The Reading Room - Theme IV - Operation Impossible by Brian Clemens

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

I’m not so sure if there is supposed to be a Reading Room today? Anyway, that’s my last information. And it's nearly Easter, and maybe we have some time to read! :-)

Title: Operation Impossible
Author: Brian Clemens
Link to story or zine/ProsLib info: On the Proslib CD in the 'background' folder
Pairing: none/first meeting


This week we have something special for the Reading Room.
The story is written by Brian Clemens himself, and – yes you can call it the mother of all (first meeting) stories. *g*

You can find the story in the ‘background’ folder on the Proslib CD(thank you cloudless_9193  for the tip!). Otherwise just email me firlefanzine at gmx dot com for a copy, and it’s on the way!

First you get the feeling that the story is more the James Bond approach to our theme.
But that’s not too bad either! Indeed it’s very exciting.
We have a Doyle with wet-suit and harpoon gun, swimming along the walls of the castle, and then into the pipe..., and then there is Bodie, storming the castle with a hang glider, painted in canvas, matt black. ” The man got just one fleeting glimpse of what appeared to be a giant bat flying up over the rim of the wall, and then Bodie's steel-clad boots took him in the chest.”

Hehe! Not bad, eh? :-)

And then of course they meet in the castle and work together.

But there is more to the story, I think!
For example Cowley is very much the way we know him from the show. We learn(once again) that he is a very clever strategist and that he doesn’t hesitate to do what is necessary to rescue Queen and Country. Certainly such actions have made him the man he is, the leader of CI5!

And there are some things we learn about Bodie and Doyle in this story. :-) Doyle knows how to snorkel and scuba, he is at the right time at the right place, Bodie has nightmares, he tries to protect the girl, he does the job because he doesn't want to leave Doyle alone with it, Doyle kills his first man... Yes, there is a lot! :-)

But go and read for yourself, - and find out! It’s not long.

Oh, two more things are remarkable for me.

First the fight between Bodie and Doyle. I think there had never been something like that in the ‘first meeting’ stories I’ve read. Dislike yes! But not really a fist fight. Is that such a ‘macho thing’? Because Brian Clemens is a man? And that’s maybe the way men think how friendship between men should start...? Just a thought.

The second thing makes me very happy. Because Brian Clemens uses the word ‘banter’ for the way Bodie and Doyle behave. So he must like it just the way we do? So he knows how important the relationship is for the show.

What do you think?

Maybe it’s no masterpiece of a fic, but I like it very much. It’s entertaining and just the way their first meeting could have been...

” Cowley's eyes twinkled. "A lot of good marriages began that way."”


***
If that’s not a nice early “Happy Easter”, I don’t now! ;-)

Comments

[cloudless-9193.livejournal.com]

I liked this story a lot and I think it could have been a suitable first episode. Thank you for your review and Happy Easter to you, too. :-D

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's the kind of (clever)action I like. Wouldn't it be great, if they would use it for the new movie?

[cloudless-9193.livejournal.com]

Yes, that would be great. :-) (Although I'm very loyal. I don't know if I would enjoy it with other actors than LC and MS.)

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"Although I'm very loyal."
Me too! Maybe even stubbornly loyal... Sigh!
(Which two actors would look like that in a tux...?)

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

What do you think?

Maybe it’s no masterpiece of a fic, but I like it very much. It’s entertaining and just the way their first meeting could have been...

Hmmmmm, what *did* I think? Mixed thoughts, really. I was pleasantly surprised by this story but at the same time I also felt that BC’s writing wasn’t nearly as good as the many fandom writers who've spoilt me for the past few years. Also, I’d always resisted reading this piece because I’ve never been that impressed by what I’ve seen of the man in interviews and (irrationally, I suppose) I felt that I wasn’t that interested or well disposed towards the thoughts and writings of someone I didn’t like. (Oooh, another discussion? Can we ever completely separate the thoughts/opinions of the writer from what they write? Or something like that...). Apart from being slightly snidey Clements struck me as being fairly humourless, but how wrong can you be?

He suddenly felt ridiculous, the ashtray in one hand, the girl's handbag in the other.

For example Cowley is very much the way we know him from the show.

I agree. His description of Cowley's 'fierce reputation' made me smile.

Bodie took careful aim on the centre of her forehead and then gently squeezed the trigger...

Blimey! Never say die. This scene shocked me a bit - couldn’t she have tried swimming first?

As I read this I found myself thinking how accurate his portrayal of Bodie and Doyle was, then I sat up and thought well they *are* his creation, then I thought again....no, they’re his creation plus the creation of the actors.

Yeah, I quite liked this and I’m grateful you encouraged me to read it, thank you firlefanzine!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"I also felt that BC’s writing wasn’t nearly as good as the many fandom writers "
Yes. I suppose, writing good scripts for a show doesn't mean that the same person is a good fic author. I'm not sure if Brian Clemens ever wanted/claimed to be a good author?

To be true, I've never noticed(consciously) BC in interviews so I was unbiased. I just thought 'why should he be better than some of the good Pros writers?' - so I didn't expected too much.
It's just, that he 'created' Bodie and Doyle, so he must have liked them - and that's why this story could be taken as the official first meeting.
And I'm for ever grateful for creating Bodie and Doyle.
But as you said, even more LC and MS for BEING Bodie and Doyle! :-)

"Can we ever completely separate the thoughts/opinions of the writer from what they write? Or something like that...)."
Yesno! Ahem...
If it's really good yes, but mediocrity has no chance...!

Thank you for reading, although you didn't wanted!!!

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Yes. I suppose, writing good scripts for a show doesn't mean that the same person is a good fic author.

It was actually a script was it? I wasn't sure if BC was just practising at writing something which never went any further than that. I'm also not sure what part he actually played in the creation of The Professionals. He created the characters but did he write many scripts? I'd always thought the episodes were written by lots of different people. But yes, I think you're right, writing good scripts is very different to writing fiction.

I'm not sure if Brian Clemens ever wanted/claimed to be a good author?

I don't know if he did or not (probably not).

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Maybe writing the episodes involves outlining the plot etc and then someone like BC, i.e. the scripwriter, comes in and pads out the plot with dialogue?

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Yeah, would be interesting to get some infos about it! Maybe there are some experts here around?

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it was supposed to be a script, but he has done a lot for Pros. Actually I wanted to add a list - but time...
Just a few: OLD DOG WITH NEW TRICKS - WHERE THE JUNGLE ENDS - KILLER WITH A LONG ARM - THE FEMALE FACTOR - EVEREST WAS ALSO CONQUERED - CLOSE QUARTERS - LOOK AFTER ANNIE....
For KLANSMEN they say: WRITTEN BY Brian Clemens based on a story by Simon Masters
So you see a lot scripts, but not always the story behind it. (The info is from the Proslib CD as well.)

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that. So, 'script' actually means the dialogue?

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

I THINK that it's more than that. It is the whole story I suppose. But more in the way of describing what happens and what is said, without any claiming of a good style. "Just" some instructions for the actors and the crew.

But as I said - we need some experts here! :-)

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

As I wrote somewhere else, when I read the text, long ago, I thought it was a very good script, which only needed to be fleshed up a lot to make a real story of it. But I agree with its take of the characters and really would like to have it as the script chosen for the future film.

I had forgotten the fight; but it's a classic among friendship stories between young males since...Sumer with Gilgamesh and Enkidu, then Roland and Oliver, and many others in ancient epic tales.

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"I thought it was a very good script, which only needed to be fleshed up a lot to make a real story of it."
Yep! It lacks the heart's blood of our writers! :-)

"I had forgotten the fight; but it's a classic among friendship stories between young males since...Sumer with Gilgamesh and Enkidu, then Roland and Oliver, and many others in ancient epic tales."
Again my reference to (99% female) Pros fanfic writers. It seems to be a male fantasie!

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

I think it is quite short, actually, and loads of stuff cramped in it. Could´ve been a bit more detailed.

I do like it that Doyle is sent to pick up Bodie. I like it a lot. In my opinion it does make sense for a new "Agent" to be sent on that kind of errand.
SPOILER:
I love it that Bodie mixes up the girls and that it makes so much sense to Doyle too. *g*

It makes absolutely no sense to me, that two never before tried out agents are sent on that kind of mission. Rescuing 19 VIP hostages...nah.

The way BC describes Cowley, Doyle and Bodie it is clear that he definitely took a look at the actors first.
And it´s kinda funny that such a sketchy story´s supplied with such a detailed (admittedly important) descreption of a nightmare.

There are some good laughs in it, and Doyle fetching Bodie to drag him into CI5 is a great plot, but to be honest, I think the rest is quite farfetched.
Must be the masses of fantastic fanfic writers who spoiled me rotten with wonderful stories.

Thank you for reccing it so nicely, it really made me wanna read it, good job!
Happy Easter!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"It makes absolutely no sense to me, that two never before tried out agents are sent on that kind of mission. Rescuing 19 VIP hostages...nah. "
This didn't disturb me. I think it is quite common among such services to hire people for certain jobs (maybe the 'dirty' ones normally...).
Probably Cowley didn't even thought of the possibility to hire Bodie as a new agent for CI5 permanently before he asked for payment.
Bodie had the right reputation for the job, and Doyle 'was there' and was experienced in diving... Cowley had no options I think.

"And it´s kinda funny that such a sketchy story´s supplied with such a detailed (admittedly important) descreption of a nightmare."
Yeah. That's strange, isn't it? Maybe his intention had been to make 'more of it' later in the show, but wasn't "allowed" to do it?

"I think the rest is quite farfetched."
Pah! Odds and sods for our heroes! ;-)
I like the imagination of Bodie as a big black bat emerging with a "wuschschsch" at the edge of that rooftop... :-)

"Must be the masses of fantastic fanfic writers who spoiled me rotten with wonderful stories."
Yes, I don't know any other fandamos, but from what I've heard we are very lucky!

Happy Easter to you too, and thanks for commenting!

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

Nice review! I too had mixed feelings about this story. When I first read it I was mainly interested in seeing how the character's creator would have them meet. I found it an interesting, if implausible beginning - like 'milomaus' says, new agents would never be sent out on a mission like that!
But there were some unbelievable plots in the TV series as well (I'm thinking disarming an atomic bomb in a bowling alley for one! *g*) There were some amusing bits - I loved the actual first meeting/first fight, and the fact that they worked so well together and ended up arguing yet again. That kind of sets the tone for the rest of their partnership.
Thanks for the review - and a Happy Easter to you!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"...new agents would never be sent out on a mission like that!"
As I said above, that didn't disturb me, because they weren't really new agents, more hired mercs... - but Cowley is "fastthinkingly" clever enough to change that status! *happy sigh*

"...I loved the actual first meeting/first fight, and the fact that they worked so well together and ended up arguing yet again. That kind of sets the tone for the rest of their partnership."
If you could see the wide smile on my face... :-) I loved it as well!
And that's why I was so happy that BC used the word 'banter'!

Thank you for commenting!
Happy Easter!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Nice to know it's on ProsLib now - I couldn't find it on my 2005 version though...

Anyway - I really enjoy this story! I like the mission, which is just the fun side of improbable (atom bomb in a bowling alley! hovercraft at Festival Hall! It's madness! *g*), and I love the relationship that Clemens sets up between our lads.

I think the fight scene is a perfectly probable meeting, the way it was set up - but I don't think it has to do with typical men or testosterone or anything. Bodie thought Doyle was there to bust them for the drugs his girls had been smoking - and Doyle attacked him because he made a run for it. And I loved that a) Bodie felt ridiculuous with the handbag and ashtray, and b) he'd mixed up the girls in the first place! *vbg* Loved the way he then tried to explain it amiably to Doyle - and the way Doyle isn't at all bothered, as long as Bodie'll come back with him, for his first CI5 mission!

Then at the end of the story it's Doyle who's furious with Bodie for forcing him to do something because Bodie couldn't do it when he'd scoffed at Doyle for saying he'd never done it before... but in just a few seconds they've come to an understanding again, and walk off together...

And in the middle, of course, we get some Bodie backstory, and some inconsistences with Clemen's own set up (*headdesk*) - you don't apply to CI5, they find you (WtHCO)! I loved the twist about the leader though, that tied in so beautifully with Bodie's memories...

I like the banter too - but then of course Clemens likes it, cos that's how he wrote the show to start with! (And that's presumably why fic writers include B/D banter in their stories...!) I think fic writers have to be careful the banter doesn't take over everything else in the story, though - Clemens has them bantering here, but it's not the only way they communicate...

Anyway... what else? Oh, and I'm with you, it's perfectly natural to me that he'd send Bodie and Doyle out, as "new agents" - he didn't want just any agent on his squad, he needed men with very particular skills for the particular plan he had in mind. Bodie and Doyle had those skills - it would have been much more dangerous to send out "old" agents (except that CI5 is quite new at this stage, so none of them are really "old") who didn't have the requisite talents. And neither of them were unknown commodities - Bodie was recommended to him, and he'd seen Doyle's file already, knew he was from the Met ("hard men")...

All in all - I like this story alot! *vbg*

ETA - and thank you for the rec! I didn't announce the recs to come again, but perhaps I should have - sorry about that! I had been keeping an eye out for your post though, so I'm glad you did!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"Nice to know it's on ProsLib now - I couldn't find it on my 2005 version though... "
I have a version with 89 disc folders (June 2007 ?), and there you can find it in the 'background' folder. I didn't knew it either. Cloudless told me about it.

"I think the fight scene is a perfectly probable meeting, the way it was set up - but I don't think it has to do with typical men or testosterone or anything. Bodie thought Doyle..."
Yes, the scene is comprehensible. And I didn't mean that with 'macho thing'.
I mean that the author is a man, and therefore 'feels' that this is the way how men friendships should start? Because not many(any?) of the female 'first meeting' writers used this scenario.

"I loved the twist about the leader though, that tied in so beautifully with Bodie's memories..."
Yes! :-)
But I really think that BC wanted to make 'more' of Bodie's nightmares in later scripts, but that maybe he was convinced by others, that something like that wouldn't fit to the name "The Professionals"!?

"I like the banter too - but then of course Clemens likes it, cos that's how he wrote the show to start with! (And that's presumably why fic writers include B/D banter in their stories...!)
I think fic writers have to be careful the banter doesn't take over everything else in the story, though - Clemens has them bantering here, but it's not the only way they communicate..."
I don't know any other fandoms. But maybe that banter is why I'm still in this one! ;-)
I think I would miss it terribly!
But of course it shouldn't get out of control!!!

Thank you for coming around!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I mean that the author is a man, and therefore 'feels' that this is the way how men friendships should start? Because not many(any?) of the female 'first meeting' writers used this scenario.
Hmmn - I'm not sure I'd put that down to male vs female writing, just that BC thought of it before any fanfic writers! I'm trying to think of the various ways that fanfic has them meeting, and I'm coming up blank - it's a shame there weren't more people chatting at last week's discussion, cos I'd been hoping we might get to think about all the first-meeting fics people listed that way.

Do any fanfic stories have the lads moving directly into action rather than meeting during training, I wonder? That's quite a fanon thing I think, that the lads would need training before they could be active agents - and it's echoed in comments above too. I don't think it would be necessary at all though - CI5 agents are recruited because of their skills, because they're already good enough to work at that kind of level. I'm not saying they wouldn't have training, I'm sure they would, but it wouldn't necessarily have to come as part of their first meeting - and maybe that's the only think BC thought too...

Oh, actually I think they do fight early on in at least one or two first-meeting fics. Don't they do that in Fruit of the Spirit? And I want to say they fight in one of Kate Maclean's fics, or else it's mentioned that they did...

But I really think that BC wanted to make 'more' of Bodie's nightmares in later scripts
Is there something particularly that gives you that impression?

I'd say nightmares might be expected for both B and D (and some fanfic mentions that too), because they both would have seen (and done) some pretty awful things. Bodie's experiences might seem more exotic to us, but if Doyle's been in the drug squad, and dealt with women like Ann Seaford (and the young girl that she was protecting, that's mentioned in FF) and so on, then he's probably seen some terrible things as well - even if, according to Op Impossible, he hadn't killed anyone yet (the other contradiction I was trying to think of was in Runner, where Duffy says Doyle shot his brother, and I think we see a newspaper article too - they can't both be true!) Anyway, I liked the way Clemens used Bodie's nightmare in this one, but I did't particularly get the impression it would be a theme that might crop up again for him... but then I've never had the impression that Clemens really had any overall themes/plot for the eps, just single-ep action stories each time...

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"Hmmn - I'm not sure I'd put that down to male vs female writing, just that BC thought of it before any fanfic writers! "
Well, I wouldn't use it, and not many female writers haven't done either in so many years.
And that "respect him if he's a good fighter" thing IS very common in (male) literature. ;-)

"Do any fanfic stories have the lads moving directly into action rather than meeting during training, I wonder? "
Yeah, it would be interesting to know. I think both is possible, because we don't know if they joined the mob at the same time anyway!

"But I really think that BC wanted to make 'more' of Bodie's nightmares in later scripts
Is there something particularly that gives you that impression?"
Hmmmm.... I think because that part of the story doesn't really fit to the rest. The style of BC is otherwise quite brief, and there are scarcely details about the three main characters.
And BC could have declared Bodie's very short(!) hesitation to kill a female leader with the normal barrier to kill a woman. (Doyle didn't react the way he would have done with a male intruder when Mayli shot him, and he didn't kill Christina Herzog when he followed her and she shot at him...)