The Professional Zines

The Professionals Zines

Zines (in alphabetical order by title) (67 zines) last update 07/10/07

Despite its ever expanding presence on the web, Pros continues to produce and reproduce zines. You really need to purchase a few to get the flavour of good B/D. The Circuit Archive and the The Hatstand are good alternatives, but if Pros is one of your favourite fandoms I really do recommend that you buy or borrow some zines. Full length reviews here or linked from the zine entry

A Beach To Walk On by E.T. from Gryphon Press. Doyle finds it hard to cope after the trauma of the Parsali op. Bodie decides to take him on a beach holiday and get him to unwind. Doyle tries hard to relax, but Bodie has to work hard to support him and get him on the level. As they relax together, they discover other things about their relationship.
A Family Affair by Lizzie Trenoweth. An A/U B/D zine based in the 19th century. I liked it as Bodie and Doyle were very much in character. Mail: Gryphon Press for further information.
A Little B&D. 'A little B&D' is an anthology of stories which includes; The Acronym Series (6 stories) by Karen Klinck, If It's Done for Love by Alanna, Peaches and Cream and Stakeout by Tauna, Lucky Charms by Shorts, Can Life Go On... and The Things I Do For You, Sunshine by Darby Brennan. Read long review
All the Queen's Men by Victoria Racklyft with cover and illustrations by Suzan Lovett. An interesting premise, a vampire is on the loose in London. And this seems to be a vampire with a penchant for killing men in MI5 and CI5.
Cat Tales by Fanny Adams see details of contents here. A Doyle who turns into a cat at old Festival times - and other times as well! Not that anyone else seem quite themselves in these set of connected stories.
Catch a Fallen Star by Rosemary Callahan. A B/D zine with a beautiful original colour illustration on the cover by Suzan Lovett. After Doyle is captured, Bodie refuses to believe that he is dead and leaves CI5 to hunt for him. Six months later he finds him, but before he can start celebrating, he needs time and a great deal of patience to find Ray Doyle hidden in the shell of the man he rescued. Recommended.
Camera Shy by Meg Lewtan is an Pros AU. I read this via the Paper library, and have since found out that it is no longer in print. Bodie is in CI5, Doyle is a model just turned actor. Read long review. Stage Fright is the sequel.
Celebrations, Volume One and Two from Gryphon Press These two volumes celebrate the Millennium, and ten years of cons. Fiction by: O Yardley, Ashlea George, Cherilyn, Christy, Ginny, Kitty Berman, Sebastian, Jay Trent, Mo, Kitty Fisher, Jenny Parkinson, Fiona Murray, Liz Bradford, Hestia, Felicity M. Parkinson, Tish, Pom, Atropos, Olympian Heights, Sheba, H.G. and Barbara Thomas. Artwork by Cleo, Evelyn, Roo. Some excellent stories, some less so, and I wasn't very interested in the Cowley/Macklin story, although it was well written.
Chalk and Cheese 7 see details of content here. Tell a Woman by Terence and Echo by Ellis Ward are on line
Chalk and Cheese 10 see details and read a review here
Down Under Express 1 see lsit of contents here.
Ember Days by O'Yardley from Gryphon Press. O'Yardley is a good writer, but I think she would be even better for a good edit. I enjoyed the beginning and loved the end, but the Doyle she gave me in the middle was unrelentingly nasty and spiteful, and I just don't think Doyle would ever be like that to Bodie when he could see he was hurting him so much. Oh I know he's got a tongue on him and he can lash out, but spite doesn't seem to be in his make up. I also had to hold my incredulity at having Bodie described as uncertain of his own attractions. The Bodie of the series seems all too well aware of his looks and charm. On the positive side I loved the Doyle family, they were an absolute hoot.
Falconhurst by Jane from Nut Hatch. A mix of a love story, horror story and 'babysitting' job providing an enjoyable yet undemanding read.
Flesh and Steel Trilogy (Flesh and Steel, Blood and Fire, Soul and Storm) by Jane. This is a flamboyant AU that is a surprisingly easy read. The first and third books are the best, the middle one suffering a little from padding and too much lingering emphasis on the procedures and humiliations of Bodie's slavery. Worth a read - Read long review.
Forever True by Elizabeth Holden Bodie is in CI5, but Doyle is an Inspector in CID Met. They are assigned to jointly look into a case and are mutually attracted. However, there are considerable complications, not least is that Doyle is married! Read long review
Fruits of the Spirit by Cherilyn from Gryphon Press. Recommended. - Read long review
HG Collected 1 and 2 from Dog House Press. I like HG's work, and these are of her usual high standard. Includes Butterfingers and Emerging from the Smoke Recommended.
Harlequin Airs by Ellis Ward and illustrated by Suzan Lovett from Kathy Snow is a feast for the eyes! Doyle goes undercover to a circus as a trapeze artist, a very good one as this is what he was some years back before joining CI5. He is the flyer of the act while the catcher is a man called William Bodie! Ellis' description of the circus is fresh and vivid, and her writing and Suzan's wonderful drawings draw your attentions from the sheer implausibility of the plot, in particular Doyle being able to pick up his skills after ten years absence however fit CI5 keeps him.
Holiday Shrieks see details of contents here
Hunted by Devils by HG from Gryphon Press is AU in that it is about James Griffin (played by MS in Cassidy) and Kit Kilroy (I don't know where this comes from or if he's HG's invention). They are not Doyle and Bodie, but they have the same tension and chemistry between them that Bodie and Doyle have, and obviously they look like Bodie and Doyle :-), just older. I enjoyed it very much, but then I've never disliked anything that HG has written. Recommended.
Injured Innocents by O Yardley. B/D zine where Bodie and Doyles' 'relationship' is used by Cowley. Mail: Gryphon Press for further information. I think it goes on for too long, but generally I enjoyed it.
In the Future Tense by Wally
In the Public Interest an anthology of Bodie and Doyle stories printed back in 1985, which might explain some of the 'duff' photocopying/print. Good illustrations and a mixed bag of stories. More info available from LionHeart Distribution
In the Public Interest 2 anthology of Bodie and Doyle stories printed in 1988 this time, and a better copy! Again good illustrations and mix of stories. A surprising number of AU's, Wine Dark Nexus by Anne Carr being one of the longest and most intriguing, one elf story I didn't like much and a couple of classic B/D pro stories. More info available at LionHeart Distribution
In the Public Interest 3 the third anthology, and again some duff photocopying and a variety of type fonts. It had the sequel to Pam Rose's Poison Apples from the first anthology called Apples for the Lady, but written by a different author, T D Murphy. I quite enjoyed the first story, I hated the ending of the second and disliked the mumbo jumbo with Cowley and the Bodie as Cowley's son emphasis - I really can't see where on earth that comes from and it annoys the hell out of me! The rest of the stories varied, but held my interest.
Jigsaw puzzle by HG from Gryphon Press is of her usual excellent standard of writing. It is certainly angsty, and has Bodie and Doyle fighting and hurting each other before true understanding dawns. Recommended.
Journey West by Maiden Wyoming, winner of the 1997 huggie award and available from Sharon. Recommended. - Read long review
Leather and Blue Jeans with cover art by Suzan Lovett. 12 stories, limericks, sonnets and a Filksong Read long review
Love Conquers All by POM from Dog House Press. Think purple prose, think Barbara Cartland, think Regency romances, simpering women and manly men. Don't take this at all seriously, don't even attempt to see the Bode and Doyle we know in either of the characters making use of their names, and have a good laugh. I did!
Master of the Revels by HG, again illustrated by Suzan Lovett from Kathy Snow is yet another feast for the eye. An AU, using Martin Shaw's character Zax from the SF/Musical Facelift, with Bodie as Galen. Galen is very Bodie like, Zax certainly has many aspects of Doyle's personality. Initially I was intrigued, and I found it fascinating until halfway when I began to run out of steam. I did finish it and I did in the main enjoy it. I love HG's writing and I love SF, but I've yet to be completely convinced by this one, Zax isn't quite the Doyle I love, but, as has been pointed out to me, he isn't meant to be Doyle but Zax!
Never Far Apart see details of contents here
Never Let Me Down by Shoshanna Green by Manacles Press. Doyle makes a pass at Bodie who is shocked and stunned and hits out at Doyle. Doyle asks for reassignment and for a month Bodie is partnered with Murphy while Doyle is with Jax. Bodie find himself missing Doyle and is relieved when his tentative overtures are accepted and the partnership is reinstated. Trouble is, Bodie can't get the image of Doyle with another guy out of his head and finds himself becoming jealous at the thought ... , a little too angsty for me. This is also available at the Circuit Archive - Never Let Me Down
No Holds Barred No. 6 and No 10 from Agent with Style. See details on web site. A mixed bag, but generally interesting.
Not what you expect. A Professionals (more or less) Slash (sort of) Zine from Sharon. Mostly Pros, with a few others. I've enjoyed Maiden Wyoming's clever Doyle as woman A Rose in Any Other Shape and Bodie as woman Sauce for the Gander stories. The attitudes and response of each man to the changes in themselves or in their partner was so in character I delighted in them. I found the non B/D stories not particularly to my taste - Star Wars, Scrooge, Pride and Prejudice and Star Trek - but well written and quite intriguing.
Paper Flowers by Kitty Fisher from Gryphon Press. Ray Doyle as a prostitute, not in CI5, Bodie his regular client! This zine weaves it's way through lies, deceit, angst and violence to its ultimately satisfying ending. I recommend this one. Recommended.
Printed Circuits 1 by O Yardley from Gryphon Press has the stories Bear Necessity, Necessary Evil, Kind Hearts, Solitaire and Solo. The stories are long, as you would expect from O'Yardely, but absorbing.
Professional Insight from Pear Tree Press. Everything you ever wanted to know about The Professionals; episodes, agents, headquarters, flats, relationships, general trivia and references. Worth buying.
Promises Promises an anthology by Tish, see details of contents here
Pros & Cons from Agent with Style. See web site for further information. Crossovers with the X-Files, Green Acres, Alien Nation, Forever Knight, A touch of Frost and The Man from Uncle. I'd imagine that your enjoyment is rather dependent upon your knowledge of the fandoms in the crossovers.
Rainbow Chasers by HG from Dog House Press. An AU. Doyle working his way up the streets, meets Bodie while on a 'job', but doesn't actually 'see' him due to the circumstances of their encounter! They meet again, but Bodie keeps quiet about their previous meeting. Complications ensue. Doyle was never in CI5. Despite some reservations about Doyle's choice of 'career', this is of good quality as HG is an excellent writer. Recommended.
Rediscovered in a Graveyard by HG from Dog House Press. and now on line here A mix between present day CI5 Bodie and Doyle, and their 1790's incarnation. HG uses a similar device as in Rainbow Chasers to stop Doyle actually 'seeing' Bodie, in the 1780/90's,and of course complications and misunderstanding ensure. The story is quite fascinating and well written. Recommended.
Sandcastles by Elizabeth Holden from Allamagoosa Press. This is the story around the episode Wild Justice seen through Cowley, Doyle and finally Bodie's eyes. Well written and interesting, but far too Bodiecentric and worshipping for this Doyle fan and too much repetition of material even if we are seeing it from differing view points.
Scars by Deveroux Dane from Agent with Style. My copy was missing page 43, but Mysti from Agent with Style sent me a scanned copy of the page after reading my 'pain', so a big thank you to her. Bodie and Doyle are lovers. Bodie can't, and won't, kiss Doyle, and while Doyle tries not too push it he knows that Bodie needs to resolve the painful experiences from his past if they are to continue. But Bodie doesn't want to talk about it. An interesting beginning from Cowley's point of view as he suddenly realises that Bodie and Doyle are together, and, somewhat shocked, reflects on his first meeting with them both as individuals and then as a team. Interesting.
Sebastian Collected 1 from Dog House Press. Stories from the web, and a few other places varying from humorous to somewhat angsty. Excellent, like all of her work. Recommended.
Sebastian Collected 2 from Dog House Press. This is a novel in three parts, Adagio, Catharsis and Homecoming. Adagio is perhaps the lightest and funniest, the first time, while Catharsis is angsty and sad although I was highly amused by the shenanigans in the swimming pool changing rooms. Homecoming has a hefty piece of CI5 action in it plus a meeting with Doyle's family. Overall the zine works well and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended.
Secret Agent Men is a small A5 zine from AngelWings Press containing three stories:
Maximum Provocation by Tavaran, 2003 Sizzler Winner: Best Story, Stay by Shorts, You Only Had To Ask by Darby Brennan, 2003 Screwz Award winner: Best novella, Pros. 2003 Sizzler winner: Best Story. Read long review
Stage Fright by Meg Lawton is a sequel to Camera Shy. Bodie and Doyle are happily living together, Bodie remains in CI5 while Doyle's career as an actor has taken off. Their pasts, however, come back to haunt them.
Strange Days Indeed by HG from Dog House Press has Bodie and Doyle four happy years into their partnership at CI5 when Bodie's past hits them both and causes them both considerable hurt. Following this, tensions and a shift in the relationship between them create a rift, but fortunately it gets resolved very nicely. A good read. Recommended.
The Cassidy Legacy by Kathy Keegan is a crossover between The Pros and Cassidy. This features both Doyle and James Griffin (played by Martin Shaw) with the similarities between the two men being used to create tension between Bodie and Doyle as well as to take Doyle, disguised as James, Bodie Jax, Murphy and Anson out of England and into the troubled Middle East in order to foil an attempt on James' life. The story is both a love story and a rather violent action and adventure novel and I found it an enjoyable read.
The Die Is Cast by Fiona Murray from Gryphon Press. Bodie is an experienced CI5 agent, a solitary operator. Doyle is fresh from the Met and introduced to him as his new partner. Initially hostile, but sexually attracted, Bodie warms to Doyle quickly. The story takes places in the first weeks as Doyle is integrated into the squad, and is a warming and satisfying, albeit a little smarmy, read.
The Highwayman by O'Yardley from Gryphon Press is a very enjoyable regency romp and well worth a read.
The Larton Chronicles by Rhiannon from Gryphon Press had been so widely talked about I was desperate to get my hands on this zine. I think I understand its appeal, but I'm not too sure that I share in the appreciation. It's a little too bitty and lacking in detail at times. Almost an 'aga saga' with Doyle as an ex policeman now grouchy writer with a well hidden heart, Bodie as a hard drinking ex soldier who is totally horse obsessed living together in the not particularly idyllic village of Larton. It is often very funny. Possibly something that will grow on me.
The Peerless Pair by HG from Gryphon Press is another of HG's good reads. AU set in the Regency Period with a great deal of Doyle hurt, Bodie and Doyle angst and eventually the comfort you've been yelling at the pair of them to achieve. :-) A couple of times I went - What? - as the story seemed to lurch in a surprising direction with far too little warning, but the end more than made up for it.
The Sorcerers Web by Liz Bradford from Gryphon Press is an AU and a fantasy. Doyle is a Ranger in the services of Grandmaster Cowley, and Bodie is an assassin sent to kill him. Unsurprisingly, Bodie doesn't achieve his task, and the tale Liz weaves is a fast paced jaunt never tied down by too much exposition, but allowing us to learn about both men as we read on. There's pain and angst before love finally conquerors all, and I found it a very satisfying and enjoyable read. Recommended.
The Yellow Brick Road by Kate Maclean from Gryphon Press is most definitely about Bodie and Doyle! The partnership, the grief, the angst, the attraction, the pain etc. all from Doyle's perspective. Painful at times, but ultimately satisfying.
Unprofessional Conduct 1 from Gryphon Press. Fiction by: Sebastian, O Yardley, Kitty Fisher, Felicity M Parkinson, H.G, Rhiannon. Recommended. - Read long review
Unprofessional Conduct 2 from Gryphon Press. Fiction by Kitty Fisher, O Yardley, H.G., Barbara Thomas, Pat and Ophelia Cox. Recommended. - Read long review
Unprofessional Conduct 3 from Gryphon Press. Fiction by Felicity M. Parkinson, Helen Raven, O Yardley, Jenny Parkinson, Barbara Thomas, Ashlea George, H.G., Penelope Pushing, T.Hauser, Kate MacLean. - Read long review
Unprofessional Conduct 4 from Gryphon Press. Fiction by Linda Bryant and O Yardley. Um, I have a great problem with stories that push Bodie and Cowley as more than caring for each other, even if Doyle and Bodie are a couple. One I can't believe since I've never seen any indication whatsoever in the series, and two I most certainly don't want to read it, so Linda's story failed on many levels for me. O'Yardely's The Evils Thereof is a sequel to Bear Necessity and Necessary Evil from Printed Circuits 1.
Unprofessional Conduct 5 from Gryphon Press. Fiction by Mary T, Kate MacLean, Cherilyn, Ginny, H.G., Liz Bradford, Barbara Thomas. I do know that if I read another 'selfish, unfeeling bastard Doyle and hopelessly in love and hurting Bodie' story by Kate MacLean I'll scream. Where does this image of selfish bastard Doyle and long suffering Bodie come from for heaven sakes? Certainly can't see it in the episodes. The other stories were fine though.
Unprofessional Conduct 6 from Gryphon Press. Fiction by O Yardley, Cherilyn, Liz Bradford, Barbara Thomas, Ginny, Dee Bow, Helen Raven. I very much enjoyed Indecent Proposal by Barbara Thomas.
Unprofessional Conduct 7 from Gryphon Press. Fiction by: Felicity M. Parkinson, H.G (Knife Edge), Olympian Heights, Ginny, O Yardley, Sebastian, Mo, Cherilyn and Liz Bradford, Barbara Thomas, ET. I thoroughly enjoyed ET's Touchdown, a great sequel to Scoring a Try, and the rest of the stories were great too. A damn good read. Recommended.
Unprofessional Conduct 8 from Gryphon Press. Fiction by: Hestia, Sara Crispin, Liz Bradford, Cherilyn, Olympian Heights, O Yardley, Eleanor Hamilton, Ginny, Mo, Kate MacLean, H.B.Cavella. Okay read, nothing got me too excited, and one made me scream. :-)
Unprofessional Conduct 9 from Gryphon Press. Fiction by: Kitty Berman, Kate MacLean, Tish, Cherilyn, O Yardley, Hestia, Olympian Heights, Ashlea George. Fun collection, and I even managed the Kate MacLean without screaming! A couple managed to stretch my incredulity to the limit, Doyle as a ball boy at Wimbledon - please!
Unprofessional Conduct 10 from Gryphon Press. Fiction by: Barbara Thomas, O Yardley, Olympian Heights, Jay Trent, The Hag, Sheba, Ginny. A mixture of long and short. Ginny's The Turtles was about the lads in their forties still in CI5 as second in command and trainer. It provided a mixture of them in the present and flashes of their past together particularly the build up to when they became lovers. A good mixture of stories.
Unprofessional Conduct 11 from Gryphon Press. Fiction by: Lizzie, Alice, Meridian, The Hag, O Yardley. Four long stories, two AU, and one short. All very enjoyable, well written and worth reading. A good zine. Recommended.
Unprofessional Conduct 12 from Gryphon Press. Fiction by POM, Harriet Allenby, O'Yardley, Darby Brennan, Eve Abel, Barbara Thomas, Lizzie. Excellent, and I'm thrilled to see that The Pros continues to produce good stories by good writers. Recommended.
Waiting to Fall by Rob (Circuit Zine). A long, angsty and ultimately rewarding read. Read long review

A Little B&D, an anthology from Lionheart Distribution

What I did appreciate about this zine was the cover and some of the illustrations which included Suzan Lovett's 'The Stakeout was Called Off...', two interesting face studies by Tauna 'Lashes'- Bodie and 'Concentration'- Doyle, plus a nice wallpaper by Sekhmet called 'The Lads'.

However, what I failed to take account of when ordering this zine were the words, 'Some stories include loving bdsm, some graphic violence ...'

The stories referred to were the six stories of The Acronym Series by Karen Klinck. As one of them, snappily entitled The Motorcycle Gang That Tried To Eat Brighton And The Valiant CI5 Agents Who Stopped Them, and its follow up Time To Heal are the longest stories in the zine you actually get rather a lot of bdsm. I have to admit that I can stand just so much before I start screaming with boredom as I find it tedious and formulaic at the best of times. As to the Acronym Series, the characterization seemed off, the longer stories lacked credibility and the bdsm and violence felt excessive and somewhat gratuitous. I really struggled to see Bodie and Doyle acting as they did. I struggled to believe that Cowley would have sanctioned such an undercover operation. I struggled to believe in the premise of a gay s&m motorcycle gang terrorizing Brighton, and I found it very hard to accept that Bodie needed to hurt Doyle as much as he did even if he was trying to keep up their undercover personas. Also, Bodie and Doyle might have been engaging in consensual bdsm, but most of the rest of the gang were just engaged in graphic violence and rape! The follow up story Time To Heal was more of the same with Doyle in the leading role and I'd quite honestly had more than my fill and skimmed it quickly.

The rest of the stories, If it's done for love by Alanna, Peaches and Cream and Stakeout by Tauna, Lucky Charm by Shorts and The Things I Do For You, Sunshine by Darby Brennan were mainly very short and sweet relationship ones that tended to include a lot of sex, plus one first time one. The odd one out was a death story Can life go on by Darby Brennan that was at variance with the mood and tone of the rest of the zine.

Unfortunately, many of the stories in this zine were not to my taste and I did not really enjoy it. On a more positive note, I got a refund from Lionheart for $8.00 because they'd posted two zines together and reduced the postage costs. I certainly appreciated that.

***

Camera Shy by Meg Lewtan

I read this via the Paper library, so I have no idea whether it is still in print or not.

Bodie is in CI5 while Doyle is a model, now budding film actor, and a former boyfriend of a known assassin and fashion house owner, Gary Hale. Hale's name has come to the notice of CI5 concerning a plot to kill some high level people, and Bodie is sent to investigate. To help him, Bodie makes use of his mercenary experiences, and is hired as an advisor for the film that Doyle is part of - directed by his 'adopted' brother Nick. Bodie has been instructed to 'romance' Doyle (he is known by Cowley to be gay/bisexual) and discover what he knows. He is also told that Doyle is expendable. However, after a very shaky start, they get together and Bodie soon discovers that he cares a great deal for Doyle.

The situation is made more fraught by Hale's determination to have his 'property' - Doyle, back and his anger as Doyle spurns him and Bodie flaunts the fact the he and Doyle are a pair. The action and angst increases as Hale's determination to teach Doyle, and Bodie, a lesson, as well as carry out the assassination he returned to England for combine to make things very dangerous for both of them. Throw in Murphy as Bodie ex, and still holding a candle for him, Doyle's suspicion, pain and hurt from the way Hale used and abused him, excellently depicted OCs, emotional angst, violence and pain and you have a very interesting page turner of a story.

Bodie's characterisation seems to be very much in line with the Bodie we see in the series, while Doyle appears less aggressive, more hesitant and self conscious and all together unlike the assertive and confident alpha male Doyle of the series - except in a welcome confrontation and alteration with Hale. Meg, however, retains Doyle's sharp shooter skills, a device she uses for even more angst at the end.

While I had reservations about the Doyle presented here, I found this a good read and enjoyed it.

***

Flesh and Steel Trilogy by Jane from Nut Hatch

Jane has written a flamboyant and imaginative fantasy set in an age where vampires, witches, were wolves, sorcerers and witches are not myths, but real and the Christian church is waging a bitter, brutal and bloody battle to root out and destroy them. The setting is an alternate 15^th century, with the Moor and the Saracen in partnership with the vampires, and allies, against their mutual enemy.

In Flesh and Steel, Raymond D'Elan, the vampire general, leads his army against the 'devil cardinal' while the wolven Bodie, prays for release from his five years of torture, poisoning and abuse as the prisoner and involuntary 'scryer' for the cardinal, and see the city's, and his, green eyed, wild ringlet haired, leather clad rescuer in his visions.

As this is the first of a trilogy, some time is spent in setting up the main characters and providing them with backgrounds and motivations for their actions. Much of this is quite fascinating, as is the description of the powers that the vampire, witches etc. possess. Jane has given her vampires the ability to consume the life force of humans, but has chosen for them to eat, and drink normal food and not be reliant on blood for nourishment. She has also made them ancient and ageless. Bodie, the wolven is a wolf at the full moon, but human the rest of the time, and possessed with the gift of farsight.

The main story is about Raymond and Bodie, their meeting and their instant attraction, counterpoised with the vampire's distrust of him. Bodie convinces Raymond and his more sceptical lieutenants, Sabin and Tanis, of his sincerity in wanting to be part of them, and in so doing introduces us to Sebastian, the troubled priest, and Domenico, Bodie's one-eyed mentor. Once accepted, Bodie has to go through a years probation and service before he can be fully accepted into Raymond's clan. The story finishes with Raymond off to battle and Bodie beginning his indentured service.

Blood and Fire and Soul and Storm are the second and third parts of the trilogy. Blood and Fire is the preparation for the final routing of Rome with Raymond called away to fight and plan and Bodie left at the mercy of the Slave master and the traditions and daily humiliations of slavery. I found this part variable and a little repetitive, while Soul and Storm brought the trilogy to a magnificent end with Bodie, now a free man, in great demand as a highly skilled scryer. He scrys for the Scotlanders, who will support the pagano army if the auguries are favourable, and foretells victory, but tells no one, not even his lover Raymond, the truth. Bodie grows in stature, strength and self esteem as he commands his own troop of men, despite Raymond's misgivings, and their relationship slowly becomes one of true equals.

I'd heard a great deal about this trilogy before I read it, much of it totally contradictory, but what did come through was the rich imagery of the story. Having now read all of it I think that the setting, the style, the descriptions, the characters, the imaginative plot and the sheer flamboyance of the piece far outweighs any occasional tumbles into somewhat verbose purple prose and repetitions. I also like the characterisation of the alternate Bodie and Doyle, despite Bodie's initial weakened and subservient position. There were sufficient similarities to the originals to engage me, and Jane managed to maintain the plots momentum and intrigue, while developing Raymond and Bodie's relationship throughout the three books.

***

Forever True by Elizabeth Holden

Bodie is in CI5, but Doyle is an Inspector in CID Met. They are assigned to jointly look into a case and are mutually attracted. However, there are considerable complications, not least being that Doyle is married!

I found it difficult to known quite what to make of this zine because it is actually very well written and the growing attraction and love between Bodie and Doyle makes for great reading. I have an underlying desire for Bodie and Doyle to be together, that's why I read and write slash, but, and this is a big but, I'm not happy to condone adultery and deceit to achieve this. It's not that I believe in the sanctity of marriage above all else, but I do believe in trust, commitment and responsibility, and with a wife he loves and children he adores, Ray Doyle knew that he was playing with fire by permitting his desire for Bodie to rule him. It doesn't seem to be in character with the Doyle of CI5 to play fast and loose with the affections of two people he claims to love. Doyle can be selfish, but he's also very loyal to those he cares about. I can see him finding himself in love with Bodie, but I sense that guilt would ensure that he'd reject any thought of pursuing that love rather than trying to have his cake and eat it.

I also have to question Bodie's characterisation. Would the Bodie I see on screen submit to playing second string to another woman? I don't think so. Bodie is shown as supremely confident in both his own desirability and in his ability to attract and bed the women he wants. That Bodie isn't the type to share anything, least of all a lover he cares strongly for.

Then we have Doyle's wife, Cheryl. I both liked her and felt extremely sorry for her. To find that your, much loved, husband is not only being unfaithful, but has declared himself unable to live without the other, who turns out to be a man, is not something I'd like to handle and I certainly wouldn't have coped in such a dignified manner as she did either! Perhaps if a threesome had been suggested it might have made a difference. I don't know, but if I'd been Cheryl I'd sure like to have found out. :-)

So would I recommend this story? It's worth reading, but...

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***

Fruits of the Spirit by Cherilyn from Gryphon Press.

I always liked the way that the TV Series went straight into Bodie and Doyle as an experienced pairing, no exposition. It's a perfect opportunity for fan writers to devise their own, and this is Cherilyn's take. The opening sentence begins 'It was antipathy as first sight', and this nicely sets up the first part of the novel with Murphy playing peacemaker much to both Bodie and Doyle's irritation. Cowley, in his infinite wisdom, pairs then after the training with dire warning as to what will happen to them if they fail him or each other.

The slow, and at times shaky, thawing of the mutual animosity makes for a enjoyable read as they become a true team and also true friends. Throughout this time there are occasional hints of an uneasy attraction to the other - Bodie lusts after a delicious bum and legs leaning over the bar at the pub until he realizes that they're attached to a man and, worse, to Doyle - but the emphasis is of the building of rapport and friendship.

The middle section covers the ensuing three plus years of partnership with reference to certain episodes and a portrayal of the pair of them as best friends. At times, both men worry over becoming too involved and dependent upon each other and try and back away, but as soon as the other gets in trouble they are there for them. It is the final part that we see Doyle's growing love for his partner and his struggle with both understanding and accepting it, and finally in allowing Bodie to recognize it and choose to accept it or not.

Throughout the novel there were delightful touches of humour plus a long running gag that involve Bodie and Doyle 'celebrating' Cowley's birthday in hilarious style. The fact that I sat and reread the zine when I just meant to dip into it to write this review is a good indication of my enjoyment. Bodie, Doyle and Cowley are all well characterised, and CI5 and its personnel used well. I recommend it.

***

Journey West by Maiden Wyoming

I received this zine a couple of days ago and jumped in feet first to savour Bodie and Doyle older, perhaps wiser, still active and dangerous and - considering how well MS (and I have no doubt LC I've just never seen him) has aged - still bloody gorgeous men in their mid forties. I wasn't disappointed. I did tell the author that I'm still reeling a little from the body count, this is NOT a sweet little story, rather a violent look at the underbelly of the reactionary, rifle waving culture in the USA. Hurt and, fortunately, comfort are provided in bucket loads, and a certain amount of angst is present, especially on Bodie's part.

Bodie and Doyle get hung out to dry in the company of men and women who kill first and think to ask later. They survive because they are good, damn good, but they are caught in a web of intrigue that at first engulfs them and then slowly unravels as they make unexpected allies. Even Bodie's regression to primitive savage at one point (something that comes back to haunt him) was acceptable in the context of the company they were in, what was happening to both of them and what had just happened (and been further threatened) to Doyle.

The OC's in this book are well written. I really liked the neighbours and the DA and his lawyer wife. I hated the villains, but they weren't cardboard cut out villains, they had flesh, blood and meaning behind their evils. I liked the use of American Indian mythology. It wasn't overused and it didn't become a 'magic' crutch for Bodie and Doyle. While it supported them, Bodie and Doyle still had to do it all on their own planning, plotting and action.

And, to my delight, alongside this well plotted, exciting and violent voyage, Bodie and Doyle find each other. They have remained in CI5, they remain friends, but Bodie reflects on how they have become a little distant to each other due to the pressure of work as non combat operatives. The trip alters all that, and Bodie realizes that he loves Doyle far more than just as a good friend. Doyle is not far behind, although he has a tough battle to get Bodie to see that, and in the middle of the hatred, carnage and violence, you get a wonderful 'romance' in as much as the lads would ever romance another guy! I also killed myself laughing at their attempt at a 'camp' coupledom as they tried to allay the suspicion of the Secret Agents sniffing around them.

Any grumbles, well a few Americanisms, of which the author is well aware. B and D use the dreaded word 'gotten' aahhh! I still don't think they would ever use it even if it is becoming more common over here now with young people. Otherwise I was drawn in and thought Bodie and Doyle's characterisation was spot on!

I consider this zine well worth buying.

***

Leather and Blue Jeans - PAL Press, 1993

Leather and Blue Jeans starts with a short story, Rude Awakening by HG, which is a great way to begin any zine in my opinion. It plays on the title of the zine and is an enjoyable established relationship piece.

Clemency by Dee Doyle's girlfriend's outburst "I thought I was going out with you, not with you and him. I don't much care for the idea of him playing gooseberry every single time we go out. Or maybe it's not him that's the gooseberry! I'm beginning to wonder..." is the catalyst for Bodie and Doyle reinterpretation of their relationship

Partners by Nina Boal Rent boy Doyle and rent boy Bodie meet up!

Swept Away by Alex T MacKenzie (Alexandra) Being stranded on a remote island in Scotland forces the lads to deal with their hopes and fears in regards to each other, and Bodie makes a large romantic gesture!

Precisely When by DVS could be summed as Bodie in tight jeans and black leather in a gay bar thinking of Ray. *g* Y

In for a Penny, in for a Pound by Barvan is a case of doppelganger causing all sorts of problems for the lads. I have to admit that I found the central premise of the story a little hard to swallow.

As Far As Is Appropriate by Jane Mailander A rather clever, intriguing and bittersweet story of life and death.

Clarke's Third Law by Wally Something of a strange story that had potential, but never really got going and left a great deal unresolved.

See How It Goes by C A Rien A short 'what if?' type of story.

Lamb to the Slaughter by Lily Fulford centres on a young CI5 programmer called Kevin Lamb as well as Bodie and Doyle. Doyle's brief relationship with Lamb alters how Bodie perceives him and creates some, tension, angst and jealousy. The story is long and contains some rather descriptive and nasty sexual torture inflicted on Lamb during the course of his assignment while Bodie and Doyle watch, wait and listen.

Til I Kissed You by Jatona P Walker A short and somewhat unbelievable 'misunderstanding' story.

Nothing Left To Lose by Jane and Madelaine Ingram I rather enjoyed this dystopian AU with Bodie as a type of sheriff and Doyle as a gun singer not quite for hire.

All in all an interesting zine with a variety of stories, limericks and sonnets, plus one song but, to my mind, lacking a meaty action and adventure story to get your teeth into.

***

Secret Agent Men an anthology from AngelWings Press (LionHeart Distribution).

Maximum Provocation by Tavaran is based during the 1985 miner's strike. Doyle is sent off to infiltrate the picket lines and find out who is organizingthe pickets and orchestrating the strikes and mayhem while Bodie is sentto romance Veronica, the spoilt only daughter of the Regional Manager.The nature of Bodie's assignment creates some tension between him and Doyle as they are in a long term relationship, a fact Cowley is aware of and none too pleased about. The story goes along at a fair old pace and the plot holds together quite nicely. I was less than convinced at the frantic coupling between the pair of them in less than private places and while I think Doyle is drop dead gorgeous I find it hard to imagine Bodie thinking of him as his 'pre-Raphaelite Angel'!

Stay by Shorts has Doyle discovered on a job to infiltrate a black market trade in abducted men and women. He is drugged, raped and filmed and the photographs sent on to Cowley as a warning. Cowley decides to enter the 'flesh business' incognito to buy Doyle back and uses Bodie as his in-between. Shorts has Doyle as a bisexual, something Bodie was not aware of, and uses this fact and Bodie discovery and rescue of his partner to create tension. Much of the story is taken up with Doyle facing his fears of rejection by Bodie. I found it hard to see Cowley in the matchmaker role, and I found it hard to believe that Doyle would bounce back after apparent multiple rape to indulge in sex with Bodie.

The longest story, You Only Had To Ask by Darby Brennan has the summary; 'Doyle is a virgin. Bodie hates virgins. To get what he wants most, Doyle decides he needs to get experience' on the web site. This effectively put me off buying the zine for ages and I only ordered it because I was buying two others. The story is nowhere near as bad as the summary implies. It is about Doyle searching for experience yet failing at the first fence, but is mainly about Doyle and Bodie finding out exactly what the other wants and moving on from there.

I found the zine an unchallenging read, pleasant enough, but nothing to write home about.

***

UnProfessional Conduct 1 is the first of 12 anthologies from Gryphon Press

Perfect Day by Sebastian is a tale of need and passion, initially Bodie's for Doyle then a mutual dance of desire. Only when it looks as if Bodie is going to end it does Doyle really understand quite what Bodie wants, what he wants and, finally, what he needs to give Bodie for them to make their relationship honest and lasting. An interesting story from a great writer.

Bealach Na Ba: The Pass of the Cattle by O'Yardley is a Christmas romance, all in character and with the added charm of being out of London and in the highlands of Scotland.

August is a Wicked Month by Kitty Fisher is deliciously sexy, with a wanton, teasing Doyle finally getting what he wants from his partner.

Time Will Say Nothing by Felicity M Parkinson is the longest story of the zine. Bodie and Doyle are lovers, in their 40's still working for CI5, but with a new commander that Doyle does not like. Things come to a head when Doyle is ordered on a training course alone; Bodie is to join him a week later. The story that follows is part ghost story, part Doyle coming to terms with his ambivalent fleeing about working for CI5, and part exploration of his and Bodie's relationship. It is an interesting, complex story that required some concentration and a little rereading. I was somewhat puzzled and confused by the use of a different font for some sections as I couldn't work out the reason behind them, but maybe that was just me!

Situation Normal by HG is short and fun with her usual wonderful dialogue.

The last story, Music in the Dark by Rhiannon is AU. Doyle is in CI5 and get caught out on the moors in a snowstorm. He is reluctantly given bed and breakfast by a man called O'Brien, but gets to know, like and finally sleep with the man over the few days until he is 'rescued' and returns to London. Doyle doesn't forget O'Brien and, curious, delves a little into his history eventually discovering that he is actually called William Bodie. Things get complicated from there. This is a slow, gentle story with a high feel good factor.

All in all an excellent zine, with good authors and an interesting mixture of stories.

***

UnProfessional Conduct 2 from Gryphon Press. An anthology of seven stories:

Fairground Attraction by Kitty Fisher is set before events in the film Ladder of Swords where Martin Shaw plays DeMarcho, and just before Bodie joins CI5. Bodie and Gene meet in Dover where Gene is working on the fairground rides. It is lust at first sight for both of them and they start sleeping together. Lust turns to something more, and Bodie stays and helps when Gene is beaten up by a group of bikers, remaining with him for the rest of his holiday. Gene, however, is on the run, and events begin to overtake them. I found this a good read, Gene was sufficiently Doyle like to keep me interested, particularly as Kitty throws in some wonderfully sexy descriptions of both men, and the banter between them was fun. An interesting type of AU, but ultimately very sad.

Bodie and Doyle get a little over enthusiastic in a second hand shop in the fun Emergency Exit by O'Yardley

Quick on the draw by H.G. is a delightful dialogue piece that manages to convey so much about Bodie and Doyle's relationship in just three pages.

Shadows of the Past by Barbara Thomas has Doyle trapped and badly hurt waiting for Bodie to rescue him. Trouble is they have just had a fight and Bodie, sick of Doyle's' reluctance to commitment, has walked out and left. The first story is of Doyle's thoughts and hopes for a future with Bodie and the second, Into the Light, is about Bodie slowly reading the letter Doyle has written him and then discovering that Doyle has just been found very badly injured. Both are very angsty pieces.

The Judas Kiss by Pat and Ophelia Cox is the longest story of the zine. There are three threads to the story. First, Bodie and Doyle's heightened sexual awareness of each other as they engage in some highly athletic sex with two flatmates, swapping partners, threesomes and foursomes etc. abound. The banter between Bodie and Doyle is continuous and often highly funny, and this adds to the overall feel good factor to most of this story, although I did wonder if they had time to do anything but work and have sex. Second is an investigation into a murder and foiled kidnap with an added question as to why one of the dead men had a picture of Bodie on him. Third, a desire for revenge on George Cowley by the father of Doyle's new girlfriend. All this makes for interesting reading, although I found Mrs Scott-Oppenheimer a little hard to swallow! While much of the story is light hearted, the actual resolution of the third thread is disturbing with the facial mutilation of Bodie's girlfriend appearing more than a little heavy handed, even knowing that the perpetrator was psychotic. The title refers to the third thread and gives the authors opportunity to have Doyle reflect on what he feels about being 'used' when he and Bodie have so often done the exact same thing for their job.

Overall an interesting zine, although some might find the second longest story being a Bodie and a 'Martin Shaw' other character a little frustrating. As I said, I did enjoy it because it was well written, but ultimately I want Bodie and Doyle because it is the camaraderie and chemistry between these two characters on screen that drew me into the fandom and fan fiction in the first place.

***

Unprofessional Conduct 3 from Gryphon Press. An anthology of 12 stories

Felicity M Parkinson provides two short stories. The first, Triptych is succinct and clever as she paints the course of Bodie and Doyle's partnership over the years in three paragraphs. I was intrigued by the title and nodded my head sagely when I discovered exactly what it meant. Her second, Chinese Whispers, is a story of coming to terms with ageing, something Doyle does in his own inimitable manner, aided by Bodie and with Murphy as an interested witness.

Helen Raven contributes one of the longer stories of the zine, Freezing her sequel to Sebastian's Siren sequence. You don't need to have read Siren (although it is on the Circuit Archive), but it helps to put the story in context. This story exudes angst from every pore. Bodie and Doyle desperately wanting each other, yet Bodie decides to end the relationship as he sees that his love for Doyle is not reciprocated and he feels used. The story seethes with unresolved passion and longing until you want to scream at the pair of them - for god's sake just bloody listen to each other - but I have to admit the part when Doyle reveals the strength of his feelings when he gives his blessing to what he assumes is Bodie's new relationship nearly had me in tears. I have to say that I hated the constant reference to Doyle's aloofness and separateness from his colleagues with the underlying implication that they disliked him and thought Bodie was wasting his time on him. This is not the Doyle I see and love nor the dynamics that I observe in the few times we see Bodie and Doyle with their colleagues.

O'Yardley's Going to Pot is a complete change of style and pace, of teasing and counter teasing over the snooker table. Light, fluffy and fun.

Bodie's Last Stand by Jenny Parkinson is a brief snapshot of Doyle's thoughts about his lover as Bodie tenders his resignation.

Barbara Thomas' Feels So Right is strongly focused on Bodie and Doyle's strength of feeling for each other and the intensity of their relationship, particularly their sexual relationship. Her Promises to Keep ends the zine on a light note when Bodie andDoyle visit The London Dungeon at Bodie's request and to Doyle's scarcely hidden disgust. A light, bright read, although any story that starts with Bodie pouting at Doyle in an attempt to get his own way tends to have me giggling in disbelief.

Cat and Mouse by Ashela George use Kate Ross as the means of supplying Bodie's feelings and motivation after the events of Wild justice and is all the more interesting because of the different pov.

While Bodie is away, Cowley delivers an Ultimatum to Doyle that will effect Bodie and Doyle's friendship, partnership and relationship in HG's story. Bodie and Doyle finally talk through their worries and concerns and steer a course through Cowley's perceived deviousness. HG's dialogue is a particular strength of hers, and I thought the conversation with Cowley (seen from his pov) at the end priceless.

Deception by Penelope Pushing begins ten years in the future with Doyle invalided out of CI5. Bodie makes an unexpected, and initially unwelcome visit after years of distance, and despite the circumstances the pair of them begin to relax and listen to each other. The somewhat unexpected turnabout half way though caught me out, and while I thought it was clever, I wasn't entirely to sure that I could believe it.

CI5 Go Mad in Dorset by T.Hauser is Doyle's diary of a op in Dorset written entirely in the style of the Five Go Mad series.

Building on Rainbows by Kate MacLean is the longest story in the zine. It has something in common with Helen Raven's Freezing starting with Bodie and Doyle in a somewhat troubled relationship, but this time Doyle flees from it because he can't handle the intensity. Once free, Doyle initially works on ensuring that their working relationship remains constant, then finds to his horror that he now wants what he appears to have lost for ever. The rest of the story is about Doyle's fight to recover Bodie's love in the light of Bodie's apparent indifference and distrust.

This is an interesting zine, although it had too many very short stories to satisfy me. I like to get my teeth into a number of long stories with a few short one for a brief change of pace and direction. I was also conscious that most of the stories were heavily about Bodie and Doyle as lovers (or ex lovers), and I longed for one good plot driven episode type story where the relationship was integral, but not the raison d'etre for the story.

***

Waiting to Fall by Rob

Over the years in the Pros fandom I've often wondered why Rob's story Waiting to Fall was often referred to as Waiting to Fuck. Having just finished the zine I can now see why! This is a long, well written, intriguing and, at times, highly angst ridden read.

While Waiting to Fall is not an AU, neither is it quite the CI5 universe that we love and know. The reason for this is mainly due to the changed circumstances of Ray Doyle and the manner in which he is bought into CI5. While well done and highly essential to the story, I was never sure that I felt too comfortable with this alteration. Mainly, I think, because the background poor Doyle was saddled with, and the resulting trauma that went with it, immediately created an imbalance of power within his and Bodie's partnership, plus it left Doyle very vulnerable to 'attack' within CI5 itself - as we saw in his confrontation with Day. In fact the way Doyle was treated by almost everyone, specifically Bodie in the first instance, had me gritting my teeth with suppressed rage in much of the first part.

The story takes place over a number of years and therefore has considerable time to develop first a working partnership, then a slightly tenuous friendship due to the fact that Bodie is constantly being faced with questions over Doyle's innocence, loyalty and mental and physical fitness to be in CI5. The friendship truly takes off when Bodie supports Doyle through a very fraught and difficult time, but doesn't become a partnership of equals until Doyle is finally able to confront and deal with all of his demons. It is also then that Doyle's characterisation begins to really feel familiar and right.

Throughout the novel we are shown the suppressed attraction that both, although initially it is principally Bodie, have for each other, and the final part of the novel where they acknowledge it and act upon it is, for me, the most enjoyable part.

In summary, a long and rewarding read with some subtle humour to counter balance the angst - I was very fond of the tricks that Doyle used in his battle with the doctor over his lack of weight gain, and Rob certainly makes you wait for them to...fall.