For my first fan fiction review, I’ve gone back to one of my all-time favorites: Come Whatever, posted by gabolange in September 2022.
Summary: Susan really had meant to put the whole day–week, really–behind her in the immediate aftermath of “Sic Transit Vir.” A story of friendship, change, and getting the last word.
This delightful short story, written from the viewpoint of Commander Susan Ivanova, is lighthearted while addressing topics that are actually quite serious — just like the episode it’s based on, Sic Transit Vir. In it, poor Ivanova is surrounded by questions about alien sex and the political ramifications of romantic pairings, and when she has the expected reactions things don’t go quite the way she’d like.
What’s awesome?
The author has Ivanova’s character and voice down to a “T.” Zie accurately depicts her disdain for romantic relationships in the very first paragraph, using language that could easily have come out of Ivanova’s mouth:
She was going to keep her head down, do her job, maybe add a little bit of sanctioned sneakiness to help her feel better, but that was it. No more anxious dreams, no more sex advice for aliens. Just the work.
This also lets the reader know exactly what the story is about without going into explicit-rating territory, as well as setting the overall tone and feel of the piece.
What’s boring?
There’s nothing boring in this story. gabolange mentions in her acknowledgments that the story was beta read, and it shows: I suspect that the original version was a bit longer than the posted version, as what remains is the critical heart of the story. Not a single word is wasted.
What’s confusing?
Readers who aren’t familiar with the specific episode won’t understand what’s going on. But that is the nature of fan fiction and it does not detract from the story.
What seemed disbelieveable?
Although Captain Sheridan was presented mostly in-character, I did find his action toward the very end (throwing his stylus at her) a bit out-of-character. The conversation that preceded it, though? I can totally imagine that happening, including his embarrassment at the beginning:
Score one, at least John also looked like a startled flounder.
Sheridan’s discounting of the political ramifications of his and Delenn’s relationship is also 100% in-character. As is Ivanova’s frustration when she realizes that he’s going to do whatever he wants, just as he always does, even when it might not be wise.
Were your expectations met?
My expectations were met! This is a quick read and a fun romp through issues related to “friendship, change, and getting the last word.” It also raises some issues that the series left glaringly unaddressed: the consequences of Vir’s actions in the episode, and the fact Sheridan and Delenn’s relationship really could turn into a political disaster if not carefully managed.
What’s your final assessment?
Five stars. If you like Babylon 5 and Ivanova’s snarky sense of humor, you will adore this short but entertaining piece.
The rubric used in this review is taken from The Collaborative Feedback Method and Toolkit by L.F.S. Alden, which is available from Signum Press.