Story 187: "Relic of Tough Weather" by Jesemie's Evil Twin

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

For Thanksgiving three years ago wendelah1 posted JET's widely loved holiday fic, "Small Lives Awake." It happens to be the first fic I ever commented on, here at the book club, which makes me feel rather delighted to have the privilege of posting my own choice of Thanksgiving fics this year, this one also by JET.

"Relic of Tough Weather" was written and is set in November, 1999, shortly after the events of TSE:AF. Though it doesn't have the length or popularity of "Small Lives Awake," it is a distinctive blend of JET's signature style: evocative prose and compassionate characterizations.


Relic of Tough Weather


JET's still around, to some extent; I'm sure she would appreciate the feedback. And, as ever, our nomination post is open for recommendations.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating the occasion.

Comments

Re: Themes: Fear and Love

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

But Fish has had stories of her own discussed here and critiqued, which is surely a comparable experience?

I think having your own fic discussed is another thing entirely, a whole other kind of painful(when the fic gets criticism) and rewarding (when it gets praise).

It's not easy to say to a group, hey, I didn't understand this.

But this week you have two vocal participants agreeing with you. And you seem to be saying, "I didn't get it because it's not there to get." That's different. It's like - I think "Blinded By White Light" is trite and kind of schmaltzy. For you, its value is right there. Well, for me, ROTW's value is right there. I don't have to squint, I don't have to labour, it's just a really beautiful, moving fic.

I see that. I'm sorry this has been such a negative experience for you.

It hasn't really. I mean, two people who'd never read the fic before read it and loved it. That's wonderful, and has made me really happy.

Not to mention that articulating and writing down what this fic means to me has solidified it's place in my head, and made me love it all the more - which is a really rewarding thing when it happens, as perhaps you know.

I'm just tired, and this is the fourth week I've been arguing against the vocal majority. I'm plenty ready for a week of agreeing with people.

Re: Themes: Fear and Love

[wendelah1]

This week I did have two vocal people agreeing with me, but there's never a guarantee about it. E.C. disagrees with me at least as often as you do. So does Fish.

And you seem to be saying, "I didn't get it because it's not there to get." That's different. It's like - I think "Blinded By White Light" is trite and kind of schmaltzy. For you, its value is right there. Well, for me, ROTW's value is right there. I don't have to squint, I don't have to labour, it's just a really beautiful, moving fic.

Yes. Well, I do think ROTW's particular weaknesses keep it from being a completely successful story--for me. I can see why it would work better for other readers, who bring something different to the story. Ultimately, nothing works for everyone. Fish dissed "This House is Burning." She didn't like her characterizations or even her writing! Tesla is a very smooth stylist, one of the best we have, so I don't even know. You know? Zellie on the other hand loved it, which, yeah, made me very happy. Carol loved it the first time around, had some major issues with it the second. EC and I loved it pretty much unreservedly—although she didn't like the ending as much as I did.

It hasn't really. I mean, two people who'd never read the fic before read it and loved it. That's wonderful, and has made me really happy.

Not to mention that articulating and writing down what this fic means to me has solidified it's place in my head, and made me love it all the more - which is a really rewarding thing when it happens, as perhaps you know.

Yes, I totally do. I look back sometimes when I need a lift at the things I've written about stories I like. A good, well-reasoned bit of analysis usually cheers me up, even if no one agreed with me. *g*

I'm just tired, and this is the fourth week I've been arguing against the vocal majority. I'm plenty ready for a week of agreeing with people. No guarantees there, I'm afraid, but I'll do my best.

I need to go look at the queue...

Re: Themes: Fear and Love

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

No guarantees there, I'm afraid, but I'll do my best.

Whatever you decide will be fine. If I get too tired of being the voice of dissent, I'll just comment less for a week. That is always an option.

Fish dissed "This House is Burning."

Yeah, we all have our unpopular opinions. I think THIB is very good, and I enjoyed it a lot, though I do agree with Fish that the Scully characterization was fairly weak.

Re: Themes: Fear and Love

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

Fish dissed "This House is Burning." She didn't like her characterizations or even her writing! Tesla is a very smooth stylist, one of the best we have, so I don't even know. You know?

OY! Quoting myself here: "I won't deny that the style is fluid and the story rather well written,"

I had issues with the characterisations and thought the descriptions of their feelings for each other lacked subtelty and I stand by that. But there's nothing wrong with Tesla's writing. She writes well, just not in a way that appeals to me.

Re: Themes: Fear and Love

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

I'm plenty ready for a week of agreeing with people. No guarantees there, I'm afraid, but I'll do my best.

I need to go look at the queue...

Or, you know, we could review "The Sound of Windchimes". I'm sure we could all agree on that one. Nekkid Mulder and Scully in space rape fantasy with mysteriously materializing hamburgers. What's not to love? *sniggers*

Just kidding.

Re: Themes: Fear and Love

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

Hey Babe, be of good cheer, we've all been up against it at times. I have a peculiar fondness for Jess's Bombardier Boy, and *no one hardly even posted.* It's wacky, and wacky is hard to defend to those who aren't vulnerable to it. But I love laughing, and I think that gives me an instinctual understanding of what creates comedy. Theory, however, doesn't get the giggles.

It's funny how it's possible to bond with a fic to the extent that any criticism of it scars your very soul! That's how I am with THIB.

Geez, I'm afraid to *mention* Jess's Hog Heaven. And yet I consider it sublime.

Re: Themes: Fear and Love

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

I have a peculiar fondness for Jess's Bombardier Boy, and *no one hardly even posted.*

Couldn't we have some sort of catch up sessions? Like sometimes when the discussion on the current story is wrapped up quickly, we could have a tiny note in a corner refering to one of the fic that got few comments in the past, so people could go back there and catch up or add new things? I know I missed discussions I would have loved to participate to because I was away at the time or otherwise engaged.

Just an idea in passing.

Re: Themes: Fear and Love

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

What a nice idea. I defer to the power of the mods to make it so (channeling Capt. Picard).

I was just rereading the stuff on "Other Night" and I found myself posting. And I'm thinking, "What are you, nuts?"

Of course, there's always the grim possibility of Nobody Posted, Part Two.

Re: Themes: Fear and Love

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

It's wacky, and wacky is hard to defend to those who aren't vulnerable to it.

Yeah, I get that. Poetic is hard to defend as well. It's so often one of those "you either see it or you don't" situations.

It's funny how it's possible to bond with a fic to the extent that any criticism of it scars your very soul! That's how I am with THIB.

Haha, yes. It's a physical distress, like people are saying bad things about the person you're in love with.

Re: Themes: Fear and Love

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

But Fish has had stories of her own discussed here and critiqued, which is surely a comparable experience?

I think having your own fic discussed is another thing entirely, a whole other kind of painful

*laugh* you got that right. This said I welcomed the critiques on my fics, even the negative ones because they made me think. My only beef was with HC, when the discussion seemed to focus mostly on that one controversial scene and that was a bit frustrating. But other than that, bring it on, I say.

I guess seeing Madeleine Partous "The Pact" which used to be one of my favourite stories back in the days - ripped to shreds was in a way more painful, so I know where Amyhit is coming from. But then the comments made a whole lot of sense. It is a deeply flawed story with OTT characterization and a rubbish plot. But the M&S interaction still cracks me up. It's like Missy Pennington's The Tempest. Boy, it hasn't aged well, but I have an irrational fondness for it.

I think Blinded By White Light is schmaltzy trite too. And way overrated. :)


I'm just tired, and this is the fourth week I've been arguing against the vocal majority. I'm plenty ready for a week of agreeing with people.

Vocal yes, majority no. To my count it's a 4 to 3 against. Or a tie since Lighlack didn't say what she thought but reading her post I assume she's a JET fan.