Recurring Themes in Blake's 7 Fan Fiction

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Title: Recurring Themes in Blake's 7 Fan Fiction
Creator: Sue Clerc et al.
Date(s): 1993
Medium: online
Fandom: Blake's 7
Topic: Fanfiction tropes
External Links: members.nbci.com/sjcinct/themes.html via WBM
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Recurring Themes in Blake's 7 Fan Fiction is an essay about tropes in Blake's 7 fanfiction by Sue Clerc and other members of the Lysator mailing list. Compilation started in 1993. It was posted to Lysator and archived at Sue's fansite, Adrenaline and Soma Powered Blake's 7 Pages.

Contributors

Sue Clerc is the main author, but there are also contributions from Kathryn Andersen, Sandra Ballasch, Lorna B., Lynn Cherny, Micky Dupree, Susan Hill, Sandra Kisner, Michelle Moyer, Natalie Nussey, Judith Proctor, Betsy Ramsey, Leah Rosenthal, Sondra Sweigman, Susan Beth, Agnes Tomorrow, Frances Teagle & Nicole Vifian.

Tropes

One (or so) Shot Wonders

[C]haracters, events, and things seen or referred to only once in the series but overwhelmingly popular in fan fiction.[1]

The Class System

The Federation's Alpha-Delta class system plays a greater role in fan fic than in the aired series. In the series it is mentioned in 7 episodes... --frequently only in passing, yet it is ubiquitous in fan fic.[2]

Crime and Punishment

  • Blake's child molestation charges
  • Avon's two canonical bank frauds were the same event
  • Vila was raped in prison[3]

A Loaf of Bread, a Jug of Lime Kool-Aid, and Thou

  • Avon and ice cream
  • Avon the connoisseur
  • Blake the nature lover
  • Alcohol consumption: Blake & Vila
  • Other habits: Blake gnawing his finger, Avon's 'Well, now'
  • Scents: Avon, Vila, Blake
  • Rooms: Avon, Blake, Vila[4]

Suffering and Sleep Disorders

Headgames

  • Manipulation & domination: especially in Blake/Avon slash
  • Mental programming/conditioning: especially to explain Gauda Prime
  • Puppeteers & psychostrategists
  • Cally was in an Auron death trance in 'Terminal'
  • Avon is telepathic or empathetic
  • Madness: Blake, Avon[6]

Getting to Know You

  • Previous careers: Avon the comp tech, Blake the engineer
  • Perfect Avon, and the related Avon & Orac Save the Universe
  • Evil Avon
  • Avon has a privacy fetish, or an aversion to physical contact
  • Avon never lies
  • Welsh Blake
  • Wise, serene Cally
  • Dayna is loyal to Avon
  • Jenna the bitch, especially in slash
  • Soolin as female-Avon
  • Tarrant bashing
  • Vila the wise fool or the hero in hiding
  • Vila is a good cook[7]

Main Events

  • Destroying Star One is wrong
  • Cally didn't die on Terminal
  • 'Orbit' aftermath, especially absolving Avon
  • Gauda Prime & post-Gauda Prime scenarios:
    • Absolving Avon from shooting Blake, often by victim blaming
    • Escape scenarios, where Avon &/or others survive
    • Blake's followers distrust Avon
    • Blake's followers are inferior to the Scorpio crew[8]

Friends and Lovers, Kinks and Consequences

Words and Phrases

  • Used in fanfiction but not in canon: mindwipe, 'Oh, gods', holos, fresher (for shower)[10]

Miscellaneous

References