MFU crack van rec #29
I'm doing another month of crack_van recs, I wasn't really planning on it, but no one else is signing up, and I think if there's going to be a last go around for MFU, it might as well be me ;) As usual, I have a fairly varied selection, and as usual I want to talk about them. Last time around (I didn't realize it was more than a year ago) I slacked off on the commentary mid way through the month, erm, I must have had reasons...this time I'll try to keep up!
First rec went up today, it's xparrot's Save This Dance
Save this Dance grew on me. It was a DtC story in 2009, I think that was the first year I really took notice of DtC and there were so many stories and I read through them too fast. Which may not matter in a lot of cases, but it mattered here. There's a gripping beginning, a wonderful scene in a Vienna nightclub where Illya watches Napoleon dance with several women and his thoughts about their relationship are interspersed with the things that you do on assignment: keep track of your marks, plot your strategy, go to plan B when things fall apart. There's a great action sequence with horrendous consequences; Napoleon lies on the ground shot, Illya trying desperately to stanch the blood pouring out of him. I'm sure it was hard work writing it, but when you read it the flow seems effortless--I'm going on about it because jeez, I wish I knew how to do that!
The rest of the story is much quieter, and you don't really notice it's effect until you pay attention. It's all Illya POV, one of the few stories with an effective Illya POV, which is notable right there. It's restrained and watchful, just like Illya, but you can feel the reservoir of emotion that Illya has always pushed aside running underneath. It's not a story where people talk about love or faithfulness or forever, because really, there's no need.
xparrot is really a very assured writer. She didn't spend much time in the fandom but she has a solid grip on the characters. This is the third of her stories I've recced, (the other two were Making Perfect and Sublimierung ) I really like her style, light surface, but real emotions.
First rec went up today, it's xparrot's Save This Dance
Save this Dance grew on me. It was a DtC story in 2009, I think that was the first year I really took notice of DtC and there were so many stories and I read through them too fast. Which may not matter in a lot of cases, but it mattered here. There's a gripping beginning, a wonderful scene in a Vienna nightclub where Illya watches Napoleon dance with several women and his thoughts about their relationship are interspersed with the things that you do on assignment: keep track of your marks, plot your strategy, go to plan B when things fall apart. There's a great action sequence with horrendous consequences; Napoleon lies on the ground shot, Illya trying desperately to stanch the blood pouring out of him. I'm sure it was hard work writing it, but when you read it the flow seems effortless--I'm going on about it because jeez, I wish I knew how to do that!
The rest of the story is much quieter, and you don't really notice it's effect until you pay attention. It's all Illya POV, one of the few stories with an effective Illya POV, which is notable right there. It's restrained and watchful, just like Illya, but you can feel the reservoir of emotion that Illya has always pushed aside running underneath. It's not a story where people talk about love or faithfulness or forever, because really, there's no need.
xparrot is really a very assured writer. She didn't spend much time in the fandom but she has a solid grip on the characters. This is the third of her stories I've recced, (the other two were Making Perfect and Sublimierung ) I really like her style, light surface, but real emotions.