Pattern of Infinity (Blake's 7 fiction series)
You may be looking for the 1997 Blake's 7 zine Pattern of Infinity.
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Pattern of Infinity |
| Author(s): | Ana Dorfstad |
| Date(s): | 1986-87 |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | gen |
| Fandom: | Blake's 7 |
| External Links: | |
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Pattern of Infinity is a four-part Blake's 7 fiction series by Ana Dorfstad.
It was first published in the first four issues of Enarraré and revised and reprinted in Enarraré Blake's 7 Special.
The Parts
- By The Pricking Of My Thumbs
- How Sharper Than A Serpent's Tooth
- Whether 'Tis Nobler In the Mind
- To Take Up Arms
Reactions and Reviews
1993
(It's in Enarrarre? Ennananrrrre? that 'zine that begins with E! ;) Blakes 7 special issue. I call this a novel because it _is_ one. It has both of my qualifications: it's nice and long, and the quality does not suffer because of the quantity.... The plot is deserving of a Guiness Book mention; it makes use of a _huge_ number of canonical characters from the show, and makes their congregation make _sense_. I mean people such as President Sarkoff, Ro of Horizon, the GP gang, and our own S.C. to name but a few, and these characters (as well as some new ones) were given _lives_ in further development of their personality and to allow the reader to identify with them. The astonishing feat here is that all of
this is done, and yet our boys and girls are not left in the background; this story is a synthesis, and a good one! [1]
1996
Anyway, the longest story in this amazing zine is the Ana Dorstad PGP trilogy 'Pattern of Infinity'.
Part 1 is told mainly from the point of view of people on Blake's GP base, and gives a very convincing argument as to why they might believe that Avon and Co. had sold out to the Federation and what they might do about it. The scenario of what was going on in 'Blake' and how everyone might have survived is very persuasive.
Part 2 is basically 'what happened next' and is brilliant - my favourite bit.
Part 3. Kathryn Anderson's review says "if I told you, you wouldn't believe me, and besides, I don't want to spoil the surprise". I can't improve on that - but I couldn't wipe the hugely gleeful grin off my face as I read it.
You might have gathered by now that I adore this story. :-) Avon fans should love it, although Blake comes across as rather an irritating git, I'm afraid. Tarrant is quite surprisingly likeable, and Del Grant turns up as well. The writer also manages to produce some excellent 'new' characters - I loved Verack and Magaz.
Now, on to the obscure question. I don't want to give too many details because it would be a pity to give away pt 3. But, there are loads of references to various episodes - many are part of a fiendishly clever plot by one of the characters. eg. a piece of legislation about limiters is called something like 'Ganglio-Active Neutralisers' (GAN geddit?), a meeting is supposed to happen on Domo, on the 9th (Assassin), an un-named pale-eyed dude with v. long eyelashes shows up near the end. I can't think of any others at the moment.
Part of the plot involves a so-called fashion designer (part of a sneaky money-laundering operation) with the completely bizarre name 'Ng Huon'. I figured that the name must be a clue to something, but I can't work out what. Hence the obscure question. I was hoping that someone who had read the story would have an idea. [2]
2001
The very first piece of fanfic, let alone B7 fanfic, that I read, was Ana Dorfstad's "The Pattern of Infinity" (not to be confused with the series of stories by the same name by J. Kel, nor the fanzine of that title -- it was a phrase from a line in the show, that's why it's been repeated...) and I was like totally impressed. *Everything* that Ana Dorfstad writes is good. But her stuff is not on the net. [3]