Entry tags:
Million-Word Challenge: N is for Never Say No Strings, W is for Written in the Blood...
W is for Written in the Mind, W is for Written in the Bone, W is for The Waters and the Wild
Blah. I am very stressed tonight. Perhaps doing these write-ups will relax me a bit. And then I can read more fics without creating too long a queue.
The first fic I need to write up is Never Say No Strings by Barbara Thomas, a Professionals fic in which Doyle has a bad day that brings new clarity. I thought that it was very good overall, though edging toward mushiness in places. 9,195 words. Bodie/Doyle slash.
Comments with spoilers:
I also read the three AU Sherlock Holmes fics that compose the series Written by![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
methylviolet10b: Written in the Blood, Written in the Mind, and Written in the Bone. This series is set in an alternate world with a magic system based on writing. The first fic is short, telling a brief story, as well as establishing the alternate world. The other two fics are longer retellings of two canon stories: The Adventure of the Speckled Band and The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter, respectively. The first of them, Written in the Mind, was really wonderful. It was mysterious, atmospheric, and emotionally affecting. The author integrated their original material beautifully with canon and imitated Watson's voice very convincingly. The second, Written in the Bone shared many of these attributes, but didn't pull me in the way its companion had. It's possible that I was simply not receptive; I read it earlier today and was very stressed then as well. At any rate, whether me or the fic, something felt less focused. 2,582 words, 17,315 words, and 16,636 words. Holmes/Watson slash. First two fics particularly recommended.
Between Written in the Mind and Written in the Bone, I came across another fic starting with W that I could not resist reading: the Professionals fic The Waters and the Wild bybyslantedlight. This is another AU fic and is a crossover with the 2001 movie A.I. Artificial Intelligence. In it, Bodie and Doyle, newly recruited to CI5, must go undercover—Doyle as a mecha, one of the anthropoids who populate the world of the film. I liked this fic quite a bit. The setting was vivid and the plot worked well. The supporting characters were convincing, too, though most made fairly brief appearances. 44,254 words. Bodie/Doyle slash.
Letters I've Satisfied: #, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, S, T, V, W, X, Y
Total Points: 729
#: 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: 23 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)
Coming Home by shadowycat (17 points; Sherlock Holmes)
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: 60 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)
*Into the Light of a Dark Black Night by lomelinde (5 points; The Professionals)
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: 17 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)
Never Say No Strings by Barbara Thomas (9 points; The Professionals)
O: 18 points
Once and Future by oliviacirce (2 points; Winter Solstice, Camelot Station)
On Track by ML Mead (3 points; The Professionals)
*Ours But to Do by Bardicvoice (7 points; The Professionals)
The Other Tenant by tweedisgood (6 points; Sherlock Holmes)
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: 86 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)
*Written in the Blood by methylviolet10b (2 points; Sherlock Holmes)
*Written in the Mind by methylviolet10b (17 points; Sherlock Holmes)
Written in the Bone by methylviolet10b (16 points; Sherlock Holmes)
The Waters and the Wild by byslantedlight (44 points; The Professionals)
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.
Blah. I am very stressed tonight. Perhaps doing these write-ups will relax me a bit. And then I can read more fics without creating too long a queue.
The first fic I need to write up is Never Say No Strings by Barbara Thomas, a Professionals fic in which Doyle has a bad day that brings new clarity. I thought that it was very good overall, though edging toward mushiness in places. 9,195 words. Bodie/Doyle slash.
Comments with spoilers:
The bulk of this fic is a retelling of the episode Close Quarters from Doyle's point of view. This was skillfully done. I was particularly impressed by the way the author seamlessly integrated the dialog from the episode with expanded conversations she imagined.
I also read the three AU Sherlock Holmes fics that compose the series Written by
methylviolet10b: Written in the Blood, Written in the Mind, and Written in the Bone. This series is set in an alternate world with a magic system based on writing. The first fic is short, telling a brief story, as well as establishing the alternate world. The other two fics are longer retellings of two canon stories: The Adventure of the Speckled Band and The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter, respectively. The first of them, Written in the Mind, was really wonderful. It was mysterious, atmospheric, and emotionally affecting. The author integrated their original material beautifully with canon and imitated Watson's voice very convincingly. The second, Written in the Bone shared many of these attributes, but didn't pull me in the way its companion had. It's possible that I was simply not receptive; I read it earlier today and was very stressed then as well. At any rate, whether me or the fic, something felt less focused. 2,582 words, 17,315 words, and 16,636 words. Holmes/Watson slash. First two fics particularly recommended.Between Written in the Mind and Written in the Bone, I came across another fic starting with W that I could not resist reading: the Professionals fic The Waters and the Wild by
byslantedlight. This is another AU fic and is a crossover with the 2001 movie A.I. Artificial Intelligence. In it, Bodie and Doyle, newly recruited to CI5, must go undercover—Doyle as a mecha, one of the anthropoids who populate the world of the film. I liked this fic quite a bit. The setting was vivid and the plot worked well. The supporting characters were convincing, too, though most made fairly brief appearances. 44,254 words. Bodie/Doyle slash.Letters I've Satisfied: #, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, S, T, V, W, X, Y
Total Points: 729
#: 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: 23 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)
Coming Home by shadowycat (17 points; Sherlock Holmes)
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: 60 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)
*Into the Light of a Dark Black Night by lomelinde (5 points; The Professionals)
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: 17 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)
Never Say No Strings by Barbara Thomas (9 points; The Professionals)
O: 18 points
Once and Future by oliviacirce (2 points; Winter Solstice, Camelot Station)
On Track by ML Mead (3 points; The Professionals)
*Ours But to Do by Bardicvoice (7 points; The Professionals)
The Other Tenant by tweedisgood (6 points; Sherlock Holmes)
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: 86 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)
*Written in the Blood by methylviolet10b (2 points; Sherlock Holmes)
*Written in the Mind by methylviolet10b (17 points; Sherlock Holmes)
Written in the Bone by methylviolet10b (16 points; Sherlock Holmes)
The Waters and the Wild by byslantedlight (44 points; The Professionals)
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.