Fic Recs

[osprey_archer]

Some fic recs! Because good fanfic makes me happy and I feel like spreading joy! Because I am finishing the intensive Russian summer hell tomorrow, so I am joyful!

And now I will stop with the exclamation points.

The Aunt and the Ankh, Jeeves and Wooster, G. It makes sense even if you don't know the canon - I can say that with authority, as I don't.

But, if this story is any indication, I ought to get acquainted with the canon. It's hilarious, with excellent banter and absurd situations that make perfect sense until you try to explain them, Egyptian themed house parties, attempted larceny, and the really peculiar and marvelous voice of Bertie Wooster - a wonderful, cheerful fic.

Next, Qui Tacet Consentit, Rome, Marc Antony/Vorenus, R. I don't know the canon material here either, although I do know something about historical Rome.

Why should you read this? Because the second half is hot like burning, that's why. Also, because the story manages the curious feat of getting the historical details all wrong but the mindset exactly right, when usually it's the other way around.

And by "the mindset" I totally mean "icky Roman sexual mores." The consent here is dubious.

And last, my favorite of these fics: Whatever Happened to Alfred Jones?, Hetalia, I'm not sure what I would rate it because there's nothing I could pinpoint as upsetting - but it's so emotionally intense. The author gives it a thematic R so I'll go with that.

Basically, Hetalia does September 11th. It's gripping and emotional and so, so well written, and I would love to quote from it but I'd hate to spoil any of it; it's only about a thousand words long, and I urge you to give it a try even if you aren't familiar with Hetalia.

Hetalia is a manga (and I think also an anime, now, though I've only read the manga) where all the main characters are the personifications of countries. Basically that's all you need to get this story, so I urge you to read it even if you don't want to wade through Hetalia. (Though Hetalia is awesome, and a lot lighter and more fluffy than this story, and part of it is here if you want to give it a try.)

Comments

[silksieve.livejournal.com]

Get you some P.G. Wodehouse, stat!

The Hetalia story was wonderful.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Yes, ma'am! Can you suggest which Jeeves and Wooster book I ought to start with?

I'm glad you liked the Hetalia story. It's so lovely and so sad - all that outpouring of goodwill, and we lost it.

[silksieve.livejournal.com]

Start at the beginning with J&W--they're all collections of short stories, anyway. (The Inimitable Jeeves is the first one, I think?). The stories are somewhat chronological, but it's also okay if you read them out of order.

Don't miss the TV series with Stephen Fry as Jeeves and Hugh Laurie as Wooster. It's hilarious. Here's a clip to get you started:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O25ZkFVFY0Y

[anait.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recs. I read the Rome fic. Vorenus was my favourite character in the series and James Purefoy's Antony was a standout role in a cast of amazing talent, so this was a good read. The Antony characterization, especially, seemed very true to the series, with the mixture of charm, selfishness and brutality.

I will read the others when I get a chance, and I also need to catch up on your 50_POC reviews and start writing some of my own. I have about ten books read!

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Yay reviews! I've been waiting to read yours.

Is Rome worth watching? I kind of want to, because ancient Rome, but on the other hand the reviews always seemed lukewarm, and then it sunk beneath the waves without a trace.

[anait.livejournal.com]

It is very pretty, and the acting chops of the large cast is amazing. Seriously. Where did they find all these people? Those are the best things about the show, for me.

The things I liked less: it's HBO, so the nudity/sex/violence quota for each episode is kind of extreme. I would not normally mind this, in fact sometimes it would be a draw. But there is so much on this show it gets kind of numbing... like, 'Oh, not another orgy.' Seriously.

Also, I prefer my fictionalized Romans done by Colleen McCullough. She did a massive, detailed, awesome re-imagining of Roman history from last few decades of the Republic through to Augustus, Antony and Cleopatra. She has an amazing Sulla, an awesome, awesome Caesar, and lots of strong, compelling women-- Caesar's mother, especially, his aunt and his daughter, and his mistress Servilia. From this tv series, I liked James Purefoy's take on Antony a lot, and I loved the actress who did Cleopatra. The others... I mostly liked the two non-historical soldiers they made up, Vorenus and Pullo, to give the Everyman perspective to the events of the Great Ones that they were living through.

I do have a whole folder of icons saved from the show, and they are gorgeous.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

It wouldn't really be Romans without mountains of sex and violence. I dunno; I'll give the first disk a try and see if it's worth my while. I need a new show now that I'm done with Arrested Development anyway.

[anait.livejournal.com]

It is definitely worth a try. I know there are people who love it, so maybe you will be one of them!

It made me a fan of Kevin McKidd, and of the woman who played Susie on Torchwood.

[novangla.livejournal.com]

Rome is SO AWESOME. It's one of my favorite shoes-- my main disappointment was that the second season rushed the time line a LOT. It should have been three seasons, probably, but w/e. I think it vanished away because it was only 2 seasons, which is normally about the length of time it takes for hype to build up.

And I agree with the above comment, the casting was the best part-- wonnnderful acting.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I'll get the first disk, then, and see how it goes.

[novangla.livejournal.com]

Ohhh WHTAJ is totally wonderful-- I am a big loser and read it months ago and remember it. That author also writes a lot of colonial stuff with Arthur/England and little Matthew/Canada and little Alfred/America in a non-pervy fraternal way. She inspired me to want to get this (http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc24/superbityicons/APH/usxuk01.png) or this (http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/258/americaenglandvu9.jpg) or this (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/Leafy/Icons/gottalearntoshoot-boy.jpg) icon but I felt too silly with the manga icons. ((Though I still kind of like this (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/_cmk_/usbase14.png) one.))

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

That is not loserish at all! It's an awesome story. I've been working through the author's backlog and I love her colonial stuff. Little!America and little!Canada are probably the best characterizations of children I've read in fandom.

And I feel the same way about manga icons. Some of the Hetalia ones are soooo cute, but I feel silly with them, and also a little like I'm false advertising because I read very little manga.