Reflections in a Shattered Glass

You may be looking for Reflections in a Darkened Glass, a Beauty and the Beast zine.

Zine
Title:	Reflections in a Shattered Glass
Publisher:	Space Rat Press
Editor:
Author(s):	Joe Nazzaro
Cover Artist(s):	Suzan Lovett
Illustrator(s):	Suzan Lovett
Date(s):	1989, second printing March 1990
Medium:	print zine, fanfic
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Blake’s 7
Language:	English
External Links:
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Reflections in a Shattered Glass was published in August 1989.

It is a mirror universe 76-page gen Blake's 7 novel by Joe Nazzaro.

It has an introduction by Terry Nation.

The zine's dedication: "To Sheelagh, my little angel -- Here's to Alan Parsons, small bears, and happy endings."

frontispiece by Suzan Lovett

front cover by Suzan Lovett, the back cover is blank

flyer

From a Flyer

Science fiction fans have always been fascinated by alternate universe stories. Whether it was the Mirror, Mirror episode of the original Star Trek series, or the Doctor Who story, Inferno, there is something strangely compelling about the darker side of our favorite science fiction characters.

Now, the darker side of the Blake’s 7 universe is finally explored in Reflections in a Shattered Glass, a new Blake’s 7 novella being released by Space Rat Press in August. Reflections is written by Joe Nazzaro, writer and editor of the long running Freedom City Gazette, and illustrated by Zen award winner Suzan Lovett. Reflections also features an introduction by Terry Nation, writer and creator of Blake’s 7.

Reflections in a Shattered Glass begins when Avon and Vila are sent to Fowler’s Planet to obtain a supply of argonite crystals for the Liberator’s teleport system. A freak accident catapults them into a parallel universe where the crew of the Liberator exist as distorted replicas of their real selves. In this universe, it is Space Commander Blake, the scarred military leader, who leads the fight against the rebellion, along with his officers: the lethal Captain Stannis, the telepathic spy, Cally, and Security Chief Gan, Blake’s psychotic enforcer. Avon and Vila must find a way to escape this world of suspicion and fear and return to their own universe, with the help of two strangely familiar allies. Meanwhile, if Avon and Vila are trapped in the parallel universe, what has happened to their otherworldly duplicates...?

Terry Nation's Introduction

Almost a year ago, I received the opening chapters of Joe Nazzaro's manuscript. In the accompanying letter, Joe asked two things: one, my permission to use the characters and the worlds of Blake's 7 (a courtesy I am seldom accorded), and secondly, he asked my opinion of the work in progress.

I read the opening chapters and found myself intrigued and absorbed. I was hooked. I read on with growing fascination and ever-increasing questions. Where was the story going? What was happening here? Had Joe written himself into a corner from which there was no escape? How could he make sense of what seemed an impossibly contradictory plot? With the questions answered, the manuscript came to an abrupt end -- a cliff-hanger of classic proportions. Desperate to know what came next, I called Joe. His voice took on a confident but enigmatic note as he evaded all of my questions. "Trust me," he said finally, and no amount of bullying or cajoling elicited my answers. Finally, I had no alternative but to do as Joe asked. I trusted him.

You will see that trust was totally justified. The completed work answered all of my questions, and I was finally rescued from the cliff on which I had hung for a year. "Reflections" is inventive, imaginative, and exciting. It is trued to the spirit of Blake's 7, and will take an important place in the literature that the series has inspired. Read it and enjoy it with the great advantage of knowing that you won't have to wait, fingernails clawing at the cliff's edge, to discover how it comes out. Terry Nation, 1989, Los Angeles

Sample Interior: The Chapter Headings

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Author's Afterword: Final Reflections

So what happened next? That's up to all of you. I have a feeling that, in some other universe, the fight is just getting started. How it ends... well, if you walk by a mirror sometime, take a quick look out of the comer of your eye. You may find a few answers.

There will be no sequel to Reflections. I loved writing this story, and I hope you've enjoyed it, but the rest of the battle will have to continue in your imagination I'm sure it find a good home there.

Much as I hate to admit it, I found Commander Blake and his crew a lot of fun to write about. I've always loved alternate universe stories, whether it was an old episode of Lost in Space featuring an evil version of the goody-goody Professor Robinson, the Star Trek episode Mirror, Mirror (which is one of my all-time favorites), or Inferno, the classic Doctor Who adventure. There's something about the dark side of human nature that's fascinating to explore, especially when the hero is painted entirely in white. What would have happened if one of these guys used to get beaten up as a child? How would his personality have changed if he had lost a wife or a child, or if fate had dealt him a bad hand? What if the money was better, working for the other side? Those are some of the questions that were floating around in my head when I was writing Reflections. I'm not sure if I've answered any of them, but it was a lot of fun to think about them.

Before I forget, I'd like to thank some of the people who were instrumental in creating the story you've just read. Without them, this project would never have gotten off the ground:

Mark and Zeau Modig read this story several times, making corrections, offering suggestions, and generally playing devil's advocate. Both of them put in many late nights on this project, and I think it shows.

Suzan Lovett took my ideas and distilled them into a stunning reality. Several months ago, I sent Suzan the first half of Reflections, along with a letter asking if she would be interested in illustrating it From what I had seen of her woric, I knew she was the only artist who could capture the subtle differences in each character and present them the way I visualized them. I remember showing Jacqueline Pearce the illustration of Servalan a few months ago; she looked at it for a few moments, then said, "I know both of those women." I think that says it all.

Finally, Terry Nation provided me with much-needed advice and encouragement every step of the way. Terry pointed out a number of things I may have overlooked, and, as a result, I was able to change and improve several scenes early in the story. Right from the start, there was only one person's opinion that was important to me, and his approval told me I was on the right track.

I'd also like to thank Terry for writing the introduction to Reflections, despite a very busy schedule and a number of his own projects. I knew that if I ever wrote a Blake's 7 story, I would want Terry Nation to introduce it, and it means a lot to me that he found the time.

As for all of the people who took the time to read this, I thank you as well. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to ask you to do two things now:

1. Write. Please tell us what you think of Reflections; whether you enjoyed it, hated it, or whatever. It's very difficult to work without your feedback, and your opinion would be much appreciated. Also, if you see any reviews that may not have made their way back to us, please pass them on. We'd really like to read them.

2. Tell your friends. If you enjoyed this story, please pass the word along to somebody who may not have seen it If you didn't like it then tell them it makes an excellent source of fuel for the fire, then tell them anyway.

Once again, our thanks for picking up Reflections in a Shattered Glass. We hope you enjoyed it.

1990

A fast-paced tale similar to Star Trek's Mirror, Mirror and Doctor Who's Inferno. The alternate universe counterparts of Avon and Vila meet the other crew members while the real A&V teleport onto The Vanquisher II, commanded by the vicious Federation officer Roj Blake. The artwork by Suzan Lovett, depicting both sides of each person, is absolutely stunning and worth the price alone.

1992

What if an alternative universe existed where everyone has a twin whose personality is exactly opposite of their own, and what if due to a teleport malfunction those two worlds are mixed up, with an alternative Avon and Vila exchanging places with the original. The original Avon and Vila find themselves in a confusing world that includes an ultra-evil Blake and a heroic Servalan. A fascinating story.

1993

My strongest memory of this zine was Terry Nation's foreward, saying, basically "how nice it was that [the publisher] sent me a copy and asked permission."

I thought to myself: Does Terry Nation (a nice and intelligent man, don't get me wrong) have any idea how much Blakes7 fanfic gets published every year?

Does he really want to read all of it? Does he really want to be the one to tell individual editor/publisher/writers that *their* story, either because of artistic ineptitude, or questionable subject matter, *doesn't* have his approval?

Then what happens...a fannish sh*tstorm of epic proportions, I would guess.

"Reflections" is a long short story, sold separately (batteries not included although stories of similar length appear in collections. It has a very nice B&W cover by Suzan Lovett. Segments of the cover appear at the start of each chapter as an indication of which character will be featured. At least, I think that was what was intended. It uses the premise of the ST ep "Mirror, Mirror." A good idea. Imagine a good Servalan and Travis running the rebellion and a nasty Blake hunting them down. I thought the real Blake was pretty well done -- not overly compassionate, not overly manipulative -- I could see him surviving on his own so I was happy. But...hmmm...too much "science" and not enough fun. Vila's funny lines weren't, and neither Avon rang true (one was Avon the All Wise -- thanks Joan -- and the other was...cute). The women were at least given something to do, which is more than they get in a lot of stories I've read, and I sort of liked the idea of an evil Cally. On the whole, however, there was a certain sameness about the characters -- all good or bad in the same waywithout much sense of the individuals. I felt as if the author was trying to get too much in and sacrificed depth for breadth. It would have been more interesting (to me) if he'd spent more time on just one or two of the characters and how different they were in the different universes instead of trying to cover them all.

2016

Oh my god, where to begin? Yes, it’s written by a fan who went pro, and illustrated by a fan art legend. It had the full approval of Terry Nation, who wrote the forward for it. For all that it’s a typical stapled booklet fanzine, it’s professionally typeset and printed. And the story is absolutely amazing.

A freak teleport accident sees Vila and Avon transposed with their opposites in an alternate reality. In this mirror universe, Blake is the Federation’s top agent, running a crew of the most vicious psychopaths on the Vanquisher II, a captured alien vessel. Their mission is to obliterate the resistance wherever they find it, and now they are seeking the leaders of that resistance: Travis and Servalan. Vila and Avon are hard-pressed to keep what’s happened a secret while they simultaneously try to get back while avoiding being casually murdered by their crewmates. This is complicated still further when they discover their counterparts are actually resistance themselves, putting them right in the middle of the madness.

There are fascinating character differences in here with the alternates, which alone would make the story worth it. Vila is a tough, sarcastic brawler, always ready for a scrap, and Avon is meek and mild. Travis is honorable and levelheaded, Servalan kind and caring. Cally is a full telepath, and like all the Auronar, a spymaster for the Federation (predating Psi-Corps by 5 years!) Gan and Jenna are vicious, conspiring killers. Blake is a terrifying, cold maniac (and the sole reason the crew haven’t killed each other long ago.)

Our “heroes” are disturbing, the story is memorable (if a bit soul-scarring at points) and the interior art is amazing. If you can find it, get it....

#If you're one to buy fanzines you should go get it now #Joe Nazzaro #Susan Lovett #It's a damn pity there are so many legal issues with fanfic #because this deserves a legal reprinting #preferably in hardcover #ah well

2017

here's some more pro-fanfic i read recently. 'reflections in a shattered glass' is sort of fanfic, but it's also sort of not, as it's written by joe nazzaro who wrote 'the inside story' and married gareth's ex wife and there's a foreword by terry nation who authorised the fic. so - in a way, it's more legitimate that the big finish stuff.

Reflections in a Shattered Glass

As usual Sue Clerc, who I have never met but seems to be right about everything, nails the response to this one - On the whole, however, there was a certain sameness about the characters -- all good or bad in the same way without much sense of the individuals.

That's it exactly - everyone who was 'good' in our universe is now a psycho with less depth than Travis, and Servalan and Travis are just goodies - although Travis does sacrifice his enemies to man-eating trees, though I guess Blake would probably do that too. It is a bad dull - although Blake does muse towards the end that it's all to do with choices, Harry - "During the twentieth century, there was a school of thought among many psychologists of old Earth that man was a product of his environment. If you took a set of twin brothers, for example, and raised one of them in atmosphere of crime and poverty, he would turn out to be quite different in personality from his brother, who might have been brought up in a setting of ease and comfort." I feel like that would have been more interesting - the very lack of plausibility de-fangs the whole concept, which is weird because all of these people do clearly have a dark side.

We would also have to accept that Servalan has potentially got the capacity for good - I can see her as a resistance leader, but ... as a means to power, rather than for the good of humanity. Travis is pretty plausible on the other side. He's a man or morality, who has been trained to believe the Federation is right.

Avon (who, along with Vila, journeys to the Mirrorverse) in this universe is the one semi-interesting change - in that he's a spy for Servalan i.e. the good Servalan who is his lover i.e. Avon is a spy on board the evil Liberator trying to bring it down. He tells the real Blake that they are 'kindred spirits' - and it isn't a trick. I assume that Avon is like this partially for plot reasons (it allows Blake to easily get info about what's happening in the MirrorVerse) and partly because it's possible the real Avon is plotting to overthrow the real Blake/his crucial personality trait is that he isn't committed to the rebellion, and therefore it is that rather than allegiance that gets changed. It's kind of weird, whatever it is.

It's also an interesting choice to leave the Federation as the baddies (which is not what Trek did) - because with Blake's speech we've clearly constructed a mirror verse that is driven by individual choices, rather than cosmic ho-hah. So we're positing that given the choice the oppressed would have built an almost identical system of oppression, which looks and is named exactly the same as the previous system of oppression. Either than, or the literal only people who changed during the swap are our heroes, and the Auronar, who are now part of the Federation's PyCore.

The treatment of the Auronar was actually one of the things I liked best - they've been co-opted by the Federation, and enhanced by their scientists, so that their telepathic powers (now used for evil, of course) are far greater than any our Cally knows. Evil Cally can read minds - and this is used well throughout the Mirrorverse section, as even she recoils from Blake's mind, and there's some tension about whether or not she'll be able to work out who Avon and Vila are). Gan has a feud with her people because the Auronar were involved with the death of his wife.

The writing's good and engaging, with various nice worldbuilding elements. For example, we begin with Avon and Vila trading with a giant turtle for a Mcguffin. The turtle and its people/equipment (transdimensional cape - v good) are well described. The characters are in general a bit flat - Vila gets very very little to do except cower. It was very easy to read, and I finished it in a few hours.

Suzan Lovett did the illustrations - and while they're all good because they're Lovetts, i feel like they could have been better. There's sometimes not too much difference between the good and evil looking - very often, particularly the women, just look the same.

Conclusion: If you happen to come across it you might as well read it, but don't hunt it down. More than anything this fic is a good prompt to say - Blake's 7 needs more Mirrorverse fics. I've always liked Elviaprose's kink meme prompt . Maybe one day...

Oh my god, where to begin? Yes, it’s written by a fan who went pro, and illustrated by a fan art legend. It had the full approval of Terry Nation, who wrote the forward for it. For all that it’s a typical stapled booklet fanzine, it’s professionally typeset and printed. And the story is absolutely amazing.

A freak teleport accident sees Vila and Avon transposed with their opposites in an alternate reality. In this mirror universe, Blake is the Federation’s top agent, running a crew of the most vicious psychopaths on the Vanquisher II, a captured alien vessel. Their mission is to obliterate the resistance wherever they find it, and now they are seeking the leaders of that resistance: Travis and Servalan. Vila and Avon are hard-pressed to keep what’s happened a secret while they simultaneously try to get back while avoiding being casually murdered by their crewmates. This is complicated still further when they discover their counterparts are actually resistance themselves, putting them right in the middle of the madness.

There are fascinating character differences in here with the alternates, which alone would make the story worth it. Vila is a tough, sarcastic brawler, always ready for a scrap, and Avon is meek and mild. Travis is honorable and levelheaded, Servalan kind and caring. Cally is a full telepath, and like all the Auronar, a spymaster for the Federation (predating Psi-Corps by 5 years!) Gan and Jenna are vicious, conspiring killers. Blake is a terrifying, cold maniac (and the sole reason the crew haven’t killed each other long ago.)

Our “heroes” are disturbing, the story is memorable (if a bit soul-scarring at points) and the interior art is amazing. If you can find it, get it.

Blake's 7 vintage fanzines There is currently a copy up for auction on eBay in the US If you're one to buy fanzines you should go get it now Joe Nazzaro Susan Lovett It's a damn pity there are so many legal issues with fanfic because this deserves a legal reprinting preferably in hardcover ah well

I own this one now, too, and I second all of the above. It’s slightly shorter than I thought it was, just over 70 pages, and while I wish there were more space to explore the idea, it feels well-rounded nonetheless - it reads very like a TV episode. Don’t even get me started on the absolutely breathtaking art.