Oh, this is terrific. Really. I don't know about details of Old West mythology or whatever, but I think you got the mythologized Old West, if that distinction makes sense. This really is how we think about the Old West, how it feels in our cultural bones. You could have told any story you wanted--that it really was that Russian goddess in a mountain, or the story of aliens colonizing a new land, *anything*, and it would have felt like it fit, because you wrote the flavor of the land and air right. You did a really good job.
"mythologized old west" was exactly what i was going for! i didn't want it to be wildly anachronistic (because that kind of thing drives me nuts in historical fiction - do your research, people! at least the bare minimum!), but it didn't need to be strictly accurate in all things, either, because i wasn't going for strict accuracy, i was going for feel. i hung the fic on myths and folktales and legends, so the setting itself had to be a little myth-y. i'm so glad you got it.
but that's why the devil couldn't be a russian princess in a mountain. that story is too locationally weird, too geographically wrong, to come from the nineteenth-century west.
This fic really swept me away. The town and its inhabitants were charming, how Jared was always looking for a new story. Danneel and her brothel, the poker games, everything just added to the atmosphere. Finally, the devil and the how she stole Jensen.. what a great element. Jared and his dogged determination to get Jensen back, the ghost ponies (awesome!) and finally bargaining with the devil to get Jensen released. Everything just worked, it was magical. Kudos to you for this awesome fic! Thanks for sharing.
this was terrific. The scene with Jared and the devil was outstanding. When Jared left the cave I had to force myself not to skim ahead to make sure Jensen really followed him. Well struck. Applauds.
aw, thank you! i am happy-ending girl, so of course jensen was going to follow jared out of the underworld. :D jared and the devil was one of the first things i wrote, and i'm so gratified that you thought that scene was outstanding.
no, thank you for your comment! the poker games were really fun to write - i mean, it's boys bickering, what's not to love? :D - and the ghost ponies are based on a real legend (the ghost horses of palo duro canyon - it's a horrible story but i'm completely fascinated by it), so i'm especially pleased you liked those. i'm pleased you liked all of it!
and it's all the stories jared collected that save jensen's life, so i had to make the point that he's always looking for more. he's scheherazade. :D
Comments 22
Reply
Reply
Reply
but that's why the devil couldn't be a russian princess in a mountain. that story is too locationally weird, too geographically wrong, to come from the nineteenth-century west.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
and it's all the stories jared collected that save jensen's life, so i had to make the point that he's always looking for more. he's scheherazade. :D
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment