FORKNI-L
Digest - 6 Jul 2008 to 7 Jul 2008 (#2008-162)
Mon, 7 Jul 2008
There are 2 messages totalling 100 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. FK Fic Recs?
2. [Fwd: Re: FK Fic Recs?]
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Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2008 17:56:38 -0500
From: Roxana Elizondo <roxeliz@h.......>
Subject: Re: FK Fic Recs?
Portia wrote:
> I'm first and foremost an UFfer, but I also adore Immortal Beloved
> and N&N stories. I like Tracy and Vachon stories, I adore Schanke,
> and I also get off on some Vachon/Nick....Really,>I just love a
> good story, soooo...could you guys suggest some of your favorite FK
> fic?
I don't know if I can be any help but since you mentioned that it had
been a while since you've read FK fic hopefully I can jog your memory
on some old favorites. Or just maybe ferret out an unknown fic for
you. I love discovering unknown to me FK gems.
I really can't help in the UF department. I've read a few on occasion
but I don't think I'm qualified to doll out recs there. I did however
really enjoy "The Cross" by James K.W. I personally lean more towards
N&N but I too adore a good IB story. "Mad About You" by Elizabeth Ann
Lewis ranks as one of the best in my opinion. "The Raven Flown" by AC
Chapin also has some excellent Nick/Janette and I love the glimpses
of Nick/Nat as well.
I will pimp out the AU fic "The Maltese Raven" by Erika Wilson till
I'm blue in the face. I was struck by its originality and cleverness.
Everyone makes an appearance. If there is any fic that I would have
loved to see the cast do it would be that one. Fun for actor and
viewer alike!
I will also recommend any of imajiru's stories. They have this edge
that is so inviting to me. "Trio" is evocative and very hot but I
also appreciate the characterization of LaCroix. He's not the
unflinching, overbearing father figure often presented but a vampire
who misses the companionship of his beloved son. "Hotel Crash Space
and "...what's an arc second" are two other winners.
"Turning Point" by Cindy Ingram and "Crossroads" by Nancy Kaminski
are stellar entries in my personal FK Hall of Fame. Both are examples
of beautiful FK writing.
I love Amy R's "Another Officer Vetter" and "Corners of the Mind"
Hooray for an excellent Tracy stories. Why are there so few of them?
"True Lies" by Marg Baskin is another good one.
With the upcoming release of the new Batman film a scene from the
move involving the Joker really stood out for me. It was highly
reminiscent of the main setup in AC Chapin's "Myth of the Bat".
I came across the stories of Stephen Lansing earlier in the year and
I'm so glad I did. "The Hands of Time" is an exhilarating post-Last
Knight story. It's got it all: Internal Affairs and the Dawkins
shooting, the Enforcers, Commissioner Vetter wanting justice for
Tracy, Reese being crafty, and that's not including the situation
with Nick, LaCroix, and Natalie. "And to All a Good Knight" is
another keeper. It's got great Nick/Schanke interactions and sets up
Nick's decision to romantically pursue Natalie in "Be My Valentine"
which I kind of feel came out of no where. Silly syndication and
their need for episodic episodes.
The "Five Years Later" series by klytiamnestra is such a different
type of FK story and it was such a pleasant surprising. It's FK goes
global.
Now for me there's something very intriguing about Natalie/LaCroix. I
liken it to Scully/Krycek in X-Files fic. Those two should never be
together but the idea of them together appeals to a twisted part of
the brain. I love the idea of those two characters butting heads but
I never quite crossed the line into the two of them engaging in
anything other than a meeting of the minds. However because
Klytiamnestra's writing was so engaging in "Five Years Later" I
decided to give her Natalie/LaCroix story "Cold Comfort" story a try.
I liked it. It's interesting. It just goes to show that competent,
engaging writers can make unusual scenarios work.
And lastly "LaCroix takes the Wheel" by Diane Trap is fantastic. Nick
teaches LaCroix, Janette tags along and hilarity ensues.
> What I'd really like are some stories that explore the relationship
> dynamics, not so much romance (N&N has a tendency to get cloying if
> not in good hands) but how the characters>interact and how they
> rely on or influence each other.
As far as stories with relationship dynamics I love Jean Graham's
Darkest Knight series. When I first came back into the fandom I
wondered if anyone had written any pre-Dark Knight stories, which
I've discovered I'm a huge sucker for. Then I stumbled upon that
wonderful series and it was exactly what I was looking for.
I think the genre for lack of a better word is ideal for exploring
character dynamics. And this goes not just with the level of trust
that is required between Nick and Natalie if their agreement is going
to go anywhere but also Nick's introduction to the precinct and the
dynamics that go there. Stonetree in "Dark Knight" said he went
against all his instincts by letting Nick work alone and I think
pre-Dark Knight stories can really explore that. "A Crack in the
Wall" by Kathy Whelton is another excellent story in that category,
as is "Mortal Ties" by Cindy Ingram.
> I think Nancy Kaminski's stories are the top, along with Dorothy
> Elggren -- these are the 1st that come to mind as Greats... And I'm
> sure I'm doing a diservice to other great authors I>used to love by
> not naming them, but it's been a while since I read FK fic and
> that's why I'm asking for your help! :o)
After I came back into the fandom last year I did a google search and
found Nancy Kaminiski's site. Not just one but five quality FK
writers under one roof. What a great way to jump right into the thick
of things. I adore her Myra POV story "Ruminations."
And a big whole-hearted agreement to your opinion of Dorothy Elggren.
Much like my love of pre-Dark Knight stories I was looking for a
certain type of post-Last Knight story. As much as enjoy the what if
scenerio stories I was itching for something that looked at Last
Knight within the context of what very likely happened...that Nick
and Natalie died that night. Dorothy's "All the Rest is Silence"
trilogy could not have been more perfect. Tragic, fitting, and heart
breaking.
> PS. Are there any FK Storyfinder groups like there are for other fandoms?
Again, I don't know if I'm qualified to answer but I don't think
there is. I've often looked at the mulifandom fic communities on
livejournal and FK simply doesn't make much of an appearance. I've
found Amy R's Bright Knight site very helpful when it comes to fic.
Just recently someone had a question about a LaCroix fic. Amy didn't
have an answer but someone who read her journal sure did.
Roxy
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Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2008 22:17:25 -0400
From: Lyn Palmer <wizkid2u@b.......>
Subject: [Fwd: Re: FK Fic Recs?]
thanks, Roxana and everyone else...I've been absolutely amazed at all
the stories that I've read that have struck the same chord with other
people. One of my favorite series that has gone unmentioned was by
Vanessa St. Dennis (dragonlady4@home.com)---who seems to have dropped
off the face of the earth.
Does anyone know if she's still on the list? I'd love to say thanks for
the stories...
Also Bonnie Rutledge....is there no way we can convince you to do more
work on the Clare series? aw.....c'mon.....
lyn
--
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*There are two kinds of light--the glow that illuminates, and the glare
that obscures. ***
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*James Thurber***
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End of FORKNI-L Digest - 6 Jul 2008 to 7 Jul 2008 (#2008-162)
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