Last of the year - recs, Yuletide and otherwise (the cold and caves update)
Last rec post of 2014. Happy Hogmanay!
General Recs:
Hamlet - Shakespeare, HIghlander, Hockey RPF, Inglourious Basterds (2009), The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, Marvel 616, Teen Wolf
Hamlet - Shakespeare
indigostohelit's The Undiscovered Country, Hamlet/Horatio and Hamlet/Ophelia
It's 1959, and the mayor of Chicago is dead.
Superbly done reimagining.
HIghlander
This year I have neither written for nor beta'd for hlh_shortcuts, so it's the first time I feel comfortable rec'ing anything other than everything - I have absolutely no idea who wrote what! But I'm going to rec all the stories anyway for this holiday exchange - there are some gorgeous stories this year, and if you are at all interested, do take a look. Of everything, though, I really loved these, not because I thought them better than anything else, but because of the usual lure, for me, of both history and language.
Bye-bye Blackbird, Amanda, Duncan and Cory
Sometimes there are particular places and moments fondly remembered.
The language. Carnival at the start of the depression, America, absolutely perfectly done from stockings to big top - this is a story that swings.
Drive the Winter Cold Away, Duncan/Methos
Methos celebrates the Winter Solstice and Duncan's Birthday.
Author's notes: A baker's dozen drabble string.
Pefectly developed progression of gorgeous vignettes.
Hockey RPF
ionthesparrow's For the Roses, Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin and Jeff Carter/Mike Richards
The bell shatters the quiet. The gates snap open and they run. Like blood through veins, like water over a cliff, they run like what they are: creatures bred for generations to fly.
If you're going to read one story about horse racing, this is it. Amazing piece of story-telling.
cheesewithmy's Frost Warning, Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin
Sidney's life has always been different, but when he's hired in the middle of the school-year to replace the missing kindergarten teacher of a small town, things take a turn for the weird, even for him. There's a friendly bear. There's something wicked out in the woods. It's up to Sidney to figure everything out while trying to get settled in his new home.
Evgeni Malkin the werebear. Do I honestly need to say anything else? No, really, I was utterly charmed.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
lonelywalker's The Fate You've Carved On Me, Hans Landa/OMC
Villains never get happy endings, but Nantucket's only gay Nazi is damn well going to try.
You won't be surprised to hear that I don't know this canon at all. But this story...I thought this was a tremendously brave story to write. I keep mulling it over, and for me that's something special.
The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
marycrawford's On the Cold Hill Side, Gimli/Legolas Greenleaf
In the end, Gimli thinks, Legolas will steal his heart and sail away with it, and even the wonders of the Glittering Caves are not enough consolation for that loss. But when Aragorn calls for Gimli’s help in dismantling the hidden traps of Orthanc, everything changes.
"...even a dwarf is not so great a fool as to try and battle the sea itself.” I loved this for its description, and for its language.
Marvel 616
Teyke's Descent, Hank Pym/Janet Van Dyne and Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
A hundred years ago humanity fled to the skies to escape the Darkness spreading across the land. Now the Flying Cities are mysteriously sinking, imperilling every man, woman, and child who lives there. Together with the transmution mages Henry Pym and Lady Janet Van Dyne, and joined by the amnesiac immortal Dr. Donald Blake, High Wizard Anthony Stark mounts an expedition down into the Dark, determined to uncover the secrets of the magical calamity that wiped humanity from the face of the Earth.
This I loved for its startlingly imaginative, immersive story-telling, and also for the descriptions of stone and caverns and darkness.
Sineala's The Rest of Our Lives, Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
It's the next year of the weapons expo, and Steve and Tony are back in Madripoor. Where there is one hotel with vacancies. Which has only one available room. Which has only one bed. Also Batroc is after them again. But that's not really the important part here.
Sineala, writing 616. It took ages to pin down which story to rec, and this post is half an hour late because I stopped to re-read...this one, because I'm fond of the original story-line, and I love the pitch and flow of the pace in this story, but it could be anything sineala's written, in this fandom or out of it.
Teen Wolf
sphesphe's Mush!, Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski
Two months away from his first adult-class dog sledding race, Stiles finds a big, black, surly dog at the local shelter with a tag inscribed Derek on the collar around his neck. Despite all sense, he decides to try training Derek as a sled dog. It's probably going to all end in tears.
Definitely a younger Stiles than I would normally read - but. Iditarod fic!! (Aliy Zirkle FTW forever!!!)
Revenant's Abominable, Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski
Where Derek buys a secluded cabin halfway up a mountain, meets a yeti and falls in love with Stiles, but not necessarily in that order.
OMG Yeti fic. Best Thing Ever. (I was all keyboard smash to V, but she just raised a patient metaphorical eyebrow, dammit.)
Yuletide Recs:
80 Days (Video Game 2014), A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess, The English Patient - Michael Ondaatje, Fiddler on the Roof - Bock/Harnick/Stein, Gun Street Girl (song) - Tom Waits, Ivanhoe - All Media Types, King Rat - James Clavell, Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
80 Days (Video Game 2014)
Beside me singing in the Wilderness
The adventures of Behiye bint Kasim, Captain of the pirate ship Canavar, and her engineer and companion Bulbul.
This I came across because of keerawa's rec over on yuletide, and I'm really grateful, because this is both a grand and thoughtful steampunk romp.
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
Singing in the Rain
There was me, that is Alex, and my two droogs, that is Pete and Dim, Dim being really dim, and we had just goolied into the Korova Milkbar, a sparkling new mesto just opened up in our fair community. I viddied the place up and down, and I knew already, O my brothers, that this was a mesto after my own liking.
It's incredibly tough to sustain this kind of voice, and to do as well as it's done here - such an impressive piece of writing.
The English Patient - Michael Ondaatje
as if from ashes, Hana Lewis/Kirpal Singh
He walks out on to the small lane outside, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his thickest winter coat. He’s forgotten his gloves again.
Love, in absences.
Fiddler on the Roof - Bock/Harnick/Stein
New Tune, Same Fiddle
Tevye discusses his problems in the New World with his old Friend.
Tevye in America, with a little hope.
Gun Street Girl (song) - Tom Waits
Orphans
A head full of bourbon and a dream in the straw
And a Gun Street girl was the cause of it all
Again, for language, incredibly powerful and atmospheric.
Ivanhoe - All Media Types
A Course to the Ocean
To his deep disappointment, Brian de Bois-Guilbert is not quite as dead as he had imagined himself to be.
That's such a good summary. But this is a great second look at - and second chance for - Brian de Bois-Guilbert and Maurice De Brace, with perfectly pitched dialogue and description.
King Rat - James Clavell
Torre Annunziata
Peter Marlowe, still in his demob suit, bought a ticket at Victoria for the boat train.
Numb, uncomfortable post-book conclusion, so very well done.
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Continuitas
Baldwin is ill, but this is nothing new.
Kings are still kings in the dark. Quietly ruinous.
unmasked
"You dealt me my most crushing defeat when you were a mere sixteen years of age."
Two great kings, exchanging pleasantries. The last two lines are stunning.
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Nope, don't know this canon either.
If all the world and love were young
Vampires in space, in a foul smelling tavern, and among a great many variously plush and shining Edwardian objects.
In addition, some music of the spheres.
This one I loved for language and world-building both, and for its lovely, sly humour.
General Recs:
Hamlet - Shakespeare, HIghlander, Hockey RPF, Inglourious Basterds (2009), The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien, Marvel 616, Teen Wolf
Hamlet - Shakespeare
indigostohelit's The Undiscovered Country, Hamlet/Horatio and Hamlet/Ophelia
It's 1959, and the mayor of Chicago is dead.
Superbly done reimagining.
HIghlander
This year I have neither written for nor beta'd for hlh_shortcuts, so it's the first time I feel comfortable rec'ing anything other than everything - I have absolutely no idea who wrote what! But I'm going to rec all the stories anyway for this holiday exchange - there are some gorgeous stories this year, and if you are at all interested, do take a look. Of everything, though, I really loved these, not because I thought them better than anything else, but because of the usual lure, for me, of both history and language.
Bye-bye Blackbird, Amanda, Duncan and Cory
Sometimes there are particular places and moments fondly remembered.
The language. Carnival at the start of the depression, America, absolutely perfectly done from stockings to big top - this is a story that swings.
Drive the Winter Cold Away, Duncan/Methos
Methos celebrates the Winter Solstice and Duncan's Birthday.
Author's notes: A baker's dozen drabble string.
Pefectly developed progression of gorgeous vignettes.
Hockey RPF
ionthesparrow's For the Roses, Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin and Jeff Carter/Mike Richards
The bell shatters the quiet. The gates snap open and they run. Like blood through veins, like water over a cliff, they run like what they are: creatures bred for generations to fly.
If you're going to read one story about horse racing, this is it. Amazing piece of story-telling.
cheesewithmy's Frost Warning, Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin
Sidney's life has always been different, but when he's hired in the middle of the school-year to replace the missing kindergarten teacher of a small town, things take a turn for the weird, even for him. There's a friendly bear. There's something wicked out in the woods. It's up to Sidney to figure everything out while trying to get settled in his new home.
Evgeni Malkin the werebear. Do I honestly need to say anything else? No, really, I was utterly charmed.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
lonelywalker's The Fate You've Carved On Me, Hans Landa/OMC
Villains never get happy endings, but Nantucket's only gay Nazi is damn well going to try.
You won't be surprised to hear that I don't know this canon at all. But this story...I thought this was a tremendously brave story to write. I keep mulling it over, and for me that's something special.
The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien
marycrawford's On the Cold Hill Side, Gimli/Legolas Greenleaf
In the end, Gimli thinks, Legolas will steal his heart and sail away with it, and even the wonders of the Glittering Caves are not enough consolation for that loss. But when Aragorn calls for Gimli’s help in dismantling the hidden traps of Orthanc, everything changes.
"...even a dwarf is not so great a fool as to try and battle the sea itself.” I loved this for its description, and for its language.
Marvel 616
Teyke's Descent, Hank Pym/Janet Van Dyne and Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
A hundred years ago humanity fled to the skies to escape the Darkness spreading across the land. Now the Flying Cities are mysteriously sinking, imperilling every man, woman, and child who lives there. Together with the transmution mages Henry Pym and Lady Janet Van Dyne, and joined by the amnesiac immortal Dr. Donald Blake, High Wizard Anthony Stark mounts an expedition down into the Dark, determined to uncover the secrets of the magical calamity that wiped humanity from the face of the Earth.
This I loved for its startlingly imaginative, immersive story-telling, and also for the descriptions of stone and caverns and darkness.
Sineala's The Rest of Our Lives, Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
It's the next year of the weapons expo, and Steve and Tony are back in Madripoor. Where there is one hotel with vacancies. Which has only one available room. Which has only one bed. Also Batroc is after them again. But that's not really the important part here.
Sineala, writing 616. It took ages to pin down which story to rec, and this post is half an hour late because I stopped to re-read...this one, because I'm fond of the original story-line, and I love the pitch and flow of the pace in this story, but it could be anything sineala's written, in this fandom or out of it.
Teen Wolf
sphesphe's Mush!, Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski
Two months away from his first adult-class dog sledding race, Stiles finds a big, black, surly dog at the local shelter with a tag inscribed Derek on the collar around his neck. Despite all sense, he decides to try training Derek as a sled dog. It's probably going to all end in tears.
Definitely a younger Stiles than I would normally read - but. Iditarod fic!! (Aliy Zirkle FTW forever!!!)
Revenant's Abominable, Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski
Where Derek buys a secluded cabin halfway up a mountain, meets a yeti and falls in love with Stiles, but not necessarily in that order.
OMG Yeti fic. Best Thing Ever. (I was all keyboard smash to V, but she just raised a patient metaphorical eyebrow, dammit.)
Yuletide Recs:
80 Days (Video Game 2014), A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess, The English Patient - Michael Ondaatje, Fiddler on the Roof - Bock/Harnick/Stein, Gun Street Girl (song) - Tom Waits, Ivanhoe - All Media Types, King Rat - James Clavell, Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
80 Days (Video Game 2014)
Beside me singing in the Wilderness
The adventures of Behiye bint Kasim, Captain of the pirate ship Canavar, and her engineer and companion Bulbul.
This I came across because of keerawa's rec over on yuletide, and I'm really grateful, because this is both a grand and thoughtful steampunk romp.
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
Singing in the Rain
There was me, that is Alex, and my two droogs, that is Pete and Dim, Dim being really dim, and we had just goolied into the Korova Milkbar, a sparkling new mesto just opened up in our fair community. I viddied the place up and down, and I knew already, O my brothers, that this was a mesto after my own liking.
It's incredibly tough to sustain this kind of voice, and to do as well as it's done here - such an impressive piece of writing.
The English Patient - Michael Ondaatje
as if from ashes, Hana Lewis/Kirpal Singh
He walks out on to the small lane outside, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his thickest winter coat. He’s forgotten his gloves again.
Love, in absences.
Fiddler on the Roof - Bock/Harnick/Stein
New Tune, Same Fiddle
Tevye discusses his problems in the New World with his old Friend.
Tevye in America, with a little hope.
Gun Street Girl (song) - Tom Waits
Orphans
A head full of bourbon and a dream in the straw
And a Gun Street girl was the cause of it all
Again, for language, incredibly powerful and atmospheric.
Ivanhoe - All Media Types
A Course to the Ocean
To his deep disappointment, Brian de Bois-Guilbert is not quite as dead as he had imagined himself to be.
That's such a good summary. But this is a great second look at - and second chance for - Brian de Bois-Guilbert and Maurice De Brace, with perfectly pitched dialogue and description.
King Rat - James Clavell
Torre Annunziata
Peter Marlowe, still in his demob suit, bought a ticket at Victoria for the boat train.
Numb, uncomfortable post-book conclusion, so very well done.
Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
Continuitas
Baldwin is ill, but this is nothing new.
Kings are still kings in the dark. Quietly ruinous.
unmasked
"You dealt me my most crushing defeat when you were a mere sixteen years of age."
Two great kings, exchanging pleasantries. The last two lines are stunning.
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Nope, don't know this canon either.
If all the world and love were young
Vampires in space, in a foul smelling tavern, and among a great many variously plush and shining Edwardian objects.
In addition, some music of the spheres.
This one I loved for language and world-building both, and for its lovely, sly humour.