And (as the person who recently stole a great deal from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), let us not forget that parody (at least in the U.S.) is generally protected. Hence, I have a fairly good case for writing, as a B7 story -

[Exerpt from a letter K. Avon sent to his brother, I. Avon, just after death of Planetary Govenor, M. Sesar]

It was the best of times (in Blakes opinion), it was the worst of times (in everyone else's). Marley Sesar was dead, to begin with and, as even Blake must acknowledge, it is a truth, universally (or galactically, at any rate) acknowledged that the sudden death of a high ranking official of the Federation, however unsuspicious it can be made to look, must be in want of an investigation.

We came to pay Sesar, not to bury him. For, whether tis nobler in the mind for small nonconformist groups to suffer the slings and arrows of Outrageous Fortune* or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them, tis cheaper and safer to bail them out and not show up in court.

But, as Blake said, because we could not stop for death, death kindly stopped for he. When we entered, Marley Sesar stood by the window, and frowned to see below the happy bands of monks and nuns absconding through the snow. A while he stood there watching and 'envying them all . . .' (Quoth fearless leader evermore [or for the past week and still going strong]). When through the window big and red there hurtled at his much swelled head, and bounced and knocked him on his bed, an India-rubber ball!

"Precipitous, precipitous, precipitous!" the govenor cried. "My, precipitous! Oh, my, precipitous!" And with that, even as his eyes were lifted up to gloat upon his prize (rubber balls being much prized there), the jabberwock** with eyes of flame, came whiffling through the tulgey wood*** He sobbed and he sighed, and a gurgle he gave, then he threw himself into the billowy wave.

Blake thinks this is a good thing. "Who'd stoop to blame _this_ sort of trifling?" he says.

I don't know how much more I can take. Vila and I are going to open a cask of amontilado. As soon as you get a chance, call me, Ishmael.

Your brother, K.A.

*Famous attack ship of the Seventh Fleet which captured the Followers of the Sacred Hand Grenade (a religious order whose philosophy strongly influenced various rebel leaders).

**No, I don't know why he kept one for a pet.

***An inferior building material if ever there was one. ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.