Comments | xf_book_club: Story 82: "The Sin Eater" by Jane Mortimer

wendelah1 in xf_book_club

Story 82: "The Sin Eater" by Jane Mortimer

Jun 12, 2009 08:48

Last month, when I was going through the past recs for The X-Files at crack_van in preparation for my turn "driving the van," I was startled to realize that "The Sin Eater" was not on the list. As good as it is, and often as it has been recced elsewhere, I would have thought that everyone would have read it by now, but then a friend, who has been in the ( Read more... )

au, pg, msr

Comments 46

leucocrystal June 12 2009, 19:59:04 UTC

Ah, one of my earlier favorites. The writing strikes me as very... economical, if that makes sense. Hell, the whole story does. It's fairly short, by typical "classic" standards (I guess), and isn't anywhere near heavy on the description, relying more on dialogue than most stories do, which I find refreshing. It packs a big punch without being overwhelming in style or execution. This one has definitely stuck with me since I first read it.

wendelah1 June 15 2009, 02:49:45 UTC

Her style reminds me a little of cofax7's. She chooses her words so carefully, they can't help but make an impact. This is a very memorable story. I like all of her work, but this is my favorite of her serious MSR fic.

leucocrystal June 15 2009, 02:56:08 UTC

I need to think back on whether I've read any of cofax7's work or not... I've been reading less fic recently (and writing none at all), so my memory is definitely on the fuzzy side. If not, I'll have to check some out. (Also, hi! I feel like I haven't talked to you in ages. I hope you had a good trip!)

wendelah1 June 15 2009, 03:02:11 UTC

You are right, we have been out of touch. I did have a wonderful time, and will try to write a little about the trip soon. I went cold turkey on the internet access for nine days but I barely missed it, I was so happy and busy.

I am considering doing "Life During Wartime" here, which she co-authored, with Marasmus, fialka and Maria Nicole. idella nominated it. It is so long, I'll have to break it up into manageable pieces.

Thread 13

petite0red0head June 12 2009, 22:20:47 UTC

I had never read it. (I know and I call myself a fan.) Such a simple idea which thankfully did not get overly complicated. And I think much more could have made of the Mulder character and his time line, it was refreshing to read a fic which took a shorter lighter approach. And I love the dialogue. Lately I have been reading so much fic which missed the humor and banter that I am glad to find it again.

wendelah1 June 15 2009, 03:09:53 UTC

The dialogue is great. The story walks a delicate line, balancing the dark and the light, even the imagery does that.

a kind of rushed, gibbering thing i'm trying. amyhit June 14 2009, 02:08:47 UTC

*flails around* yeah, um... *flails more ( ... )

Re: a kind of rushed, gibbering thing i'm trying. leucocrystal June 15 2009, 02:55:00 UTC

Ooh, so this was new to you? Oh, wonderful.

I think you describe why the story works, and why it feels the way it does, very well. (Also, you are free to describe Mulder as often as you'd like, because that was lovely.) I also feel that the story, though already dark in its focus, definitely hints at still other dark avenues that we - and Scully - can barely hope to see from here. Of course, I feel the show did the same, so that's probably why the mood feels right, not to mention familiar.

I too like to see characters pushed to extremes at times, though I do have my limits (which are demonstrated by many things I just don't want to read). This is done very subtly in "The Sin Eater," which is probably why I both can read it, and enjoy it as much as I do.

Re: a kind of rushed, gibbering thing i'm trying. wendelah1 June 15 2009, 03:21:22 UTC

After years of reading fic, I have discovered I have limits, too. I refuse to read stories that have torturing the characters as their only purpose. I located a story today for someone from the old Mulder Torture Anonymous site via wayback and when I looked at the first chapter to see if the links would work, I had to close it fast. I just can't stand that kind of fic. I was almost sorry I had found it for her.

Edited for typos, etc.

Re: a kind of rushed, gibbering thing i'm trying. leucocrystal June 15 2009, 03:23:34 UTC

Yeah, I've never understood that either. I think I've read a few over the years that are archived on the MT site (though I suppose the only reason was some emotional torture? I have no idea), but going too far with that theme, or - for crying out loud - getting really literal? I just don't understand the appeal. I love these characters, dammit! Canon certainly tortured them enough.

Thread 11

sixpences June 15 2009, 15:10:10 UTC

I'll try to make the time to re-read the story and comment more extensively when I don't have a headache, but this really is a great story- like 'Strangers and the Strange Dead' and 'Cellphone' (which I see mentioned above) this was a real kick in the stomach to read for the first time. Like others have said, I am fascinated to see fic writers take the characters out to extremes we never saw on the show, and this Mulder is almost impossible to look away from.

wendelah1 June 15 2009, 23:42:02 UTC

Oh dear, I hope your head feels better soon. Come back when it does, 'kay? <3.

estella_c June 15 2009, 18:01:47 UTC

Holy Hannah. Twenty-two comments! That was fast ( ... )

wendelah1 June 15 2009, 22:13:19 UTC

You don't miss much, do you, she says, mentally striking "deepening kisses" and "turning white from fear" from her cliché repertoire. I didn't even notice Scully turning white and wasn't personally bothered by the romance novel language for french kissing. (Ick?) Like you, I was quite happy to have the sex happen off stage. I don't need or even want explicit descriptions of sex acts in a story like this. (This is why I vastly prefer to read gen to PG-13 fic in all fandoms. It is also helps explain why I am not a shipper or a slasher, in any fandom.)

"The Other Man" is a great example of just what this fic has achieved. It reminds me a little bit of (and may have influenced) Julie Fortune's (much later) "The Ghost of You" in the way time gets folded back to save Scully. In that fic, Romance is more overtly the point, though, not sacrifice. This story does fall into a pretty narrow category, doesn't it? I will have to think more about this. You know, I think we get a hint of this Mulder in Kel's "The Beginner's Guide to Tightrope ( ... )

estella_c June 16 2009, 00:21:01 UTC

Not to turn the dead horse into glue, but it's not the "turning white" that jars, but the fact that *Scully is thinking it about herself.* Other people notice us turning pale. We feel dizzy.

This reminds me of a really bad fic in which Scully referred to her own "titian hair." Like maybe she messed around with beautician school before choosing a medical specialty. And then wasted it by going into the FBI. (No wonder she was so convincing in--what?--that undercover thing where Mulder is working construction.)

But really, considering the high finish of this story, the lapses are extremely minor. Just an example of why geniuses still need editors. So bitches like yours truly will keep their mouths shut.

estella_c June 16 2009, 00:28:48 UTC

Oh--Lakers' victory. The Pgh Pens just won the Stanley Cup!! Fireworks woke me out of a sound sleep, and you know how I feel about sleep. (Bitch.)

Thread 6