xf_book_club | Story 181: "The Waterskiers" by Khyber

Well everyone (I'm not sure how numerous you are at the moment, but I'm going to be bold and say 'everyone'), we've reached the end of the road - the point where the narrative pavement turns to gravel turns to a beaten dirt path trailing off narrowly into the uncharted wilds of the great and sometimes terrible WIP territory.

By waybacking Khyber's website we get what seem to be conflicting accounts of what the future of KvsS7 was to be. In early 2008 there were five fics meant to follow "The Waterskiers," three of which were to be "full episodes" and two were to be vignettes (as seen here). This outline complies with Khyber's notes for "Amnesia" which he judged to be the "late beginning/early middle" of the story. Yet by late 2009 the titles of four of these five fics had vanished, and only the one titled "Parabola" remained. It was initially indicated to be planned as a vignette, but later seemed intended to have been a full episode.

In summary, the fate of the KvsS7 universe remains largely a mystery, and anyone participating in the comments thread should feel free to speculate on the future of the story, as well as share their thoughts about the fic itself.

TITLE: The Waterskiers (Mod note: You may have to c/p the URL, or find the fic on Gossamer.)
AUTHOR: Khyber
E-MAIL: khyber@khyberfic.net
DISTRIBUTION: Ephemeral, Gossamer, please ask for anywhere else.
RATING: R for mature content.
CATEGORIES: XR KEYWORDS: Withheld.
SPOILERS: Pbbblffft.
SUMMARY: Missing scenes... okay, a LOT of missing scenes... from "Hollywood AD."

Author's Notes: This story is part of "Khyber Versus Season Seven" and takes place during "Hollywood AD," specifically, following the end of the famous bathtub scene. The rest of the episode takes place a week or more after the end of this story.
Remember that the premiere of "The Lazarus Bowl," according to the episode, is "eighteen months later," sometime in late 2001.

Sadly the summer is over. That does, however, mean a return to something resembling a normal posting schedule at some point in the near future. Remember the old days (July) when a new week meant changing up the plot, style, and characterizations with an all new fic? Well those days are returning along with coats and scarves, so if you have any suggestions for fics you'd like to read this fall the recommendations page is always open.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I am ashamed for not having posted before; just consider my excuses already given. I adore anything that Khyber writes/has written, simply because of his beautiful, incisive, witty tale-telling. I tend, as I've admitted, to admire the paragraphs and forget the plot--which is especially easy in the case of TWS, which is story-connective (minus connection) and wish-fulfilling, and KvsS7, which is unfinished. I doubt, though I hope, that it will be.

I think that both Wen and amyhit are taking this story, and many, a bit more serious than I do. I see Mulder and Scully having a marvelous honeymoon, despite their damn quest, and what honeymoon doesn't have its moments of painful ambivalence? Okay, lots. But there's the damn quest.

I think that Skinner, somewhat fixatd in his middle-ageness on the pretty redhead, is trying to find an active part in the story and vulnerable to sleeping with the enemy. CSM is an interesting enemy. WM Davis would die to play this part. I love the Hollywood epiphany, if that's the word for a night with a woman with glowing cleavage, and I love the brave twist on the characterization. Because, as you know or should, I love our characters behaving out-of-character.

I accused Khyber of wish-fulfillment, and I feel that he took a lot of pleasure in the manliness and sexiness of all concerned--except Scully, of course, and I'm sure she had a wonderful time too. She got over herself enough to grab the moment and I'm sure she'll forgive herself for her nonprofessionalism. Hey, it's not the government protocol, it's THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END, maybe. Focus.

I don't want to second-guess, but it might have been more satisfying to discuss Sokol, which has a beginning, middle, end, epilogues, and is sort of a crossover with HP Lovecraft (happy Halloween). KvsS7 consists of gorgeous fragments, but leaves us with frustrating nonresolution. I hate Khyber for that. But I love him for everything else.

I think that both Wen and amyhit are taking this story, and many, a bit more serious than I do. I see Mulder and Scully having a marvelous honeymoon, despite their damn quest, and what honeymoon doesn't have its moments of painful ambivalence? Okay, lots. But there's the damn quest.

Well, that is kind of the point here, taking the writing seriously. I enjoy it and I hope the other members do too. If it doesn't suit your mood at the moment, well that's okay.

Getting back to the story, I'm afraid I don't understand your "marvelous honeymoon" reference at all. It seems completely counter to Khyber's intent, i.e. to write an alternative Season Seven in which Mulder and Scully behave as though they were real people. I don't see how it can be read without acknowledging the darkness of the storyline. The impending darkness of what I suspect was the eventual ending for KvS7. For the record, while I loved "Sokol," I didn't like its resolution for Mulder and Scully or its ending for the series.

Edit: And it wasn't an either/or thing with KvS7 and "Sokol." We read this in lieu of going on hiatus, assuming that it would only interest the mods and possibly you.

Edited 2011-10-17 18:07 (UTC)

I certainly think that you and the entire world should take writing seriously. I just can't always, as fanfic is my amusement and relaxation. Which may be why I love Kel's stuff so much.

The darkness is always there, of course, but honeymoons must be taken when possible. And screw Khyber's intent, as he hasn't shown up to fulfill it.

I love Sokol, and I don't quite understand why you assume no one else would. I think it's up there with Iolokus and Oyster and maybe Parabiosis. It's very long, but it isn't boring at all. And it has an ending, even if it isn't one you like.

You want a real challenge to reader patience: Oklahoma. It had its day, and it's where one goes for Muldertorture if one is still into it. And a lot of TS Eliot. Which I probably misspelled.

Okay then. (You realize no one else is paying attention.)

I love Kel's stories, too. But as you know, Kel takes her writing very seriously. And while her stories have humor, the best of them deal with serious, unresolved plot points that TPTB couldn't begin to manage, i.e. Scully's chip in "The Beginner's Guide to Tightrope Walking." Her best stories make you smile, but they also take you to the edge of your seat.

"Sokol" is very long, has an exciting but hard to follow plot AND, if memory serves, it's violent enough in places to require warnings. What people will or won't want to read here isn't the point. I agree it's one of the fandom's best. If you want to reread it, when we are done with the latest offering, go ahead and post it and moderate the discussion. You probably know it better than anyone except Khyber.

I adore all Kel's stories, even the many that you apparently don't consider among her best. I'm fine in the middle of my seat.

So we are all to be serious unless something is too hard to follow or violent enough for a warning. Then we don't go there. Okay.

I am NOT a moderator, as you know perfectly well. I can't even post icons. I don't remember Sokol any better than anyone else. We'll forget it until someone begs.

Sorry for the temper. Sickness at home. Let's adjourn to ATCAI.

I don't see how it can be read without acknowledging the darkness of the storyline.

Yeah, me neither. Scully's family has disowned her, they're still puzzling out what happened to them in HFTW/WIEAYB, Scully's journaling to her dead sister. And that's just the relatively light "Mulder and Scully go on vacation" aspect of the fic. Ultimately, I find this fic about as dark as WIEAYB, except in this case the darkness emanates primarily from Skinner's half of the story.

I feel I've done a disservice to this fic by failing to discuss him more, but I haven't been able to quite get my thoughts together on his part of the story, important as it is.

Edit: And it wasn't an either/or thing with KvS7 and "Sokol." We read this in lieu of going on hiatus, assuming that it would only interest the mods and possibly you.

I had mentioned that it was a shame we couldn't read KvsS7 at the book club, because of the way it was structured. Then we got thinking that if we were just going to shut down the book club anyway, which we were already thinking about doing, then why not keep it open, but take that time to read a fic which would never have gotten the chance to be read at any other time. We really didn't mean to circumvent your rec, EC. I enjoyed and admired Sokol a great deal when I read it, and I definitely think we will read it here eventually.

I enjoyed and admired Sokol a great deal when I read it, and I definitely think we will read it here eventually.

Me, too.

Oh amyhit (and Wendy), I am not stamping my feet like a brat, I'm just grumpy. Things are a bit stressed at home, and I can't--for that among other stated reasons--feel very confident in getting a bead on the scattered bits of KvS7. I probably wouldn't do any better with Sokol. I was sort of trying to explain/apologize for this with the "not taking it seriously" comment, but I can see how it sounded like a criticism, and then the grump took over.

W knows better than to take ME seriously.

Incidentally, I think you're doing a super mod job. Don't go on hiatus.

Story 181: "The Waterskiers" by Khyber

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