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Line 5: − + − The [[Bang and Blame]] archive (2000–2002) was devoted to PGP stories and [[meta|essays]].+ − It is the opposite of [[pre-Way Back]] or PWB, which refers to works set before the beginning of the series.+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Line 23:
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Line 107: − + − *[http://web.archive.org/web/20080514034910/http://www.pagerealm.com/seriese/pgpthoughts.htm Thoughts on Post-Gauda Prime Stories: a collection of informal essays] at [[Bang and Blame]]+ − *[http://www.katspace.com/fandom/b7/pgp/ A PGP Survey] by [[Kathryn Andersen]]+ + + + + + +
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The final episode of [[Blake's 7]] takes place on a planet called Gauda Prime, and ends in shocking fashion. Hence the [[fan fiction]] stories which attempt to [[Fix-it|fix]], project beyond, or rework the ending of the series are collectively referred to as '''Post-Gauda Prime''' stories, or '''PGP'''. It is arguably the most popular genre of stories within the fandom.
The final episode of [[Blake's 7]] takes place on a planet called Gauda Prime, and ends in shocking fashion. The [[fan fiction]] stories which attempt to [[Fix-it|fix]], project beyond, or rework the ending of the series are collectively referred to as '''Post-Gauda Prime''' stories, or '''PGP'''. PGP is arguably the most popular genre of stories within the fandom. The [[Bang and Blame]] archive (2000–2002) was devoted to PGP stories and [[meta|essays]].
PGP is the opposite of [[pre-Way Back]] or PWB, which refers to works set before the beginning of the series.
==Popular Tropes==
Kathryn A surveyed 126 [[gen]] PGP stories from numerous different zines and arrived at the following conclusions regarding which characters were shown to be alive and which dead:
{{Quotation|There are almost as many combinations as there are characters; which leads me to conclude that logic plays little part in 5th season stories; the author just makes survive the characters they want to survive. Well, some authors are more logical than others.
...
In descending order of popularity... In a close first and second place - they are all alive, and they are all dead! Only a difference of one between them.
(1) all alive. Count: 17 Percent: 13.60
(2) all dead. Count: 16 Percent: 12.80
In third place, Avon and Vila stick it out together.<ref>[http://www.katspace.com/fandom/b7/pgp/ PGP Survey: Let Me Count The Ways The World Ends] by Kathryn A.</ref>}}
In 1994 [[Lysator]] members produced the following list of popular PGP tropes:
{{Quotation| '''It's BLAKE'S fault Avon shoots him at GP:'''
Talk about blaming the victim! Like stories that have hm programmed to kill, this is a way of excusing Avon from responsibility for his own actions. God forbid Avon should actually be blamed for his own mistakes. This theme seems to hinge on the idea that Blake should have said something less ambiguous at GP because he should have intuitively realized that Avon was at the end of his rope. Grrr....(SC)
His words may have been vague but they were not that incriminating. "I set all this up" does not necessarily imply a trap and the man was unarmed. While I am not unsympathetic to tales of Avon's emotional scars as a result of his own actions, there is a surprising amount of harrassment of a recovering Blake by Vila and assorted others claiming that he should have known better. Excuse him for believing that Avon might trust him, he was looking for him after all.(CS)
I think that in fact the "Avon is mad" theme is also an excuse for his actions at GP. In PGP fanfic, we often see Avon in a catatonic trance, or so nutso that he twitches whenever Blake comes near him... all this serves to make him sympathetic, and not responsible for the attempted murder. Blake even seems to feel guilty for being alive, in some fanfic, since his presence upsets Avon so much and makes him remember what he tried to do. For some reason, Blake doesn't get marks from fan writers for being this forgiving, guilt-ridden creature, though; it still sounds like Blake-bashing to me, with Avon being made noble in his madness, BECAUSE of Blake. Gimmee a break.(LC)
'''One, some, or all survive Gauda Prime:'''
[http://www.katspace.com/fandom/b7/pgp/ Kathryn's list] (posted 30 July 1993) catalogues the possible combinations here. Avon is the most likely to emerge from the melee alive. He is, of course, the only one we don't see go down. (SC)
'''Gauda Prime escape scenarios:'''
Too many to mention but it comes down to either the Fed troopers were really Fed troopers and one or more of Our Heros escape later, or the Fed troopers were really rebels.
NOTE: Nicole posted a list of some scenarios Jan 22, 1994. Front runners: Avon and Blake set it up, Servalan set it up, Orac set it up, something else set it up, it was all a dream, Avon was programmed, Blake was programmed, it was Blake's clone, any combintation of the above. Other popular favorites:
Vila fell the wrong way, therefore, he wasn't shot; Avon ducked and the troopers killed each other in the crossfire.(SC)
'''Blake's GP and PGP followers loathe and distrust Avon:'''
This happens in stories where Blake survives the shooting, and he is usually unaware that Avon and the others are being mistreated by his new group until Vila tells him. When he finds out, he always defends Avon. This goes along with "it's Blake's fault Avon shot him" and related trends that relieve Avon of culpability.(SC)
'''Blake's new followers are not as good as Avon and company:'''
Deva, Klyn, and whoever else Blake has gathered since leaving Liberator are just never as close to him, as trustworthy, as talented, and all-round wonderful as the Scorpio crew.(SC)<ref>Lystator May 2 14:57:12 1994</ref>}}
==Example Fanfiction==
==Example Fanfiction==
*[[Beloved Adversary]], [http://archiveofourown.org/works/413182 Part One], [http://archiveofourown.org/works/413182 Part Two], [http://archiveofourown.org/works/413182 Part Three], a novella by [[Sondra Sweigman]]. AU. Blake is noble, Avon is loyal. Avon gets to suffer. This novella has a prequel, [http://archiveofourown.org/works/318305 Other People's Hearts] 1994.
*[[Beloved Adversary]], [http://archiveofourown.org/works/413182 Part One], [http://archiveofourown.org/works/413182 Part Two], [http://archiveofourown.org/works/413182 Part Three], a novella by [[Sondra Sweigman]]. AU. Blake is noble, Avon is loyal. Avon gets to suffer. This novella has a prequel, [http://archiveofourown.org/works/318305 Other People's Hearts] 1994.
*[[Derelicts]], a novella by [[Bryn Lantry]]. With a complex plot and inscrutable characters. Strain your brain! 1996.
*[[Derelicts]], a novella by [[Bryn Lantry]]. With a complex plot and inscrutable characters. Strain your brain! 1996.
*[http://www.hermit.org/Blakes7/Library/DispAll.cgi?SR=27853&ST=0473&COUNT Morgan] by [[Judith Proctor]]. [[Same-Actor Crossover|Same-actor crossover]] Avon & Blake lookalike. 1998.
*[http://www.hermit.org/Blakes7/Library/DispAll.cgi?SR=27853&ST=0473&COUNT Morgan] by [[Judith Proctor]]. [[Same-Actor Crossover|Same-actor crossover]] Avon & Blake!lookalike. 1998.
====Other fiction====
====Other fiction====
*"This Ill-wresting World" by [[Judith Seaman]] in ''[[Down and Unsafe]]'' 5. "Blake" AU. Early, well-written Avon exculpation, Blake bashing. 1986.
*"This Ill-wresting World" by [[Judith Seaman]] in ''[[Down and Unsafe]]'' 5. "Blake" AU. Early, well-written Avon exculpation, Blake bashing. 1986.
*"Love and the Necessary Discipline" by [[Susan Matthews]] in [[Southern Seven]] 1. A&T. Controversial, at time of publication. Nov. 1986.
*"Love and the Necessary Discipline" by [[Susan Matthews]] in [[Southern Seven]] 1. A&T. Controversial, at time of publication. Nov. 1986.
*[http://archiveofourown.org/works/209744 Other People] by [[Executrix]]. Blake/Avon.
*[http://archiveofourown.org/works/209744 Other People] by [[Executrix]]. Blake/Avon.
==Meta==
===Semi-Pro/Official PGP Fic===
There are several 'official' attempts to write what happened after Gauda Prime, the most notable of which are Afterlife by Tony Attwood ([[Kerr Avon|Avon]] and [[Vila Restal|Vila]] survive) and Paul Darrow's [[Avon: A Terrible Aspect#Other Blake's 7 Novels by Paul Darrow|Lucifer series]] (only Avon survives), but these have generally not been treated as [[canon|canonical]] by fans and are rarely incorporated into other fanfiction. Attwood writes of his own novel:
{{Quotation|A lot of hardcore fans didn't like Afterlife - criticising both what I did with the characters, and what happened in the storyline, but to balance that (and to keep me feeling moderately happy) there was a lot of nice stuff from people who just watched the show but never subscribed to the fanzines etc. If you enjoyed Afterlife - I'm glad you did.<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R240F8OLZ4RX4N/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0426199243&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=266239&store=books How did we get here, review by Tony Attwood on Amazon.co.ul 9 Jun. 2005]</ref>}}
==Meta==
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20080514034910/http://www.pagerealm.com/seriese/pgpthoughts.htm Thoughts on Post-Gauda Prime Stories: a collection of informal essays] at [[Bang and Blame]]
* [http://www.katspace.com/fandom/b7/pgp/ A PGP Survey] by [[Kathryn Andersen]]
* [http://www.farsight.net.nz/essays/survival.htm Who Survived Gauda Prime?] by [[Vilakins]]
* [http://www.hermit.org/blakes7/Essays/PostGauda.html Post Gauda Prime Syndrome Theorem] by Ruth Clough
* [http://www.sffchronicles.com/threads/39015/ Gauda Prime set up theory] by Whitestar, Jul 3, 2007.
[[Category:Fiction Writing]]
[[Category:Fiction Writing]]
[[Category:Blake's 7]]
[[Category:Blake's 7]]
[[Category:Glossary]]
[[Category:Glossary]]