Betty wrote:
Sally Manton wrote:
<grin> I spent some time trying to work out in my own mind what he would do if someone tried to use innocents (say, a spaceship full of children, and a self-destruct button) against him. Came to the conclusion he'd give himself up fast enough (from the evidence of Horizon)
Or rather, he'd try to, and Avon would try to stop him, and then things would get *really* interesting. IMO. :)
In a story by Cami, the Federation troops defending a besieged base have imprisoned a number of civilians whom they threaten to kill. Blake wants to give himself up, but then Avon uses his computer (of course) to design a battle strategy which will enable the rebels to save the hostages.
In a story by Shiela Paulson, Blake, Avon and three kids are cornered into a cave by Travis and his troops. Again, Blake is willing to surrender if Travis lets the kids go. Just then (of course) Jenna brings the Liberator back into the planet's orbit.
This motif seems to have been used many times over. The problem with such stories, however, is that they very often neglect Blake's intelligence and present him as foolish and sentimental. Whenever Blake's afraid someone might die because of him, he hurries to surrender, without even considering other options, until someone wiser (usually Avon) points them out.
Sometimes, however, there are no other options and then the story requires some deus ex machina to be resolved.
N.