Calufrax

My last recommendation of the week comes a bit late, but partly that is because I was debating which one of several to choose.  I'm an unashamed fan of the Tenth Doctor, but seeing as so many stories about him are recced, I turned my attention to earlier eras in search of great tales.  In fact, I looked in categories that don't get as much traffic, hoping to bring to light some real gems that the average reader might have passed by.  After careful consideration I end my week here on Calufrax right where I began: with another story by the very talented Shinyford.

Title: The War of Jenkins’ Ear (and Other Stories)
Author: Shinyford
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 7147
Author’s Summary: An old enemy encounters the Doctor, and regales him with stories of his life. With liquorice.
Characters: The Kandyman, The Seventh Doctor, Mel
Warnngs: none

Recommended Because the author manages to turn one of the most ridiculous foes of the Classic Era not only into a real villain, but a real character that you will both love and hate.  And he does so with delicious ease.

As with Anagram of the Kaleds, Jenkins’ Ear is a tasty treat from beginning to end, beautifully crafted, technically a joy, and darkly funny.  That would be dark chocolate, to be precise.  To quote a review I saw of this story on another forum, Jenkins' Ear is "a love letter to the unloved."  The author mixes his ingredients with the confidence of a great chef, spices it full of imagery and metaphor without the story—or the antagonist—ever becoming too saccharine.  Not only do we get to see the Kandyman the way he should have been, we get to be properly scared of Vervoids.  Honestly, for a fan of the Classic Era, what could be better?  Shinyford takes a Classic enemy and a Classic Doctor and proceeds to tell a rich story (really a series of stories) that will leave you wanting more.  The narrator is wickedly funny, the Doctor is devilishly well-characterized, and the word play you’d expect is all there.  Old School Who fans will love this story.  New Era fans who haven't quite connected to the original series may find this to be their ticket in. Go ahead.  You know you want it.

They really don’t get much sweeter than this.

Story Number Five this week is another happy mish-mash of old and new Who by a young author who deserves to be recognised.  Just two more to go... and I think I've found just the thing to round out my week.  Thanks for bearing with me.  

Title: Cold Fusion
Author: Samuel Marks
Rating: Teen
Word Count: 6,073
Author’s Summary:  It's the middle of summer, and tourists flock to the quaint seaside town of Ackton-on-the-Water to enjoy the historic sights and sandy beaches. But the perfect day is about to be ruined, as a lone Silurian warrior stalks the apes from the shadows, desperate to feast upon their flesh; and an army of Sea Devils is about to rise up from beneath the waves and declare war on humanity.
Characters: Original Characters, Silurians, and the Eighth Doctor
Warnings: none

“How did you get in?” asked the ape.
“Front door,” said the Doctor…

Recommended because it is a clever, well-paced story that combines Classic Era elements and style with New Era sensibilities.  What’s more, the author is quite young—which makes the whole thing even more impressive.  The Silurians are back and readers are treated to a story from the view point of one of them—and she’s no ordinary Silurian.  Not everything is as it seems, and while there’s a bit of derring-do and the spirit of adventure—and Sea Devils!-- this story also features a goodly amount of humor and a handful of squishy “awwww” moments.   The Eighth Doctor is presented in a fresh (at times unexpected) manner and the dialogue is often witty without trying too hard.  On the whole, a solid, sly, entertaining story full of careful misdirections leading to a handsome payoff.  Here’s a writer we’ll want to keep an eye on.

All right, time to put away the hankies and get ready to laugh—long and loud and hard.   For my third rec (and now I am almost caught up) I chose one that just popped up on Teaspoon and I got to it first!  One of my goals was to present some Classic stories—this one partially fulfills that goal.  When Garron and Unstoffe part company with the Fourth Doctor in The Ribos Operation, they probably never expected to see that blue box again.  Certainly not so soon.  Fans of the Classic Era and the Tenth Doctor alike, get ready to rock and roll.

Story: The Rallax Operation
Author: Al B. Dickerson
Rating: Teen
Word Count:  13,814
Author’s Summary:: After their adventure on Ribos, Garron & Unstoffe thought they'd struck it rich with the Graff's treasure-laden cruiser. But they also thought they'd seen the last of the Doctor.
Characters:  Unstoffe, Garron, The Tenth Doctor, original characters
Warnings: none

Recommended because it combines Classic and New era characters in a BIG imaginative, exciting adventure that just doesn’t stop.  I had originally planned to rec a story by this author that I read some months back, but this one seemed too fun not to share.  Unstoffe is an utterly charming narrator and he weaves a story worthy of Doctor Who.  A wild romp, Rallax is a bit on the long side (dividing it into more chapters might work better for Teaspoon), but engaging and fun, with unexpected, clever twists.  The story works fine for those not well-versed in Classic DW, but for those who appreciate nods to canon, this one is full of Whovian goodness.  Classic Who flavor combined with New Era freshness really make it a treat.  You can tell that the author pulled out all the stops and had a ball with this. The 10th Doctor is a hoot, more than a bit unbalanced after the events of The Waters of Mars, but well characterized.  Some of the dialogue is just hysterical.  Watching The Ribos Operation prior to reading The Rallax Operation would add to enjoyment but is not necessary (and if you don’t know Ribos, you’ll want to watch it after reading this)!  Get a big bowl of popcorn and a tall drink and settle down with this one.  You'll be laughing before you know it.  Encore!  Encore!

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.