Rerun Request: "Oyster" by Jordan

[wendelah1]

This is a rerun, posted at the request of estella_c, who loves it and wasn't a member when we discussed it back in 2008. I love it too, and think it's well-worth revisiting.

Like all great western religious stories, "Oyster" takes place in the desert, in the modern day stand-in for Sodom and Gomorrah, Los Vegas, a land of waking dreams, endless heat and unquenchable thirsts. In her author's notes, Jordan states emphatically that "THIS FIC IS REQUIEM FREE." This is rather misleading; in actuality, "Oyster" is a re-envisioning of the end of season seven, and to a limited extent, season eight. The parallels are multiple and striking. In both stories, there are deaths and multiple abductions. There is an investigation in which Skinner, Scully and, of course, Mulder are all major players. To say any more would spoil the story for new readers. While "Requiem" inspired a lot of fanfic, "Oyster" is one the best stories ever written for The X-Files fandom. I recommend it without reservation.

Read "Oyster". You can also find this story on her author's page at Gossamer. Please come back and let us know what you think.

Comments

[mogster495.livejournal.com]

The character’s observations were really strong. How Scully looked at Skinner’s arm in part 4 is very convincing. Sometimes, I have a hard time convincing myself of a Scully/Skinner relationship (mostly because my preference for msr is so strong), but that paragraph about his bone structure really struck me. I could see real attraction sprouting from that.

Men can't pretend that kind of gentleness; it's either there or it isn't. Great line and so true.

The start of Chapter 7 is a particularly moving paragraph. It is so real, because sometimes waking thoughts have such a surreal reality to them. The following is the first ‘dream’ passage that sets the tone for the rest of the story.

What if time had weight? That would mean it could be stretched and pulled out of shape, which would offer scary potential for distortions, but it would also mean that it could be proven to exist, that it isn't a human construct. Not like consciousness. How can consciousness ever be proven to exist, she wonders drowsily, if it has no weight?

This chain of though is almost nonsense, but it carries such a strong feeling. Keeping in mind that Scully is a scientist, it seems strange yet profound for her to have these thoughts, and we know right away they are coming from outside her character.

This may be reaching, but this whole story was reminiscing of all the Stephen King books I read in high school. I saw elements of It and the Dark Tower. The Dark Tower images seemed pretty heavy for me, especially the Man in Black.

Overall, this was a trip to read. The ending was so bittersweet, and very strange. The narrator implied things that are so powerful in the context of the story. The author did a great job maintaining tone. The abstract contradictory thoughts of the narrator were very powerful. The writing was highly poetic, and the imagery was very strong.
There is a lot more I can say about Oyster, but I just don’t have time. I’ll finish by sayings it’s elegantly written, original, and moving. Great read.

[mogster495.livejournal.com]

Why can't I use italics!

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

I couldn't help responding. Every time I use italics, I can't stop! They go on for paragraphs, very inappropriately. I sound hysterical.:-)

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

Thank you for these very interesting comments. I just want to say I envy you because YOU FINISHED THE STORY. I am getting slower and slower and now I must make supper.

Later, promise.

[newo-fic.livejournal.com]

I loved the passage about what if time had weight. idk why, but the whole thing just struck me.

[wendelah1]

This chain of though is almost nonsense, but it carries such a strong feeling. Keeping in mind that Scully is a scientist, it seems strange yet profound for her to have these thoughts, and we know right away they are coming from outside her character.

Actually, until you pointed it out, I didn't know. But I went back and read it over again, and you are absolutely correct.


This may be reaching, but this whole story was reminiscing of all the Stephen King books I read in high school. I saw elements of It and the Dark Tower. The Dark Tower images seemed pretty heavy for me, especially the Man in Black.

I haven't read The Dark Tower. This is what came to mind for me for the Man in Black:



The song hits all the right notes for this fic.