Master of the Revels

Master of the Revels is a Facelift story by JG.
It was originally a circuit story, and in 1990, reprinted as a perfect-bound 215-page slash novel by HG. 
The later zine issue has extensive colour and black-and-white illustrations on both covers and throughout the interior by Suzan Lovett.
This is a story about Zax, the character Martin Shaw played in the futuristic British TV movie Facelift, and a Bodie-clone called Galen. So, while it is a Facelift novel, it most likely appealed to Professionals fans.
 
 
On the front cover: "Zax's Theatre of Mystery and Magic." On the back cover: "Sanctuary" by Suzan Lovett.
A portfolio of art for this fanwork was sold as Zax's Theatre of Glamour and Magic.
The story often appears on fans' Desert Island lists. Close Quarters Desert Island Episode/Zine/Fic dated July 18, 2009 
It is also story on The 1985 Hatstand Express Top Ten Lists. 
One of the illustrations by Suzan Lovett for this story was printed in as a full page in Textual Poachers. It has the caption: "Fluid Identity and Androgynous Possibility: Master of the Revels, and alternative universe involving characters from The Professionals. Artwork by Suzan Lovett." 
This story was discussed in Angst and emotional dynamics in slash, as exemplified in Helen Raven's "Heat Trace", a 1992 essay by Shoshanna.
==Publication History and the Circuit==
The zine was was first published as a circuit story (appearing bit by bit as it was finished in chunks) and was later retyped and published as a non-circuit novel with illos by Suzan Lovett. 
The theory was that even though it was freely available on the circuit, people would be willing to pay for a cleanly-printed copy with Lovett's art. 
==Defining Its Format==
In December 1995, fans began debating on Virgule-L whether the novel could be considered part of the circuit library and was therefore eligible to be retyped electronically. Confusing matters was that there were two different versions of the novel: one published in fanzine format in the US with color art and another version published in the UK without art and which was part of the UK circuit library. Even after fans confirm that the novel was typed and release chapter by chapter to the UK circuit and then, only later, was it put into a more legible zine format with color art, other fans insisted that the story should not be returned to the circuit. Complicating matters is the fact that the US publisher announced the zine would remain out of print (although she would sell photocopies at full price). The matter was finally resolved in early 1996 when the UK circuit librarian announced that she pulled the story from circulation after it was published in zine format. This exchange once again illustrated that the debate over who defined "circuit stories" could not be easily resolved. Source: Morgan Dawn's personal notes, accessed March 29, 2012.
==Print Reprints==
==Story Summary==
This is not a Professionals novel, but Pros-related: 
==The Author Commented on This Fic in 1988==
In 1988, HG commented extensively on this novel in an interview for The Hatstand Express. See Hatstand Express Interview with HG.
==Series and Other Inspired Works==
* Master of the Revels: an Alternative Prologue by HG - in the paper circuit
* Bringer of Light and Magic by Jane - in Proslib and published in The Hatstand Express 13
* Patterns of Life by Jenny Parkinson - in the paper circuit
* Another Time, Another Place by Jenny Parkinson - direct sequel to Patterns of Life - in the paper circuit
* Jane Mailander wrote a Blake's 7 spoof with the title Master of the Rebels. It was published in Compounded Interest 4.
* Who Gave Us Delight by Sebastian ("A post-Facelift story. I fell in love with Zax - so beautiful! so flawed... ! and so in need of a partner for this strange universe he seemed to have ended up in. A story simply had to be written to put right his solitude. HG did it longer and much better, but mine was faster ;)")
* Master of the Rebels, a Blake's 7 spoof by Jane Mailander in Compounded Interest #4
* Disaster of the Drivels, a parody con skit by Paula Smith for ZebraCon (1995)
==Other Contributors==
* Publishers - Rita Schmaltz, Emily Ross
* Typist - Rita Schmaltz
* Proofreaders -- Karen B, Kathy L., Emily Ross, Rita Schmaltz
==A Piece of Art that isn't in the Zine==
For a work-in-progress that, in the end, wasn't used, see Cold Fish and Stale Chips #7.
==Sample Interior Gallery==
 
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==Reactions and Reviews== 
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==References==
Category:Facelift
Category:1990 Zines