The Reading Room -- Fic: All The Queen's Men

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Review of All The Queen's Men, which is available on The Circuit with fabulous art by Suzan Lovett. I have this zine and it's just a delight. I've also met the author, who is touched and thrilled that people still read her novel.

http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/13/allthe.html

Originally published by CornHusker Press in 1998, written by Victoria Racklyft. The zine is 115 pages.

I do see that Agent With Style offers the zine. I haven't seen the reprint to know the quality. One can only hope that the art is well reproduced since I really like it. The description is a bit off. This is not an AU. It is a CI5 story set in London in the lads' time. It is a supernatural story, but that doesn't make it an AU to me. It makes it a supernatural story. *g*

I also don't quite agree with the description on The Hatstand. It is definitely a B/D story. While Cowley has a fair amount of page time, Bodie and Doyle are the main focus. At least to me.

I have a special affinity for supernatural stories and this one works for me. I like the original female character in this story, and I like the way the author tells this tale. It's a true case story, with an investigation. Steps are followed; agents are assigned duties; a villain is sought. That's why I think this would make a great Professionals movie. *g* It has everything: mystery, intrigue, love, hate, death, and rebirth.

The story opens with strange happenings that are afoot in London. Right off, we know something that might be considered unusual is going on. Cowley's taken his top agents into the city to see the body of one of their own, Stuart (the agent from Blackout).

"Jesus Christ!" Both men stared, dumfounded for a minute. Finally, Bodie ventured a remark. "Saw a man mauled by a starving lion once, in Africa. Looked a bit like this. Only more bloody. With injuries like that, where's all the blood, then?"

We're told immediately that the method of Stuart's murder is out of the ordinary. Not only his murder, but the murder of three of MI6's agents:

"Hardly." Cowley sighed. "The other MI6 victims looked exactly like this; throats torn out, nearly decapitated, virtually bloodless. No gunshot or knife wounds; no sign of poison or drugs in their systems. All these men were experienced, skilled in hand to hand combat and well armed. Not one even drew his weapon."

Then we're told this interesting information about who's in charge of the investigation:

"I am. Directly answerable to the Minister 24 hours a day until this is resolved. You are my hopefully able assistants, but I am the primary investigator. It is my responsibility to see the case solved, and to work unstintingly with the person being asked to inquire directly. Any further questions, 4.5?"

There's an odd visit to the Queen Mother herself and an assignment to escort a visitor from France to the Tower of London in the dead of night. The lady is beautiful, very regal yet quite unsettling to Doyle. Bodie seems to like her, and Cowley treats her with the utmost deference. Doyle can't quite figure out why he's so unsettled, until he realises that it's "simple fear".

Doyle then muses over how he feels and then the case. The big surprise is when Madame comments about his thoughts. Doyle is confused enough to believe he must have spoken outloud without realising it.

I like how we're given glimpses of Madame Genet through Doyle, we're finding out she's very different from other people. Doyle is clearly uncomfortable with what's happening and he's also irritated at Bodie for being so accepting of her and the entire idea that the deaths have been caused by a supernatural force. They toss out ideas about who's doing the killing, but he's not pleased when Cowley puts forth his own adamant words:

Cowley shook his head. "I hate to bring it up in the light of day, but you might as well hear this directly from me now. Normally I'd agree with you, Bodie, (note: Bodie had just suggested the murders were an inside job because of certain facts regarding the deaths) but how did Madame Genet know what Doyle was thinking last night? How did she tell me without words what I must do this morning? You're not stupid; you must know she has been brought over to help in this case because... because of what she is. She is what the other one is. You know that."

I think the scene in the morgue is good. Doyle is shocked at what Cowley's going to do, and when he actually does it, Doyle can't believe it. And Bodie helping Cowley with the next two victims is too much to grasp. The last body belongs to Stuart. Not a real mate, but still... Doyle does it, unwillingly but he knows it must be done. Even as he sees what's happening, he still can't believe it.

Doyle faints after staking Stuart. Is it unmanly? The situation is very tense. The staked bodies did not go quietly. All have all screamed while they were dispatched. Stuart actually looks at Doyle as he's staked and thanks him. I say it's all right for Doyle to faint. Besides, it gives Bodie a good reason to hold him. *g*

The investigation starts. I like the idea that at night Madame is the one who leads the three men on her quest to figure out who is killing the men. She asks for horses and the boys and Cowley ride with her to survey the scenes of the murders.

Doyle observes her as she immerses herself in the crime scenes. I like how he has now accepted what she is:

Once they reached the vacant flat where Leeds had watched and waited, her concentration intensified further. She wandered from wall to wall touching blankly at times, as if blind. But her eyes were unclosed and blazed into absorbed interest at unseen details. Doyle shuddered; there was something about her every move now that said, 'Not human.' Had he any true doubts left, they would have gone.

We are treated to descriptions of London that I really enjoy. It gives a nice flavour to the story. It doesn't take long for Madame to know the vampire who is doing the killing is a female. Now that Madame has this vampire's scent, she has the ability to call to her.

Also, the more time Cowley spends with Madame in private, the more he goes from clearly tired and uncomfortable with his leg to spry and fit. The hours in the saddle haven't affected him one wit, whereas Doyle and Bodie are both sore and tired. They become more worn as the hours and days stretch on, with little sleep and snatched meals, but Cowley becomes more animated and healthier.

As the investigation progresses, names are matched and it turns out that the deadly young vampire on a path of revenge is Bodie's former (and supposedly dead) lover, Marikka Schuman. In usual Bodie manner, he retreats behind a wall of stoney silence. Doyle aches for his pain:

His partner (Doyle) ached for him, as he'd never thought possible. If Bodie had broken down and cried, Ray didn't think it could be that much worse. He longed with every fibre of his being to go to him, to throw a casual arm across his shoulder, to try to elicit a smile, however small. He dared not with so many eyes upon them. But when they were alone...

I like how Cowley is drawn to Madame His energy rises when he's in her company and she comes to him in his office after finding that HQ has been the sight of another of the rogue vampire's assaults:

Her words took his breath away, as did her closeness. It was dizzying, looking up at her as she hovered nearer and nearer. His head fell back, exposing his neck in wordless consent.

Instead, she lowered her lips to his. He could barely remember when he'd last kissed a woman; it thrilled him too much to even let him think.

And Doyle sees the exchange. Interesting concept, having the lads know about Cowley instead of the other way around. There are secrets revealed along the way, and a plan is made by Madame Genet and Doyle to capture Marikka. Since Bodie is so well guarded, the only avenue left is for Doyle to agree to be the bait. Her kidnapping him will bring Bodie to her via Doyle. Then she will have the revenge that she seeks.

The tables are turned by Marikka and Cowley is taken instead. Doyle has been exhibiting some sort of psychic abilities, and at first he was connected to Madame. Now he's also connected to Cowley. He has feelings, flashes of where Cowley is being kept, and Madame is taken to the underground tunnels to rescue her beloved and to dispose of Marikka. Her coffin is taken to the tunnels and is opened, he looks down at her. After admiring her stunning beauty, he realises that even more important is her trust in him:

There was no time to ponder those nuances of her personality. He had not sensed her presence during the trip over, and assumed she must have slept again. Nothing indicated awareness on her part. It hit him with a start how vulnerable her position was, how deeply she had to trust him to expose herself like this. His own mistrust, that he had never completely discarded, felt like a tawdry, petty thing by comparison. He knelt. With great care, he lifted one of her cold hands and kissed it.

I think how the writer conveyed the pain the lads feel when it's discovered that Cowley hasn't made it; that Marikka has killed him, and has again evaded their pursuit. Madame orders them to take him back to her rooms in The Tower.

They used the same coffin from the van that had earlier transported Madame to Victoria Station. Doyle took the wheel in silence and began the long drive across town. There seemed little enough to say. Both men were exhausted, emotionally drained, half starved. The normal traffic of the great city, the ebb and flow of life around them seemed surreal, distant. Life was forever changed. George Cowley was no longer there to lead them, to use them, to protect them, to scold them, to teach them. They were orphans.

Marikka finds Bodie and Doyle, and threatens to kill Doyle unless Bodie gives her what she really wants: Willis. Bodie agrees and sets up a way to get Willis to him. At a safehouse, Bodie is shocked at who opens the door:

The front door swung open again. Bodie tensed, expecting the entire CI5 team to come blazing in, weapons ready, to assault the basement. Instead, Willis himself stood in the doorway, upset, angry, obviously reluctant.

Behind him stood a ghastly pale George Cowley.

I like Cowley even more now. He's very cool as a vampire. Suspicious, when Marikka questions why he's willing to hand over Willis now when he wasn't willing earlier in the day, his response is amusing:

"That was before you changed me," he explained with a smile. "Now everything is a bit... different. I was looking at the weary end of a mortal life, filled with pain and loneliness. Honour was everything. Of course, I would not betray my mission, my very purpose in life, merely to save my own hide."

"But now?" she prompted.

"Now, I see a very long and, dare I say it, glorious future as Controller of the entire British Intelligence network. MI5, MI6, CI5, all of it. They'll give it all to me gladly after this, you know. And who needs this useless fool then?"

"Yet you want Doyle?" She queried. "Why?"

Cowley's icy eyes took on a bit of heat as he looked over to his scruffy agent. "Because I love the lad, smart mouthed trouble-maker that he is. And I don't give a good goddamn for Willis here. The choice is a simple one. You'll have to leave at once, of course. East Germany can have you with my blessings."

Of course, there's lots more to come. Plenty of nice sex scenes that are gentle to counteract the violence and death surrounding the lads. Even Cowley finds true love and gets knighted, which really tickled me. I love the idea of him going off with Madame for a very long life.

Thanks for reading my review.

Comments

[scherwood]

Thanks for a great review! *hugs*

I really love this text.

I only have two minor things which poke me in the eyes everytime I read this text: the first one is Doyle. I don't quite like the Doyle in this text. I don't really know why, but there is something. And the second is that Cowley is part of this text too much.

Other than that I love it, and it's a joy to read!
I too like supernatural fics. *eyebrow wiggle*

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

"Cowley is part of this text too much", oh, I enjoyed seeing more of Cowley and for him actually to have a love interest. He usually has quite a large role in the episodes, after all. It made a pleasant change, and I really like the way Cowley was portrayed here.

[scherwood]

I really like the way Cowley was portrayed here.

Me too, nothing against that... not at all. :)

It's just me and my preference again... :P

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I do like him as well, and as I mentioned, I like that he found love and that he went off with Madame. I thought it was pretty spiffy. *g*

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Thank you for taking part and for reading the story.

I admit, I didn't have a problem with Doyle or Cowley in this story. I actually liked Cowley here more than I usually do. *g*

[scherwood]

Dunno what it is with Doyle, but I usually never can voice why something is bothering me in a fic anyway, so I won't even try. *g*

Yeah - I like how he's written... it's just me and my preference again.. :P

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Like S. said - thanks for the great review!

"This is not an AU." I'm glad you raised that, 'cos I was wondering. I decided it must be AU because vampires don't exist in the CI5 universe (or in the real world, in case no one had noticed *vbg*). But I totally agree that in every other respect it is a good case story.

so how should AU be defined?

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Thanks for stopping in. *g*

For me, an AU needs to be out of the normal setting. The lads are in their own time, in their own city, working a case. Having a supernatural element doesn't make that an AU for me. If they'd been in say Victorian England, then it's an AU. Think Professional Dreamer or Cornish Ghosts for two different examples of same time, different lives, and totally different time and lives. Or if Bodie was a racing driver like he wants to imagine. *g* It's no different than if they'd done an actual episode involving a supernatural element. And considering some of their women, they had vampires sometimes. LOL!

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

(hovering anxiously, more like *g*)

But what about the lads in contemporary London, was it "Gravity's Angel" where Bodie was CI5 but not Doyle? Isn't AU any setting which doesn't have both Bodie and Doyle as CI5 agents based in late 1970s London?

On that definition, "All the King's Men" would not be AU. But a London with vampires and the royal family communing with long dead queens is not the real 1970s London but an alternative London.

"It's no different than if they'd done an actual episode involving a supernatural element." But if it had been an episode (and how I wish they had!, esp. with Doyle fainting and being comforted so lovingly *g*)), the supernatural element would have to have been proved to be a fake at the end (a la Sherlock Holmes!). In "All the Queen's Men", in contrast, the reader has to accept the supernatural as really existing.

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

[The comment I prepared earlier *g*]
Since my historical specialism is Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and their sons, I was thrilled to find them crossed-over with Pros!

I loved the mother and father and sons thing, because Cowley feeling paternal towards Bodie (and respectful, but less warm, towards Doyle) is exactly how I see canon. Not sure which of her sons Eleanor thought Bodie and Doyle were, but I would like to think of them as Richard the Lionheart and Geoffrey of Brittany. Probably my favourite ‘Plantagenet’ bit was Eleanor admiring the southern name Raymond (wibble). btw, Henry and Eleanor’s firstborn and probably most loved son, who died in childhood and was buried (unusually) in England, was named William.
Their ride through London made me think of this painting.
(http://pics.livejournal.com/jaycat92/pic/000dpd7g/)
The crowned lady in the middle is supposed to be Eleanor of Aquitaine. Now I can see it as Cowley/Henry in front, Eleanor (and Susan?), and William and Raymond bringing up the rear.

Plantagenets aside, this was a hugely enjoyable gothic tale. The plot in summary sounds completely barmy, but the writing was good enough to keep me engrossed all the way through. Halfway through reading the fic last night, having gone upstairs for something, I was on the landing when all the lights suddenly went out – and I jumped out of my skin! (the OH had inadvertently switched off the light from downstairs).

Nicely erotic, too, in both human and supernatural ways. The intensity of Bodie and Doyle’s experiences in the case flowed seamlessly into the sex scenes.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Thanks for such great information! I admit, I googled the historical figures mentioned when I read the story the first time. I think it's such a cool idea working that into the story. It gives the story a great flavour, which I loved.

I really like the painting you posted. And the idea that you could buy into the story knowing so much about the historical events makes me feel even better about how much I enjoy this fic. *g*

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, did I say how much I really enjoyed the fic? Thanks so much for reccing it!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful and impressing painting!
I would love to read such a Plantagenets/Pros story... So... :-)

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for your ambitious and accurate rec!

But it only could confirm the impression I had of the fic. (Sorry! I've stopped quite quickly!)
Vampires, all that supernatural stuff, is something I won't follow, and something I can't see in any context with Bodie and Doyle and Cowley. Probably because it means death, lost of humanity, lost of your own will, a shadowy existence...
*shivers*

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Thanks for even thinking about reading. It's not the sort of theme that everybody enjoys. But as you know, there's plenty of other stories to read that you like.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I usually avoid things of the supernatural but your interesting review has made me have a rethink so I might well give this story a go. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I usually avoid things of the supernatural

Just remembered.....Part of Helen Raven's Tailor Made Sequence was supernaturally and I quite liked it.

[krisserci5.livejournal.com]

Your review has me wanting to read it now. I have the zine for the art work. It sounds better than I had heard.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Hi, Kris! I'd love for you to give it a try and let me know what you think, if you have the time.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I adored the story - and liked the prominence (and romance) given to Cowley! I thought the beginning was brilliant, and I loved the way the author managed to use canon (and fanon) facts to flesh out and make real a tale that was really 'over the top' in terms of the supernatural, vampires, violence, etc. And slash too!! Very clever writing. I also thought she had all the major characters 'right', including Eleanor, from what I've read of her.

(For those who shy away from the supernatural, do they also dislike e.g. Cornish Ghosts?)

Anyway, do you sense a 'but'? After the first few paragraphs my virtual editor's red pen came out and drove me nearly insane.(I have pages of notes if anyone's interested). There are so many minor errors - Americanisms, incorrect vocabulary usage, inconsistencies - all trivial and not detracting from the overall plot but horribly irritating. She really needs a good beta or a good editor - worthwhile to make a good story truly good and 'professional'.

Thanks for the rec - a fascinating one that I might not otherwise have come across.

On the subject of AUs - I always thought they had to be out of their own time/place/job but I suspect the definition varies from fandom to fandom. I recently read a long fic (in Harry Potter)that claimed to be an AU because the series ending varied from canon... If that's the definition I'd have thought all slash other than Torchwood or QaF qualified!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"(For those who shy away from the supernatural, do they also dislike e.g. Cornish Ghosts?)"
I love Cornish Ghosts! But not because, more despite the supernatural elements. :-)
It's the same btw with Legacy Of Temptation. I 'overread' such passages.
But here in All The Queen's Men it goes too far for my taste.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Thanks for coming in. *prepares tea* I'm pleased you liked the fic. You know I did as well.

I know there are mistakes and such, but in the past few years, one thing I've learned is that even in my own stories, after several editors and/or betas, there are bound to be mistakes. I've been giving writers a little more latitude if I feel the story holds up for reading.

Most of us aren't professional but I like to think that we all do the best we can. Sure, there are times I get a bit frustrated with a story when the things that I feel could be easily fixed weren't. It happens. As long as the story flows along without major headhopping, which is one of my major irritations, I'm willing to try. Sometimes with great results and sometimes not. What really tossed me out of another story recently was the complete lack of puncutation. Those are basic concepts that should be present in every story, and the most basic rules are available on the net.

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

I adored the story - and liked the prominence (and romance) given to Cowley! … I loved the way the author managed to use canon (and fanon) facts to flesh out and make real a tale that was really 'over the top' in terms of the supernatural, vampires, violence, etc.
…Anyway, do you sense a 'but'?

I agree with you. Maybe I’ll start with the ‘buts’:
- In the very first paragraph, which is otherwise very evocatively written, ‘Simon’ (Stuart) hears Bow bells, which has him thinking about his childhood and churches and incense and chants. Except I don’t see Stuart as a particularly religious character, so why would church bells in the City make him do that? Also ‘bells and smells’ were/are more a Roman Catholic/Anglo-Catholic than mainstream Anglican thing; and St Mary-le-Bow is definitely an Anglican church. He’s in the middle of London at twilight, near St Paul’s, and it’s quiet?
- the ‘Queen Mother’ should be Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, not Queen Mary
- the musty torches in their sconces in the Tower just make me giggle. Way to burn down a heritage building! Oh, well – I don’t think they’re mentioned again.
- “police uniforms” standing about – so where were the policemen?
- epithet use - “the merc” – that isn’t relevant to the story..
- The lads’ voices are a bit off – American slang mixed in with pseudo-Brit.

On the other hand, it’s a great plot, I like her version of Eleanor, and she does do the gothic horror part well. I’ve re-read this a few times and probably will again. The illustrations are gorgeous.

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

That artwork. Dear God, it's astonishing. The minute I saw it, I wanted to read the story. And what an excellent summary and review of it you did.

As for the story...full marks for inventiveness and originality. There were many, many things about the story I liked. The long and complex plot, the action, the original characters, the use of history...lots of good stuff.

Some of the writing is nice.

Shadows lengthened and deepened along the quiet street as the sun set in a leaden sky. He walked more briskly towards the Underground as the chilly darkness seeped around him. It was unusually quiet this twilight hour; though in the distance he could hear the famous bells of St. Mary Le Bow. The oddly comforting sound brought back memories of childhood. Smoke and incense, chants and hymns spoke of an ancient magic. He stopped at the street corner to listen more carefully. There was always a mournful quality to the bells at dusk; he wondered briefly why they still rang at all. He couldn't imagine that many people went to Vespers here.

Some of it is the stomping, storming variety, but mostly it's competent and enjoyable.

My problem was with the characters, which just didn't ring true for me, I'm sorry to say. Maybe it was the Americanisms. When they're so rampant that *I* can't miss them, I figure that's pretty bad. And if they don't sound like themselves, well, that does take a lot away (at least for me). But...it was more the character of the men themselves. From about Chapter Five on, they seemed very UN-Professional. Gone is the tough competency and hard-headed humorous (even blackly humorous) aspect that I need in fic to really feel like I'm getting the lads. And once they decide they have feelings for each other, it just gets...unlikely. And even though the writer takes pains to point out that they're not mushy, sloppy blokes, as they continued to think and speak and act like mushy, sloppy blokes...

Granted, characterization is a subjective thing. Overall, a very original and memorable story.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reading. The art is gorgeous, isn't it. Really wonderful.

I'm glad you were able to enjoy the story for the parts you mentioned.