Story 198: "five things that never happened to dana scully" by threeguesses

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

The next fic was nominated by lightlack and enthusiastically seconded by myself. It’s written by threeguesses, who is one of my favorite writers to come out of the pre/post IWTB era. Her writing in this fandom was not prolific, but her stories have always stood out (at least for me) for their powerful concepts, enthralling emotional currents, and the deceptive simplicity of threeguesses’ writing. Undoubtedly you know how "five things" fics work, in which case you also know the title of this week’s fic tells you just about everything that can be revealed about it without spoiling the sense of discovery that comes with each new segment.


five things that never happened to dana scully

The author is still around and writing up a storm (though sadly not in this fandom), and I’m sure she would appreciate feedback. There’s lots to say about this fic, so please do let us know what you think. And, as always, the nomination post is open for new suggestions.

Comments

[edisto0304.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is a fantastic fic. Can't believe I never thought to recommend it before.

"5 things/times/ways" are one of my two favourite types of fanfics (along with 100 word drabbles) and this one is by far my favourite of them all!

I love how understated and, as the OP said, simplistic it seems at first, but then you realize it's really not. And there's the last one, the shortest of all, but also the one that stands out the most and makes for the perfect conclusion.

The first time I read the last one, I gasped out loud, felt like someone had punched me in the stomach and had tears in my eyes, because it reminded me of how different my own life would have been, if this show had never been made, been made in a different way or if somehow I had never started watching it or if anything else along the way had been different and it wouldn't have had the impact it has had on me.

Those three, down to the point, lines evoked a lot of thoughts in me and that's the beauty and shows the true brilliance of threeguesses' writing for me.

[infinitlight.livejournal.com]

I don't think I had the same reaction here but I get what you mean about the last one. I had a similar feeling after I Want to Believe, thinking back on the show and my life. Weird feeling.

[edisto0304.livejournal.com]

Weird, but good. At least for me. I'm glad to get these occasional reminders.

[wendelah1]

The first time I read the last one, I gasped out loud, felt like someone had punched me in the stomach and had tears in my eyes, because it reminded me of how different my own life would have been, if this show had never been made, been made in a different way or if somehow I had never started watching it or if anything else along the way had been different and it wouldn't have had the impact it has had on me.

Yeah, I had the same reaction the first time. It must only work once, though. It's still a great ending.

[edisto0304.livejournal.com]

I think it's the element of surprise. It's never quite the same afterwards.

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

because it reminded me of how different my own life would have been, if this show had never been made, been made in a different way

Yes, I felt this too. It's brilliant that she closed with this one, and that she wrote it as short and spare as she did, allowing the meta element of it to really strike a chord. She writes the story out of existence. It doesn't need anymore detail than it has - just enough so that we understand, and no more.

[edisto0304.livejournal.com]

She told me that was the first one she thought of and it's perfectly placed. I love that it's so short and has no unnecessary words. Indeed it doesn't need anymore words than it has.

[badforthefish.livejournal.com]

Yep, I agree that #5 was epic win. Concise yet it packed one hell of a wallop.