fic recs: ILU spock/uhura, part 1
Fact: I make fic recs constantly, in chats and emails and comments to friends. One thing I haven't done is to create rec lists in my own journal. BECAUSE I AM LAZY. Or to be more charitable to myself, TIME, IT IS LIMITED.
However, it's something I've been meaning to do so this is a start, spurred by two other things:
1. Some lame and tired Spock/Uhura bashing on another pairing's comm last week that got people irked, rightly. It also got me thinking about something--which is, so many writers love Spock/Uhura, but many aren't actively writing stories about them. (Which category probably includes me, at least in the minds of peeps not privy to the contents of my brain and WIP folder.) I want to celebrate this ship more, and encourage my fellow writers not to neglect them. One hundred words makes a drabble! And a handful of drabbles can be an epic, in the hands of a good writer.
(Related: Have you all checked out the prompts at the where_no_woman Uhura is Awesome Fic Fest? If you love Uhura, by herself or in any pairing/threesome, go leave prompts! Think about claiming one!)
2. Timely update of the posting rules for spock_uhura's weekly rec posts, which reminded me of my intention to post recs. I noticed a while ago that recs for unrelated fics (even other ships, wtf?) were starting to appear in that topic. It's also been pretty heavy on announcements of "new chapters" of the same stories, week in and week out. I have to believe that's discouraging to newcomers. And to old-timers too, to be honest.
Anyway, I've been meaning to compile recs for the stories I refer to over and over, that for me have stood the test of time--that are though-provoking and memorable and well-written and show real love for the characters and their relationship. Starting with these, and more to come later as time permits.
Title: Virago
Author: rawles
Characters: Uhura(/Spock), Gaila, Kirk
Pairings:Uhura/Spock
Rating: ~*~Implications~*~ (that's the author's rating, I'd say PG at the most)
Warnings: none
Summary: "17 facts about Nyota Uhura."
Why I love it: Beautiful character study of Nyota, simply presented, it meshed so perfectly with what I felt about the character that it became instant head-canon for me. rawles has a beautiful way with Nyota and Spock, and though she hasn't written them lately her work is gorgeous and well worth seeking out. To that end:
Title: November 2009 Drabblefest - 29 Spock/Uhura Drabbles
Author: rawles
Characters/Pairings: Spock/Uhura
Rating: Ranges from "E for Everyone" to "Sexin'", but even that's not graphic, I'd say PG-13 tops
Warnings: none
Summary: 29 scenes from the relationship of Nyota and Spock, each exactly 100 words
Why I love it: I didn't think it was possible to create something truly rich and evocative with only 100 words, but each one of these drabbles is like a little jewel. To say something illuminating about a character or relationship with so few words take an incredible amount of skill and discipline. rawles just kills it, time after time. My favorites are Through the Open Door and Cut Through the Gravity. The link above is to the index page which lists all 29 drabbles.
Title: The Love Letter
Author: ewinfic
Characters/Pairings: Spock/Uhura
Rating: R-ish
Warnings: none
Summary: Spock writes Uhura a love letter.
Why I love it: OMG romantic. Totally sexy. Spock's letter-writing voice is so utterly, perfectly in character--I rec this story again and again to friends, because it's so rare for a writer to capture the delicate balance between Spock's Vulcan habit of saying things like they are and the romantic character of his relationship with Nyota.
Title: Miscommunication
Author: salr323
Characters/Pairings: Spock/Uhura, and a few other familiar faces along the way
Rating: PG-R later
Warnings: None
Summary: A "how they got together" fic set at the Academy, with detours to the not-yet-launched Enterprise, inspired by the plot of Pride and Prejudice. In 5 parts.
Why I love it: Okay, first of all, if you love Spock/Uhura and you haven't read this, you need to. It's brilliant--great writing, great characterization, and really clever adaptation of the Pride and Prejudice elements to a different situation. I was not bored for a second during this story--I read it as it was being posted and each day I was refreshing constantly waiting for the next installment--this despite knowing the plot of P&P perfectly well, because salr323 had me that engaged with her Spock and Nyota and how their story was going to unfold. She does a great job weaving in Nyota's career ambitions and the atmosphere and workings of Starfleet--and oh god, when I think of how she handled the "letter of explanation" portion of the P&P homage, AUGH, BEAUTIFUL.
Now I go back to career planning, today's actual Thing I am Supposed to be Doing!
However, it's something I've been meaning to do so this is a start, spurred by two other things:
1. Some lame and tired Spock/Uhura bashing on another pairing's comm last week that got people irked, rightly. It also got me thinking about something--which is, so many writers love Spock/Uhura, but many aren't actively writing stories about them. (Which category probably includes me, at least in the minds of peeps not privy to the contents of my brain and WIP folder.) I want to celebrate this ship more, and encourage my fellow writers not to neglect them. One hundred words makes a drabble! And a handful of drabbles can be an epic, in the hands of a good writer.
(Related: Have you all checked out the prompts at the where_no_woman Uhura is Awesome Fic Fest? If you love Uhura, by herself or in any pairing/threesome, go leave prompts! Think about claiming one!)
2. Timely update of the posting rules for spock_uhura's weekly rec posts, which reminded me of my intention to post recs. I noticed a while ago that recs for unrelated fics (even other ships, wtf?) were starting to appear in that topic. It's also been pretty heavy on announcements of "new chapters" of the same stories, week in and week out. I have to believe that's discouraging to newcomers. And to old-timers too, to be honest.
Anyway, I've been meaning to compile recs for the stories I refer to over and over, that for me have stood the test of time--that are though-provoking and memorable and well-written and show real love for the characters and their relationship. Starting with these, and more to come later as time permits.
Title: Virago
Author: rawles
Characters: Uhura(/Spock), Gaila, Kirk
Pairings:Uhura/Spock
Rating: ~*~Implications~*~ (that's the author's rating, I'd say PG at the most)
Warnings: none
Summary: "17 facts about Nyota Uhura."
Why I love it: Beautiful character study of Nyota, simply presented, it meshed so perfectly with what I felt about the character that it became instant head-canon for me. rawles has a beautiful way with Nyota and Spock, and though she hasn't written them lately her work is gorgeous and well worth seeking out. To that end:
Title: November 2009 Drabblefest - 29 Spock/Uhura Drabbles
Author: rawles
Characters/Pairings: Spock/Uhura
Rating: Ranges from "E for Everyone" to "Sexin'", but even that's not graphic, I'd say PG-13 tops
Warnings: none
Summary: 29 scenes from the relationship of Nyota and Spock, each exactly 100 words
Why I love it: I didn't think it was possible to create something truly rich and evocative with only 100 words, but each one of these drabbles is like a little jewel. To say something illuminating about a character or relationship with so few words take an incredible amount of skill and discipline. rawles just kills it, time after time. My favorites are Through the Open Door and Cut Through the Gravity. The link above is to the index page which lists all 29 drabbles.
Title: The Love Letter
Author: ewinfic
Characters/Pairings: Spock/Uhura
Rating: R-ish
Warnings: none
Summary: Spock writes Uhura a love letter.
Why I love it: OMG romantic. Totally sexy. Spock's letter-writing voice is so utterly, perfectly in character--I rec this story again and again to friends, because it's so rare for a writer to capture the delicate balance between Spock's Vulcan habit of saying things like they are and the romantic character of his relationship with Nyota.
Title: Miscommunication
Author: salr323
Characters/Pairings: Spock/Uhura, and a few other familiar faces along the way
Rating: PG-R later
Warnings: None
Summary: A "how they got together" fic set at the Academy, with detours to the not-yet-launched Enterprise, inspired by the plot of Pride and Prejudice. In 5 parts.
Why I love it: Okay, first of all, if you love Spock/Uhura and you haven't read this, you need to. It's brilliant--great writing, great characterization, and really clever adaptation of the Pride and Prejudice elements to a different situation. I was not bored for a second during this story--I read it as it was being posted and each day I was refreshing constantly waiting for the next installment--this despite knowing the plot of P&P perfectly well, because salr323 had me that engaged with her Spock and Nyota and how their story was going to unfold. She does a great job weaving in Nyota's career ambitions and the atmosphere and workings of Starfleet--and oh god, when I think of how she handled the "letter of explanation" portion of the P&P homage, AUGH, BEAUTIFUL.
Now I go back to career planning, today's actual Thing I am Supposed to be Doing!