Eugenesis novel now available for download
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- Denyer
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Short version: this is about unofficial publishing, but something that was a first in fandom history so you may or may not consider this newsworthy. Previous threads can be found here, here, here and here (the Allspark seems to have lost posts since the last time it came up.)
Longer version: the TransMasters fanclubs in the US and UK were the first to get written permission for non-profit activities, amongst which were helping to stir the imagination of a young Nick Roche, a number of conventions that featured contributions by Simon Furman, and a thick self-published novel by James Roberts. At the time the book got reviewed by The Harvard Crimson and copies still change hands at conventions and on eBay. Those of us aware of it wondered when a reprint or online edition might turn up, and earlier this year a website was said to be coming soon.
James is still busy and we've offered to host. So here you go... accompanying is a summary of continuity from the UK comics and relevant TMUK fiction, the script and comic for tie-in Liars A to D (itself a bit of UK convention history), and Telefunken, a dark original-era-to-BW short story that was originally printed in the back of Eugenesis.
http://tfarchive.com/fandom/features/eugenesis/
Everything can be grabbed as one ZIP file: eugenesis.zip
If anything's screwed up, it's probably my fault and please do mention. For the most part it goes without saying that I'd recommend the story to anyone, but fans of the Marvel comics are particularly likely to enjoy -- think Furman with less cheese and no obligation to keep the words short for kids. Amongst other things it includes possibly the best character moment for Optimus Prime I've read. And lastly, for those who don't mind spoilers, you can find an author retrospective from 2002 here.
(TMUK are still active... they're having site problems again at the moment, but you could drop by their temporary forum if you want to get in touch with Mr Roberts and give feedback.)
Longer version: the TransMasters fanclubs in the US and UK were the first to get written permission for non-profit activities, amongst which were helping to stir the imagination of a young Nick Roche, a number of conventions that featured contributions by Simon Furman, and a thick self-published novel by James Roberts. At the time the book got reviewed by The Harvard Crimson and copies still change hands at conventions and on eBay. Those of us aware of it wondered when a reprint or online edition might turn up, and earlier this year a website was said to be coming soon.
James is still busy and we've offered to host. So here you go... accompanying is a summary of continuity from the UK comics and relevant TMUK fiction, the script and comic for tie-in Liars A to D (itself a bit of UK convention history), and Telefunken, a dark original-era-to-BW short story that was originally printed in the back of Eugenesis.
http://tfarchive.com/fandom/features/eugenesis/
Everything can be grabbed as one ZIP file: eugenesis.zip
If anything's screwed up, it's probably my fault and please do mention. For the most part it goes without saying that I'd recommend the story to anyone, but fans of the Marvel comics are particularly likely to enjoy -- think Furman with less cheese and no obligation to keep the words short for kids. Amongst other things it includes possibly the best character moment for Optimus Prime I've read. And lastly, for those who don't mind spoilers, you can find an author retrospective from 2002 here.
(TMUK are still active... they're having site problems again at the moment, but you could drop by their temporary forum if you want to get in touch with Mr Roberts and give feedback.)
- Best First
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- Impactor returns 2.0
- Big Honking Planet Eater
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- Legion
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Weee... am up to Chapter/Part 4 and i have to say... woah!!!
Apart from a couple of underlying TMUK continutity issues I always have problems with - mainly their compressing of all the apprenant Timelines into one (rather convulted one, IMHO) - I'm thoroughly enjoying it!!
Some nice touches and twists in there and it's bloody dark in places too.. and i've detected a bit of a Furminator influence here and there...
oh and poor First Aid...
Apart from a couple of underlying TMUK continutity issues I always have problems with - mainly their compressing of all the apprenant Timelines into one (rather convulted one, IMHO) - I'm thoroughly enjoying it!!
Some nice touches and twists in there and it's bloody dark in places too.. and i've detected a bit of a Furminator influence here and there...
oh and poor First Aid...
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- Big Honking Planet Eater
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- Legion
- Over Pompous Autobot Commander
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Yep... and all it takes is a certain amount of glossing over various events and making some convienent leaps of faith.spiderfrommars wrote:Yeah, I avoid thinking about it!Legion wrote:mainly their compressing of all the apprenant Timelines into one (rather convulted one, IMHO)
Basically, the whole of Marvel TF G1, G2 and Marvel Post-Movie happened on the same timeline didn't it?
But that aside, the book itself is ******* great.
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I heard all about this one for sometime now and... well, its a bloody great read! This should the benchmark of great big epic TF fanfiction should be judged.
Originally written by BB Shockwave
I had a hard time accepting Wildman's TFs who had teeth and tongues back then, but I Milne goes the extra mile to make them all look like vampires...
- BB Shockwave
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I wish I had more time, I have only gotten to about 25% of it. Pretty strong stuff, good characterisations especially for Nightbeat and UM, Ratchet... Somehow Death's Head feels off, but maybe only Simon can truly write him well, yes? (after all see what happened with DH II).
Was surprised how much sidelined Grimlock was, though.
The Autobot City part is sheer genius, though. Thank Primus Wheeljack, Prowl, Ratchet weren't killed off in Marvel UK post-movie continuity.
Was surprised how much sidelined Grimlock was, though.
The Autobot City part is sheer genius, though. Thank Primus Wheeljack, Prowl, Ratchet weren't killed off in Marvel UK post-movie continuity.
"I've come to believe you are working for the enemy, Vervain. There is no other explanation... for your idiocy." (General Woundwort)