Yuletide Recs: Batch 1
I've been ill this Christmas but on the plus side that has meant that over the last two days I've had time and space to read through a bunch of Yuletide fics and highlight a few of the ones I've really enjoyed. I'm about halfway through the fandoms (I read in any fandom I know canon for) so there will probably be a second list though I may not finish in time for reveals. Anything that is over 10K I tend to come back to at the end. If your fic is on the list and not yet commented by me, rest assured I'll get there.
I was extremely happy to receive a gift and a treat, both of them in Top Gun and both of them super enjoyable. So I have come out swinging in terms of good Yuletide luck. I got incredibly sexy and hot fic in The Wingman with a beautiful curve between the initial magnetic attraction and the gradual growing relationship between Ice and Maverick. And then as well, I got a gorgeous fic - Ship to Shore about Ice and Maverick's relationship post film, this amazing slow build between them, distance and closeness all at once. Read them both and enjoy!
Curtain Material - The Thick of It. This is an amazing gen fic and one of my favourites of the collection so far. Nicola's voice is dry and clear and the whole fic gets exactly that frenetic energy of the show all wrapped in a wonderful meta-ish take through different source materials - book reviews, interviews and HIGNFY episodes. There's a real and satisfying feel to the conclusions drawn within it about politics and tempraments in particular, and it's dealt with in such an even handed and deliberate way. A must read.
To See a World in a Grain of Sand - The Iron Dragon's Daughter (Michael Swanwick). One of my favourites that I've read so far - such strong clarity in Jane's voice. It's spot on in terms of the canon feel, but also an extremely readable fic without canon knowledge as Jane shines so strongly within it. There's a lot of tiny touches about the nature of godhead and the use of power that really flesh it out and the descriptions are superb.
light and shadow (you and i) - A Yank at Oxford. This is a wonderful twist on the 5 times take, 5 times that two people fight and feel and gradually grow closer. It gets in some beautiful nods to the canon and fits in seamlessly around the edges, with a great deal of verve and heat.
Hunger - The Terror. This is meticulous fic about Goodsir, ranging through his human drives, pervaded with a sense of detail and wistfulness that works for the canon and the character. I loved the delicate touches and how few words created such a strong atmosphere.
Aunty - Kim (Rudyard Kipling). An almost forgotten character gets a spot in the sunshine. There's something almost elegaic about a fic about those left behind and the mingling between dreams and reality. The author touches on loss and on forged relationships in a way that isn't sentimental, but stilll feels very emotionally satisfying at the end.
At the Edge of the Woods - The Yawning Grave - Lord Huron (Song) - beautiful descriptive fic about the twisted forms of love that can exist, with a wealth of feeling and memories wound through it. The author has a deft hand with not just descriptions, but managing the emotions of the piece so it never feels overwrought.
A Bold Move - Derry Girls. This is charming and funny and totally in keeping with the series itself. There's a lovely scattering of cameos from the rest of the cast, but mostly it's Sister Michael and Orla being themselves, and being themselves works for this fic.
When It Happens - Fire and Hemlock (Diana Wynne Jones). I was so happy to see a Fiona story and I love how well her and Polly fit post canon end. The handling of the canon relationship weaves in perfectly, spaces for Tom/Polly in nowhere and for Fiona and Polly here. The hints of the supernatural and the little tickling touches of separate worlds are really good in particular.
Regina - Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (2017) I really loved Olive's feelings and her love of Elizabeth in this. One of the reasons I didn't love the canon itself was some aspects of the treatment of both women and this fic fleshed their relationship out with a warmth and depth that I really enjoyed.
The Neapolitan Ice Cream of People Sports Night. This is such a wam and cosy fic and the relationships are so deftly drawn between all three of the participants. There's something very satisfying about how each leg gets a moment to shine and I loved that. There were also moments of humour that felt just like the show, and overall this is the fic equivalent to a warm blanket and a really good cup of tea.
I was extremely happy to receive a gift and a treat, both of them in Top Gun and both of them super enjoyable. So I have come out swinging in terms of good Yuletide luck. I got incredibly sexy and hot fic in The Wingman with a beautiful curve between the initial magnetic attraction and the gradual growing relationship between Ice and Maverick. And then as well, I got a gorgeous fic - Ship to Shore about Ice and Maverick's relationship post film, this amazing slow build between them, distance and closeness all at once. Read them both and enjoy!
Curtain Material - The Thick of It. This is an amazing gen fic and one of my favourites of the collection so far. Nicola's voice is dry and clear and the whole fic gets exactly that frenetic energy of the show all wrapped in a wonderful meta-ish take through different source materials - book reviews, interviews and HIGNFY episodes. There's a real and satisfying feel to the conclusions drawn within it about politics and tempraments in particular, and it's dealt with in such an even handed and deliberate way. A must read.
To See a World in a Grain of Sand - The Iron Dragon's Daughter (Michael Swanwick). One of my favourites that I've read so far - such strong clarity in Jane's voice. It's spot on in terms of the canon feel, but also an extremely readable fic without canon knowledge as Jane shines so strongly within it. There's a lot of tiny touches about the nature of godhead and the use of power that really flesh it out and the descriptions are superb.
light and shadow (you and i) - A Yank at Oxford. This is a wonderful twist on the 5 times take, 5 times that two people fight and feel and gradually grow closer. It gets in some beautiful nods to the canon and fits in seamlessly around the edges, with a great deal of verve and heat.
Hunger - The Terror. This is meticulous fic about Goodsir, ranging through his human drives, pervaded with a sense of detail and wistfulness that works for the canon and the character. I loved the delicate touches and how few words created such a strong atmosphere.
Aunty - Kim (Rudyard Kipling). An almost forgotten character gets a spot in the sunshine. There's something almost elegaic about a fic about those left behind and the mingling between dreams and reality. The author touches on loss and on forged relationships in a way that isn't sentimental, but stilll feels very emotionally satisfying at the end.
At the Edge of the Woods - The Yawning Grave - Lord Huron (Song) - beautiful descriptive fic about the twisted forms of love that can exist, with a wealth of feeling and memories wound through it. The author has a deft hand with not just descriptions, but managing the emotions of the piece so it never feels overwrought.
A Bold Move - Derry Girls. This is charming and funny and totally in keeping with the series itself. There's a lovely scattering of cameos from the rest of the cast, but mostly it's Sister Michael and Orla being themselves, and being themselves works for this fic.
When It Happens - Fire and Hemlock (Diana Wynne Jones). I was so happy to see a Fiona story and I love how well her and Polly fit post canon end. The handling of the canon relationship weaves in perfectly, spaces for Tom/Polly in nowhere and for Fiona and Polly here. The hints of the supernatural and the little tickling touches of separate worlds are really good in particular.
Regina - Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (2017) I really loved Olive's feelings and her love of Elizabeth in this. One of the reasons I didn't love the canon itself was some aspects of the treatment of both women and this fic fleshed their relationship out with a warmth and depth that I really enjoyed.
The Neapolitan Ice Cream of People Sports Night. This is such a wam and cosy fic and the relationships are so deftly drawn between all three of the participants. There's something very satisfying about how each leg gets a moment to shine and I loved that. There were also moments of humour that felt just like the show, and overall this is the fic equivalent to a warm blanket and a really good cup of tea.