Lifetime Fic Bingo: 2023

[tinturtle]

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It's 2023. Taylor Swift is on the radio. Here in the USA, the year's top film is Barbie. The American Dialect Society's Word of the Year (coined in 2022) is enshittification.

For 2023, I read five fics: two Professionals, one Sentinel, and two Man from U.N.C.L.E..

The first Professionals fic was Sense of Direction by LilyK (sc_fossil). This fic is an AU. Since the author didn't disclose what type of AU it is in the fic header, I assume that she must consider that a spoiler. Thus I will remain similarly mum. Check below if you want to know.

I liked this fic overall. I thought it got off to a somewhat slow start, though that may be because I have read similar AUs before, and I am familiar with their mechanics. Once the premise was established, the fic began to narrate how a selection of canon events might have gone differently in this universe. I found that really interesting and thought the author's ideas about it were clever. The ending was also well done with both strong emotions and a humorous Easter egg. I finished the fic very satisfied. 14,562 words. Bodie/Doyle slash. Particularly recommended.
Comments with spoilers:

This is a sentinel AU, with Bodie as the sentinel (here called a watchman) and Doyle as the guide (here called a companion). Sentinels and guides are known in this universe, but not widely, and they are not common. Although this is a slash story, the Lads' established relationship is separate from their interactions as sentinel and guide.

I also read the Professionals fic Every Bodie's a Critic by belmanoir This fic tells the story of an undercover op in a fish and chips shop, as well as what follows. I really enjoyed the casefic portion of this story. It was funny without trying too hard, and the Lads were nicely in character. That section also had a sprinkling of detail that really drew me into the scene: things like the shims under the tables in the shabby chippy and the receipts and betting slips that spill from Doyle's wallet as he looks for something else. I'm always impressed when authors include extra touches like that, and I always wonder if I would be able to come up with them.

The portion of the fic that takes place after the op is over is mostly sex. This went on too long for me. As regular readers know, though, I have the same problem with many fics that others enjoy. Even if it was more than I was looking for, I thought the sex scene was well done, with a good intermediate level of realism. 7,629 words. Bodie/Doyle slash. Particularly recommended.

The Sentinel fic that I read was High Water by unbelievable2. This is a cracking story that finds Cascade in the midst of a series of major rainstorms. unbelievable2 does an excellent job capturing the atmosphere of the storm and the power of the natural forces at work. The story is well paced, as well, and features gradually building suspense and a tense climax. This fic is a very fine example of storytelling, and it was my favorite for the year. 9,633 words. Jim/Blair slash. Particularly recommended.

The first Man from U.N.C.L.E. fic I read was Fourteen Angels Watch Do Keep by Shellepink. This fic traces the development of Napoleon and Illya's partnership through a series of vignettes in which they deal with nightmares. This fic had good writing and presented complex emotions well. I felt pretty neutral toward it, though, for whatever reason. 6,468 words. Napoleon/Illya slash.

Finally, I read No Coin for the Ferryman by Miss Direction. At the beginning of this fic, Illya is shot on a mission and taken to the hospital. The rest of the story concerns his treatment and recovery. It's a nicely done slice-of-life fic (with the life in question that of an U.N.C.L.E. agent for whom being shot is an occupational hazard). There is nothing earthshaking, either in terms of plot or character moments, but the story has some enjoyable little exchanges between the partners. This fic fits into the timeline of the author's Orphan Bond series, but is not part of the series proper. 6,910 words. Gen.

2023 is the last year on my Lifetime Fic Bingo card, but I am not quite finished with the game yet. Stay tuned for the 2024 bonus round.

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Fics so far:

1986
Double Vision by Pamela Rose (The Professionals x Who Dares Wins; 47,962 words; slash)
Begin Again by Lois Welling (Ann Barrister) (The Professionals; 1,318 words; gen)
*Night Before the World Ends by Lezlie Conch (Lezlie Shell) (The Professionals; 4,355 words; slash)
The Crab Apple Cove Affair by Charlie Kirby (The Man from U.N.C.L.E. x M*A*S*H; 2,301 words; gen)
*In the Belly of Leviathan by Pythia (original series Battlestar Galactica; 13,062 words; gen)

1987
The Never Too Late Affair by Debra Hicks (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 1,441 words; slash)
*The Traitor Within the Gates Affair by D. H. Bryn (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; ~34,000 words; het)
Whisper of a Kill by Lois Welling (Ann Barrister) (The Professionals; 53,978 words; slash)
The Adventure of the Traitorous Lieutenant by Eileen Roy (Sherlock Holmes; 1,827 words; gen)
*Brothers in Arms by Anais (original series Battlestar Galactica; 4,099 words; gen)

1988
Night Moves by Courtney Gray (The Professionals; 35,344 words; slash)
Rainbow Chasers by HG (The Professionals; 134,373 words; slash)
Patterns in Walls by Debra Hicks (The Professionals x Sable; 6,003 words; gen)
Family Traits by Jatona Walker (The Professionals; 1,443 words; slash)
Slippery Situation by Debra Hicks (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 1,634 words; slash)

1989
In From the Cold by cybel (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 9,454 words; slash)
Nothing in Common by cybel (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 3,033 words; slash)
The Zippity Do-Dah Affair by Alys (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 934 words; slash)
*[From 1982: Looking Glass World by Felicity M. Parkinson (The Professionals; 22,758 words; slash)]
...And Memories Die, Part I by Ellis Ward (The Professionals; 26,340 words; slash)
*[Hell Hath No Fury by Jane Carnall and Ann Johnson (The Professionals; 2,958 words; gen)]
The Price of a Soul a Professionals fic by Jane Carnall and Ann Johnson (The Professionals; 2,194 words; slash)
[From 1986: Two Up by Jane of Australia (The Professionals; 8,013 words; slash)]
[Two Up Truly Queered by Jane Carnall (The Professionals; 2,360 words; slash)]

1990
*The Long St. Crispin's Day by C. W. Walker (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 19,765 words; gen)
*One Small Step by Lori Beatty (The A-Team; 5,713 words; gen)
Nor the Leopard His Spots by M. Fae Glasgow (The Professionals x EastEnders; ~15,000 words; slash)
*...And Memories Die, Part II by Ellis Ward (The Professionals; 46,161 words; slash)
*Absent Friends by Jane Carnall and Ann Johnson (The Professionals; 692 words; slash)

1991
*The Seventeen Days in October Affair by Terry L Neill and J. M. D’Agostino-Toney (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 14,854 words; gen)
*The Devil's Attic Affair by C. W. Walker (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 28,968 words; gen)
The Lion of Ngambo Affair by C. W. Walker (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 23,087 words; het)
Free Trader by Debra Hicks (The Professionals x Star Trek TNG; 26,454 words; slash)
Legacy of Temptation by Ellis Ward (The Professionals; 100,794 words; slash)

1992
What Price Honor? by Debra Hicks (The A-Team; 4,105 words; gen)
*The Surfin' and Spyin' Affair by Jennifer Adams Kelley (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 11,650 words; gen)
Bonding by Stew (The Professionals; 22,241 words; slash)
Some Say the World Will End in Fire by Jane Mailander (from Proslib) (The Professionals; 5,410 words; slash)
*Floral Arrangement by M. Fae Glasgow (The Professionals; ~13,000 words; slash)

1993
*Nothing Left to Lose by Jane (of Australia) and Madelaine Ingram (The Professionals; 33,529 words; slash)
*The Blue Figurine by Courtney Grey (The Professionals; 29,960 words; slash)
Step We Gaily by M. Fae Glasgow (The Professionals; ~13,500 words; slash)
Guardian Angels by Baravan (The Professionals; 13,408 words; slash)
The Adventure of the Strange Visitor by Quordle (Sherlock Holmes x Blake's 7; 7,903 words; slash)

1994
Bounty by Jane (of Australia) (from Proslib) (The Professionals; ~31,000 words; slash)
*Baiting the Trap by DVS (The Professionals; 2,758 words; slash)
Love is Wealth by Gloria Lancaster (The Professionals; 13,387 words; slash)
Survival by Melanie Athene (The Professionals; 10,916 words; slash)
*Brighton Memoirs by gardenerhill (Sherlock Holmes; 5,530 words; slash)

1995
Sex, Lies and UNCLE by Anne Higgins (Part I, Part II) (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 51,540 words; slash)
Knife-Edge by HG (The Professionals; 6,141 words; slash)
You Dancing? You Asking? by Gloria Lancaster (The Professionals; 6,323 words; slash)
*Summer's End by Alexandra (The Professionals; 71,090 words; slash)
Memoirs of a Merc by Alexandra (The Professionals; 13,457 words; slash)

1996
The Beddgelert Affair by PR Zed (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 9,413 words; gen)
*Brief Candle by Suzan Lovett (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 22,698 words; slash)
*Festival of Lights by Dorinda (The Professionals; 3,454 words; slash)
Dance While You Can by Alexandra (The Professionals; 5,091 words; slash)
*Hacking Away at the System by sockii (The A-Team; 23,986 words; gen)

1997
*To Live in Interesting Times by Taliesin (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 19,657 words; slash)
*My Dinner with Angelique by Linda Cornett (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 4,251 words; gen)
If Memory Serves by Alexandra (The Professionals; 7,101 words; slash)
Predators by Jennifer Lyon (The Professionals; 32,232 words; slash)
After the Battle by LRH Balzer (The Professionals; gen)
*-Learning the Bisto Code (10,195 words)
-Three Men and a Bodie (8,390 words)
-Scissors (21,249 words)

1998
*Firewalls by Elespeth Leigh (The Professionals; 14,518 words; slash)
*Sufficient Unto the Day by Taliesin (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 2,657 words; slash)
Confidences by Taliesin (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 4,106 words; slash)
*The Uncertainty Principle by C. W. Walker (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 20,145 words; gen)
*Partners by Patricia J. Foley (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 46,824 words; slash)

1999
That Look by Amanda Warrington (The Professionals; 36,359 words; slash)
Firestorm by Elspeth Leigh (The Professionals; 21,278 words; slash)
Rules by PFL (The Professionals; 14,444 words; slash)
Hombathlay by Jane Mailander (The Professionals x Watership Down; 8,555 words; slash)
*Roots of the Present by N. L. Hayes (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 6,683 words; gen)

2000
Where I Can Cross Over by Gil Hale (The Professionals; 11,628 words; gen)
*Remember Me by Gil Hale (The Professionals; 25,630 words; gen)
True Minds Trilogy by Lanning (The Sentinel; slash)
*-[From 1999: True Minds (40,670 words)]
-[From 1999: Small Company (35,833 words)]
-Many Waters (31,026 words)
Unsleeping by Martha (The Sentinel x H. P. Lovecraft (works); 99,337 words; gen)
[From 1999: The Genesis Affair by Bill Koenig (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 16,828 words; gen)]
The Mirage Affair by Bill Koenig (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 15,468 words; gen)

2001
Angel Unaware by Legion (Sherlock Holmes x Quantum Leap; 29,371 words; slash)
*The Kamikaze Affair by LeeTheT (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 15,227 words; gen)
*The Man from Yesterday by Darklady (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 86,194 words; slash)
*In Balance With This Life by mazzysue (The Professionals; 4,422 words; slash)
*Fire Held High and Away by Miriam Heddy (The Professionals; 24,196 words; slash)

2002
Remission of Sin by nickovetch (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; gen; 13,487 words)
*Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Anonymous (Sherlock Holmes; slash (maybe); 2,971 words)
*Sorry, Bodie by Gil Hale (The Professionals; gen; 3,260 words)
In His Sights by Luca (The Profressionals; slash; 939 words)
*Verity by KerrAvonsen (The Sentinel x The Matrix; gen; 35,486 words)

2003
The Small Rain by 0ftgx (The Profressionals; slash; 3,804 words)
*A Pugnacious Angel by Gil Hale (The Profressionals; gen; 14,485 words)
I Took It For a Faery Vision by Taliesin (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 12,419 words)
Small Distances by LeetheT (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 9,241 words)
*Half Truths by LeetheT (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 34,674 words)

2004
Double Indemnity by alicambs (The Professionals; slash; 23,092 words)
First Time by laceymcbain (The A-Team; slash; 3,498 words)
Sleeping Together by YumYumPM (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 4,563 words)
Future Conditional by elaine (The Sentinel; ship; 26,150 words)
*Scenes from Another Life by Atalan (Harry Potter; slash; 10,262 words)

2005
Stockholm Syndrome by Gil Hale (The Professionals; gen; 15,649 words)
*The Assassin's Daughter by Lacey McBain (The Professionals; slash; 16,769 words)
*The Lily of the Valley Affair by LeetheT (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; gen; 38,100 words)
The Locust Affair by Lady Ra (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 45,374 words)
His Left Hand by Martha (The Sentinel; slash; 2,291 words)
[From 2007: A Chance of Fate by Claire Dobbin (The Professionals; slash; 20,963 words)]

2006
*Reconnections by madmogs (The Professionals; slash; 15,110 words)
*Weapons of Choice by P.R. Zed (The Professionals; slash; 2,404 words)
Love in a Cold County by Jojo (The Professionals; slash; 8,450 words)
*Cards on the Table by Mab (The Sentinel; slash; 26,762 words)
*Shadows of the Past by LitGal (The Sentinel x La Femme Nikita; gen; 43,835 words)

2007
*The Strongest Will by PFL (The Professionals; slash; 25,578 words)
*On Maneuvers by PFL (The Professionals; slash; 4,872 words)
All Places Alike by Asymphototropic (The Professionals; slash; 2,176 words)
The Kidnapped Instrument by spoke (Sherlock Holmes; slash; 7,505 words)
Unfit for Vision by Elise Madrid (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 18,314 words)

2008
*Legacy by Mab (The Professionals; slash; 10,795 words)
Doyle's War by Pandora Bachs (The Professionals; slash; 5,221 words)
*The Adventure of the Expert Cracksman by marycrawford (Sherlock Holmes; gen; 7,027 words)
*Its Own Kind of Chase by ShadowValkyrie (Sherlock Holmes; gen; 3,014 words)
Becoming a Lesbian: Megan Bloomfield's Guide for Cheerleaders by Deifire (But I'm a Cheerleader; femslash; 2,218 words)

2009
The UFO Affair by Sev (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 8,793 words)
*The Fourth Deathly Hallow by gingertart50 (Harry Potter x Sherlock Holmes; slash; 56,311 words)
Endlessly by FJBryan (The Professionals; slash; 13,390 words)
Stuck by asymphototropic (The Professionals; slash; 31,279 words)
One Summer by Slantedlight (The Professionals; slash; 42,614 words)

2010
Run Through the Jungle by Fictionwriter (The Professionals; slash with het; 23,961 words)
*Babylon Has Fallen by PR Zed (The Professionals x 28 Days Later; slash; 29,990 words)
*Simple Twist of Fate by Sarah K (The Professionals x FlashForward; slash; 21,764 words)
*Underland by crimson_adder (Sherlock Holmes x Neverwhere; slash; 35,953 words)
The Cat's Meow by akane42me (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; gen; 8,066 words)

2011
The True Confessions of Raymond Doyle by Sarah K (The Professionals; 30,223 words; slash)
Łe Nòte del Carnevàl by golden_bastet (The Professionals; 25,557 words; slash)
For Kicks by Dawnwind (The Professionals; 70,222 words; slash)
Calculus by elmey (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 8,302 words; slash)
Auld Reekie by Garonne (Sherlock Holmes; 12,885 words; slash)

2012
A Game of Two Halves by Jojo (The Professionals; slash; 20,562 words)
*A Mercenary's Tale by Fictionwriter (The Professionals; slash; 46,849 words)
When It All Comes Tumbling Down by Marjoram_Max (The Professionals; slash; 43,041 words)
*Abode by Sonora (original series Battlestar Galactica x The A-Team; slash; 10,913 words)
The Riders of the Storm Affair by spikesgirl58 (The Man from U.N.C.L.E. x Doctor Who; gen; 14,401 words)

2013
*In the Frame by Dawnwind (The Professinoals x Racing Game; slash; 49,016 words)
*Different Phantoms by LilyK (The Professionals x Inspector George Gently; slash; 40,308 words)
Psmith Giantslayer by Selden (Psmith x The Chronicles of Narnia; slash; 8,859 words)
Caravan of the Heavens by Sonora (original series Battlestar Galactica x The A-Team; slash; 9,321 words)
*The Wolves of Cascade by Morgan Briarwood (The Sentinel; slash; 105,261 words)

2014
The Third Alternative (a linguistic impossibility) by Eilidhsd (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; gen; 4,462 words)
The Poet Affiar by mayamaia (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; gen; 6,098 words)
Breaking Glass by elmey (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; slash; 7,783 words)
*The Utopia Lost Affair by Avery11 and spikesgirl58 (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; gen; 18,117 words)
*Cold Water Morning by Fictionwriter (The Professionals; slash; 39,455 words)

2015
*The god of beginnings and endings by golden_bastet (The Professionals; 40,757 words; slash)
-Bromwicham - Melpomene and Thalia bid you welcome
-Lundenburh - the third face of Janus
-Lundenburh - Closing Janus's Gate
*Ice-Cold in Alexandra Palace by unbelievable2 (The Professionals; 27,135 words; gen)
Love in the Time of Cold War by merle_p (Man from U.N.C.L.E. movie; 6,773 words; slash)
The Adventure of the Bridegroom's Photograph by spacemutineer (Sherlock Holmes; 6,546 words; gen)
*Dust and Shadow by Lyndsay Faye (Sherlock Holmes; 336 pages; gen)

2016
*Storm of the Century by Avery11 (The Man from U.N.C.L.E; 5,401 words; gen)
Psychic Dreams by Ankaree (The Professionals; 56,195 words; slash)
Here Be Monsters by Agent_Talis (The Professionals; 34,520 words; slash)
The Adventure of the Colonial Boy by Narrelle M. Harris (Sherlock Holmes; 236 pages; slash)
*Internal System Reboot by mistyzeo (Sherlock Holmes x Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century; 6,316 words; slash)

2017
Guide Issues by franscats (The Sentinel; 42,196 words; slash)
*Hutch Versus the Rat King by garrideb (Starsky and Hutch; 5,315 words; slash)
*One of These Times by Tallihensia (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 7,017 words; gen)
*The Adventure of the Devil's Snare by methylviolet10b (Sherlock Holmes; 7,623 words; gen)
Sherlock Holmes: The Labyrinth of Death by James Lovegrove (Sherlock Holmes; 368 pages; het)

2018
Paris in May by Hypatia_66 (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 5,957 words; gen)
Smoke and Mirrors by ci5mates (The Professionals; 28,582 words; gen)
The Twelve Labors of Sherlock Holmes by okapi (Sherlock Holmes; 8,000 words; slash)
The Secret Fear by Sailors_Delight (Sherlock Holmes; 2,250 words; slash)
*The Craven Hive by OldShrewsburyian (Sherlock Holmes; 35,627 words; gen)

2019
Never Too Broken to Mend by Blondie54x (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 4,500 words; gen)
*The Moon and Planets by LaurytheLatrator (Sherlock Holmes; 33,924 words; femslash)
The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols by Nicholas Meyer (Sherlock Holmes; 238 pages; het)
*Out of Reach by cornishcat (The Professionals; 23,187 words; slash)
Hostages to Fortune by Verlaine (The Professionals; 19,465 words; slash)

2020
Rising Darkness by Random_Nexus (Sherlock Holmes; 1,103 words; gen)
*To Cast Light on Each by rachelindeed (Sherlock Holmes; 4,915 words; slash)
Boat Race Night by unwillingadventurer (Raffles; 1,799 words; slash?)
*Picking up the punchlines by belmanoir (The Professionals; 3,471 words; slash)
The Sidhe Affair by Elise_Madrid (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 3,463 words; slash)

2021
A Beautiful Friendship by vysila (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 6,754 words; gen)
*The Eyes of Horus by LilyK (The Professionals; 11,763 words; slash)
*The Return of the Pharaoh by Nicholas Meyer (Sherlock Holmes; 272 pages; het)
Sherlock Holmes and the Eye of Heka by David Marcum (Sherlock Holmes; 300 pages; gen)
*To Steal a Dream by HereToWrite (The A-Team; 45,909 words; gen)

2022
*The Turnabout Affair by Kate_Wisdom (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 31,811 words; slash)
*As You Mean to Go On by Timemidae (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 5,243 words; gen)
*True by JoJo (The Professionals; 13,366 words; slash)
*Time Enough for All Things by teaspoonnebula (Sherlock Holmes; 7,872 words; slash with het)
*The Stanhope Orphan by idanon (Sherlock Holmes; 10,227 words; gen)
[The Calculated Luck Mystery by Mr_BiLL (Sherlock Holmes x Harry Potter; 13,792 words; gen)]

2023
*Sense of Direction by LilyK (The Professionals; 14,562 words; slash)
*Every Bodie's a Critic by belmanoir (The Professionals; 7,629 words; slash)
*High Water by unbelievable2 (The Sentinel; 9,633 words; slash)
Fourteen Angels Watch Do Keep by Shellepink (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 6,468 words; slash)
No Coin for the Ferryman by Miss Direction (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; 6,910 words; gen)

* = Particularly recommended
[ ] = read but not counted toward the year's story total