Story 155: "A Candle for Katherine" by Marasmus

[amyhit]

Marasmus wrote the bulk of her X-Files fanfic during the latter half of the show's heyday. Most of her fics are short to moderate in length - misleadingly small word counts when you consider that each of her fics manages to be strikingly unique, full of resonances and implications that keep you thinking about them long after you've finished reading

Comments

[heartequals]

Just fyi, the first link leads to geocities.

[wendelah1]

amyhit must have already fixed it; it worked okay for me. I think it's more fun to read her stories at finisterre anyway because of the commentary.

[mosinging1986]

This brought back memories! I usually don't care much for stories where you don't know all the details, or even how everyone ends up. But this is the type of story where you're swept up in the moment, and so you just go with it, and trust everything will be okay in the end.

[bardsmaid]

And the story did catch you and sweep you up. The OC was very well drawn, very real. Which made this a treat to read.

A Candle for Katherine

[zinnia03]

I've read "Cellphone" many times -- it's hard not to, since it's recced so frequently. "A Candle for Katherine" makes a good companion piece to it.

Nicely done OC. Nice handling of the inevitable that happens in fanfic stories -- the reader knows more than the OC does generally, which is not so common in mainstream fic as it is in fanfiction. It helps that this story takes place after the end of the series. It's a story that's kind of prescient in a way: Mulder and Scully on the run, and I believe that this was written well before the end of the series.

I had a happy hour or two poking around and reading a few other stories on her journal. There's a Doctor Who/XF crossover that I highly recommend: "The Flexible Concept of Tomorrow." I don't know the "Doctor Who" series very well, but it didn't matter for this story. It's a great read.

Re: A Candle for Katherine

[wendelah1]

I agree, "The Flexible Concept of Tomorrow" is a great read. It's one of my favorite cross-overs. We discussed it here, if you wanted to see the comments.

Edited for html fail.

Re: A Candle for Katherine

[zinnia03]

Thanks for the link to the discussion. Interesting comments about crossovers in general. I think I need to go find out what happened to Donna Noble and then read the story again.

Re: A Candle for Katherine

[wendelah1]

You can just look her up on Wikipedia. That gave me enough background to appreciate, if not fully grok the story's meaning for fans who love that character.

[amyhit]

I guess I'd better comment on this one, since I posted it. For some reason it's the kind of fic I feel like I have a lot to say about until I actually try to say something, and then all I can think to say is, "Fic good."

Okay, semi point form, reasons why fic is good

[estella_c]

I didn't have time to reread ACFK, but I have read it and respect it highly, like all things Marasmus. It provides a softening of the readers' defenses as we have the opportunity to drop beneath the "star wars" scenario CC left us with to observe vulnerable people in old places who have no idea that life is ready to slap them with more than mundane disappointment. It's kind of like kitchen sink drama, complete with "Marty"-style infatuation, set delicately down as a contrast to the Apocalypse. It's a crossover of (good) British soap opera, whatever they call it, with (good) American science-fictional television.

I've decided that I love crossovers. And, in my experience, Finisterre's "The Flexible Concept of Tomorrow" is the best.