newsletter #29 (June 2013)

[harrigan]

Welcome to the spn_littlebro newsletter #29 for June 2013!





Fevered Ramblings:

Happy 2 year anniversary to spn_littlebro! And thanks to all the members and passersby who have shared their favorite hurt!Sam and hurt!Jared finds and joined in the general squee here.

Meanwhile, it's nearly Wednesday and no new Supernatural to tingle with anticipation for! What shall we do? How about some recs! (And if you like them as much as we did, please consider dropping the author/artist/creator a comment.)

Who's Hurting Sam or Jared Lately?

• Summary: Sam’s fever spikes and there’s an ice bath. But Dean’s got it. Those last few episodes of season 8 were a goldmine for hurt!Sam fans, and this little 1-2K gen ficlet is a perfect example. Check out Carrying the Weight by nwspaprtaxis!


• One of summer's pleasures is a tradition we find at ff.net, where K-Hanna-Korossy says, "Summer reading begins today! I don't have enough fic for every week, but I will be posting a story every second Sunday until the new season begins, starting today. -KHK" cherry916 would like to rec her 6K SPN gen fic Deus Ex Machina, with the summary He couldn't really blame Dean's angel for not wanting to deal with the guy who had demonic blood in his veins and was consorting with a demon, but Sam would do anything to find his brother. Anything. Cherry enjoyed the infected bite and temporary paralysis, and says "this is set in S4 and explores Castiel's feelings toward Sam, especially when Sam is in need of his services to find Dean. Of course like all heroes, you have to get beaten up to save the person right?"
• If you like that one, K Hanna Korossy has another just posted on ff.net: Sucker Punch. Summary: Sam goes alone to meet an old friend from college. What can go wrong? If you ask harrigan, she'd say if there's anything more fun than Sam with a bullet through the leg, it's a blood trail for Dean to follow. This story, SPN gen and over 15K, delivers!


• Xenophobia was written for spn_cinema by selecasharp and pixymisa as an SPN version of Alien: In space, no one can hear you scream. ash48 says "The authors do a wonderful job capturing both the film and the Supernatural universe. The casting of SPN characters in the film roles is fabulous. I am sure this story can be read without knowing the film, but it is fun seeing how they work both worlds together. It will have you on the edge of your seat - especially as it reaches the climax. There are some great Sam 'n Dean moments also."
• de_nugis has a new fic: Thirteen ways of looking at a blackbird. Sometimes, catharsis doesn't work like that. ash48 says "This is beautifully written, heart wrenching prose. The sheer weight of it is palpable. It's a coda for 8.23 and looks at the depths Sam needs to go to before he can see real hope. It packs a power punch for only 850 words. GO NOW!"
• ash48 has found another new hurt!Sam treat: Just a Scratch by cece_away. Ash recs this one because "this story will hit all your hurt!Sam, protective!Dean buttons. Sam is trapped with a couple of monsters - one who wants to eat him, one who wants to protect him. The idea is interesting and I love that Sam is surrounded by characters who want to look after and protect him. And poor Sam is in very bad shape. ;)
• scullspeare is noted for her SPN gen casefics that are plotty, rife with great brotherly banter, and full of hurt!Sam, hurt!Dean, or both. harrigan says her latest, Stay in the Light, is all of the above. Summary: There's something out there in the dark, ripping its victims apart - and now it has Sam and Dean in its sights. If you're in the mood for Sam badly injured, trapped in a cave-in in an old mine, with malevolent spirits on the prowl, and Dean desperate to find him... look no further!


• Too busy at the end of the school year to wallow in fic, but have more time on your hands now? The 2013 Sam's birthday meme at ohsam is always worth a visit. Prompts are in the comments, and you can pick one to tickle your creative muse any time (use the #amnesty tag when you post). Plus, just keep an eye out on ohsam to read all the delightful fills!
• Summer is a great time to wallow in the assorted challenges underway, from spn_j2_bigbang to shorter and more specialized celebrations. Don't forget to let us know (by commenting at the theme posts at spn_littlebro) if you find some rec-worthy hurt!Sam or hurt!Jared!
• Feeling creative, but need a nudge on what to write/create/etc.? Check out the latest round of hc_bingo! Sign-up post is here.

Featured Fic Recs:

• cherry916 has a pair to highlight this month: an SPN gen and a J2AU.
  • Sounds of Silence by sunrize83 is one of several excellent stories posted shortly after Sam broke his wrist in season 2. Summary: Sometimes you can communicate what's important without saying a word. cherry916 says, "This is set after Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things, and explores Sam's broken hand and the brothers' relationship. Written way back in 2006, likely right after the episode aired. I think it's a great look at the boys' relationship back then."
  • A Lavish Prison by bahama-breeze77 is summarized with Jared’s life is hell; he has one friend, a horrible boyfriend, and his future being decided for him. But that all starts to change when a gorgeous green-eyed photographer moves into the next door apartment. "This is an amazing story that has been 5 years in the making," cherry916 says. "Jared is in an abusive relationship, with a mother who doesn't care/takes advantage of him to suit her own needs, and a lover who is destructive and keen on keeping Jared under control. Then Jensen moves in next door and things are never the same. She finally has completed this story, and I love her portrayal of Steve, Chris and Chad, as well as Josh Duhamel who plays the abusive boyfriend. It's a long, great read." The link above is for the first chapter, which doesn't link to the next. For a link to all 25 chapters, go here.
• ayane42 has three to feature:
  • Number One Fan by sylvia-locust is first up: an SPN/RPF 5-10K fic summarized as Jared is kidnapped by a strange man who keeps calling him Sam... ayane42 says "I found this to be a really intense, scary story!!! Crazy fan and Jared alone in a mountain cabin, eeeeee!!! Lots of hurt!Jared, but his determination to save himself despite his injuries gave me hope that it would all be ok!!" Plus, there's a prequel and a sequel!
  • The Dying of the Light by glimmerella is a very short fic written for the 2010 SPN Last Author Standing challenge. Sam has early-onset Alzheimer's and our reccer says, "This story just stuck with me. Heart-breaking look at the boys in their later years and how much they mean to each other."
  • Finally, she offers up Sweet Child of Mine by tornknees from 2011. Summary: Bobby didn’t always agree with John’s parenting, didn’t trust that the way those boys were raised wouldn’t ruin them, but he did always make sure they were safe. Bobby couldn’t even manage to do that much. ayane42 says "This is a heart-breaking story! It's the story of Bobby and the boys, when Sam is 5 and Dean is 9. A story of Bobby being a father to the boys while John is off hunting, struggling with the weirdness of wee Sam's behavior. It certainly made me tear up! The depths of despair that Sammy goes through--just an incredibly worthwhile story to read!"
• Check out the podfic rec below for a long SPN gen fic rec: the text version is linked there too!

Other Media:

• art: cherry916 found Sacrifice by reducto1 on tumblr, and says this is "a beautiful drawing based off the finale Sacrifice that encompasses all the feelings and emotions between Sam and Dean during that time. I love her muted colors; I think it suits the mood."
• podfic: Redemption by ASadisticWhim is a 2009 end-of-Season-3 AU fic that's close to 40K. Summary: Sam took a step back as he turned. The look on his face wasn’t one of mourning; it was pure determination sheathed in desperation. “Dean’s in Hell, Bobby,” he said. “I’m going to get him back.” ash48 is delighted to report it's available in podfic format here and adds, "This is how I imagine Sam's trip into hell to rescue a soul - not strolling in a backdoor and coming out unscathed but rather showing the devastating toll it takes. This is a beautifully creative story about Sam rescuing Dean from Hell after the end of S3 and the after effects for both the boys. I listened to the podfic and became totally engrossed in the story telling." The reader is the always wonderful jenilees.
• music videos: ash48's rec this month is Sam character study called I'm a Monster by BeverlyDawn. Ash says, "This vid gripped my heart and brought a tear to my eye. It's tenderly edited and looks at Sam's character through the seasons. The song suits him perfectly."
• eBooks, etc.: Xenophobia, rec'd above and over 20K, is also available in PDF format here.

What else?

For the hiatus before season 9 begins, we'll be continuing our monthly newsletter of recs, but look for a few special posts from us each month too. Stay tuned!