Fic Recs!

[rubykatewriting]

I decided to post a fic rec for a Yuletide fic I just recently discovered, only to realize I have yet to rec one of my favorite series ever. So I'm rectifying this now. Also, before we go any further, both of these recs are in the Dark Angel verse. Sadly, I feel like that's a warning because I know (since I was once one of them) that some of y'all folks out there wrote off this series simply for the fact of its cheesy campaign (and premise) and its star, one Ms. Jessica Alba.

For the record, the premise wouldn't have been nearly as cheesy if the creator/executive producers/writers had put even one-tenth of thought into it and the continuity. It's almost a crime that such potential was wasted. Also, JAlba wasn't nearly as bad as she's been in some of her other "acting" efforts. She actually does emotionally stunted badass pretty well.

Okay, here goes. The first is alethialia's ASHverse series, a collection of one-shots set in a post-Freak Nation world. Max, as per third season plans mentioned on one of the DVD commentaries (Freak Nation, maybe?), abandoned her role as Leader of the Freaks in Terminal City to hit the road with Logan in search of a cure for the virus. (Ahem – GAG.) Alec takes over as commander and unsurprisingly excels at the job.

That’s the bare bones, but it really is so much more. (Yes, I’m a big ol’ fangirl when it comes to this series. I am at least that self-aware.) It has one of the best Alec characterizations I’ve ever found in DA fic; he is neither schmoopy, nor is he an empty-headed slut. Then you add in the HAWT smut and the lovely, snarktastic banter, and I’m a puddle of fangirl goo.

Now speaking of the smut, beware, MaxLogan shippers, this be AlecMax but does not include any Logan bashing. It's actually quite fair in that regard, but then I always thought Logan was a bit of a self-important douche. The little bit we’ve seen of Logan has been annoyingly canon.

But I think the best part of all is the world building. She has taken the time to put together a map of Terminal City and a pretty interesting character dossier. She never skimps on the details because they’re really important since this is the Transgenics’ entire world after the events in Freak Nation.

Here is a link to the first fic, the inspiration for the name of the series:

And Still Hope
A look at Max over the course of several return visits to Terminal City.

And now for the Yuletide fic. This is also set post-FN as well as Alec-centric (I'm a fan, what can I say?), but a LOT less rosy a view of the transgenics’ new life on the outside, in the open. He is cynical and hopeful and knows his place in the chain of command. It's also a great look at those around him (Max, Logan, Joshua, et al.) , how he sees them, and I love how the author makes this throwaway remark about the love triangle that sucked balls.

Passing Time by sullensiren

Whew. That turned out a helluva lot longer than I had intended it to. Also, I have had so much chocolate I think I may puke. I think it was the chocolate cake with chocolate icing that really put it over the limit.

Comments

[pathstotread.livejournal.com]

As a recent fan of DA, I really like the premise but think it could have been done a lot better than it was. But you and I differ, because I happen to be a huge Logan (and Max/Logan) fan, and don't really get what everyone sees in Alec beyond that he's fairly good looking and amusing. That said, I might give the fic a try, because I appreciate fics that aren't my ship but don't villianize it either.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

As a recent fan of DA, I really like the premise but think it could have been done a lot better than it was.
What shocked me so much as I made my way through the DVDs was that this was from the guy who created The Terminator series. This was a guy so meticulous he had no qualms about being a huge and complete dick because he wanted to tell the story the right way. Unfortunately he didn't feel the same compulsion when it came to this show, which he made out to be his baby. In my opinion, he was an extremely neglectful father.

That said, I might give the fic a try, because I appreciate fics that aren't my ship but don't villianize it either.
It's what I most appreciated about the fic. Max and Logan don't end because Logan turns into an OOC asshole. They end because the virus becomes too much and Max feels the pull of being with her own, to finish what she started. It felt very true to the characters and what I expect would have happened had the PTB (and Michael and Jessica) not felt the need to continue a ship they sunk with a ridiculous plot device that had no plausible or foreseeable resolution.

(Speaking of, it really rankled when I learned that it was going to be Max and Logan on the road because it felt untrue to Max and the stand she took at the end of Freak Nation. She's going to abandon all of that just so she can finally get some? Nope. Not the Max that felt it her mission – to an almost martyr-like degree – to protect those she freed in Designate This.)

[herowlness.livejournal.com]

Passing Time is a new fic for me, so thanks for the rec. I'm already totally into ASHverse, but I do totally agree with the rec. :)

I'll definitely have to make a note to add Passing Time to my DA fanfic rec list at some point .... :)

Thanks for the recs!

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Passing Time was surprisingly good, but I haven't really found a bad one in the Yuletide bunch. Really fantastic Alec characterization, and I'm still thinking about it today. That's always a good sign.