Stories that stayed with me...
Some days ago on MFU Canteen there was a question about what constitutes a "perfect story" in your eyes. I answered there that I had never found the perfect story, but I had found many good ones. And that answer is honest truth for me in the realm of MFU fanfiction.
"Perfect" remains elusive in my eyes for a ton of reasons. First and foremost is that I am a Solo-phile who prefers gen works of fanfiction. Many stories in MFU fandom shout "Illya!" and that's fine and I've enjoyed reading many of these, but they will never be my preference. Slash doesn't work for me so, though I've read it here and there, such stories will also never be my preference.
An even more subjective reason is that, as a writer of MFU fanfiction myself, I have my own mind-vision of Napoleon Solo's past pre-series and his future post-series. So, though I will enjoy something written to someone else's mind-vision of these things, those stories can never seem "perfect" in my eyes.
However, as I also noted, I have found good stories, and some of these do stand out above the rest for me. I am not a story re-reader as a rule, so generally a story either leaves a mental impression on me right away or it does not. And there are some where that impression stays in my mind weeks, months, years after I've read them. So I thought I would list here stories that have done that as recommendations to others.
First on this list has to be nangi_akki's PEPPERMINT TWIST. This is the first story I ever saved to my Memories here on LJ. Her view of Solo's childhood isn't mine, but the story still compels me. It's hurt/comfort, but in a quiet and understated way. I adore it.
Next I'm going to have to list a story I've rec'd here before, that is akane42me's ACHING. Episode-related, it provides a moving afterword to THE TERBUF AFFAIR through an outsider's view, the outsider in this case the pharmacist at U.N.C.L.E. HQ. It speaks volumes in just a short vignette.
Next is the wonderful st_crispins' CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT AFFAIR, a piece that she co-authored with L. White. I believe it's friends-locked on LJ, but it is well worth messaging the author about including you in her friends' list so you can read this entry. She and I differ widely in our ideas of Napoleon's pre-series past and post-series future and I'm generally not into stories that mix MFU with vampire lore, but this one has a unique twist. The vampire is actually the innocent and a totally believable and enticing character.
This next one puts a lump in my throat every time I think about it: it's dangelos_song's THE PUT ASUNDER AFFAIR. This one just breaks my heart. It's not emotionally sloppy, just emotionally moving. And though the author's vision of Napoleon as five years' Illya's senior -- and thus up for retirement years before his partner -- isn't mine, this vignette of the pair's parting at that retirement of Solo's is beautifully inspired and beautifully written.
Next GM's THE ICARUS BLUFF AFFAIR. Short and intense, this story just epitomizes Solo to me. This writer is fond of hurt/comfort scenarios that often go too far for me, but this story isn't one of those. And the uplifting and somewhat "what-the..." ending reminds much of the series' deft comedic touch.
This next one is archived on ff.net, so I'm issuing a warning for those who prefer to venture to that site with caution. The story is Xenon's THE GETTING TO KNOW YOU AFFAIR. As can be guessed by the title, it's a story that details Napoleon and Illya's first mission together. I've read many stories in this vein but this one is definitely the best in my opinion. It's truly a shame that this is the only MFU piece of fanfiction this author ever wrote. It's definitely a mission story: quick-paced action with introspective bits as the guys' form opinions of one another.
The last one is an odd one for me because, as I noted at the beginning of this post, slash really is not my thing. I don't see the guys as having a sexual relationship or either as being gay/bi. This story, viviana7's CHAINS -- another afterword to THE TERBUF AFFAIR, is listed by the author as pre-slash and it definitely is, with Illya's longing for Napoleon overlaying its entirety. But it also speaks volumes about friendship.
So that's the list for now. I'll likely post more as I read ones that "stay with me". I hope folks will check these out and enjoy them as much as I did.
"Perfect" remains elusive in my eyes for a ton of reasons. First and foremost is that I am a Solo-phile who prefers gen works of fanfiction. Many stories in MFU fandom shout "Illya!" and that's fine and I've enjoyed reading many of these, but they will never be my preference. Slash doesn't work for me so, though I've read it here and there, such stories will also never be my preference.
An even more subjective reason is that, as a writer of MFU fanfiction myself, I have my own mind-vision of Napoleon Solo's past pre-series and his future post-series. So, though I will enjoy something written to someone else's mind-vision of these things, those stories can never seem "perfect" in my eyes.
However, as I also noted, I have found good stories, and some of these do stand out above the rest for me. I am not a story re-reader as a rule, so generally a story either leaves a mental impression on me right away or it does not. And there are some where that impression stays in my mind weeks, months, years after I've read them. So I thought I would list here stories that have done that as recommendations to others.
First on this list has to be nangi_akki's PEPPERMINT TWIST. This is the first story I ever saved to my Memories here on LJ. Her view of Solo's childhood isn't mine, but the story still compels me. It's hurt/comfort, but in a quiet and understated way. I adore it.
Next I'm going to have to list a story I've rec'd here before, that is akane42me's ACHING. Episode-related, it provides a moving afterword to THE TERBUF AFFAIR through an outsider's view, the outsider in this case the pharmacist at U.N.C.L.E. HQ. It speaks volumes in just a short vignette.
Next is the wonderful st_crispins' CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT AFFAIR, a piece that she co-authored with L. White. I believe it's friends-locked on LJ, but it is well worth messaging the author about including you in her friends' list so you can read this entry. She and I differ widely in our ideas of Napoleon's pre-series past and post-series future and I'm generally not into stories that mix MFU with vampire lore, but this one has a unique twist. The vampire is actually the innocent and a totally believable and enticing character.
This next one puts a lump in my throat every time I think about it: it's dangelos_song's THE PUT ASUNDER AFFAIR. This one just breaks my heart. It's not emotionally sloppy, just emotionally moving. And though the author's vision of Napoleon as five years' Illya's senior -- and thus up for retirement years before his partner -- isn't mine, this vignette of the pair's parting at that retirement of Solo's is beautifully inspired and beautifully written.
Next GM's THE ICARUS BLUFF AFFAIR. Short and intense, this story just epitomizes Solo to me. This writer is fond of hurt/comfort scenarios that often go too far for me, but this story isn't one of those. And the uplifting and somewhat "what-the..." ending reminds much of the series' deft comedic touch.
This next one is archived on ff.net, so I'm issuing a warning for those who prefer to venture to that site with caution. The story is Xenon's THE GETTING TO KNOW YOU AFFAIR. As can be guessed by the title, it's a story that details Napoleon and Illya's first mission together. I've read many stories in this vein but this one is definitely the best in my opinion. It's truly a shame that this is the only MFU piece of fanfiction this author ever wrote. It's definitely a mission story: quick-paced action with introspective bits as the guys' form opinions of one another.
The last one is an odd one for me because, as I noted at the beginning of this post, slash really is not my thing. I don't see the guys as having a sexual relationship or either as being gay/bi. This story, viviana7's CHAINS -- another afterword to THE TERBUF AFFAIR, is listed by the author as pre-slash and it definitely is, with Illya's longing for Napoleon overlaying its entirety. But it also speaks volumes about friendship.
So that's the list for now. I'll likely post more as I read ones that "stay with me". I hope folks will check these out and enjoy them as much as I did.