HBO Fan Fiction

[kr1]

Fic Pick of the Week – August 28, 2009

Alright, it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these, much less kept an eye on the Friday updates, but it looks like we’ve got a solid lineup. Eight fics, five of them well-respected regulars, and a newer name or two I recognize but haven’t had the pleasure of reading yet. So, let’s get rolling!

Waiting for the Dawn by 4642 Elitist Bastard

eb’s a newer regular and already got a series completed under his belt. He’s been working on this for a while, too, and it doesn’t disappoint. We’ve got a story about one aging cruiser going to the rescue of a doomed colony here, and this is the calm before the storm. It’s very tense, as it should be, and a great opener. Very character-driven, with an interesting and diverse cast.

The Day Before Tomorrow: Part 8 by Azrael

After a bit of a hiatus, Az returns with the latest installment of his prequel to the Minuteman series. It’s quality stuff, as usual, and like eb’s it’s pretty character driven. We get to see some more of Ron Parson’s past, and how he ended up as a cook at Harvard. Also as usual, I’m a fan of Az’s use of flashbacks.

Nai Gor (chapter two): Painkiller by Chuckles

I’m really ashamed to say I’ve never read any of Chuckle’s work before, especially after reading this chapter. I’m not quite sure what’s going on, but it’s chilling, and it’s got me hooked. Excellent work.

What Once was Ours, chapter 1 by Jake Trommer

After finishing his first series, Jake picks up where he left off with his ‘Admiralty Insurrection’. He’s got an interesting setup here, with lots of potential intrigue, and his usual strength in characterizations.

Babylon HIgh Day 2 by Shurmanator

Shurmanator’s a new face around here, and he’s got something rather unique: a story about a joint human-Elite school. It’s well written and intriguing, and I’m interested in where he goes with this.

shadows in the night by pudding30000010

pudding’s new here, and he’s got a bit of work to do. It’s a script but not formatted like one, full of GPS errors, and a personal pet peeve, has an author’s note at the top. Not a strong start, but if pudding works at it he can improve.

Rogues Chapter One by Henshore1

Henshore’s another newcomer around here, and like pudding, he’s got some work to do. He’s got similar problems with GPS and formatting (block paragraphs are NOT OKAY). Work on your GPS and formatting and it’ll go a long way to improving your work.

We March! by UNSC Trooper

Trooper’s got a short poem here. I don’t usually count poems towards the Pick because they’re hard to compare to longer works, but it’s worth the read.

Now, on to the picks!

For Honorable Mention we’ve got…

The Day Before Tomorrow: Part 8 by Azrael

I’m a big fan of TDBT and Az’s work in general, and want to start out by saying that just because Az got Honorable Mention doesn’t mean this wasn’t a ggood chapter, it just attests to the quality of the other two winners. This is a Ron Parsons-heavy chapter, and I’m fond of the cook-turned-sniper. The last flashback Az gave us was a tense conversation between Ron and his brother, and this here shows us why Ron’s estranged from his family in flashbacks, and at the same time pushes the invasion story forwards.

My only complaint is a minor one, and that’s a bit of a feel-good campy scene that would spoil a bit of the story for the uninitiated. It’s alright, just feels a little out-of-place and a convenient wrapup. Might just be me, though.

And in Second Place we’ve got…

Waiting for the Dawn by 4642 Elitist Bastard

eb’s been putting a lot of work in this, and it shows. It’s a setup for a second part, but it doesn’t suffer because of it. We’ve got a solid cast of characters here, all with interlocking backstory and relationships, and eb teases us and lets us know just enough, but at the same time the focus is as much on the coming rescue mission. Complex characters, complex story, all of it well thought out: what’s not to like?

I only have two minor complaints: it’s not apparent this is a two-parter, and I only know because eb’s been informing me of his progress. The second is a certain name change.

And finally, the Fic Pick of the Week goes to...

Nai Gor (chapter two): Painkiller by Chuckles

Why have I never read Chuckle's stuff? This is chilling, intriguing. I have no clue what the fuck is going on but I still need to keep reading to try to make sense of this. I'm hooked. Nai Gor is a twisted fucker, and I'm getting some ‘The Devil and Tom Walker’ vibes from that dream sequence there, if it even is a dream sequence. I don't know, and that’s part of the fun.

The one small problem with this, though, is that I don't know if things are intentionally being left out, or if I'm missing out on bits because I haven't read the last chapter. Maybe a bit of both, but I've definitely gotta catch up.

And before we head out, folks, this week’s Master Chief and the Wang Monster award goes to... shadows in the night by pudding30000010

for referring to a Japanese man claiming to be related to Jackie Chan. Dude, he’s Chinese, born in Hong Kong. Sarcasm, comment on Max’s intelligence? I dunno, but either way, I lol’d.

Night folks, and thanks for reading!
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[eb4642]

[Chuckles]

Thanks for the pick and kind words, Kr. Congrats to Azrael and eb. I'll be reading and reviewing your stories in the next day or so. I have the week off, so I'll have time.

kr-1426 wrote:

[kr1]

Well I just read the first chapter and it makes a bit more sense. Still enjoying the mystery, though.

And I'm not sure if I mentioned it to all parties, but second and third were a tight race. Had trouble deciding for a while. Anyways, congrats again to everyone!
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[Arthur Wellesley]

Great job, everyone. Excellent week - and nice write up, kr.

I've read the three winners, and have thoroughly enjoyed them all. I'll try to get to some more later.

Congrats.

- Arthur
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Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever. - Napoleon
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