Luce's Fanfiction Blog: September to December 2005
Luce's Fanfiction Blog: September to December 2005
30 December 2005
So many good fics... Tryfanstone's Misrule, HL, so very, very good.
The writing is excellent, never too heavy, always dynamic, and full of Methos's
unique characterization. Despite the huge amount of HL fic I've read, this
quality of writing is rare. Beautiful, and bears repeat reading.
Muri's Hikaru-goes-insane fic haunts my mind. I think it's because it's so human, and boldly attacked--what similar scenarios I've read of this tend to have Hikaru going raving mindless or get cured by true love. And maybe Hikaru does go raving mindless, but the way that Muri teases out the remaining, tenuous bits of sanity is poignant and delicate at the same time. I guess what's painful about it is the question: what if Sai's possession had scrambled Hikaru's mind, causing insanity?
Speaking of Hikago, there's also Tarig's AU fic, which starts off in a really intriguing way. I wish I had the courage to tackle that kind of AU. I'm really quite cowardly about AUs. Stacy has her boyband AU--nice Akira and Hikaru!
25 December 2005
Read Chrissie's AU PoT fic, a war fic, and found it excellent. It has that edge of despair and callousness that gives voice to the pointless cruelty of prolonged war. And of course, it reminds me of that movie, Merry Christmas (I think that's the title) about WW1, set in the trenches. It's fantastic, and honestly, a thrill, to be able to read such fascinating depictions, and luxuriate in the strength of the writing. The style is overly spare, at certain times, but other than that, it's lovely.
23 December 2005
Some ruminations about fic, and a couple of fic writers.
Have been re-reading Dissipation and Despair, and The Kindly Ones,
by AJ Hall. I think I realize why, although I love her Neville so, I've always
felt a tiny bit put off by her Draco and other characters--though Hermione is
excellent. Oh, Draco is fantastic in this conception, deadly, arrogant and loyal
at the same time. What I have niggling thoughts about is the way so many
characters sound alike. I mean, her advantage is that she has a very strong
setting, so I don't get confused about who is who... but--perhaps it's the fact
that it's late and I'm sleepy--I keep having the impression that nearly all of
her characters (save for Neville, and Hermione, and occasionally Draco) speak in
the same way. The same use of sardonic, sarcastic references and comparisons,
the baldly frank and somewhat tactless manner that passes for sly knowingness,
the exclamations... it's just similar. The length of the sentences, the type of words used, the sentence structure... similar. How does she keep the characters apart in
her mind, is what I'd like to know.
I feel as though she's doling out her lines between the characters, rather than
letting the lines come from the characters and characterization. Or
something--I've become terrible at expressing myself. The thing is, it struck
me, at the end of The Kindly Ones, when Rodney (or whathisname) was
grousing about the inconveniences he'd been forced to bear, how easily his lines
could have come from someone like, say, Draco, or even Narcissa, instead.
She says she's writing a novel. I don't know what to think.
On another note, I think I'm realizing (as well) why I've never friended Emily's
fic journal. The thing is, I usually friend anyone who writes or reads fics in
my fandoms, even if they've only written one story that I like, or something. My
theory is that the greater exposure to more ljs I have, the more chance I have of
coming across good fics. But even though I like a few of Emily's fics--especially
the smutty ones--I'm not enamoured of her person. Dunno why: I'm hardly in a
position to judge other people, especially when it's through something like an
lj. I guess it's her user info, where she declares something like "My fic, my
choice. Don't like? Write your own damn fic." I suspect it's the 'damn' that
gets to me, not that I object to profanity. (It's paraphrased, by the way--the
user info message--but not the 'damn'.) I get the impression of a pre-emptive
'fuck you', which does not give me confidence in the writer's forbearance. Ah
well, I guess she is right: it is her choice, and I'm ranting for no purpose.
Nice things: Jaelle's PoT fics, pleasantly and deftly written, and I love the
one Tachibana/Shinji she has, Love Story. She has an adroit take on the
characters, and her narrative style is natural and entertaining. A bit bare at
times, but one can't have everything.
Maya's Draco-in Ravenclaw story, If You've a Ready Mind, actually
disappointed me a little, because re-writes are not that interesting.
Nonetheless, I love her Draco so much, and I still adore the undercurrents she's explored with the AU
premise, such as with Draco's takes on friendship, the Gryffindors--but I'm
really interested in seeing how her story will go after the events of HBP. And
the promised Draco/Harry. Her other ongoing HP fic, Quality of Mercy, is
more nerve-wrecking, because it's set directly after the events of HBP, and she
had dragged Draco into Harry's vicinity--a plot-point that needs to be very
skilfully handled, and is. She balances the other relationships between Draco
and the Weasleys, explores the anger on Harry's part and his actual ambivalence,
and charts Draco's own growing... alertness (maturity?) over the seriousness of
his situation. Not that he wasn't aware before, but... more so, I guess. She
brings out the banal and magical sides of the Wizarding World, like squabbling
families and a dragon, and though the characters are still at the Burrow, I feel
as though the story has been through a lot. Journeys chartered, alliances made,
and so on. Amazing stuff. Maya can have a rather manic style at times, and this
works very well in fanfiction because one knows the fandom, and knows her. In
original writing she is more deliberate... a joy to read in both cases.
20 December 2005
Nice to be at home--trying to work myself up into writing fic. I want
to finish Unfolding Fan, and at least update Tricks and Traps if I can manage
it. Read chapter 7 of Maya's Quality of Mercy yesterday--loved it. I
like the complexity of the negotiations between Harry and Draco, and Draco and
the Weasleys. She's pacing the story with some deliberation, and it sets
up a lot of expectations. But then, this is Maya, who wrote
Draco-in-Ravenclaw fic. I think I don't have to worry.
16 December 2005
Harukami's Something, At Least, a Hakkai/Goku/Gojyo fic, made me
laugh. I like her Hakkai very much. Coyo wrote tentacle!slash,
Saiyuki fandom. I love that Saiyyuki allows for such delightful stories.
Caithion's The Go Master is short, but very delightful.
7 December 2005
Has been a while. Oof. Reading Risk by Cathy Butterfield,
a Highlander fic, and it's delighting me by making me just why I like HL fic so
much--there's so much potential for playing with historical figures. Solid
pacing, good crime novel style, mixed with typical Immortal business.
15 November 2005
Have read Scoradh's Wizards Abroad, and giggling like mad. I
love her tone, wry and snarky. More deliberative than deliberate, I love
the way she writes Harry's inner thoughts, and the way she draws out the story,
step by step towards utter disaster and embarrassment for Harry. Oh,
clever, clever lines. I have so much fondness for them.
Open Season is just as much fun. Wow, I wish I could sustain that kind of snarkiness. Or have had it in the first place. Is there something about Ireland that makes people write such clever lines?
She hurried over, her face betraying a sort of sterling, determined bravado that characterised Gryffindors in dark and difficult times, such as when they were woken up too early.
'What's wrong with you, Malfoy? Did you look in the mirror again? You know it's dangerous, the way they shatter when you do that.'
14 November 2005
Muri's Left Over is a marvelous fic that has my utmost admiration.
It features Ochi's viewpoint of the relationship between Hikaru and Touya--their
rivalry, their friendship, their closeness, their childish snipping, the way
they understand each other--and the depiction of a blind Go game that takes my
breath away. She writes sexy igo.
I have never seen that before.
I've read igo games that begin or end in sex, or take place during sex, or suggest sex, or features really sensual writing, but never a game that struck me with that lovely closeness that only takes place during close physical contact with someone who know you better than you know yourself. It's surprising, yet not--it engenders awe for the game of Go and excitement for the electrifying relationship between the two players.
Mmm. It's such a delicious game, set out with such nicety and such sensitivity. I can't even find it in myself to feel envious, simply because I like it so much.
Some concrit: I think the ending is a bit too pat, sloppish--Ochi is left in awe, which he tries to hide... it doesn't quite ring true that he'll make the decision to play his own game from that. Poor Ochi, he isn't capable of coming to an epiphany until he's had his time in the bathroom. (My, that sounds dirtier than I expected. Heh.)
The entire narrative, though, needs to be more compacted, to push the tension through and strike a note--preferably an intense, ringing one. Not actually a 'spark', I think--the mood doesn't call for it. Ochi's annoyance can be better expressed in a shorter, but more concentrated form, to bring it along (or as a contrast) with the moment when Shindou unwittingly continues his irritation and attacks Touya with the first hand of his blind Go game. The game itself--maybe a teensy bit overlong before the climax, heh--the moment when Shindou and Touya shut their eyes. Wrapping up the scene could be better--Ochi's eagerness to know the outcome and his reluctance might benefit from a more nuanced (rounded?) approach, to give the impression of shock.
I think the reason the pacing isn't as measured is because paradoxically, the emphasis on the igo game is a little too centralized. Bracketing it with Ochi's disgruntled thoughts can make it too mechanical. Maybe elaborate on Kurata's reaction, to break up the monotony?
***
Punk's Due South fic, Gun, with Occasional Kangaroo: A Love Story, is madly hilarious. I love Punk's style, especially here. The narrative is deadpan and tongue in cheek, light-hearted without resorting to crack (too much), and deftly brings Fraser and Ray together. Hee hee.
7 November 2005
Stacy's Balls (ballsy title) is a minor gem--no insult meant by the
word 'minor'--that makes me jealous. Ryoma goes to Hogwarts, snarks at
Draco. Just made me went hehehehe.
9 November 2005
Not too much to comment on. Have been lazy.
28 October 2005
Work fracas that's making me twitchy. Grr.
By the by: what would be more in character: Sai vs. Touya Akira or Sai vs. Shindou Hikaru???
Other things: read Tryfanstone's HP fics. Beautiful and haunting--she (or he?) has the skill of writing such sweet prose even when everything seems so dark. Perfectly restrained angst too--not like those fics that drip sadness everywhere--very delicate handling. I'm so envious that I feel ashamed of myself. The sentences don't necessarily draw attention to themselves, but bit by bit, like a mosaic, they build such brightness, it's like finding treasure in a dark room. I thought On Wednesday was already perfect, but the Consanguinity arc is so beautifully angled and produced that the effect's nearly organic and bursts through, ripe like dark purple grapes. My god, that's something you don't even see in professional fiction--much--because it's gotta be so hard to sustain the pacing and the tone. The arc beginning with On Wednesday is really stylish, I must say--very yummy, the way it exudes élan with every turn... mmm--while the Consanguinity arc is simply, simply lovely: it has a more natural style and flair, yet mutely flashy, sort of like flying cloaks, you know?
Wow wow wow.
27 October 2005
Hm... feeling guilty about my fics.
Other than that, I've been reading this Mac/PC fic that has me alternately in stitches and 'awww'. I'm also trying to figure out just why, since the author uses the 'it' pronoun throughout, I'm starting to think of the Mac as a 'her'. That's just wrong: I'm sexing a computer! Besides, I think of that Alienware as female too, though that may be due to Sigorney Weaver. Hm. Interesting what your own sex perceptions to do your interpretation of fic.
Speaking of fic and fic pairings--who would Ibu Shinji have, if he looked inside his own team? I can't imagine Kamio, because Shinji would drive Kamio to drink within three days. Besides, I think it's cute that Kamio seems to be so close to An. Hahahahah. Hm... Tachibana? I can just imagine it: Shinji would be mumbling to himself, as usual (in bed?) And Tachibana would say, "Shinji, shush." And Shinji would say, "Yes, Tachibana-san." Hm. Okay, it sounded cuter in my head.
I wish I could write the Jonathon Power sequence. Is it my fault the PoT boys are so deadly serious about tennis that I can't?
26 October 2005
Of late I've been having a slight discussion of sorts about Tezuka.
Yeah, him again. Honestly, I think I've said a lot about him already, how
much he bothers me, that kind of thing. For a block of wood he sure
generates a lot of sentiment!
Anyway, today I found that Aja (she of Love Under Will) has written a Tezuka/Ryoma, Everything That Falls. I mean... I don't know what to say, really. It's good, I guess. Lots of good lines, anyway, and bringing in actual players is a nice touch, adds a solid authenticity to it all. I don't know why I didn't gell to it. It's probably my Tezuka-antipathy. It's hard for me to give any sort of proper feedback at all, because of that. Hm.
Is it because it's angsty? Or cryptic? Or sad? Or too annoying!Tezuka? I think it does read like a lot of deliberate effort went into it. Which is good? Though fiction shouldn't really feel like a lot of work went into it. It should look effortless--that's how you pull the reader in. But the lines are very good and yet ponderous--so I don't know what to say. The pacing tends to be off, slightly, because the tone wavers a little, and is a little puzzling to boot. It's detached, and yet the sex scenes don't appear or get referred to (much). If it's supposed to be emotional--the emotions don't get enough time, either. Poor Tezuka, either we see his confused state of mind, or we see him being a recorder, and both these mindsets are mixed up and incomplete in a way that does not give me a strong idea of exactly what the relationship is. I felt like I had to mentally insert conventions and emotions from half a dozen other Tezuka/Ryoma fics, and that just can't be right, can it? It read like a conversation among all the other angsty fics, which is an intricate thing to do, and certainly pulls together many different threads of this relationship, but ow, I think the rug looks a little threadbare and botchy from all the tugging.
Oh, I don't know what I'm talking about by now. How sad. I'm pathetic. It's clear I'll never be a good critic or reviewer. Anyhoo, it's the kind of fic which makes for worthy reading, overall. I guess.
On another, less confusing note, Camwyn is working on the next chapter of Hellblazer Hogwarts. Hallelujah! I am just so eager and delighted to know that it's being continued, after all, and even though I've already read the WIP snippets scattered about the lj, I'm so excited that I'm about to stalk Camwyn's journal and/or threaten him.
25 October 2005
Have been re-reading Paradigm of Uncertainty, a HP fic, mainly because it
crosses over with The Changeover, which I love. Unfortunately,
Laura occupies only a very small part of the story, and Sorry, even less.
Main focus is on Harry and Hermione, who become a couple and even get married in
the sequel. Hm... many things about the story are good: the introspection,
the dialogue, the description of magic, the giant plot. But something
doesn't quite ring true with me. I guess... it's too nice--as in neat.
The thing is, the Wizarding World, for me, is a really messy affair: the
Ministry of Magic is inefficient and corrupted, the society is somewhat
old-fashioned, and the education system isn't very comprehensive. I mean,
the best-run organization is Gringotts bank, and that's run by goblins who put
their bank vaults underground that are reachable by a roller-coaster???
Most people in the Wizarding World seem to muddle along--knowing nothing about
the Muggle population, which must be encroaching like mad--and don't care very
much either about the messiness.
So it's really exceptionally difficult for me to take in the idea that there's a spy organization, supremely organized, teaches practical things like self-defense, and is charged with keeping the dark wizards away. It's too pat--plus the one-upmanship is pretty irritating: a library that's better than the one at Hogwarts, Harry's Mage powers, Ron becoming really smart, Hermione becoming a spy as well. Grr.
This is not to say that I dislike it. In fact, I like it quite a lot, even though some scenes seem to be written like an episode of Friends. I like the idea that Harry is a hunk, for example, and that he has safely defeated Voldemort. I like the idea that he's still working tirelessly on the side of the good, and he has matured considerably. Napoleon Jones is a wonderful character. Still, I can't read it without grinding my teeth at times. Huh.
Oh yeah, St. Mungo's must be a pretty well-run place as well. I'd love to read a story set in St. Mungo's. Or Gringotts. Hee.
23 October 2005
My, it's really been a long time since I updated here. Is this the
beginning of the end? Am I making the transition from this webpage to lj
in toto? Am I stopping this blogging thing?????
Anyway, I responded to a rant on an lj, where I confessed my deep dark secret: I'm horribly anti-social. And oh god it's so true. I've never wanted to do instant messaging with anyone, however much I like their online presence, and I've never wanted to do any fic-writing with another person or get a beta (though I admit, that has got to do with arteeesstick control than anything else). I'm not a joiner at all, and this is why I abhor chatrooms as well--somehow, the idea of having exchanges such as "OMG U SUX!" with a total stranger isn't the least enticing. I think lj pushed all the right buttons for me because they have friending, and they have communities, so I get to pretend to be social but I don't feel the pressure to get out and have a party. I don't even like to reveal where I'm from because I don't want to feel close to anyone. It's pretty sad.
Huh. I think there's too much RL stuff in here.
On fic, then.
Erm. I have an idea for an AU fic. Hikaru as detective, Kindaichi style?
Anyway, Pru also posted the penultimate chapter of Visiting Hours. Good to end it in style, is my way of thinking. I do hope it doesn't end up with him being with Geoffrey, that'd be all too trite. I mean, you can do that for Clark and Lex, for they have myth, but Geoffrey doesn't have it with Connor, so that'd just be sad and pathetic and will end with one divorcing with the other and awkward family dinners for the next twenty years. Which might suit a Judith Kranz novel but...
Helen (unexpectedtimes) has an ongoing Fujicest fic. Interesting cadence to it, and I like the voice that she gives to Yuuta. How does she make it so cute?
6 October 2005
Have not really been in the mood for fic-blogging lately. Colleague
came back from China and bought me this crappy-looking mirror, which I'm pissed
about. Why bother with souvenirs if that is the best you can do? And
she kept saying "You should look into the mirror" like there's something wrong
with my face. Fuck that, I know I'm not a beauty, but I'm fine with the
way I look, okay? And she bought beef jerky that I can't eat. Well,
not can't can't. I have no problems with beef if there were no
other choices, you know. Or if it's pepperoni. But to to
deliberately eat it when there are other choices... nah.
Fuck it, she can eat it herself, she and her 'Oh, I forgot you don't eat beef', and tried to probe, in the most indelicate way, as to why--as though the reason must be religion. Well, it's a personal choice, okay?
Grr.
Fic-wise, I've read ladyseishou's splendid, wonderful 1908, staring Akira as a mail order bride, and Hikaru who tries to determine if they suit by playing Go. Short fic, but really nice--just a really, really good story. And X-men... I think I've found my OTP, of sorts in that. Hank/Bobby... eeeee. Loved Homecoming, and not just for the hot scenes. There needs to be more Hank/Bobby slash, oh yes, please let there be more.
23 September 2005
Pru updated Visiting Hours. Sweet for the moments of Terry-and-Conner
love, but otherwise unremarkable. If she doesn't want it to go on--and I
admit that she seems to have gone past the mood for writing this, but then we
can't expect to remain on the same level all the time, right?--then just end it,
okay? She likes SGA, yes, we get it. She has thoughts and doubts
about journalism... well, was I the only one who saw that coming a long way off?
I still think she'd be able to do it, though.
No doubt it's part of bad-temperedness that there seems to be a lot of soul-searching going about on lj lately, which makes me nostalgic, and annoyed by turns. Nostalgic because I think, "wow, I've been there, too" and annoyed because I think, "and it's not pretty, please get over yourself." All the while knowing that I'm being incredibly patronizing because other people's angst are not mine at all. However my life is now, it's the result of decisions I've made or not made, wisely or otherwise, and I'm a big hypocrite to assume that other people shouldn't have crisis-es. Besides, I'm not the most personable of people. I know this. I don't like to get close to people, with the end result that I don't really know that many people. It's a bit regretful, frankly, but I think I'm not at the stage when I would be ready to change this side of me, so I had better live with it.
18 September 2005
Panting. Metaphorically, that is. I finished my Saiyuki fic.
Yippee! I must say, except for a few tight spots, this fic practically
wrote itself. Even the twist that occurred to me out of the blue in
chapters 6 and 7 simply fell into place without my needing to even strain a
single brain cell. It's been an extraordinary experiment. If nothing
else, it proves that if I wanted, I could have the discipline to put aside two
to three hours each evening to write fic. I wonder what else I could put
this discipline to work? I do have other projects to do, after all.
Yesterday, I saw on Aja's lj that she hadn't seen any HnG fic for a while, and bemoaned the fact. I was flabbergasted, because, please, there was Tari's Balance, the sword-fighting HnG AU, and Aishuu had just updated Brightly Burning, too (more on this later). Not to mention all the drabbles and ficlets on 31_days. What has she been reading? Her f-list doesn't include that many HnG focused-people, maybe? Damn if that doesn't make me want to write my next chapter of Unfolding Fan right away.
Bah.
Aishuu's newest chapter (8) of Brightly Burning is really nice. I like it that Hikaru is brash and ignorant about Touyo Kouyo, that he meets Akira and has a civil conversation with him. Granted, I'm wondering how this turns into Akira/Hikaru, because it doesn't seem like it has the same type of tension that would lead into a relationship, so I want to see how Aishuu does it. Live and learn, right? And Hikaru plays the New Beginner's Game with Ogata. Sweet. My only regret is that Kuwabara might miss it.
5 September 2005
Maya's chapter 4 of Quality of Mercy. Lovely plot development, love
Charlie,the dragon, Harry being contradictory, love Bill, love Draco being
mistaken as ugly by the Veelas. Writing not as
polished--seems a bit rushed? But then it rushes along just fine, so I
don't know... maybe I'm not the hotshot critic I like to fancy myself?
Themes for 31_days, for September are out. I think I'll write a few.
There's also this SGA fic--a fandom I know nothing about, as I do not want to know anything more about alien technology, because it always seems much too fantastic and anthropomorphic than I like. But No Refunds or Exchanges is so much fun that I don't really care. Harlequin-plot, with a few scenes missing out. The boring Crisis, I guess.
And Viewfinder fic... I'm reading too much Viewfinder fic, actually: for a series that has a very simple set-up, it enticed me into writing fic within the reading of half-a-dozen fics. For plain fic, I like the war arc by inc_genius the most, though, and for continuation of the series I liked the ending to Pru's the most. For the latter, it's because it shows Takaba growing strong, and making up his mind about what he wants, while the former gave substance to the fairytale, which is nice.
4 September 2005
Finer than Spring, another post-HBP HP fic (how do these writers
write so fast), has chapter 10a already. A tiny bit cliched in bringing
Draco and Harry together, but the story unfolds nicely enough, good writing,
clear descriptions... need to read the next part soon.
1 September 2005
Have read lots and lots of Punk's fics. Loved "a Clark/Lex epic of
staggering genius". Style like whoa, and it works... I feel like sprinkling
sparkles just thinking about it.