married and has a family. Blair has lots of sex partners and gets AIDS. As he nears the end of his life, Jim takes him into his home so that Blair might live the remainder of his days as comfortable possible and in the company of his best friend. There is more to the story, I don't want to spoil it for you anymore than I already have, but let's just say Blair's legacy lives on. WARNINGS: Main character death story. J/o. B/o. No J/B. [3]
As far as recs and hyperbole, I think part of that also is time and experience in the fandom. At first everything is just wonderful until you've consumed hundreds of stories and then you start to see how some rely on very trope-y premises and you start to appreciate either originality or writing skill. That's why I like to read things more than once. I remember reading "In Another Life" by Saraid and Sinead (which is a pseud for someone else I believe). Very painful and I was so engrossed in it I thought it was great. When I was finally able to re-read it, all I could see were the character flaws. Yet, many people were calling it the best story they ever read. The third time I read it I was able to balance it out and call it a story I could recommend but with definite reservations. [4]
I know I have probably raved about this before, but I have to say... Wow. I mean, I have never looked forward to reading a story more than when I start In Another Life and just know it will be amazing. This story is by far the best thing I have ever read. Not just the best fanfiction, the best writing EVER. It brings out every emotion in me, and makes me feel so much like I am there. [This is] my third time reading it, and by the time I got 3/4 of the way through, I couldn't stop for a second, even though it was after 1 a.m., and then I had to e-mail right away to let you know just how I felt about this story. Wow. I have never cried so hard in a story. I was literally sobbing into my pillow at the end, and that is a major compliment! I do not cry easily! Please, Saraid and Sinead, keep more work like this coming. I will be a huge fan of yours for the rest of my life. [5]
For me it had impact -- emotional impact! I loved it! I hated it! I cried my eyes out over it! The written word doesn't do this for me very often and I will drag In Another Life out for an emotional airing when I need one! [6]
As far as recs and hyperbole, I think part of that also is time and experience in the fandom. At first everything is just wonderful until you've consumed hundreds of stories and then you start to see how some rely on very trope-y premises and you start to appreciate either originality or writing skill. That's why I like to read things more than once. I remember reading "In Another Life" by Saraid and Sinead (which is a pseud for someone else I believe). Very painful and I was so engrossed in it I thought it was great. When I was finally able to re-read it, all I could see were the character flaws. Yet, many people were calling it the best story they ever read. The third time I read it I was able to balance it out and call it a story I could recommend but with definite reservations. [7]
This has to be the most painful tearjerker fanfic ever written. I mean it. It's deathfic, and that's painful, but it's the lives that are painful, not the death itself. Jim and Blair are as close as two people can be, but Jim is straight and Blair won't ask for what he can't have. What follows are relationships, children, careers, self-destruction, healing, life, death, all of it in vivid and breathtaking detail. [8]
People either love this story or hate it. I love it and it always makes me cry. [9]
I love it, but I'll never read it again. I cried for two days the first time round... Good rec, though. It's certainly a classic in the fandom. [10]
That fic is like the epitome of everything I don't read and yet not only did I read it back then - for reasons that still elude me to these days - but I also found it incredibly beautiful, though of course awfully painful and heartbreaking. Thank God for the whole 'in another life it'll be different' concept though, it helped a little bit save my sanity *sniffles again at the thought* Which is my way of saying, good rec! [11]
*g* Yeah, this is one I never read without a box of tissues handy, and I *never* cry at this sort of thing. [12]
I basically spent the whole day reading this wonderful, fabulous story. A thousand thanks for reccing this! Apparently Sinead is Jane Mailander [13]? It gives her eMail addy at the end, next to Saraid's. No wonder this fic is so damn great.It's one of those wonderful mature stories I love to pieces. We all like the fairytale "and they lived happily ever after" ficcies, yet, it often is that way in live that we *don't* get what we desire the most. And still we have to live the life and it can still be a happy one. Mostly.
I prefer great literal stories like this a thousand times over the mundane "Blair gets abducted/hurt/raped and Jim rescues him and they have great sex" most writers dish out. It's a pity that most of the above commenters said they refuse to read this fic again. Not only is it worth a second, third and fourth reading, they could actually learn something from it. [14]
Long AU with *gasp* Het! but my slashy little soul forgave because this is an incredible read, great world building and every time I reach the end I weep like someone’s torn out my heart. [15]
B is gay, J is not, B does extremely risky behavior when J won't have him, till the inevitable happens. [16]
References
- ^ from the publisher
- ^ comment by Marina at Agent With Style
- ^ Destinies Entwined, accessed 3.23.2011
- ^ Epic Recs, accessed 3.23.2011
- ^ comment by Panda at Agent With Style, accessed November 28, 2012
- ^ comment by Dee at Agent With Style, accessed November 28, 2012
- ^ 2008 comments at Epic Recs
- ^ a 2006 rec at Crack Van
- ^ a 2006 rec at Crack Van
- ^ a 2006 rec at Crack Van
- ^ a 2006 rec at Crack Van
- ^ a 2006 rec at Crack Van
- ^ No.
- ^ a 2006 rec at Crack Van
- ^ mairi at polyfandomrecs, May 5, 2006
- ^ comments in 2010 by a fan selling this zine