chomiji | Yuletide 2009 Recs

Recommendations for: Black Lagoon, Earthsea - Le Guin (2), Magids Series - Jones, Master Li and Number Ten Ox - Hughart, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Spirited Away) (2), Wild Adapter, American Gods - Gaiman, Antique Bakery, Susan Cooper - Dark Is Rising series, FAKE (manga), Gentlemen of the Road - Chabon (2), and Gouhou Drug (Legal Drug).

Speak, Mirror (Black Lagoon)
This reads exactly like a missing episode from the series. We're plunged right into a maelstrom of memories and action as Revy chases a bit of her history straight into a Hotel Moscow operation. All of the main cast is here, at least briefly. And those of you who know who my favorite Black Lagoon character is can easily guess what I love about the ending.
Other Dances (Earthsea - Le Guin)
Even the dragon's daughter grows up, and her adoptive mother feels what any mother feels at such a time. I love Tenar's viewpoint in this - it rings so true with my own experience as a daughter's mother.
The Heart to Earth Returning (Earthsea - Le Guin)
A strange, dreamy story about healing and unrequited longing. It's not really written in LeGuin's style, and yet it mirrors the feeling of the"Iffish" chapter in the first book beautifully.
Or You Will Teach Him All Your Art of War (Magids Series - Jones)
A plotty story that drew me in even thought I didn't want to like it: it has a couple of original characters who are introduced in a way that had me very worried about where this was going, and as the tag says, it's full of adolescent flailing. But so was The Merlin Conspiracy, and this is very true to that. By a third of the way through it, I was completely caught up in the story and raced through to get to the end as though it were an actual bit of DWJ.
The Huli Jing (Master Li and Number Ten Ox - Hughart)
This has the feel of the original works, and could easily be a side-adventure on the way to the heart of one of Hughart's convoluted plots.
Becoming (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Spirited Away))
Haku changes and changes, again and again. This story goes from the mythic to the mundane, and each bit has its own brand of wonder,
The River To The Sea (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Spirited Away))
Sad and beautiful, and in its ending, oddly reminiscent of Diana Wynne Jones' Dogsbody - which is a good thing.
Keeping Warm (Wild Adapter)
A deliciously fluffy hurt-comfort story about an obstinately unfluffy couple. (I think Dr. Kou gets the short end of the stick here, but then, this is Tokito's POV.)
Do Zla Boga (American Gods - Gaiman)
How the Zoryas and Czernobog came to America: goes from the mythic to the grittily realistic in one horrifyingly effectively rush.
The Growing Up of Ono (Antique Bakery)
Ono faces a significant birthday with angst and melodrama, but his colleagues at the "Antique" know what he really needs. Warm and fluffy and a little bit sexy.
Thou Fond Deceiver (Susan Cooper - Dark Is Rising series)
At Will's family home for Christmas and New Year's, Bran starts to remember - and discovers other important truths as well. The recounting of the mundane wonders of the season have the feel of the original The Dark Is Rising.
Things Moving and Known (FAKE (manga))
Near-future-fic, with Ryo moving into Dee's expanded apartment. At a time when everything is out of place and disorderly, Ryo knows one true thing that stays the same. Warmth in the ordinary, warmth in sensuality.
On Friends, Partners and Other Unattractive Beasts (Gentlemen of the Road - Chabon)
When Amram gets himself in deep trouble, he's rescued by a scarecrow from the West. This story describes the early days of their partnership, and underneath the banter and insults, something more is steadily growing. (This one was my request.)
On the Initial Conditions of a Partnership (Gentlemen of the Road - Chabon)
And if the initial meeting in the story described above doesn't take your fancy, here's another one! This one is shorter, less rich in detail but well paced, and quite enjoyable.
The Momiji File (Gouhou Drug (Legal Drug))
After Kazahaya and Rikuou's sojourn at the strange school, Kazahaya realizes something he hadn't previously noticed about Saiga and Kakei. As the boys carry out their next mission, Kazahaya talks through his growing awareness of this aspect of being human, and sometimes Rikuou answers. Usually I find the younger pair rather annoying, but they work well for me here.