Lifetime Fic Bingo: 2012
Click to viewIt's 2012, and people are talking a variety of nonsense about the Mayan calendar. Psy is on the radio. Here in the USA, the year's top film is The Avengers. New terms coined include: escape room, generative AI, hot take, JOMO, and reaction GIF.
For 2012, I read five works: three Professionals fics, one Battlestar Galactica x A-Team crossover, and one Man from U.N.C.L.E. x Doctor Who crossover.
The first Professionals fic, A Game of Two Halves by Jojo, was a slowly developing story about Bodie and Doyle watching soccer, overcoming tensions in their friendship, and becoming lovers (though more happens than that makes it sound like). It was notable for its inclusion of the Falklands war in its narrative. Despite that being a major event of the Pros era, I haven't read a fic before that incorporates it. In this fic, it's the source of the tension between Bodie and Doyle. I think that element is very well done and true to each of the Lads' characters. The rest of the fic was also enjoyable. 20,562 words. Bodie/Doyle slash.
I also read A Mercenary's Tale by Fictionwriter, a Professionals fic in which Bodie's mercenary past invades his present. A large portion of this story is devoted to backstory flashbacks covering Bodie's time in Angola and the Congo. These are really outstanding. They are the most carefully constructed and plausible account of Bodie's tenure in Africa that I have read. The portion of the story that took place in the present was also interesting, with some unexpected subtleties. I'd say that the only drawback of this story is that it seems to discount the episode Klansmen entirely. Readers' mileage will vary as to how much that bothers them. This fic was my favorite for the year. 46,849 words. Bodie/Doyle slash. Particularly recommended.
At this point, I intended to read 'Til We Have Built Jerusalem by PR Zed, the sequel to Babylon is Fallen from 2010, which I enjoyed so much. I had been looking forward to it. In the event, though, I was afraid that my still poor mental health would prevent me from enjoying it properly. I ended up putting it off and got caught up in a succession of other fics. As a result, I didn't read 'Til We Have Built Jerusalem for this year. I intend to read it as an extracurricular soon.
The last Professionals fic I actually read was When It All Comes Tumbling Down by Marjoram_Max. This is an AU in which Doyle is a single father retired from the police, and Bodie has just moved into his apartment building. This fic was its author's first attempt and it isn't perfect. I found the pacing a bit uneven. The story really drew me in, though; I wanted to know what was going to happen. I also liked and believed in the alternate Dad!Doyle from whose point of view the story was told. And the author made wisely sparing use of the kid, Toby. Toby was in the story enough to be plausible without becoming annoying. 43,041 words. Bodie/Doyle slash.
I also read Abode by Sonora, a really interesting crossover between original series Battlestar Galactica and The A-Team. In this story, Starbuck is sucked through a wormhole in his viper. He crash lands on Earth, where he encounters the A-Team. Reading about his coming to terms with his exile and learning about Earth culture was engrossing. The ending was also intriguing. I look forward to reading the sequel for 2013. 10,913 words. Slash. Particularly recommended.
Comments with spoilers:
[Spoiler (click to open)]In this fic, Starbuck takes on a new identity as Face after crashing in war torn Vietnam. He also enters into sexual relationships with each other member of the Team. That was my least favorite aspect of the fic, since I don't really ship any of the Team together, let alone all of them with Face. With Face written as the same person as Starbuck, though, I was willing to go with it. Starbuck as someone who takes care of others using sex seems to be a fairly well established characterization in BSG fanfic.
Finally, I read The Riders of the Storm Affair by spikesgirl58, a crossover between The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Doctor Who in which Napoleon and Illya meet the Tenth Doctor. This fic had some good points, but I didn't like it very much overall. 14,401 words. Gen.
(I'm still considering what the best way is to write up fics I did not like. Today I'm experimenting with mentioning them but providing minimal detail. Is this better or worse than alternatives?)
Check out the Professionals vid Ho Hey by jaicen5, which uses a hit song from 2012.
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Fics so far:
1986
Double Vision by Pamela Rose (The Professionals x Who Dares Wins; 47,962 words; slash)
Begin Again by Lois Welling (Ann Barrister) (The Professionals; 1,318 words; gen)
*Night Before the World Ends by Lezlie Conch (Lezlie Shell) (The Professionals; 4,355 words; slash)
The Crab Apple Cove Affair by Charlie Kirby (The Man from U.N.C.L.E. x M*A*S*H; 2,301 words; gen)
*In the Belly of Leviathan by Pythia (original series Battlestar Galactica; 13,062 words; gen)
1987
The Never Too Late Affair by Debra Hicks (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 1,441 words; slash)
*The Traitor Within the Gates Affair by D. H. Bryn (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; ~34,000 words; het)
Whisper of a Kill by Lois Welling (Ann Barrister) (The Professionals; 53,978 words; slash)
The Adventure of the Traitorous Lieutenant by Eileen Roy (Sherlock Holmes; 1,827 words; gen)
*Brothers in Arms by Anais (original series Battlestar Galactica; 4,099 words; gen)
1988
Night Moves by Courtney Gray (The Professionals; 35,344 words; slash)
Rainbow Chasers by HG (The Professionals; 134,373 words; slash)
Patterns in Walls by Debra Hicks (The Professionals x Sable; 6,003 words; gen)
Family Traits by Jatona Walker (The Professionals; 1,443 words; slash)
Slippery Situation by Debra Hicks (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 1,634 words; slash)
1989
In From the Cold by cybel (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 9,454 words; slash)
Nothing in Common by cybel (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 3,033 words; slash)
The Zippity Do-Dah Affair by Alys (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 934 words; slash)
*[From 1982: Looking Glass World by Felicity M. Parkinson (The Professionals; 22,758 words; slash)]
...And Memories Die, Part I by Ellis Ward (The Professionals; 26,340 words; slash)
*[Hell Hath No Fury by Jane Carnall and Ann Johnson (The Professionals; 2,958 words; gen)]
The Price of a Soul a Professionals fic by Jane Carnall and Ann Johnson (The Professionals; 2,194 words; slash)
[From 1986: Two Up by Jane of Australia (The Professionals; 8,013 words; slash)]
[Two Up Truly Queered by Jane Carnall (The Professionals; 2,360 words; slash)]
1990
*The Long St. Crispin's Day by C. W. Walker (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 19,765 words; gen)
*One Small Step by Lori Beatty (The A-Team; 5,713 words; gen)
Nor the Leopard His Spots by M. Fae Glasgow (The Professionals x EastEnders; ~15,000 words; slash)
*...And Memories Die, Part II by Ellis Ward (The Professionals; 46,161 words; slash)
*Absent Friends by Jane Carnall and Ann Johnson (The Professionals; 692 words; slash)
1991
*The Seventeen Days in October Affair by Terry L Neill and J. M. D’Agostino-Toney (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 14,854 words; gen)
*The Devil's Attic Affair by C. W. Walker (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 28,968 words; gen)
The Lion of Ngambo Affair by C. W. Walker (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 23,087 words; het)
Free Trader by Debra Hicks (The Professionals x Star Trek TNG; 26,454 words; slash)
Legacy of Temptation by Ellis Ward (The Professionals; 100,794 words; slash)
1992
What Price Honor? by Debra Hicks (The A-Team; 4,105 words; gen)
*The Surfin' and Spyin' Affair by Jennifer Adams Kelley (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 11,650 words; gen)
Bonding by Stew (The Professionals; 22,241 words; slash)
Some Say the World Will End in Fire by Jane Mailander (from Proslib) (The Professionals; 5,410 words; slash)
*Floral Arrangement by M. Fae Glasgow (The Professionals; ~13,000 words; slash)
1993
*Nothing Left to Lose by Jane (of Australia) and Madelaine Ingram (The Professionals; 33,529 words; slash)
*The Blue Figurine by Courtney Grey (The Professionals; 29,960 words; slash)
Step We Gaily by M. Fae Glasgow (The Professionals; ~13,500 words; slash)
Guardian Angels by Baravan (The Professionals; 13,408 words; slash)
The Adventure of the Strange Visitor by Quordle (Sherlock Holmes x Blake's 7; 7,903 words; slash)
1994
Bounty by Jane (of Australia) (from Proslib) (The Professionals; ~31,000 words; slash)
*Baiting the Trap by DVS (The Professionals; 2,758 words; slash)
Love is Wealth by Gloria Lancaster (The Professionals; 13,387 words; slash)
Survival by Melanie Athene (The Professionals; 10,916 words; slash)
*Brighton Memoirs by gardenerhill (Sherlock Holmes; 5,530 words; slash)
1995
Sex, Lies and UNCLE by Anne Higgins (Part I, Part II) (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 51,540 words; slash)
Knife-Edge by HG (The Professionals; 6,141 words; slash)
You Dancing? You Asking? by Gloria Lancaster (The Professionals; 6,323 words; slash)
*Summer's End by Alexandra (The Professionals; 71,090 words; slash)
Memoirs of a Merc by Alexandra (The Professionals; 13,457 words; slash)
1996
The Beddgelert Affair by PR Zed (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 9,413 words; gen)
*Brief Candle by Suzan Lovett (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 22,698 words; slash)
*Festival of Lights by Dorinda (The Professionals; 3,454 words; slash)
Dance While You Can by Alexandra (The Professionals; 5,091 words; slash)
*Hacking Away at the System by sockii (The A-Team; 23,986 words; gen)
1997
*To Live in Interesting Times by Taliesin (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 19,657 words; slash)
*My Dinner with Angelique by Linda Cornett (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 4,251 words; gen)
If Memory Serves by Alexandra (The Professionals; 7,101 words; slash)
Predators by Jennifer Lyon (The Professionals; 32,232 words; slash)
After the Battle by LRH Balzer (The Professionals; gen)
*-Learning the Bisto Code (10,195 words)
-Three Men and a Bodie (8,390 words)
-Scissors (21,249 words)
1998
*Firewalls by Elespeth Leigh (The Professionals; 14,518 words; slash)
*Sufficient Unto the Day by Taliesin (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 2,657 words; slash)
Confidences by Taliesin (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 4,106 words; slash)
*The Uncertainty Principle by C. W. Walker (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 20,145 words; gen)
*Partners by Patricia J. Foley (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 46,824 words; slash)
1999
That Look by Amanda Warrington (The Professionals; 36,359 words; slash)
Firestorm by Elspeth Leigh (The Professionals; 21,278 words; slash)
Rules by PFL (The Professionals; 14,444 words; slash)
Hombathlay by Jane Mailander (The Professionals x Watership Down; 8,555 words; slash)
*Roots of the Present by N. L. Hayes (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 6,683 words; gen)
2000
Where I Can Cross Over by Gil Hale (The Professionals; 11,628 words; gen)
*Remember Me by Gil Hale (The Professionals; 25,630 words; gen)
True Minds Trilogy by Lanning (The Sentinel; slash)
*-[From 1999: True Minds (40,670 words)]
-[From 1999: Small Company (35,833 words)]
-Many Waters (31,026 words)
Unsleeping by Martha (The Sentinel x H. P. Lovecraft (works); 99,337 words; gen)
[From 1999: The Genesis Affair by Bill Koenig (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 16,828 words; gen)]
The Mirage Affair by Bill Koenig (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 15,468 words; gen)
2001
Angel Unaware by Legion (Sherlock Holmes x Quantum Leap; 29,371 words; slash)
*The Kamikaze Affair by LeeTheT (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 15,227 words; gen)
*The Man from Yesterday by Darklady (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 86,194 words; slash)
*In Balance With This Life by mazzysue (The Professionals; 4,422 words; slash)
*Fire Held High and Away by Miriam Heddy (The Professionals; 24,196 words; slash)
2002
Remission of Sin by nickovetch (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; gen; 13,487 words)
*Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Anonymous (Sherlock Holmes; slash (maybe); 2,971 words)
*Sorry, Bodie by Gil Hale (The Professionals; gen; 3,260 words)
In His Sights by Luca (The Profressionals; slash; 939 words)
*Verity by KerrAvonsen (The Sentinel x The Matrix; gen; 35,486 words)
2003
The Small Rain by 0ftgx (The Profressionals; slash; 3,804 words)
*A Pugnacious Angel by Gil Hale (The Profressionals; gen; 14,485 words)
I Took It For a Faery Vision by Taliesin (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 12,419 words)
Small Distances by LeetheT (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 9,241 words)
*Half Truths by LeetheT (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 34,674 words)
2004
Double Indemnity by alicambs (The Professionals; slash; 23,092 words)
First Time by laceymcbain (The A-Team; slash; 3,498 words)
Sleeping Together by YumYumPM (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 4,563 words)
Future Conditional by elaine (The Sentinel; ship; 26,150 words)
*Scenes from Another Life by Atalan (Harry Potter; slash; 10,262 words)
2005
Stockholm Syndrome by Gil Hale (The Professionals; gen; 15,649 words)
*The Assassin's Daughter by Lacey McBain (The Professionals; slash; 16,769 words)
*The Lily of the Valley Affair by LeetheT (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; gen; 38,100 words)
The Locust Affair by Lady Ra (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 45,374 words)
His Left Hand by Martha (The Sentinel; slash; 2,291 words)
[From 2007: A Chance of Fate by Claire Dobbin (The Professionals; slash; 20,963 words)]
2006
*Reconnections by madmogs (The Professionals; slash; 15,110 words)
*Weapons of Choice by P.R. Zed (The Professionals; slash; 2,404 words)
Love in a Cold County by Jojo (The Professionals; slash; 8,450 words)
*Cards on the Table by Mab (The Sentinel; slash; 26,762 words)
*Shadows of the Past by LitGal (The Sentinel x La Femme Nikita; gen; 43,835 words)
2007
*The Strongest Will by PFL (The Professionals; slash; 25,578 words)
*On Maneuvers by PFL (The Professionals; slash; 4,872 words)
All Places Alike by Asymphototropic (The Professionals; slash; 2,176 words)
The Kidnapped Instrument by spoke (Sherlock Holmes; slash; 7,505 words)
Unfit for Vision by Elise Madrid (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 18,314 words)
2008
*Legacy by Mab (The Professionals; slash; 10,795 words)
Doyle's War by Pandora Bachs (The Professionals; slash; 5,221 words)
*The Adventure of the Expert Cracksman by marycrawford (Sherlock Holmes; gen; 7,027 words)
*Its Own Kind of Chase by ShadowValkyrie (Sherlock Holmes; gen; 3,014 words)
Becoming a Lesbian: Megan Bloomfield's Guide for Cheerleaders by Deifire (But I'm a Cheerleader; femslash; 2,218 words)
2009
The UFO Affair by Sev (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 8,793 words)
*The Fourth Deathly Hallow by gingertart50 (Harry Potter x Sherlock Holmes; slash; 56,311 words)
Endlessly by FJBryan (The Professionals; slash; 13,390 words)
Stuck by asymphototropic (The Professionals; slash; 31,279 words)
One Summer by Slantedlight (The Professionals; slash; 42,614 words)
2010
Run Through the Jungle by Fictionwriter (The Professionals; slash with het; 23,961 words)
*Babylon Has Fallen by PR Zed (The Professionals x 28 Days Later; slash; 29,990 words)
*Simple Twist of Fate by Sarah K (The Professionals x FlashForward; slash; 21,764 words)
*Underland by crimson_adder (Sherlock Holmes x Neverwhere; slash; 35,953 words)
The Cat's Meow by akane42me (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; gen; 8,066 words)
2011
The True Confessions of Raymond Doyle by Sarah K (The Professionals; 30,223 words; slash)
Łe Nòte del Carnevàl by golden_bastet (The Professionals; 25,557 words; slash)
For Kicks by Dawnwind (The Professionals; 70,222 words; slash)
Calculus by elmey (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 8,302 words; slash)
Auld Reekie by Garonne (Sherlock Holmes; 12,885 words; slash)
2012
A Game of Two Halves by Jojo (The Professionals; slash; 20,562 words)
*A Mercenary's Tale by Fictionwriter (The Professionals; slash; 46,849 words)
When It All Comes Tumbling Down by Marjoram_Max (The Professionals; slash; 43,041 words)
*Abode by Sonora (original series Battlestar Galactica x The A-Team; slash; 10,913 words)
The Riders of the Storm Affair by spikesgirl58 (The Man from U.N.C.L.E. x Doctor Who; gen; 14,401 words)
* = Particularly recommended
[ ] = read but not counted toward the year's story total