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Today's issue includes:

1. Feature Articles -- Über Fic (Lesbian fiction comes of age) -- The Über Phenomenon
2. Über Quotes
3. Featured Über FanFic (no reviews) -- Make A Wish I & II -- The Blue Scrolls -- The Edge -- UberMadness (The Battle For The Third Age) -- Women in Prison -- The Deal -- Silent Legacy -- Darkness Before the Dawn -- Incidental Tourists -- Triptych Sex -- Home from the Sea
4. Über News
5. Featured Über Websites (no reviews) -- Online Fiction Recommended by MerPups -- Online Fiction Recommended by MerPups -- MerWolf's Cave -- MerPup's Den -- Über Xena and Mel/Janice Lists -- jtd's Own -- The MerPup Academy of Bards -- Über Xena Story Listing -- Nene's Living Library -- Justice House Publishing, Inc. -- LadyHawke Productions
6. Über Polls -- Favorite Über Bards/Favorite Über Characters
7. Über Fun
8. Feedback and Contact Information
9. PRIVACY/NO SPAM POLICY!
10. Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
11. Special Thanks
12. Credits
13. Archives

This special issue is dedicated to any and all who contribute in any way to this living entity known as Über Xena Fan Fiction. We hope you enjoy.

-- The Xena E-Xine Staff

It is nothing less than a renaissance in lesbian literature. When I first heard the term I hadn't a clue as to what they were talking about. Hmmm. I cogitated on the matter. Über as opposed to under. Over (or overt) as opposed to subtext. Ah. You mean a milieu in which the relationship is explored honestly, passionately, out in the light and not hidden darkly behind veiled meaning and symbology. Yes. And more. I've only been at it a year, and I'm sure many or even most of you know far more than I on the subject, but I've managed to read some fanfic online destined to become classics of this 'sub' genre.
Jules Mills' Nano Stories (if you enjoyed pro SF writer Melissa Scott's cyberpunk lesbian heroine Trouble and Her Friends you will really love this, set slightly in the future where the Über Xena (UX) character is an ex-con and the Über Gabrielle (UG) counterpart a doctor); B.L. Miller and Vada Foster's Western Chronicles (just what it sounds like, an entertaining adventure romp, but with some modern social significance, set in the old west where UX, or Josie, is a gunslinger, of course and UG,

or Rebecca, a wide-eyed innocent she rescues...from a 'fate worse than death'...of course); Miller's Accidental Love (a bit of a soap opera in the tradition of Magnificent Obsession, but affecting...it's UG aka Rose who gets her legs broken in this incarnation); Sharon Bowers' Lucifer Rising. (a brilliant novel by any standards, more on this in a moment); and the ultimate über series, Missy Good's Dar & Kerry sagas (check out my tribute page to the girls and then click on the link to go to Missy's site at Merwolf's Cave for all of her great fanfic: Xena alt and über) http://community.webtv.net/bacchae2/DarandKerry (so far comprising Tropical Storm, Hurricane Watch, Eye of the Storm, with another episode, Tropical High, currently in progress); and most of these fine adult novels are being published as books (by Justice House, you can order through amazon.com); and there is some great Jan and Mel (Xena Scrolls) über out there as well. I'm sure you all have your favorites.
If Xena succeeded in nothing else it should be footnoted as the inspiration that brought several women to create a new romantic lesbian fiction. Who else has ever given us that? Certainly not Rita

Mae. Melissa Scott (science fiction) and Sandra Scoppettone (detective fiction) and even the venerable Katharine Forrest (formerly only available through Naiad Press) may be accepted in the mainstream now with lesbian heroines, but the classic Patience and Sarah is the only recent novel that even comes close in the literature of Romance.
We have founded a sub genre of a sub-culture related to subtext. More: Lucifer Rising--a full-blooded, highly erotic, modern day evocation of the X/G dynamic. Where Missy envisions Dar and Kerry as karmically evolved reincarnations of X&G who either grew up in privileged conditions (UG is Kerry, a senator's daughter) or had relatively little genuine darkness in the past that formed her (UX is Dar, a computer wiz and high-power exec) Bowers' Lucifer is as dark an evocation of the subject matter you are likely to find. Mills' The Nano Stories is, at times, also quite dark. All of these übers are fresh, vivid, original, with a distinctive voice. Fine, professional quality novelizing.
In Lucifer Rising the sexual tension rises to fever pitch until it gushes

forth in an orchid blooming torrent, a lush sub-tropical abundance of lust and love. And set in a rather different Miami from that inhabited by Dar & Kerry. If X:WP is the show I've waited for all my life, then this is the novel for which I've waited. As finely crafted and compelling as anything of its kind you will ever read. A remarkable performance, as a novelistic exercise it wins the prize.

It's all here, all the passion and the pain--right up through Fallen Angel. She is perfectly prescient in capturing this. The parallels so finely tuned within this über's dark milieu. UX is Jude, a rogue undercover agent and drug lord and UG is Liz a reporter fascinated with and drawn to the woman like a lovely green-eyed moth to a flame. It's incendiary. Can true love always redeem a lost soul? It cries out, like Tropical Storm, to be filmed. There is no more passionate love story in print.
True über, the best, über draws strong, stark and clever parallels to the series and characterizations, focusing not just on the attributes of X&G or LL and ROC, but on the life-force itself they've invested in their creations who are utterly freed here to soar and live and breathe and exist without their progenitors. This is lush, romantic fiction by women for women and haven't we waited long enough for it? It's come of age, true to the marrow, no longer has to hide itself in some externally imposed shame (or as

    What is über, this word we hear and see so often when related to the reincarnated souls of Xena, the Warrior Princess and Gabrielle, the Amazon Queen? This German word given to this unique fan fiction sub-genre on the Internet. What is important is not the actual definition of the word, but what it has come to symbolize and mean to thousands of Xenites on the Internet as well as the sub-genre it has become.
    We were first introduced to this concept of Xena and Gabrielle's souls not being confined by time and space with the Xena: Warrior Princess episode The Xena Scrolls. This second season episode, introduced Janice Covington and Melinda Pappas, descendants of Xena and Gabrielle. Not only did these 2 women look remarkably like their ancestors, but also Xena's spirit was able to take over her descendent Melinda's body for a short time.
    This simple episode gave life to what has become a living, breathing

entity in fan fiction, which has been dubbed Über Xena Fan Fiction Fan fiction is nothing new. It was around before Xena had even graced our TVs. So what makes this über fan fiction different than the countless Star Trek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Wars, or any of the zillion other forms of fan fiction on the net? I believe it is a combination of the bards who write the stories, the characters they create, the genre they write about, and the readers whose insatiable appetites demand for ever more.

The Überverse has brought to light amazing talents such as Melissa Good, Bat Morda, BL Miller, and TNoven, just to name a few. They have been some of the pioneers of this budding world that is Über Xena Fan Fiction. They were able to take their passion, and perhaps obsession, with Xena: Warrior Princess and forge from that unforgettable tales of danger, love, loss, mystery, adventure, and heart-pounding, pulse-racing, sweat-inducing erotica. Let's face it, they hook us with these tangled webs of fiery words and reel us in with cleverly employed literary elements at their disposal by the time we're done with the first chapter. By the last chapter, we are so tangled ourselves in these worlds they create that we want more, more, more! When's the next update?
They've taken Xena characters into other times, bodies, and worlds, giving them a certain freedom of which isn't found in other genres. Star Trek comes close with their holodecks and wormholes, but doesn't reach the same level. By

Memorable characters have been created in such a way. Dar Roberts and Kerry Stuart, which sprang from the active mind of Melissa Good (and spawned an incredible following of fans calling themselves the MerPups (aroo) ), are two of the most popular über characters in the Überverse. They are popular not only because they have been written masterfully, or because the storylines are exceptional by any standards, or because of the realistic manner in which the world they live in is brought to colorful life, but because the character archetypes stay true to that of Xena and Gabrielle.

Using Dar and Kerry as examples of the right way to use the archetype model, we can see what makes effective characters, which is, in fact, the cornerstone of what makes a good über story.
In comparing Dar and Xena, we see they are dark and moody and always ready for a fight. No situation is tough enough for them to handle. They are warriors to the core of their souls. Once bonds are made, they are loyal friends and allies and will protect their loved ones fiercely. They are the aggressor as well as the protector. Cross their paths and you'll wish to whatever god or gods you believe in that you had not. They have only one weakness; blond, green-eyed beauties.In turn, when we compare Kerry and Gabrielle, it is plainly obvious that they are young and naïve to a certain extent, with hearts full of

good intentions and a giving nature. They are the nurturers, the caregivers, wanting to fix the wrongs in the world. Their energy and enthusiasm is unique unto themselves. They can look past the bad and try to see the light at the end of the tunnel. They are open and honest and all that is good in the world. They are undeniably drawn to dark and dangerous warrior types with intense blue eyes.
And never forget the all-important factor of the undying love between them. Their love is as timeless as their souls. The balance of the Yin and the Yang serves to keep in line the strong connection of these soulmates.

    The characters that stick to these archetypes, keeping the true essence of Xena and Gabrielle and the love between them that brings them together in any life and time, are the ones that will become memorable and make any story enjoyable. This element also allows Xena and Gabrielle to be reborn in ANY time, in ANY world, as ANY people. That is what makes this a unique sub-genre.
    Never before have we seen a spin-off from the normal premise of a fan fiction topic grow like über fan fiction has. And with the success of many über bards becoming published and having their work made into film, more and more bards attempt to attain the same lofty status among their Xenite brothers and sisters. It continues to snowball at a fast pace, becoming a juggernaut of übermania.
    Who knew that one episode would give birth to Xena and

Gabrielle becoming timeless souls who are reincarnated into the new and exciting worlds that make up the Überverse! It has become lesbian fiction with a Warrior Princess twist. Who could ask for anything more?
The readers that's who! You know who you are. The people who greedily surf the web, staring for hours on end at a computer screen, reading, or printing out reams and reams of fan fiction to add to their already mammoth libraries, or who blow off work to see what Adrian and Harper are doing in the latest

Speed of the Beat of My Heart update. Sleepless nights, worn out printer cartridges, continuously running computers, an ever lowering tolerance of friends (online and offline), 2nd phone lines installed so people don't catch on to this obsession, the never-ending search for more stories to fill in the time between updates. This is the world of the reader. And it's awesome!
Without the voracious readers, these characters would live in a void, enjoyed only by the bards themselves; the dynamics would be gone. When the demand for über stops, the Überverse crumbles, it dies into oblivion like the maniacal Callisto. But Callisto did not die into oblivion, you say? So

true! As is my point; the readers, that are the backbone of this cosmic theater, will never die out. They continue to consume one story after the next, never satisfied, always wanting more.
So, to the sub-genre, bards, characters, and the readers of Über Xena Fan Fiction, I raise my sword and quill in salute to you. There are many happy years ahead. Battle on! ¨

2) Über Quote

Her voice dropped an octave, becoming a tantalizing growl that instantly redefined the meaning of erotic for Liz for all time. "You walk in here with your golden hair and your greencats yes...wearing a body that's a sin in any religion you care to name...with a smile that's pure honey and so sweet that I can almost taste it from here...What chance do I stand?" -- from Lucifer Rising
By Sharon Bowers; Justice House Publishing, 1999

(The most famous scene EVER in ANY Dar & Kerry story.)
The dark head turned very slowly, until those blue eyes were looking right at her.

Looking right through her, and she felt it in her guts, as her knees started to shake a little. "Dar?"

"Mm?" A faint, playful smile was starting, plucking chords in her deeper than anything in her life ever had.

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

...Dar ducked her head gracefully, and she felt lips brush hers. Light as a feather, then again, as solid contact, lingering and powerful, lasting long enough for her soul to recognize something in her very deep.

Then Dar was pulling back, and she had to focus on those eyes again. "Does that answer your question?" -- Dar Roberts and Kerry Stuart in Tropical Storm
By Melissa Good; Justice House Publishing, 1999

4) Über News

It's been pretty quiet lately in the Überverse. Books continue to be published and Tropical Storm: The Movie has been plodding along as usual. Here are some pieces of news.

Melissa Good's Hurricane Watch is in the works to be published as a novel. This is her sequel to Tropical Storm.

The Western Chronicles by BL Miller and Vada Foster, is now available from Justice House Publishing.

You can find several good über bard's work, published and in the process of being published, at Renaissance Alliance Publishing, Inc. Check them out! http://www.rapbooks.com/

6) Über Polls

NOTE: These numbers are lower than they could have been. A mixture of a limited voting time and server problems at the website served to limit the number of votes.

Favorite Über Bards
The results of this poll come from a total of 90 votes where the voters could chose more than one bard. Only a minute amount of über bards were listed in the poll so the results only encompass a very small amount of the Überverse.

Missy came out ahead in this poll, but considering most of those who voted were MerPups, it seems pretty obvious who'd win.

Missy Good (66.7%)
Llachlan (7.8%)
Sharon Bowers (17.8%)
BL Miller (4.4%)
ArdentTly (2.2%)
Penumbra (6.7%)
Bat Morda (6.7%)
Nene Adams (8.9%)
Lizzy Tendre (2.2%)
Paul Seely & Jennifer Garza (3.3%)
Vivian Darkbloom (4.4%)
TNovan (14.4%)
Elaine Sutherland (3.3%)
Michal Salat and Joann Muscolo (12.2%)
Joseph Connell (1.1%)

Added Über Bards with number of votes
Jules Mills (2 votes)
J.C. Wilder (1 vote)
Redhawk (1 vote)
XWPFanatic (1 vote)

Favorite Über Characters
The results of this poll come from a total of 78 votes and 702 points (I don't know what the points mean either) where the voters chose their favorite characters in order of importance. Here, again, not all the über characters are represented in the poll, so the results only encompass a very small amount of the Überverse characters.

Surprise, surprise, Dar and Kerry kicked bootie here. MerPup bias I suppose.

Dar and Kerry (509 pts. -- 84.0%)
Josie and Rebecca (217 pts. -- 30.9%)
Janice and Melinda (293 pts. -- 41.7%)
Jude and Liz (300 pts. -- 42.7%)
Reed and Jae (275 pts. -- 39.2%)
Daine and Charlie (130 pts. -- 18.5%)
Harper and Adrian (240 pts. -- 34.2%)
Zeen and Abby (96 pts. -- 13.7%)
Xero and Rielle (153 pts. -- 21.8%)

Added Über Characters with number of votes
Dana and Grace (2 votes)
Chris and Marsi (1 vote)
Kelsey and Harper (1 vote)
Piersen and Kai (1 vote)

Added comments and questions
Ellie Maziekien -- "Dar and Kerry are the best characters I've read in a looong time."
Response -- Here, here!
Rachel -- "It's hard to tell exactly which Janice and Melinda you are referring to."
Response -- To The Xena Scrolls duo, the original Janice and Melinda characters. Sorry for the confusion.

7) Über Fun

Alien Ice Picktures Presents...Xenaphiles
"They're very short vignettes illustrated with action figures; you have to click through about 3 or 4 pages to get through each one, but each is about the length of a Sunday paper comic (they're from a site called "The Web Adventures of Mulder & Scully," but include certain other familiar characters.......). Funny stuff!"
Submitted by Brian Davis

They are sort of überish and very funny X-Files crossovers. The second one is Hercules, but since it's so funny, the link was inserted.
http://www.geocities.com/~bjruef/Action/xena.htm &
http://www.geocities.com/~bjruef/Action/hercules2.htm

Xena and Gabrielle Go to the Mardi Gras
Again, sort of überish.
http://www.angelfire.com/al/bingoze/mg.html

8) Feedback and Contact Information

"I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I like your Xena E-Xine. While I have not agreed with everything you have published, I have found almost everything to be thought provoking. And while some of your jokes have been a bit...stupid?, I still laughed at them. I hope you can keep up the good work. Thank you for all your work and effort."
--Skip Ward (a satisfied reader)

"Nice ezine, interesting articles :-)"
--Tovie

If you have any comments, suggests for content, or articles to submit to this newsletter, then please contact us at exine@exine.tvheaven.com

(We are accepting submissions for featured articles. Send to above address.)

9) 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!

10) Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information

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11) Special Thanks

Special thanks to the MerPups, to Cindy & Brian, to Carla van Westen and StickrrrPup, to those who allowed me to take their words and put them here, to the members of the XST and Ephiny's Club who all helped to make this issue happen.

(Apologies to StickrrrPup for the name mis-spelling in the published Xine issue.)

The Xena E-Xine Staff:
Chief Editor/Head Writer: Lady Adrell
Editor/Writer: Bacchae2
FanFic Critic: Creda
Website Analyst: Silver

We have journeyed to The Überverse in the production of this E-Xine. We now return you to your Virtual Universe.

You do 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.

*****	A must read if you are über nut!
****	It is worth your while to read.
***	It's better than reading about the Lesbian Mafia Conspiracy
**	Comparably the Lesbian Mafia site isn't so bad to read afterall.
*	Xena and Gabrielle's karmic souls have been destroyed with this piece (oh the humanity!).