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tinturtleQ is for Quenching the Candle?, S is for Serving the Public Trust, J is for A Just Sense of Proportion, J is for Just Slipping Away, W is for Witness and Testimony
Today I finish fulfilling the letter minimums that are part of my Million-Word Fanfic Challenge. Free reading from now on, at least until I get to the end and have to find something with a particular word count to round out the board neatly.
Why So Silent? by mundanecactus is another Phantom of the Opera fic. Apparently I hadn't quite gotten that fandom out of my system. This one is based on the 2004 movie version of the musical, so I've colored the squares yellow.
In this fic, the Phantom is a woman, and I think the fic aims to be a feminist retelling of the story. It's mostly successful in that, giving more depth and agency to the canon female characters, especially Christine; this changes the plot in well thought out ways. There were elements in the fic that just didn't work for me, though, and I cannot recommend it overall. 20,907 words. Christine/Raoul het and Christine/Woman!Phantom femslash.
Comments with spoilers:
The Snowman With the Dark Coat by castalia is a Professionals fic. This fic was good. It was deftly written. The story was well paced and maintained its tension effectively. The characterizations and dialog were believable. I didn't actually enjoy it that much, though. I think perhaps there was just too much tension. 17,738 words. Bodie/Doyle slash.
Quenching the Candle?, a Man from U.N.C.L.E. fic by LaH (carabele), deals with a threat to Napoleon soon after he becomes CEA. I found the writing in this fic frustrating, particularly the author's apparent allergy to the word "said" and tendency to repeat information. The plot was good, though, and the most important OC was interesting. Both would have been right at home in canon. About 10,400 words. Gen.
In the Sentinel fic Serving the Public Trust bybrumeier, rather than being a sentinel, Jim is an android newly developed to assist in police work. Blair is one of his developers as well as his handler. I find this a clever what-if. It gives new context to traits the characters display in canon—Jim's enhanced senses and physical strength but discomfort with emotions; Blair's inventiveness, nerdy enthusiasm, and tendency to view Jim as both friend and science experiment. 1,568 words. Gen (per the label). Particularly recommended.
A Just Sense of Proportion by plumedy is a Sherlock Holmes fic set in an alternate universe in which most people are able to produce visual illusions by magic. The setting is intriguing and the canon characters are transplanted to it in an inventive way. I would have liked to read a story with a more involved plot set in this world, but the simple one provided was enjoyable, too. 5,460 words. Gen.
Just Slipping Away by Rozel is a short Professionals fic set in the wake of George Cowley's death. It's all right. It has a tendency to tell too much and show too little, though, leaning too hard on its third-person omniscient narrator for exposition. 4,907 words. Gen.
Witness and Testimony byviolsva is a Sherlock Holmes fic. This fic is in my Beloved Collection, but I hadn't read it in a number of years. In it, Watson is homosexual, which leads to conflict when different parts of his life collide. This sort of thing is turtlenip. Add to it very good writing and characterizations and a suspenseful plot, and you have a favorite. 17,005 words. Holmes/Watson slash. Particularly recommended.
Letters I've Satisfied: #, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
Total Points: 931
#: 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: 85 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)
*The Afterlife of Doctor John H. Watson by flawedamythyst (31 points; Sherlock Holmes)
Adagio by Sebastian (25 points; The Professionals)
B: 23 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.)
Broken by AconitumNapellus (4 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
C: 24 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)
Can't Answer that Question, Sir by castalia (1 point; The Professionals)
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: 23 points
*The End Where We Begin by Ingu (21 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (movie))
Every Time You Bleed by SummerKnight717 (2 points; Marvel)
F: 33 points
*The 'Fine and Private Place' Affair by Taliesin (32 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
foray by dangerousinlove (1 point; Sharpe series)
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: 68 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)
*If There Be Vampires and Werewolves by Slantedlight (8 points; The Professionals)
J: 16 Points
Jungle Book by Sebastian (2 points; The Professionals x Tarzan)
Just a Kiss by Sebastian (5 points; The Professionals)
A Just Sense of Proportion by plumedy (5 points; Sherlock Holmes)
Just Slipping Away by Rozel (4 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: 19 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)
New Age Woo by Mab_Browne (2 points; The Sentinel)
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: 12 points
Quaint by kathkin (2 points; Doctor Who)
Quenching the Candle? by LaH (10 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
R: 19 points
Rift by MonkeyBard (1 point; The A-Team)
*Run, Rabbit, Run by PR Zed (1 point; The Professionals x Blade Runner)
The Rest of the Affair by Daylyn (17 points; Sherlock Holmes)
S: 65 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)
Survived By by Linda Cornett (4 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
The Snowman With the Dark Coat by castalia (17 points; The Professionals)
*Serving the Public Trust by Brumeier (1 point; The Sentinel)
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: 17 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)
Under the Jewelled Sky by regshoe (12 points; Raffles)
V: 32 points
Voyages of the CI5 by hutchynstarsk (32 points; The Professionals)
W: 124 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 Slantedlight (44 points; The Professionals)
What Happened to the Thunder and Lightning Brigade by Slantedlight (1 point; The Professionals x Back to the Future)
Why So Silent? by mundanecactus (20 points; The Phantom of the Opera (Lloyd Webber musical movie))
Witness and Testimony by Violsva (17 points; Sherlock Holmes)
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: 22 points
An unnamed fic starting with Y (21 points)
You came back... by anotherdiana (1 point; The Phantom of the Opera (Lloyd Webber musical))
Z: 13 points
The Z-7 Affair by pfrye2 (13 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
* = Particularly recommended.
Today I finish fulfilling the letter minimums that are part of my Million-Word Fanfic Challenge. Free reading from now on, at least until I get to the end and have to find something with a particular word count to round out the board neatly.
Why So Silent? by mundanecactus is another Phantom of the Opera fic. Apparently I hadn't quite gotten that fandom out of my system. This one is based on the 2004 movie version of the musical, so I've colored the squares yellow.
In this fic, the Phantom is a woman, and I think the fic aims to be a feminist retelling of the story. It's mostly successful in that, giving more depth and agency to the canon female characters, especially Christine; this changes the plot in well thought out ways. There were elements in the fic that just didn't work for me, though, and I cannot recommend it overall. 20,907 words. Christine/Raoul het and Christine/Woman!Phantom femslash.
Comments with spoilers:
In particular, I just couldn't feel good about a happy ending for characters who think that being a lech means someone deserves to be strangled to death. I suppose this is meant as women's revenge and part of the feminist theme of the story. It totally put me off, though. I also find it hard to believe that a sapphic opera could be performed in the period in which the story is set, no matter the reason.
The Snowman With the Dark Coat by castalia is a Professionals fic. This fic was good. It was deftly written. The story was well paced and maintained its tension effectively. The characterizations and dialog were believable. I didn't actually enjoy it that much, though. I think perhaps there was just too much tension. 17,738 words. Bodie/Doyle slash.
Quenching the Candle?, a Man from U.N.C.L.E. fic by LaH (
carabele), deals with a threat to Napoleon soon after he becomes CEA. I found the writing in this fic frustrating, particularly the author's apparent allergy to the word "said" and tendency to repeat information. The plot was good, though, and the most important OC was interesting. Both would have been right at home in canon. About 10,400 words. Gen.In the Sentinel fic Serving the Public Trust by
brumeier, rather than being a sentinel, Jim is an android newly developed to assist in police work. Blair is one of his developers as well as his handler. I find this a clever what-if. It gives new context to traits the characters display in canon—Jim's enhanced senses and physical strength but discomfort with emotions; Blair's inventiveness, nerdy enthusiasm, and tendency to view Jim as both friend and science experiment. 1,568 words. Gen (per the label). Particularly recommended.A Just Sense of Proportion by plumedy is a Sherlock Holmes fic set in an alternate universe in which most people are able to produce visual illusions by magic. The setting is intriguing and the canon characters are transplanted to it in an inventive way. I would have liked to read a story with a more involved plot set in this world, but the simple one provided was enjoyable, too. 5,460 words. Gen.
Just Slipping Away by Rozel is a short Professionals fic set in the wake of George Cowley's death. It's all right. It has a tendency to tell too much and show too little, though, leaning too hard on its third-person omniscient narrator for exposition. 4,907 words. Gen.
Witness and Testimony by
violsva is a Sherlock Holmes fic. This fic is in my Beloved Collection, but I hadn't read it in a number of years. In it, Watson is homosexual, which leads to conflict when different parts of his life collide. This sort of thing is turtlenip. Add to it very good writing and characterizations and a suspenseful plot, and you have a favorite. 17,005 words. Holmes/Watson slash. Particularly recommended.Letters I've Satisfied: #, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
Total Points: 931
#: 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: 85 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)
*The Afterlife of Doctor John H. Watson by flawedamythyst (31 points; Sherlock Holmes)
Adagio by Sebastian (25 points; The Professionals)
B: 23 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.)
Broken by AconitumNapellus (4 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
C: 24 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)
Can't Answer that Question, Sir by castalia (1 point; The Professionals)
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: 23 points
*The End Where We Begin by Ingu (21 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (movie))
Every Time You Bleed by SummerKnight717 (2 points; Marvel)
F: 33 points
*The 'Fine and Private Place' Affair by Taliesin (32 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
foray by dangerousinlove (1 point; Sharpe series)
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: 68 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)
*If There Be Vampires and Werewolves by Slantedlight (8 points; The Professionals)
J: 16 Points
Jungle Book by Sebastian (2 points; The Professionals x Tarzan)
Just a Kiss by Sebastian (5 points; The Professionals)
A Just Sense of Proportion by plumedy (5 points; Sherlock Holmes)
Just Slipping Away by Rozel (4 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: 19 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)
New Age Woo by Mab_Browne (2 points; The Sentinel)
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: 12 points
Quaint by kathkin (2 points; Doctor Who)
Quenching the Candle? by LaH (10 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
R: 19 points
Rift by MonkeyBard (1 point; The A-Team)
*Run, Rabbit, Run by PR Zed (1 point; The Professionals x Blade Runner)
The Rest of the Affair by Daylyn (17 points; Sherlock Holmes)
S: 65 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)
Survived By by Linda Cornett (4 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
The Snowman With the Dark Coat by castalia (17 points; The Professionals)
*Serving the Public Trust by Brumeier (1 point; The Sentinel)
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: 17 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)
Under the Jewelled Sky by regshoe (12 points; Raffles)
V: 32 points
Voyages of the CI5 by hutchynstarsk (32 points; The Professionals)
W: 124 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 Slantedlight (44 points; The Professionals)
What Happened to the Thunder and Lightning Brigade by Slantedlight (1 point; The Professionals x Back to the Future)
Why So Silent? by mundanecactus (20 points; The Phantom of the Opera (Lloyd Webber musical movie))
Witness and Testimony by Violsva (17 points; Sherlock Holmes)
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: 22 points
An unnamed fic starting with Y (21 points)
You came back... by anotherdiana (1 point; The Phantom of the Opera (Lloyd Webber musical))
Z: 13 points
The Z-7 Affair by pfrye2 (13 points; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)
* = Particularly recommended.
