Entries tagged with recommendation:foreverknight:project

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/98940.html

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FK Recommendation May 2011

What's Good? "A Strange Comfort" (2008; PG; ~1K words) by leela_cat is May's recommendation-of-the-month. Set immediately after "Last Act," this story is both serious and gently amusing as it displays Nick's equal tendencies to melancholy and to hope.

Feeling lost, he tossed the ball at the bare concrete wall. Over and over again, throwing the ball with his right hand, and catching it in the glove on his left. The movement mesmerised him, allowed him to forget about everything. No worries about anything or anyone. Nothing but the feel of the leather in his hand, the thud when the ball hit the wall, the smack of it against the glove. Hour after hour.
The sound of the phone finally pulled him out of the trance.

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What's New on FKFic-L? One new story posted to the list in April: "Dark Undercurrents" (PG; 3 posts, 72KB, ~11K words) by pj1228. One story and one poem have posted so far in May (unfortunately, both are by me).

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/95860.html

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FK Recommendation April 2011

What's Good? Sign-ups for

fkficfest/

fkficfest will open this week! This week is also the 105^th anniversary of the great San Francisco earthquake and fire. Together, these facts bring me to April's recommendation,

wiliqueen's "July 22, 1916" (2010), which she wrote as one of the generous surprise-party treats at the end of FKFicFest 2010, and which builds on a real incident in San Francisco history, achieves the feel of a first-season flashback, and foreshadows Mai Chung's fate (in "Cherry Blossoms").

The six and a half hours between the sound of the explosion and sunset were among the longest of Nick's very long life.

I'd previously refrained from spotlighting any of the great FKFicFest stories as part of the recommendation-of-the-month project, because we all read them just last year. But it's time for a reminder of how much fun the game was, don't you think? See you there!

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What's New on FKFic-L? Three new stories by one author posted to the list in March. (Unfortunately, the one author was me.) No new stories have posted in April so far. ( list with links )

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/94685.html

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FK Recommendation March 2011

What's Good? For March, I'd like to recommend Susan G.'s "Where There's No Smoking" (1994, ~2K words), in which a shrewdly observant Miklos keeps the Raven running as Janette attempts to walk away from her cigarettes. Primarily a vehicle for light character sketches from the bartender's perspective, the piece builds up a charge from brushing across canon surfaces including addiction and survival.

Why he was bothering to warn Nick away was beyond him--the entertainment value alone... But Janette seemed to care about this demented vampire who wanted to return to mortality. And Janette was the boss. Again, it was a matter of self-preservation. Besides, he felt some sympathy for Nick. Anyone who'd spent that many years in Janette's company and hadn't walked into the sun deserved more than a little consideration.

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What's New on FKFic-L? Four stories by three authors posted to the list in February, and two stories by one author have posted in March so far. ( list with links )

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/92306.html

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FK Recommendation February 2011

What's Good? I'm happy to get to have February's recommendation-of-the-month spotlight "Beyond the Grave" (1996, PG, ~2K words) by

lastscorpion. With a light touch on heavy events, "Beyond the Grave" answers the old "Discovery" challenge: "What would it take for Tracy to discover Nick's vampirism?" In this case, a near-death experience:

"I mean, even vampires die eventually. They get stuck out in the sun, or stabbed with a stake, or suck on a bad rat..." Tracy's voice trailed off.
"That's true, darlin'. Nobody lives forever, and just being a vampire is no cause for damnation. But choosing to be a vampire is a little bit like choosing to be a psychopath."

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What's New on FKFic-L? One story, "Winter Merriment" (G, ~1K words) by

pj1228, posted to the list in January. However, four stories have posted in February so far!

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/90368.html

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FK Recommendation January 2011

What's Good? To kick off the new year in the recommendation-of-the-month project, I'm pleased to get to feature Jean G.'s "No Requiem" (1999, PG-13, ~8K words). This brisk story begins with a traditional Nick/Natalie "happy ending" as an AU sequel to "The Fix," but soon shelves the romance to pitch the characters into an action-driven drama.

Natalie opened her mouth to scream, only to utter a surprised yelp when she was suddenly pulled violently aside. A feral growl drove all four vampires back, and they hissed their displeasure at this intrusion. LaCroix released the viselike grip that had yanked her free and snarled at her as well. "You take foolish risks, Dr. Lambert."
There was no denying that...

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What's New on FKFic-L? No stories posted in December, but there has been one story in January so far.

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/87757.html

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FK Recommendation December 2010

What's Good? Christy S.'s "Little Altar Boy" (2004, G, ~600 words) chimes in on the song challenge by entwining lyrics and story so closely that they merge into a music video. This reflective gen vignette is sweet and rich with the thematic aspirations of first-season FK, but is set indeterminately on any Christmas Eve after the flashbacks of "Only the Lonely."

(I neglected to get Christy's permission to feature this before she died in 2006, so until I changed the rule about deceased author authorization this year, her one and only FK fanfiction wasn't eligible for the recommendation-of-the-month project. Now it is.)

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What's New on FKFic-L? No stories have yet posted in December, but in November the list saw three new stories by three authors: ( list with links )

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/85155.html

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FK Recommendation November 2010

What's Good? I am very happy to get to spotlight Dorothy E.'s "Trust" (1998, PG, ~9K words) in the recommendation-of-the-month project this November. Home on administrative leave after the "Close Call" shooting, this Schanke grapples with issues of truth, interdependence and reliability, and, in the end, takes control of keeping the secret Nick can't confide.

Nick didn't like to kill. People. So he drank bottled blood and worked in homicide. He saved lives where he could. He teased his partner, and loved the coroner, and tried to live a life that was as human as possible. Despite having to hide from the sun, despite that Creepy-Crawler, who Schanke suddenly was sure was a thorn in Nick's side. Despite Janette... But, hey, he had just been looking.

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What's New on FKFic-L? Largely because of FKFic-L War XIII, no "non-war" stories posted in October. However, there has been one new story so far in November!

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/83206.html

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FK Recommendation October 2010

What's Good? For October, the recommendation-of-the-month project features Amanda B.'s "Full Circle" (2005, PG), a very short story of inertia and assumptions. It begins with the most conventional N&N happy ending -- mortality and marriage -- then trips that up and sends it crashing into DK territory.
Nick came to the couch once more, but instead of sitting beside her, he knelt facing her. He took her hands in his. “Natalie.” Her heart skipped a beat; he very rarely used her full name. “I never meant to hurt you.” He leaned down and kissed her hands. When he raised his head again, the eyes that met hers were golden.

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What's New on FKFic-L? The email list was very busy with FKFic-L War XIII, so no new non-War stories were posted in September (or October to date). Hopefully, November will fare better!

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/81701.html

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FK Recommendation September 2010

What's Good? I'm very happy to get to make September's recommendation-of-the-month Nancy K.'s "Deadly Stakes" (2000, PG-13), which uniquely stars Nick and Bourbon. This character study wrapped in action and suspense is set at a luxury casino resort between the second World War and the McCarthy hearings, and pits Nick against Bourbon for first one life and then another.

The budding archaeologists he taught in Chicago were under the impression he was doing research on the cave paintings at Lascaux in the Dordogne during the summer break. In reality, he was seeing to some of the properties he had owned since the mid-1700s...
You can take the boy out of the aristocracy, but you can't take the aristocracy out of the boy, he thought ruefully...

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What's New on FKFic-L? On the admin side, the upcoming FKFic-L War game has been scheduled for 10/01 through 10/15, and List Manager

lisamcdavid has a new email address. On the story side, fkfic-l saw two tales posted in August: ( list with links )

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/77218.html

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FK Recommendation July 2010

What's Good? I'm happy to get to feature

kirbyfest's post-LK Natalie vignette, "Begin Again" (PG), as July's installment in the recommendation-of-the-month project. (Yes, it's still July! Barely. My apologies for any inconvenience.) This Natalie is looking forward to a new life, at peace with herself, but is also looking back on an unusual, but entirely plausible and convincing, aftermath of "Last Knight" that argues for the gravest interpretation of canon's accumulated traumas.

Luckily, she'd been sent here. A good doctor, the continued affection of her friends, and some time and distance had helped her to start asking hard questions of herself, and helped her to start finding some peace with the answers.

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What's New on FKFic-L? In June, fkfic-l saw eleven stories by five authors! All eleven happen to have originated with

fkficfest; some were revised, reformatted or illustrated after the game. ( List with Links )

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/74012.html

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FK Recommendation June 2010

What's Good? As we head into summer, I recommend

james's "In the Beginning, James Created..." (1995, rated R), the first complete-AU fanfiction I ever read. This story makes Natalie the vampire cop, and shuffles all the other characters by matching rarely-observed affinities. But while different characters fill the roles, the relationships stay with the roles. I see a serious interpretive argument underneath the funhouse ride of this AU; I enjoy that.

I don't want to spoil the story's biggest mind-bender, but I'll hazard that no one but

james could have imagined it for us. It's weird. And it's worth a thought.

What's New on FKFic-L? The fiction email list did not see a single new story in May. But nine have dropped in June to date! So there will be a list here next month.

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/72515.html

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FK Recommendation May 2010

What's Good? For May, I recommend

susanmgarrett's "Walk on By" (1995), a very short story set on the heels of "Be My Valentine." It shivers with Natalie's coiled fear and fury following the outrages on her dignity in Azure and after. It subverts the "reset button," insists on consequences and, in one potent line, foresees the tragic vulnerability where third-season eventually cracks.

Once before, she'd felt this way. Once before she'd brushed past a vampire, knowing that she was being watched. She'd turned and challenged him, her ego and her curiosity having gotten the better of her. But that had been Nick.
And this was LaCroix.

Side note? This is the eleventh anniversary of the recommendation-of-the-month project.

What's New on FKFic-L? Distressingly, the fiction list saw no new stories for the second month in a row. Probably, our

fkficfest is to blame; I plan to remind everyone that we may certainly take our stories to fkfic-l once the ficathon is over. (With 200+ subscribers, it is still the leading FK fiction environment.)

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/71405.html

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FK Recommendation April 2010

What's Good? I've recommended very large stories for the past four months, so let's turn April's recommendation spotlight on a medium-sized story: Nancy T.'s "First Knight" (2000, PG). Set during Toronto's public New Year's celebration, this story called to me in this Easter season for striving to match the spiritual questions asked in "Last Knight" with the answers Nick fails to grasp in "Near Death." It also boasts a surprisingly unresolved ending that tickles me. (As a caution, this is very explicitly religious Christian fanfiction. Mileage will vary.)

What's New on FKFic-L? In March, the fiction list did not see any new stories. I hope this sad dearth lifts soon!

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/69545.html

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FK Recommendation March 2010

What's Good? For March, I'm delighted to get to point out Cindy I.'s "Mortal Ties" (2000, PG). This pre-"Dark Knight" novella lays a baseline homicide case plot, and then overlaps motifs in a family tragedy for Natalie and a flashback struggle for Nick.
With a faint sigh, Nick silenced the nagging doubts. Now was not the time to worry about his own moral dilemmas. Tonight, Natalie's pain took precedence. Despite his resolve not to get involved, he'd found he couldn't stand by while she faced this night alone.

What's New on FKFic-L? In February, the fiction list saw one new story, "The Macedonian Vampire in New Mexico" (8 posts, 344KB) by

dj_clawson. It isn't online just yet, but I'm guessing it will join its series soon.

Oh! Don't forget!

fkficfest sign-ups are open through March 18.

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/65986.html

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FK Recommendation February 2010

What's Good? For February, I am excited to finally get to recommend

leela_cat's novel "Broken Promises" (1996, NC-17)! My recommendations project's rules require that I get the author's permission before spotlighting a story; I first asked after this one in '00. "Broken Promises" links Nick and Vachon's pasts to produce fully-integrated present-day action. Many minor canonical characters turn up along the way, including the rarely-seen Larry Merlin.

"Damn it, Javier!" Laine began to retort, but stopped when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Just great. Now she'd never persuade Javier. She glared at the vampire who entered the attic.
"Vachon..." Nick's voice faltered as he caught sight of Vachon's guest. "Who...?" Doubt, hope, denial. All of them were visible on his face. "I know you. Don't I?"

What's New? In January, fkfic-l saw three new stories by three authors. ( list with links )

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/64822.html

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FK Recommendation January 2010

What's Good? I'm happy to get to kick off the new year in the recommendation-of-the-month project with

pj1228's 2008 novella "Disclosures" (which I had the privilege of beta-reading). This episode-like story puts both Natalie and Schanke on a collision course with things Nick never wanted to tell them. Cop plot plus Nick/Janette, Nick/Natalie, Lacroix/Natalie (PG-13).

[Natalie] covered her mouth with her hand and was about to stumble backwards into the elevator, when Nick raised his head and fixed her with an amber stare. Janette turned in his arms and regarded her curiously. ... “Nat, wait,” he called her back and she watched in fascination as his fangs retracted and his eyes changed to blue. “What’s wrong?”
“Lacroix is at my apartment,” she blurted.

What's New? In December, fkfic-l saw a new ficlet by Kristen F., "Comfort and Joy" (one post, 3KB), and a multi-part story started posting, concluding in January (so to be listed next time). The list has seen two new stories in January so far.

Crossposts: http://brightknightie.livejournal.com/62865.html

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FK Recommendation December 2009

What's Good? For 2009's last recommendation-of-the-month, I'm pleased and proud to get to spotlight Mary Ch.'s "Black Ice" (2000, PG-13) today. Pleased, because it's a satisfying, layered, episode-like novella with something for everyone (well, second-season's "everyone," anyway). Proud, because I've almost re-synchronized my calendar at last! ;-)

For those seeking/avoiding certain strains at this time of year, let me note that "Black Ice" unfolds in the deep midwinter, with the teaser on Christmas Eve, the body over New Year's, and the tag at Epiphany, as I read it.

He was too late. The daylight had advanced too far. He made a desperate lunge for the door, hoping against hope that he could reach it before the burning forced him to retreat, but in his weakened state the light was too strong and the distance too great. He staggered back to the wall, the skin on his face and hands blistered and smoking.

What's New? In November, fkfic-l saw one new story by one author: "The Relapse" by

pj1228 (5 posts, 89KB).

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FK Recommendation November 2009

It's still November where I am, honest!

What's Good? November's recommendation was "Soaring" (2005) by Kristen F., a canon-careful N&N friendship interlude, and a broad-brush illustration of the storytelling efficacy of the right perspective.

Natalie blushed, her heart rate increased, and she dropped her eyes before she gave him an evasive, "Oh, just meeting up with a friend." She started shuffling papers, refusing to meet his eyes.
Nick frowned...

What's New? In October, fkfic-l saw three new stories by three different authors: ( list with links )

Sekrit Message to tv_elf: A year already. Miss you.

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FK Recommendation October 2009

What's Good? The poetically constrained "Lest We Forget" (just 273 words) by

endaewen is October's recommendation-of-the-month. At a Remembrance Day (Veterans' Day, Armistice Day) observation, Nick's memories pull him through time.

A poppy. Red and black. This one pinned on Natalie's shoulder. In his mind, the one became many. Fields of the flower, growing where death had lain heavy. After both wars, he had seen them silvered by the moonlight, like drops of blood.

What's New? In September, fkfic-l saw one story, "Reconstruction" by Walt D. (1 post, 42 KB). However, in October so far, we've seen three stories by three authors on list.