Yuletide Recs

[tjs_whatnot]

First a little about stories gifted to me:

I always feel sorry for the people who write for me. Not because I’m hard to please. I’m not. Not even a little. I get ridiculously giddy when things are given to me. Especially things that come from the heart. And I’ve never received fic or art in any fandom where I didn’t know it came from the very best of hearts. No, I feel sorry for them because the things I ask for and the way I ask them lends them to write things that are absolutely perfect and stunning for me, but are not readily accessible to the population at large. Yes, I know that’s the purpose of Yuletide, that’s what it excels at, but I usually push it a bit farther and get people to create even with the understanding that it won’t be the fic of the year... no matter how much I praise and cajole everyone I meet to read it.

For instance, not only did I ask for The Sparrow, which is the very best book ever, a cult classic but I also asked them--if they could--include elements of the sequel. And they did! Knowing not nearly as many people had read that--though they should. And then I asked for Sports Night. Easy right? A lot of people read and write for that fandom, it’s one of the multiply stories per year for Yuletide. But did I make it easy? No. I asked for experimental. I wanted risk taking and playing with the norms. What I was not expecting in a MILLION years was for someone to write FREAKIN’ POETRY! Yes, that’s right. Sports Night Poetry. You’re welcome! It’s about 100 words long, it’s tight and lyrical and lovely. It says it’s about 9/11, but it’s not really. I know, I was wary too, it really isn’t though. It’s about Dan and Casey and NYC and travel and it’s just glorious. Go read.

What Kind Of Day Has It Been? The Kind with Celebrities, and the Sweet Smell of Air (169 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sports Night
Rating: General Audiences
Relationships: Casey McCall/Dan Rydell
Characters: Casey McCall, Dan Rydell
Summary:

Seventeen Syllables: A Short Series
Dan, Casey. Leaving and coming home again.
Ten poems for ten titles. This is what hits me when I see the Twin Towers on a vintage episode. I have to wonder how it would hit our CSC/QVN gang, and how their lives (and how they'd choose to live them) might change.

Patrilineage (5427 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Sparrow - Mary Doria Russell
Rating: Mature
Characters: Emilio Sandoz, D.W. Yarbrough, Felipe Reyes, John Candotti, Supaari VaGayjur
Summary:

"If you find it hard to believe in me, maybe it would help you to know that I believe in you." -- George Burns as God in Oh, God!

Now, on to not at all biased recs:

More Sports Night! I think I really loved everything written for that fandom this year, but these are standouts for me:

The Space Between (2922 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sports Night
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Relationships: Casey McCall/Dan Rydell
Characters: Casey McCall, Dan Rydell
Summary:

The space between friends and lovers, that's where Dan and Casey live.

You Could Turn It On Like A Light (11978 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sports Night
Rating: General Audiences
Relationships: Casey McCall/Dan Rydell
Characters: Casey McCall, Dan Rydell, Dana Whitaker, Jeremy Goodwin, Natalie Hurley, Isaac Jaffe, Sam Donovan
Summary:

In which Dan and Casey are not fraught. Or so they say.

These are both glorious with the Sorkin banter and the Dan and Casey-ness, but they’re also both a bit melancholy and both have our boys a bit broken. Especially “The Space Between.”

What can I say, I was in a bit of a mood. :))

MORE SORKIN!! ♥♥

To See The Old Gods Go (1064 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Newsroom (US TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Characters: Sloan Sabbith, MacKenzie McHale
Summary:

Sloan wants to stand witness.

While this fic wasn’t written for me, per se, I really feel as if it could have been. On my sign up request I asked for a story with Sloan (I love her so hard!) and Mackenzie passing the Bechel test. THIS IS THAT FIC! It is glorious and spot on with how their relationship, their communication style is in the show. I LOVED IT!

And with this last fic, we conclude the fics in the fandoms that I, myself, requested...

New York Is a State of Mind, but Cicely Is a Way of Life (6005 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Northern Exposure
Rating: General Audiences
Relationships: Joel Fleischman/Maggie O'Connell
Characters: Joel Fleischman, Maggie O'Connell, Ruth-Anne Miller, Ed Chigliak, Chris Stevens, Marilyn Whirlwind
Summary:

In which Joel and and various Cicelians meet in a dream, a moose gives advice, Maggie's in denial, Ed visits the Big Apple with a purpose, and Joel makes his long-awaited return to the great state of Alaska.

Man! I forgot how much I missed the mystical realism of this show that this writer highlights beautifully. Only in a Northern Exposure fic can the author write a trans-continental shared dream and a talking moose and have it totally canon compliant. :))

And speaking of shows I forgot that I love with an immense passion: M*A*S*H!!

Whys and Whats (1998 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: MASH (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Characters: Father Francis Mulcahy, Sidney Freedman
Summary:

Mulcahy finds he can not pray. Or at least not pray the way he should. When there are no other priests around, he seeks out the next best thing.

Oh man! Have a hanky handy! If you’re anything like me, Father Mulcahy struggling with his faith will always choke you up. As will this next one of Hawkeye home and not knowing what to do with himself. M*A*S*H WHY MUST YOU BREAK MY HEART!?!?!

Life Interrupted (1006 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: MASH (TV)
Characters: Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce
Summary:

Hawkeye comes home from the war, and he's not quite as well-adjusted as he thought he'd be.

And now, for two completely silly ones that really gave me the giggles (and boy did I need them after the others!)

Harriet The Spy Has Nothing On Me (4175 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 3/3
Fandom: Suri's Burn Book
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Suri Cruise, Violet Affleck
Summary:

Discretion. I cannot emphasize this enough. If you are so low class as to sell your own stories to the tabloids, I cannot trust that you will not fabricate lies about my services in an attempt to garner fleeting moments of fame. This is why I will never assist the Kardashians, no matter how much they plead (though if Penelope Scotland Disick wishes to make her escape and reclaim some semblance of a fulfilling life, I have some experience in the matter and will assist pro bono).

I can even describe how like delicious crack this story--and the fandom it’s based on--is. I hadn’t even heard of Suri’s Burn Book before I saw it listed as a fandom. Then I sort of gobbled it up. It is ridiculous and hysterical and I love it an obscene amount. This fic captures the tone perfectly. And puts it in space. The End.

Big Bad (1731 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Olympic Opening Ceremony (2012)
Rating: Not Rated
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Voldemort (Olympic Opening Ceremony), Mary Poppins (Olympic Opening Ceremony)
Summary:

or, Lord Voldemort and the Massive Mary Poppins-Induced Existential Crisis.

The summary says it all! Lord Voldemort, Master of Death and Dark Lord of All realizes he is a fictional character ruled by a narrative in the most inopportune time. It is magnificent! I’m not sure what my favorite part is, the Damn Poppinses, Golum’s Precious or the Dalek’s urging to “RUMINATE! RUMINATE!” This fic has it all! ♥


Of course, if you read anything you like, please make an author’s day and leave a comment. Or at the VERY least, a kudo! ♥♥

Comments

[bm-shipper.livejournal.com]

It's awesome that you got so many great things!I'm really, really happy for you!
That's awesome! =D

[tjs-whatnot.livejournal.com]

Heehee, technically only two of those are for me...the rest just feel like it because they were perfect and I loved them. That's what I love about Yuletide. So many great fics in so many varied fandoms. so there is something (a lot of things) for everyone!

♥♥

[apgeeksout.livejournal.com]

Well, the Sparrow fic was perfect and stunning for at least one other person! I'm so pleased you requested it, as I would never have thought to do so, but I still get to read this beautiful story!

[tjs-whatnot.livejournal.com]

\o/ I'm glad others are finding it!

Plus, now I know who have read the best book ever. :))

[apgeeksout.livejournal.com]

Right? Locus released the voting tally (http://www.locusmag.com/2012/CompleteResultsNovels.html) for its poll on the best sci-fi of the last century, & while The Sparrow clocks in at #54 on the list, it did make me a little happier about the world to know that there are at least two other people in it who would name it is the most important book of their lifetimes.

I get the impression that we have lots of fandoms & other stuff in common, so I hope you won't mind if I friend you!

[tjs-whatnot.livejournal.com]

Srsly? You could be a baby-eating, seal-clubbing Tea-Partier and I would STILL want to follow you and your love of Emilio--my Spirit Animal!!

Friend away! I will do likewise when I get home and off my phone.

<33333

[capitu]

You got some amazing stuff written for you baby! Woot! I'm really happy for you. :D

[tjs-whatnot.livejournal.com]

EVERYBODY DID!

Read the Voldie one, you will DIE!!

<333