Stories of the Month
Like the AotM, the story I select each month is one that I consider to be outstanding. It's a story that is not only artful and grammatically immaculate, but one that goes so far beyond ordinary fiction that it deserves special mention. These stories are all so ridiculously mind-blowing that if I ever had to choose an all-time fave. . . eesh, I'd be in trouble. If I accidentally overlooked one of these on the review front - I'm sorry! I'll get around to it eventually. But in any case, you're all awesome.
-----
June 2009: Kevin Ernest by potostfbeyeluvr
Ooh! You haven't seen Gilmore fic like this before. Ever seen one in the sci fi genre? That's what I thought. And at first it seems like a really weird combination, Gilmore Girls and sci fi, but here's the explanation: Literati. Already it's looking up, because you know we Lit fans will take anything that reunites Rory and Jess - or even better, keeps them from breaking up in the first place, which is what this fic accomplishes. Through time travelling! Yep, Jess and Rory are visited, separately, by the ghost of their future son, one Kevin Ernest Mariano. His future existent is in danger. Because Rory and Jess' relationship is so unstable! I make it sound comic and lighthearted, which it is, but there are a few touching moments. Well written and extremely clever, give this one a try. It's brilliant.
-
May 2009: Traitor by lamp before the wind
This is one of those stories where I'm quite angry that it got so little attention. It's a little gem of fanfic brilliance. Witty, so well written, and hilarious, it describes a moment that anyone who loves HHB has been dying to see (even if you didn't realize it): Edmund's reaction at Corin's reappearance. The writing is so colorful and Susan and Edmund so deliciously in character, it's absolutely satisfying. What takes the cake is lamp before the wind's use of language - straight out of the story, practically. A true accomplishment, and well worth the read. And the review! (Seriously, only seven for this piece of fantastic fiction? Injustice!)
-
April 2009: All She Knows of Heaven by Animus Wyrmis
A recent addition to the Narnia archives, Freedom by nightmaregirl8, has put me in a real mood for some good Susanfic. (Give it a read, and you'll see why.) With all the subpar stories clogging up the archives lately, it seems that good stories are best found through retrospection; namely, revisiting one's Favorites list. And there, I was happily sated with a reread of All She Knows of Heaven, which has been one of my favorite Susan stories for quite some time now. I originally reviewed when it was known as Nylons and Lipstick, and an awesome fic - but the reposted and longer All She Knows of Heaven is really mind-blowingly incredible. Seriously. My favorite parts are the dreams; they have such a sad, sweet pathos and it gets me every time. This is a fic I really can't say much about - the words blend and weave in a way that is beyond any description. It's amazing.
-
March 2009: Five Times Han Solo Fell In Love by Mathematica
What a stunning piece! The language of Mathematica's Five Times Han Solo Fell In Love is very fan fiction - it takes full advantage of parentheses, italics, interjections and new paragraphs, and does the internet justice. The writing moves with a very particular rhythm, short cuts and long separated run-ons, highly stylized and unerringly graceful. This kind of writing (as the best of it does) evokes clear, powerful emotions and exposes the character so completely that they're practically rubbed raw. The story follows the romantic trysts of one Han Solo, ending on an absolutely beautiful note. . . The italics here achieves their full potential, adding the perfect touch of meaning to an already affecting piece.
-----
June 2009: Kevin Ernest by potostfbeyeluvr
Ooh! You haven't seen Gilmore fic like this before. Ever seen one in the sci fi genre? That's what I thought. And at first it seems like a really weird combination, Gilmore Girls and sci fi, but here's the explanation: Literati. Already it's looking up, because you know we Lit fans will take anything that reunites Rory and Jess - or even better, keeps them from breaking up in the first place, which is what this fic accomplishes. Through time travelling! Yep, Jess and Rory are visited, separately, by the ghost of their future son, one Kevin Ernest Mariano. His future existent is in danger. Because Rory and Jess' relationship is so unstable! I make it sound comic and lighthearted, which it is, but there are a few touching moments. Well written and extremely clever, give this one a try. It's brilliant.
-
May 2009: Traitor by lamp before the wind
This is one of those stories where I'm quite angry that it got so little attention. It's a little gem of fanfic brilliance. Witty, so well written, and hilarious, it describes a moment that anyone who loves HHB has been dying to see (even if you didn't realize it): Edmund's reaction at Corin's reappearance. The writing is so colorful and Susan and Edmund so deliciously in character, it's absolutely satisfying. What takes the cake is lamp before the wind's use of language - straight out of the story, practically. A true accomplishment, and well worth the read. And the review! (Seriously, only seven for this piece of fantastic fiction? Injustice!)
-
April 2009: All She Knows of Heaven by Animus Wyrmis
A recent addition to the Narnia archives, Freedom by nightmaregirl8, has put me in a real mood for some good Susanfic. (Give it a read, and you'll see why.) With all the subpar stories clogging up the archives lately, it seems that good stories are best found through retrospection; namely, revisiting one's Favorites list. And there, I was happily sated with a reread of All She Knows of Heaven, which has been one of my favorite Susan stories for quite some time now. I originally reviewed when it was known as Nylons and Lipstick, and an awesome fic - but the reposted and longer All She Knows of Heaven is really mind-blowingly incredible. Seriously. My favorite parts are the dreams; they have such a sad, sweet pathos and it gets me every time. This is a fic I really can't say much about - the words blend and weave in a way that is beyond any description. It's amazing.
-
March 2009: Five Times Han Solo Fell In Love by Mathematica
What a stunning piece! The language of Mathematica's Five Times Han Solo Fell In Love is very fan fiction - it takes full advantage of parentheses, italics, interjections and new paragraphs, and does the internet justice. The writing moves with a very particular rhythm, short cuts and long separated run-ons, highly stylized and unerringly graceful. This kind of writing (as the best of it does) evokes clear, powerful emotions and exposes the character so completely that they're practically rubbed raw. The story follows the romantic trysts of one Han Solo, ending on an absolutely beautiful note. . . The italics here achieves their full potential, adding the perfect touch of meaning to an already affecting piece.
-
[insert hiatus/lack of updates, a.k.a. the first semester of college]
-
July 2008: Switched! by A Amelia Black
The masterpiece of Narnian hilarity, Switched! is a welcome relief for Humor genre. Finally, something besides those ridiculous movie parodies! (Don't they all seem to sound the same after awhile?) Switched!'s title speaks for itself: Edmund and Susan inadvertently switch bodies, and expertly written hysteria ensues. What I particularly enjoyed is A Amelia Black's focus on Edmund's other strengths besides good judgment, as well as avoiding the cliché moping, guilt-ridden, Hamlet-esque Edmund. He is the undefeated champion of the Narnian tournament, and currently courting a perfectly non-Sue princess. All credit to A Amelia Black for giving a fun break from Golden Age angst or meditation.
-
June 2008: Two If By Sea by Black Snow
-
June 2008: Two If By Sea by Black Snow
Two If By Sea should be well-known to any of my Literati readers. Aside from being a great story in itself, TIBS was also the inspiration for my story, The Setting Sun, and rightly so. Two If By Sea is one of the most moving Literatis I've read outside of anything by FallAway. It's heartbreaking! And she captures Jess' character particularly well, evident from our first glimpse into his thoughts. The scenes range from passionate love confessions (complete with French poetry), to fights (verbal and physical), to mourning, to terrible town gossip, to euthanasia. It is, appropriately, rated M, but it's a good M. It's an incredible sample of why Lit fans scour the internet - to cry. The author's notes read: "Apparently, I will NEVER tire of killing Rory/Jess in my writing…oh well." Which makes me laugh because I can so relate! So raise another glass of champagne to Black Snow for one awesome story.
-
In this super-multi-chaptered glory of Narnian fiction, Capegio has created one of the most relatable fics in all of Narnian fandom. It takes place a few years into the Pevensies' reign - just the about the time where they're transitioning from English kids to kings and queens; they've got experience and abilities, but they retain a few of their younger character traits: a bit of sibling bickering, a bit of showing off. It's the type of story that everyone can enjoy; impeccably written, so literature lovers can dig in; humor and imagery for the less-well read; excellent characterization, so movie fans and book fans will both be sated. This story is also the master of the cliffhanger - sometimes literally - and it leaves you on the edge of your seat. It's recently returned from hiatus, exciting many hungry fans across the internet.
-
April 2008: Eyes As Bright As Yours by Synesthetic Glam
-
In this super-multi-chaptered glory of Narnian fiction, Capegio has created one of the most relatable fics in all of Narnian fandom. It takes place a few years into the Pevensies' reign - just the about the time where they're transitioning from English kids to kings and queens; they've got experience and abilities, but they retain a few of their younger character traits: a bit of sibling bickering, a bit of showing off. It's the type of story that everyone can enjoy; impeccably written, so literature lovers can dig in; humor and imagery for the less-well read; excellent characterization, so movie fans and book fans will both be sated. This story is also the master of the cliffhanger - sometimes literally - and it leaves you on the edge of your seat. It's recently returned from hiatus, exciting many hungry fans across the internet.
-
April 2008: Eyes As Bright As Yours by Synesthetic Glam
Who knew that beauty could be found in less than three hundred words? If you had asked me that question a year ago, I wouldn't have gone along with it. Eyes As Bright As Yours was the story that changed my mind entirely. Even the summary is beautiful, short and sweet: "Six ways the Dawn Treader can break hearts." The story itself is comprised of six snapshots of Lucy and Caspian together on the voyage. They are lyrical, introspective expressions that will immediate connect with LucyCaspian fans who felt something deeper in VotDT. As you read them, each gets better and better; the simple phrases evoke real, raw passion in the reader. (It's been debated, but number VI is definitely the best.) Capping in at 333 words, counting author's notes, EABAY is the shortest story in on my Favorites list. I can't help but bring up the phrase "A picture's worth a thousand words," and counter it: In the hands of Synesthetic Glam, a word is worth a thousand emotions.
-
-
I know I've ragged on Neil Gaiman in the past - and I still haven't forgiven him for The Problem of Susan - but that's not to say I don't enjoy his other work. And yes, it's true I've only read a few books, Stardust not among them, but I did enjoy the movie. Our Tristran is a spectacular prelude to the movie, dealing with the idea that perhaps, Una had meant to sire a son to take the throne of Stormhold. Remind you of another story? The minute I found it, I though of AWW. Anyway, it's quite good; a clever, engaging tale that gives a little more background on Una's character that’s definitely worth the read.
-
-
This is probably the most amazing poem written for the Narnia fandom. Seriously. This is the kind of stuff that leaves you with your jaw hanging open, where you've got to read it again to actually start taking it in. The kind of story you feel stupid writing a review for, since writing ANYTHING after reading it is kind of redundant. Flawlessly thought-out and rhythmically perfect, Lament is a stunning feat of Narnian grace. It's basically a slap in the face for people who think poetry is stupid.
-
This story's meager little summary, "Glasses! They have alot to answer for," was slightly promising at best, but four paragraphs into AmeliaFaulks' story I was thanking my stars I gave it a chance. Well-written, hilarious, and satisfying, The Long Way Home is everything you could hope for and more concerning Superman Returns. The movie was so frustrating - not even a flashback kiss! - and this story definitely delivered. I had been worried about trouble navigating through the Superman branch of fandom, since my knowledge of the Superman franchise only goes as far Smallville, but this story was well worth it.
-
Shortened to HKDS by the many adoring fans, this wonderful story has amassed quite the following: 718 reviews and a forum to date, and it's not for nothing. HKDS explores the idea of 'Peter, Edmund, and the woman who came between them'. Though she refers to herself as "a crazy girl who was convinced Ed and Peter would fall for the same person, and managed to create a story that got me in way over my head," Tasty is an extremely gifted, brilliant writer. Saedra is by far the best OC I've ever seen - she's real, flawed, supported, and believable. And the story is fantastic. Now approaching Proust-length, Tasty's most recent chapter transcended into the spiritual, adding yet another (intriguing) plot twist. Despite a constantly changing summary and a year-long wait for Ed-Sae shipper satisfaction, this is one of my special favorites. Seriously, I can't recommend it more. HKDS was a major inspiration for my own perpetually grounded epic, Lily's Eyes. Best chapters include With Love, A Wound Reopened, Her Blood on His Lips, and my very favorite, The Storm.
-
A beautifully written account of the Golden Age through the eyes of Bill Pevensie, Andi's vision of the Four's father. She weaves her tale through his dreams. Far from England, Bill travels father than even the War could take him - into Narnia, where he watches his sons and daughters become wise, kind rulers in all their adventures. Insightful, refreshing, and with a spectacular ending, Worlds in Dream should definitely top off a favorites list.
-
This story was realized from a few lines in the season four episode, Chicken or Beef. The question of Fate has been addressed in several media, most memorably by Forrest Gump, but Francesca's eight-part interpretation gives Literati fans the AU illustration they've been searching for - because as we all know, Rory and Jess were meant to be together. The careful balance of character, description, and wit yields an admirable story always worth the read.
-
-
This story's meager little summary, "Glasses! They have alot to answer for," was slightly promising at best, but four paragraphs into AmeliaFaulks' story I was thanking my stars I gave it a chance. Well-written, hilarious, and satisfying, The Long Way Home is everything you could hope for and more concerning Superman Returns. The movie was so frustrating - not even a flashback kiss! - and this story definitely delivered. I had been worried about trouble navigating through the Superman branch of fandom, since my knowledge of the Superman franchise only goes as far Smallville, but this story was well worth it.
-
Shortened to HKDS by the many adoring fans, this wonderful story has amassed quite the following: 718 reviews and a forum to date, and it's not for nothing. HKDS explores the idea of 'Peter, Edmund, and the woman who came between them'. Though she refers to herself as "a crazy girl who was convinced Ed and Peter would fall for the same person, and managed to create a story that got me in way over my head," Tasty is an extremely gifted, brilliant writer. Saedra is by far the best OC I've ever seen - she's real, flawed, supported, and believable. And the story is fantastic. Now approaching Proust-length, Tasty's most recent chapter transcended into the spiritual, adding yet another (intriguing) plot twist. Despite a constantly changing summary and a year-long wait for Ed-Sae shipper satisfaction, this is one of my special favorites. Seriously, I can't recommend it more. HKDS was a major inspiration for my own perpetually grounded epic, Lily's Eyes. Best chapters include With Love, A Wound Reopened, Her Blood on His Lips, and my very favorite, The Storm.
-
A beautifully written account of the Golden Age through the eyes of Bill Pevensie, Andi's vision of the Four's father. She weaves her tale through his dreams. Far from England, Bill travels father than even the War could take him - into Narnia, where he watches his sons and daughters become wise, kind rulers in all their adventures. Insightful, refreshing, and with a spectacular ending, Worlds in Dream should definitely top off a favorites list.
-
This story was realized from a few lines in the season four episode, Chicken or Beef. The question of Fate has been addressed in several media, most memorably by Forrest Gump, but Francesca's eight-part interpretation gives Literati fans the AU illustration they've been searching for - because as we all know, Rory and Jess were meant to be together. The careful balance of character, description, and wit yields an admirable story always worth the read.
-
This beautifully written story could possibly be my favorite Edmund fic ever. A brilliant theme and well-thought out chapters make for the best addition to The Last Battle. It's explanatory in the best of ways; describing it can do no justice. Canonical, gripping, and question-answering, this one definitely deserves a spot on your favorites list.