Story 95: "Iolokus" by Mustang Sally and RivkaT

[wendelah1]

A few days ago, someone was talking about fic and the phrase "most famous fic in our fandom" came up. I'm not sure what story she had in mind but surely "Iolokus" has to be a contender for that title. I have seen it nominated by many people for the best fan fiction novel, not just in our own, but in any fandom. I have also seen people say they couldn't finish it because Mulder and Scully were too "out of character."

The misspelled monster that started it all. Although I'm told it promotes heteronormativity in the end, we were more going for polymorphic perversity; you'll have to judge for yourself.

Summary: Painted across the barren and desolate reaches of Texas, the shadows of the Project put additional pressure on Scully and Mulder's already fragile relationship. After a hostage crisis raises more questions about the Project's breeding program, Scully begins her own investigation, leaving Mulder to choose between saving her and saving himself. Finally, the investigation leads to tragedy and Mulder and Scully find that more questions have been asked than answered.

The title reference was to an island mentioned in Medea, to which we turned for fairly obvious reasons.

Warnings: extreme violence, including the death of children.

There are four long sections to this behemoth. My first time through this fic I hadn't much knowledge of canon, so I am curious to see what I think of it now. Thank you to sangria_lila for this excellent nomination. If there is enthusiasm to continue, I suppose we can forge through to the end or just quit with book one. It's your call.

Please leave feedback for the authors and then come back and let us know what you think. Nominations for next time are made here. Since rivkat's site is down at the moment, the link is to the wonderful Fugues Fiction Archive. Of course, the story is also available at Gossamer.

Iolokus

Edit: Since Rivkat's site is back up, here is another link to the story: Iolokus.

Comments

[sangria-lila.livejournal.com]

I must confess - the only reason I reread Iolokus is to read Book 4 and Book 5. I think the fic's great success and failing is that it takes Mulder and Scully in a completely different direction from the TV show, to the point where I don't think it's the characters we see on TV. And you know what? That's completely fine, because most of the time, the writers of the show didn't know who their own characters were anyway.

I remember someone once saying that Mulder sounded like a very feminist version of a man, and I agree. I think the Mulder here lacks the squidginess of heart and ineptness that he does onscreen. If you are squidgy and inept, you don't know you're squidgy and inept, and sometimes I think Mulder here is too self aware. But whatever. I love the writing. I love the Mooselet (I love that she's called the Mooselet), and she's exactly the kind of child you expect M&S to have. And M&S own descriptions of the Mooselet is hilarious.

I do take issue to how quickly Scully gave birth in Book 5, and to the fact that they named their twins Bram and Cordelia.

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

I so agree with your first paragraph, since IMO the argument that Iolokus M & S veer from show characterization tends to break down. Approximately as much as the characterization on the show broke down, which was A LOT.

I am not a canon loyalist. Fic writers can create whatever they want, provided they can get away with it. It takes talent. Iolokus is a ferocious display of raw talent.

Yes, the metaphors/similes are sometimes overdone. They can jostle each other. This, incidentally, is a view one can take of Penumbra's beautiful scenes and glittering images. Nevertheless, I love her stuff.

[aloysiavirgata.livejournal.com]

I just finished re-reading Book 5 and posted my thoughts below so I'll keep this short, but I've actually never much care for it at all.There are some funny moments, but it's just all too much for my taste. I like the ending of Res Judicata much better, but without the twins. I would have liked the whole saga to end at the party.

[sangria-lila.livejournal.com]

Oh, the whole saga should end at the party. I just have a particular weakness for kidfic, and I love reading about Miranda.

[aloysiavirgata.livejournal.com]

Miranda is one of the very few kids I absolutely loved reading about. She's just wonderful, and such a real baby. &hearts.