Mental programming/conditioning: Fan fiction is rife with mental programming stories. It is a running theme in the series, too, of course, from "The Way Back" through "Terminal," to "Animals." In fan fiction, Avon or Blake (usually Avon) is programmed to behave as he did at GP. (SC)

Psychostrategists and, especially, Carnell: Carnell himself (blue eyes and yard-long lashes intact) appears in a lot of stories, and puppeteers in general even more. He, and they, are only spoken of in "Weapon." There are other terms used for people who mess with minds, but the puppeteer and psychostrategist are used (to the best of my knowledge) only in "Weapon," and seem to have a different meaning from the others.(SC)

Auron death trance: Cally wasn't dead when Avon went back for her on Terminal. No, she was in a deathlike trance Aurons can will themselves into. The ability to do this is not mentioned in the series. A possible source for the idea, however, is Cally's reaction to the various alien possessions she endured--in "Shadow," "Dawn of the Gods," and "Sarco- phagus," Cally was unconscious but alive. Although the trances seem to be caused by the invading aliens rather than being self-induced, it is possible to think that Cally withdrew into herself as self-protection. The other source for the idea is perhaps Star Trek and the Vulcan ability to lower vital signs to give the appearance of death. (SC) It could also be a cross-over from Dr. Who: I think a fair number of Doctor Who fans migrated to Blake's 7 when it debuted on the American scene, so some of the Doctor Who fanfic ideas may have migrated with us. (LB)

Avon as telepath: Usually just on a low level, and sometimes not so much telepathic as empathic. Avon ignores Cally's telepathic warning in "Volcano" and no one ever even hints that any humans, let alone Avon, might have such powers in the series. Cally's picking up on Avon's feelings in "Hostage" might have inspired the idea that maybe he was sending, instead of Cally just receiving. This may be a Star Trek hang-over--Avon is the B7 Spock and Spock had some telepathic abilities. (SC)

Blake is bonkers: This is usually either a preStar One theme or aP/GP story. In the first, Blake's determination to destroy Star One is seen as irrational and insane. There is a _very_ pronounced tendency in fan fiction to portray his intention to blow up Star One as unquestionably nuts. Stories that make any attempt to give Blake's p.o.v. are as rare as anti-Avon ones. When Blake's mental health is questioned in GP or PGP stories, he is generally said to have lost his lead duck while away from Avon. (SC)

Avon is mad: Whether inherently unstable or driven mad by nasty manipulation or programming (and that's why he killed Blake).(KA) In PGP stories, it's frequently BECAUSE of what he did to Blake, particularly when Blake is left alive and is being wonderfully forgiving. Nightmares (another heading) are frequently a symptom of his insanity, and hallucinations, dependence on drugs, paranoia, mad rages, violent outbursts, etc. This further alienates him from supporting extras like Deva and Blake's new followers, while Vila and Dayna and Soolin try to coerce him out of his madness and protect him from the raging mob that think he is dangerously unstable and want blood for the shooting. Meanwhile the extras try to convince Blake to dump Avon somewhere, preferably a lunatic asylum, but Blake is staunchly loyal, although worried, to the end.(LC)