Beth Manz & Shiloh

Progressions

(1) "With Deadly Intent" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 18th January 2000

The first in the Progressions series. The last paragraph is a sentiment-socker (smile). This is a h/c bad-guy's revenge thing. Been there, done that. But the writing is good. (email to authors Beth Manz (bethmanz at flash dot net) or Shiloh sandyb26 at juno dot com)

Addendum: the hospital and mine scenes in this story were nominated in the 2000 Cascade Times Awards in the "best comfort scene" category.

(2) "Hidden Truths" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 19th January 2000 (1)

The second in the Progressions series, sequel to With Deadly Intent. This is, strictly speaking, an AU, because "The Sentinel By Blair Sandburg" does not occur in this universe. And this story is their solution to the dissertation problem - and I cheer. Yay! I like the "Guide book" idea, and Blair's point about objectivity seems reasonable (though I'm not entirely sure what the climate about that in Anthropology is nowadays, since studies of things like fandom appear to be being done from an "insider's" viewpoint, not just by "objective" outsiders) And the psycho-de-jour wasn't just an evil bastard. And Blair rescued himself! (Yay!)

(3) "Full Circle" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 19th January 2000 (2)

The third in the Progressions series, sequel to Hidden Truths. Good, good, good. (contented sigh).

(4) "Echoes From Borneo" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 19th January 2000 (3)

The fourth in the Progressions series, sequel to Full Circle. It is as well that the authors make disclaimers about their knowledge of dissertations, because the process is actually more rigorous than they imply. If the fraud had been plausible, however, the idea about the extortion was a good one. Well-written as usual. Addendum: The authors have now assured me that they did do their research, and that such a situation, however uncommon, is possible. So I take it back.

(5) "Wrong Place, Wrong Time" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 19th January 2000 (4)

The fifth in the Progressions series, sequel to Echoes From Borneo. Yay for the piece of wisdom at the end. Of course, I knew as soon as they mentioned going to the bank, that something would happen (with a title like that, what else could one expect?) (smile) Good stuff.

(6) "Day of Reckoning" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 19th January 2000 (5)

The sixth in the Progressions series, sequel to Wrong Place, Wrong Time. Good story again. Chilling last paragraph, man (which turns out to lead into the next story). I was actually expecting them to tell Naomi about the Sentinel stuff - but the point, indeed, was that the Sentinel stuff, at this point, is just a part of Jim & Blair's relationship, and that the larger, more visible part, their friendship, is the best and better and believable reason why Blair wants to stay with Jim. The something that Naomi would understand. Some people might criticise the characterisation of Naomi here, call it character assassination, but I don't think so; her motives were understandable, even if her reactions weren't laudable.

(7) "Blessed Protector" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 19th January 2000 (6)

The seventh in the Progressions series, sequel to Day of Reckoning. A one-word description of this story would be "nightmares". I have mixed feelings about this story; all the while I was drawn in by the chilling picture painted, while at the same time I was mentally protesting that this couldn't really be happening to Jim, he's more anchored than that. Those that want to see Jim on the receiving end of angst and comfort, read away; 'tis skillfully done.

(8) "Fathers and Sons" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 19th January 2000 (7)

The eighth in the Progressions series, sequel to Blessed Protector. Three cheers for this one. Drama, hostility, affirmation, and the mending of relationships. And, strangely enough, while there were no crimes, high action or bad guys, it was still engrossing and not tediously smarmy.

(9) "To Have and To Hold" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 29th January 2000

The ninth in the Progressions series, sequel to Fathers and Sons. Good. Up to about half way through, I was afraid that the title meant that Jim was going to propose to someone - something that I thought would be rather too sudden. I'm glad I was wrong! Very well built up. For a little while there I was scared for Jim - talk about pathological! Nice little bit at the end, too.

(10) "Pilgrimage" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 14th March 2000

Pilgrimage: Descent Into Darkness and Pilgrimage: Ascent Into Light are the tenth and eleventh in the Progressions series, sequel to To Have And To Hold. Part 1 is full of angst, mainly Blair-angst. And the warning, for those who see, that running away from one's destiny, running away from one's true self, can have dire consequences. And part 2 is, indeed, the journey out of that pit. This story (these stories) definitely need to be read back-to-back; if nothing else, the suspense would kill one.

This is one of the best Blair-comes-to-terms-with-his-shaman-role stories I've seen so far, probably because the crisis which precipitated it was all too real, and also because Jim had some issues to work through as well as Blair. And also because the journey through the spirit world was not aimless, nor was it cliched. And also because the bits with Eli Stoddard and Blair meant that this wasn't just a Jim-and-Blair show, and that the shamanism thing wasn't the only thing that was going on. (And if I say "and also because" one more time, someone will probably unplug my keyboard!)

(12) "Til Death Do Us Part" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 3rd May 2000 (1)

'Til Death Do Us Part is the twelfth in the Progressions series, sequel to Pilgrimage. I admit, I put off reading this one, because Hannah Merrick really gets to me. In one sense, she's the most dangerous baddie the guys have met, because her threat isn't physical, it's psychological and social. We know, with the conventions of fiction, that Our Heroes won't be killed. And my feeling is, that almost anything short of that, can be recovered from, or survived - physical harm, that is. Bones mend, but reputations don't. And that was the threat of Hannah Merrick - social harm. So, I found this one hard to read, not because it was badly written, but because it had a very effective baddie!

(13) "Out of the Shadows" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 3rd May 2000 (2)

Out of the Shadows is the thirteenth in the Progressions series, sequel to 'Til Death Do Us Part. Do not read this story until part 14 comes out! It ends on a cliffhanger! That being the case, I'm not really sure I can say much about this story until the rest of it comes along. I am rather frustrated about the villain of the piece, it seemed far too unlikely to me - or unlikely that they wouldn't realize sooner. (How's that for a cryptic non-spoiler remark?)

Addendum: this series won the 2000 Cascade Times Awards in the "Best Series" category.

(14) "Rest in Peace, Blair Sandburg" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th July 2000 (28)

Rest in Peace, Blair Sandburg is the fourteenth in the Progressions series, sequel to Out of the Shadows. And, oh my, what a story. This would have to be just about the ultimate revenge scenario. Chilling. Diabolical. Very good story.

(15) "Buried Fears" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th July 2000 (29)

Buried Fears is the fifteenth in the Progressions series, sequel to Rest in Peace, Blair Sandburg. Very good - again. The aftermath of the happenings before - not just nightmares, not just fear, but the consequences of that, emotional and logical, the unrest and un-peace of wondering, the worry for the other, the over-protectiveness. Consequences. Very good.

(16) "Sushi, Sasquatch... and Sandburg" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th July 2000 (30)

Sushi, Sasquatch... and Sandburg is the sixteenth in the Progressions series, sequel to Buried Fears. After all the darkness, some light relief. The guys have a nice, fun, relaxing break. Not without its own mishaps, of course, but no bad guys!

(17) "Lying in Wait" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 13th August 2000 (2)

Lying in Wait is the seventeenth in the Progressions series, sequel to Sushi, Sasquatch... and Sandburg. Maybe I should give up reading the epilogues of this series if I value my sanity/teeth/fingernails - at least lately, they all lead on in a cliffhangery way into the next episode - which of course has yet to be written. Argh!

Apart from that, this was a fairly ordinary hurt/comfort plot: Blair is set up, Blair is hurt, Jim nearly goes postal, Blair stops him. Interesting twist with the commissioner, though, and everyone's responses to it. Also an interesting point that if Jim had only stayed with Blair, instead of running around like a headless chook, Blair would have recovered sooner, and could have told him what happened. But since when do characters ever do the sensible thing? (smile)

(18) "Guilty Until Proven Innocent" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 10th September 2000 (1)

Guilty Until Proven Innocent is the eighteenth in the Progressions series, sequel to Lying in Wait. Don't read this until you have hold of the next one; it ends in a cliffhanger. As usual, well-written. Actually, this one reminds me of the joke: What's worse than finding a worm in your apple? Finding half a worm. Have Our Heroes bitten off more than they can chew?

(19) "Last Call For Marcus Grant" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 10th September 2000 (2)

Last Call For Marcus Grant is the nineteenth in the Progressions series, sequel to Guilty Until Proven Innocent. Every time I think Marcus Grant can't do any more, he gets crazier, more twisted. Even Blair can only take so much. Again, this was well done, particularly Blair. No, it wasn't a torture-Blair piece, but it was more the last-straw-that-broke-the-camel's back kind of thing. I was very relieved at the end.

(20) "Legacy" (Sentinel)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 16th October 2000

Legacy is the twentieth in the Progressions series, sequel to Last Call For Marcus Grant. I have mixed feelings about this last and final episode of the Progressions series -- and I know it's simply a matter of personal taste. This story was well-written and moving, the tale of what happened to Jim's grandfather, woven in with Blair trying to come to terms with his irreplaceability in Jim's life. The latter is where my mixed feelings come in; this series (as had been indicated in at least one earlier story) holds the school of thought that for every Sentinel there is one and only one Guide -- that no one else can Guide Jim but Blair. Unfortunately, it isn't a school of thought that I agree with; I am as uncomfortable with the idea as Sandburg was here. It just seems illogical and unfair to me (not to mention the fact that Incacha acted as Jim's guide in Peru, so Jim has already had more than one guide). So, I couldn't enjoy this story as much as I would have liked to. Folks that don't have a problem with the concept, will definitely enjoy it. And I'm still sad that the series is now over.