Story 201: "Sandcastles for Pele" by JL

[amyhit.livejournal.com]

Of all the XF fanfic authors I can call to mind, I tend to think of JL (the artist previously known as Jamie Lyn) as the one whose writing has undergone the greatest transformation over the years. Even accounting for the fact that her fics were posted over an almost ten year period, there’s still a remarkable transformation in her work, from the enjoyably dramatic and tempestuous fics of 1999, to some rather more somber, subtle, and conceptually complex fics in later years.

This week’s fic, "Sandcastles for Pele," was recced by selynne. It’s going to be another one of those times when I’m reading along with those of you who haven’t read this fic before. I can, however, at least tell you that it’s post IWTB fic, and that at least part of it takes place in Hawaii - a long way from the DC-basement days of old. In the author's notes JL says, "If I had to describe it, I would say that it is... not at all what you think it is." Going by my memory of some of her other fics, I doubt she’s overstating things.

Send feedback, give us your recommendations, and please do come back for the discussion.


Read Sandcastles for Pele.

Comments

[wendelah1]

Babies. Right. Those who found the inclusion of William here are correct in being disturbed. His ghostly visitation and death are presumably symbolic, but they aren't, they're just kind of teasing. What is the point of William dying, and the point of his adoptive mother's agony? Why does Scully not recognize the name "Van der Camp?" Why should William's mother's pain lead in any way to Scully's joy at being healed and freshly procreative? What moral symbolic scheme is being played out here? Not a coherent one. And I don't understand what Mulder's reluctant "forgiving" of his father has to do with anything.

As a writer, I am aware of making choices when I create a universe. The choices JL made here are, well, disturbing in their implications. Having William die, while his mother lives? Having his parents suffer and grieve while Mulder and Scully get to pop out the babies, blissfully unaware of the death of their son? Is this supposed to be a resolution to the William arc? I'd prefer we left it unresolved.

I don't know what moral purpose was served in having Mulder forgive his father either and in any case, what does that have to do with anything that follows? Calling this symbolic universe incoherent seems too kind to me.