Xena E-Xine Volume 3, Issue 1 The Virtual Seasons

VIRTUAL SEASONS & KEVIN SMITH TRIBUTE ISSUE

****************************************

Dedicated to the man behind the god.

Volume III, Issue 1 – March 27, 2002

==============================================

Today's issue includes:

1. Feature Article -- "The Passing of a God"

2. Xena quote

3. Featured FanFic and Short Review -- The Virtual Seasons

4. Xena News -- Links to News item on Kevin Smith and Lucy's

Tribute;

Fan Fundraisers for Kevin's Family; Bardcon 2002

5. Featured Links -- XWP Subtext Virtual Season 7; XWP Virtual

Season

6. Xena: Warrior Princess Episode Guide "The Price" -- "Lost

Mariner"

7. The Uber Zone

8. PRIVACY/NO SPAM POLICY!

9. Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information

10. Credits

11. Archives

12. DISCLAIMER

==============================================

Letter from the Editor

Kevin Smith's death was a great loss to the world. The Xine staff

sends our love to Kevin's family, friends, and fans. This is our

tribute to him.

We're sorry about the broken link to the archives. We've been

looking

for a good place to house them since the last hosting place began

charging for their space. Once there is a new home for the archives,

we will let you know.

One last announcement for those who have been wondering about the

future of the Xena E-Xine, the Xine will no longer be bi-monthly, as

is pretty obvious. There will be no "official" release time for each

issue, but we will continue to bring you the Xine for as long as we

possibly can.

Thank you for your support as always.

Lady Adrell

==============================================

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==============================================

1) Featured Article

"The Passing of a God"

By Lady Adrell

March 20, 2002

I was at the Xena Convention in Pasadena when the news came down the

Merwolf Pack wire that Kevin Smith had died of his injuries on a

movie set in China. The story had already hit in New Zealand and the

devastating realization spread through the Pack quickly that the

wonderful man we had come to love, as Ares on Xena, did not recover

from his injures. The news slowly spread around to the Pups at the

convention. It was all very hush-hush and we were left to deal with

our grief and shock in quiet disbelief. Did you hear? Can you

believe

it? How? Why?

In the auditorium on the last day of the convention, everyone was

told about Kevin. The generous outpouring from the fans to Kevin's

family came as no surprise to me since Xena fans have never been the

stingy kind. Over $25,000 was raised that weekend for Kevin's wife

and children. It was a special time when fans and friends of Kevin

came together to honor and remember him for the special human being

that he was. We got to say good-bye in a way that other fans did not

have a chance to experience. With Kevin's friends on stage, we stood

up and clapped as one to say farewell to a man who had come into our

homes through Xena and had come into our hearts through his

genuineness and charisma. It's something I'll never forget and will

always treasure.

I have a great amount of respect for all of Kevin's friends who gave

what they could of themselves to the fans at the convention while

their grief was still very raw. Case in point, Hudson Leike, an

amazing woman, stayed around after her autograph signings to pose

for

pictures with fans that wanted them. When I looked at the picture I

took with her, the sorrow in her eyes was overwhelming. And yet she

did it—they all did it—for the fans and I think for Kevin too.

I know Kevin was with us that weekend in Pasadena. He watched as his

friends gave him tribute on Saturday night and all of Sunday. He

knew

friend and fan alike loved him so very much and that his family

would

be taken care of. Though there was sorrow and pain of loss felt by

everyone at the convention there was also a great sense of love. I

believe that love we felt was Kevin.

It's taken me a month to sit down and write this article. I wanted

do right by Kevin's memory and by you readers. I know in the time

since his passing, many people have written many different things

about Kevin on fan lists, clubs, newsgroups and the like. Feelings

have been shared, grief has been dealt with and people have moved

on.

What I'd like to do now is talk briefly about the impact Kevin Smith

had on his fans.

To fans, Kevin not only played a god on TV, he was a God. He was

strong and handsome, vivacious and alive. He was the only male actor

on Xena that a good number of the lesbian fans lusted after. Anyone

lucky enough to have seen or met him in person can attest to his

friendly smile, kind attitude toward fans, and apparent zest for

life. Kevin loved what he was doing and he loved his fans. We, in

turn, loved him. He treated us like people. He did not have the

lofty

attitude of some "stars" addressing their fawning subjects as many

Hollywood types do. He lived and worked in a different world than

Hollywood, a world where actors were just people who thanked God for

the fans who would pay to watch them do what they loved to do. You

couldn't help but love Kevin the actor or Kevin the man. He was

great

at his craft and he was honest as a man.

I would like to leave you readers with one last thought. We can only

wish in our lives that we touch people in a positive way so that at

our deaths we leave on this earth the love we had in our hearts.

That's what Kevin did. He will be missed, but he will never be

forgotten.

==============================================

2) Xena Quote

"Many years ago, in a clearing much like this one, I met my destiny.

I fell in love with her that very day."

Xena to Gabrielle in "Crossroads" XWPSVS7

==============================================

3) Featured Fan Fiction

Reviewed by Bacchae2

XWP Subtext Virtual Season 7

"A Friend Indeed Parts I & II"

http://xenamultimedia.com/XWPSubtextS7/S7E01/S7-E01-Teaser.htm

Could there be a more perfect title? This first two-part answer to

TPTB's less than fulfilling FINale is a Good compromise at bringing

Xena back to life--and, most importantly, to the living arms of her

best friend and life (or lives) partner. The Bard does take that

planned trip to Egypt. Gab's opening colloquy (it could never be a

soliloquy with Xena's ghost lurking about) with her dearly departed

partner is heartbreaking. It has its desired effect on the

warrior...as does Gabrielle's banishment of her lover's ghost

because

she just can't live any longer with the situation as it stands

without being allowed to grieve...in private. She makes the

difficult

decision to travel her path alone. And a suddenly antsy Xena can't

live...er, haunt with that and remain content to have the best of

both worlds in good conscience any longer...she'll just have to,

literally, move heaven and hell in order to come back to the land of

the living--and Gabrielle. X&G's reunion scene is to die for--so to

speak. The new, improved, and chastened Xena can admit she was

wrong.

(Thank you, Missy.) I thought this would all play out with an

entirely Egyptian mythos (Isis was noted for being good at putting

the pieces back together, e.g.) as key to Xena's return, but

re-enter

Lucifer. Xena "pads" across the campground. This one has pup prints

all over it. Story by Missy Good, script by Sue Beck and TNovan.

They

deliver the Goods.

Four **** stars

===========

"Choices"

http://xenamultimedia.com/XWPSubtextS7/S7E03/S7-E03-Teaser.htm

By Melissa Good. This one has a delicious kernel of pithy emotional

turnabout-fair-play comeuppance at its climax when Gab makes the

choice, this time, to give her life for a cause, the greater good.

Will Xena stop her in time (Do you even need to worry?) as she did

Missy's "Legacy" and as Gab should have done in AFIN? Some luscious,

romantic Missy mmm moments as usual and a joyously sexy illustration

from Lucia that is a real keeper. When did tattoos ever look this

damn good?

Four **** stars

===========

"It's All in the Mind"

http://xenamultimedia.com/XWPSubtextS7/S7E04/S7-E04-Teaser.htm

TNovan delivers. Brilliantly. The best episode yet for this site.

And

way more amusing than anything in Season Five. A charming, sly,

sensuous comedy of errors. Dite gets yet another spell just a little

quirkily out of kilter and Gab finds herself with the wish-

fulfillment fantasy of reading minds--an idle wish to understand

what

her moody partner is thinking is the culprit. Gab freaks when she

discovers she can hear her proposed dinner (yet another poor bunny)

talking to her. Lucia's artwork provokes as much LOL amusement as

Novan's sassy script. A must read!

Five ***** stars!

===========

"For Want of an Herb"

http://xenamultimedia.com/XWPSubtextS7/S7E05/S7-E05-Teaser.htm

Not the most thrilling sounding title. Another Sue Beck script. This

one looked to be a tender hurt/comfort in the manner of OA3 ("One

Against an Army") but, despite the "trailer," Gab is not poisoned or

in such dire straits this time--just an injured leg after some great

bardic daring do

as a proud Xena looks on, and it's the plagued amazons that are in

need of the herb of the title. Some stirring scenes.

Four **** stars

===========

"War's Children"

http://xenamultimedia.com/XWPSubtextS7/S7E06/S7-E06-Teaser.htm

Missy again. Like "Coming Home," the title doesn't seem to have a

lot

to do with the actual storyline. It's the amazons referenced in the

title, I suppose, and Varia, attempting to play the hero, is out to

rescue her sisters from slavery and rudely rebuffs any help from

X&G.

Ms. Good

writes a very memorable drunken debauchery scene for them (!) Oh,

how

I wish she could've gotten the "Where you go, I go" line in her

filmed episodes, but it's been in virtually all her virtual scripts.

The relationship stuff can't be bettered. They take a fall, carrying

togetherness all the way, and that final living line of Xena to

Gabrielle is repeated. Thrillingly. An mmm moment to top them all

accompanied by, perhaps, the single best example of Lucia's

exuberantly Romantic art happens in mid-air in a lover's leap of

faith. Now, THAT's a kiss! One of the sublimest images I've yet

seen.

Four **** stars

===========

"Divided We Fall"

http://xenamultimedia.com/XWPSubtextS7/S7E07/S7-E07-Teaser.htm

Sue Beck. A superb rendition of a classic tale (credit duly noted to

Trek's "Enemy Within" in the Disclaimer)...Jekyll and Hyde, Xena's

literally split personality. Good girl, bad/wicked warrior--with a

gleam in her eye. Irresistible. As Gab discovers. The evil Xena is

sexy and seductive and is in the envious position of being jealous

herself.

Five ***** stars!

===========

"Dreams of the Heart"

http://xenamultimedia.com/XWPSubtextS7/S7E08/S7-E08-Teaser.htm

Missy channeling her inner Celtic warrior. (And don't the girls look

grand in tartans?

http://xenamultimedia.com/XWPSubtextS7/lucia/28WhataMess.jpg)

Another

script by M.G. and she's starting TWO Xena prose tales...where does

she find the time?! The woman possesses the prolific penmanship

skills of Stephen King. This ep is, ironically, about Gab's writer's

(or bard's) block, something Missy never need worry about. Gab

searches for inspiration in order to win a bard's competition for a

needful clan in an accidental return to Britannia where she and

Xena "both lost so much." Does she still have the bard within her or

did she give up those dreams for the warrior's path? A sai is just a

sai, but a kiss is never just a kiss with Missy in charge. Sigh.

Four **** stars

===========

"Sins of the Father"

http://xenamultimedia.com/XWPSubtextS7/S7E09/S7-E09-Teaser.htm

Autolycus returns as an old man with a troubled young son who needs

X&G's help and a daughter who follows in her father's light-fingered

footsteps (I just mixed digital metaphors) and shares his penchant

for the ladies, in this instance an eye for Gab which has the

Warrior

P. seeing green. Story by TNovan. A heart-warming and amusing

effort.

Four **** stars

===========

"Happily Never After"

http://xenamultimedia.com/XWPSubtextS7/S7E10/S7-E10-Teaser.htm

Missy again! A great, playful opening sequence. Even an avalanche

won't budge our bard and her warrior when they are wrapped in each

other's arms. This one is pure farce, but the romantic bits are 99 &

44/100ths percent mmm Missy. Some delicious dialogue and monkey

business between X&G in a bizarre fairy tale gone wrong plot that

defies logical description. There are only two certain

things...taxes

and marriage. These aren't Missy's X&G, but they want to be.

Four **** stars

===========

"Crossroads"

http://xenamultimedia.com/XWPSubtextS7/S7E11/S7-E11-Teaser.htm

Story by Missy, script by Beck, "from a story idea by Rob Tapert"!!

Well, this really does confer the air of officialdom on this virtual

season. And I can just guess what Rob's fantasy...er contribution

was-

-the erotic ref to "9 1/2 Weeks." And Xena using her prowess with

strawberries for good and not for evil this time. A wonderful

flashback to their first time as told in very loving detail by Gab

order to turn the heads (and hearts) of some impressionable Hestian

Virgins. This is a special Valentine's Day treat. Romantic and

explicitly sensual. They said at the outset that they would not get

explicit with this "subtext" (really, maintext) site, but this is as

close as you can come and pretend to maintain decorum <G>. Tacit

nudity and a love scene that plays it out all the way, all very

tastefully, if erotically, presented. And ya gotta love any ep that

begins with them already skinny dipping. Don't miss this one. I

guess

this means Rob does now admit to knowing that they were, in deed,

sleeping together.

Five ***** stars!

"Been a Wonderful Life"

http://xenamultimedia.com/XWPSubtextS7/S7E12/S7-E12-Teaser.htm

Another superb TNovan script. What would have happened to the lives

of the warrior and the bard if they'd had to continue alone without

the other. If Xena had really stayed in the land of the dead and the

ambrosia had not brought her back, or if Gabrielle had been killed

Thessaly afterall despite all of Xena's frantic efforts to save

her... A surprise noctural visit from our favorite amazon ghost of

X-

miss past shows our heroines the unexpected consequences of

wondering

what might have been. This one will bring several lumps to your

throat, but there are some very a-Muse-ing moments as well.

I give it five ***** stars!

===================

XWP Virtual Season

[NOTE: You will probably get an advert first with these links, but

just

click on "Continue to Message"]

"Honor Bound Parts I & II"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/4

Gabrielle foregoes Egypt for a return to Japan determined to find a

way to bring Xena back from the dead. The first part is quite good,

but the second devolved into convoluted and anarchic activity that

became hard to follow. A good thing about this ep is Lao Ma's ghost

interacting with

Xena's spirit. Poignantly reminding us that this is the ghost that

should've returned to grace the FINale. The epic X&G reunion is

effective and affecting. But the award winning script "Hi No Tori"

does it best.

Four **** stars Part I, Three***stars Part II

===========

"Strange Tidings"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/16

The dreary Eve returns. Still espousing the weenie philosophy of

Eli.

Gab is drinking to forget...or to remember something. Getting into

barroom brawls, dreaming of herself as some sort of ninja assassin.

Who'd ever think there could be an angel behind it all? Attempt to

extend the fifth season story arc agenda. OK, but that arc was never

very promising.

Three***stars

===========

"Arabian Nights"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/22

An utterly charming idea. I'm surprised the series didn't exploit

this concept. Gab becomes Scherazade, the teller of 1,001 nights of

tales. Her life will be forfeit unless she can move the hardened

heart of the caliph. Finally, in the end, it is love that moves his

melancholy soul. The power, passion and self-sacrifice of love as

embodied in the relationship of a particular pair of soulmates. The

moment of truth brought a tear to my eye. Who will speak of the

power

of love and move a heart of stone? It may surprise you.

Four****stars

===========

"The Game"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/29

A wonderfully creepy crossover employing the Cthulu mythos of HP

Lovecraft in ancient Egypt. So they do get back to Egypt eventually.

The local gods are locked in immortal combat with the creepy

crawlies

from under the sea. The ancient one attempts to take over Xena as

his

warrior, pitting her, inevitably, against Gabrielle.

Four****stars

===========

"And Egypt Shall Rise"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/35

A silly Mummy spoof in the best (or worst) tradition of the series.

Lots of desiccated body parts falling hither and yon. They move

slowly, but they just keep coming. There is a battle of bards with a

female writer who disputes Gab's view of history in her now famous

scrolls. Lots of spells reading to raise and lower the dead. Felt

like I was in a Buffy ep. Joxer shows up in this one, after a

fashion. Don't worry, it's only a cameo.

Three***stars

===========

"The Laurel Tree"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/41

Alti returns. Up to the same old tricks. Fast-forward time warping

and nasty visions. There is actually a bit of "To Kill a

Mockingbird"

in this ep! Some hurt/comfort as Xena is injured (blinded again) in

the confrontation with their nemesis. Alti wants to know what

happened between Gab and The Fates in "When Fates Collide."

Four****stars

===========

"Flowers, Feathers, and Family"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/47

A surprisingly satisfying and funny ep. Despite the fact that all

three J brothers are present. Devolves into a "Lyre, Lyre" style

musical extravaganza. A flashback tale of how Jox hooked up with

Meg.

Bordellos, Betrothals, and Brides. Jace singing "The Dancing Queen"

while prancing and voguing at his brother's wedding is a sight

probably best left to the imagination. A bit of the disco dizziness

that may have ensued with Missy's Sappho script. X&G are peripheral

characters here merely hearing the tale from Meg and Virgil.

Four****stars

===========

"Battle of Amphipolis"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/53

A journey to Xena's hometown for Solstice. Reminiscent of "Remember

Nothing." What if she had a chance to prove herself all over again

her family and friends? And get it right this time? Flashbacks of

the

young warrior are interwoven with a similar 'present day' danger to

the town. The elder Toris helps this time--and Gabby, of course.

Redemption would have been a good title for this one.

Four****stars

===========

"A Nation Under Siege"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/101

The Amazon nation, that is. Very redolent of "Dangerous Prey" which

was yet another rip-off of "The Most Dangerous Game." Varia is still

a bore. A fairy tale plot of Romeo and Juliet. Yet again. In the

form

of an Amazon in love with a king's son. Ephiny's spirit helps set

things right in a misunderstanding of tragic proportions that sets

one vengeful man on a mission of genocide against the amazons. Gab

takes time out from Xena to solve this problem on her own.

Three***stars

===========

"A Day in the Camp"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/107

CN Winters. Bless her. A wonderful, rollicking return to Jan and

Mel.

This site's best ep yet (until the following one). Everyone's

favorite series uber couple are masquerading as husband and wife

(!)--

talk about butch/femme roleplaying--and working undercover (as it

were) to beat some nasty nazis. Delicious subtext, some cute artwork

and lots of action. I'd always longed for a return to Jan and Mel

territory on the series. This is the next best thing. An Indy Jones

flavored plot with McGuffin artifact at stake.

Five*****stars!

===========

"Lights, Camera, Action!"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/113

Brilliant! A tour de force (or farce). The studio hacks who spoiled

the brothy fun of our favorite series are being killed off in every

fan's wish fulfillment fantasy. This is the one that brings it all

together in a satiric mélange that reads better than most of the

shows self-parody spoofs ("Send in the Clones," "Deja Vu All Over

Again," "You Are There," "Soul Possession") played. LL and ROC are

preparing to star in and direct Xena's return on film with aid from

the X&G clones and fans Missy, MaryD, Sharon Delaney et al. Everyone

descends on Auckland (including the cigarette smoking man) to grab a

piece of the action. In the meantime a serial killer is doing away

with Studios USA execs and targeting Rob (who really only wants to

fishing) for their mishandling of XWP. This is a very smart, savvy,

in the know, tongue in cheek, full frontal, no holds barred, yet

affectionate musing on all the foibles of fandom.

Five*****stars!

===========

"Maids, Mazes, and Minotaurs"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/120

The title says it all. Of course, if was Xena who slew the beastie.

Some amusing comics style artwork and shipboard moments reminiscent

of "Lost Mariner" as Gab fights seasickness. The plotline brought to

mind the great Mary Renault's classic novel of bull-leaping, "The

King Must Die" (which was one of the lesbian authoress' few

homoerotic romances to include gay women.) Wonder what she would've

thought of Xena...

Four****stars

===========

"Love Potion Number IX"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/126

Another ep I was prepared to say ick to, but it's quite funny. A

good

Valentine's treat in the grand farcical tradition of "Comedy of

Eros." Dite's love portions fall into the wrong hands--Ares. Out for

mischief, he deliberately puts Gab and Virgil under the spell, but

becomes victim to love himself when he can't take his eyes off

Gabrielle either. Xena is not amused. Unlike Missy's pre-Valentine

Day farce "Happily Never After" this one mirrors the series in

a "true love" breaks-the-spell cop-out kiss by Xena...to Gab's

cheek.

What an anti-climax!

Four****stars

===========

"Another Day, Another Warlord"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/132

As the title suggests, a routine run-of-the-mill storyline. But

there

is one very enjoyable thing in this script, Gabrielle gets to meet

her namesake, the baby she rescued once upon a time in that business

with Pandora is now King Gabriel.

Three***stars

"All Roads Lead to Rome"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/139

Surprisingly good even though Eve and the seemingly psychotic

archangel Michael are back. Gab poses as a Norse Queen with Beowulf

in tow and Xena as her champion in the evil Nero's court. With an

interesting Herc crossover as well. One of our three heroines will

fight the old hero who's fallen on hard times in the arena.

I give it four **** stars.

===========

"We Who are About to Die"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/147

Sequel to the previous episode. Part Two is fairly well done, but

becomes as muddled and confusing as the whole Season 5 arc. Still,

it's daring to hear the rejection of the Old Testament God of

Vengeance. A new god shall supplant this god, regardless if he's

perceived as a son of the same god or no. Why don't people ever look

objectively at their own mythology? The Herc/Xena reunion is a

touching one (without that kind of touching) and Gab is the fierce

and gutsy heroine of the piece. A fight of angels. (A Gab/Michael

rematch.)

I give it three *** stars.

===========

"Truth or Dare"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/158

A promising concept, I was salivating at the possibilities of a

familiar and, hopefully, subtextual game for our girls to play with

each other, but promises far more than it delivers, though there are

a few sweet little teasing questions and answers. It all starts when

Gab becomes terribly upset that she doesn't know Xena's favorite

color. What else might she not know after all these years? With a

throwback fairy tale plotline a la Seasons One or Two that reads as

replay of one of those baby-tossing episodes. A light hearted entry.

I give it three *** stars.

===========

"Go West Young Warrior"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xwpvs/message/163

Well...add the discovery of america to Xena's many ahead-of-her-time

accomplishments. This is part one of a double header, but we won't

get to the next episode in CN Winters' story until a few reruns

have 'aired.' I'm going to do something I haven't done before and

split the rating on this one. The Teaser and Act One are superb and

very promising, full of fun, with a highly memorable bed scene...all

very innocent...of course. Xena is 'forced' to undress a tipsy

bard. This is the kind of subtext the series excelled at...at its

unashamed best. But the shipboard 'romance' of the remaining acts is

very disappointing and rife with cliche and poor plotting, bad

dialogue... and very familiar situations. Already been there and

done

that with "Tsunami" and "Lost Mariner," "To Helicon and Back," etc.

I give the Teaser and Act One Five ***** stars! and Acts Two through

Four * star. A first. Sorry.

Read my comparison of the sites in the Links section below.

Star Rating

***** The Full Chakram!

**** Foreplay

*** Two sais and a whimper

** Half staff better than none

* Kiss Joxer or Caligula, your choice

==============================================

4) Xena News

Unfortunately, we all know the latest news in the Xenaverse...

Articles of Kevin's passing:

http://onenews.nzoom.com/news_detail/0,1227,82211-1-7,00.html

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storyprint.cfm?storyID=939668

Creations Tribute to Kevin:

http://www.creationent.com/past_events/kevin/index.html

============

Lucy's Letter to the Fans:

"I've been wanting to thank all those nice people who care about

Kevin and gave money at the convention. I wanted to say that I'm

sorry that a place for their money to go wasn't arranged sooner. It

was simply that the people who were arranging it were so close to

Kevin and needed time to support his wife and family. I want the

fans to know they weren't being ignored. I don't want them to feel

disrespected. Tell them I'm sorry I haven't sent word. Every day I

say I've got to write a letter and I'm just out of words. I know

that his wife and children will take a great deal of heart of how

much Kevin meant to people out there that they don't even know. It's

going to help them through this tough time. Please thank everyone so

much for me."

-- Lucy Lawless

The Kevin Smith Trust Fund has now been set up at the Auckland

Theatre Company to help Kevin's family. Donations can be sent to:

Kevin Smith Trust Fund

c/o Auckland Theatre Company

P.O. Box 6513

Wellesley Street

Auckland

New Zealand

===========

Fan Fundraisers for Kevin's Family

Sword and Staff has one:

As you by now know, Kevin Smith has died as a result of the injuries

he sustained in a fall in Beijing, China. Kevin leaves behind a wife

and three young sons. In response to fan request that we do some

kind of memorial for Kevin, Sword and Staff will be taking donations

for Kevin's family. I know there is talk of a Foundation being set

up, and if and when that happens, the funds will be sent directly to

that foundation. In the meantime, anyone wishing to donate can do so

by sending a check through Sword and Staff for that purpose. Checks

or money orders should be made payable to Debbie Cassetta and sent

to:

Sword and Staff

P.O. Box 224

Floral Park, NY 11002

USA

If you prefer, you can send the donations via PayPal. Please send

the

PayPal donations to DebbieCassetta@... You can use PayPal by

logging on at http://www.paypal.com

Please do not make checks payable to Sword and Staff (as it is not a

legal entity). Also, please note that these gifts will be going

directly to Kevin's family and are therefore not tax deductible as a

charitable expense. If you have any questions or comments, please

feel free to contact me at

MistNY@...

Best,

Mist

http://sword-and-staff.com

CN Winters with UpBeat Mag are the other:

The following is from CN Winters and Bridget Petrella (Upbeat

Magazine) As many of you know Kevin Smith otherwise known as Ares

God

of War has died Feb. 16th, 2002 resulting in an accident in China.

My good friend Bridget Petrella of Upbeat Magazine called and asked

me to take up a donation that she will send off to the publicist of

Ren Pics so that Kevin's family - not any charity organization but

Kevin's own family - can receive the funds. Being a 'non-union'

worker in New Zealand, Kevin leaves behind a wife and three children

who could greatly use the support. We are asking that every fan send

in $20. If you'd like to give more or if you'd like to give less

that's perfectly fine. Every dollar will help his family get on

their

feet while they rebuild their lives. Our heartfelt condolences go

out

to Kevin's family, his fellow performers and the millions of fans at

this terrible loss. On a more personal note I got the chance to

spend

some time and talk with Kevin at the Dearborn, MI convention...

Sweet doesn't even begin to describe this very talented yet humble

man. He wasn't just a 'God' ... he was a PRINCE in the truest sense

of the word. Please make your checks out to:

Winters Productions and send to

Winters Productions

PO Box 319

Newport, MI 48166

If you have any question please feel free to email me at

cnwinters@... or Bridget at UPBEATmag@....

============

Bardcon 2002 calling all fan fic writers

Bardcon.org (http://www.bardcon.org) will be holding their first (of

what hopes to be) annual meeting in Chicago April 13th and 14th,

2002. Tickets will be $45 and include admittance for both days. We

expect first year attendance around 200 people and we are planning

things accordingly. Rooms will be available at the Hyatt Regency

Woodfield be priced $89 for singles and $119 for quad rooms plus tax

per night. In addition, a dinner is also being planned for 7:30 pm

Sunday, the final day of the convention for $30 at Tomboy

Restaurant.

We're currently looking for fan fiction writers who would like to

meet with fans that weekend to discuss the characters we love.

Buffy,

Xena, Star Trek, Star Wars, you name it – it's a

workshop/panel/seminar atmosphere which will let the 'bards'

interact

with the readers and vice verse. As an added bonus to Xena fans, the

About Face Theater will be doing a musical revue of Xena Live II

with

two special performance times in celebration of BardCon on Saturday.

The audience can do a Q and A with the shows stars and writers after

these performances. Ticket prices for Xena Live are available at the

site. Currently, we're searching for fan fiction writers from all

areas on the web. If you think you're interested in attending and/or

would like to be part of a discussion/signing event please email

bardcon@... and information will be sent to you. If you know

of anyone who might be interested by all means please spread the

word. We've enclosed a banner too so if you have a site we'd

appreciate a link if possible. Just upload the image to your site,

and link using

http://www.bardcon.org

We've been to many official conventions over the years and one of

the

most appealing aspects is the fan run events during those times.

This

is a convention created by the fans for the fans so we ask that you

take the time to consider it and please let us know if you would be

willing to commit to a tentative schedule.

Thank you for your time,

CN Winters

cnwinters@...

=============================================

5) Featured Links

Xena: Warrior Princess Subtext Virtual Season 7 (maintext)

http://xenamultimedia.com/XWPSubtextS7/index.htm

The big Kahunas, Missy Good, TNovan, Sue Beck, Lucia, Calli, JMair,

Mary D--and with Rob's (yes Tapert!) contribution ("based on a story

idea by") to the Valentine's Day surprise--make this virtual season

as official as it gets.

The subtext season, so-called, is really maintext from the first

script which refers to X&G as "Lovers" in the stage directions to,

perhaps, the very best of the considerable good things about the

whole above-average endeavor, the glorious artwork of Lucia. And, of

course, the full participation of Melissa Good (with several scripts

and story credits so far) with this site gives it the official

imprimatur with no stretch of any fan's imagination. Or lack of

appreciation. This is the one. With the piquant tang of

authenticity.

The excellent writing staff is given superb support by JMair's

screengrabs, MaryD's and Calli's title graphics. And a huge thanks

Carol Stephens for creating and "producing" the site. A+

============

Xena: Warrior Princess Virtual Season (subtext)

http://xwpvs.tripod.com or

http://members.lycos.co.uk/xwpvs/vseason.htm

This site is ambitious with translations into both French and

Spanish

whereas the so-called "subtext" site is also available in French.

Both sites sport teasers, trailers, and re-runs, but this one

includes a lot of extra "bells and whistles" (spfx--very well-done

animated video clips, audio clips, click-on art enlargements) that

makes it very difficult, at least for my server, to load. There have

been more production delays at the "subtext" site (only 11 eps have

run at the "subtext" site to 18 at the promised weekly rate at this

site) but more glitches here. Both sites are good at choosing series

stills for dramatic impact and character nuance. Click on

the "archived" [sic] link on the URL for this site above and go to

the Yahoo Groups message board where the previous episodes are

stored

as text (with separate links to the artwork, etc.). You have to

click

on "Messages" and then click on "First" to go back to the beginning

and read in chronological order. Each Act is stored as a separate

message unit. Or use the links to the teasers we have provided with

our mini-reviews. B+

==============================================

6) Xena: Warrior Princess Episode Guide

by Bacchae2

Episode Forty-four "The Price" and Episode Forty-five "Lost Mariner"

"The Price"

What savage beauty. From the wild, careening opening aerial shot of

NZ's winding waterways to the frightening realization of a seemingly

implacable foe. The Horde. Ugly mothers. The same director (Oley

Sassone) would also use that "Apocalypse Now" shot in "The Debt."

Beginning with laid-back fishing hole humor and quickly turning to

non-stop, break-neck, fast and furious, deadly earnest adventure

this

is a memorable ep. Gabrielle thinks Xena has gone battle lust

bonkers

and reverted to type, which sets up one of their rare confrontations

and battle of wills, but we can plainly see what is really

happening...she will do anything, whatever it takes to keep her bard

alive.

Subtext Rating: Slip of the...tongue. She almost says it... Xena

almost comes out in this ep. When she's kneeling by Gabrielle's side

as they tend to a wounded soldier and Lucy either ad libs or gives a

great reading of scripted ellipses... "You don't know how much I

love...that." She'd almost said "you" and bit it back for whatever

reason. Xena just couldn't be the first one of them to admit it

aloud

to the viewer. That would be for the bard to do.

============

"Lost Mariner"

A heartfelt dissertation on the depths of love. Gabrielle's initial

desolation at being parted from her partner in a maelstrom is

alleviated by the wondrous sight of her warrior battling to reach

the

enchanted vessel which has rescued the bard, a bittersweet pride and

awe in the fact that in so doing Xena will, too, and, knowingly,

become a victim of the curse which will never allow them to leave

the

ship. Xena makes the sacrifice without a moment's hesitation and

even

the grizzled old sailor boys recognize true love and devotion when

they see it. When Cecrops describes his grand passion we know that

must be the way Xena feels about another woman with green eyes.

"It's

the love I feel... The love you have for Gabrielle. Would you risk

your life for her?"

Subtext Rating: "I figured it out." The ship that launched a

thousand

faces. The range of expression and emotion on Gabrielle's face as

she

watches Xena do everything in her considerable power to get to her

aboard ship is a study in admiration, desire, somewhat selfish

guilt,

wonder that her warrior is doing it all for her, willing to be with

her under any circumstances come what may. She knows Xena will not

deterred. Telling her not to come isn't even an option.

==============================================

7) The Uber Zone

by E.J. Rain

The Light Fantastic

by LA Tucker

http://www.merwolf.com/academy/fanfic/l/latucker_lightfantastic1.html

The first out and out comedy uber I've come across. I adored it. So

well written and so damn funny. The Xena uber is an actress in

crisis

hiding out in her hometown and the Gab uber a director (of a high

school production of "Oklahoma!" which really took me back to my

theater days), the dialogue is crisp, sparkling, the characters

completely real and endearing and contemporary; it deserves to be a

published, well-read and beloved novel, to become a delightful film

or series. This is the best amusing, small-town, picaresque novel

I've read since the great Fannie Flagg's "Fried Green Tomatoes at

the

Whistle Stop Cafe" with, maybe, a little quirky touch of k.d. lang's

far north film "Salmonberries" thrown in. Did I mention I LOVED this

novel!? You gotta love a book that has parodies (and good ones) as

chapter headings beginning with the

unforgettable (and thoroughly, hilariously germane to the

story), "All the World's a Stooge." Romantic Comedy does not get any

better than this one. Do yourself a favor.

============

Gun Shy

by Lori Lake

http://www.ausxip.com/fanfiction/g/gunshy1.html

This one, a classic, had been recommended to me several times, but I

just hadn't gotten around to it (so many great ubers, so little time

online). I'm delighted that she is making this into a series. And it

would make a fabulous TV series as well like that other great police

duo, "Cagney and Lacey." It deserves the kind of more or

less 'mainstream' notice and readership (actually, I'll wager the

readership just might be larger on line) as that of someone like

mystery novelist Sandra Scoppettone (one of the better

lesbian 'mainstream' writers.) I love the romance, I love the

characters...I really loved the parallel symmetry of them being

partners who ride together, who meet each other in much the same way

as did Xena and Gabrielle (Dez, short for Desiree, the daring cop

saves Jay and the kid follows her to the police academy) and I

especially love the fact that they, like Dar and Kerry, are true

reincarnations who sometimes get flashes of their former existence.

============

Under the Gun

by Lori Lake

http://www.ausxip.com/fanfic15/under_the_gun.htm

The equally excellent sequel to "Gun Shy." Dez lost it when Jay was

injured by a bully and is on leave and finally taking some

counseling

for the PTSD she never dealt with from the death of her former

partner (a Lyceus uber, I believe.) The new partners have been torn

apart by rumor and revenge on the job, but neither seems to know if

they've broken up in their now not so private life as well. It takes

them an agonizing while to figure it out too. Great setting,

authenticity of detail, and supporting cast of characters. The

proposed gay channel should pick this up for a series. In fact,

someone should produce an Uber Theater. It would never go wanting

for

great material. Not with these exceptional bards.

============

Iron Rose Bleeding

by Anne Azel

http://www.ausxip.com/fanfic19/ironrose1-4.html

Went immediately to this rare SF uber on the Highest Recommendation

of Lunacy and, as she says, it's like nothing you've read before. It

kept me up late (till 3 am) reading online for the same reasons she

stated in her review. First, what the hell is going on here and then

what the hell is going to happen next? The writer's style is

uniquely

quirky. Perhaps a tad reminiscent of the great lesbian feminist sf

author Joanna Russ or lesbian cyberpunk sf author Melissa Scott, but

highly original and engaging. Tap (!) and Court are a compelling

uber

duo, literally from two different worlds.

============

Anam Cara

by moon child

http://www.merwolf.com/academy/fanfic/m/moonchild_anamcara1.html

A brand new fanfic bard with a compelling first uber. Having the

Xena

uber as a pub owner with the prerequisite dark past, in this case as

a member of the IRA, is a bold stroke of genius. We can clearly hear

the charmin' lovely lilt in her brogue, not that dissimilar to a

certain kiwi tainted accent that we all know and love. The Gab uber

is an innocent professional photographer who is drawn to the blue-

eyed beauty at first sight (and vice versa, of course). This is

another uber of the reincarnation variety with some sly, amusing and

familiar little italicized asides as the two puzzle out their

reactions to each other. Danger, humor and they 'meet cute.' You'll

get hooked right away.

============

Driven

by Sue Beck and TNovan

Another prolific pair of bards, for which we are truly thankful. A

brand

spanking new. A brand spanking new series barely out of the starter

gate and set in the world of women's pro basketball. Okay, we can

see

a Xena uber as a (former) star of the court, but petite little

GabUber?! Sign up for updates at

http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=swordnquil

=============================================

If you have any comments, suggestions for content, or articles to

submit to this Xine, then please contact Lady Adrell at

ladyadrell@... (We are accepting submissions for featured

articles. Send to above address.)

==============================================

8) PRIVACY/NO SPAM POLICY!

NO SPAMMING OR LIST SHARING!

You can rest assured that your subscription email address will be

kept in the strictest confidence. We do not divulge, nor make

available to any third party, our subscription list. Your privacy is

paramount to us! Therefore, it receives the respect it deserves!

==============================================

9) Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information

If this Xine was forwarded to you and you would like to receive your

own free copy; you can subscribe at http://www.xenaexine.f2s.com or

send a blank email to: xenaexine-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

PLEASE NOTE: You are receiving The Xena E-Xine because you

subscribed

at http://www.xenaexine.f2s.com, or you requested to be added to our

subscriber list.

To unsubscribe, send a blank e-mail to xenaexine-

unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

==============================================

10) Credits

The Xena E-Xine Staff:

Chief Editor/Head Reporter: Lady Adrell

Editor/Head Writer: Bacchae2

Researcher/Writer/Assistant Editor: Sue

FanFic Critic: Staff

Website Analyst: Staff

Episode Guides: Bacchae2

==============================================

11) Archives

The archives are searching for a new home. Sorry for the delay.

==============================================

12) DISCLAIMER

No virtual bards were chakramed in the production of this Xine.

==============================================

You have permission to forward this to other people, and by all

means, please do.

The contents of this E-Xine may be copied, reproduced, or freely

distributed for all nonprofit purposes without the consent of the

author as long as the author's name and contact information are

included, unless where otherwise stated. Example: Reproduced with

permission from

Lady Adrell or said author.

indicated

property of their respective owners.

==============================================

THANKS FOR READING!

==============================================

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