Reading Room - Hazardous Fortune

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

Hello everyone. You've got me as your friendly Reading Room Rec-er today and I bring you the wonderful Hazardous Fortune by the even more wonderful Sally Fell:

http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/18/hazardousfortune.html

The first thing I have to gush about is how much I love Regency AU. I bet most of us read our fair share of Jane Austen in our teenage years, swooning over Mr Darcy and imagining ourselves in Elizabeth Bennet's shoes. Well, I don't think there's any reason that kind of hopeless romanticism should diminish as we get older, and the lads lend themselves so well to a bit of good old fashioned corset-busting, bodice-ripping, breeches-swelling, rip-roaring regency adventure.

Warning – here be spoilers


So, what puts Hazardous Fortune a cut above your average regency AU for me? Well, firstly I love the plot. We start off with the reading of a will, which is always a brilliant set up for a bit of drama. And right from the beginning, it's as though we're right there in the room with young Raymond Doyle, sitting uncomfortably to attention while his fusty old uncles fuss and faff in the background. The writing is so vivid and fluent I was practically leaning forward at my desk myself, anxious to “hear” what the terms of the will would be.

And of course, another major attraction of this fic is our other dashing hero – Captain Bodie. I mean seriously – it's regency AU Bodie and he's a Captain! And he's slightly aloof and grumpy, and slightly tortured. I love how Doyle falls in lust with him immediately, and as the reader we get to swoon alongside him and use Doyle as the conduit for our own swoonsome fantasies:

Tomorrow he would see Bodie again; he smiled indulgently to himself at the picture that appeared in his mind. The dark-haired man astride his horse, resplendently handsome in his red dress uniform and tall hat, and every inch the Army officer. He did have to admit to a certain weakness for a uniform, and he had no doubt whatsoever that Bodie would fill his admirably. And with that pleasing image in his head he gave himself up to the arms of Morpheus and slept soundly until morning

Oh Doyle, you lovestruck little devil.

What else do I love about the fic? Ooh, there's one particular image that I really love, after Raymond has set to work cataloguing Bodie's library. He's been at work all day and has succeeded in doing nothing but making a big old mess. And I just adore the image of Doyle sitting in the middle of the library, all dishevelled, with ink on his hands having been completely absorbed in his task. I must admit this ticks another one of my boxes, because really how can anyone resist a man who loves books that much? Once again, I swoon.

One thing that struck me upon re-reading the fic was how much of an innocent Doyle seems to be, in that he's unaware of lots of things. He's unaware of Frederick's character, unaware of his aunt Charlotte's wealth, unaware of the existence of her old lover. It works as a way of revealing all those things to the reader as the fic progresses, but I'd never thought of Doyle in that way before. Does anyone agree, or is that just my interpretation? I often wonder when I read an AU whether I enjoy it because I love the chosen genre, or because it's Bodie and Doyle. I must admit it's a little of both – I suspect I would love Hazardous Fortune whether or not I thought Bodie and Doyle were completely “in character”.

Another thing I love about the fic is the ever-present shadow of Frederick Doyle. We hear so much about him and it's fascinating reading a fic where we basically have Doyle's wicked doppelganger. And what good story is complete without a villain? For most of the story, Frederick Doyle is only present through Bodie's hatred for him. There are so many stories and comments within the fic about Frederick being thoroughly wicked and about how much he looks like our Doyle, I really felt bad for poor Raymond who is again, the innocent one. The scene where Bodie lovingly describes all the differences between Frederick and Raymond is completely gorgeous, and is another key scene that has always stuck in my memory.

So, all in all I really love this fic. The romance is romantic, the smut is smutty, the plot is plotty and the writing is seamless. As I've said, it ticks so many of my boxes that it's basically my guilty little fantasy fulfiller! I pretty much want to Mary Sue my way in to this fic and hang out with the boys, flirt with Bodie, read the books in his library, have tea with Mr Chaplin and sit by the fire with Jem and Martha. And of course, you're all invited to join me. Come on everyone, put on your finest sprig muslin and help yourself to a plate of cucumber sandwiches.

Any takers? Yes? No? What did you all think of it?

Comments

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Swooning alongside you! I hadn't read this before so many many thanks for the rec!!! I adore Regency novels, whether they're Austen, Heyer, lookalikes or AUs and this is definitely an excellent example of the genre. You've summed it up so well that there isn't much to add.

I see what you mean about Doyle's innocence but I thought the purpose was to give space for the development of character - as he becomes more aware of worldly matters, Doyle's innocence falls away and he grows/changes till at the end he matches Bodie in every necessary way, able to shoot in defence, to restrain others and to accept his altered circumstances. This was, at the beginning of the story, a younger Doyle than the one we are used to and that was, in a sense, an AU within an AU. Bodie, too, is still at the army stage of his career. It's a kind of 'growing up' AU... I liked that aspect of the story as well as the Regency angle!

And you're right - we can adore Bodie through Doyle's eyes, but we can also adore Doyle through Bodie's, especially in the 'differences' scene that you mention!

I can't think of a single criticism. For anyone who shares our love of Regency, this is the perfect fic.

(edited for a typo...)

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I'm so glad you read it and liked it. :D

I like your thoughts about it being a "growing up" AU. Doyle is certainly much younger in this fic than we encounter him in canon, so it does make sense that he has that growth ahead of him. And isn't it nice to think of this Bodie and Doyle growing together in the years ahead of them.

Excuse me while I swoon again...

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

It's some time ago since I've read the story, but I did enjoy it immensely.
I'm another fan of Regency AU, Austen, Heyer, Darcy... ;-)

And I was always fascinated by those great discrepancies between the idyllic landscape and life (of the upper classes), and the terrible wars the men were fighting. And also between the sheltered life in the country and the completely different world in London or on the Grand Tour.
So I think it's not so unusual that Doyle is still kind of innocent.

Oh, and I always make a big mess when I'm cataloguing my books. Is there any other way you can do it??? *g*

Thank you for that lovely rec!

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

That's a great thing about this period, actually, isn't it - there's so many levels of society to explore, and so much going on politically. Of course, with a lot of Regency AU we're getting our own fantasy-version of history where it's all heaving bosoms and dashing heroes. That's definitely part of the attraction, because it is a fantasy world for us 21st century inhabitants. But it would be interesting to read a Regency AU where we see the other side of society, wouldn't it?

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"But it would be interesting to read a Regency AU where we see the other side of society, wouldn't it? "
You mean the Oliver Twist side? Strong stuff that!
And I'm not sure if I would have liked to be an unmarried woman at that time...

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

Even going back earlier than Oliver Twist. People had such hard lives in a period where you could be hanged for stealing a sheep. I think it would be quite interesting to explore that seedier, grittier angle. With a happy ending, though. I always like a happy ending!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Aren't there such stories? Hmmmmmm....
Probably not. Bcause how would B or D fit into the quite boring and depressing ordinary life of ordinary people?

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

But surely they would...? Bodie and Doyle come from the 'ordinary' people in canon, don't they? I mean, we're not really told in detail, but they don't speak with accents that suggest private schools, let alone public schools, and I get no sense that they could afford to walk away from CI5 and live on a private income. They work for a living, and make jokes about worrying about their pensions.

As I type that, I realise that this probably has something to do with how easily I can see Bodie and Doyle in historical AUs: when they are working, I think perhaps I see them more easily then.

And ordinary doesn't have to mean boring. Ordinary people said, thought and did all sorts of stuff all through history. They just left fewer records of their thoughts.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. Beautiful story, so full of life and drama and tight trousers. *g* I love AUs and this one works on so many levels. I do believe this particular Bodie and Doyle are more like our own lads than in some AUs, but I'd love this story anyway for the reasons you've stated here.

Thanks for the review! :)

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

It's a great fic, isn't it? It has so many lovely details and such a fantastic sense of time and place. And tight trousers, of course. And you're right, I think this Bodie and Doyle are recognisably our lads, just a bit younger and living 200 years ago.

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

(pops on a bit of Handel to get in the mood).

Shall I pour?

Thank you, Miss Foxcat, for your excellent review.

Mrs Fell's novel was one I read when in that first flush of love for our heroes, so I read it far from critically. Absolutely adored it, in fact. And the ink-stained Mr Doyle in the library is one of the most delightful enduring images.

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

Pinkies up!

I love the image of Doyle in the library - if I close my eyes I can see Doyle sitting there, curly hair all wild and out of place, his collar open, sleeves rolled up, completely absorbed in his task and covered in smudges of black ink.

Pass the smelling salts, I feel another swoon coming on!

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Come on everyone, put on your finest sprig muslin and help yourself to a plate of cucumber sandwiches.

Well that's an invitation that's hard to resist! I must admit I've not read this story but I really enjoyed your review (and your writing of Pros fic) so thank you and Hazardous Fortune is going straight to the top of my 'Must Read' list.

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, definitely put it at the top of the list. And then curl up on your sofa one afternoon with a nice cup of tea and let yourself be transported back to 1806 England. Bring some smelling salts with you though, you may well find yourself swooning at regular intervals. :D

[ladyhawke2.livejournal.com]

Love this fic!

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

I'm going to be the dissenter here.. not because I didn't like the story... I did, but because I just didn't see B & D here, even considering they were younger. Doyle was just too innocent, and Bodie would never have put up with being treated like Frederick Doyle treated him.

That being said, the story was very well written, the images were fantastic and I really did enjoy the read. (I probably should mention that I seem to have no imagination (*g*) and AUs very rarely work for me.)

I enjoyed your rec and your obvious love of the story and genre. Thanks!

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

Hello dissenter! Sorry for the late reply.

You know, I always have problems deciding if I think Bodie and Doyle are "in character" when it comes to AUs, because AUs by their very natures involve taking B&D away from the environment we know them from. And how can we know how they would act/think/feel etc in their new environment? How do we really know what Bodie and Doyle would be like if they were 23 years old, independently wealthy and living in 1806? But on the other hand, if you don't have a basic starting point of what constitutes Bodie-ness and Doyle-ness, you could basically write them doing and saying absolutely anything, and there'd be no point in even bothering to call them Bodie and Doyle anymore.

My own theory is that it comes down to the reader's individual taste, and if we don't see some elements of B&D's character that we personally attach to then the AU appears off kilter to us. What do you reckon?

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

I agree - we all have our own "versions" of B&D. I've only been in the fandom for 2 years and have only had a chance to watch all the episodes once through, so my idea of B&D is going to be different from someone who grew up with them and has known them for thirty years.

Here's my problem with Doyle in this story. In canon we learn he was a tear-away in his youth, even cut a kid. In this story he is all innocent and obedient. I just can't connect the two and so this story didn't really work for me as B&D. In canon, they are usually equals - not so much in this story and that bothered me as well.

Different takes, likes, characterizations - this is what makes the Pro's such a fun and interesting fandom to be part of. I'm glad we can easily and comfortably explore those differences!

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

That's a good point about Doyle being a young tearaway in canon, I had actually forgotten that!

I must have a re-read and see if I pick up on the inequality between Bodie and Doyle you talk about. It certainly has never struck me in this fic before. Is it because Bodie is the home-owner, the land-owner and Doyle is the one who goes to live in Bodie's house? Does that seem to make Doyle the dependent one? On the other hand, Doyle is certainly of independent means thanks to Aunt Charlotte's money, so socially and economically that would make them equals?

Yes, it's great to genuinely have a proper, friendly discussion isn't it? :D

[murphybabe]

I'm with Merentha, this time. I'm not very fond of AUs, but some of them do work for me. This one didn't, although it was a nice read! I too found Doyle to be too innocent, and for me it was too obvious that Frederick was going to come back and try to spoil everything. I couldn't see any of canon Doyle's toughness and cynicism about life, and I thought he was too dependent on Bodie for his happiness. It didn't come across as mutual dependency either - it seemed to me as though Bodie loved Doyle but almost in a wifely role, which is not a positive thing for the era.

There were bits I liked a lot, and it's beautifully written, but this one's not for me!

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's interesting because I really liked the sense that Frederick Doyle was going to turn up sooner or later. For me, it was like the story was slowing building up to its climax, it's big showdown.

Do you think that maybe Doyle isn't so tough and cynical in this fic because he is younger than in canon? Would 23 year old canon-Doyle have had exactly the same characteristics that 30 year old canon-Doyle has (i.e that toughness)? I guess that's another AU element of this fic - it's not just AU because it's regency, but it's AU because the lads are younger.

Like I said to Merentha above, being in or out of character is a really difficult balance to get right in an AU isn't it?

[murphybabe]

It could well be that he is younger here, but there's definitely an image - for me - of an innocent abroad. One of the things I found hard to reconcile is that he has had 'feelings' towards another bloke before,, and yet the way I see him is very definitely as sheltered, protected and innocent. I'm not sure that canon Doyle comes across this way, and I get the feeling from ITPI that he saw quite a lot of life in his younger days.

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

I definitely know what you mean. But character-wise, this Doyle would have grown up in a wealthy family (his uncles are all titled) in Highgate in the 1700s rather than in a city in the midlands in the 1950's/60's. Is that enough to explain any differences in how his character might have developed? Or does it explain the differences so well that he might as well be an original character rather than our Doyle?

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

"I'm with Merentha, this time."
Hmmm....not sure how I should take that!! *VBG*

[murphybabe]

Ha - sorry about the way that came out! Isn't communication interesting! Sorry about that, my dear - I think it was because the balance of opinion seems to be the other way. Hope there's no damage done?

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

None what so ever! No worries. My response was all meant in fun. :-)

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

I did enjoy the story - there was a plot, and it was involved and fun! And yes, wills, and intrigue and so on. And it's well-written and eminently readable. But I didn't see 'my' Bodie and Doyle there very much.

One of the things I am coming to enjoy about these reading rooms is that they make me think about why I do or don't like things, and what I look for. I do enjoy the Regency ones (well, the well-written ones, anyway), but I did not spend my teenage years reading Heyer and Austen - well, no, I read Heyer, but for her detective novels! I liked scruffy malcontents better than dashing Darcys. So I don't have these cherished images of tight coats and breeches. When I read fics set in this period, I am not really aware of the social conventions, the politics of the time, and the like. The author has to keep reminding me of what they are likely to be wearing, even, because it's not in my mind's eye. Whereas anyone who is properly into this is going to know and see it all already.

The word itself may denote a period, but I think Regency as a fiction genre does depend on using a certain social class for the main characters and background milieu. And, as I said above, it's not a class I really see Bodie or Doyle coming from or inhabiting comfortably.

But it was a good read, and I did like your rec. And yes - anyone who reads is going to love the image of Doyle 'tidying' the books, and Bodie's wry 'Leave them as they are. No doubt you will wish to… er… organise them in a similar way tomorrow'.

(Just had a thought: someone - perhaps PRZed? - did a fanvid which edited about four shots of Doyle throwing books across the room into one sequence. I hadn't realised how often he does that in canon. Bodie is lucky Doyle didn't find a book he really didn't like...)

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

It's interesting to hear your thoughts as someone who isn't a fan of Regency fic by itself. For me, the genre is the height of romantic fiction so I must admit that I would probably love any Pros AU that put our lads in this period and these costumes without being too fussy about the writing.

I can actually see Bodie and Doyle as belonging to a higher social class when it comes to Regency AU. I agree with you that as a literary genre, the hero and heroine do always belong to a higher class but I think B&D can fill that role quite nicely. But then, I can also see Doyle as a stable hand and Bodie as a footman etc. The possibilities are endless. Happy Sigh!

[probodie.livejournal.com]

I love Regency fic. I love Sally Fell's version more than most and now I am hankering after re-reading it again. So I shall :-D

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

Yes, go and read it right now! It'll warm the cockles of your heart.