Metamorphosis by JET
The Sentinel - Gen, Interconnected Short Story Collection, 158 pages,
spiral-bound. Color cover, with b&w interior art
Publisher: AllGen Press
Review: This zine is both a novel and an anthology, as it is
a series of serialized stories by the same author, each built on by the next.
Generally,
the theme of the zine is about the Sentinel and Guide's
developing
relationship in practical terms: Sentinel rituals, working
together in
Cascade, life after TSbyBS, coming to terms with their pasts. At
the same
time, this J&B are very comfortable with each other,
unabashedly close and
unafraid to show it to each other or to others. That makes for
some scenes
that skirt the edge of going overboard, too emotional for the Jim
we saw in
the show, even a few years down the line, including some chaste
kisses. But
while many writers in TS go way too far down that road, making
the
characters unrecognizable and painful to read, JET stretches
suspension of
disbelief without tearing. The scenes of comfort and support are
enjoyable
and cozy, and are usually well-earned after the crises that
befall the
characters. Some might have issues with what the Chopec are up to
or who
their new Sentinel has become while Jim's been in Cascade, but I
thought it
was an interesting idea. In all, a zine I would recommend to
another fan,
with the caveat to expect some smarm. :>
Reviewed by: Anna Kelly