CI5hq MiniReview Challenge - Wings of Morning by Irene

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I've been deeply into the Patrick O'Brian books lately - only a few to go now, though, *sniffs* - but last night I fancied some Pros, so I picked up Roses and Lavender at random, cos they're a good series of zines, and found myself with Irene's Wings of Morning, which is one of my favourite Pros fics by a favourite Pros author. She is one of a few authors who've apparently said they don't want their fic to go online, so it's only available on paper - but it's worth it... *g*

It's an AU story set just after World War I. Doyle was gassed in the trenches and now makes his living as a technical artist. Whilst on his way home one day he comes across a man who has completely lost his memory - and of course he takes him home... *g*

Irene is one of those lovely, gentle writers, whose words all mean something and who can make you feel the lads, their world, and what is happening to them... She's definitely worth tracking down if you're looking for a good read!

Comments

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Ooh, yes, I should go read that again! I love Irene's writing. You're right that she creates a world you can fully believe in and experience. Wonderful stuff. Thanks for the reminder!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

We should remind people about Irene all the time! *g*

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Ooh, someone recommended Roses and Lavender, and Iene, to me. I'm considering picking some up next zine go-round.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

They're excellent zines, in my humble opinion (*g*), and still in print from the publisher as far as I know. The only trouble is that she can be a bit flaky about sending them out - I know lots of people who have had to write and write and write and nag, and they've eventually been sent sometimes 6 months later... I'm never sure why, cos she's around fandom - the lists, anyway... But there's very rarely a story in the zines that I'm not keen on. My R&L3 has vanished, and I'm sad about it... :(

[carbonel]

(here via morgandawn)

Thanks for the kind words.

All the Allamagoosa Press zines are still in print, although I do have to admit to the slight flakiness. I do get all the orders out, though, and I sure hope it's not really six months later.

I wish I had enough stories to publish another zine, but it's all online these days. Which is nice from a reader's point of view, but I miss publishing.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh you're you - I didn't know this was your lj name, but I'm very glad I do now! I knew you could usually be found via the sadly quiet Pros-Lit, but it's nice to know you're around here too. And to have confirmation that the Allamagoosa zines are still in print - thank you! *g*

I must admit that I waited a while for my zines quite a few years ago now, but I've had friends recently who worried because they'd not received them for a long time too - but they generally have finally turned up, because you are there! And they are worth it - it'd be lovely if there could be a Roses and Lavender 7, but you do need authors... I don't suppose Irene is still writing (or would still write) Pros, by any chance? I would do all kinds of things for a new Irene story... *g*

Actually I may have to order a new Roses and Lavender 3 myself, because mine's gone missing and I need it - is the best thing still to go through your website? I must admit I've not been to look for a while... I'm in the UK, so I expect it is...

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Sounds similar to O. Yardley's 'Two Lovers', but with more sophisticated characters?

[carbonel]

I don't remember that one, but it's somewhat similar to Rhiannon's "Veils of Morning," because it was written after hearing a description of that story, but not having yet read it.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

No - not at all, I'd say! Irene and O.Yardley have very different rhythms and temperaments in their stories - I'd say Irene was more like Rhiannon in alot of ways... though Irene's written contemporary CI5-lads and Rhiannon is... totally AU?

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

I can see exactly why you'd think that from the summary, but no. Although Doyle is quite similar in the two: abrupt and not overly good at obeying instructions to do with taking care of himself.

(At least... I think it's in Two Lovers where Bodie finds something disgusting in the fridge and realises Doyle's quite capable of eating it? Sorry, wildly off-thread now...)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Bodie finds something disgusting in the fridge and realises Doyle's quite capable of eating it
See, and if that's in Two Lovers (can't remember either) then that's exactly where it fell down for me. I really don't think we ever see Doyle so absent-minded and useless in the eps that he'd eat something disgusting from the fridge... in fact he jokes about the rock-hard bread he finds there, suggesting that he wouldn't eat it...

I didn't find Doyle like that at all in Wings of Morning - he doesn't like obeying instructions if they get in his way (rather like he is in the eps), but I don't think that's just about taking care of himself either...

Mind you, I don't remember Two Lovers well enough to think that it's like Wings of Morning in other ways either, except that they're both set historically... very different endings too, if I'm remembering that correctly!

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

This might be the nudge I need to fill out my collection - I don't have this one. But the R&L are terrific zines. Great stories, well edited *nods*.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ooh yes, do! There's another Irene story in this one too - Carrier, which iirc is CI5 story. Other stories are online now (Alex T. Mackenzie, PFL) but there's also Elizabeth Holden (I don't think those ones are online) - oh, and an Irene/Jan Levine story too!