Oh, but Uhura's Song pulled it off so well, I can't begrudge the whole Mary Sue thing. (The superdoc in that one is definitely named Evan; the other one you describe doesn't ring a bell, which I'm pretty grateful for.) And I know I have Black Fire in a box somewhere. I'll have to dig it out.

Largely on melymbrosia's advice, I've avoided the sequels to Dragonsbane. My personal Hambly favorite is the Windrose series, due to my shameless adoration of Antryg. And Joanna too.