2016 Prosfic Advent Calendar - Day 20 - A Magical Christmas by Istia

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

A Magical Christmas by Istia.

This is a parody, but a very sweet one, and one of my favorite Christmas stories. I’d read the Gentle On My Mind series, and enjoyed it very much (though I know many didn't.) Years later I managed to find the story of the brain-damaged Blair, so twice the fun! *g*

It probably helps if you have some knowledge of The Sentinel, but I don’t think it’s mandatory. The humor still comes through. And the author’s love for Bodie and Doyle.

Comments

[hagsrus.livejournal.com]

I just love this one!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

There's a lot to love! Funny, sweet yet tangy, everything one could ask for.

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. I'm one of those who didn't care for Gentle On My Mind or the TS version of the story. *g* Nor do I normally go in for parodies. But, this one I like. It is sort of magical, in its own way. *g*

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

It's funny how that seems to be the case with this story; even those who don't normally like parodies like this one. I think it's because her feeling for Bodie and Doyle are so obvious. The fact that it's so well written doesn't hurt, either. *g*

Great Choice

[fiorenza-a.livejournal.com]

This is absolutely one of my favs too - and I've rec'd it myself in the past.

I've read the first three GOMM and the Joana Dey sequel, but haven't had the opportunity to read the middle stories. I enjoyed what I read too, although I have all sorts of questions and reservations which I will discuss at some point, but not now.

Thx for rec'ing a great story :0)

RE: Great Choice

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I enjoy the GOMM stories, except for the sequel. It became unbelievable to me, in regards to Doyle's recovery. So count me in on any discussion you have about the stories.

And rec'ing this story was my great pleasure. :-)

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

I loved this story, it made me laugh so much! I have GOMM and also Changes which is the main brain-damaged Blair story. Yes, parts of both are problematical but overall these are my secret guilty pleasures.

And due to this story, I made a point of visiting Kensington Gardens and the Peter Pan statue, when I visited London, just for the memories evoked.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Guilty pleasure is a good way of looking at the stories. Yet I still laugh at Istia's take on the situation, maybe because her rendition of Doyle is closer to how I think he would be.

Kensington Gardens was on my itinerary on my first trip to England, but we ran out of time. Oddly, I've never thought to add it back in on future trips. Maybe next time, because I'd love to see the statue.

A

[airelle1.livejournal.com]

I love both the GOMM series and CHANGES, even if they do raise some problems. And I'm in love with A MAGICAL CHRISTMAS! Fantastic merging of my two favorites fandoms.

This line is truly priceless:

"It's the oddity of it," Jim mused, fingering an unpeeled Satsuma. "You know, tell him to brush his teeth and wash behind his ears and then fuck him. Very strange, when you think about it."

Bodie was beginning to think it was a strange, to say the least, conversation, but he gallantly put in his own contribution, nodding his head sagely. "Even stranger when you have to tell him to brush his teeth and then he fucks you."

And I'm an inconditional lover of parody, because, to write a good parody, one must know the original material very well, and have a deep love and respect for it.

RE: A

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Lol, that is a great line, one of many. And, yes, a deep love and respect for the source material is necessary, as is so obvious in this story. It's magnificent! *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I always forget that this one starts off with Tempus and Horus, and I really really like that part! I like the rest too, not because it fixes GoMM exactly, but... it does make me feel better about it! I enjoyed GoMM up to a point, but by the last of Jane's books it seemed a bit repetitive (but I find that with her stories now). A Magical Christmas is, of course, rather different! *g*

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Yes, I like that it fixes GoMM. While I enjoy those stories, I prefer my Doyle to be whole and healthy, his old snarky self.