dbskyler: (dalek tea)
[personal profile] dbskyler
Story: Chilled
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 1522
Author's Summary: Rory warms up a cold Doctor.
Characters/Pairings: The Eleventh Doctor, Rory Williams
Warnings: None

Recced because: The Doctor is suffering from hypothermia, and Rory takes charge. I love a good hurt/comfort fic, and this is an especially good one, with both Eleven and Rory firmly in character. This fic will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, and sometimes we all need that, including the Doctor.
[identity profile] a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com
Story: Elemental
Author: Clocketpatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 2146
Author's Summary: His friends are stars, burning brightly. They are the earth he clings to. They are ripples across the water. They are his reason.
Characters/Pairings: Clara Oswin Oswald, The Doctor (12th), Amy Pond, River Song, Rory Williams
Warnings: None

Recced because: Well, it is no secret (I'm sure!) how much I love this author's work! I love the descriptions, imagery and the way I can see the Doctor (and the Companions!) through her eyes. She always brings her best to the table with every word and sentence - and this is seriously no exception! This fiction describes the Companions (through them, of them) with the image of the elements - and it is extraordinary how she just nails them perfectly...and gives us an ending that is unexpected - and yet makes total sense in the aftermath of the rest of the fiction. I'm not giving this one away - this is definitely (like most of her works!) a Must-Read! Though a little taste to get one started never hurts, yes?

Just a taste... )


Go, read, enjoy - and please let her know how much her fiction rocks! I'm sure she will appreciate the Love!

PhoenixDragon (aka Mandy)
thisbluespirit: (dw - four)
[personal profile] thisbluespirit
Story: Not Another Duplicate
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All ages
Word Count: 2272
Author's Summary: In which the Doctor meets a Harry.
Characters/Pairings: Harry Sullivan, Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith
Warnings: None.

Recced because: It seems all too rare these days to find a good Harry-fic – and this is a good Harry fic, be in no doubt – but even more so to find one that focuses on the Doctor and Harry. In this, Harry and the Doctor have an accidental non-linear meeting that manages to confuse both of them, and it’s a joy – with a double dose of Harry, no less...

Have an extract )
[identity profile] jjpor.livejournal.com
Story: Can't see the forest
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 1,396
Author's Summary: The trees have roots everywhere.
Characters/Pairings: the Doctor (9th), the Doctor (10th), Rose Tyler, Sarah Jane Smith, Jo Grant, Jabe, the TARDIS
Warnings: None

Recced because: This is exactly the sort of thing I like to see in fanfic. It takes a relatively minor character who appeared in a single, if somewhat pivotal, story and opens that character up to explore all sorts of unexpected facets and directions. It brings in bits of lore and characters from all over the universe of Doctor Who and mixes them seamlessly with the not-canon-but-ought-to-be speculations of the author's own imagination. And then it brings in a neat time paradox, yet another sideways look from this author (who has produced many such sideways looks) at the nature of the TARDIS and finishes on a killer image and concept that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. In other words, this is the good stuff.

Jabe was already a fascinating character to my way of thinking, but this fic succeeds in making her even more so by emphasising her non-human nature and suggesting some very interesting takes on the society she comes from and speculates on the possible motivations for the actions we see from her in the televised story. Most of all, however, this story has this particular author's stamp all over it. It's not just what it tells, but the way it's told with great use of evocative language, vivid imagery and nice prose stylings.

This is an author I've been following for several years now, and whose work I will always recommend for all of the reasons outlined here. You know you're onto a sure thing when you click on the link to one of her stories. Don't believe me? There's the link right there. You know what to do...


A Taster )
[identity profile] dbskyler.livejournal.com
Hello! I will be your reccer for the next two weeks, and I'm excited to share some of my favorite fics with you! I hope you find in these recs at least one new favorite of your own.

First up:

Story: Stories with Swordfights
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 1659
Author's Summary: Rory Williams loves his family. He loves his wife. He loves his son. And he loves his daughter. Of course he does. Except…
Characters/Pairings: Rory Williams/Amy Pond, River Song
Warnings: None

Recced because: Set after "The Angels Take Manhattan," Rory thinks about River, and wishes he could have gotten to know her as her father. It's beautiful and moving, and the ending is wonderful.

A small sample )
[identity profile] luckweaver.livejournal.com
Story: Wind in the Meadow
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: Adult
Word Count: 3,192
Author's Summary: A rather dark story in which Ace is slowly taken over by the Cheetah virus from Survival.
Characters/Pairings: Seven, Ace
Warnings: Dub!con, allusions to self harm

Recced because: This... isn't the kind of thing I usually rec, I'll admit. It is dark, and sad, and terrifying, and I swear the first time I read it - even though Seven isn't a Doctor I know well - I stopped breathing and sat on the edge of my teeth. I can't speak for characterisation, but they are consistent, and the edgy, uncanny valley effect in the character's thoughts really throws you off guard. It's a great story for this run up to Halloween, but by no stretch of the word a happy one.
[identity profile] jjpor.livejournal.com
Story: Emissaries from A Charitable Earth
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 4,260
Author's Summary: Stranded on Earth following a non-EDA-compliant version of the Time War, Fitz finds himself falling in love with a most unlikely woman.
Characters/Pairings: Fitz Kreiner/other characters
Warnings: None

Recced because: I think it would be fair to say that the Eighth Doctor Adventures novels were a bit of a mixed bag. The NAs that came before them had their high points and their low points, but I think on the whole they had a certain consistency, if not in quality then in general vision and (grim, dark 'n' edgy 90s) tone. The EDAs certainly went through phases and had arcs and so on, but I always thought they were a bit more pot luck. They certainly had their moments, for both good and ill. They're a strand of Who's not-really-canon I'd like to see addressed more in fic (along with all of the other strands in their seemingly infinite multitudes), but that's just me.

One of the things that the EDAs really had going for them was the character of Fitzgerald Michael "Fitz" Kreiner, one of that select band of non-television companions from the various spinoff media who really could hold their own with the best of the televised lot. He was a complex character, Fitz, with some rather dodgy tendencies, but tended to overcome them as he travelled with the Doctor and on the whole his heart was in the right place. An exceedingly human companion, Fitz. Or rather, his biodata clone after a certain point, because...well, the EDAs were just like that sometimes, especially after Lawrence Miles got involved. In any case, I consider that Fitz (or his clone) really should be in more fic, so that's another tick in favour of this fic in my opinion.

And this fic makes excellent use of the character, exploring his combination of cynicism and romanticism, the naivety of the long-distance time traveller and how his yearning for love crashes into bitter everyday reality and his own difficult baggage after years spent travelling with the Doctor. The author paints a convincing picture of a damaged individual, out of touch with the time and place he finds himself in, but desperate - painfully so - for something better. It is a very affecting portrayal, and made all the more so by the revelation of how the post-EDAs Fitz came to be the way he is. The portrayal of the Time War and the Doctor's part in it given here is no longer strictly in line with what we know, or think we know, by this point in the post-2005 series, but such are the perils of fic. It is, however, convincingly horrible and horrifying. Even if the particulars were not like this, the general tone of the proceedings are probably not very far from the way it "really" was for the wartime Doctor.

And then there is the fic's final revelation. I didn't see it coming on my first read, although I think I can see a couple of clues on subsequent readings, but it is in any case a genuine "gasp of surprise" sort of moment and will stay in your memory long after reading.

On top of all that, we're talking about another author who is never less than reliable. You know you're going to get good fic reading one of her stories, usually with interesting character insights, great use of descriptive prose and a pleasing combination of high concept and realistic meditations on real life and the human condition. All of which you are getting if you go and read this fic. Please be sure to leave words of appreciation for the author.


An Excerpt )
[identity profile] a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com
Story: Doubt is a Pain too Lonely
Author: Clocketpatch
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 1899
Author's Summary: AU where Rita survived and came along after The God Complex.
Characters/Pairings: The Doctor (11th)
Warnings: Alternate Universe

Recced because: First of all: Rita. That's quite enough to be going on with for most people. *Smiles*

But this is Rita with bonus awesome.

In this AU fiction, The Doctor did something he said he would never do again - and saved her life as he did so. Only problem is, his is still ending. Rita is vastly intelligent. Highly intuitive...and deeply compassionate. She is right and she is wrong and she cannot (will not) accept his explanations for going to his fate. Maybe (in this lifetime) she was the push he needed to reach for faith, for something beyond, for an idea of how to save himself and the life he'd built for all these centuries. Maybe (in the original universe) it was merely the memory of her. I know what I prefer though. Reading this, I think Rita would have saved him from himself. And maybe helped him save her as well. And that is more than enough reason to read this fiction. Actually, just the idea of it makes the reading of this fiction an imperative. But in case 'Rita' and 'deep, beautiful conversation with wonderful results for two people who are lost' isn't enough - I do have my modest example under the cut below...

Just a taste to get you started... )


I certainly hope you enjoy this fiction. Do stop and tell her how awesome this was. How it touched your heart and made you think...and how real and right it truly felt.
thisbluespirit: (dw - oswin)
[personal profile] thisbluespirit
Story: a red light or a star
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All ages
Word Count: 476
Author's Summary: What comes, goes. What goes, comes. Everything in its time.
Characters/Pairings: The TARDIS
Warnings: None.

Recced because: It’s such a wonderful and unusual ficlet, exploring the TARDIS’s origins from her point of view. It’s strange and poetic and not-quite-linear and it’s another brilliant example of how much can be achieved in relatively few words.
[identity profile] a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com
Story: Futures
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 1058
Author's Summary: An AU take on what might have happened if the Doctor had found and rescued Gallifrey prior to the events which took place in The Time of the Doctor.
Characters/Pairings: The Doctor (11th), The Master (Other)
Warnings: Action/Adventure

Recced because: I love a good AU. I especially love a good AU that remembers the realities of the Doctor's home planet. The place that he loved, but loathed in equal measure. His people stagnant and corrupt; in trouble more often than he was in their good graces.

I also (let's make no bones about this), adore the Master. I love to hate him and I hate that I love him. There is so much between the two of them, a clash that never ends with so much behind it they will never tell. The speculation has fueled many a fanfic over Doctor Who's long history - and I suspect it will for a long time to come.

Now we come to the nitty-gritty, the basics of what would most likely be the Doctor's reality if he does save his people. His people that he loves so much and yet the same people he ran from again and again. The same people who puppet-mastered him on numerous occasions and weren't afraid to use his friends, his loved ones against him. After all, any leverage is good leverage. Even if that leverage may be an old enemy that was once (maybe) a friend, their history muddled and secret, known only between the two of them. Still, it doesn't make that 'enemy' any less of a valuable card, especially when it comes to the High Council. But I digress.

If there was ever a plausible AU of Eleven's Era (where he found his home before regenerating), this is the fiction. The ending? Is the icing on the cake of it all. And that cake? Well...I guess you'd just have to read to find out.

Small taste of Awesome Here. )


GUH. See? GUH. Now go and tell the author how much they Rock. Gets us more kickass fic and it makes everyone's day brighter!!

*SQUISHES ALL*

Mandy
[identity profile] dbskyler.livejournal.com
Story: Story About a Girl
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 3809
Author's Summary: The most precious moments come between waking up and falling asleep
Characters/Pairings: Clara Oswald, Rose Tyler, the Ninth Doctor
Warnings: Offstage character death

Recced because: Clara said in The Name of the Doctor, "I don't know where I am. It's like I'm breaking into a million pieces, and there's only one thing I remember. I have to save the Doctor." What was that like? This brilliant fic delves into Clara's experience of one of those lives, and it wasn't just any life, either -- it was the life where she saved the Ninth Doctor during the events depicted in the episode Rose. As a bonus, we get to find out that Clara's splintered lives aren't all about the Doctor, either; in this particular life, she gets a very special and personal chance to say goodbye.

an excerpt )
[identity profile] jjpor.livejournal.com
Story: Feedback
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 2,918
Author's Summary: Explosion. The packed clod of ice smashed into the side of Amelia's head. It didn’t break off into powder like a proper snowball. It thudded against the ground beside her, shattering just as another ice ball hit.
Characters/Pairings: Amy Pond, Rory Williams, The Doctor (11th)
Warnings: Some fairly close-to-the-bone discussion of Amy's childhood traumas

Recced because: If you've been paying any attention to the comm at all, you will know by now that Clocketpatch is a very safe bet indeed when it comes to finding some fic that will consider interesting angles using interesting prose stylings and interesting choice of language. Fic worth reading, in other words. My main reason, however, for giving this author another rec on the comm so soon after her last one is that this story is, not to put too fine a point on it, really good - which surely should be reason enough?

Cast your minds back, as I asked you to do the other day, not to the heady days of 2008 and The Dark Knight, but rather back to 2010 and Series 5 of new Doctor Who. I think one of the things that sold me, and a lot of other fans, on the idea of Amy Pond as a companion was the very real sense given in The Eleventh Hour and some of the subsequent episodes that our Amy, she wasn't quite..."normal". How could she be, after the raggedy Doctor and his blue box had so impinged upon her life at such an early stage? And for a lot of people who don't consider themselves quite "normal" (and who of us is, really?), that was a cool and aspirational thing, even if it was one of the several cool things from S5 that Steven Moffat still hasn't quite followed through on (although there is still the 50th Anniversary special, he says, hopefully, perhaps delusionally).

The thing is, though, just what kind of childhood trauma did that glib line about biting "three psychiatrists", or the very real sense that Amy is regarded as a Leadworth "local character" by the likes of Mrs Victor Meldrew, what did that conceal? And this fic takes that idea head-on, and pulls few punches. It is raw, thought-provoking, somewhat disturbing stuff. And the amazing thing is that that (which would provide sufficient material for an entire fanfic in itself for most of us) is only this fic's opening section. It goes on very rapidly to set up an actual storyline, a real science-fictional predicament and then to pull back and remind us that what is really important is Amy and Rory and the Doctor, this Team TARDIS, undoubtedly one of the very best in the entire run of the new series to date, and their complex, not always easy, three-way relationship.

It's an indication of what a good fic this is that, quite in spite of the devastating insight into Amy's character and just what price she paid by encountering the Doctor all those years ago, its actual highlight is the lovely Doctor-Rory-Amy interactions with all of their nuances, reminding us that as cool as Clara is (and she's very cool indeed, imho), we lost a lot when we lost the Ponds.

I know I say this a lot, but I mean it: go over to the Teaspoon, read the fic, tell the author how awesome you thought it was. :)

An Extract )
eve11: (dw_eleven_goggles)
[personal profile] eve11
Title: Bad Parts
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 10589
Author's Summary: Alternative ending to Nightmare in Silver. The Cyber-parts don't just drop off at the end, and Mr. Clever isn't giving up so easily...
Characters/Pairings: Eleven, Clara, the Paternoster Gang (Jenny, Strax, Madam Vastra)
Warnings: None listed. Author notes "There are brief allusions to what Eleven may or may not have got up to during his "dark times" in Victorian London which may be triggering to some readers."

Recc'ed Because: I admit, the aspects of television that necessitate "miraculous cures" for the benefit of telling a story in 45 minutes or less... sometimes can be frustrating. This story is a re-telling of the end of Nightmare in Silver that doesn't pull any punches. It's Doctor Who meets Victorian Horror, makes getting rid of "Mr. Clever" come at a cost. But it's more than just beating up on Eleven or OOC H/C (I should clarify it is NOT OOC, but so many whump and H/C stories are), because it also stealthily adds some of the best Clara characterization I've read, as well as giving perfect voice to the Paternoster trio. A chilling but ultimately rewarding read.

Excerpt )
thisbluespirit: (dw - amy)
[personal profile] thisbluespirit
And now, the week is over, but there's time for one final story! Thanks for having me, [livejournal.com profile] calufrax, it's been fun - and if you liked something, please don't forget to feed the author! (Authors can survive for up to several weeks at a time on a few nice comments, flailing and love; it's a well known phenomenon.)

Story: Pinions of Time
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All ages
Word Count: 727
Author's Summary: A few moments of reflection in the Yukon for Nine and his companions
Characters/Pairings: Ninth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness
Warnings: None

Recced because: I’ve shared some fics this week that have taken a look at alien worlds, at the places we can go in our imagination – now here’s a fic, and an utterly gorgeous one, that takes a moment to appreciate some of the smaller things – a moment where everything is fine, those we share it with – and this amazing planet we live on, that is every bit as marvellous as anything we could imagine, and more.
[identity profile] a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com
Story: Interim
Author: Clocketpatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 980
Author's Summary: They thought he was dead, so they buried him.
Characters/Pairings: Eighth Doctor, Ninth Doctor, Tenth Doctor, Other Characters
Warnings: Angst, Character Study, Horror

Recced because: Well, where does one start? The fact that this author is exceptional (cause that's a given). The fact that this story is unique and haunting in its own right?

As I'm sure a lot of you have guessed, I love my dark!fic. I love to feel raw and angsty and aching and breathless. This fiction will do that. It is not for the faint of heart. It is a deathfic that is not a deathfic. It is a fic of war and and horror and blood and loss. It is a tragic fiction - and the ending...leaves you wondering and filled with more horror (the kind that creeps up on you and leaves your eyes wide and your skin cold with possibility). I cannot squeal enough about this fiction, even as I urge you forward with caution. Again - so much said with so few words. Each sentence delicious and gray and weary and filled with meaning layered over meaning. Go. Read. You shall soon know of what I speak. But if you still need an incentive...

Excerpt for the Curious )


Ahhh, so good...be sure to let the author know! And if you can, take a peek at their other fics. Well worth the time I assure you!
[identity profile] jjpor.livejournal.com
Well, it's good to be back. Seems like only yesterday that I was last here reccing for your consideration, but a cursory glance tells me that actually it was last March. Anyway, I've got another raft of stories I hope you'll all enjoy as much as I have and I'll be here all week sharing them with you.

Story: Missing Link on the Brink of Destruction
Author: [livejournal.com profile] clocketpatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 3,580
Author's Summary: Between losing the Ponds and landing in Victorian London there were adventures...
Characters/Pairings: The Doctor (11th), original companion
Warnings: None that I can think of

Recced because: Sometimes you read a fic that instantly, out of the blue, unceremoniously elbows its way to the front of your "to rec" queue. I know I do, anyway; I have little discipline or sense of orderliness when it comes to these things. I'll confess that I only saw this fic yesterday when it was linked to here on Livejournal, and in the interests of full disclosure the author has been an online associate of mine for quite some time, but I hope when you come to read it you will see why I was instantly taken with it and why I think it more than deserves a bit of buzz.

In her notes the author describes having written this as a stocking filler; "filler" is the last thing that this story is. Neatly bridging the gap between the end of The Angels Take Manhattan and the Doctor's introduction in The Snowmen, it considers some of the issues raised by the conclusion of the first story while providing creative answers to some of the unanswered questions in the latter, particularly one glossed-over but potentially very important point that I won't specify in the interests of non-spoileriness. I especially like the way the fic addresses Eleven's self-proclaimed and, in some ways, somewhat out-of-character "retirement" and makes it seem far more plausible to me than the actual televised story did. The main thing I loved about this story, though, is the original companion it has Eleven taking on in the gap between the two TV stories. I know original companions aren't everybody's cup of tea, and not always easy to do well, but in this instance the concept is so pleasingly off-the-wall and done so well that I found myself wishing Mr Moffat would do something similar next time around (although I can see the practicalities that  might make such a character difficult or impossible to realise on screen). And at the risk of sounding pretentious, the thread of scientific/philosophical discussion running through the fic from start to finish strikes me not only as very Doctorly but also as having something interesting to say about the Doctor himself and his universe.

As anybody who has been watching this comm for a while will know, [livejournal.com profile] clocketpatch is no stranger to being recced here, but there is a reason for that. On top of all of the points above, she consistently tries to do interesting things with her prose; not just great descriptive writing and spot-on in-character dialogue, but using words and unusual turns of phrase to try and create a certain feeling and effect. By the nature of such things, it isn't going to work 100 percent of the time, but when it does... Anyway, all I can say is go and read this if you haven't already and, I hope, leave some words of encouragement for the author.


A Taste )
[identity profile] daystarsearcher.livejournal.com
Story: Before the Moon Falls
Author: Clocketpatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 2750
Author's Summary: This is the story of Ruby-and-White, daughter of the Qetesh.
Characters/Pairings: Ruby White, other Qetesh (original characters)
Warnings: None

Recced because: Clocketpatch is fabulous at constructing literally whole worlds of backstory, which is why when I won a story from her in a charity auction, I asked for one of the background of a minor character from The Sarah Jane Adventures. She chose Ruby White, and created this brilliance, which…you know, I’m just going to plagiarize from my own review:
“There's so much detail, and so well thought-out--everything fits together and weaves together into this amazingly beautiful world and history. You give us these little sketches and peeks at facets of the culture--I especially love what you've done with the color names, since I have such a thing for narratively/symbolically significant names. And I love the lesson/legend structure of the story as a whole, and the little ways in which the original characters are subtly differentiated from each other…[I love] the quotes scattered throughout…I especially love the ending quotes; they just tie up the whole story and sum up who Ruby and her existential crisis all at the same time.”
Also, while Ruby has only appeared in SJA, this fic does not occur in the time or place of her episode, and makes few references to it. If you are familiar with SJA canon, you’ll have fun filling in the blank spots in the background of a fascinating villain, and if you’re not, you’ll still marvel at the inventiveness and originality without feeling like you’re missing key information.


“excerpt” )
[identity profile] jjpor.livejournal.com

Well, that week went quickly, didn't it? It's been a lot of fun, and I hope people have enjoyed the recs I've posted so far. Just one more to go...

Story:
Nothing gold can stay
Author:
[livejournal.com profile] clocketpatch 
Rating: All ages
Word Count: 16,535
Author's Summary: In which Romana saves the Doctor's butt, the universe, and some newt people.
Characters/Pairings: The Doctor (4th)/Romana II, K9
Warnings: Although there's nothing explicit, the story does involve possession and the Doctor acting very strangely; it hints at some pretty dark stuff, including violence, but without going into the details

Recced because: Here's another story that I've been meaning to rec either on Calufrax or elsewhere for at least three years now, but somehow never got around to it, because I'm bad like that. I have put in a good word for it here and there, though, in LJ conversations and elsewhere as and when the opportunity arose, because I really do think as many people as possible should read this one, and hopefully enjoy it as much as I have. I'll be honest, [livejournal.com profile] clocketpatch has become a pretty firm internet acquaintance of mine over the past couple of years, but I'm not exaggerating or gilding the lily even a little bit when I say she's one of the best writers I've come across online and that I wish her busy real life gave her more time to write, because the world needs more writing of this quality.

Very nice prose stylings, interesting use of words and vivid descriptive passages are the things I most associate with [livejournal.com profile] clocketpatch's writing, and this story is no exception. Another thing which endears it to me is the fact that it's about Four, Romana and K9, with more than a hint of Four/Romana about it; I can't get enough of that sort of stuff, as anybody who has had any fanfic-related dealings with me probably knows. Here, though, what is often thought of as a quite light, fluffy Team TARDIS find themselves involved in some quite grim, dark stuff indeed. I don't want to give more away than I did in the warnings section above, but it's interesting to see these characters in that sort of setting, and strangely it's extremely effective. Another thing this author does very well is to ground her stories very much in the often harsh reality of life, but without going overboard with grimness for grimness's sake. It's a fine line to tread, but she does it very well.

It's not all darkness, though - the portrayal of Four and Romana and their unique star-crossed relationship, and the whimsy of it, is very nice indeed. It makes me smile, and kind of "get something in my eye" at points, especially in the epilogue which provides a perfectly bittersweet ending to the whole tale. Another thing well worth mentioning is the world-building in this story; the author's aliens are very alien while remaining understandable to the reader, a hard thing to achieve.

Lastly, I cannot overstate the big impression this story made on me the first time I read it and how it consciously or unconsciously influenced my own later fic about Four and Romana and indeed the way I see their characters nowadays. Go and read it!

Four Reflects )



And it occurs to me, somewhat shockingly, that I've managed to go a whole week without reccing any Seven fics... I suppose I'll just have to do better next time. :)
 


[identity profile] allonymity.livejournal.com
Story: Flying, Not Falling
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All ages
Word Count: 1650
Author's Summary: Death, life, and what comes after, "You’re not falling, Astrid, you’re flying”
Characters/Pairings: Astrid Peth
Warnings:. none

Recced because: This is a beautifully written piece that explores what happened to Astrid after the Voyage of the Damned. Small details of Astrid’s past help fill in her background nicely, and the author interweaves the story seamlessly with the text of Edgar Allen Poe’s El Dorado, creating a dreamlike golden journey.
[identity profile] librarylover82.livejournal.com
Hi, I'm LibraryLover82 (Library_Lover on Teaspoon), and I'll be your reccer this week.  I read a little bit of everything, and even though I like Torchwood and SJA, this week will be all about Doctor Who.  I've tried to do a good mix of story length, era, and characters, so hopefully you will find something you enjoy.

Story: Somnambulists

Author: ClocketPatch

Rating: All ages

Word Count: 15,271

Author's Summary: "We live to survive our paradoxes" - The Tragically Hip

Characters/Pairings: Academy Era Doctor

Warnings: None


Recced because:

It almost wouldn't be a week on Calufrax without a story from ClocketPatch, so I'm starting there!  This is one of those stories that makes you ask, “How has this never been recced here before?”  I really like glimpses into the Doctor's distant past.  This story doesn't just give you a glimpse; it invents it.  Words like timey wimey, ambitious, breathtaking, and amazing don't do it full justice.  I don't know how CP kept her story lines straight long enough to write this, but I'm so glad that she did.

eve11: (dw_lost_in_translation)
[personal profile] eve11
Hi again, I'm [livejournal.com profile] eve11 and I'm your recc-er for this week. I've got a great list of stories to rec this week and I am so excited to share some of my favorites! I've got some fantastic adventure stories lined up with a variety of different doctors, along with a few other genres. So, to start off:

Story: Syntax of Things
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 42952
Author's Summary: Seven, Ace and Hex go for a holiday in the jungle. Of course, these things never turn out quite as planned.
Characters/Pairings: Seven, Ace and Hex
Warnings: Mild swearing

Recced because: I love stories where the place becomes almost a character in itself. In this story, ClocketPatch brings the jungle to life, and populates it with a set of original characters who could carry the story on their own. And on top of that, the Doctor, Ace and Hex are in perfect character. The Doctor is enigmatic yet empathetic, and Ace and Hex engage in the usual teasing banter, though you can also see the seed of something more, especially as the plot unfolds. It's a timey-wimey mystery, with action and cliff-hangers, original characters and a new twist on some old villains, that unfolds just like a brand new Big Finish adventure. Go, read it!

An excerpt )
thisbluespirit: (smallbrain)
[personal profile] thisbluespirit
Story: Lux Lucis Quod Sanus
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 2318
Author's Summary:Free will is only an illusion of the light, and nothing really exists in the dark, so what is he doing wrong? The Doctor and the Master have very different ways of seeing the world.
Characters/Pairings: First Doctor, Second Doctor, Tenth Doctor, Simm Master, Other Master
Warnings: None.

Recced because: This story is the sort of thing that fan fic exists for. ClocketPatch takes the Master and Doctor’s choice of screwdrivers (laser as opposed to sonic) and out of what was empty one-upmanship on the TV spins a beautifully written exploration of the two, their history and their fundamental differences. It's the kind of fic that makes you look at something you thought you knew and presents it in an entirely new light. (And did I say beautifully, beautifully written? Because it is.) I omitted this one last time because I assumed the next person along would be sure to rec it. I was wrong: I make good my mistake here. One to read, and read again.
[identity profile] ionlylurkhere.livejournal.com
Story: "Because I can do anything"
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All Ages
Word count: 503
Author's Summary: Set at the end of Armageddon Factor. The Doctor holds in his hand the Key to Time. Will he use it?
Characters/Pairings: Four, Romana I
Warnings: none

Recced because: This is a sublimely clever fic that ties old and new school canon together beautifully in a remarkably short span. With the simple but brilliant idea that holding the Key to Time, once assembled, gives the Doctor the ability to see the future (or possible futures, as there are hints at the various branches of non-telly canon), making his choice about whether to use the Key's power much more poignant in a way that resonates wonderfully with Romana's future (her departure in particular) and key new school moments like the confrontation with the Emperor in Parting and the Skasis Paradigm scene in School Reunion. A fantastic achievement.
ext_6531: (SJA: Lis and David)
[identity profile] lizbee.livejournal.com
Apologies for the lack of rec yesterday; I had RL shenanigans to organise.  (Tip: arranging a secret interstate trip to surprise a friend?  Hilarious.  I totally recommend it.)  Now, back to your regularly scheduled Romana fic.

Story: Walk Through the Dust
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 1000
Author's Summary: Romana learned some hard lessons in E-space.
Characters/Pairings: Romana II

Recced because: This is a curious story; I almost didn't rec it because of the non-standard line-breaks, but then I realised they contributed to the power of the story.  This is a dark character study, concentrating on Romana's time in E-space and its consequences.  It's not the story fandom usually tells, or wants to hear, but I've read it three times, and I think I love it.
[identity profile] solarflar3.livejournal.com

Story: The Doctor's Hand
Author: ClocketPlatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 365
Author's Summary: 100% real blooper inspired. This story tracks the sexual exploits of The Doctor's Hand. Nothing graphic I promise. Jack/Hand, Hand/ well, you'll see.
Characters/Pairings: Jack/Severed Hand
Warnings: None

Recced because:  We all need crack! from time to time.  Occasionally we need downright silly and bizarre crack! too.  This fic is for those times.  There is a sort of follow up: The Doctor's Leg which is just as funny and a little surreal too.  I challenge anyone to read these two fics and not howl with laughter the whole way through.  Perfectly silly and just what you need at the end of a bad day!
[identity profile] garpu.livejournal.com
Story:  Somnambulists
Author:  ClocketPatch
Rating:  All Ages
Word Count: 15259
Author's Summary:  "We live to survive our paradoxes."--The Tragically Hip
Characters: The Doctor
Warnings: None

This fic is delightfully trippy, but if you hang with it, you'll be rewarded.  It takes what the Cartmel Masterplan intended and combines it with the New Who mythos surrounding the Doctor.  ClocketPatch captures just how alien the Academy and Time Lords are.

Snippet of the first chapter behind the cut. )
stellastars: (Starlight)
[personal profile] stellastars
My final rec for the week... I hope that you've enjoyed some of the stories I selected. It's been a pleasure sharing my favorites here!

Story: Home
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 8893
Author's Summary: "Home is where the heart is, though sometimes we're too busy trying to run away to recognise it."
Characters/Pairings: The Doctor (3rd), The Doctor (9th), Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Harry Sullivan, Jo Grant, Mike Yates, John Benton, UNIT
Warnings: Angst, Dark Themes, Swearing

Recced because: This fic features the intriguing combination of Three and Nine and there are four reasons why it is a standout for me: 1) the vividness of the imagery, particularly in the opening scenes; 2) the brilliant dialogue, which captures not only what these characters would say, but the exact manner in which they would say it; 3) the connections to tiny details from both New and Classic Who; and, 4) the intensity of story, dark, with raw emotion and such anguish. This story hurts, but it is so very worth the read.
[identity profile] elyssadc.livejournal.com
Story: Fall Into the Sky
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 1979
Author's Summary: Darkness falls around Barbara, dawn rises, rain caresses the turf, and she thinks of the man who had seen all the wonders of the cosmos and then whispered in her ear that she, a drab middle-aged history teacher, was the most brilliant star in the sky.
Characters/Pairings: Barbara Wright/Ian Chesterton
Warnings: Character Death

Recced because: This is one of the most beautifully poetic stories I've read in this fandom. It also manages to be both incredibly sad and incredibly uplifting at the same time. Not an easy feat. It's a character study of Barbara, and what became of her and Ian after leaving the Doctor.

a small taste... )
[identity profile] fantasyjax.livejournal.com
Story: Nothing Ordinary
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All ages
Word Count: 802
Author's Summary: "Ace, I'm getting too old for this sort of thing. He's all yours from now on... I'm going home to Doris." - The Brigadier, in "Battlefield"
Characters/Pairings: Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
Warnings: Character death. And how.

Recced because: This one is more than a swan-song for a character; it is a love song. Pure poetry, and hurts something fierce. The Brig is not really an easy character to write for, perhaps since he's essentially a simple character; ClocketPatch succeeds through that very simplicity, with a story that's perfect just because it's so unbearably simple.
[identity profile] biichan.livejournal.com
Story: Valerie for forgetfulness
Author: ClocketPatch
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 707
Author's summary: her students said she was magical
Characters/Pairings: Ms Frizzle
Warnings: crossover with The Magic Schoolbus books

Recced because: Once in a while, if you're really lucky, you'll happen upon a crossover fic that just fits. Completely. And it may not be something you expect to fit this way—it might not be something you'd ever even thought could have anything to do with Doctor Who—but once you've read it, it's hard to picture things any other way. This is one of those fics.

What you need to know is that The Magic Schoolbus was a series of awesome picture books first written in the eighties to teach kids about science, which were later turned into a cartoon show in the nineties. They starred Ms Frizzle, a wacky primary school teacher who'd take her students on field trips through volcanoes or under water or inside the human body. And in this fic by ClocketPatch, she's definitely more than she seems:

There were so many mysteries in her life. She knew that for other people, normal people, carpet bags were never bigger inside than out, dress and earring ensembles didn’t change pattern to suit their wearer’s mood, and, of this she was certain, school buses could never change shape, or fly, or travel through time.

reccity-rec-rec

[community profile] calufrax is sleeping in your mind. One day, it may be brought back in front of your eyes.

April 2018

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