As it has been years since I wrote anything for this story, and a similar time frame since I was immersed in PG culture, I have decided to stop pretending there is more coming on this piece. I'm truly sorry to disappoint, and thanks for your readership until now. For a fuller explanation, see this page.
Hi. My name is Steve Darlington, and this is my attempt at writing some fan fiction, based on the wonderful TV show Press Gang. See my Press Gang page for more links to PG fan fiction on the web, and more about the show.
Naturally, none of the characters or situations displayed within this story are intended to challenge or infringe on the copyright of the original work. And of course, I don't claim that I could ever even come close to Moffat's originals. Nor am I pretending this is some great artistic endeavour; it's just another piece of fan fiction cluttering up the internet.
So why am I writing it? Well, for two reasons. Firstly, although I like to write, and can generally cobble a sentence together that won't make your eyes bleed to read it, I tend to have lots of trouble writing any sort of decent fiction. I am thus conducting an experiment to see if I can write some fiction if I have a set uinverse. At the same time, I'm also trying to teach myself some of the skills necessary to write fiction using the "learn-by-doing" method. So far, this method is not working very well. I am however, learning a lot about how NOT to write fiction, so that's something.
That said, I'm actually pretty happy with the product so far (it's the processes that are bothering me). And a few people have emailed me saying they liked it (see the comments), which is great. Getting feedback is a really good motivator, and helps my writing a lot, so if you have any opinions at all on this stuff, please do let me know. Obviously, a big thank you to all those who have already given their input (see below).
This also links nicely to the second reason I'm writing this: so that some people, somewhere, might read it and perhaps even enjoy it, and thus maybe have a slightly less shitty day because of it. If I can achieve that, I'll be happy.
Finally, I should also point out that I'm sort of writing a novel length piece here. In my head anyway. It's only a few thousands words long now, but in its conception, it's huge. This is a problem since I'm currently only producing around 1000 words every six months or so, and we might all be dead before I finish it. In fact, it's usually not even clear if I'll ever manage to finish the next chapter. But then, almost everything about this piece is unclear. Like I said, this is an experiment. I have no idea what I'm doing, or what's going to happen. So at least it will be interesting.
Actually, it is perhaps best to think of this story not so much as a novel, but as a continuing story being produced in individual installments. It may be a novel one day, it may not. It may be cancelled half-way through like a TV series. And so forth. That just seems to be how it is working out now - a continuing series.
Anyway, as I said, I'm mostly writing this for people to read and enjoy, so I hope you stay with me and enjoy what I produce. I also hope you like what I've done with the characters. The working title is "The Return of the Eight", and the story deals with a reunion between the old team, many years after the series. Again, any comments or thoughts are like gold to me.
"To be perfectly honest, that is the best fan-fiction I've ever read.
Send me the next chapter soon, I want to find out how you make all the
characters dance. And I want to find out about that book! (Damn cliffhangers!)"
Ruth
"Goodness! You don't know how disappointed I was when I got to the "stay
tuned" part! Wow - when's the next episode? That was really interesting and
well written. Just thought I'd let you know I LOVED it!"
Kara
"You can't leave it there! More! More! More! I'm dying to see what
this book is. I love the Lynda/Spike interplay. It's so cute, and great to see them still insulting each other after all this time. I'm also very intrigued over the Kenny/Sam plot. It should be interesting. Write more soon, please!"
Nic
"...you have done what is very hard to accomplish in taking characters that are already in existence, and very strongly unique, and held true to their personalities. I especially liked your banter between Spike and Linda--it was wonderful! ... Whatever anyone else says about how difficult it is to live up to Moffat's writing, I think you do this wonderfully." Elizabeth
Not really copyright © Steve Darlington, but if you steal it and sell it, I'll find you, even if you hide in a castle in Sardinia. Last updated 30/11/99