Rainbow Chasers
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Rainbow Chasers |
| Publisher: | circuit story then Tanglewebb Press then Dog-House Press then Nut Hatch Collective |
| Editor: | |
| Author(s): | HG |
| Cover Artist(s): | |
| Illustrator(s): | |
| Date(s): | 1988 (circuit story), 1990 (Tanglewood Press), May 1998 (Dog-House Press), 2000s? (Nut Hatch Collective) |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | slash |
| Fandom: | The Professionals |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | Online here (offline as of 4/22/2012) Online at AO3 |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Rainbow Chasers is a slash AU Professionals novel written by HG and edited by Elaine W.
It was a paper circuit story originally written in 1988. It was later released in fanzine format by various publishers.
Summary
It's an AU how-they-met story in which Doyle never joined CI5, but Bodie did.
The Hatstand's summary: "An alternate universe Bodie/Doyle novel in which Bodie is an agent in CI5 and Doyle is a high-class whore who has turned businessman."
Versions
Paper Circuit Version
This fic was written in 1988 and circulated on the paper circuit.
Tanglewebb Press Edition
The story was published as a 250-page zine by Tanglewebb Press in 1990. From a flyer:
The classic zine-novel by H.G., long, lush and lovely. Beautifully illustrated, and a great read. This is a B/D novel that stays with you, and one you'll re-read often. A/U with a difference, from one of the 'founder members' of this fandom. The premise is way out in left field ... it's what this gifted writer makes of it which makes it so memorable! Bodie works for CI-5 but Doyle doesn't ... in fact, he's been a hooker for a top-notch agency since he was a kid, and his association with influential folks leads to his working with CI5 and "falling in" with Bodie, in more ways than one. It may sound wild and woolly, but what H.G. does with this is not to be missed! It's around 220pp, illustrated [sic]. A$30 + postage. It's a heavy zine folks, outside the normal 500g bracket.[1]
This issue had full pages of artwork. The artist is uncredited; all but one the pieces are signed "ZEB 1990." The back cover may have been created by a different artist.
All artwork was "for sale," and fans were instructed to contact Tanglewebb Press.
The art:
- front cover: "Hearth"
- Memorial: Gordon Jackson (missing in some issues?)
- page 13: "First Fall"
- page 31: "Rhapsody"
- page 60: "'Page 3' (Sun newspaper for those not in the UK)"
- page 90: "The Masque"
- page 113: "Rationales and Decisions"
- page 142: "Time for Truth"
- page 193: "The Parting"
- page 216: "Shadows"
- back cover: "Pin Up"
cover of the 1990 "Tanglewebb Press" edition
sample text in the 1990 "Tanglewebb Press" edition
one of the illos in the 1990 "Tanglewebb Press" edition: "Shadows"
one of the illos in the 1990 "Tanglewebb Press" edition: "Rhapsody"
one of the illos in the 1990 "Tanglewebb Press" edition: "The Masque"
one of the illos in the 1990 "Tanglewebb Press" edition
one of the illos in the 1990 "Tanglewebb Press" edition: "First Fall"
back cover of the 1990 "Tanglewebb Press" edition: "Pin Up"
Dog-House Press Edition
The Dog-House version is 140 pages (135,000 words). It contains no illos. It was published in May 1998.
From the zine: "RAINBOW CHASERS was originally written in the Spring of 1988 and has been on the circuit since then. This version has been re-formatted with the aim of making a legible copy more available."
cover of Dog-House Press edition
another variation of the Dog-House Press edition
text from the Dog-House Press edition
Nut Hatch Collective Edition
cover of Nut Hatch Collective edition
Reactions and Reviews
Unknown Date
An interesting AU that portrays a very different past for both of the guys, yet still brings them to almost the same final destination. And there's plenty of angst and misunderstanding along the way, of course.[2]
A novel from HG and the defunct Tangeledwebb Press. It's yet another AU how-they-met story. Doyle never joined CI5, but Bodie did. Each of them brings interesting baggage to the relationship.[3]
1990
Were the zines [fan refers to Book of Strife, as well as "Rainbow Chasers"] worth all this effort? Definitely, despite the lack of proof-reading which meant that there were some very strange words in the text. The zines are nicely bond, the type face is clear and not micro-print. Rainbow Chasers was a beautifully written, alternate universe story that was most difficult to put down. Ray Doyle was justifiably arrogant and independent, and his encounters with the devious George Cowley were pure delight. All the characters were three-dimensional. The humour, at times subtle, was there as it is in the best of the TV episodes. I have no hesitation in recommending this'story to everyone.[4]
1993
I'd like to go on record as stating that "Rainbow Chasers", a stolen-plot, Harlequin-Romance-type AU in which Doyle is a whore (but not artistic!), is one of my all-time favorite Pros novels. [5]
A teenage runaway selling his body for u living on the streets of London, Ray Doyle is taken on by Tony .Sullivan, owner of 'Housecalls' an ultra-discreet agency offering the wealthy and famous anything they desire from a chauffeur to a rent-boy.
Already ambitious for his future and adept at making money Doyle prospers under Sullivan's protection, eventually going into partnership with him. The progression is not a smooth one, however. On one out-of-the-ordinary assignment with a wealthy client which involves some unusual and - to Doyle - unsettling conditions, Doyle meets and is fiercely attracted to David Bentley, one of the client's bodyguards. Separated by accident, unable to find each other again, they go their separate ways until some years later Doyle, now the successful businessman, becomes involved as a Suspect In a CI5 operation and meets Bodie, the C15 agent. Bodie recognises him immediately; because of the unusual circumstances of their original meeting Doyle remains ignorant that they have met before. Cleared of suspicion in one case, Doyle - because of his background - is asked to help with another, and gradually the two men become first friends, then lovers. But the past, their own personalities and insecurities, and circumstances combine to cause all sorts of problems and misunderstandings until, as one hopes from the first, it all ends happily. This is a long and very satisfying read. The familiar characters are well-drawn and, best of all, familiar - no one is changed beyond recognition, as happens in too many A/U tales. Doyle is the tough, ratty, sharp-tongued so-and-so of the TV series we all know so well; Bodie is hard-as-nails on the outside, but with a soft centre where Doyle is concerned; Cowley is devious and one-track minded - CI5 first, last, and always. Tony Sullivan, the other main character and the author's own invention, is also well-drawn and very believable, mentor, friend, and partner to Doyle, under7 standing and likeable. The story starts slowly, but once it gets going it moves along at a cracking pace. I found it very hard to put down before the end, and did so only with reluctance - well, it was one in the morning and my eyes were starting to fall out, what else could I do?? The dialogue is fast and snappy and flows beautifully; often I could 'hear' the characters talking, and what that is always a good sign. I enjoyed the naughty bits too, I thought they were well-written and just spicy enough to be Interesting without going way over the top, and they also fitted into the plot each time without giving the impression that the author had popped one in- just for the hell of it, or to fill, a couple of pages while she decided on what happened next.
Highly recommended. [6]
1996
Ah, one of my favorite PROS novel and the *only* story involving "Doyle as a prostitute" that didn't make me retch. (High praise, huh?) I actually wanted to type that one up almost more than JIGSAW PUZZLE when I was entering it for the Pros on-line library (hey, [D], when are you sending me more stuff to type?), but it had just gotten published by Jane of Australia. There's no editing or even typesetting difference that I can tell between it and the original circuit novel and it cost me $33 *in person* at a con and while I am a sap and am willing to pay that much, I would be more inclined to recommend that people keep looking in the circuit story boxes at cons if they have the patience...[7]
1997
I'm not picking on Rainbow Chasers because I think it was poorly written because it wasn't. And it isn't the theme, Doyle as hooker, because, frankly I kind of like hooker stories.
Why I want Rainbow Chasers to disappear is because it was silly. Silly can be fun, but this was unintentionally silly. And I felt silly after reading it which made slash as a whole seem silly by association. And that bothered me -- a lot.
The flawed (IMHO) premise of this novel is that being a prostitute has no more bearing on one's emotional health and/or development than being a librarian or a dental hygienist. If a high school senior read this novel, she would send her resume to a pimp. Not all hooker stories have to be melodramatic victimization wallows, but this treatment made it seem almost benign.
When the premise of a novel is fatally silly then the actions that spring from the premise can't help but be ridiculous, too. For example, let's look at her Pimp character. I know, you weren't aware there was one, were you? He's the nice upper middle class family man. You get the impression he also books clowns for children's parties. Now there's a story, the guy mixes up his bookings and Doyle ends up and the kiddie party and the clown ends up at the Embassy.
And the eyedrop scene... No, I can't even go into why that was so pointless and contrived.
I'm beginning to realise that maybe it wasn't just the silliness of the premise but the earnest way she developed it. [8]
"Rainbow Chasers" was the first Pros slash I read. (Not counting "The Hunting", which was long ago and AU. Well, "Rainbow Chasers" is AU too, but not so extravagantly.) And for this reason I have quite a soft spot for that story, even though I didn't think it was brilliant or anything. [9]
I'm not picking on Rainbow Chasers because I think it was poorly written because it wasn't. And it isn't the theme, Doyle as hooker, because, frankly I kind of like hooker stories.
Why I want Rainbow Chasers to disappear is because it was silly. Silly can be fun, but this was unintentionally silly. And I felt silly after reading it which made slash as a whole seem silly by association. And that bothered me -- a lot.
The flawed (IMHO) premise of this novel is that being a prostitutes has no more bearing on one's emotional health and/or development than being a librarian or a dental hygienist. If a high school senior read this novel, she would send her resume to a pimp. Not all hooker stories have to be melodramatic victimization wallows, but this treatment made it seem almost benign.
When the premise of a novel is fatally silly then the actions that spring from the premise can't help but be ridiculous, too. For example, let's look at her Pimp character. I know, you weren't aware there was one, were you? He's the nice upper middle class family man. You get the impression he also books clowns for children's parties. Now there's a story, the guy mixes up his bookings and Doyle ends up and the kiddie party and the clown ends up at the Embassy.
And the eyedrop scene... No, I can't even go into why that was so pointless and contrived.
I'm beginning to realise that maybe it wasn't just the silliness of the premise but the earnest way she developed it. [10]
1998
In 1998 readers discussing their love of the story (and the need for a more legible copy) on the CI5 List. One fan wrote:"I'm with all those who love and reread Rainbow Chasers. At one time I called it my favorite Pros zine. That's since changed, but I went so far as to buy a second copy of the zine from someone who read her zines carefully. My first copy, bought 2nd hand at my first MediaWest for the largest price I had ever paid for a zine, new or used, was very battered. I will most likely buy a copy of the reprint, however, because the original zine has more typos, really bad typos, than I have seen in any other zine. Bless you, [J], for cleaning up the text.[11]
1999
... you gorta have a Doyle-as-a-tart story and I don't know a better I have to have this one, if for nothing else than the image of a naked, golden Doyle stretched on a blue velvet bed. Add to that the fad that said Doyle then leans on his elbow and starts arguing football with Bodie, and it's irresistible. (He just would wouldn't he?) Plus, I really relish the way this Doyle gets the better of Cowley (yes!) while Bodie stands back and grins with fond pride.[12]
2004
This is a Pros AU, with Ray as a rent boy who makes good. In his misspent youth he meets and falls in love with young Bodie but circumstances conspire to tear them apart; a decade later they meet again when Ray is inadvertantly caught in a CI5 raid led by Bodie. A not insignificant portion of the zine is devoted to young Ray and to his life and occupation as he grows; I minded this less than I expected, and I even liked the image of Ray Doyle, financial whiz-kid (or Zurich gnome, depending on your POV *g*).I find HG to be a nice writer - she has some mannerisms that bug me, like a tendency to dangle her participles and an unfortunate penchant for using (though only rarely, thank god) purple phrases like "male animal" and "sweet man flesh" that make me cringe, but I like her style generally. She writes good relationship-driven fic. I find her Bodie/Doyle banter sharp and spot-on and never sappy. In fact, she does a great job of writing the guys as guys - they never start making lengthy proclamations of love and talking deeply about their feelings, yet you can always see the depth of their feelings beneath the surface, and they say enough to each other, and in the right ways, to satisfy me. I also like her smut quite a bit, and she has plenty of it, though she occasionally fades to black when I wish she wouldn't. Then again, I understand that in a long novel-length relationship-focused novel like this, writing out every sex scene is unnecessary and might start to feel repetitive; they're not all of equal importance in terms of telling us more about the relationship or the characters. (Although unnecessary doesn't mean unwelcome!)
(It was a source of great sadness to me that the zine I was reading was missing a page, front and back, that included some of the key smut and togetherness passages and acknowledgment of feelings (or at least I think they did) ... now of course I'm chafing at the bit to get my hands on those. Anyone have a copy and willing to scan two pages for me? *g*)
Yet though I liked Rainbow Chasers very much, it didn't move me tremendously, and I'm not certain why. I think part of it is that HG's style and her use of omniscient POV (common I find in many older zines - is the obsession with limited POV in slash a recent one?) causes it to feel slightly remote and distanced to me, not so sensual and immediate. (I have a similar reaction, though on a different scale and in a different context, to Tolkein's writing (also omniscient), which has always left me entirely unmoved - the story he's telling might be moving in the abstract, but the way it's written isn't, too me; I feel very little while I read.) There's something a bit ... distanced, maybe, about it, which keeps me from really feeling the story. I'm not quite sure how to explain it, and it's not like I didn't have any emotional reaction to it - just not an intense one.
I also got a bit tired of Ray's stroppiness, which I thought was excessive at times, particularly toward Bodie. In particular his reaction when he makes a key discovery about Bodie midway through the story struck me as way over the top, as did Bodie's response. But in the end, though she skirts the line at times, the author just manages to avoid that (for me) fatal error of contriving one stupid and gratuitous misunderstanding after another until you want to throw the zine at them and scream grow up! She never quite crosses that line; at times I was a bit frustrated with Ray's behavior in particular, but it was never excessive enough or lasted long enough to put me off, and there was plenty of real relationship and togetherness, not just endless miscommunication.
(As an aside: thinking about that got me pondering how to write a long relationship-driven fic, and the role of angst/misunderstandings/miscommunications in that kind of fic, but I decided to save those musings for another post!).
So overall, if not among my favorites of all time, this was another solid, thoroughly enjoyable story, with many great points and a great satisfying ending, one that I'd definitely re-read (in fact, I have!).[13]
2007
The story is long, well-paced, with an excellent combination of action, intrigue and angst, not to mention the hot, steamy slash and some humour for good measure. I particularly enjoy the dialogue she writes between Doyle and Cowley, although the interchanges between Bodie and Doyle are also extremely well done. She manages to make the simplest action speak so clearly, and her writing style is fluid, unobtrusive and polished.[14]
2012
Why this must be read: For the image of Doyle, unable to see, splayed over silk and velvet sheets in front of a stunned Bodie. Oh wait. I mean, for the plot. Yes. Another long story for the weekend, and it's very long, so I'm posting early (also, I am away then...) This is another of HG's novel-length Pros AUs. It's not quite as AU as the historical half of her Re-Discovered in a Graveyard, though - all of this one takes place in Pros-era London, for a start. The big AU element is that while Cowley runs CI5 and Bodie works for him, Doyle has followed entirely another career path and is manager of a London agency which provides everything from plumbers to escorts. He worked his way up, and he didn't start as a plumber. And then his path crosses that of Bodie. But neither of them know. For what seem entirely reasonable reasons while you're reading it, Doyle can't see for the duration of their night together - a night which moves from trepidation to delight - and their paths separate immediately after. Inevitably they meet again, but it does not go well. This sets the pattern for this story: the attraction is there, but misunderstandings abound.[15]
References
- ^ "flyer". Archived from the original on 2004-09-17.
- ^ from This is Katya
- ^ [members.aol.com/lynnwfic/pros/pindex.html The Professionals Fanzines], Archived version
- ^ from The Hatstand Express #22
- ^ from Virgule-L, quoted anonymously with permission (December 10, 1993)
- ^ from Be Gentle With Us #10
- ^ comment on Virgule-L by Michelle Christian, July 15, 1996, quoted with permission
- ^ comment on Virgule-L, quoted anonymously (June 9, 1997)
- ^ from the CI5 Mailing List, quoted anonymously (September 14, 1997)
- ^ comment at Virgule-L, quoted anonymously (9 Jun 1997)
- ^ posted to the CI5 List in 1998, quoted anonymously with permission
- ^ a fan responds that this is one of the five zines she'd take with her to a desert island, from DIAL #11
- ^ from justacat at her online journal here, posted September 6, 2004
- ^ izzie7's review at the ci5hq dated March 7, 2007; WebCite.
- ^ by moonlightmead at Crack Van, posted August 9, 2012, accessed May 21, 2013