The Same River

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Fanfiction
Title: The Same River
Author(s): Helen Raven
Date(s): 1995
Length:
Genre(s): slash
Fandom(s): The Professionals
Relationship(s): Bodie/Doyle
External Links: online here

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The Same River is a Professionals slash Bodie/Doyle story by Helen Raven.

It was published in Bene Dictum #3 in 1995 and archived online in 2004.

Author's Comments

2010

Of the Pros stories you have written, which do you think is the best? Why?

Probably "The Same River". I was in the middle of a hyphen-fixation at the time that I can't now account for and I would get rid of almost all of the hyphens in that story -- but I wouldn't change a single word because I think it's damn near perfect. I've also re-read this fairly often, and it still makes me cry. [1]

2015

And in 1995 they had concrete proof of just how far I’d strayed when my novella “The Same River” appeared in a zine from M. Fae’s publisher [showing zine], along with novellas by Sebastian and M. Fae. This [turn to first page] is a horror story inspired by “Robocop”. It starts three years after Bodie had died in action, which is one year after the UK security services started taking delivery of their first mechanoids. Doyle has come back to CI5 as a Trainer, which means he’s socialising the machines to the point where they can start working effectively with humans. No prizes for guessing who his latest mechanoid trainee turns out to have been. It’s a horror story. Some people liked it a lot. No one in UK fandom was prepared to admit to me that they’d read it. [2]

Reactions and Reviews

1995

I tried reading Helen Raven's story in NAUGHTS & CROSSES. After several pages I discovered that the plot revolved around Doyle's discovering that his new "android" partner was created by hurrying Bodie's death so they could use his severed head attached to the android body and that this had also been done to others in his agency. Eucchhh! 30 odd pages of wasted paper! [3]

I have to say that the author warned me (several times) that I wouldn't like this story. She was right and she was wrong. Even knowing that this was not a story that was going to cheer me up by any means, I still couldn't stop reading it. The writing was that compelling, even while the story itself was unrelentingly grim. (The word "kennel" will never be the same for me again.) If the writing wasn't so damn effective, I might've been able to get the story out of my head after I read it, but alas, I just kept thinking about it over and over with a mixture of sadness and a shiver of revulsion. It was a very depressing evening. The story is that good. [4]

1996

I'm still of the opinion that in slash fandom (and maybe in real life, too) "taste" overrules "quality". Let me give an example: The Same River by Helen Raven in the latest (?) Benedictum is imho an extremely well-written story from a literary point of view. I consider Helen one of the few top writers in fandom. Still, I hated this story.

What I'm trying to say is that - like Alex said about herself - part of "what I want" *is* high quality writing, but it certainly isn't sufficient for me to make a "good" slash story ("good" in the sense that it provokes the kind of thrill I'm after).

[...]


I think what I'm trying to say is that for me (and I think for many other fen), it's more important to like a story than to appreciate its writing quality. For many fen, of course, the liking is closely linked to the writing quality which is why we have such a problem discussing this I think. I think what causes the vehement reactions when I say 'writing quality isn't everything' is that many fen feel that if you reduce the quality they won't *like* the story as much. So the primary criterion is again *liking*.

If I have the choice between buying The Hunting and The Same River, I'll spend my dollars on The Hunting, even though I'd agree the writing quality of The Same River is better. See what I mean? If I have to pick only one zine between The Hunting, The Same River, and Waiting to Fall I'll pick Waiting to Fall, because the writing quality is very good *and* it pushes all the buttons I want pushed.[5]

I wish I had seen more discussion about "The Same River" on the list. When the zine came out, everyone was concerned about Keeping-the-Big-Secret without spoilers (and I totally understood that - I would have killed the spoilers if they had told me in advance). Maybe there was F2F discussion - but I am a poor fan stranded in a Philistine land.

This is spoiler space, in case you haven't read the zine (shame on you! Get a life, and buy it! 8-)

Anyway, with the story. I didn't find it odd - I think a story is odd when it is sappy or has the wrong characterization. And this story is NOT that. I just thought it was a crossover with Robocop (BTW, is this the "alternate title" they didn't use because it gave away the plot?)

Also, the technobabble is very well done, so you don't get distracted by questions about how they put together the android or such stuff. You have all the time and leisure to get depressed as hell. 8-/

I cant say more since i don't have the zine with me now (agh - cold turkey) but I think "The Same River" is one of the best and most memorable Pros story I ever read. Does any of you know where i can find more Helen Raven stories???

OK pass the Prozac. [6]

I heartily disagree with you about Helen Ravens' story The Same River in Naughts & Crosses. I must preface this by saying that I probably would not have picked it up, much less read it all the way through, if I'd known the subject beforehand. Admittedly, the subject of the story is weird and very futuristic, even thought it's set in the 70's/80's CI5 universe. But Helen writes wonderfully. Her story builds slowly and intensely and I found myself caring about the characters and events. I was even mortified by Doyle's use of the android for sex (it seemed so...dirty and manipulative). If I had known what the story was about beforehand, I doubt I would have given it a try. The subject matter has no appeal to me because it borders too closely to AU, which is something I generally avoid. However, once I started in on it, I was too engrossed in what was happening to care that it wasn't something I'd normally read! At the very least, it was terribly well written. At the best, it was a tremendously detailed, creative, beautifully executed story. I was more than able to suspend my disbelief at the non-traditional ideas (for a fan story anyway) and was pulled completely inside. I think it will probably raise a few eyebrows for its unorthodox take on the CI5 universe and its unorthodox love story between Bodie & Doyle, but the idea of Doyle being turned on and falling in love with a machine was so well thought out and written that it became believable - the little touches she added made it possible to really feel it was possible to have such libidinous thoughts about a hunk of metal.

I was surprised by the story and even more surprised at how much I liked it. [7]

Thank you for publishing Helen Raven's "The Same River." It was one of the best, and most disturbing, stories I have ever read in fanfic, and Helen's best work ever. Unfortunately, in the state I was in after ZCon, what I really needed was some nice picking-out-the-curtains stories; TSR left acid trails on my psyche, I was very very glad to have the totally unexpected chance to tell Helen in person how much I liked it... [8]

I had the same reaction to 'The Same River' by Helen Raven as the rest of you seem to have done. A horror story that kept me hooked right to the end. I really don't like horror stories - it's why I can't watch The X-Files, my imagination works too well. I disliked that story yet had to keep on reading! [9]

SPOILERS. The Same River, by Helen Raven: Not dark or disturbing. Not more so than Robocop was, and just like with Robocop, the end is questionable : Bob Morton ought not to have been killed (my opinion, yes). One fears that one doesn't get to know what Cowley has to say on the subject, because nothing he could say could make the chill worse, (coercion even he would have to bow down to, is not as bone-freezing as the nagging suspicion that Cowley had actually initiated the scheme for his own good reasons, showing he has gone completely mad.)

An element of horror and unquiet is the fact that Doyle has actually sex with the helpless Robocops under his care, it is so immoral.. I rather liked that a lot. I did not consider it a horror story. In a Blake's Seven universe, it would have been considered fitting, not horror. (Or is Blake's 7 a horror universe?). It's just good science fiction.[10]

Yes, Helen Raven's The Same River" is what you describe, a tragic and doomed love story. And it still is dynamite. 1 want to see more from Helen Raven.[11]

I loved The Same River as well. I only read it because I was pressured into it and I greatly feared I would regret it. It's a dark, broody piece and I rarely will touch a death story in Pros. In Due South I haven't been bothered by the few I have read, but I have a relationship to Pros which is somewhat strange and I can not bear the thought of one of them dying, usually. Causes Mfae to mock me regularly in public. TSR was very chilling, I think you've it the tone on the story properly there, and quite unnerving. I like Helen Raven's writing quite a bit in general, but this story was exceptional for her. [12]

1997

Fiona is such a damn good writer - inspired - that I'd read anything of hers - and I'm twisted enough to thoroughly enjoy her - unique inspirations. I actually *adored* The Same River, myself. Doyle-jerking-off in the car - the 'I only exist to serve you' scene - ranks as possibly my all-time favourite erotic moment in fan fiction, just pushes all my buttons at the same time. [13]

1998

About rereading something one disliked and finding one likes it after all:

I don't know if this is at all the same, but I often find stories that struck me the first time as extremely dark and hard to handle become more convincing and moving to me as I reread them. M.Fae wears extremely well. Recently I reread "The Same River" for the first time, after reading "The Cook and the Warehouseman" for the first time. Imagine my surprise. "The Same River" was more than I could handle the first time I read it. In light of "The Cook and the Warehouseman," which impressed me greatly, "The Same River" seemed even more sad to me. In "The Cook and the Warehouseman," we are solidly in Bodie's POV. Doyle realizes something about Bodie in the course of the novel. (I'm trying hard to stay vague here.) In "The Same River," Doyle realizes something about Gray. We're solidly in Doyle's POV. The realization is gut-wrenching. On rereading the story, however, I found it increased the impact of the scene to compare it with the realization in "The Cook and the Warehouseman." Those two realizations, one seen directly through the protagonist's eyes, the other seen at a remove, gained in power for me because of my rereading. [14]

There are some stories that it's painful to read the first time through, but if I desensitize myself a bit, I can appreciate the stories. This is mostly for the "worse than death" stories -- "The Same River," "All We Need Is Love," "The Pillory," Angel in the Dark. [15]

This is actually a story that I put off to the very last to read. I kept hearing from people, even before Z-Con was over, "Have you seen the Helen Raven story?!" which was generally accompanied by shivers of discomfort. Not the what-an-awful-story shudders, but usually ending up with a conversation on how depressing it was. And while it certainly is a very dark story, it was not the level of depressing that I was expecting. (Mfae's story far surpassed it on that level, but more on that later...) This is a truly strange story, the first one I've even vaguely seen like it in Pros fandom. It's an au of a most unusual variety, combing cyborgs and Pros. And half the "fun" involved is still finding where they merge. This may be one of the oddest things I've read in a long time, but it's also exceptionally well written and interestingly done. The character development that is involved is never flinched away from nor given in to for an easy 'out' or even an emotional payoff that many fans might look for. All in all, it's by and far the most solid story in the zine. [16]

Powerful, scary, horrendously moving stuff!

I hated it/I loved it!

Fine, fine work.

But geeze, louise! It's grim. [17]

1999

I cannot re-read The Same River; it's too painful to contemplate. [18]

The main reason I hated that story was because I just didn't buy that portrayal of Cowley. [19]

2012

Why this must be read: Because Helen Raven is a consummate writer of Pros, and because she writes with such atmosphere that you can feel every breath the lads take. The Same River isn't an easy story - none of Raven's are, because she writes for grown ups who live in the real world that's out there with all its teeth (even if it's an AU world of the future, as this is *g*) - but it's a story that will hold on to you. It has teeth too. Doyle no longer works with a partner - he can't since he was told that Bodie was dead - but he is still with CI5 and still works for Cowley as a trainer of Mechanoids. As the story begins he is collecting the new model he's been assigned - 5024 - but as the days go by he starts to realise that "Grey" reminds him of Bodie for a reason... [20]

2017

[golden_bastet]:

This is so, so sad... but really well written! I don't know whether to curl up in bed and sob or light fireworks in celebration. ;-)

I'd like to think this is the one thing they'd do for each other if they were put into that situation. I found it a little tough getting through Doyle taking advantage of Grey, but I do get that he was more screwed up than he appeared (and I needed to find out where things were going). [21]

[NVB]: And here there is, the story that haunted me for months when for the first time i read it

It's angst at his peak, it's real pain in the heart, it's terrible and magnificent, and i can't read it again, it would break my soul; but every man or woman that love The Professionals should read this story

Helen, you are incredible gifted, all of your stories are beautiful; but this it's impossible to forget, and impossible for me to read it again Thank you all , and keep writing!

[Helen Raven]: It sounds as if you are haunted by it the way I'm haunted by Sebstian's stories, which is the highest praise I can imagine. Thank you. The story still keeps me awake, if that's any comfort.[22]

References

  1. ^ from Hatstand Interview with Helen Raven
  2. ^ The Pre-History of Slash: a talk for Slash Night 2
  3. ^ from Strange Bedfellows (APA) #11 (November 1995)
  4. ^ from Virgule-L. quoted anonymously (October 29, 1995)
  5. ^ from Virgule-L. quoted anonymously (Jul 17, 1996)
  6. ^ from MS on Virgule-L, quoted with permission (Dec 6, 1996)
  7. ^ from Strange Bedfellows (APA) #12 (February 1996)
  8. ^ from Strange Bedfellows (APA) #12 (February 1996)
  9. ^ from Strange Bedfellows (APA) #13 (May 1996)
  10. ^ from Strange Bedfellows (APA) #14 (August 1996)
  11. ^ from Strange Bedfellows (APA) #14 (August 1996)
  12. ^ from Strange Bedfellows (APA) #14 (August 1996)
  13. ^ from Virgule-L, quoted anonymously (September 30, 1997)
  14. ^ from Virgule-L, quoted anonymously (February 8, 1998)
  15. ^ from Virgule-L, quoted anonymously (February 10, 1998)
  16. ^ In 1998 Michelle Christian posted this review to the Virgule-L mailing list. It is reposted here with permission.
  17. ^ from Virgule-L, quoted anonymously (June 19, 1998)
  18. ^ from Virgule-L, quoted anonymously (Jan 1999)
  19. ^ from Virgule-L, quoted anonymously (February 27, 1999)
  20. ^ from Crack Van (February 25, 2012)
  21. ^ Archive of Our Own
  22. ^ Archive of Our Own
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