Yuletide Fic Recs

[the_rck]

These five stories are the ones I found most memorable in my first pass through the Yuletide archive. I was very picky about the fandoms I read. There're a lot that I know that I didn't click on because I was feeling overwhelmed. I also avoided fics that sounded too shippy or that had explicit sex. I just wasn't in the mood.

The Chronicles of Chrestomanci - Diana Wynne Jones/Sneedronningen | The Snow Queen - Hans Christian Andersen
A Snowflake and a Holly Crown
10173 words
G, No archive warnings apply
The Snow Queen kidnaps Cat. Marianne goes after him.

Henry Reed - Keith Robertson
The Glass and Reed Advertising Agency
12365 words
T, Author chose not to use archive warnings
The author has captured the voice of the original perfectly and follows Henry and Midge as they set up a new business venture. The story takes an abrupt left turn in the middle, but the voice remains Henry's even as the unthinkable happens around him.

The People - Zenna Henderson
To everything there is a season…
11619 words
unrated, Author chose not to use archive warnings
This one follows Bethie-Too to college. The story spins off from a throw away line about one of the People having been on the mission that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. There is one historical bobble-- a reference to the Air Force during WWII. Beyond that, the story's strong.

The Pushcart War - Jean Merrill
By Hand
2683 words
G, No archive warnings apply
This is a creepy little story that implies very dark things about the end of the Pushcart War. It won't be for everybody-- It's written in the second person, but it works.

Shoujo Kakumei Utena | Revolutionary Girl Utena
Their Tragedy
2919 words
T, No archive warnings apply
This is an origin story for A-ko, B-ko and C-ko, the Shadow Play Girls. It's creepy and sad and more than a little surreal.