Yuletide 2007 recs
I was going to wait to post recs until I'd hit at least a few more fandoms (I've been reading in fandom chunks, and not in any discernible order other than "oooh, shiny!"), but I'm not sure when I'll get through it all...
I'm not a wordy reccer, so what I'm going to do is point to stuff I read and enjoyed a lot, and if I have more to say about it than that, I will. Most of my recs are within the slashy spectrum (from chaste to explicit), but a few aren't slash at all.
This year I got a lovely Warai no Daigaku (a.k.a. University of Laughs) story called Composite. This is an incredible movie (it was also a play, but I've only seen the movie version) that I have practically forced all my friends to see, and so it was *such* a treat to get a story for it! I totally wasn't expecting that! I really liked the story's blend of melancholy and hope, and the imagery, such as Tsubaki left alone to guard an island, and sketching letters in the air. Good characterizations and details, and the final section made me sigh happily. Many thanks to jamjar, my Yuletide writer this year!
This year had not one but two excellent Peacemakers stories! Whoo-hoooo! Both have achingly perfect characterizations and thoroughly realistic portrayals of their emotional journey together -- to very satisfying conclusions.
An Honest Man by Michelle Christian
True Gold by Arduinna
And this year had a bounty of Persuaders stories! Several of them were short, but there are two fantastic longer stories, quite different from each other, but both building on the show quite naturally and believably. Great banter and Danny-Brett interaction in both. Yum!
Alfresco by Dorinda
Mise en Scène by joandarck
One of the things I love about Yuletide is that I invariably trip over a story in fandom I have never heard of and read something amazingly good. This year's gem:
Breakaway by shrift, for Whistle!. Excellent writing, an interesting emotional storyline that grabbed me and held me, and that good kind of ache for the characters, who are going through the awkward phase of teenage realization. Lovely story, absolutely lovely.
Three Onmyoji recs:
Matsu-- by telophase
A Tale of the Capital by Franzi
Botan Doro by Eldritch
All of these were very atmospheric and captured the supernatural/mystery elements, the Heian Japan setting, as well as the fascinatingly ambiguous Abe no Seimei and forthright Hiromasa.
Three Antique Bakery recs:
Quest for Perfection by pyrefly
To All, A Good Night by Puddingcat
Wishful Thinking by Gryvon
I liked each of these for portraying different elements, all present in the manga, in different ways. From the episodic all-characters interaction of the first story, to the adorable and fun of the second story, to the third, a more serious and ambiguous Ono-and-Chikage story.
Three Hot Fuzz recs:
Film Studies by azarias
Bend Hard by Basingstoke
The Police Officer's Seduction by Grace
For me, all of these had the blend of the surreal, the humor, and the amazing Danny-and-Nicholas relationship of the movie.
Relic Hunter:
Beloved Disciple by belmanoir
This felt very much like it could be an episode of the show (well, maybe if it had aired on a more risqué channel!), and that's what I love about it. It has the humor, affection, silliness, and Nigel-and-Sydney banter perfectly.
Blood Ties:
Blood in the Water by Lys
A nice undercurrent of the shifting attractions between Mike, Henry, and Vicki, plus great dialogue.
Bringing Up Baby:
Havana Honeymoon by jedi_penguin
What worked the most for me here was the dialogue, which I could perfectly imagine.
Matador:
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Wright by Dorinda
A rich, sexy, quirky story for a rich, sexy, quirky movie. This is deliciously long (but moves along smoothly) and so many treats within that it is worth savoring.
Flight of the Conchords:
A Curious Conchords Contest by Wysiwygot
This had the deadpan feel down so right, and gave me the same "OMG! but funny!" reaction the show does.
My Boss My Hero:
Neither Here Nor There by vongroovy
Without sacrificing the kind of manic feeling of the show, this story gets real about Jun and Makio in a post-graduation relationship, and has affection, humor, sincerity, and wickedly accurate portrayals of all the characters. This story is like so many in Yuletide -- and what, imo, makes Yuletide so special -- where the writer has brought genuine love for an obscure fandom to the story, and it shows through, making it a delight to read.
And on that note, this ends this batch of recs.
I have so so so much more to read!
ETA, 1/1/08: authors' names added
I'm not a wordy reccer, so what I'm going to do is point to stuff I read and enjoyed a lot, and if I have more to say about it than that, I will. Most of my recs are within the slashy spectrum (from chaste to explicit), but a few aren't slash at all.
This year I got a lovely Warai no Daigaku (a.k.a. University of Laughs) story called Composite. This is an incredible movie (it was also a play, but I've only seen the movie version) that I have practically forced all my friends to see, and so it was *such* a treat to get a story for it! I totally wasn't expecting that! I really liked the story's blend of melancholy and hope, and the imagery, such as Tsubaki left alone to guard an island, and sketching letters in the air. Good characterizations and details, and the final section made me sigh happily. Many thanks to jamjar, my Yuletide writer this year!
This year had not one but two excellent Peacemakers stories! Whoo-hoooo! Both have achingly perfect characterizations and thoroughly realistic portrayals of their emotional journey together -- to very satisfying conclusions.
An Honest Man by Michelle Christian
True Gold by Arduinna
And this year had a bounty of Persuaders stories! Several of them were short, but there are two fantastic longer stories, quite different from each other, but both building on the show quite naturally and believably. Great banter and Danny-Brett interaction in both. Yum!
Alfresco by Dorinda
Mise en Scène by joandarck
One of the things I love about Yuletide is that I invariably trip over a story in fandom I have never heard of and read something amazingly good. This year's gem:
Breakaway by shrift, for Whistle!. Excellent writing, an interesting emotional storyline that grabbed me and held me, and that good kind of ache for the characters, who are going through the awkward phase of teenage realization. Lovely story, absolutely lovely.
Three Onmyoji recs:
Matsu-- by telophase
A Tale of the Capital by Franzi
Botan Doro by Eldritch
All of these were very atmospheric and captured the supernatural/mystery elements, the Heian Japan setting, as well as the fascinatingly ambiguous Abe no Seimei and forthright Hiromasa.
Three Antique Bakery recs:
Quest for Perfection by pyrefly
To All, A Good Night by Puddingcat
Wishful Thinking by Gryvon
I liked each of these for portraying different elements, all present in the manga, in different ways. From the episodic all-characters interaction of the first story, to the adorable and fun of the second story, to the third, a more serious and ambiguous Ono-and-Chikage story.
Three Hot Fuzz recs:
Film Studies by azarias
Bend Hard by Basingstoke
The Police Officer's Seduction by Grace
For me, all of these had the blend of the surreal, the humor, and the amazing Danny-and-Nicholas relationship of the movie.
Relic Hunter:
Beloved Disciple by belmanoir
This felt very much like it could be an episode of the show (well, maybe if it had aired on a more risqué channel!), and that's what I love about it. It has the humor, affection, silliness, and Nigel-and-Sydney banter perfectly.
Blood Ties:
Blood in the Water by Lys
A nice undercurrent of the shifting attractions between Mike, Henry, and Vicki, plus great dialogue.
Bringing Up Baby:
Havana Honeymoon by jedi_penguin
What worked the most for me here was the dialogue, which I could perfectly imagine.
Matador:
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Wright by Dorinda
A rich, sexy, quirky story for a rich, sexy, quirky movie. This is deliciously long (but moves along smoothly) and so many treats within that it is worth savoring.
Flight of the Conchords:
A Curious Conchords Contest by Wysiwygot
This had the deadpan feel down so right, and gave me the same "OMG! but funny!" reaction the show does.
My Boss My Hero:
Neither Here Nor There by vongroovy
Without sacrificing the kind of manic feeling of the show, this story gets real about Jun and Makio in a post-graduation relationship, and has affection, humor, sincerity, and wickedly accurate portrayals of all the characters. This story is like so many in Yuletide -- and what, imo, makes Yuletide so special -- where the writer has brought genuine love for an obscure fandom to the story, and it shows through, making it a delight to read.
And on that note, this ends this batch of recs.
I have so so so much more to read!
ETA, 1/1/08: authors' names added