Aadler - Author Review

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Fan Fiction by Other Authors

Elizabeth Ann Lewis

As we re-read some of the stories we’ve let pass into memory, occasionally we discover that a few pack more value than our recollections granted them. Lewis qualifies on this count. Alex Mercado’s “My Own Armageddon” has generally been held up as the benchmark for stories explaining the back-history of the dark universe created by Anyanka in “the Wish” … but Mercado’s story remains incomplete, which is to my mind an irremediable flaw. In “Shadowland”, Lewis has provided an alternative that is shorter and more subtle, but of equal or greater emotional intensity (plus, she finished it).
Additionally, two other stories, while not quite of sufficient quality to make this list on their own, are good enough to creep in on the coattails of “Shadowland”. “What I Did On My Summer Vacation” offers a competently told tale of the Scoobies in separate pursuits; and “Coming to Terms” gives us reason to believe that Buffy’s Lost Day With Angel might have one little unknown corner to it.

And, more recently, “Fostering” dips into the Buffy backstory to call on a character who has never in my experience (with the single exception of Oracle/ Avatar’s Déjà Vu All Over Again) been decently presented in Buffyfic. Furthermore, unlike most of Lewis’ earlier work, this is a solid action-adventure story, albeit with more than sufficient personal conflict and character exploration. Set in the Angel venue, “Fostering” is well worth the read.

[Note: a few more stories by Lewis can be found in “the Darkest Dawn”, a collaborative work by the Sunnydale Slayers, already reviewed on this list, but they should be read in context with the other stories.]

Shadowland Season: 3 Spoilers: “the Wish”

What I Did On My Summer Vacation Season: between 1 and 2 Spoilers: “Prophecy Girl”

Coming to Terms Season: 4 Spoilers: “I Will Remember You”

Fostering Season: 2 (Angel) Spoilers: “Epiphany” (Angel)

As we re-read some of the stories we’ve let pass into memory, occasionally we discover that a few pack more value than our recollections granted them. Lewis qualifies on this count. Alex Mercado’s “My Own Armageddon” has generally been held up as the benchmark for stories explaining the back-history of the dark universe created by Anyanka in “the Wish” … but Mercado’s story remains incomplete, which is to my mind an irremediable flaw. In “Shadowland”, Lewis has provided an alternative that is shorter and more subtle, but of equal or greater emotional intensity (plus, she finished it). Additionally, two other stories, while not quite of sufficient quality to make this list on their own, are good enough to creep in on the coattails of “Shadowland”. “What I Did On My Summer Vacation” offers a competently told tale of the Scoobies in separate pursuits; and “Coming to Terms” gives us reason to believe that Buffy’s Lost Day With Angel might have one little unknown corner to it. And, more recently, “Fostering” dips into the Buffy backstory to call on a character who has never in my experience (with the single exception of Oracle/ Avatar’s Déjà Vu All Over Again) been decently presented in Buffyfic. Furthermore, unlike most of Lewis’ earlier work, this is a solid action-adventure story, albeit with more than sufficient personal conflict and character exploration. Set in the Angel venue, “Fostering” is well worth the read. [Note: a few more stories by Lewis can be found in “the Darkest Dawn”, a collaborative work by the Sunnydale Slayers, already reviewed on this list, but they should be read in context with the other stories.]
Shadowland	Season: 3	Spoilers: “the Wish”
What I Did On My Summer Vacation	Season: between 1 and 2	Spoilers: “Prophecy Girl”
Coming to Terms	Season: 4	Spoilers: “I Will Remember You”
Fostering	Season: 2 (Angel)	Spoilers: “Epiphany” (Angel)