2The Absinthe Heart by Seema
Seema has a wonderful voice for DS9 characters and The Absinth Heart is a particularly lovely story. Not just for its portrayal of the Quark-Ezri dynamic (and by extension the Quark-Jadzia and Worf-Ezri dynamics), but also as a look at grief, loss, and the effects of war. I especially like the use of the second person point of view in this. And the sentiments are rock solid and real. Quark comes across beautifully here without being hewmonized. And this gives a very interesting portrait of Ezri as she struggles with the aftereffects of a joining she never trained for and never wanted. Well done, Seema!
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:16:05 -0500

13History Lesson at AR-558 by Sisko2374
I liked this for the interesting look at the mirror universe and the ongoing problem of a Eugenics War that never happened...or did it?
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:17:40 -0500

19Sarah by Sisko2374
A wonderfully quantum story that beautifully fleshes out the backstory for Sarah Sisko. I love the way the non-linear time and universe shifts are detailed here. Very well done as the timelines diverge in the hands of the prophets and the pah wraiths. Lovely treatment of Sisko's importance to both the prophets and to Bajor. And a completely believable reason for why Sarah would leave. Outstanding story!
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:18:16 -0500

12Guide by Ventura33
How much do I love this story? A whole lot! I love Kassidy's no-nonsense attitude, her unwillingness to believe in the magical or the spiritual, and the ultimate resolution, which may or may not have been just that. Despite the sadness of her situation without Ben, this is a sassy Kassidy that I really enjoy reading. One that is immensely appealing throughout the story. Ventura33 once again shows that ze can write in just about any series ze wants to and make it work beautifully.
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:19:23 -0500

3Anachronism by monkee
I generally love anything written by monkee and this is no exception. I hate to admit that I never saw the episode "The Visitor" but I didn't. But that didn't stop me from loving this story, and appreciating it for all the things it says about being a writer. In this story, monkee makes me care about a character I never saw on the screen and that's no small feat. Good show!
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:19:56 -0500

5Blink by Seema
I really hope that this series of stories by Seema and Una sees the light of day as a complete package. Blink is a wonderful teaser for what might come and I'd love to read more about this time. The Bajoran resistance is a fascinating thing to me. And the 16-year old Kira...seeing how she started down the road to becoming the very damaged woman we see later was enthralling. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone, so I'll only say that the end is chilling for the many things it means.
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:20:25 -0500

15People Like You by nostalgia
Nostalgia is a bright new light on the Trek scene. I greatly admire hir style, which is darkly lyrical and very twisted, and very much in control of the story. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with for next year--I hope more DS9 stories like this one. I like Section 31 stories a lot, and love the way the title is repeated, and that it can be read a number of ways. And I can actually see Bashir, once all the excitement on the station is over and he's had a chance to get bored, doing this. The POV is as delightfully tangled as the organization it talks about, with a shifty narrator that may or may not be there as you try to figure out if this is in second person or not. Love that.
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:21:09 -0500

25Three by Sara Goose
This is a lovely Kira-Sisko story. Short, sweet, and very much to the point. There isn't a wasted word here. Very well done.
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:21:42 -0500

22Sometimes a Good Intention by Creek Johnson & Nance
Wow! And I do mean wow! I absolutely LOVED this story. (Possibly even more than I loved this duo's El Dorado last year, and I really loved that.) And what's more, I really wasn't sure if this story had happened or not--in the sense of I thought this was an actual episode and had to keep going back to official sources and checking to see if some of this happened on screen--Johnson and Hurt nailed the voices, the action, and the plot that hard. The dialogue sparkles and there are wonderful interactions between all the characters. Kira and Sisko and Worf are especially vivid, but nobody hits a wrong note, and these can be difficult characters to get right. Loved the detective story aspect of the plot, how it plays sort of from end to start, rather than straight linear plot. Wonderful. I truly felt as if I was watching this not reading this. Just wonderful! I can't wait to see what Creek Johnson and Nance Hurt have planned for next year!
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:22:36 -0500

7A Clever Plan by Gabrielle Lawson
Wonderful story of the cat and mouse relationship between Sloan and Bashir. As the plot keeps twisting, we are allowed into the inner workings of Sloan's mind. Seeing a familiar face at the end makes A Clever Plan just that much more fun.
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:23:24 -0500

11Fly Away by Kyra Cullinan
Fy Away is an incredibly lovely story in a very short space by an immensely talented new author. Vic Fontaine is one of my favorite characters and this is a marvelous look at his existence. Lyrical prose evokes the memories and the holographic like, and what it is to be a sentient hologram. There's a lushness to this story that I find enchanting, and just the right note of bittersweet. The character of Vic is perfectly drawn. Just beautiful! I look forward to more stories by Kyra Cullinen.
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:24:01 -0500

17Returning Home by Matt Edwards
A very powerful look in a very short space at what it is like to return home from a war. Excellent job capturing the isolation, the slight antagonism of being different, and the effect war has on a person. Very well done!
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:24:24 -0500

20Searchlights by Mistress_Siana@gmx.net
A sad look at what Damar might have gone through after the Dominion paid him back.
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:24:44 -0500

10The Foolish And The Brave by Rocky
This is an excellent take on what must have come after the events of The Valiant. I loved Sisko here. Very much walking the line between tired emissary and angry Star Fleet officer. Very much tired of reading the casualty reports. Well done!
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:25:48 -0500

16Pleasantries by Sara Goose
Bittersweet look at life on the station for those who've been left by the ones they hold dearest. The feeling of caution and restraint between Kira and Bashir is excellent. Well done!
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:26:39 -0500

18Sand and Water by Seema
Sand and Water is an excellent examination of the aftermath of the Dominion War as it affects Kira. The combination of losing Odo and then having to find her way in peace after 20 years of fighting is powerfully conveyed. Shakaar as sounding board/emotional punching bag/comfort is excellent too. Kira is such an interesting character and Seema really gets under her skin, show some of the scars from a lifetime of damage. Well done!
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:27:02 -0500

24Survival Mechanism by Sara Goose
Survival Mechanism is a lovely story and one that needed to be told. I'm a fan of both Dax women, but Jadzia's death was just so tragic, and Ezri had to struggle so. Enormous amount of pathos in what could have been nothing more than a soap opera type change of actors. And Sara's story demonstrates this very well. Great Ezri voice!
-- Djinn - Tue, 11 Mar 2003 21:27:31 -0500

10The Foolish And The Brave by Rocky
Good story. Very fitting as a coda to The Valiant. Those things should have been said or at least addressed.
-- Gabrielle Lawson - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 01:46:14 -0500

3Anachronism by monkee
Worthy of the episode that inspired it. Very well-written, moving, and hopeful. The characterizations were good, and I liked that Dulmer and Lucsly were brought back.
-- Gabrielle Lawson - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 01:56:44 -0500

11Fly Away by Kyra Cullinan
Perhaps the best Vic fic I've ever read. A good, serious, moving, Vic fic.
-- Gabrielle Lawson - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 02:13:23 -0500

14Immortality Denied by Rob Morris
Poignant coda to the sniper events in DC.
-- Gabrielle Lawson - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 02:15:27 -0500

16Pleasantries by Sara Goose
Nice little vignette showing how Kira is moving on after WYLB.
-- Gabrielle Lawson - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 02:33:45 -0500

2The Absinthe Heart by Seema
Seema took two characters, neither of whom I feel particularly sympathetic toward, and yet managed to make me care about them and their interaction. And she did it by showing each of them *exactly* as they are, not a varnished or enhanced version, but with all their flaws on display. Ezri's confusion, her 'little girlness' and bafflement as she's confronted with yet another situation way out of her depth, coupled with Quark's hard-headed business sense, his observations emanating not from a pool of sympathy for his customers or their circumstances, but with only an eye of what's in it for him. I can just see Quark standing there, his shrewd little eyes fixed on the scene unfolding itself before him, not missing a trick, as Ezri sits there staring at her glass in bewilderment, as if it were a clue to her own identity. This bar scene exists in a very particular place and time, and Seema conjurs it up so masterfully. Another thing about this story is how the use of second person POV is done so well it's not even noticeable, and it is the perfect vehicle with which to convey Quark's distancing himself from his observations, from his own feelings, toward both the woman sitting there before him and 'the other one' who is gone and yet far from forgotten.
-- Rocky - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:48:46 -0500

3Anachronism by monkee
I loved this story. An AU take on the episode of "The Visitor", it explores not only the character of Melanie, but Benjamin and Jake Sisko. The father-son relationship is beautifully depicted, as well as the individuals themselves.
-- Rocky - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:49:51 -0500

5Blink by Seema
This fascinating story visits a time and place that I'd love to see more of in fic, namely a Bajoran Resistance cell during the Occupation. Seema perfectly captures the character of young Kira, who knows the devastation of war, has suffered many losses--and is about to lose the last vestiges of her innocence. This story exists on so many levels and even when the reader is convinced of Kira's state of mind and what her course of action will be, more nuances are discovered and one suspects that still more remain to be revealed. It is very easy to see how this young girl became the Kira Nerys we first met at the beginning of DS9. As always, Seema nails Kira's voice exactly right. And as is usual in a Seema story, the vivid descriptions also help the whole scenario come alive.
-- Rocky - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:50:57 -0500

12Guide by Ventura33
A very nice story. Kasidy is not a character we really got to know on the show, but this portrayal of her feels 'right.' There are so many nice touches here, and the description is very vivid as well.
-- Rocky - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:51:38 -0500

16Pleasantries by Sara Goose
A nice look at the DS9 crew, post "What You Leave Behind." Sara catches the characters' voices and reactions just right, and with just a few words paints a clear image in the readers' minds. Well done.
-- Rocky - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:52:16 -0500

18Sand and Water by Seema
This gorgeous story--and I mean this literally as well as figuratively--takes place after the events of "What You Leave Behind", when a weary Kira realizes she has been dealing with war for so long she has no idea how to cope with peace. The setting is a full-fledged character in its own right, but the main focus here is the interaction between Kira and Shakaar. He provides a perfect mirror for her to view herself in, as she once was as well as how she is now and offers a tantalizing glimpse of a possible future. There's a lot of meaty stuff to explore in their conversation, and Seema does a superb job. I can't think of anyone who handles Kira so well.
-- Rocky - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:53:46 -0500

24Survival Mechanism by Sara Goose
More than what we actually saw on the show, this story really highlighted for me what Worf felt when Jadzia died, and what the full ramifications of having her memories live on in Ezri meant. I especially liked in this story how it wasn't entirely clear at times who "I" referred to, Jadzia, Ezri or Dax itself.
-- Rocky - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:55:00 -0500

25Three by Sara Goose
This story neatly sums up Kira's feelings toward Sisko. I can well imagine that she needs to compartmentalize what he represents to her, as the three images--commanding officer, religious leader and friend--often conflict.
-- Rocky - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:55:50 -0500

26Trinity by Tori Morris
An interesting set of 'snapshots' of Dax and Odo at key moments in their lives. Any one of these scenes would make the basis of a good story. Together they form an interesting and thought-provoking whole.
-- Rocky - Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:56:37 -0500

9Faith Part II: Forgiveness by Gabrielle Lawson
Hi! I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed this story it was just as good as part one. I am looking forward to the final part since this one ended on such a cliff hanger. Keep up the great work.
-- Wendi Sunderland - Thu, 13 Mar 2003 13:43:12 -0500

12Guide by Ventura33
A short story that conveyed a deep well of emotion. All of Kassidy's feelings about Ben and his "destiny" with the Prophets, about him being taken from her and missing him, all of these emotions were movingly and convincingly portrayed in this wonderful story that made us feel both Kassidy's loss and her inherent toughness and internal relilence. Anyone who has ever lost a loved one and woken up thinking that person is still there knows the truth of what Kassidy must have felt waking up in the desert. Bravo.
-- Singularity - Fri, 14 Mar 2003 15:06:31 -0500

5Blink by Seema
This was a good glimpse into the harsh realities of what Kira sometimes refered to as "things I didn't like doing" when she was fighting for the liberation of Bajor. The story showed that Bajor's war against the Cardassians was also a Bajoran civil war to a certain extent and how that deeply impacted upon Kira personally. The political dialogue was also well done.
-- Singularity - Fri, 14 Mar 2003 15:36:58 -0500

8Decrease The Surplus Population by Rob Morris
"Through a glass darkly"? No. This is through a prism wierdly. A wonderful cultural difractionated (dysfunctional?) view of Christmas as seen through the eyes of Ferengi, Klingons, Bajorans, and Vulcans 400 years in the future. This story truely embodies Roddenberry's principle of IDIC. This story reveals what the secret strength of the Federation is all about: unity through mutual cross-cultural misinterpretation and misunderstanding. And that's ultimately why the Borg, Dominion, Romulans, etc. will never prevail! Thanks for wonderfully summing this up in this terse little piece! Laughed quite a bit in the process of reading it too!
-- Singularity - Fri, 14 Mar 2003 15:48:41 -0500

5Blink by Seema
This is a frightening tale--one that starts chilling and ends up ice cold--about Kira's early life as a terrorist. Any justifications and rationalisations for her "career" are blown completely out of the water. You can see a little of both Kira's and her captive's souls bleeding away with each paragraph. And the ending must have been one of those incidents that so haunted her for years afterwards.
-- Paula - Sat, 15 Mar 2003 17:26:53 -0500

17Returning Home by Matt Edwards
This is a solid, dark story about one of the true costs of the Dominion War. For all the celebrations at the end of it, this must have been what coming home post-WYLB was like for most of the Starfleet officers (those who did come home), including the canon characters we grew to know and love.
-- Paula - Sat, 15 Mar 2003 17:38:59 -0500

2The Absinthe Heart by Seema
"The Absinthe Heart" was a lovely Seema story--absolutely lovely. We don't get enough Deep Space Nine fan fiction in my opinion--especially ones not centered in some way on Bashir or Garak. I must admit--for some strange reason I have a fondness for Quark--maybe because it was the first time Trek gave us a Ferengi that wasn't a caricature. Seema has a wonderful way with the second person--it's not at all clunky or pretentious as it can sound when not used skillfully but instead lends lyricism and poignancy. It seems so fitting here when we're following a Quark trying to deny the softer side of his soul. The second person has an intimate sound and yet allows a feeling of distance from a character's emotions. Seema's Ezri is beautifully rendered too--I can really hear her early uncertainly and confusion. "The Absinthe Heart" is a fairly short vignette but that doesn't diminish its power and I remembered it vividly months later. This was one of my very favorite Deep Space Nine stories this year. This is simply beautiful writing in every way.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:39:46 -0500

3Anachronism by monkee
The perfect title. And that first line sucks you in and Monkee never lets up her grip before leaving you on the other side. This first person narrative creates such a distinctive voice for Melanie. The story has such a fascinating premise and I loved how Monkee spun out the implications for Melanie of this alternate reality. And of course, this being a Monkee story, the craft is impeccable, and you have a smooth ride throughout in the hands of a writer who really knows her craft. I loved the way Monkee wrote of the connection between Benjamin Sisko and his son Jake, one of the most powerful aspects of Sisko's character and Deep Space Nine. And I very much liked how Monkee drew the way both Sisko's connected with Melanie. I appreciated some of the irony behind their statements as well. And I loved the ending. "Anachronism" is a lovely, lovely story and one of my favorites of Monkee's stories this year. I simply loved it.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:41:24 -0500

4ANGELS AND ASSASSINS by Invicta
Told by Bashir, this epic takes you thru an intriguing murder mystery.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:41:59 -0500

5Blink by Seema
"Blink" is a vivid story. From the very beginning, Seema places you in her dank setting with all its sights, noises, and smells. She creates suspense in the very first paragraph and never lets go until the very end. I love the way Seema built Kira, her background and motivations throughout the story. The flashbacks within the tale were effectively done and added great poignancy to the story. I loved in particular the story of one childhood game that fit perfectly with the title and the theme. The description of Kira's conflicting emotions was handled beautifully. I like how the author doesn't shy away from the moral and emotional complexities and doesn't create a straw man as Kira's adversary. Seema's "Blink" is a chilling, very powerful story that leaves you thinking. Absolutely gripping.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:42:50 -0500

6The Box by Rob Morris
A good fable of those wedded to utopian fantasies unable to see the hell they've unleashed.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:43:37 -0500

7A Clever Plan by Gabrielle Lawson
Section 31 stories are fun when told well. Sloan is a fascinating figure. Lawson knows how to spin a good yarn that held my interest. The confrontation between Sloan and Bashir was deftly done and I liked how Bashir put things together and the appearance of Ro. I thought the resolution was genuinely clever--as advertised.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:44:15 -0500

8Decrease The Surplus Population by Rob Morris
I thought this a funny Christmas tale.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:44:54 -0500

9Faith Part II: Forgiveness by Gabrielle Lawson
The heart of the story is Bashir and he comes through very strongly as a character down to details like the description of a gesture or expression. I also like how Lawson draws Sisko's strengths as well as some of the darkness in the "Sisko the war had made." Other characters like Ezri, Garak, Kira and O'Brien are also well done. Lawson is a very strong writer in terms of her narrative gift and the pacing, description, style, and characterizations are all nicely in place as is a solid plot with an interesting science-fiction based mystery at its center.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:45:35 -0500

10The Foolish And The Brave by Rocky
I enjoyed Rocky's venture into DS9. She very economically gives us the situation and evokes all the familiar characters from Worf to Dax to of course Nog. I also thought this story did what good fan fiction does--give us that "missing scene" that should have happened.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:46:59 -0500

11Fly Away by Kyra Cullinan
This must be Vic's year. This story by newcomer Kyra Cullinan is one of my favorite DS9 stories this year. At the opposite end of the spectrum from the other Vic tale posted on ASC this year in terms of length, this economical, compact story is just as successful in making me feel Vic's alienness as a hologram and his unique point of view. And like her other TNG story, "Fly Away" features beautiful, stylish writing and I like this one even more. Lovely and lyrical and somehow in the short space of its 619 words it seems to capture Vic's voice and personality. "Fly Away" is thought-provoking in the way of good science-fiction. I like the way Kyra Cullinan conveys how Vic is at the mercy of his programming and some of the irony of him existing essentially in a box in a bar. The way the author describes the personal history programmed into Vic is poetic and poignant. I like the description of him remembering his "little sister crying until you took her to see the latest Shirley Temple movie, two shiny dimes clutched tightly in your hand." This is told in second-person and as with the best using this technique you hardly notice it since, as it should be it’s completely transparent so you'd barely note it. Beautiful story.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:48:11 -0500

12Guide by Ventura33
This is a wonderful story by Ventura. The Desert Crossing challenge on the Enterprise and Beyond list inspired some memorable and creative, diverse responses not least this look at a character I have rarely seen taken on in fan fiction, Sisko's love, Kasidy. Making Kasidy an atheist created a wonderful contrast and conflict with Sisko's role as the Emissary. Her portrayal in general in this story was great, strong and feisty as befits a character that commanded a ship of her own. I love the ambiguity of that ending open to more than one interpretation. "Guide" is a well-crafted story that was a pleasure to read.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:49:05 -0500

14Immortality Denied by Rob Morris
I thought this story had some really thought-provoking speculation about justice.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:49:33 -0500

15People Like You by nostalgia
I found this to be an impressive story and in it's way very chilling. The voice is extraordinary, intimate, a little creepy, insinuating. As the story unfolds, the recruiter of the story presents a surprisingly strong case for Section 31, giving us their point of view and presenting the reasons for lurking in the shadows and living in the grays and what could be the strange allure of that world. I like the way the title is woven throughout the story and the ambiguity of its meanings. I like how the story plays with the second person. It doesn't keep to it throughout but is the perfect form for what is after all the voice of trying to recruit someone. The story also offers some interesting insights into Julian's character as it does its work of seducing him into the dark side;-) This is a very short work of fiction, less than a thousand words, and with the best of such short-shorts, it's very economical with every word counting which lends the story an intensity throughout and the story comes to a perfect close.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:50:11 -0500

16Pleasantries by Sara Goose
I liked how Sara used Bashir and Kira, two characters that didn't usually have much to do with each other, to show how much both wished to connect in the wake of "What You Leave Behind." A lovely vignette capturing well the bittersweetness of two people never close connecting as a solace for all those who are lost and drifted away.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:50:42 -0500

17Returning Home by Matt Edwards
Thru the eyes of original characters, Edwards economically tells a tale of returning home that movingly conveys the world-weariness, numbness, and isolation of Dominion war veterans and most of all the fear and realization that they have changed forever beyond recognition. Well told.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:51:35 -0500

18Sand and Water by Seema
I love Seema's opening in "Sand and Water." She sets everything clearly before our eyes so we know exactly where and when we are and whose eyes we are going to see this story thru. Seema is so good at getting us into Kira's head, and has such a deft way with all the DS9 characters, such as Bashir who briefly appears in this story, and it was great to have a look at a post-Dominion War Bajor. I love how Seema writes of attraction and the electric awareness between old lovers. Shakaar is so well drawn here and I can't think of a better figure to draw out the emotions and thoughts of Kira on all that she experienced and lost to get to this point. I liked how Seema wove the personal and the political as well as canon events into the story. I loved the quiet, subtle hope of that last line. This is a wonderful story, very enjoyable.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:52:23 -0500

19Sarah by Sisko2374
I liked this story, "Sarah" quite a bit. It was well-narrated and featured fine characterizations. This story deals with one of the more enigmatic figures in Benjamin Sisko's past, his mother Sarah. I loved the charming and romantic way the author depicted the initial meeting between Sisko's parents in the "first timeline." That telling lends poignant irony to what unfolds later. The author's good at showing Sarah's attraction for Joseph Sisko. I very much like the backstory the author creates for Joseph (and Sarah for that matter) and enjoyed how the author wove the tale of the different timelines.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:53:04 -0500

21Sloane Maxes Out by Rob Morris
This starts out deadly serious but that last line together with the title delivers the laugh.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:53:26 -0500

22Sometimes a Good Intention by Creek Johnson & Nance
"Sometimes a Good Intention" had an intriguing beginning and a strong voice that drew you into the story and made you want to read more. Creek Johnson and Nance Hurt put together a good and well-narrated story and I liked the mystery at the core and how the good intentions by all to help Odo went awry. The writing team of Johnson and Hurt was really good at nailing each voice among the Deep Space Nine characters. I enjoyed the interactions between Kira and Odo especially but everyone from Sisko to Miles O'Brien was handled very well and in a way that evoked them strongly. This was a very enjoyable longer story.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:53:59 -0500

24Survival Mechanism by Sara Goose
I liked how even the title added a layer of meaning to this very short story. "Survival Mechanism" is a short-short, around only 650 words, so the words need to tell the story succinctly, economically, and it does, but it doesn't stint on emotion. I liked the interaction between Worf and Ezri, to my ear both characters ran true both in the sense that they acted real and that they sounded like the personalities I knew. I liked Sara's thoughts on the nature of the symbiont. This was a very satisfying tale in a very short space, skillfully written and a pleasure to read. The story also featured a neat ending.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:55:25 -0500

25Three by Sara Goose
I liked the concept of Sisko alluded to at the start and in the title: three names, three personas. I like the subtle but definitive way Sara identified the POV character from the start of this first person narrative and how she defined and demonstrated those different personas.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:56:13 -0500

26Trinity by Tori Morris
I liked the scenes centered on Odo and his interactions with Jadzia, the Dax symbiont, and Ezri. I especially liked the story Jadzia told Odo and how it connected with his own experience. There are some nice, very descriptive details.
-- Rabble Rouser - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 06:57:18 -0500

5Blink by Seema
War and occupation are not drawn in shades of grey. Sixteen year old Kira understands only that this man betrayed his people. She doesn't ask *why* he crossed the line, but in her final act she does as well. This story is chilling and yet very real. Seema has defined the starkness and ice cold decisions that the resistance had to live by. It makes her grief in Duet remarkable and her fogiveness of Odo hard to believe. Bravo for a dark, gritty story that defines what DS9 fanfic can do in mirroring reality.
-- Valerie Shearer - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 14:01:55 -0500

17Returning Home by Matt Edwards
Think of the men like my father who came back from the Pacific in the 40's to a neat, jubilant world where nobody really got what they'd been through. That is this man. Matt has captured perfectly the seperation between those who fought from those who were saved. And I doubt that this man, like many of my father's generation, will ever try to tell them what it was like and why he can't see the world the same. If the powers that be had the nerve, they'd have dealt with the new world they created like fanfic has.
-- valerie shearer - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 14:08:28 -0500

15People Like You by nostalgia
I like this one because it makes so much sense. I can see Bashir listening, thinking of how his friends accept him only if he is wearing a mask. I can imagine him finding relief in the knowledge that with S31 in his camp those in Starfleet would never be able to remove him because he'd different. I can see him drawn to the lure of for once being able to be *all* he could without having to pretend, and making the decision that no matter how much he looses, he had much to gain.
-- valerie shearer - Sun, 16 Mar 2003 14:15:54 -0500

3Anachronism by monkee
I really liked this story about Melanie. "The Visitor" is a lovely episode and this story does wonderful justice to it as a follow-up.
-- Seema - Tue, 18 Mar 2003 17:43:45 -0500

10The Foolish And The Brave by Rocky
This is an excellent coda to "The Valiant." What I really appreciated here was the focus on Sisko and his feelings about Nog's actions. My favorite part though was the last line. In the current climate, it really resonates. Nice job!
-- Seema - Tue, 18 Mar 2003 17:46:26 -0500

11Fly Away by Kyra Cullinan
By far, this is one of my favorite fics of the year. Lovely use of language here, and more importantly, a very sympathetic and nuanced portrayal of Vic Fontaine. In addition, the use of second person here is very impressive and subtle in its execution.
-- Seema - Tue, 18 Mar 2003 17:47:41 -0500

12Guide by Ventura33
We see so few fics focusing on Kasidy, so this one from Ventura33 is really a treat. The landscape of the desert is very well described as is the actions of the gull, leaving the question of is it really Sisko coming to the rescue or not? Nicely ambigious enough to let the reader draw her own conclusions.
-- Seema - Tue, 18 Mar 2003 17:50:04 -0500

16Pleasantries by Sara Goose
There is something very poignant about the vignette played out here between two of the last remaining members of the original DS9 crew. The interaction between Kira and Bashir is painful - both of them are missing the person closest to them. But the beauty of this story is that longing is very subtle and not at all heavy-handed. Another lovely story from Sara.
-- Seema - Tue, 18 Mar 2003 17:53:23 -0500

24Survival Mechanism by Sara Goose
I'm always sucker for a good Worf/Dax fic, even if the Dax in question is Ezri. Ezri and Worf are both written very well and in character. For Worf, especially, this meeting is cathartic, but at no time does the fic stoop to melodrama. Lovely!
-- Seema - Tue, 18 Mar 2003 17:56:02 -0500

25Three by Sara Goose
I love this Kira perspective! Kira has always been conflicted on her feelings for Sisko - how she should treat him, given all the things he is to her and what he means to Bajor. As always, lovely writing and of course, the character revelation at the end is a treat.
-- Seema - Tue, 18 Mar 2003 17:57:39 -0500

26Trinity by Tori Morris
A really nice Odo story. The interactions between Odo and the other characters were really nicely written, and the intimacy between Odo and Kira particularly poignant. Nice job.
-- Seema - Tue, 18 Mar 2003 18:00:45 -0500

28Weapons of Mass Deduction by Sisko2374
I really enjoyed the portrayal of Garak in this fic. A simple tailor indeed!
-- Seema - Tue, 18 Mar 2003 18:02:34 -0500

17Returning Home by Matt Edwards
Yet another fic that resonates strongly given the current environment. Matt has drawn a very detailed portrait of a soldier coming home and how the world looks to him. No one writes war stories like Matt and this fic is exceptional once again in its revelation and feeling.
-- Seema - Tue, 18 Mar 2003 18:05:26 -0500

11Fly Away by Kyra Cullinan
Angst...have I mentioned I love angst? This is intelligent and thoughtful. And I love it.
-- nostalgia - Wed, 19 Mar 2003 05:13:06 -0500

17Returning Home by Matt Edwards
A nice melancholy look at the effects of the Dominion War. I like it when fanfic is this smart. ;)
-- nostalgia - Wed, 19 Mar 2003 05:16:24 -0500

19Sarah by Sisko2374
Fond of this one also. Umm...cannot think of anything intelligent to say here. Suffice to say that I liked it a lot.
-- nostalgia - Wed, 19 Mar 2003 05:18:56 -0500

10The Foolish And The Brave by Rocky
'The Valiant' never sat well with me. The fact that Starfleet had repeated its 'super-cadet' mistake from TNG's First Duty. The fact that the coup-supportive Red Squad was back. Watters and his XO bled ego. And of course, Nog just came off as a good little cultist. But this ep is a now a great deal more palatable, having read Rocky's terrific take on the informal hearing Nog certainly faced after all was done. Rocky's Sisko stays on target, avoiding Watters' drug use, Nog's abominable treatment of Jake, and Starfleet's choice to muster fwd cadets who almost helped overthrow the UFP. The focus is on what Nog could and should have done, and on Sisko's failed effort to completely convince Nog that Watters was not any kind of admirable figure. I may have my own story to write on 'Valiant', but I now feel I can leave out this scene, it having been written already, and very well at that.
-- Rob Morris - Wed, 19 Mar 2003 11:55:57 -0500

2The Absinthe Heart by Seema
There really isn't enough Quark fic around, and Seema fills the void in such a unique way with this one. She gets Quark's voice just right, the perfect combination of snark, nostalgia, and Ferengi. She also does a great job at providing a different perspective on the host/symbiont interaction.
-- Sara - Thu, 20 Mar 2003 01:57:23 -0500

5Blink by Seema
Seema does an amazing job at filling in Kira's past and providing an amazing glimpse at her life. This story works so well, in part because the Kira we see here and the Kira on our televisions are not so far apart.
-- Sara - Thu, 20 Mar 2003 02:01:31 -0500

10The Foolish And The Brave by Rocky
Rocky does a great Nog and provides a wonderful (and much needed, I think) coda to an interesting episode.
-- Sara - Thu, 20 Mar 2003 02:03:40 -0500

11Fly Away by Kyra Cullinan
Such a rich treatment of a character I never thought I'd like until I found him again in fic.
-- Sara - Thu, 20 Mar 2003 02:11:01 -0500

15People Like You by nostalgia
A somewhat creepy look at Julian and his place in Section 31.
-- Sara - Thu, 20 Mar 2003 02:12:35 -0500

26Trinity by Tori Morris
Tori does a great job at showing off a unique relationship that was never properly explored in canon and yet has so much potential. She draws intruiging parallels between Trills and shapeshifters and and is able write such convincingly alien characters.
-- Sara - Thu, 20 Mar 2003 02:16:50 -0500

7A Clever Plan by Gabrielle Lawson
I was amazed at the cleverness, pardon the pun, of this story. I hit myself in the head after reading, asking why I didn't think of it. Although it's shorter than usual for Gabrielle, it loses none of her normal flair. It's as well crafted as usual. Unlike other authors, Gabrielle fights to preserve the ideals of the characters, for the most part, and this story is a crowning achievement in that aspect. And once again, Gabrielle forces asks the age old question: How many people would be willing to die for their ideals?
-- Meghan Elizabeth - Thu, 20 Mar 2003 18:24:31 -0500

9Faith Part II: Forgiveness by Gabrielle Lawson
The best thing Gabrielle could have done, or worst, was write a trilogy. We wait so long for her stories as it is, andn ow we have to wait for each part to find out what happens. However, Faith is well worth the wait. You never seem to know exactly how things are going to go and when you think you know, they end up another way. As usual, her portrayal of the characters was right on key. I loved the tension between Bashir and Sisko. That was somewhere TPTB were afraid to go but she wasn't. Another brilliant masterpiece. Now I can go back to waiting for the third installment.
-- Meghan Elizabeth - Fri, 21 Mar 2003 13:52:24 -0500

2The Absinthe Heart by Seema
In this story, Seema has me sympathizing with Quark and not finding Ezri irritating -- quite an accomplishment! I like the second-person pov, too.
-- Kelly Chambliss - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 18:16:54 -0500

3Anachronism by monkee
This story is one of my favorites from ASC this year. I loved the DS episode "The Visitor," and in this story, monkee provides an excellent, convincing coda. Jake thinks and speaks exactly like a writer would.
-- Kelly Chambliss - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 18:21:48 -0500

5Blink by Seema
The ending of this story left me breathless. Seema does a fine job of realizing the complexities of Kira Nerys, a character who, in canon, always seemed too emotionally limited to be quite convincing. I find Seema's Kira to be much more interesting.
-- Kelly Chambliss - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 18:29:03 -0500

5Blink by Seema
The ending of this story left me breathless. Seema does a fine job of realizing the complexities of Kira Nerys, a character who, in canon, always seemed too emotionally limited to be quite convincing. I find Seema's Kira to be much more interesting.
-- Kelly Chambliss - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 18:30:06 -0500

10The Foolish And The Brave by Rocky
Rocky's coda to "The Valiant" answers the questions that I wish the canon writers had tackled. Her portrayals of Sisko and Nog ring true, yet the story goes beyond Trek to embody some of the significant differences between youth and experience, between honesty and self-justification. A fine job.
-- Kelly Chambliss - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 18:35:38 -0500

15People Like You by nostalgia
In her headnote to this story, nostalgia says that she can understand Section 31 -- and so can I. That's one of the reasons I so enjoyed this fanfic: not only does it offer a compelling picture of Bashir and a great last line, but it shows why every civilization needs its Section 31 -- and why those sections are so scary.
-- Kelly Chambliss - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 18:41:12 -0500

2The Absinthe Heart by Seema
Second person pov is so hard to pull off, and Seema puts it to very good use. She manages to simultaneously pull off an introspective look at Quark, Ezri's hosting troubles, and even a glimpse of Morn's love life. Wonderful look into the bar at DS9.
-- Lori - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 20:31:10 -0500

5Blink by Seema
I remember reading this when it was first posted and being impressed. In light of current circumstances, when so many are opposing so many others on issues of life and death and war and alliances, Blink is a grim reminder of how the power of belief can turn normal, reasonable people against each other. This is a chilling Kira Nerys, one we didn't see on DS9, but a believable one nonetheless.
-- Lori - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 20:39:34 -0500

3Anachronism by monkee
Monkee takes a minor character from "The Visitor" and gives her three dimensions. Very nicely done. Thank you for a time travel story that didn't give me a headache. :)
-- Lori - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 20:43:47 -0500

11Fly Away by Kyra Cullinan
Another successful usage of second person, and Kyra's nailed Vic in a few paragraphs. Oh, the problems of a sentient hologram. Good job, Kyra.
-- Lori - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 20:46:54 -0500

10The Foolish And The Brave by Rocky
Rocky's on fanfix duty with a vengeance. I only vaguely remember seeing "The Valiant" but it comes back to me just reading this. Rocky should have been a consultant, some of the episodes might have made more sense. Nice spackle for a rather flimsy episode.
-- Lori - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 20:54:31 -0500

15People Like You by nostalgia
Section 31 fic can be good or bad. This nice short bit is quite good.
-- Lori - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 20:57:35 -0500

16Pleasantries by Sara Goose
http://saragoose.virtue.nu/pleasantries.html is the actual URL for this fic.
-- Lori - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 20:58:49 -0500

16Pleasantries by Sara Goose
Sara has a neat way of showing more than she tells. This little peek into post-WYLB life at the station is... pleasant.
-- Lori - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 21:02:22 -0500

18Sand and Water by Seema
I know Seema didn't intend it that way, but reading this again for voting after reading "Blink" makes me see Kira from beginning to end -- from young rebel to older, wiser woman who's lost so much and looking for a way to move on. Poignant and touching without being melodramatic.
-- Lori - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 21:11:26 -0500

26Trinity by Tori Morris
I hope we see more from Tori. This glimpse into three scenes from the lives of Dax, from three different points of view, was quite well done.
-- Lori - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 21:20:27 -0500

24Survival Mechanism by Sara Goose
Sara is so good with Worf, and here she handles Ezri with her usual deft hand. I'm glad she can't remember Jadzia's death, for everyone's sake.
-- Lori - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 21:22:55 -0500

3Anachronism by monkee
Does a good job fleshing out the minor character of Melanie, and making the plight of someone flung back in time, out of an alternate future that won't happen now, very real.
-- Alara Rogers - Sun, 23 Mar 2003 23:09:24 -0500

4ANGELS AND ASSASSINS by Invicta
I'm not the world's biggest gen reader, but I certainly will follow my favorite authors when they go there! Invicta's mystery story is interesting, well-characterised, and kept me guessing until the final chapter. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing another mystery of this calibre from Invicta!
-- Mark Stanley - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 16:16:51 -0500

11Fly Away by Kyra Cullinan
This is a touching look at Vic Fontaine's holographic life. I love the way she introduces the memories and independent thoughts that he dares not share. Wonderful story; it stayed with me afterwards.
-- Mark Stanley - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 16:21:43 -0500

3Anachronism by monkee
A fascinating and touching extrapolation from the end of The Visitor, where Melanie is pulled back in time to the moment of the accident and has to adjust to her circumstances. The scenes where she talked to Ben and Jake Sisko about what happened were wonderful. I'm very glad I read this one.
-- Mark Stanley - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 16:35:39 -0500

2The Absinthe Heart by Seema
A touching image of Quark trying to comfort Ezri, although he doesn't know what to say. The second-person perspective works well to show how distant Quark is from his own emotions. Nicely done.
-- Ventura33 - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 17:50:48 -0500

3Anachronism by monkee
Quite an original perspective on Trek's infamous temporal anomalies, as told by a time-displaced unfortunate. The Starfleet bureaucrats, interviewing the poor kid to ensure that the timeline wasn't contaminated, were hilarious.
-- Ventura33 - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 17:56:14 -0500

5Blink by Seema
The description here is excellent -- the reader can feel the dank cave and hear the water dripping as Kira the young resistance fighter interrogates her prisoner. A poignant comment on the human cost of war.
-- Ventura33 - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 18:03:40 -0500

7A Clever Plan by Gabrielle Lawson
Great plot in this one, and I enjoyed seeing Bashir get the better of Sloan.
-- Ventura33 - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 18:12:13 -0500

10The Foolish And The Brave by Rocky
Excellent dialogue. I can definitely picture Sisko giving this lecture to Nog, who deserved that and more for his idiotic behavior.
-- Ventura33 - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 18:16:30 -0500

11Fly Away by Kyra Cullinan
Beautiful language, very poetic. A vivid portrayal of the dissonance between a sentient hologram's programmed personality and what he knows to be the real world. Excellent Vic story.
-- Ventura33 - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 18:48:49 -0500

13History Lesson at AR-558 by Sisko2374
Interesting speculation on how the Mirror Universe developed.
-- Ventura33 - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 18:50:23 -0500

14Immortality Denied by Rob Morris
I'm not sure how much this story's suggested "solution" to mass murderers and other criminal scum would really accomplish, but it does have a certain vengeful appeal.
-- Ventura33 - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 18:52:45 -0500

18Sand and Water by Seema
A realistic portrayal of how difficult it would be to adjust to a peaceful world after having grown up without ever knowing anything but war and tyranny.
-- Ventura33 - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 18:55:21 -0500

19Sarah by Sisko2374
An imaginative way to weave together different timelines into a coherent explanation (well, as coherent as it's ever likely to get) of the Emissary's origins. This story has somewhat of a dreamlike quality, very reminiscent of the episodes involving the Prophets, as it shifts from one scene to another.
-- Ventura33 - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 19:06:41 -0500

24Survival Mechanism by Sara Goose
Trill memories are always a fascinating subject to explore in fanfic, and this story definitely does them justice. Ezri's kindness to a bereaved Worf is very touching.
-- Ventura33 - Tue, 25 Mar 2003 19:09:36 -0500