rec: Anagram of the Kaleds

[bunnyinnatardis.livejournal.com]

First, I have to apologise for being late with recommendations this week.  I had a child in hospital from the 10th to the 20th and while I knew I was going to be reviewing stories soon, I was... distracted.  But here I am and I promise to make it up to you over the next few days.  Oh, but where to begin?  I could recommend pretty much every story (or script) I have ever read by this first author. Seriously, I could read stories by Shinyford all day.  Just hand me a stack.  I had picked out one to recommend months ago but another reviewer beat me to it.  Lucky for me he posted more.  Of course then I had to pick another one and it I really had a hard time choosing.  In the end I decided to tip my hat to Anagram because it is so unusual.

Story: Anagram of the Kaleds
Author: Shinyford
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 3729
Author's Summary: The first of Davros' mutants ponders his fate, while the Great Scientist tries to think up a name for him.
Characters: Davros and Original Characters
Warning: Mild profanity

Recced Because: Put quite simply, this story is brilliant.  A wildly off-centre tale set in the Whoniverse just prior to Genesis of the Daleks, Anagram of the Kaleds is rife with British wit and charm and just enough pathos to turn you inside out and back again.  Here is a Dalek origins story unlike anything you have ever read, populated by characters you will never forget.

The synopsis might have you believe that Davros is the main character.  He is not,  Davros is there, certainly, but it is the hapless narrator of the story (and his fellow Kaled) that you will remember.  Anagram is impeccably written.  Pace, structure, grammar, everything is spot on.  The length is perfect, not a single word wasted.  Gorgeous and professional and achingly funny in unexpected (and terribly British) ways, it has lovely Classic Era sensibilities without being the least bit dated.  I could not stop reading and laughed out loud more than once (custard? custard??)   Make sure you have your hanky before you get to the end, and don't be surprised if you can never think of Daleks in the same way again.

Comments

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Link me, link me!

Please?

[purplecat]

Seconded!

[nonelvis]

The story is here.