Story Rec

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

Title: Babes In The Wood
Author: Meg Lewtan
Link to story: Not online, AFAIK. Can be found on the Proslib CD.
Permission to archive the rec/review at Palely Loitering: Yes




I am a sucker for stories that see the lads through a third person’s eyes, and this story ticks all the boxes for me as it’s told from Lucas’s POV. Meg Lewtan gives both Lucas and McCabe some backstory and fleshes out the characters somewhat, although Lucas, as narrator, gets more attention than McCabe. They’re the new kids on the block, recently accepted onto the A squad, and they’re teamed with Murphy and Bodie for their first few assignments. The Bodie that they meet is not the usual Bodie of fanfiction – he’s cold, emotionless, almost robotic in the way he performs his job. Their first meeting left Lucas shaken:

The other man didn’t move. His eyes ranged over us and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I’ve seen cold eyes in my time and his had to be the coldest. Menacing just wasn’t in it. This one was a bastard, pure and simple. He was not as tall as Murphy but he was solid. Black hair cropped short, very fair skin and good looks didn’t do a thing to soften the impression of lethal bad temper I was receiving. It was a long time since I felt so intimidated.


The scene in the pub towards the end is my favourite part of this tale; it’s the part that I go back to again and again. Doyle, who up to this point has been remarkably absent from the narrative, joins Lucas, McCabe and Murphy for a drink:

…I was on the point of deciding I would make an attempt to be sociable with Bodie when a cheerful voice said, “Ullo, Murph.”

Full of confidence and sure of a welcome, the stranger sat down on the bench beside me.

Murphy smiled warmly. “Ray! When did you get back?”

“Just now. What’s all this?” He inspected our whisky cheekily. “Did we get a pay rise?”

And then Bodie joins them:

Three yards from our group, he caught sight of Doyle and I saw him falter for an instant. Uncertainty flashed across his features, then his eyes narrowed. His expression changed and what finally settled on his face wasn’t a smile. It was as though every muscle beneath his pale skin loosened, transforming the characteristic arrogance and hardness into something completely unexpected. Relief and pleasure flooded into his eyes and by the time he reached us, even his bearing had altered.

He stood still, gazing down at Doyle for ten seconds before he spoke. “Hello, Ray,” he said softly and actually smiled.

Meg wrote a sequel to this story, Preconceived Notions, but Babes In The Wood is by far the better tale in my opinion. I hope I’ve whetted your appetite for this story rather than spoiling it for you. Go, read, enjoy!

Comments

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ooh, you have! I think I've read it, but if I have I don't remember it well enough not to read again (?! *g*) and I certainly didn't know it had a sequel so yeay! Shall pop off and re/read and be back anon... *g*

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

I hope you enjoy Babes - it's one of those feel-good stories I keep going back to.

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, one of my favorites, and a comfort read. I, too, love the outside observer point of view, and the fact that the readers know a whole lot more than the observer does. I didn't care as much for the sequel, but the original...yeah, it's a keeper.

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

I've not re-read the sequel because I remember being less than impressed with it, although Lucas and McCabe fans might enjoy. But the original - like you said. A keeper. That pub scene - I love it.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

You've reminded me of a story I've long admired. so thanks for that! And if you like third person's point of view have you read the short classic, A Safe Bet by Deborah Ramsey, which is also on the CD and one of the best of its kind, I'd say. And Rimy's Handy Pandy, Out Goes the Rat which is online at the Archive and Hatstand.

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

I've read Rimy's story, but it was some time ago. I saw it listed on ancasta's recs page just last night and bookmarked it to re-read. I've not A Safe Bet though, so thanks for that!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's definitely a favorite of mine. I'm a sucker for third person's pov, too.

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

I've spent a lot of time trying to work out why, exactly, I like this POV but for the life of me I can't articulate it. Any clues?

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

For me, I think part of it is that it's a validation of sorts. You know how you see their relationship, but, by getting to hear another character's thoughts about them, a character that's part of their world in a way the reader can never be, it makes it more real. That's not quite right, either, but it's about as close as I can come to putting it into words.

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

Yes! You've put it beautifully.Especially if the other character recognises their worth. (if that makes sense!)