![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tinturtleI is for If I Should Die Before I Wake..., K is for The King Must Die
I'd really rather be reading fic tonight than writing it up. I've decided to try to make these challenge posts a little more often, though, so that I won't have as many write-ups to do each time. Today I have three fics to cover.
First is These Layers of Charnel Air by Slantedlight (byslantedlight), a Professionals fic. I really liked this, and have added it to my Beloved Collection. It had an intriguing plot, good characterizations, satisfying interplay among the characters, and unusually elegant writing. The ending was well done and very appropriate. 16,835 words. Bodie/Doyle slash. Particularly recommended.
Comments with spoilers:
I also read If I Should Die Before I Wake... a short A-Team fic by Tessa54. I liked this one very much, as well. It relates Face's thoughts on the morning of the Team's (ultimately averted) execution at the beginning of the fifth season. The character voice is good, the stream-of-consciousness style is effective, and there are many poignant moments. 1,213 words. Gen. Particularly recommended.
Finally, I read The King Must Die bymurphybabe, another Professionals fic. This fic was good, but not outstanding. The plot was absorbing and moved along at a good pace, but the characters' motivations didn't quite convince me. Your mileage may vary. 22,044 words. Bodie/Doyle slash.
Comments with spoilers:
Letters I've Satisfied: #, A, B, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, P, S, T, V, X, Y
Total Points: 603
#: 5 points
1991 by SkyborneVeggies (1 point; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
4 Vignettes With No Kissing & 1 Ex-Yacht by captain_starcat (2 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
1918 by rabidsamfan (1 point; Sherlock Holmes x Lord Peter Wimsey)
4 People Who Saw and 1 Who Observed by nottoolateforthegame (1 point; Sherlock Holmes)
A: 29 points
*All the Kasha They Could Eat by Jest (7 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
*After the World Went Awry by teaspoonnebula (22 points; Sherlock Holmes)
B: 19 points
*The Bronze Metal Lover by stew (15 points; The Professionals x The Silver Metal Lover)
Brave Little Rabbit by jj_minerva (2 points; Raffles)
Blind Man's Bluff ? by fiorenza_a (2 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
C: 6 points
*Cold War, part of the Dirty Computer series by jat_sapphire (1 point; The Professionals)
A Christian Perspective on Slash Fiction by Marnie (2 points; meta)
The Cost of the Erection: Slash and Gayness by Executrix (2 points; meta)
The Curly-Toed Boots of Justice by McSwain! (1 point; meta)
D: 15 points
*Dreamed That Man Was I by Taliesin (14 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
Dream a Highway by marginalia (1 point; Pancho and Lefty)
E: 21 points
*The End Where We Begin by Ingu (21 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (movie))
F: 32 points
*The 'Fine and Private Place' Affair by Taliesin (32 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
G: 45 points
The Gyptian Caravan Affair by Taylor Dancinghands (20 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E. x His Dark Materials)
*The Gemini Factor by Russ (25 points; The Professionals x Who Dares Wins)
H: 94 points
*The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz (94 points; Sherlock Holmes)
I: 55 points
Island Innocents by Glen Fiddich (54 points; The Professionals)
*If I Should Die Before I Wake... a short A-Team fic by Tessa54 (1 point; The A-Team)
K: 22 points
The King Must Die by murphybabe (22 points; The Professionals)
L: 30 points
*Lefty Sings the Blues by MirrorMasque (3 points; Pancho and Lefty)
An unnamed fic starting with L (27 points)
M: 26 points
*More Deaths Than One by Taliesin (24 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
Monkey Suits With Satin and Lace by Joana Dey (2 points; The Professionals)
N: 8 points
The Not Exactly Affair by dancingpony (2 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
No wonder, no wonder by regshoe (1 point; Willy o Winsbury)
*No Lothario by Francesca (5 points; The Sentinel)
O: 2 points
Once and Future by oliviacirce (2 points; Winter Solstice, Camelot Station)
P: 58 points
*Portman Square by afterism (5 points; Raffles)
Purgatory by PR Zed (1 point; The Professionals)
*Professional Dreamer by Pamela Rose (52 points; The Professionals, inspired by American Dreamer)
Q: 2 points
Quaint by kathkin (2 points; Doctor Who)
R: 2 points
Rift by MonkeyBard (1 point; The A-Team)
*Run, Rabbit, Run by PR Zed (1 point; The Professionals x Blade Runner)
S: 43 points
*Spiderweb by Cord Smithee (12 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
*The Singing of Many Wires by teaspoonnebula (18 points; Sherlock Holmes)
The Steppes of Central Asia Affair by Taylor Dancinghands (13 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E. x His Dark Materials)
T: 18 points
*Time-Crossed Lovers by Jane Carnall and Ann Johnson (2 points; The Professionals)
*These Layers of Charnel Air by Slantedlight (16 points; The Professionasl)
U: 5 points
*Unit I, Series LYA: Press to Activate by Orockthro (3 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
Untitled by Russ (2 points; meta)
V: 32 points
Voyages of the CI5 by hutchynstarsk (32 points; The Professionals)
W: 7 points
*Wicked by Cord Smithee (4 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
Walking Wounded by Linda S. Maclaren (2 points; The Professionals)
Winter Solstice, Camelot Station by John M. Ford (1 point; Arthurian legend)
X: 6 points
Xander Harris, Greek God by Vacillating (1 point; Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
An unnamed fic starting with X (1 point)
An unnamed fic starting with X (1 point)
An unnamed fic starting with X (3 points)
Y: 21 points
An unnamed fic starting with Y (21 points)
* = Particularly recommended.
I'd really rather be reading fic tonight than writing it up. I've decided to try to make these challenge posts a little more often, though, so that I won't have as many write-ups to do each time. Today I have three fics to cover.
First is These Layers of Charnel Air by Slantedlight (
byslantedlight), a Professionals fic. I really liked this, and have added it to my Beloved Collection. It had an intriguing plot, good characterizations, satisfying interplay among the characters, and unusually elegant writing. The ending was well done and very appropriate. 16,835 words. Bodie/Doyle slash. Particularly recommended.Comments with spoilers:
I love the examination of Ray and Bodie's characters in this fic and the way they have to come to terms with their differences in order to move forward with their relationship. I'd say it is an example, such as I asked about in my recent thread, of a conflict arising from Ray being motivated by principles first and relationships second, while Bodie is the reverse.
I did suspect that Ray was undercover quite a while before it was revealed in the story. That's very likely a result of having read other fics with similar set-ups, though, such as PR Zed's Exile. I'm not sure I entirely buy the "you aren't a good enough actor" explanation for leaving the partner in the dark in plots like this, but I like a lot of the stories that it makes possible, so I can suspend my disbelief.
The sex scenes in this fic also worked well for me. (I decided that it is a spoiler that there were sex scenes.) They were of the less detailed sort, which is usually my preference, and had a lot of emotion attached, which I also prefer. I've decided that what I like in sex scenes is a high meaning-to-mechanics ratio. For me, sex needs to advance the plot, reveal something about the characters, have a lot of emotional resonance in light of other things in the story, or, if none of those, at least come with a lot of information about how the characters feel about it. The more explicit (and protracted) the sex scene, the more of those things I need to make it feel worthwhile. This is what I mean by a high meaning-to-mechanics ratio. I think that the reason I tend to find a lot of sex scenes in fic so boring is either that I want a higher m-to-m ratio than most readers, or that I am not as good at providing the meaning for myself and need more of it spelled out for me. The latter seems entirely possible, for a number of reasons.
I did suspect that Ray was undercover quite a while before it was revealed in the story. That's very likely a result of having read other fics with similar set-ups, though, such as PR Zed's Exile. I'm not sure I entirely buy the "you aren't a good enough actor" explanation for leaving the partner in the dark in plots like this, but I like a lot of the stories that it makes possible, so I can suspend my disbelief.
The sex scenes in this fic also worked well for me. (I decided that it is a spoiler that there were sex scenes.) They were of the less detailed sort, which is usually my preference, and had a lot of emotion attached, which I also prefer. I've decided that what I like in sex scenes is a high meaning-to-mechanics ratio. For me, sex needs to advance the plot, reveal something about the characters, have a lot of emotional resonance in light of other things in the story, or, if none of those, at least come with a lot of information about how the characters feel about it. The more explicit (and protracted) the sex scene, the more of those things I need to make it feel worthwhile. This is what I mean by a high meaning-to-mechanics ratio. I think that the reason I tend to find a lot of sex scenes in fic so boring is either that I want a higher m-to-m ratio than most readers, or that I am not as good at providing the meaning for myself and need more of it spelled out for me. The latter seems entirely possible, for a number of reasons.
I also read If I Should Die Before I Wake... a short A-Team fic by Tessa54. I liked this one very much, as well. It relates Face's thoughts on the morning of the Team's (ultimately averted) execution at the beginning of the fifth season. The character voice is good, the stream-of-consciousness style is effective, and there are many poignant moments. 1,213 words. Gen. Particularly recommended.
Finally, I read The King Must Die by
murphybabe, another Professionals fic. This fic was good, but not outstanding. The plot was absorbing and moved along at a good pace, but the characters' motivations didn't quite convince me. Your mileage may vary. 22,044 words. Bodie/Doyle slash.Comments with spoilers:
In particular, I didn't understand why the Lads concluded that Cowley's motives for sending them into a trap were self-interested (especially since they were so easily persuaded otherwise later). Without that piece, their decision to kill him lost its key motivation. I also didn't quite follow why Cowley found it essential to control the corrupt members of the other government branches. More justification of that would have been helpful.
That CI5 carries out assassinations was news to me, as well. I don't consider it impossible, but in the episodes they seemed to employ indirect methods to kill those Cowley thought needed to be eliminated (the exception, I suppose, being Manton).
(There wasn't any pressing need for Manton to die that I can see. A fic in which Cowley had a reason other than revenge, such as something Manton could divulge to the British that Cowley didn't want known, might be interesting.)
That CI5 carries out assassinations was news to me, as well. I don't consider it impossible, but in the episodes they seemed to employ indirect methods to kill those Cowley thought needed to be eliminated (the exception, I suppose, being Manton).
(There wasn't any pressing need for Manton to die that I can see. A fic in which Cowley had a reason other than revenge, such as something Manton could divulge to the British that Cowley didn't want known, might be interesting.)
Letters I've Satisfied: #, A, B, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, P, S, T, V, X, Y
Total Points: 603
#: 5 points
1991 by SkyborneVeggies (1 point; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
4 Vignettes With No Kissing & 1 Ex-Yacht by captain_starcat (2 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
1918 by rabidsamfan (1 point; Sherlock Holmes x Lord Peter Wimsey)
4 People Who Saw and 1 Who Observed by nottoolateforthegame (1 point; Sherlock Holmes)
A: 29 points
*All the Kasha They Could Eat by Jest (7 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
*After the World Went Awry by teaspoonnebula (22 points; Sherlock Holmes)
B: 19 points
*The Bronze Metal Lover by stew (15 points; The Professionals x The Silver Metal Lover)
Brave Little Rabbit by jj_minerva (2 points; Raffles)
Blind Man's Bluff ? by fiorenza_a (2 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
C: 6 points
*Cold War, part of the Dirty Computer series by jat_sapphire (1 point; The Professionals)
A Christian Perspective on Slash Fiction by Marnie (2 points; meta)
The Cost of the Erection: Slash and Gayness by Executrix (2 points; meta)
The Curly-Toed Boots of Justice by McSwain! (1 point; meta)
D: 15 points
*Dreamed That Man Was I by Taliesin (14 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
Dream a Highway by marginalia (1 point; Pancho and Lefty)
E: 21 points
*The End Where We Begin by Ingu (21 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (movie))
F: 32 points
*The 'Fine and Private Place' Affair by Taliesin (32 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
G: 45 points
The Gyptian Caravan Affair by Taylor Dancinghands (20 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E. x His Dark Materials)
*The Gemini Factor by Russ (25 points; The Professionals x Who Dares Wins)
H: 94 points
*The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz (94 points; Sherlock Holmes)
I: 55 points
Island Innocents by Glen Fiddich (54 points; The Professionals)
*If I Should Die Before I Wake... a short A-Team fic by Tessa54 (1 point; The A-Team)
K: 22 points
The King Must Die by murphybabe (22 points; The Professionals)
L: 30 points
*Lefty Sings the Blues by MirrorMasque (3 points; Pancho and Lefty)
An unnamed fic starting with L (27 points)
M: 26 points
*More Deaths Than One by Taliesin (24 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
Monkey Suits With Satin and Lace by Joana Dey (2 points; The Professionals)
N: 8 points
The Not Exactly Affair by dancingpony (2 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
No wonder, no wonder by regshoe (1 point; Willy o Winsbury)
*No Lothario by Francesca (5 points; The Sentinel)
O: 2 points
Once and Future by oliviacirce (2 points; Winter Solstice, Camelot Station)
P: 58 points
*Portman Square by afterism (5 points; Raffles)
Purgatory by PR Zed (1 point; The Professionals)
*Professional Dreamer by Pamela Rose (52 points; The Professionals, inspired by American Dreamer)
Q: 2 points
Quaint by kathkin (2 points; Doctor Who)
R: 2 points
Rift by MonkeyBard (1 point; The A-Team)
*Run, Rabbit, Run by PR Zed (1 point; The Professionals x Blade Runner)
S: 43 points
*Spiderweb by Cord Smithee (12 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
*The Singing of Many Wires by teaspoonnebula (18 points; Sherlock Holmes)
The Steppes of Central Asia Affair by Taylor Dancinghands (13 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E. x His Dark Materials)
T: 18 points
*Time-Crossed Lovers by Jane Carnall and Ann Johnson (2 points; The Professionals)
*These Layers of Charnel Air by Slantedlight (16 points; The Professionasl)
U: 5 points
*Unit I, Series LYA: Press to Activate by Orockthro (3 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
Untitled by Russ (2 points; meta)
V: 32 points
Voyages of the CI5 by hutchynstarsk (32 points; The Professionals)
W: 7 points
*Wicked by Cord Smithee (4 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
Walking Wounded by Linda S. Maclaren (2 points; The Professionals)
Winter Solstice, Camelot Station by John M. Ford (1 point; Arthurian legend)
X: 6 points
Xander Harris, Greek God by Vacillating (1 point; Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
An unnamed fic starting with X (1 point)
An unnamed fic starting with X (1 point)
An unnamed fic starting with X (3 points)
Y: 21 points
An unnamed fic starting with Y (21 points)
* = Particularly recommended.
