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14 Yuletide Recs
12th Century CE RPF/The Lion in Winter
an imprint set in wax
Philip's journey from Paris was the shorter distance, yet he arrived later, almost as dark was falling. Richard, knowing his tactics well, refused to be goaded so easily into impatience. "I'll wager you wish you hadn't burned the bridge at Porte Joie now," he said cheerfully by way of greeting. "You could have been here in time for dinner. It was splendid, by the way. We saved you some scraps."
If you know The Lion in Winter, you'll recognize the voices in this one. Richard and Philip are thirteen years older now but are every bit as snarky; these two enemies understand each other better than anyone in the world, whether they want to or not.
14th Century CE RPF
Like a Well-Regulated Abbey
Christmas of 1387 is not much fun.
Indeed, it's downright tragic for the people in this story. Richard II and Henry Bolingbroke have ended up on opposite sides of a political disaster. Richard is in danger of losing both his power and his life, and has already lost his male lover to exile; Henry, who is deeply conflicted about Richard, wants very badly to believe that things won't go that far while sensing that they already have.
This is the story from the perspective of Anne of Bohemia (Richard's queen) and Mary de Bohun (Henry's wife). Anne wants desperately to save Richard; Mary wants Henry's friendship for Richard to prevail over politics; and both of them are doing their level best to preserve their families. It's especially awkward because this is a family quarrel; Richard and Henry are cousins, and their wives are friends. The author does an outstanding job of making these people, their pain and their world vividly real. By the end, I wanted to hug Anne and Mary...and give Richard and Henry a shaking before hugging them as well.
15th Century RPF/The Hunger Games
The Sticking Place
Nobody talks about the Fifth Annual Hunger Games. There are good reasons for this.
This is the story that I always wanted and didn't know that I did. Set during the 5th Hunger Games, some of those chosen that year are the children of those in power who led the rebellion a few years earlier. Henry Lancaster (a.k.a. Henry VI), Lucrezia Borgia, Margaret d'Anjou, and Richard York (a.k.a. Richard III) are the Tributes, and watching the teenagers battle it out in an arena shaped like a huge house--while remaining much as history has characterized them--is incredible. And you will love the face-off between the last two Tributes.
A Girl of the Limberlost -- Gene Stratton-Porter
A Girl of the Social Round
PHILIP AMMON IS A DICK *koff* I mean: An apologia for Edith Carr.
Home is Where the Hart Is
Edith has changed. Has Edith's relationship with Hart changed?
Edith Carr serves as the antagonist for about half of the book, and is vilified by Stratton-Porter and most of her characters for being (in contrast to Elnora, the poor, country-raised, scientifically minded and nature-loving heroine) a rich, city-bred, ultra-feminine and somewhat vain queen of society--very much a product of her time and her class. These two stories give Edith a voice--the first showing why she behaves and feels as she does (and in the context of her world, both make complete sense), while the second grants her an epiphany about herself and the man who stands by her throughout canon, giving her the promise of a happy and loving future.
Candle Cove
Between 'Outerscope' and the Sleestaks
You have to admit, some of those special effects were so scary-looking that you can understand why adults describe a great fondness for the shows of their childhood mixed with an overwhelming feeling of terror. In between discussions of the creepy puppets from "Outerscope" and the Sleestaks, "Candle Cove" comes up again and again.
There were five Candle Cove stories this year, all of them awesome and all completely rec-worthy, but this one, which marries creepypasta to true crime, is my favorite. It continues the story in a way that's both eerie and menacing. It's tantalizing as well, for while you know in part what Candle Cove is doing by the end, the story doesn't provide you with a simple "why".
Discworld
A Trip to Lancre
The Patrician is invited to attend the coming of age ceremony for the princess of Lancre. He sends Sam Vimes instead.
Don't be fooled by the summary--this is a woman's story. Sybil Vimes meets the Witches of Lancre, and proves to be adept at finding balances and getting people what they need.
Some Time Before
The thing about being young is that it happens to most everyone.
In a series of alternating stories, the author shows us Sybil Ramkin, Sam Vimes, Adora Belle Dearheart and Moist Von Lipwig as children, as adolescents/young men and women, and in love. I especially loved the scenes of Sybil at school in Quirm, Moist performing his first con, Young Sam meeting swamp dragons, and Adora trying valiantly to learn the Lipwig dialect of Uberwaldean.
The Phantom Tollbooth
visible cities
Milo goes on another adventure.
Exactly what it says on the tin. I have to say that I teared up when I saw the names of the contributors to The Comprehendium of Worlds Beyond Worlds.
Romeo and Juliet -- Shakespeare
Confession
Entering the convent, Rosaline looks back, and, reluctantly, forward.
Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps.
Perhaps, the story went this way. Perhaps, it went that way. Perhaps.
Starling
Rosaline in the hot sun.
All of these were my Yuletide gifts, and all are outstanding in different ways.
"Confession" depicts a young, angry Rosaline Capulet--possessed of a vocation, oh, yes, but bitter over the death of her cousin Juliet, hating Romeo for his part in Juliet's destruction and blaming herself for it as well. And though she longs for vengeance, she's equally intent on avoiding it.
"Starling" portrays Rosaline as an old woman remembering herself and Juliet as children and young girls; this tale describes Juliet as a wild girl who loved freedom and who feared the loss of it. This Rosaline is less angry than sad and guilty, and the language is lush and beautiful.
"Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps" explores other possibilities for Juliet--in other lives, stories and worlds. I love the variety, and I think you will too.
Rubyquest
Rubyquest II: The Island
In your inventory, you have two walkie-talkies and an empty champagne bottle. Time to save the world...
This story--illustrated in the fashion of the online game--is just about perfect. Even if you haven't played the game all the way through, which I haven't, the style and the tone are spot-on, and even if you aren't familiar with the characters, you'll root for them all the way.
Wicked Girls (album) -- Seanan McGuire/Chronicles of Narnia -- C.S. Lewis
No Longer a Friend of Narnia
Susan refuses to tell fairytale stories.
The song "Wicked Girls Saving Ourselves" deals with all of the girls in fairy tales who enter magical worlds and then leave, returning to humdrum lives of powerlessness. go to YouTube and find a version of it. This story, based on one of the stanzas of the song, is about Susan Pevensie...an older Susan who's determined to be the author of her own life and her own story. I cheered out loud when I got to that part.
And that's all for now, though there will be more recs later!
an imprint set in wax
Philip's journey from Paris was the shorter distance, yet he arrived later, almost as dark was falling. Richard, knowing his tactics well, refused to be goaded so easily into impatience. "I'll wager you wish you hadn't burned the bridge at Porte Joie now," he said cheerfully by way of greeting. "You could have been here in time for dinner. It was splendid, by the way. We saved you some scraps."
If you know The Lion in Winter, you'll recognize the voices in this one. Richard and Philip are thirteen years older now but are every bit as snarky; these two enemies understand each other better than anyone in the world, whether they want to or not.
14th Century CE RPF
Like a Well-Regulated Abbey
Christmas of 1387 is not much fun.
Indeed, it's downright tragic for the people in this story. Richard II and Henry Bolingbroke have ended up on opposite sides of a political disaster. Richard is in danger of losing both his power and his life, and has already lost his male lover to exile; Henry, who is deeply conflicted about Richard, wants very badly to believe that things won't go that far while sensing that they already have.
This is the story from the perspective of Anne of Bohemia (Richard's queen) and Mary de Bohun (Henry's wife). Anne wants desperately to save Richard; Mary wants Henry's friendship for Richard to prevail over politics; and both of them are doing their level best to preserve their families. It's especially awkward because this is a family quarrel; Richard and Henry are cousins, and their wives are friends. The author does an outstanding job of making these people, their pain and their world vividly real. By the end, I wanted to hug Anne and Mary...and give Richard and Henry a shaking before hugging them as well.
15th Century RPF/The Hunger Games
The Sticking Place
Nobody talks about the Fifth Annual Hunger Games. There are good reasons for this.
This is the story that I always wanted and didn't know that I did. Set during the 5th Hunger Games, some of those chosen that year are the children of those in power who led the rebellion a few years earlier. Henry Lancaster (a.k.a. Henry VI), Lucrezia Borgia, Margaret d'Anjou, and Richard York (a.k.a. Richard III) are the Tributes, and watching the teenagers battle it out in an arena shaped like a huge house--while remaining much as history has characterized them--is incredible. And you will love the face-off between the last two Tributes.
A Girl of the Limberlost -- Gene Stratton-Porter
A Girl of the Social Round
PHILIP AMMON IS A DICK *koff* I mean: An apologia for Edith Carr.
Home is Where the Hart Is
Edith has changed. Has Edith's relationship with Hart changed?
Edith Carr serves as the antagonist for about half of the book, and is vilified by Stratton-Porter and most of her characters for being (in contrast to Elnora, the poor, country-raised, scientifically minded and nature-loving heroine) a rich, city-bred, ultra-feminine and somewhat vain queen of society--very much a product of her time and her class. These two stories give Edith a voice--the first showing why she behaves and feels as she does (and in the context of her world, both make complete sense), while the second grants her an epiphany about herself and the man who stands by her throughout canon, giving her the promise of a happy and loving future.
Candle Cove
Between 'Outerscope' and the Sleestaks
You have to admit, some of those special effects were so scary-looking that you can understand why adults describe a great fondness for the shows of their childhood mixed with an overwhelming feeling of terror. In between discussions of the creepy puppets from "Outerscope" and the Sleestaks, "Candle Cove" comes up again and again.
There were five Candle Cove stories this year, all of them awesome and all completely rec-worthy, but this one, which marries creepypasta to true crime, is my favorite. It continues the story in a way that's both eerie and menacing. It's tantalizing as well, for while you know in part what Candle Cove is doing by the end, the story doesn't provide you with a simple "why".
Discworld
A Trip to Lancre
The Patrician is invited to attend the coming of age ceremony for the princess of Lancre. He sends Sam Vimes instead.
Don't be fooled by the summary--this is a woman's story. Sybil Vimes meets the Witches of Lancre, and proves to be adept at finding balances and getting people what they need.
Some Time Before
The thing about being young is that it happens to most everyone.
In a series of alternating stories, the author shows us Sybil Ramkin, Sam Vimes, Adora Belle Dearheart and Moist Von Lipwig as children, as adolescents/young men and women, and in love. I especially loved the scenes of Sybil at school in Quirm, Moist performing his first con, Young Sam meeting swamp dragons, and Adora trying valiantly to learn the Lipwig dialect of Uberwaldean.
The Phantom Tollbooth
visible cities
Milo goes on another adventure.
Exactly what it says on the tin. I have to say that I teared up when I saw the names of the contributors to The Comprehendium of Worlds Beyond Worlds.
Romeo and Juliet -- Shakespeare
Confession
Entering the convent, Rosaline looks back, and, reluctantly, forward.
Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps.
Perhaps, the story went this way. Perhaps, it went that way. Perhaps.
Starling
Rosaline in the hot sun.
All of these were my Yuletide gifts, and all are outstanding in different ways.
"Confession" depicts a young, angry Rosaline Capulet--possessed of a vocation, oh, yes, but bitter over the death of her cousin Juliet, hating Romeo for his part in Juliet's destruction and blaming herself for it as well. And though she longs for vengeance, she's equally intent on avoiding it.
"Starling" portrays Rosaline as an old woman remembering herself and Juliet as children and young girls; this tale describes Juliet as a wild girl who loved freedom and who feared the loss of it. This Rosaline is less angry than sad and guilty, and the language is lush and beautiful.
"Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps" explores other possibilities for Juliet--in other lives, stories and worlds. I love the variety, and I think you will too.
Rubyquest
Rubyquest II: The Island
In your inventory, you have two walkie-talkies and an empty champagne bottle. Time to save the world...
This story--illustrated in the fashion of the online game--is just about perfect. Even if you haven't played the game all the way through, which I haven't, the style and the tone are spot-on, and even if you aren't familiar with the characters, you'll root for them all the way.
Wicked Girls (album) -- Seanan McGuire/Chronicles of Narnia -- C.S. Lewis
No Longer a Friend of Narnia
Susan refuses to tell fairytale stories.
The song "Wicked Girls Saving Ourselves" deals with all of the girls in fairy tales who enter magical worlds and then leave, returning to humdrum lives of powerlessness. go to YouTube and find a version of it. This story, based on one of the stanzas of the song, is about Susan Pevensie...an older Susan who's determined to be the author of her own life and her own story. I cheered out loud when I got to that part.
And that's all for now, though there will be more recs later!