X-Files Book Club

I would like to express my gratitude to the members of this community who carried on and discussed "Iolokus" so brilliantly in my absence. You guys are the best. What? You didn't even notice I was gone? Even better.

Because I am in need of comfort fic, I am by-passing the queue for the moment, in order to post a story I reread any time I am feeling low. I think everyone who loves to read has stories or books or fan fiction that they turn to in times of crisis, for escape or to just to make them smile. This one does all of that, and more. Any story that can make me laugh and cry and creates genuine suspense about the case file and the romance is a classic, in my view. I remember how disappointed I was when emily_shore recced this fic at crack_van. "No," I wailed. "That's my favorite story! I want to get to rec it." So now I have.

Summary: When an investigation in the middle of nowhere opens old wounds, 2000 miles away becomes too close to home. Can Mulder and Scully unravel the puzzle before they fall apart?

Here is a link at Fugues Fiction Archive, divided into two sections: Bone of Contention

Or, if you want it all in one big gulp, here it is on Michelle Kiefer's old site, way-backed. Bone of Contention.

As always, let the authors know what you think, us know what you think and give us your suggestions for next time.

Continuing my ad libbed December theme of traveling, I present to you "Miracle" and "Mystery" by Tesla, nominated by estella_c. These stories are by turns amusing, romantic, and even a little bit scary. "Miracle" was written as a stand-alone, but when her readership begged Tesla for a sequel, she wrote "Mystery." When you get to the end of it, you will understand why. So go ahead, read them both, for a nice little fix of MSR, set in "faux-Uzbekistan," complete with international intrigue, an earthquake, and a miracle spring.

Miracle

Mystery

Let the author know what you think, let us know what you think, and give us your suggestions for next time.

Nominated by yendrie, "Doctor, Copper, Sailor, Corpse" is an "R" rated series of three vignettes that takes place after Mulder's funeral. The season eight funeral.

SUMMARY: This little piggy rots in his coffin, this little piggy is showing, this little piggy is a good partner, this little piggy is hovering, and all the little Hoover piggies are snickering all the way home.

Doctor, Copper, Sailor, Corpse

As always, let us know what you think, let the author know what you think and give us your suggestions for next time. Otherwise, you are going to be reading mine. . .

Okay, I admit it. This is not a short story. Written back in 2003, with the movie in mind, Humby tried to come up with a plausible scenario to bring Mulder and Scully back into the FBI mainstream, away from their life on the run. Start it now and you may not be able to put it down.

Backlash.

As always, let the author know what you think; let us know what you think; and please, give us your suggestions fotr next time.

Today's selection is nominated by me. It is a very dark take on the possible consequences of the events of "Emily."

Title: The Mill
Author: cofax7 
Here is what the author wrote about the story:
Rating: R for content
Spoilers: through season 5
Content Warning: Deep dark angst. Don't say you weren't warned.
Summary: A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they were not. Jeremiah 31: 15-17.

And for those of us who love this sort of thing, here is the DVD commentary for "The Mill".

This week's choice is mine. I decided to look through the spoiler category in Gossamer for Gethsemane. I felt there had to be another, more satisfying take on the episode. Look what I found! "Blood and Breath" is by one of my favorite writers, rivkat . I love the way she sees Scully and this is a very Scully-centric piece. Like "Primal Sympathy," it was posted in 1997 during the hiatus, but it is a very different approach to the cliff-hanger at the end of Gethsemane.

Here is what the author had to say about the work:
Classification: XAR
Rating: R for violence and sexual situations
Summary: Post-Gethsemane, and major changes are afoot. If there's a genre you don't like (and I think you know what I mean), stay away.

There are spoilers in the comment thread.

Let us know what you think; let the author know what you think; and please, let us know your suggestions for next time. I promise we will get back to the queue in a couple of weeks.
"Blood and Breath"