Story 163: "China" by Punk Maneuverability

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

Punk Maneuverability is one of the X-Files fandom's long-time authors. A quick scroll of her Gossamer page tells me she did most of her writing for this fandom in 1997, but she continued to write XF fic for close to a decade. China, posted in 2006, is one of the last XF fics she's posted to date.

It's a short AU in which Scully has made a drastic change in her life, one that has left both she and Mulder's lives torn asunder. I don't want to say too much more about the plot, because part of what makes this fic intriguing is the way the reader doesn't immediately know exactly what's going on. I picked this fic because, though they are very different fics, the central tension of China is very similar to that of last week's rec: Scully's discontent and her desire for a "normal life".

China by Punk M

You can also find the author at runpunkrun, and you can find our recommendation page over here.

Comments

Re: Oppressive?

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

I don't know why I resist "inventing the Mulders." I guess I feel it's more like homework than entertainment.

Which isn't fair, of course, because we're being serious here. "China" has angst, but it also has a sort of "alternate reality" quality about it--not what we normally call alternate reality--in that it escapes the claustrophobic difficulties canon presented us with. These difficulties give us a different scene, different characters, a different relationship to deconstruct and feel bad about.

I don't feel that bad about Richard. It's like an angst vacation. Heartless. Maybe.

Forgive my crack about fairytales. But I know you once said that you "hate fairies." Yes, you did. Internet obsessives are on the case as we speak.

I concede that Jon Stewart has inner pain. But I'm thinking Anthony Weiner has inner/outer pain. He's kind of cute.

You want more funny? Give me time.

Re: Oppressive?

[wendelah1]

Most fairytales are not about fairies. Anyway, that whole there is another world which we mere mortals cannot see shtick gets old fast for me. Plus fairies are creepy. I'm sorry, they just are. Even in "Midsummer Night's Dream," they're manipulative and self-centered and--creepy.

Re: Oppressive?

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

They are, they are. Hence the attraction.

You'd abhor Little, Big.