This is one of my favourites (I put it in my top ten in the last post!). It was the first work of Nascent I read and I remember not being able to put it down, devouring it in one sitting, only to wish I had allowed myself to drag it out more. Here's why:
Nascent does a great job with the science. Obviously NDE's aren't hard science, but I really appreciated the discussion on how to create cardiac death, and how to revive the patient. It is much more concerned with expressing science than the show ever is. Scully's disgust with the process is very in character, and she of course is right to be disgusted, it does go against her beliefs, as a scientist for the risk posed to the patient, and as a spiritual person in it's attempt to, as Dr Von Deer says, "trick" the soul. I love the line to Mulder "How dare you put me in this position, where to refuse you is to somehow betray you and to agree to play along is to betray myself?"
The X file is well thought out and interesting. What starts as a test for M &S's relationship and Scully's ruminations on her own faith and beliefs turns into a very interesting case. I'm actually curious to find out what is going on in that hospital and who is responsible. It also culminates in the perfect explanation for who is responsible, one that manages to be a surprise when you find out, but so clear upon re-reading. The story works as a whole, the x-file and Mulder's original intention for coming there isn't simply a vehicle for M&S to address their feelings for one another. There is a lot going on in this story, and I tend to like anything that isn't straightforward.
I'm not sorry the story doesn't culminate in a traditional relationship. Like Wendelah said, Nascent is adding to canon rather than diverting from it. She places the whole story into canon, but she scratches my relationshipper itch by finally having these two frankly and honestly discuss their relationship and their feelings for each other. I happen to think this story is very romantic, even if there's no actual romance (unless you count the dream sequence- or NDE that Scully experiences). I think this slots itself nicely into a season sixish spot, and it won't be long before they do succumb to their feelings.
The rewritten dream sequence. I read the new one, and re-read the old one at keyofx. Not sure what I think of it. I didn't dislike the old one and the new one is also fine. The sex in the first draft might have been a bit obvious, I can see why she might have wanted to scratch that. But at the same time, I find the original a bit more dreamlike and nightmarish, something that I liked. Scully sees all kinds of unsetting and disjointed images, and discussions with the important people in her life and I also liked the recurring snake in each scene and the culmination of Scully finally realizing what that means. The rewritten portion is a little more… straightforward. I liked the pregnancy though, it is definitely an expression of something Scully is preoccupied with at the time and it makes sense that it's expressed. I'm interested to know what other motivations others think Nascent had for the re-write. Like I said, it's much more tidy, so I could see the desire to edit, but the disjointed chaos of the first one actually appeals to me.
This story is a classic example of how this show has resulted in very rich fiction, that so often (and sadly in a way) surpasses the quality of the show itself. I think if a premise like this had been the episode "Demons," This one just seems so much richer in both character and plot.
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Nascent does a great job with the science. Obviously NDE's aren't hard science, but I really appreciated the discussion on how to create cardiac death, and how to revive the patient. It is much more concerned with expressing science than the show ever is. Scully's disgust with the process is very in character, and she of course is right to be disgusted, it does go against her beliefs, as a scientist for the risk posed to the patient, and as a spiritual person in it's attempt to, as Dr Von Deer says, "trick" the soul. I love the line to Mulder
"How dare you put me in this position, where to refuse you is to somehow betray you and to agree to play along is to betray myself?"
The X file is well thought out and interesting. What starts as a test for M &S's relationship and Scully's ruminations on her own faith and beliefs turns into a very interesting case. I'm actually curious to find out what is going on in that hospital and who is responsible. It also culminates in the perfect explanation for who is responsible, one that manages to be a surprise when you find out, but so clear upon re-reading. The story works as a whole, the x-file and Mulder's original intention for coming there isn't simply a vehicle for M&S to address their feelings for one another. There is a lot going on in this story, and I tend to like anything that isn't straightforward.
I'm not sorry the story doesn't culminate in a traditional relationship. Like Wendelah said, Nascent is adding to canon rather than diverting from it. She places the whole story into canon, but she scratches my relationshipper itch by finally having these two frankly and honestly discuss their relationship and their feelings for each other. I happen to think this story is very romantic, even if there's no actual romance (unless you count the dream sequence- or NDE that Scully experiences). I think this slots itself nicely into a season sixish spot, and it won't be long before they do succumb to their feelings.
The rewritten dream sequence. I read the new one, and re-read the old one at keyofx. Not sure what I think of it. I didn't dislike the old one and the new one is also fine. The sex in the first draft might have been a bit obvious, I can see why she might have wanted to scratch that. But at the same time, I find the original a bit more dreamlike and nightmarish, something that I liked. Scully sees all kinds of unsetting and disjointed images, and discussions with the important people in her life and I also liked the recurring snake in each scene and the culmination of Scully finally realizing what that means. The rewritten portion is a little more… straightforward. I liked the pregnancy though, it is definitely an expression of something Scully is preoccupied with at the time and it makes sense that it's expressed. I'm interested to know what other motivations others think Nascent had for the re-write. Like I said, it's much more tidy, so I could see the desire to edit, but the disjointed chaos of the first one actually appeals to me.
This story is a classic example of how this show has resulted in very rich fiction, that so often (and sadly in a way) surpasses the quality of the show itself. I think if a premise like this had been the episode "Demons," This one just seems so much richer in both character and plot.