5 'Fics I'd never normally read but . . .'

[hesadevilspike.livejournal.com]

Like everyone else, I have my preferences that are based on what I like and what I don't. I steer clear of things I don't like and gravitate towards things I do. But once in a while, a fic pops up that smashes what some might call prejudice and I prefer to call preference. Here's my list of 5 fics I wouldn't normally read but . . .


My first preference is for No baby fics

1. Beloved by spikes_heart and liliaeth WIP
Rating: PG
Pairing: Angel/Nina, Gunn/Anne, sort of S/B, with hints of A/B
Reason I enjoyed this A baby fic where the 'baby' isn't the result of any 'ship', no sentimental romantic mush, not too much focus on the 'baby' and then only when the plot demands, and a darn fine character study of Angel.

My second preference is for No slash
2.Nameless ... by calove
Rating: NC-17, for non-con, M/M.
Reason I enjoyed this It's the only well-written explanation of Spike and Angel's one time I can accept as being in canon for both characters.

3. Better Late than Never. by estepheia -

Rating: PG13 (slash) - post-NFA
Reason for reading. It's estepheia, what more can I say, everything she writes is pure gold, and she's one of the best writers of Spike out there.

4.This next one counts as one, although I've put up links to all three parts
Title: You Made Me Forget Myself (You’re Going to Reap Just What You Sow) by lillianmorgan
Rating: For the most part it’s pretty tame, around PG-13, but eventually NC-17, m/m sex, Post NFA 3 parts
Pairing: Spike/Angel
Reason for reading. I don't read slash (have I mentioned that before) but this is so beautifully written that it totally dragged me in and kept me believing. Both Angel and Spike staying fully in character (OK, I admit, I had problems with the final part because my Spike would never do what he did or, more importantly, say what he said.)
Part One
Part Two
Part Three

Having said no to Slash, I also had a no to fairies rule when it came to Spike, which was a pity because I almost missed this next one.

No fairies
5. A Winter Fairy Tale by st_salieri
Rating (mine) PG - for some swearing.
Reason for reading: Pre-Series Spike, powerfully written and in-canon.

I still can't believe I'm reading a baby fic - Of course it's all the fault of buffyversetop5 for opening my mind to the joys of reading outside the comfort of the preference zone I'd locked myself into. Thank you team.

Comments

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! :) And isn't it amazing that once you read one story outside your comfort zone, how soon the others swiftly fall!
I'm glad to see that st_salieri and calove's fics got a mention, because they both did a very nice job of making newly turned William so multi-dimensional, something always nice to see.
Not such a big fan of baby fic myself, but if you're reading it, then maybe I'll give it a go too :) And I'll head on over to the 3rd one now.
Thanks very much for the rec as well. ::blushes:: But I thought you didn't read all three parts?

[hesadevilspike.livejournal.com]

My comfort zone begins and ends with in-canon Spike and that hasn't changed, but at least I'm considering stuff featuring him that I'd not contemplated before because it's written so well.

I did read all three parts of yours but I never commented on the third part. My opinon is based on my 'preference' and while I didn't like the Spike (and Angel) I found in Part Three, you wrote it very well indeed, and it was the final part of the story that others should be allowed to make their own minds up about.

The third rec's a drabble so it won't take you long. Which reminds me, I'll go and edit the entry on Beloved, as it's a WIP and folks need warning about that.

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

Which reminds me, I'll go and edit the entry on Beloved, as it's a WIP and folks need warning about that.
Oh that's very nice of you. I altered the tag as well then, because some people enjoy reading WIPs most of all.
My opinon is based on my 'preference' and while I didn't like the Spike (and Angel) I found in Part Three,
I really appreciate your honesty on that. It's always interesting to know what works for people and what doesn't, so that the next time around causes me more thinking time about what's going on in the fic.

[hesadevilspike.livejournal.com]

I really appreciate your honesty on that.
I don't normally make comments like that on folks' work because I like to encourage rather than discourage and I don't believe feedback is the place to do the sort of work I'd do if I were beta-ing a piece. Boggy and I beta for one another and have great 'rows' (her word) discussions that lead to both our writing improving.

I wouldn't change the way you write characters to fit in with how others view them. Providing you can defend your own view, and write convincingly, that should be what guides your judgement.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Ah, but I've written baby fic. Even more terrifying (literally)!

[hesadevilspike.livejournal.com]

I know, and I steered well clear of it. The Tentacled One/Spike is not a pairing I ever warmed to (you know I'm allergic to non-canon pairings) And notice, I said Beloved's 'baby' was not the result of any shipper nonsense.

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. Mine are purely for laughs though.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

A Winter Fairy Tale and Nameless are amazing. I'll have to think about the baby fiction one a while but thanks so much for the above mentioned stories.

[hesadevilspike.livejournal.com]

Have you read them before? They are beautifully written.

Do give 'Beloved' a try. You won't regret it.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

No I hadn't seen them before so lucky me today!

[calove.livejournal.com]

Awww... Thanks for the rec! That one hurt to write but it was a gut response to other stuff in the fandom and refused to go away.

I'm strangely drawn to the others on your list, because they are all by such excellent authors.

*sigh*

I may have to drop a few 'no read' rules. Damn!

[hesadevilspike.livejournal.com]

Sometimes the ones that are the most painful to write are the ones that are most successful. It's as if they're saying you can't ignore the truth within the story.

Indulge yourself. Be drawn. Apart from the WIP, the others are quite short.

[yourlibrarian]

I absolutely loved your category :> It's always interesting to stumble into a new genre because a writer has just the right take on it to catch your interest.

[hesadevilspike.livejournal.com]

Precisely.

[gillo]

I'm positively allergic to Fairy!Spike, but I loved "A Winter Fairy Tale", and I'm following "Beloved" avidly. I normally don't read slashfic, but if these are as good as the two I've read I am going to have to break my habit.

[hesadevilspike.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't go breaking habits on the strength of the fics listed here. My aversion to most of the stuff I prefer not to like has little to do with the genre and more to do with the fact that much of it is badly written and OOC.

Nothing bad about the ones I recced.

[st_salieri.livejournal.com]

Ha! I obviously should have been much more careful in choosing my title, because I didn't even think of fairy!Spike. I should put up a disclaimer: "No actual fairies of any sort in this fic."

I'm very glad you liked it, though. :)

[hesadevilspike.livejournal.com]

Enjoyed it very much and sorry for not commenting on the fic entry itself. I must rectify that when I've a few moments.