Yuletide recs (because you asked)
Several people asked, and thanks to the History function on the AO3, I was able to identify at least some of the stories I liked the most in my reading. I won't claim these are, objectively, the best stories of the exchange, just the ones I enjoyed the most, in the fandoms which I am familiar with. I'm also not done with my reading (::looks mournfully at the two dozen open tabs on the laptop::), so there are certainly stories I have missed.
Anyway, they are as follows:
By Any Means Necessary, Vorkosiverse. Byerly Vorrutyer asks Ivan Vorpatril for a favor. As a result Ivan crashes several cars, solves a few mysteries, gets shot at, and climbs a toilet. Oh, and gets laid. 47,000 words of excellent plot, characterization, and world-building. (Ivan/By)
A Fine and Public Place, Vorkosiverse, Ivan/By. Ivan falls afoul of another one of Byerly's projects, with unexpected consequences. Short, funny, with some lovely insight into Ivan. If it were to happen, I could see it happening this way.
The Best Laid Plans, Gentleman Bastards. Locke/Jean of unexpected hotness & sweetness.
Oaks in the Coppice, Wimsey novels. Quite nearly heartbreaking, but not quite. Lovely and full of meaning.
Go and Catch a Falling Star, Wimsey/Doctor Who. An amusing crossover.
The End and the Way, Left Hand of Darkness. One of the most remarkable stories of the exchange, to my mind. Lovely prose, and a fascinating examination of Gethenian culture.
That's Me in the Corner, That's Me in the Spotlight, The Good Wife. Quite a good snapshot of characters and possibilities, full of insight, and some excellent Diane Lockhart.
Dragonsearch, Pern. Mirrim goes looking for girls to impress green dragons; things get a little complicated. A professional-quality story that critiques some of the cultural assumptions (and McCaffrey's) while at the same time being full of creativity and strong character moments.
An Odd Carriage, Discworld/RPF. Erm, of a sort. This is probably being recced widely, but it has no drunk texting in it.
Banter & Broomsticks, Sports Night. Sports Night covers Quidditch, sort of. Quite amusing, with great voices. Or maybe I just liked it for the Harry Potter refs, I dunno.
Noble Experiments, a Temeraire story, probably has been widely recced already. I would read an entire novel set in the world sketched out far-too-briefly here. If it lacks anything, it lacks an actual story, but the concepts and voices make up for it.
A Living Fire, True Grit. Mattie grows up, but never gets soft. Beautifully written & characterized, with strong echoes of the source prose.
I thought all the Earthsea stories this year were good, but i liked Dark Sands and Calling to the Wind best.
George Town, Grand Cayman, World War Z, was a surprising find. I was quite impressed.
A clear glass window, at a sea dawn, Chalion. A marvelously detailed and creative look at Umegat and his history. This is a sly character, and the story matches him.
Dust of Nameless Years, Morgaine Saga. I never knew I wanted a story about Morgaine's background until I read this. It's quite good.
Of that set of stories, I have ideas regarding the authors of perhaps three four. We'll see, in 36 hours or so, if I am correct in my guesses. Generally I'm no good at guessing, though, so I'm probably wrong.
Anyway, happy Yuletide!
Crossposted from DW, where there are
comments; comment here or there.
Anyway, they are as follows:
By Any Means Necessary, Vorkosiverse. Byerly Vorrutyer asks Ivan Vorpatril for a favor. As a result Ivan crashes several cars, solves a few mysteries, gets shot at, and climbs a toilet. Oh, and gets laid. 47,000 words of excellent plot, characterization, and world-building. (Ivan/By)
A Fine and Public Place, Vorkosiverse, Ivan/By. Ivan falls afoul of another one of Byerly's projects, with unexpected consequences. Short, funny, with some lovely insight into Ivan. If it were to happen, I could see it happening this way.
The Best Laid Plans, Gentleman Bastards. Locke/Jean of unexpected hotness & sweetness.
Oaks in the Coppice, Wimsey novels. Quite nearly heartbreaking, but not quite. Lovely and full of meaning.
Go and Catch a Falling Star, Wimsey/Doctor Who. An amusing crossover.
The End and the Way, Left Hand of Darkness. One of the most remarkable stories of the exchange, to my mind. Lovely prose, and a fascinating examination of Gethenian culture.
That's Me in the Corner, That's Me in the Spotlight, The Good Wife. Quite a good snapshot of characters and possibilities, full of insight, and some excellent Diane Lockhart.
Dragonsearch, Pern. Mirrim goes looking for girls to impress green dragons; things get a little complicated. A professional-quality story that critiques some of the cultural assumptions (and McCaffrey's) while at the same time being full of creativity and strong character moments.
An Odd Carriage, Discworld/RPF. Erm, of a sort. This is probably being recced widely, but it has no drunk texting in it.
Banter & Broomsticks, Sports Night. Sports Night covers Quidditch, sort of. Quite amusing, with great voices. Or maybe I just liked it for the Harry Potter refs, I dunno.
Noble Experiments, a Temeraire story, probably has been widely recced already. I would read an entire novel set in the world sketched out far-too-briefly here. If it lacks anything, it lacks an actual story, but the concepts and voices make up for it.
A Living Fire, True Grit. Mattie grows up, but never gets soft. Beautifully written & characterized, with strong echoes of the source prose.
I thought all the Earthsea stories this year were good, but i liked Dark Sands and Calling to the Wind best.
George Town, Grand Cayman, World War Z, was a surprising find. I was quite impressed.
A clear glass window, at a sea dawn, Chalion. A marvelously detailed and creative look at Umegat and his history. This is a sly character, and the story matches him.
Dust of Nameless Years, Morgaine Saga. I never knew I wanted a story about Morgaine's background until I read this. It's quite good.
Of that set of stories, I have ideas regarding the authors of perhaps three four. We'll see, in 36 hours or so, if I am correct in my guesses. Generally I'm no good at guessing, though, so I'm probably wrong.
Anyway, happy Yuletide!
Crossposted from DW, where there are
comments; comment here or there.