Pros Fic Author Week - Reading HG chat

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It's Friday, the start of the weekend, and that means it's time for our first Pros Fic Author Week chat, if anyone's around and has been reading fic by HG!

As far as I can work out, HG has been writing Pros since at least August 1982 (Conundrum, as dated in HG Collected 2 - and at the end of the AO3 post) but that's just from a quick scan of dates, so if you know of earlier stories, or if she's talked about it anywhere (or if you're reading this, HG!), I'd love to know which was her first, and when.

For years we only had the 20 HG stories up on Circuit Archive (most of them mirrored at the Hatstand), and whatever we could get our hands on from the paper circuits and zines), although in 2005 there were 40 stories on the ProsLib CD. By 2011 there were 75 HG stories on the ProsLib CD (including different formats of the same stories). Now the world has moved on even further, the internet has taken over even further, and HG has 72 Pros stories posted to A03. Hooray! I'm really pleased that it's easier to find and read HG stories, because I thoroughly enjoy them, and want other people to have a chance to enjoy them too!

We had a slight surge of warmth over here last week, around the time I suggested this chat, and the HG story that was in my mind to re-read was Surfer's Tension. This is actually one of the few HG stories I was hesitant to read, way back when, because I couldn't quite imagine the lads going off to the beach to surf - it wasn't something I'd seen many people do over here, at least at that point. Needless to say, I did eventually read it and gave in to the glorious vision of our lads in bathing suits down on a sandy Cornish beach... *vbg*

I also re-read Quality Time, because it was the first story in the HG Collected 2 zine, and remembered how much I like it. HG captured something from CI5 that isn't addressed at all in the eps (well, like so much) - the death of a CI5 agent when they work closely with a partner, as we see Bodie and Doyle doing. That's not what the story's about, but it's a thoughtful and intense background.

Finally, because it came next and just because I rather like it, I re-read Gruff 'n' Grim, which delves into the backstories of our lads, and takes a brief look at their characters - how they became who they are now. I love little lines like It was lonely in the attic. The spiders never had time to stop and chat, they were too busy plotting where their next web should go, or what stitch it should be in. Our lads are almost the secondary characters, but... well, they're not really. *vbg* And there's a sequel too, X-Ray-Ted.

So - did anyone else have a chance to re/read some HG this week? Or perhaps you have favourite stories that she's written - or the opposite, even?

Comments

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

I've read No Strings (http://thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/21/nostrings.html) (for the first time) by random and I like the idea of what went on after Ann Holly left Doyle standing in the carpark. I really can see Bodie doing and enduring everything Doyle throws on him, even if he himself get hurt. I love the little peace when Bodie whispers ".. say I do it for love" and hopes, that Doyle doesn't hear it.

And of course I love the way they come together.

And now I'm reading the sequel Anticlimax (http://thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/21/anticlimax.html)

And afterwards I will go and read the stories you mentioned.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I must re-read those two fics too! *g* HG seems to mostly write about getting the lads together, which is always nice of course... hmmn, now you've got me wondering if she's written any established B/D fics - I'm guessing not, probably, but maybe someone else will correct me. *g*

I like the idea that we're swapping fics this weekend... *g*

[hagsrus.livejournal.com]

Very fond of Black Sheep, the first HG I read, and A Day in the Life because of my love of domestic fic.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I really like Black Sheep - the whole continuation of the ep, right from Doyle clutching his stomach, through the outcome of his amusement to where it all goes wrong (and then right *g*). And I could like A Day in the Life just for the line Doyle snuggled deeper under the duvet and hoped, unrealistically, that Bodie would go away., but I need to re-read it again to remember it. So I will tonight. *g*

I love domestic fic too - and lads-on-holiday fic. I guess it's where we see them outside work, and find out more about the little things that make them who they are. Plus, cosy and fun... *g*

[siskiou.livejournal.com]

"Black Sheep" is one of my favorite HG stories. Will definitely have to read it again.
Love how it evolves from furious Bodie, to concerned Bodie, once he realizes something is not quite right with Doyle.
And I like to imagine the scene with Doyle outclassing the stripper at the bar!

Am still not quite done with "Strange Days Indeed", but may just read something shorter tomorrow.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I'd forgotten about the Doyle-and-stripper bit! I'm adding that to my re-read list too... *g*

You could always talk about Strange Days Indeed, even if you've not finished it yet!

[loxleyprince.livejournal.com]

I re-read Scapegoat. (http://archiveofourown.org/works/317542)
I love the story for lines like this:-

Besides, he trusted Cowley to throw them to the wolves only when there was no alternative

which perfectly captures Doyle's pragmatic view of his superior, and this:-

Outwardly untroubled, inwardly braced for an unpleasant few minutes with no Bodie at his side to divert some of the flak, Doyle sauntered into Cowley's office where, true to his predictions, the full weight of Cowley's displeasure descended on his unprotected head.

which very nicely sums up the dynamics of the Bodie/Doyle partnership. It's refreshing to find Doyle defending Cowley to Bodie - normally unnecessary, given Bodie's loyalty to the man. The extent of the trust between the partners, and therefore the depth of Doyle's betrayal, is wonderfully encapsulated in Bodie's disillusioned confession that:-

"I bloody trusted you. Without question or reservation."

and yet he still finds it within himself to wrap Doyle in the sleeping bag before he leaves (bless!) Oh, and then there is the loveliness of HG's writing in phrases like this:-

The pub was a hole, but it served a purpose - and lousy beer

I loved Cowley's solution to the problem with his best team and, of course, I'm a sucker for a happy ending. (Wheeeee!!)

All in all, a very satisfying read. :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't remember that one at all, so I'll definitely have to re-read it!

HG has a lovely way with words, and observations, doesn't she - and I love the way she just drops things in there, without hammering them home as "comedy". Just the way to do humour, if you ask me... *g*

[loxleyprince.livejournal.com]

Yes! Her use of humour is masterful.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

My favourite Pros story is Strange Days Indeed. My favourite not-Pros story is Hunted by Devils. I didn't reread but I'd rank HG as my fav Pros writer. :) I have actually read my zine Hunted by Devils more than any story in any fandom.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

HG is definitely one of my favourite Pros writers too! I love Hunted by Devils (so much better than the series it was based on *g*), and I like Strange Days Indeed alot too. Mind you, I love long fic, so when it's HG writing it, that's a bonus! *g*

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

for a shorter story, my favorite has to be "Knife-Edge" Especially the scene between Cowley and Doyle in hospital. Throughout the story, HG keeps the reader as befuddled as Doyle is. And it has a lovely ending. http://archiveofourown.org/works/277361


For a longer story, I'd recomment "Jigsaw Puzzle." http://archiveofourown.org/works/331251/chapters/534540

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, Knife Edge is one of my favourite HG stories! I can never quite decide between that and Loose Change, which I love for showing all the agents together and relaxed (well, sort of *g*). But yes - the way HG sucks you into the world as Doyle is seeing it, in Knife Edge, and that scene with Cowley - perfect! *g*

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

I re-read one of the little ones - Out, Damned Spot - which is an example of HG in rather sweet and whimsical vein: Bodie idly playing join-the-dots with the freckles on Doyle's shoulders, only to realise too late that he's used a pen that doesn't wash off to write "Mine all mine!".

Oh, and it's established relationship *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

HG does a lovely sweet and whimsical - and I just love the idea of Bodie doing that idly, as an ordinary, allowed-to-touch-so-intimately-without-question moment in their lives.

And yeay - established relationship! I knew there had to be one out there... *g*

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love Gruff 'n' Grim! Sweet, and sort of melancholy. My favorite HG story has got to be Jigsaw Puzzle, but since I didn't have the time to reread it, I went with Knife Edge. Like merentha13, I really enjoyed the scene between Doyle and Cowley. Of course, I really enjoyed the one between Doyle and Bodie. *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

and sort of melancholy
Oh, yes it is, isn't it! I never think of describing it that way, but that's perfect... and it takes the edge off the teddy bears to make it an absolutely readable story from that perspective, too.

Knife Edge is definitely one of my favourite HG fics - yes!, the scene with Cowley! *vbg*