Yuletide recs
Taking a break from my newest mission in life -- aka to stalk the Les Mis kink meme with Javert-like zeal -- to offer some Yuletide recs. They're admittedly late, but the stories are just as good. Do consider giving them a try!
ETA: I previously recced my own two beautiful gifts here.
Barks/Rosa Duck Universe: Shouldn't Oughta by PenguinZero
Donald finds his twin sister utterly insufferable. Especially when she's not there at all. / A Yuletide fic about family, children, and that special way siblings drive you nuts.
OMG, this fic. I reacted to it the same way I've always reacted to The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck: totally tearing up while at the same time appreciating the humour and the warmth. (Okay, so the Life and Times reduced me to a sobbing mess at times; this fic is thankfully not quite that sad.) It's a story about Donald's relationship with his absent-from-the-comics sister, Della, and how they fight and quarrel and love each other, and while the mystery of what happened to Della is left alone (a good choice), there are some tantalising, sinister hints.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Throw Yourself at the Ground and Miss by Agnes_Bean
“Why,” Arthur said very slowly, “are we stuck in the middle of an intergalactic fight to the death?"
Ford and Arthur find themselves trapped in a sort of intergalactic Hunger Games situation and must deal with the consequences, including a dangerous encounter with the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal, hiding in damp caves, and unexpected declarations of love. The Ford/Arthur bits made me grin happily for days, and I just loved the clever plays with classic fanfic tropes.
Lars and the Real Girl (2007): Two of Us by WickedWonder
"You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead"
Oh, this is so exactly the story I wanted after the film: Lars and Margo gently building a relationship together, not without hitches along the way. Perfect atmosphere and characterisation.
Le Comte de Monte-Cristo | Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas: Constant by Minutia_R
"I am ashamed," Fernand whispered. "Someone cut me loose from the net, and I kicked him down on my way to the surface. I did not know who it was, or care, so long as I could breathe again. My uncle went down with his boat and his crew, but I-what sort of man am I?"
A number of occasions on which Fernand Mondego (later known as the Count of Morcerf) refused to die.
Now, this is a fine example of why villain!POV, when done well, can be so fascinating: even as you're repulsed by their deeds, you find yourself feeling for them; they become human to you and you don't want them to suffer. Well, at least not too much. A beautifully-written portrayal of Fernand, with a clever twist on canon.
Northanger Abbey: Precious Little Things by katherine_tag
Being an account of the visitor received at Northanger Abbey before the Tilneys left for Bath.
Eleanor-centric fic! *hearts* And it's so well-done, too, offering both a gentle romance between Eleanor and a sympathetic OC, and a lovely look at the Tilney family dynamics.
Singin' in the Rain (1952): Top Billing by romanticalgirl
Singin' in the Rain was the end of the beginning for Don and Kathy, but what was it for Cosmo and Lina?
I saw the prompt for a post-canon story about Cosmo and Lina while skimming the Yuletide author letters, and I was so happy it got written! It's completely delightful and I love the way it unfolded -- the two don't become BFFs, but they develop some sort of grudging respect and even fondness for one another, maneuvring through a Hollywood that's changing and making space for themselves, with or without Don.
Sunset Boulevard (1950): Lebenswerk by Selena
Eight movies Max von Mayerling made with Norma Desmond. Max, Norma, and the camera: their story from the beginning to the end.
Quoting from my own feedback, as I can't think of any better way to express why I loved this story: "This is truly a stunning piece, clever and fascinating and beautiful, and it makes so much sense. I love how it works as a commentary on the film industry and as a study of a complex psychological bond between two individuals who can't really be described as anything but tragic."
The Authority: Us and Immortality by 20thcenturyvole
Jenny Sparks knows she's not going to live forever. Honestly, who'd want to?
As Jenny Sparks becomes aware of her destiny throughout the 20th Century, she keeps having run-ins with various immortal personages which make her reflect upon her own choices and possibilities. The story is actually a cross-over with several fandoms I'm not familiar with (The Sandman, Doctor Who (2005), and Highlander: The Series), but it works on its own as a thoughtful character study with a great Jenny voice.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011): Lifebreath by musamihi
Something about Bill has changed, and try as he might not to see it, Jim can't help that he knows. He's always known.
Oh, my heart. Jim has suspicions, deep down, and he does his best to quench them, because "Jim was not Bill - Jim had never wanted or thought he was owed everything. This little sitting room would do for him, and this bottle of scotch, and this brush of fingers against the back of his hand, and this promise of more that always radiated off of Bill's sudden edge of a smile." So sad and lovely.
Wooden Horse series/The Charioteer: How Many Strawberries Grow in the Sea? by halotolerant
'Shaking himself a little, John methodically took off his new uniform jacket and then sat on the bed to remove his boots. New boots as well, issued on his return to Britain, stiff and tight and warm. Boots that had not marched or paced, boots that had none of the earth of Poland on them, boots without holes, without part of the laces removed for other projects.
That part of his life was over.'
Back in Britain following the escape, John is alone with the impossible questions.
A story about finding yourself and learning who you are, what you want, how to obtain it. The atmosphere is wonderfully drawn; the love story is moving; the writing is gorgeous; there is a real sense of time and space, from wartime England to the POW camp and back.
(And yes, I myself only have second-hand knowledge of the fandoms. But I love Halotolerant's writing so much I wanted to give the story a try anyway, and I'm so glad I did. It stands more than well enough on its own.)
This entry was originally posted at http://miss-morland.dreamwidth.org/92191.html. You may comment there, if you like.
ETA: I previously recced my own two beautiful gifts here.
Barks/Rosa Duck Universe: Shouldn't Oughta by PenguinZero
Donald finds his twin sister utterly insufferable. Especially when she's not there at all. / A Yuletide fic about family, children, and that special way siblings drive you nuts.
OMG, this fic. I reacted to it the same way I've always reacted to The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck: totally tearing up while at the same time appreciating the humour and the warmth. (Okay, so the Life and Times reduced me to a sobbing mess at times; this fic is thankfully not quite that sad.) It's a story about Donald's relationship with his absent-from-the-comics sister, Della, and how they fight and quarrel and love each other, and while the mystery of what happened to Della is left alone (a good choice), there are some tantalising, sinister hints.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Throw Yourself at the Ground and Miss by Agnes_Bean
“Why,” Arthur said very slowly, “are we stuck in the middle of an intergalactic fight to the death?"
Ford and Arthur find themselves trapped in a sort of intergalactic Hunger Games situation and must deal with the consequences, including a dangerous encounter with the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal, hiding in damp caves, and unexpected declarations of love. The Ford/Arthur bits made me grin happily for days, and I just loved the clever plays with classic fanfic tropes.
Lars and the Real Girl (2007): Two of Us by WickedWonder
"You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead"
Oh, this is so exactly the story I wanted after the film: Lars and Margo gently building a relationship together, not without hitches along the way. Perfect atmosphere and characterisation.
Le Comte de Monte-Cristo | Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas: Constant by Minutia_R
"I am ashamed," Fernand whispered. "Someone cut me loose from the net, and I kicked him down on my way to the surface. I did not know who it was, or care, so long as I could breathe again. My uncle went down with his boat and his crew, but I-what sort of man am I?"
A number of occasions on which Fernand Mondego (later known as the Count of Morcerf) refused to die.
Now, this is a fine example of why villain!POV, when done well, can be so fascinating: even as you're repulsed by their deeds, you find yourself feeling for them; they become human to you and you don't want them to suffer. Well, at least not too much. A beautifully-written portrayal of Fernand, with a clever twist on canon.
Northanger Abbey: Precious Little Things by katherine_tag
Being an account of the visitor received at Northanger Abbey before the Tilneys left for Bath.
Eleanor-centric fic! *hearts* And it's so well-done, too, offering both a gentle romance between Eleanor and a sympathetic OC, and a lovely look at the Tilney family dynamics.
Singin' in the Rain (1952): Top Billing by romanticalgirl
Singin' in the Rain was the end of the beginning for Don and Kathy, but what was it for Cosmo and Lina?
I saw the prompt for a post-canon story about Cosmo and Lina while skimming the Yuletide author letters, and I was so happy it got written! It's completely delightful and I love the way it unfolded -- the two don't become BFFs, but they develop some sort of grudging respect and even fondness for one another, maneuvring through a Hollywood that's changing and making space for themselves, with or without Don.
Sunset Boulevard (1950): Lebenswerk by Selena
Eight movies Max von Mayerling made with Norma Desmond. Max, Norma, and the camera: their story from the beginning to the end.
Quoting from my own feedback, as I can't think of any better way to express why I loved this story: "This is truly a stunning piece, clever and fascinating and beautiful, and it makes so much sense. I love how it works as a commentary on the film industry and as a study of a complex psychological bond between two individuals who can't really be described as anything but tragic."
The Authority: Us and Immortality by 20thcenturyvole
Jenny Sparks knows she's not going to live forever. Honestly, who'd want to?
As Jenny Sparks becomes aware of her destiny throughout the 20th Century, she keeps having run-ins with various immortal personages which make her reflect upon her own choices and possibilities. The story is actually a cross-over with several fandoms I'm not familiar with (The Sandman, Doctor Who (2005), and Highlander: The Series), but it works on its own as a thoughtful character study with a great Jenny voice.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011): Lifebreath by musamihi
Something about Bill has changed, and try as he might not to see it, Jim can't help that he knows. He's always known.
Oh, my heart. Jim has suspicions, deep down, and he does his best to quench them, because "Jim was not Bill - Jim had never wanted or thought he was owed everything. This little sitting room would do for him, and this bottle of scotch, and this brush of fingers against the back of his hand, and this promise of more that always radiated off of Bill's sudden edge of a smile." So sad and lovely.
Wooden Horse series/The Charioteer: How Many Strawberries Grow in the Sea? by halotolerant
'Shaking himself a little, John methodically took off his new uniform jacket and then sat on the bed to remove his boots. New boots as well, issued on his return to Britain, stiff and tight and warm. Boots that had not marched or paced, boots that had none of the earth of Poland on them, boots without holes, without part of the laces removed for other projects.
That part of his life was over.'
Back in Britain following the escape, John is alone with the impossible questions.
A story about finding yourself and learning who you are, what you want, how to obtain it. The atmosphere is wonderfully drawn; the love story is moving; the writing is gorgeous; there is a real sense of time and space, from wartime England to the POW camp and back.
(And yes, I myself only have second-hand knowledge of the fandoms. But I love Halotolerant's writing so much I wanted to give the story a try anyway, and I'm so glad I did. It stands more than well enough on its own.)
This entry was originally posted at http://miss-morland.dreamwidth.org/92191.html. You may comment there, if you like.