Unreality-SF.net is celebrating its first year online and to celebrate this we have a vote for your favourite tie-in story from the last twelve months.
We had an open nomination period in the last week and the ten stories which received the most nominations have now formed the final shortlist. You can vote for your favourite of these ten stories until Sunday 22nd March 2009.
The final ten stories, in alphabetical order, are:
A Gutted World by Keith R.A. DeCandido
From the Star Trek: Myriad Universes collection Echoes and Refractions, DeCandido's story showed us a version of Deep Space Nine where the Cardassians never withdrew from Bajor, and discovered the wormhole. Reviewing the story in December, Unreality SF's Jens called it "one of DeCandido's darker works" in which "he easily proves his versatility", summing up A Gutted World as "easily the strongest in the book".
Almost Perfect by James Goss
Goss' debut novel was a popular Torchwood story, and was the first tale to be set after the dramatic events of Exit Wounds. It saw Ianto Jones wake up as a woman. Earlier this month, reviewer Naomi called it " a strong story, well told with all the elements needed for a good solid read", but also thought the story had several flaws.
Brotherhood of the Daleks by Alan Barnes
Continuing the fan-favourite partnership of the Sixth Doctor and Charley Pollard on audio, Alan Barnes' Brotherhood of the Daleks saw the return of Skaro's finest in a story where the nature of reality itself is threatened.
The Eyeless by Lance Parkin
The ever-popular Lance Parkin returned to Doctor Who fiction with The Eyeless, the first novel to see the Tenth Doctor travelling alone. It saw him visiting the Fortress - an imposing structure on an alien world, far in our future - which housed a deadly weapon responsible for exterminating the population of an entire planet.
Gods of Night by David Mack
Kicking off the epic Star Trek: Destiny trilogy, which formed the centrepiece of 2008's Star Trek literary schedule, was Mack's Gods of Night. Spanning several different time periods, it pulled together numerous continuing storylines, and united four Star Trek captains against the ongoing Borg threat.
Good Queen, Bad Queen, I Queen, You Queen by Terri Osborne
From the Doctor Who: Short Trips anthology The Quality of Leadership, Osborne's Who debut saw the Fourth Doctor and Romana encounter Boudicca, who wasn't quite what she seemed. Unreality SF's Dan enjoyed the "fantastically innovative and daring twist", and thought the depiction of Romana was "arguably the most successful characterisation of the entire anthology".
Greater Than the Sum by Christopher L. Bennett
Continuing the adventures of Star Trek: The Next Generation beyond the film Nemesis, Bennett's novel saw the Enterprise hunting down the Borg-controlled U.S.S. Einstein, in an exciting character-driven story. Unreality SF's Jens, however, wasn't impressed - he disliked the fact that the book was "basically a transitional novel to lead the TNG line into Destiny", and described it as a "disappointment".
The Prisoner's Dilemma by Simon Guerrier
Simon Guerrier makes unique use of the traditional Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles format with this story, which crosses over with The Key 2 Time and does some clever things with the character of Ace. Reviewer Steve thought it was "a bit disjointed", but praised Guerrier for "a clever piece of writing".
The Raincloud Man by Eddie Robson
Another outing for the Sixth Doctor and Charley, this Doctor Who audio play also featured the return of D.I. Menzies, as the TARDIS paid a return visit to Manchester. Reviewer Rachel was thrilled with the cast, who "sparkle in this production; their enthusiasm for the material shines through in every line", and described the play as "high quality".
Wet Work by Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore
Only the second The 4400 novel to be published, Ward and Dilmore's Wet Work was a surprise latecomer in the nominations. The novel saw the return of the serial killer known as the Wraith, as one of the 4400 returnees - now armed with a special power. Reviewing the book for Unreality SF, Dan described it as having "many strengths", and said "the prose is tense and violent and exciting" in the action sequences.
You can cast your votes here.
P.S.: If you run Firefox with the NoScript-AddOn you have to allow bravenet.com to see the voting box.
We had an open nomination period in the last week and the ten stories which received the most nominations have now formed the final shortlist. You can vote for your favourite of these ten stories until Sunday 22nd March 2009.
The final ten stories, in alphabetical order, are:
A Gutted World by Keith R.A. DeCandido
From the Star Trek: Myriad Universes collection Echoes and Refractions, DeCandido's story showed us a version of Deep Space Nine where the Cardassians never withdrew from Bajor, and discovered the wormhole. Reviewing the story in December, Unreality SF's Jens called it "one of DeCandido's darker works" in which "he easily proves his versatility", summing up A Gutted World as "easily the strongest in the book".
Almost Perfect by James Goss
Goss' debut novel was a popular Torchwood story, and was the first tale to be set after the dramatic events of Exit Wounds. It saw Ianto Jones wake up as a woman. Earlier this month, reviewer Naomi called it " a strong story, well told with all the elements needed for a good solid read", but also thought the story had several flaws.
Brotherhood of the Daleks by Alan Barnes
Continuing the fan-favourite partnership of the Sixth Doctor and Charley Pollard on audio, Alan Barnes' Brotherhood of the Daleks saw the return of Skaro's finest in a story where the nature of reality itself is threatened.
The Eyeless by Lance Parkin
The ever-popular Lance Parkin returned to Doctor Who fiction with The Eyeless, the first novel to see the Tenth Doctor travelling alone. It saw him visiting the Fortress - an imposing structure on an alien world, far in our future - which housed a deadly weapon responsible for exterminating the population of an entire planet.
Gods of Night by David Mack
Kicking off the epic Star Trek: Destiny trilogy, which formed the centrepiece of 2008's Star Trek literary schedule, was Mack's Gods of Night. Spanning several different time periods, it pulled together numerous continuing storylines, and united four Star Trek captains against the ongoing Borg threat.
Good Queen, Bad Queen, I Queen, You Queen by Terri Osborne
From the Doctor Who: Short Trips anthology The Quality of Leadership, Osborne's Who debut saw the Fourth Doctor and Romana encounter Boudicca, who wasn't quite what she seemed. Unreality SF's Dan enjoyed the "fantastically innovative and daring twist", and thought the depiction of Romana was "arguably the most successful characterisation of the entire anthology".
Greater Than the Sum by Christopher L. Bennett
Continuing the adventures of Star Trek: The Next Generation beyond the film Nemesis, Bennett's novel saw the Enterprise hunting down the Borg-controlled U.S.S. Einstein, in an exciting character-driven story. Unreality SF's Jens, however, wasn't impressed - he disliked the fact that the book was "basically a transitional novel to lead the TNG line into Destiny", and described it as a "disappointment".
The Prisoner's Dilemma by Simon Guerrier
Simon Guerrier makes unique use of the traditional Doctor Who: The Companion Chronicles format with this story, which crosses over with The Key 2 Time and does some clever things with the character of Ace. Reviewer Steve thought it was "a bit disjointed", but praised Guerrier for "a clever piece of writing".
The Raincloud Man by Eddie Robson
Another outing for the Sixth Doctor and Charley, this Doctor Who audio play also featured the return of D.I. Menzies, as the TARDIS paid a return visit to Manchester. Reviewer Rachel was thrilled with the cast, who "sparkle in this production; their enthusiasm for the material shines through in every line", and described the play as "high quality".
Wet Work by Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore
Only the second The 4400 novel to be published, Ward and Dilmore's Wet Work was a surprise latecomer in the nominations. The novel saw the return of the serial killer known as the Wraith, as one of the 4400 returnees - now armed with a special power. Reviewing the book for Unreality SF, Dan described it as having "many strengths", and said "the prose is tense and violent and exciting" in the action sequences.
You can cast your votes here.
P.S.: If you run Firefox with the NoScript-AddOn you have to allow bravenet.com to see the voting box.
), and if there's more Star Trek fans than Doctor Who ones on the site, obviously they're going to vote for what they've read. No Star Wars stories were even nominated, and that's got one of the most thriving tie-in lines of any licensed property.
Well, I didn't want to be the one to say that, but thank you, guys. *bats eyelashes*