xf_book_club | Story 112: "This House is Burning" by Tesla

"This House is Burning" is flat-out the best Profiler!Mulder series I've ever read. Tesla's writing style flows effortlessly, and is, by turns, unobtrusive and lyrical. Her Mulder is both much more competent at his job and much less crazy than he's often written. Frankly, that's a pleasant change. But the trilogy is more than a series of meticulously constructed police procedurals, it's also a believable, emotionally involving, Mulder/Scully romance. So let's see: great writing? Check. Exciting plot? Check. Scorching hot sex scenes? Check, check, check. This story was nominated by

estella_c, and seconded by yours truly.

tesla321 is still on Live Journal, ~~but unless I've missed something through my inconsistent lurking, she's not actively writing~~. Could I be more wrong? She's still writing and has even posted a challenge at

fandom_charity.

As far as I know, her email address is still current, so go send her some feedback. Or leave it at her Live Journal. Then go donate some money to the Haitian relief effort and get her to write us some fic.

If you don't like my choices, you can always go suggest some of your own.

This House is Burning
Part 1: Blood on the Snow
Part 2: A Thief's Diet
Part 3: The Quiet Glades of Eden

Here in multiple parts on her LJ:

Blood on the Snow 1/2
Blood on the Snow 2/2
A Thief's Diet 1/3
A Thief's Diet 2/3
A Thief's Diet 3/3
The Quiet Glades of Eden 1/2
The Quiet Glades of Eden 2/2

Tesla's Author Page at Gossamer.

Upcoming attractions: "Fathoms Five," by Penumbra, "Blue Patches" by Maybe Amanda, and maybe--Your Nomination.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah, cool, I understand the structure intended much more now. The problem I see is this one: the middle is forgettable, because it's only connected vaguely (not through plot) to the other two parts. In fact, despite having read the fic a couple of times, I had totally forgot that part existed--I thought it was another fic altogether. But I agree now that thematically they work very well (I had noted the partnerships, but didn't make the connection!); I think a part more connected plotwise would work better, though. I do love part 2, probably more than the rest of the fic--I think the framing device, as you put, is very effective, and makes for a very fun read (even with the lack of Scully, that tends to distract me!).

I think the feeling of hero worship (and really, I didn't feel Mulder's ego was big--that made it bearable) was due to Scully doing really little on the way of investigation. She is focussed on him, as he's later focussed on her in his pov, but she does very very little (indeed, when she finds out stuff, she's being guided by him throughout the conversation). I totally get that the star profiler is him, but... it does create a story in which 1)she's focussed on how awesome he is, 2)he's acting awesome because he does his job perfectly well, 3)she can't even ski, so he helps her there too. I don't mean that it has to bother everyone, but this read, it bothered me.

It's perhaps something in the way Tesla sees/writes Scully, because this is not the only fic of hers in which it bothered me. Even though I really like how she writes in general (i.e. prose, &c).

I see your point, although there isn't that much to investigate until Marti gets kidnapped in the first section, and at that point the story ends. Scully and Marti are the decoys, there to try to lure the perp, Mulder and Donald are there to watch for him and watch out for them, Mulder is working on the profile. Her part is kind of a thankless task, but the women are both putting their lives on the line. She gets more to do in Part Three.

Remember, in this first part, we are seeing Mulder solely through Scully's eyes. She's fallen head over heels in love with her partner, and I don't think she was planning this as part of her working vacation. Scully is nuts about him; given close enough proximity, she literally can't keep her hands off him.

Scully not even being able to ski? Well, Tesla is using the time-honored motif of portraying Scully as a fish out of water; both on the slopes and in love, she's losing her balance. I think Tesla believes that without both of them coming unglued a bit, our dynamic duo would never do the deed. Despite the feelings they share, plenty of sexual chemistry, and everything they've been through, their basic natures keep them apart. It's not just Scully who has control issues, imho.

It's only fair to point out, I think, that Tesla has been known to throw Scully under the bus in deference to King Mulder. As you noted, the gender power imbalance marred Miracle/Mystery, and in Flight egocentric Scully loses out to a lady lawyer. So there is a tendency in Teslafic to regard Mulder with lust-glazed eyes, which is enjoyable exactly to the point where you start to look around for a some push-back.

Just sayin'.

I do believe that This House Is Burning is a fic masterpiece. The power balance is a little shaky, a little vulnerable, but it has been achieved.

It's only fair to point out, I think, that Tesla has been known to throw Scully under the bus in deference to King Mulder. As you noted, the gender power imbalance marred Miracle/Mystery, and in Flight egocentric Scully loses out to a lady lawyer. So there is a tendency in Teslafic to regard Mulder with lust-glazed eyes, which is enjoyable exactly to the point where you start to look around for a some push-back.

Yeah, you are right. Tesla loves Mulder and what? Puts up with Scully, or doesn't, I guess, depending on the fic, which breaks my heart since I love her writing. But I think there is enough push-back here to satisfy my Scullyist tendencies. Yep. This House is Burning is a fanfiction masterpiece.

I do think Scully is a harder character to write well.

Story 112: "This House is Burning" by Tesla

Re: Better late than never, right?

Re: Better late than never, right?

Re: Better late than never, right?

Re: Better late than never, right?