Story 106: "Kevin," by Justin Glasser

[counterphobe.livejournal.com]

You'll remember Kevin as the boy with the stigmata from "Revelations." Scully takes on the role of his protector. She seems touched, even changed, by what she experiences, but the episode ends and he's forgotten.

Justin Glasser's story takes place three years after "Revelations." Scully has kept in touch with Kevin, at least sporadically, and now she gets an urgent call from him for help.

It's a casefile with an unusually good portrayal of Scully as a thinker and a believer. At twelve short chapters it's a brisk read.

http://www.reocities.com/Paris/Lights/7752/kevin1.html

For the final chapter, go here:

http://web.archive.org/web/20050112214843/http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Lights/7752/kevin12.html

Comments

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

I had never read Justin Glasser either. How is this possible? He's a fabulous fic writer, and I've heard his name forever.

There are so many good things about this story. It's literate, exciting (the kind of exciting where you really need to know what happens next), and introspective without neglecting the tough professional obligations of working a case. Kevin's brother is an excellent character, a poignant mini-Mulder. Scully's religion is treated as the great mystery it is without getting overly literal and vulgar. It is perfect that the partners agree to talk at the end and mutually realize that talk will solve nothing.

It's a good length, halfway between the slice-of-life vignette and the novel. There should be more this length. Why aren't there?

I kept thinking that it would be an appropriate touch to have Scully cross herself--heck, I do that and I'm not Catholic--and then the writer finally did. At exactly the right moment.

There are two weak points which surfaced in my brain after the satisfaction of the reading experience. With all Mulder's mythological/paranormal research and Scully's training by the nuns, neither of them spotted the mention of Moloch? As gods go, he's not that obscure. Also, it bothered me a little that the sexual abuse aspect was raised, to the apprehension of any reader, and then dismissed so conveniently. Of course Glasser knew that he couldn't really get away with having Malachai rape Kevin, but it still seemed like a deus ex machina kind of resolution--except in this case the evil god exits rather than appears.

I guess I've just spoiled the hell out of "Kevin". Read it anyway; it's great. And I'm inspired to read all the Glasser at his site.

[wendelah1]

He is fabulous. He's another writer who is just not read enough now. I have recced his FTF Mulder-and-Scully-get rescued-off-the-ice story, Certitude, everywhere I can think of to rec it, from my personal journal to crack_van. He is still writing in other fandoms from Sports Night to My Chemical Romance, too, as synchronik. His website is Joe's Eats and Christian Bookshop.

Now go watch FTF and then read Certitude. Or just read the story.