The Lads Through Time: My Bistocon Recs
Aug. 10th, 2025 07:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tinturtleThis Friday and Saturday I attended another virtual Bistocon. There were panels, games, vid shows, and episode watches followed by discussion. A good time was had by all.
I led the rec panel this year, choosing the theme "the Lads through time" and asking participants to share recs in a number of time-related categories. When I prepared my own recs before the con, I allowed myself to choose up to five per category, so that I would have back-ups in case someone else recced one or more of the stories I had chosen. You can find my selections below. Some I brought up during the panel and others not. (All fics are slash unless otherwise noted.)
Backstory fics
I like backstory fics, so when I went through my collection, I found quite a few. Interestingly, almost all of them provided backstory for Bodie. I had only one that included Doyle, and it was a fic focused on both of them. I suppose Bodie's backstory is more mysterious, so it attracts more speculation.
A Mercenary's Tale by Fictionwriter
This is an excellent and very plausible fic focusing on Bodie's time in Africa.
Sighting byhalotolerant
In this fic, Bodie and Doyle visit Liverpool, and Bodie remembers aspects of his life there.
The Discoverd in a Congo Prison Affair byjj_minerva
This is a crossover with The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which endears it to me, since MFU is my other main fandom. I really like the way the author has blended the shows' two universes.
Four Times Bodie Stayed in Bed and One Time He Didn't by Callisto
This is an episodic fic that is only about half backstory. I really enjoy what backstory there is, though, particularly the part concerning child Bodie.
Firsts by PR Zed (przed)
This is the fic that focuses on both Bodie and Doyle. It chronicles various firsts in their lives.
Fics set during the eps
I was surprised how few fics of this type I had in my collection. Either the vast majority of fics are not episode-related or I strongly prefer those that are not. I did find a couple, though.
Fruit of the Spirit by Cherilyn
This is a long fic that follows Bodie and Doyle's changing relationship, starting at their first meeting. It draws in events from many of the episodes.
True by JoJo
This fic takes place in the aftermath of No Stone. Bodie, Doyle, and June Cook are point-of-view characters, and I think excellent use is made of each of them.
Older Lads fics
I don't have a whole lot of Older Lads fics in my collection, so I only found four recs for this category. They are diverse in tone and subject, though.
Just When You Least Expect It (Just What You Least Expect) by Stew
This fic features only slightly older Lads. It is set around the time they leave the field. I have recced this fic before several times. I just love it. It always makes me happy.
Ray Doyle’s Cottage Garden Diary byboothros
In this fic, a significantly older Doyle contemplates the flowers in his garden and remembers the past. It's a very fine piece of writing.
The Best byfajrdrako
In this powerful fic, an older Bodie has become controller of CI5.
The Greatest Song I've Ever Heard by jj_minerva
This is a fic in which an older Bodie must deliver some news to Doyle after they have both left CI5 and been separated for many years. I don't usually like long separations in fic, but I enjoyed this one. It has a sequel that is also good, if less memorable.
Time-travel fics
I love a good time-travel fic. I might even love a bad time-travel fic. It seems there are not a lot of fics of this type in the Pros corpus, though, since other people didn't have many recs to offer, and I only found four instances in my collection.
Groundhog Doyle by Irene (Proslib)
This is a time-loop fic in which Doyle lives the same day repeatedly. If you like that trope, you will like it.
Not Time's Fool byjat_sapphire
This fic applies another time-travel trope: characters living life out of sequence. This was my first exposure to the trope, and it is still my favorite. It's beautifully done.
Simple Twist of Fate by Sarah K (tears_of_nienna)
This is a crossover between Pros and the TV show FlashForward, in which everyone in the world has simultaneous visions of the same point in the future. This fic is a little odd in that it is set in the then-present (around 2010), so the Lads use cell phones and things. If you can get over that, though, it's really interesting to see the growth of the Lads' relationship under these unusual circumstances.
And Its Business Is Joy by Elise_Madrid (gilda_elise)
This one is a crossover between Pros and Star Trek: TOS. It's different from the other time-travel recs in that it isn't the Lads who travel in time, but rather the crew of the Enterprise. This fic as both humor and emotion and blends the two universes well.
Historical AUs
I have nothing against historical AUs, but for some reason, they just don't seem to float my boat. I keep reading them and either not liking them or, at best, feeling indifferent. I don't have any in my collection.
(Feel free to recommend me more, if you like. I think something on the adventure story end of the spectrum, rather than the historical romance end, would probably be most likely to appeal.)
Futuristic AUs
On the other hand, I have a definite thing for sci-fi AUs, including those set in the future. There are a lot of them in my collection, and it was hard to limit myself to five.
Suitable Gravity by DVS
I didn't like this fic when I first read it, soon after joining the fandom. I've decided that I was just in a bad mood during that time, though, because this is not the only fic that I didn't like then but loved on rereading. (Another was Professional Dreamer. Who doesn't like Professional Dreamer?) Anyway, this is a futuristic adventure that has the best world building I have ever encountered in a fanfic.
Of Angels and Angles by Sarah K
It's not explicit in this fic that it is set in our future, but it features FTL space travel, so I think it counts as futuristic. It's also one of relatively few AUs I like in which CI5 does not exist in some form. In this story Bodie and Doyle are just two interplanetary travelers who happen to meet.
A Future to This Life by Verlaine (loyseofverlaine)
This fic does include CI5, with "CI" in this case standing for "Cyborg Institute." Both Doyle and Bodie are cyborgs. Science fiction ensues.
Dirty Computer series by jat_sapphire
This is a series of very short futuristic fics that nevertheless packs a lot of worldbuilding punch.
Witchery by Verlaine
This is a near-future fic that finds various characters from the series living in a UK transformed by climate change. It comes closer to being a cautionary tale than any of the other future fics in my list.
Alternate History AUs
I happen to be writing an alternate history for this year's Big Bang. There aren't a lot of other fics in Pros that really fit that description, but I did think of a few.
Cowley's Irregulars by Gil Hale
This is a classic alternate history featuring a point of divergence where a well known event had one outcome instead of another. I wish there were a little more show vs. tell, but it's still a very enjoyable fic. This fic is gen.
Heat by Lainie Stone (Proslib)
This is one of my very favorite fics. I didn't initially think of it when choosing fics for the alternate history category, but I think that is the best description of what it is. Another fan brought it up during the panel as a futuristic fic, but it takes place in the same era as canon, just in a world where international events have recently taken a different turn.
Into the Light of a Dark Black Night bylomelinde
Having added Heat to my list as an alternate history, I decided to add this fic as well. It has some similarities to Heat, and while it isn't based on events we know taking a different turn, I think it is still best described as an alternate history. I really like it.
Reincarnation
I came up with this category the night before the panel as something to toss out at the end if time permitted. I only knew of one Pros fic that fit it. I don't currently remember other people coming up with any others, except for a couple where the story of Bodie and Doyle clones living in the past is juxtaposed with one that follows our Lads in the present. As in Rediscovered in a Graveyard by HG.
Time-Crossed Lovers by Jane Carnall and Ann Johnson
This is that one reincarnation fic I am aware of. It's quite short, and I think it is well done.
I led the rec panel this year, choosing the theme "the Lads through time" and asking participants to share recs in a number of time-related categories. When I prepared my own recs before the con, I allowed myself to choose up to five per category, so that I would have back-ups in case someone else recced one or more of the stories I had chosen. You can find my selections below. Some I brought up during the panel and others not. (All fics are slash unless otherwise noted.)
Backstory fics
I like backstory fics, so when I went through my collection, I found quite a few. Interestingly, almost all of them provided backstory for Bodie. I had only one that included Doyle, and it was a fic focused on both of them. I suppose Bodie's backstory is more mysterious, so it attracts more speculation.
A Mercenary's Tale by Fictionwriter
This is an excellent and very plausible fic focusing on Bodie's time in Africa.
Sighting by
halotolerantIn this fic, Bodie and Doyle visit Liverpool, and Bodie remembers aspects of his life there.
The Discoverd in a Congo Prison Affair by
jj_minervaThis is a crossover with The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which endears it to me, since MFU is my other main fandom. I really like the way the author has blended the shows' two universes.
Four Times Bodie Stayed in Bed and One Time He Didn't by Callisto
This is an episodic fic that is only about half backstory. I really enjoy what backstory there is, though, particularly the part concerning child Bodie.
Firsts by PR Zed (
przed)This is the fic that focuses on both Bodie and Doyle. It chronicles various firsts in their lives.
Fics set during the eps
I was surprised how few fics of this type I had in my collection. Either the vast majority of fics are not episode-related or I strongly prefer those that are not. I did find a couple, though.
Fruit of the Spirit by Cherilyn
This is a long fic that follows Bodie and Doyle's changing relationship, starting at their first meeting. It draws in events from many of the episodes.
True by JoJo
This fic takes place in the aftermath of No Stone. Bodie, Doyle, and June Cook are point-of-view characters, and I think excellent use is made of each of them.
Older Lads fics
I don't have a whole lot of Older Lads fics in my collection, so I only found four recs for this category. They are diverse in tone and subject, though.
Just When You Least Expect It (Just What You Least Expect) by Stew
This fic features only slightly older Lads. It is set around the time they leave the field. I have recced this fic before several times. I just love it. It always makes me happy.
Ray Doyle’s Cottage Garden Diary by
boothrosIn this fic, a significantly older Doyle contemplates the flowers in his garden and remembers the past. It's a very fine piece of writing.
The Best by
fajrdrakoIn this powerful fic, an older Bodie has become controller of CI5.
The Greatest Song I've Ever Heard by jj_minerva
This is a fic in which an older Bodie must deliver some news to Doyle after they have both left CI5 and been separated for many years. I don't usually like long separations in fic, but I enjoyed this one. It has a sequel that is also good, if less memorable.
Time-travel fics
I love a good time-travel fic. I might even love a bad time-travel fic. It seems there are not a lot of fics of this type in the Pros corpus, though, since other people didn't have many recs to offer, and I only found four instances in my collection.
Groundhog Doyle by Irene (Proslib)
This is a time-loop fic in which Doyle lives the same day repeatedly. If you like that trope, you will like it.
Not Time's Fool by
jat_sapphireThis fic applies another time-travel trope: characters living life out of sequence. This was my first exposure to the trope, and it is still my favorite. It's beautifully done.
Simple Twist of Fate by Sarah K (
tears_of_nienna)This is a crossover between Pros and the TV show FlashForward, in which everyone in the world has simultaneous visions of the same point in the future. This fic is a little odd in that it is set in the then-present (around 2010), so the Lads use cell phones and things. If you can get over that, though, it's really interesting to see the growth of the Lads' relationship under these unusual circumstances.
And Its Business Is Joy by Elise_Madrid (
gilda_elise)This one is a crossover between Pros and Star Trek: TOS. It's different from the other time-travel recs in that it isn't the Lads who travel in time, but rather the crew of the Enterprise. This fic as both humor and emotion and blends the two universes well.
Historical AUs
I have nothing against historical AUs, but for some reason, they just don't seem to float my boat. I keep reading them and either not liking them or, at best, feeling indifferent. I don't have any in my collection.
(Feel free to recommend me more, if you like. I think something on the adventure story end of the spectrum, rather than the historical romance end, would probably be most likely to appeal.)
Futuristic AUs
On the other hand, I have a definite thing for sci-fi AUs, including those set in the future. There are a lot of them in my collection, and it was hard to limit myself to five.
Suitable Gravity by DVS
I didn't like this fic when I first read it, soon after joining the fandom. I've decided that I was just in a bad mood during that time, though, because this is not the only fic that I didn't like then but loved on rereading. (Another was Professional Dreamer. Who doesn't like Professional Dreamer?) Anyway, this is a futuristic adventure that has the best world building I have ever encountered in a fanfic.
Of Angels and Angles by Sarah K
It's not explicit in this fic that it is set in our future, but it features FTL space travel, so I think it counts as futuristic. It's also one of relatively few AUs I like in which CI5 does not exist in some form. In this story Bodie and Doyle are just two interplanetary travelers who happen to meet.
A Future to This Life by Verlaine (
loyseofverlaine)This fic does include CI5, with "CI" in this case standing for "Cyborg Institute." Both Doyle and Bodie are cyborgs. Science fiction ensues.
Dirty Computer series by jat_sapphire
This is a series of very short futuristic fics that nevertheless packs a lot of worldbuilding punch.
Witchery by Verlaine
This is a near-future fic that finds various characters from the series living in a UK transformed by climate change. It comes closer to being a cautionary tale than any of the other future fics in my list.
Alternate History AUs
I happen to be writing an alternate history for this year's Big Bang. There aren't a lot of other fics in Pros that really fit that description, but I did think of a few.
Cowley's Irregulars by Gil Hale
This is a classic alternate history featuring a point of divergence where a well known event had one outcome instead of another. I wish there were a little more show vs. tell, but it's still a very enjoyable fic. This fic is gen.
Heat by Lainie Stone (Proslib)
This is one of my very favorite fics. I didn't initially think of it when choosing fics for the alternate history category, but I think that is the best description of what it is. Another fan brought it up during the panel as a futuristic fic, but it takes place in the same era as canon, just in a world where international events have recently taken a different turn.
Into the Light of a Dark Black Night by
lomelindeHaving added Heat to my list as an alternate history, I decided to add this fic as well. It has some similarities to Heat, and while it isn't based on events we know taking a different turn, I think it is still best described as an alternate history. I really like it.
Reincarnation
I came up with this category the night before the panel as something to toss out at the end if time permitted. I only knew of one Pros fic that fit it. I don't currently remember other people coming up with any others, except for a couple where the story of Bodie and Doyle clones living in the past is juxtaposed with one that follows our Lads in the present. As in Rediscovered in a Graveyard by HG.
Time-Crossed Lovers by Jane Carnall and Ann Johnson
This is that one reincarnation fic I am aware of. It's quite short, and I think it is well done.
