Story 264: "Silver Cornet" by Bonetree

[wendelah1]

Is anyone in The X-Files fandom still reading this journal? If not, it's my own fault. I can't believe I let three months go by without posting a new story. (This is why having a co-mod would be helpful. Any volunteers?)

True confession: I never thought I would be saying this but my enthusiasm for the series has flagged following the huge letdown of season ten. I finished my season seven re-watch back in February (around the time I posted "Parabiosis," in fact) and I still haven't cracked open the brand new Blu-ray case for season eight. Well, I'm done wallowing in misery. Yes, season ten was even worse than I'd anticipated, but that doesn't negate what I loved about the original series. And, it certainly doesn't cancel out the great fanfiction. If anything, we need fic more than ever. (Is anyone working on an AU for season ten? Because we need one and we need it TODAY.)

Since most of what's sitting in the nomination queue is novel length, I decided to pick something from the Ten Greatest Fanfictions post. I chose "Silver Cornet" for two reasons: (1.) We haven't discussed much of anything by Bonetree, which is a huge oversight, and (2.) I've never read "Silver Cornet."

Silver Cornet (22641 words) by Bonetree
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The X-Files
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Relationships: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully

SUMMARY: Set just after "Je Souhaite," Mulder and Scully take a ride on a mysterious train that's carrying more secrets than either can imagine.

The link is to AO3 so if you like the fic, you can hit the kudos button, even if you don't come back and leave a comment here. However, I'd love to know what you think of "Silver Cornet." Heck, now that there's a little bit of distance, I'd love to hear your thoughts on season ten. Don't forget to leave your suggestions for next time.

EDIT: The versions at AO3 and Gossamer are missing chapter four. Thanks to the sharp eyes and fic-finding skills of drodrey, we have a complete version via the Internet Archive.

Read the complete Silver Cornet via the Wayback Machine.

Comments

[syntax6.livejournal.com]

What I like about "Silver Cornet" is the way Bonetree takes a very BIG story (about the end of the world) and makes it claustrophobic by setting it on the train. The fight becomes embodied by just a few people, and I enjoyed the opposing forces of Kever and Blue.

As for season 10, I had a similar reaction to "I Want to Believe." It killed my fannish feelings dead in two short hours, and it took five years to recover them again. So I was less than enthusiastic about the idea of season 10 to start with--I finally had remembered why I loved the show so much once upon a time, and here was CC and FOX to remind me of the bitter end. Only Darin Morgan lured me back. I watched his episode and "Home Again" and found them both...okay. They didn't make me want to throw things but neither did they light my fire the way the original run did back in 1999. But, to echo the theme of many here, they made me get out my DVDs and rewatch some of the classics. I felt relieved. I wasn't wrong! It had been an amazing show in its day and so it will be forever...in TV history. Despite the wistful title, you really can't go "home again."

[wendelah1]

It's good to see you around these parts.

Congratulations on your upcoming book, by the way.

What I like about "Silver Cornet" is the way Bonetree takes a very BIG story (about the end of the world) and makes it claustrophobic by setting it on the train. The fight becomes embodied by just a few people, and I enjoyed the opposing forces of Kever and Blue.

I liked that, too. It's like a "bottle episode," only on the page instead of the screen. I don't know if you reread it or just commented based on your first reading. The copy I linked to was missing the fourth chapter--and so is the archived version at Gossamer! I doubt she cut the chapter deliberately--the fic makes better sense and has better flow with it. There is now a link to the original at her Way-backed AOL site. I need to save that version.

The new episodes which were not written by Chris Carter were tolerable and Darin Morgan's was the best of the three. The other three--well, let's just say I'm glad you didn't watch them. I wish I hadn't. Season ten was a failure, imho. I won't be watching season eleven, assuming it happens.

I hated IWTB when I saw it in the theater. But I rewatched it with my dad a few months ago (he'd never seen it) and strangely, it didn't seem as bad as I'd remembered. It was a terrible movie but we both thought with some judicious editing, it would have been a decent MoW episode.

[syntax6.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I am excited about the book. :)

I skimmed the story again to refresh my memory because I'd originally read and enjoyed the story back when it was posted. I did think it seemed like it was missing a chunk! Glad I'm not going (completely) crazy.

I agree with your comments about the love scene opening, btw. On its own, it's lovely, but it is a weird place to start this particular story. I think it's meant to establish where Mulder and Scully are as a couple and perhaps to heighten what's at stake when things begin to go south. I can see the rationale behind this but agree it's probably not necessary. Sex is probably the least meaningful part of Mulder and Scully's relationship! (Although certainly not the least fun, heh.)

My beef with the season 11 episodes that I did see was that we have literally done all this stuff before. The were-lizard was fun, but all the of the meta about Mulder and Scully's relationship or commentary on man's inhumanity to man in comedic form has already been done on this show by Vince Gilligan, Chris Carter, or Darin Morgan. I...don't need to see it again. It was fresh the first time. The second, third, or fourth times it starts to feel a little tired (at least to me). The character beats in "Home, Again" were entirely borrowed from "Beyond the Sea." There wasn't anything new there, aside from a couple of lovely lines. The garbage monster punishing people? WE DID THAT TOO. It was okay, as far as it goes. I just don't see the need to redo it.

I think CC and friends are mostly out of ideas for these characters. They can be forgiven for that because the show was on the air for nine years. I'm sure there are rich stories left to be told about Mulder and Scully, but I don't think the boys at 1013 are the ones to tell them. They had a good run. They made TV history! It's time to let it be history and for everyone involved to move on to new projects.

original version

[(Anonymous)]

Do you have a link posted to the original at the Way-backed AOL site by chance?? Thanks!

Re: original version

[wendelah1]

It's already in the post: check at the very bottom.