rushthatspeaks | more Yuletide recs

Sub-theme of this recs set (that is, true of most of these): Female or genderqueer perspectives on things we may not have seen enough of those in (or sometimes, may). Not an intentional theme. This year was just awesome that way, is all.

Some Origins of the Fire-- Robert Heinlein's The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress. Oh, Wyoh. In recommendation of this fic, most of what I have to say can be summed up in a quote from, I believe, Marilyn Hacker: "If I can't dance, it's not my revolution. If it's not my revolution, I won't dance." And finally it's *her goddamn revolution*.

We'll Take What We Can Carry, And We'll Leave The Rest-- Fried Green Tomatoes. Portrait of a marriage: beautiful, heartbreaking, absolutely likely.

Bright Moon, Who Goes Farther Still-- Watership Down. For reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with it and everything to do with a short story I've had in progress for the past three years, this is my favorite story out of this year's Yuletide so far. It's also really wonderful. Myth and life, book-characters and original, tangled up convincingly with a precise sense of worldbuilding and a nice big dose of kick-ass.

A Love Letter-- Dykes to Watch Out For. SNERK. Short, sweet, to the point, and priceless. (Oh, and technically NC-17.)

The Beat That My Heart Skipped (Sounded Like This)-- From Eroica With Love. "After Klaus had finished shouting at everyone he could possibly shout at, he went to his coat and dug out a pack of cigarettes." Sometimes I wonder what Dorian sees in Klaus. Then I read things like this, and remember what is under the Iron Major.

Naamah's Token-- Kushiel's Legacy series. Myths and angels, sex and sorrow: the Kushiel books can be a little overripe, but in such an enjoyable way. This reads like a missing chapter, a meditation on Phedre, Joscelin, and fidelity. NC-17, of course.