Shattered (Quantum Leap zine)
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Shattered |
| Publisher: | Freedom of the Press |
| Editor: | |
| Author(s): | Shari Ramseur (author) |
| Cover Artist(s): | |
| Illustrator(s): | Terri Librande |
| Date(s): | February 1992 (publication date), January 1993 (third printing) |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | |
| Genre: | |
| Fandom: | Quantum Leap |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Shattered is a 142-page gen Quantum Leap novel by Shari Ramseur.
It takes place immediately after the episode, "Shock Theater", and ignores the entire 4th season, ending Sam's leaping career.
This zine contains no explicit violence or sex. It contains 14 illustrations by Terri Librande.
"Shattered" was nominated for a Fan Q.
Summary
It the events at the end of the episode, 'Shock Theater,' had transpired just a little differently, this is what might have happened. Sam is able to return home to his own time, but it is nothing like what he had expected. The after effects of the shock treatments he received have caused his personality to shatter even further, causing the medical and psychiatric staff at Project Quantum Leap to doubt his mental competence. Al is determined he can help Sam, but he may not get the chance to do so. He realizes he must risk his career, and maybe his life, to help Sam. [1]
Editorial
This publication is truly a labor of love. As soon as I learned about the subject matter of the third season cliffhanger, I had my own idea of what would happen. I immediately began writing my story down, and was anxiously awaiting the airing of "Shock Theater" to see whether it would live up to my expectations, or come anywhere close to the story I had in mind. To my vast relief, it did have many of the same elements I had imagined it would, it was a wonderful episode showcasing the talents of everyone involved in the show, and it didn't look like I had to rewrite much of my version to have it coincide with the aired version. Of course, I had an entirely different ending in mind...
That's one of the most enjoyable things about this and other fandoms, the creativity that is sparked when one begins to think of "What if..." scenarios. Here are a couple for you: What if Sam leaped home with his memory and personality still scrambled by the electroshock and various traumas? What if he didn't automatically regain his memory when he returned? Well, you can see where these questions have gotten me. Some nine or ten months and quite a few pages later, I hope I've answered most of my own questions, plus a few more that came up along the way.
To my dear friends and colleagues at work, thank you for putting up with my obses-- er, devotion to Quantum Leap, for watching the show with me, discussing it, falling under its spell...I also appreciate the tolerance and amusement at my weekly Thursday mornings reviews. Thanks especially are due to Dan Torres, for his encouragement and hours and hours of technical computer wizardry in bringing my Ziggy on-line, and to Jackie Alioto, for becoming a QL fan, and for being such a great friend and a great boss. Last, but not least, thanks to Ella Gail, LCSW, for her insights on certain plot devices.
Enough of this; read and enjoy!
Sample Interior
Reactions and Reviews
This is an AU novel-length zine by Shari Ramseur (I think that's how her name is spelled) that takes place immediately after Shock Theater. Sam is retrieved immediately after his last shock treatment, but is still switching personalities. He is occasionally himself, but a younger version, which makes him rather childlike during most of the zine. He spends most of his time in a mental hospital, and bad things happen to Donna. It's well-written for the most part, but the motivation for the antagonist isn't exactly clear, and often he just seems nasty for no particular reason. But it's not a bad read. [2]
Shattered is a novel described by the author as an alternate sequel to the Quantum Leap episode "Shock Theater." It is successful as both (novel and alternate sequel.)
The premise of the story is that Sam leaps from the asylum in “Shock Theater" with his mind still fragmented. He is leaped home, where Al and Verbeena work to help him recover. Their efforts are complicated by the federal government, which has its own plans for the top secret time traveler.
The story navigates a well-engineered path through a maze of mental and political twists to a satisfying ending. The portrayal of government meddling is believable for anyone who has experience with either military or civilian bureaucracies.
The reader can’t help but care for the characters. The characterizations of Sam and A1 ring true. Verbeena’s character is developed into a person both real and likeable, mixing the meager clues from the show with sound observation of human nature; her byplay with A1 provides a subtle leavening of humor. A sense of compassion runs throughout The one character which is not explored well is Donna, Sam’s wife. Nonetheless, she plays a significant (if surprising and uncomfortable) role in the plot.
The writing in Shattered is natural and unpretentious. Personalities are described through actions and dialogue; physical descriptions occur when relevant. The editing and proofreading are high quality, allowing the reader to flow through the story without distraction.
The art work is also good. The pictures truly illustrate the storyline, capturing the evolving moods. The subtlety of the cover is better appreciated after reading the contents.
In short, Shattered is one of the best examples of Quantum Leap fan publishing available. From the writing style and editing through the exploration of ideas and characters, this is high quality work and well worth the price. [3]
References
- ^ from On the Double
- ^ from a QL forum, now offline
- ^ from The Hologram #4