Well after couple of beers, a cigarette (of all things) and having sent a really odd email to Pickle (one of those cryptic things that I'm sure I won't be pleased to have sent because it's odd and also because of the naked honesty often involved in truly spontaneous writing) I've decided to start my blog again.
I've been wanting to start a reading journal type of blog for a few weeks now, having given quite a bit of though as to what to do with this goddamn webspace. So here goes. This is not my attempt to review books, it's merely to share my thoughts on what I've read. It's not just going to be novels, but newspaper stuff, milk cartons, and of course slash fiction. Hopefully it will also provide some insight into how I'm doing, which is important to those of dear to me who are far away.
Thought I'd do my first one on some slash stories as slash happens to be my addiction du jour. Actually, not just du jour, but du nuit as well. And for the last year and a half. It's an obsession and I'm still not entirely sure what it is that I find so addictive about it. Perhaps part of it is finding the truly wonderful stories that are beautifully/creatively written and the beauty of knowing that this talented artist is one who is doing something purely for love of the craft - no money can or will ever be received for their work (copyright laws being what they are) and not all that much fame is afforded these creatures either. And of course, they make me hot.
I'll do Buffy tonight. For those of you who can't imagine reading slash but are Buffy fans, go read Behind the Scenes - you have to use the waybackmachine to get at it, but it's a damn funny read with Giles and Spike talking about how sick they are of being paired up in all these crazy scenarios by slash writers.
The first story I have to mention is Esmeralda's Stranger Things series. This series is more than novel length and is a work in progress. I'm not sure exactly when it started (probably at least a couple of years ago) and she's still writing it to this day (last update was in November). It's a Spander fic (Spike and Xander) and very rarely does it tie in to the real show - her storylines are almost entirely original. She captures the characters well, gives them new depth and it's just an entertaining read. It's the best Buffy fic out there.
The premise is that Spike and Xander get together after Spike has to save Xander from these demon sorts by having sex with him. Now, I'm usually not too impressed with the premise for getting the two male characters in slash together, and this story is no exception (though still a great read - there is one story called Truth or Dare that does the "yes Spike and Xander might actually have sex" done reasonably well but again, waybackmachine is needed). But the continuing development of their relationship is just fantastic and I think she sticks to Whedon's initial incarnation of evil Spike much better than the show ended up doing. And if you want someone who will go to dark places, Esmeralda is your girl. There is angst (as with most really good slash) but not so much as to just make you sick of it.
She comes up with some great vampire lore, ideas of consorts and blood play and blood relations in vampires that makes sense given the Buffyverse Whedon created. She comes up with demons, and languages for these demons - her thoroughness is almost (though obviously not quite) Tolkien-esque.
There is also the creation of a relationship between Doyle and Angel. Funnily enough, I started reading this fic way before I ever really watched Angel and when I finally saw the first season I could totally see why slash writers would put these two together - the erotic tension between the two of them is insane. I buy pretty much any premise that gets these two into naughty positions, but since I'm primarily a Spike slut, I just don't get into the storyline as much.
Other recs for the Buffyverse are Jackson's Sweet Revenge. Another Spander fic, this one is pretty good writing, and good storytelling, but I recommend it primarily as a naughty story. This should be in every "best of" erotica collection out there. The girl just knows how to describe sex in such a way as to make all bad days melt away into yumminess.
I don't just read slash, I also read het stuff (hetero fan fiction for you cool people) so if you're not into the guy on guy, I would recommend Mary's Journeys series. This link is to the Journeys Part 2. I've only read this bit as I only read that which is rated NC-17 (the naughtiest rating). The other parts of the story are probably pretty good as I think this Mary girl is the best writer of my Buffy recs. It's a Spike/Buffy fic and she's got Whedon dialogue down and her story ideas for season six are excellent. Though I think season six was the best season of Buffy, now and then I wish I had been able to see something a little happier and this story provides the chance for me have that and makes it believable too. Sadly this is a never-to-be finished story.
I'm off to bed now to dream of lovely things. Maybe with this break through, I'll finally start blogging again.
I've been wanting to start a reading journal type of blog for a few weeks now, having given quite a bit of though as to what to do with this goddamn webspace. So here goes. This is not my attempt to review books, it's merely to share my thoughts on what I've read. It's not just going to be novels, but newspaper stuff, milk cartons, and of course slash fiction. Hopefully it will also provide some insight into how I'm doing, which is important to those of dear to me who are far away.
Thought I'd do my first one on some slash stories as slash happens to be my addiction du jour. Actually, not just du jour, but du nuit as well. And for the last year and a half. It's an obsession and I'm still not entirely sure what it is that I find so addictive about it. Perhaps part of it is finding the truly wonderful stories that are beautifully/creatively written and the beauty of knowing that this talented artist is one who is doing something purely for love of the craft - no money can or will ever be received for their work (copyright laws being what they are) and not all that much fame is afforded these creatures either. And of course, they make me hot.
I'll do Buffy tonight. For those of you who can't imagine reading slash but are Buffy fans, go read Behind the Scenes - you have to use the waybackmachine to get at it, but it's a damn funny read with Giles and Spike talking about how sick they are of being paired up in all these crazy scenarios by slash writers.
The first story I have to mention is Esmeralda's Stranger Things series. This series is more than novel length and is a work in progress. I'm not sure exactly when it started (probably at least a couple of years ago) and she's still writing it to this day (last update was in November). It's a Spander fic (Spike and Xander) and very rarely does it tie in to the real show - her storylines are almost entirely original. She captures the characters well, gives them new depth and it's just an entertaining read. It's the best Buffy fic out there.
The premise is that Spike and Xander get together after Spike has to save Xander from these demon sorts by having sex with him. Now, I'm usually not too impressed with the premise for getting the two male characters in slash together, and this story is no exception (though still a great read - there is one story called Truth or Dare that does the "yes Spike and Xander might actually have sex" done reasonably well but again, waybackmachine is needed). But the continuing development of their relationship is just fantastic and I think she sticks to Whedon's initial incarnation of evil Spike much better than the show ended up doing. And if you want someone who will go to dark places, Esmeralda is your girl. There is angst (as with most really good slash) but not so much as to just make you sick of it.
She comes up with some great vampire lore, ideas of consorts and blood play and blood relations in vampires that makes sense given the Buffyverse Whedon created. She comes up with demons, and languages for these demons - her thoroughness is almost (though obviously not quite) Tolkien-esque.
There is also the creation of a relationship between Doyle and Angel. Funnily enough, I started reading this fic way before I ever really watched Angel and when I finally saw the first season I could totally see why slash writers would put these two together - the erotic tension between the two of them is insane. I buy pretty much any premise that gets these two into naughty positions, but since I'm primarily a Spike slut, I just don't get into the storyline as much.
Other recs for the Buffyverse are Jackson's Sweet Revenge. Another Spander fic, this one is pretty good writing, and good storytelling, but I recommend it primarily as a naughty story. This should be in every "best of" erotica collection out there. The girl just knows how to describe sex in such a way as to make all bad days melt away into yumminess.
I don't just read slash, I also read het stuff (hetero fan fiction for you cool people) so if you're not into the guy on guy, I would recommend Mary's Journeys series. This link is to the Journeys Part 2. I've only read this bit as I only read that which is rated NC-17 (the naughtiest rating). The other parts of the story are probably pretty good as I think this Mary girl is the best writer of my Buffy recs. It's a Spike/Buffy fic and she's got Whedon dialogue down and her story ideas for season six are excellent. Though I think season six was the best season of Buffy, now and then I wish I had been able to see something a little happier and this story provides the chance for me have that and makes it believable too. Sadly this is a never-to-be finished story.
I'm off to bed now to dream of lovely things. Maybe with this break through, I'll finally start blogging again.
5 Comments:
well its about bloody time
No kidding!
aww, people missed me. I'm touched, I wouldn't have wanted around this long for me. thanks guys!
that would be "waited" not "wanted.
okay, so would you have wanted around this long?
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