{ Yuletide recs! 2011 }

[delga]

In case you missed them, I received two most excellent Lix-related fics this year:

Small Truths

The Siege of Tobruk

Whilst at work this week it quickly transpired I had nothing to do so I spent some time reading Yuletide fics. A smaller range of fandoms than usual, but here's what I loved from the main collection (didn't get around to mining Madness):

• exiit ad caelum (the eagle)
  Esca, Marcus and Cottia make a home. The fic starts with Esca lighting a fire and if that isn't the making of a hearth, I don't know what is. I love the tone of this fic, and the gradual building of the farm.
  
  
• a clear view of the sea (the eagle)
  Whilst ostensibly this fic is about Esca and Marcus building a home for the two of them and Cottia, it's also about Esca coming to terms with his part in that relationship. I love all the post-film/post-book fics that deal with these three and their farming struggles. Building a house is a metaphor in more ways than one.
  
  
• much a-dough about muffin (the baker)
  Eggs finds out that Rhiannon and Milo are getting married, thinks they're giving up the bakery, and promptly flips the fuck out in a very Eggs way. This fic is funny, and ends sweetly. Brilliant.
  
  
• maybe you did, maybe you walked (terminator franchise)
  The women of this franchise are the real heroes; John Connor is, as in the first film, just an idea. In this fic Kate survives a war and builds and builds and builds. I love that about her. She is the real hero.
  
  
• flight risk (spooks)
  Dimitri/Tariq in the aftermath of series 9, and goddamn, Tariq here is so, so kind, whilst Dimitri - bless him - is free-floating. This fic is so warm! A hard task with this fandom. Bonus points for Beth; fanon's take on her cracks me up, and this fic is no exception.
  
  
• everywhere you're leaving something (spooks)
  If your attitude to Spooks this year was anything like mine, Erin might have felt shoe-horned to you. This fic fleshes her out wonderfully, and reminds us that Dimitri is by no means an Alpha male. I love Erin in this; I love how natural all the characterisations feel. Again: bonus points for Beth.
  
  
• wrapt in a woman's hide (henry vi/richard iii)
  Goddamn, this fic is so, so good. The women of York make the most of their marriages. GODDAMN.
  
  
• open problem (push)
  Cassie's mother is the most powerful Watcher in recorded history. Sometimes that proves useful. I love the feel of this fic; it's laden with the same tiring quality of the film, both funny and touching.
  
  
• when you've learned the art of dying (push)
  Cassie does everything she can to save Nick's life. I was wary about this fic because I hate the premise of [person a] gives everything for [person b]. Except the slow spiralling madness that brings this fic to its inevitable close was so sad, and so well done, and really, with a set up like that, it could only end one of two ways.
  
  
• monday's child (push)
  Cassie grows up. This is a series of moments from her life with Nick. The writing is light, and Cassie exists inside and outside of Nick, which I appreciated.
  
  
• the road runner (luther)
  Following Alice after she makes her escape, what I loved most about this were her phone conversations. Her interactions with John and Mark are funny, which is horrific if you take the time to think about it. Great fic.
  
  
• seven wonders of the scientific world (luther)
  What I love about this fic is the style and the tone. It's the genesis of Alice, but also the writing is masterful: sometimes textbook, sometimes like myth. And that's Alice, isn't it? Now she can bury her fingernails in someone's primeval instincts and pull.
  
  
• butterflies (luther)
  Alice and Jenny share conversation. The voices are spot on, and this fic feels like a missing scene. I love both characters, and I love this fic.
  
  
• sailing over a cardboard sea (luther)
  Alice, after 2x02. I love this idea of her careening about, remembering the people she left behind, but I especially love the idea that she calls Mark day and night, and he's sort of resigned to his lot. As well he should be.
  
  
• the dioskouroi (greek myth)
  Castor and Polydeuces (Pollux) are the twins of Gemini, twins born of different fathers. This futuristic take on the myth is both amazing in scope and beautifully written.
  
  
• the death and resurrection of persephone, in stages (greek myth)
  This is a fairly straight re-telling of the traditional story, and somehow is so much more than that. Persephone talks a lot about what was and what wasn't her choice, but the idea of fate may not be that straightforward. She was always very powerful, afterall.
  
  
• all the submissions for 2011 (oglaf)
  I can't imagine anyone who loves this webcomic won't love all of these fics, so I'm just linking to all of them. I will say, though, that COCKLESS cracked me up.
  
  
• elegy (jane eyre)
  Despite this being book-based, the voices reminded me of the 2006 adaptation with Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. Jane receives news of St John's death, but knows she made the right choice.
  
  
• amateur genealogy (justified)
  This slice-of-life fic is very good. Rachel, Tim and Raylan drink a lot; Rachel doesn't get drunk.
  
  
• build me a castle of memories just to have somewhere to go (justified)
  Five times Helen saved Raylan's life. A quick read, but a heartfelt one. Loved this.
  
  
• the patron saint of blowing shit up (justified)
  I wasn't sure I would be too into this, but the writing is very, very good. Boyd pulled Raylan from a mine once, did you know? The opening line is killer.

Comments

[curtana.livejournal.com]

I wrote one of the Oglaf stories (Five Things Sandoval Won't Tell You) and I agree with your decision to rec all of them - it was such a great crop this year :) Thanks!