First of all, I still feel that 'The Queen of the Night' was excessively morbid. But I realize that this was only done to demonstrate Elizabeth Boreal's viciousness to her perceived enemies as opposed to any simple desire to shock (or pander to,) your readers. And after reading 'A Gift of Love,' I now understand what you mean by "balance."

But I have to wonder if maybe you "over-compensated" for Lizzie's cruelty with Lyra's unconditional "Gift of love."

In many ways, Elizabeth Boreal was even more evil than Mrs. Coulter, and Elizabeth's reign of terror lasted far longer and spanned (at least) two universes. And it is because of Elizabeth Boreal's viciousness that I find it hard to believe that Lyra would be so forgiving and comforting to her at the time of her death. But that is just me.

That being said, your six-story arc was not only well written but blended seamlessly into the world(s) created by Mr. Pullman. I enjoy reading stories like yours that are a part of a fandom's larger, established canon, but experienced through the eyes of original (or peripheral canon characters,) who are not part of the main character "loop."

Though I have mentioned it before in a past review, I also like the way your stories explore the implications (the advantages as well as the disadvantages,) of living in a world where a person's soul (in animal-spirit form,) is external, filling in the "gaps" left by Mr. Pullman.

In summary, I would recommend your stories to anyone familiar with 'His Dark Materials,' and wants to read more. In fact, I have already done so.

I knew Lizzie would kill Lyra! But now that its happened, I feel so desolate.

Well, I've read all the stories in this series now and although I thought they were well-written and absorbing, I found I just couldn't enjoy them. Not now I've read everything, including this story's postword, and the whole Daisy and Emma Ashford thing. I'm sorry; now I've seen all that, there's just an udercurrent of smugness and arrogance lurking in every single sentance you write. Calling yourself 'child genius', for a start. Writing badly-constructed stories just to get controversial responses from other people, in turn just so you can play the "voice of reason" and satisfy some sense of superiority you seem to have. Leaving a parting note to the effect that you may return... some day... but we, the common people, shall not recognise you for what you are when you do... excuse me while I choke on drama-queen gristle.

Your stories are good - don't spoil them by being so up yourself that people can't read them anymore. Come down off your high and mighty pedestal and realise that you actually are JUST a fanfiction writer, the same as all the rest of us. And stop baiting the flamers with false stories. It may be amusing for you, but there's enough crap on this site already without you intentionally adding more. I suppose you'll probably delete this, but hey, at least I've added in my two pennies.

That, my friend, is genius.

Actually, it's similar to what I planned to do on the fictionPress site- set up two pen names and see what happens when I have them argue against each other...

But that aside, wow. Now you've got not only the HDMs stories to unfold, but the deeper one of your own identity. I should have been around this year to follow it, but at any rate, I think the entire thing was brilliant. Your utter command of the language in which you write (except maybe as Daisy?)should make you a model for all aspiring fiction writers.

And I didn't google Daisy, but I did look up Wunderkind... well then, child genius, what do you have left for us that I haven't read?

*trots off to play on for a bit and marvel at Cere's ploy*

Hello, yes, I can see you pointing at me. I actually came to your bio to sincerely look at your work, and I have to say, I thought both this story and The Clockmaker's Boy were very good.

Regarding the postword. I sound full of myself, I'm the first to admit it, but you sound like you're trying to make yourself into some kind of shadowy mystical justice-prowler. It's both humourous and a little unsettling, and in my opinion you're way too sure of yourself; this postword reminded me of Eliza Diawna Snape's stunt to leave because she was "too good for it".

An interesting experiment, I don't know whether to shake my head sagely at you or laugh at the unintentional irony. I saw that one person actually rumbled Daisy, well done to them. I'm not going to get back into the whole review thing again, because I know my views and I know yours, so what's the point? But I have to agree with that same writer; you must have been very, very bored. And you're planning to do the same again...?

Do you have friends?

Poor child.

Good luck for life. -Corona-

This is an absoloutely gorgeous story, I was captivated from beginning to end. You're an exceptional writer.

Oh, you came out? I liked it when everyone thought Daisy was serious and sent her flames (people can be nasty). I like the whole psedanym - psidenim - dammit, pen name - thing . Although I suddenly suspect you never told me ALL of them...

Quite off-topic, this one.

I just wanted to tell you what the NC-17 rating for literature is one of the most useless inventions ever. After all, every reader should be reasonnable enough to decide what to read. Sure, other ratings (like PG-13) have a certain use but at the age of 13 the reader has to decide for him/herself whether he/she is strong enough to read explicit content.

I have experienced this myself, having already read quite explicit content at the age of 13. It did not harm me in any way.

Sure the QotN rape scene is not very nice but well, it is a part of the story. For me the NC-17 rating is a very subtle form of censorship!

One last thing: IMHO Ceres Wunderkind easily wrote the best fan fiction stories. With one exception as I have to admit: the short stories of Jopary are perhaps as subtle as yours but their style is amazing in an other way. Now I learn that you and Jopary are one and the same person. Congraz, you really are a very good writer and I have read your stories with just as much excitement and tension as the original HDM work.

If this is the end, I say farewell to you, Ceres, but I hope it will only be an “au revoir”!

Greetings, Konrad! ( /his_dark_materials/)

Hmph. Color me surprised, although not so much that I'm disbelieving. It's all too easy to see.

Although-I have to admit I'm mildly disappointed in you, Jopari, regardless if I've often praised you as the best author of HDM fandom. On one hand, choosing different nom de plumes is your own buisness.

On the other hand, there is such a thing as responsable stewardship of a fandom, which often involves taking a slight leadership role. I've done it before, and it's rewarding to see years later, people using ideas you've contributed to the fandom. I can't decide if this quite crosses the line or not...both Jopari and Ceres, I regarded as the leading authors in the fandom, from whom the younger kids would learn.

Does it cross that line? Maybe yes, maybe no. Maybe it's a good thing. But it's unsettling, to me, to say the least.

Now I'll be suspicious of every new HDM author that has talent, you know. ;) I think you'll be back.

Sort of strange I'm starting with the "after-afterword"...

I'll begin reading your stories from here. Even your Daisy ones. Perhaps it'll inspire me while I write my own work(s?)...

And I'll remember not to do what some of Daisy's reviewers did. :)

If you do write more, please let us know in some way that it IS you!

Well, I sort of thought that you and Jopari were the same person, or really close friends or something. Jopari's (I don't really know whether to say him or her or your) stories seemed to be in the same style as yours were. But as for Daisy, I never would have guessed. Good job creating such an original character. I really thought that she was real. I guess she sort of is. Those two stories were good, though. I hope you don't stop wrting though! You're probably the best author on this board! (no offense to anyone else reading this) You aren't the only one who has more than one identity on this website. I have had six, although I always cancelled them. god job on creating different personalities. It's actually funny.

I still maintain that you're the best fanficer out there, Ceres! what can I say? Thanks - well done - hope you DO NOT stop writing, although I don't suppose we'll see any more of this lot of characters... I think one of your best feats is how you took PP's characters and merged them into something recognisable as them, but definately your own too. So... yeah. Congratulations.

And my point is of course this: Lyra only dies if you accept that vision.

I do, in the context of this continous story.

Darn, I'm using this as a sort of backwards forum. We need a edit function.

For LunaWriter, and others:

Fiction is the sharing of imaginary visions with others. Reading fiction is taking in those visions. You do not have to make anyone's visions your own, but if you like them, you can. Writing fiction is sharing your own visions with others, and they can be a spin-off of someone else's visions, or genuinely your own. It does not matter as long as you do not borrow without asking. Since visions are a highly personal thing, it takes a great bit of courage to share them with others, and people can be highly offended when you steal their own visions and use them in a way they did not intend.

This is, by the way, the "good purpose" of Copyright, while the normal use of it is assuring a sole commercial gain out of something. Lovely world we live in.

This has got to be the single most beautiful ending I've ever read. I can't express it better. Unlike most, you really managed to go through the whole scale of emotion, and it even affected *me* of all persons. (I've taken great care in developing strong defences against emotional effects from media of any kind)

You Definitely Rule.

Get your works published, or else the world will have lost yet another great author into the only eternal abyss; Time.