Story 209: "Sokol" by Khyber

[wendelah1]

Happy Canada Day and Happy Fourth of July.

Sokol was suggested in March of 2011 by estella_c, which tells you that we're a little backlogged. It's a good summer read: a novella length, fast-paced thriller, a myth-arc story that gives us an alternative ending to the series. I consider it essential reading for this fandom. In the MSR category, I'd put it up

Comments

[wendelah1]

Hi! Welcome to the book group. Let me just say your comment is pretty much what I'd say if I had the time right now to say it (maybe by this weekend if RL lets up a bit) so thank you. This felt like a godsend. ♥

The X-files isn't the great show it is because of water-tight plots, it's great because at it best it touches on huge themes and leaves a spooky, thoughtful, pleasantly confused feeling, and Sokol achieves that, it's both an amazing tribute to the potential/awesomeness of the X-Files universe, whilst being a wonderful new addition to this.

Yes, yes, yes. The new elements fit into the existing mytharc canon seamlessly, far better than what 1013 came up with starting with FTF.

This doesn't read as a script without a cast to act it, it reads as a novel. Other great writers often achieve this through focusing on the characters' thoughts and feelings (which I love too), Khyber instead achieves this mostly through a very ambitious storyline.

Sokol is very plot-centric (I'm sure there's a better term but I can't think of it just now), but I think the characterization is there, it's just revealed through the plot line, which is what you just said, isn't it? Anyway, that's generally how I prefer character stuff to be handled.

I'll have more to say in response once I finish the reread. I must say, I'm envious of you getting to read this for the first time.

[obviousanswer]

I'm glad my comment hit the mark. I'm relatively new to this, I was stoked to find this community and see that the recent posts were from 2012!

Yes, plot centric, that's what I meant in a round about way! I definitely agree that the characterisations are revealed really well as part of the plot, it all fits together so seamlessly.

[estella_c]

As newbie--though I'm sure not to reading the fic--you may want to scroll back to earlier stories/discussions when you have the time. There have been some doozies. (Now I wonder whether I spelled that right.)

[obviousanswer]

Thanks for the tip! This group is guiding my reading. I've started from the beginning and am slowly (somewhat selectively) making my way through. It's absolutely brilliant to read a fic for the first time then read the comments here, I feel less 15-years-too-late...!