ZINE REVIEWS
By Briget.
I've found Detective Armani's fanzine list to be a godsend in my quest for a DS 'fix.' I've written off queries to just about everyone on the Hudson Bay Trading Post list (International Reply Coupons enclosed) and have - eventually - received replies from all. I've risked sending dollars in the post with orders for fanzines and am happy to say that they're a trustworthy bunch as I've always received copies of whatever I've ordered. You have to be prepared to wait for what can seem like an eternity - several weeks - but, just as you're about to give up, something arrives.
I'd particularly recommend 'Last of a Breed,' 'Compass Points' and 'Partial Recall.' Expensive but a darned good read! If you like to see Benny getting mangled a lot (!) and Ray worrying about / saving/ comforting him (!!) then you'll enjoy these stories as I did (!!!) If you prefer the reverse, you'll be a little disappointed. 'Compass Points 2' and 'Last of a Breed' contain stories where Ray gets injured but, generally, the writers have him doing a lot of detecting / worrying / soul-searching / arguing with Benny or family members. If you're disappointed about the demise of Ray in the series, these fanzines at least hold some hope. And in all these tales, Ray's character is spot on and comes across as being equal in importance to the Mountie.
DEATH IN THE WILDERNESS by Anne Livesey The novel, written by Tom McGregor who is a recognised author in such areas as TV tie-ins according to Boxtree's blurb, is about two hundred pages in length with rather nice photos from the series on the cover. I approached the task of reading 'Death in the Wilderness' with some trepidation because buying the 'Blake's 7' books and finding Avon apologising, had convinced me that novelising TV programmes just did not work. 'Death' is a simple read, geared, I would imagine, to a teenage audience. It took me, oh an hour to read it! The style is obvious, very much 'Benton did this, Benton thought that' with no depth or resonance. There were a few innovations, or at least assumptions that Mr McGregor had included: Fraser was raised by his maternal grandparents who disliked his father and Diefenbaker was so christened because of his namesake's whiskery countenance. Ben is established in his ratty apartment by Leanne (the envious woman at the Consulate) who decided to book him in to such a slum out of a petty need for vengeance. Apart from these additions, there is nothing new in 'Death.' It is basically a word for word account of 'The Pilot' with no extra scenes to keep attention and no sub-plot. The novelisations of the 'Star Trek' films were valuable because they contained new material not seen in the film, had sub-plots all of their own and explained motivations and consequences nicely; the DS novel has no such saving grace. What you see is basically what you read. Tom McGregor has, I must admit, done a good job with the humour. The book is funny, no doubt about it, and I found myself smiling anew at Ray's disgust over Benny tasting mud. The greatest drawback, the thing that most rang untrue, was the novel's insistence on referring to the Mountie as 'Benton' rather than 'Fraser' or 'Ben.' This I could just about overlook but Ray even calls him 'Benton!' Well I'm sorry, Ray has NEVER called his friend 'Benton.' He calls him either 'Fraser' or, in personal moments, 'Benny.' Having this street savvy cop declaiming 'Benton' all the time just jarred the whole reading experience for me. I found myself questioning the reason for the novel's existence - beyond an attempt to cash in on the show's popularity. Its lack of a sub-plot means that it is unsatisfying to the fans and I cannot imagine a none fan flicking through it and finding it worthy of £4.99 - Due South is a visual feast; translating the breathtaking scenery and action to the page diminishes its impact. All in all, a bit of a disappointment in terms of new material. That said, any DS merchandise is welcome and the book is a passable Sunday afternoon sort of read.
Vaulting North
By Catherine Worth
This book you should already know has two brilliant episodes inside the very
good, or should I say, excellent front cover. Well, what can I say?! The novel was an excellent read of the 'hit TV series' - as Boxtree puts it These art over 200 pages of this brilliantly written book. McGregor has done an excellent job of convering the TV version of 'North' and Vault' - he has made it as though thee is only one episode instead of two.
The author has written things in the book that didn't really happen in the
series. For example, the scenes in the village of 'Waterfall' where Benny and Ray get treated in hospital.
I found the book very funny: I thought it was that funny I laughed out loud
mostof the way through! There are also some serious parts to the novel. For example, were Ben walks into a tree, falls over the fire, blames Ray and then calls him 'Steve.'
The 'Vault' part I think is as humorous. Especially when the phone rings and Ray
dives for it Ben holds him back and breaks the cord. I would consider this both funny and serious. Ray wants to do anything so that his sister doesn't get hurt. I think this book shows how much Ray cares for people: for Frannie, Benny and his family.
I found this book a very good if not excellent read, well worth the £4 99. I
recommend all of you to go out and buy it if you haven't already.
HEROES' PLIGHT 3
By Natalie Woods.
Heroes Plight 3 has a 20 page DS story entitled 'Forget me Not' which has Ray
Suffering amnesia - but only where Fraser is concerned. He oonsiders the polite Mountie to be a jerk of the highest order and cannot understand how he could possibly be best buddies with someone so po-faced and pedantic.
Fraser is understandably devastated by Rays nasty jibes hut it is up to good old
Ma Vecchio to sort the situation out by ordering her son to go on holiday with Fraser until his memory returns. Ray remains stubborn and resentful even now -wasting no opportunity to verbally lash the suffering Mountie - and eventually Fraser just can't take any more. He leaves, thinking it is the honourable thing to do.
Unfortunately he doesn't get far before he twists his knee and has to send Dief
for help. Ray's anger and bitterness are forgotten as concern for his partner re-surfaces. He tracks Fraser down and the two return to the cabin, their friendship re-forged, as Ray's memory returns - but not before a little run-in with a bear!
All in all, a rounded, well-written story with authentic characterisation and
some lovely Ray lines. I hated Ray's mockery of Fraser - which is how it should be, of course -and desperately wanted the real Ray back. The hurt I comfort angle is explored without being too cloying and Fraser's concern for his injured friend is beautiful. My one nit-pick is that Ray's selective amnesia was never properly explained.
Hero's Plight is a multi-media zine which I think puts a lot of potential
readers off. If you like 'Sea Quest,' 'The A team,' 'Quantum Leap' and 'The Rat Patrol' as well as DS, then I think the zine is a very sound investment indeed. If your chief motive however, is just the one DS story then I think you may feel short-changed.
Hero's Plight
The main premise is that Ray is working every hour God sends on a brutal robbery
case becoming sore stressed as the situation develops. To make matters worse, Fraser is seriously hurt in what appears to be a hit-and-run accident. (Cue hospital scenes and pain and suffering!) The Mountie's leg is broken but, more seriously as it turns out, he has lost part of his memory.
As the story progresses, tantalising the reader like a Who-dunnit, it becomes
clear how imperative it is for the Mountie to regain his full memory. First of all Diefenbeker is missing - there are some beautiful scenes where Ray, aware of the wolf's absence, agonises whether he should tell the injured Canadian or not - but more importantly, the case Benny was working on, which he now can't remember except its having something to do with a niggling song and a tapestry, appears to be linked to Ray's robbery.
Fraser discharges himself from hospital in order to track down Dief and begins
to piece back his damaged memory bit by bit. After a few run-ins with the robbers two more trips to the hospital with a knife wound in his broken leg (ouch!) and a dunking in a frozen lake, Fraser manages to work things out - did you doubt??
Partial Recall is a classy novella. Well written with a good command of
language, unlike so many other fan-produced zines, the story keeps you guessing all the way through.
Better still, both Benton and Ray are given plenty to do rather than the focus
being solely on Fraser. Ray is allowed to show his expertise and detective talents for a change instead of just tagging along after the Mountie. The characterisation is pretty good too -considering how difficult it is to get across Fraser's personality on paper. So much of Benny's idiosynchratic behaviour we see on the screen is visual - the way he gestures with his hands, the almost bland 'Mountie-Look,' the dumbfounded expression at American life - yet Elyse has managed to convey a sense of these in her story. And Ray is just so cute - not that I'm biased!
For those of you who enjoy a good 'buddy-buddy' story - albeit with a bite -
Partial Recall will be right up your alley! Ray's concern for Fraser is quite touching and the cop's attack of quilts following the accident has the relationship between them down to a tee.
Let's hope that future DS rifles live up to Elyse's prototype.
ZINES
By Margot Sykes.
So far I have obtained four zines: 'Blackout,' 'Partial Recall, Compass Points
I' and 'Last of a Breed.' 'Blackout' is a 28 page story set during the first season. Ben has to prevent the deaths of many diplomats at a funeral. Unfortunately he has lost his memory and only gets it hack in pieces - a real race against time! It's well written and worth buying a copy.
'Pantal Recall' is absolutely brilliant. It's a one-story zine set during season
one and the characterisation is spot on. You can picture the whole thing in your mind as the story unfolds. Poor old Ben is hit by a supposed drunk driver and Ray spends a lot of time worrying in the hospital, as if he didn't have enough on his hands with a multiple homicide and a half a million dollars worth of gems missing. Oh, and let us not forget that Dief appears to be missing! There is a lot of humor in this story as well as a cracking. tense plot. Sell your soul if you have to but buy this zine!
Compass Points 1' is a mixture of original stories, poetry and a coupIe of
'missing scenes' from various episodes. My favourite story is Possession by Angelo Riviecchio- - this one really puts both our boys through the mill, real tragic stuff and well written. I also love the 'missing scenes' - there's a lovely one that follows on from when Francesca turns up at Fraser's apartment and the other is a hilarious account of the time after 'Mask' with Ray and Louise in the sweatlodge. One small Criticism - the editors could have done a little more editing there are some spelling and grammatical errors.
'The Last of a Breed' is excellent and has obviously been well edited. Again, it
is a mixture of stories, poetry and missing scenes with some good artwork thrown in. There are two crossover stories 'which are not my favourite type but the Fraser/Frasier crossover is hilarious. The problem is that you need to be familiar with the other series or it is meaningless. Victoria makes her presence known in two missing scenes and one harrowing story while Ben suffers after the 'Juliet is Bleeding' episode. This is another 'must buy.'
BOX TREE REVIEW
By Louisa de Souza.
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I will begin...
When the phone call came, I made my mum drive me to Telford to pick It up. I
showed the nice lady my WHSmith's Book Finder docket and with my best smile I handed over my hard earned five pound note. I now owned 'Death in the Wilderness.' Two days later I had read "Death in the Wilderness.'
I didn't know what to exepct from it really. I didn't know if a write-up of this
exciting story that had been told so well on telly with fabulous ry, strong acting and excellent directing could do it justice and I'm a sucker for the
television version anyway. Thankfully the book remains familiarly true to the
programme in much of the plot and dialogue and I'm sure if you read it, you will have flashbacks of our Benny and Ray in your mind accompanied by grins on your faces.
A few minor changes to the plot have unstably been made; gone is the humorous
leaking water-barrel scene in the northern RCMP squad room while the busy scene round the Vecchio dinner table. We also learn more about how, after his mother's death, Benton got to live with his grandparents, who insisted he stay with them for fear he might grow up "an eccentric loner." A little more emphasis is put on the lack of a relationship between Bob and Benton with Benny's quest for proof
that his father cared about him being as important as that of his hunt for his
killer. It seems to show Ben in a more caring, possibly more sentimental, probably more human, light.
Actually, this happens quite a bit, the author putting words into Benton's,
Ray's and Diefs mouths and thoughts into their heads. I began to wonder, however, would - really say that, is that what Paul Haggis had in mind when 'The Pilot' was made and if so, then why wasn't it put in the episode?
Some comments especially seem to betray that which we know of Fraser's
character. Usually Benny is reserved about his emotions leaving many to even wonder on occasion if he has any, but in the book, by the very nature of the beast, I suppose, we are told more of what Fraser is thinking: We are told explicitly rather than implicitly that he feels "pangs of nostalgia," "depressed" and even "rather frightened." Contrary to his well-known open-mindness he, ...hate[s] supermarkets. And shopping malls" doesn't believe in ghosts and thinks that there is "obviously something deeply wrong with the state of [America]." There are few changes to other characters to report, Ray stays much the same, perhaps a little less brash, consulate secretary Lee-Anne's and RCMP Constable Jane's fixation with Benny admittedly do seem to run deeper
and Lieutenant Harding Welsh has transformed inexplicably into Captain John Welsh but it is Diefenbaker's character, believe it or not that is fleshed out more in the book than on the screen; he's practically humanised, more so than on the telly anyway: "Sometimes it was really inconvenient being a wolf. He didn't, for instance, have a finger to point with... But far more inconvenient was his inability to speak."
There are some nice comedy moments, mirroring those from 'The Pilot.' Lee-Anne
rather dramatically introduces Fraser to his office is dealt with well: "Emerging with triumphant rage, she brandished two more objects in Ben's face. 'This... is your combination pencil cup.'... And this. 'she finished as she banged it down an the desk, 'is your pot plant' The leaves of the plant shook as they tried to recover from Lee-Anne's violent and unprovoked assault. After a few seconds most of them gave up and fell into the combination pencil cup"
Personally I'd give it I mixed review. It was nice to see a write-up, worth
reading and buying for the collection but it did have a few unprecedented changes to character. Maybe I'm being picky! Personally I like the effect you get with TV and film; music and sound effects can be used to enhanced the story and twenty words' worth of description can be painted perfectly-in the way an actor delivers his lines. But then, where would we be without books?
All the Queen's Horses by Angela Beckwith.
I have just bought the book "All the Queen's Horses" and I must say that I don't like the way Tom McGregor has written it. Benny is definitely my favorite character but I like Meg too. The book has her being really stuck up but I don't think she is like that in the series.
"All the Queen's Horses" happens to be one of my favorite episodes and in the book it has Thatcher posing in front of the cameras whereas in the series she keeps pushing it out of her face. The book also has Thatcher thinking she knows Ben's feelings towards herself whereas the series has them both confused about what they feel.
I definitely think the episode was better in the way it was written. The book doesn't do the episode Justice as it makes a lot of the characters look posh, stuck-up and horrible!
The ending of "Red, White or Blue," which is included in the novel, is far too sudden. One moment you are in the middle of the drama and the next the whole thing is over! It makes it look as if the author got fed up and wanted to finish it!
