Desert Island Pros

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

So there I was, saying to byslantedlight  that wouldn't it be fun to do Desert Island Pros again – and I duly found myself talked in to kicking it off! For those of you not familiar with the BBC Radio 4 programme, a celebrity gets to choose their eight favourite records, plus a luxury, plus a book (apart from Shakespeare and the bible, which are already there) to keep them entertained on their desert island.

For the Pros version, you select your eight favourite stories. And the luxury is the episode from the show you couldn't possibly live without. Don't worry, there's a DVD player already there for you!

To start us off, here are my choices below the cut (in no particular order, aside from the first two, which are my all-time fandom favourites):

Larton – Rhiannon
If I had to narrow my choice of all-time favourite to one, it would be Larton. Bodie and Doyle, in the forms of an Irish soldier and a novelist, are transported to a Cotswold village. They're still my B & D, though. I reckon you either get Larton or you don't. And yes, I realise I'm probably cheating by counting the zine as one choice *g*.

The Gift of the Moggy – The Hag
The thought of a story partially written from a cat's point of view would usually be enough to send me scurrying for cover. But The Hag is such an awesome writer that she carries it off with panache. I'd read her shopping list!

The Tangled Web – Jack Reuben Darcy
Long, plotty, angsty fic at its best. The Tangled Web is a crossover with The Chief. JRD's Saints and Miracles is also a great read.

Jigsaw Puzzle – HG
This one of the first zines I ever owned, and it's a wallow when I want lots of angst.

Harlequin Airs – Ellis Ward
I'm very fond of AUs, have a thing about fiction set in circuses, and totally adore Suzan Lovett's artwork. So no surprises with this choice, then!

A Hole in One – Edi N Burgh
One of M Fae Glasgow's assorted pseuds, and a mile away from some of her very dark fic (which I also like). This one is hot and funny and features bonking on a golf course. What's not to like? *g*

B & D Beside the Sea – Sebastian
I spent ages trying to choose between Sebastian's awesome Siren series, Et In Italia Ego and this one. Hot and sweet won!

Full Circle – Brenda Antrim
The first slash story I ever found on the internet – and it stands up well to re-reading And it slashes Doyle and Alan Cade from The Chief. Ooh err!

On our desert island, your luxury is the Pros ep you couldn't live without. Mine's got to be Hunter Hunted. The lads (especially Doyle) look edible, and it's a perfect ep for pimping to any friendly natives I might encounter on the island!

So what would your choices be? Start commenting and we can all look forward to re-visiting old favourites or finding new treats.

Comments

My Favorites

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

At this moment -- because it changes all the time

Springheeled Jack by Georgia Kirrin
Perfect Day by Sebastian
Knaves, Thieves, and Teachers by Irene
All These Years by Angelfish (with my re-edited ending)*g*
Werewolves of London by Rimy
Scenes from the Edge by Kate MacLean
Boxing Day by the Hag
Silent Star by Elizabeth Holden

Episode...Right now I'm liking Stopover as one of the underappreciated gems.

Re: My Favorites

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Springheeled Jack was one of my near-misses! I adore that story. And Perfect Day as well . . .

Re: My Favorites

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

Springheeled Jack was one of my near-misses! I adore that story. And Perfect Day as well . . .

Larton and Gift of the Moggy could easily be on my list another day. Both of those are great, great fics. I also really love the Sebastian series that includes The Homecoming.

Too many great stories to choose from. It really does depend on my mood or what I'm looking for at that moment -- sometimes sweet and funny is just the right thing. Sometimes I want a high body count.*g*

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Excellent idea! Like jgraeme2007, this is an at-the-moment list. And they are in no particular order:

Raymond's Joy by the Hag
Chances by Angelfish ( with the ending intact..*g*)
Ringing In The Changes by PFL (Cuz a gal's got to have a long Christmas fic to reminisce to amongst all those palm trees and coconuts.)
Strange Days Indeed by HG
Redemption by Kate Maclean ( Man pain!)
The Return by Ellis Ward
Fire Held High and Far Away by Miriam Heddy
Professional Dreamer by Pamela Rose

Episode wise, no contest. The Purging of CI5

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I love Kate Maclean's fic! And Professional Dreamer makes me smile just thinking of it *g*.

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Professional Dreamer makes me smile just thinking of it *g*. Exactly!! You need something witty and brilliant to make you clutch your sides every now and again on a desert island...

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

Raymond's Joy by the Hag
Chances by Angelfish ( with the ending intact..*g*)
Ringing In The Changes by PFL (Cuz a gal's got to have a long Christmas fic to reminisce to amongst all those palm trees and coconuts.)
Strange Days Indeed by HG
Redemption by Kate Maclean ( Man pain!)
The Return by Ellis Ward
Fire Held High and Far Away by Miriam Heddy
Professional Dreamer by Pamela Rose

These are all great choices -- except I'm not sure I've read the Miriam Heddy one yet.

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

except I'm not sure I've read the Miriam Heddy one yet. I waxed lyrical about it here (http://community.livejournal.com/crack_van/3491686.html#cutid1) when I drove the crack_van for Pros in December. There's an excerpt there too if you'd like a taster.

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

Hey! Fun stuff to read. Nice rec. *g*

[bistokids.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is fun! Mind you, choosing eight - hard! It makes me well up thinking of the ones I've left out.

Third Friday of October – Dana Austin Marsh
Marooned – Anne Carr
Hyperion to a Satyr – Sebastian
Tricks of the Trade – Melanie Athene
Bed – Or Something Like It – Callisto
Captives – Lois Welling
The High Up Singing and Alive Fruit – Slantedlight
Ambush - Thomas (this last because it was the first slash I ever read, and it still makes me laugh thinking about the shock it gave me! XD)

Actually, I can think of worse fates than being stuck on a desert island with this choice of reading material. My ep would have to be Fugitive. I know, I know.

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

and it still makes me laugh thinking about the shock it gave me!

Same with me and Full Circle!

I love Third Friday of October and Hyperion to a Satyr. I don't remember Tricks of the Trade -- must check to see if I have it filed somewhere *g*.

[loyseofverlaine.livejournal.com]

I don't have a zine collection to compare, but this would be my net list:

All the Queen's Men - Victoria Racklyft. Love AUs, and I could just stare at the front cover for hours.
Of Tethered Goats and Tigers - Tarot.
I Can Still Dance With a Drink in My Hand - Rebelcat. Gen, but sexy and funny, and it has my other two guys in it.
Where the Worms Are - Pamela Rose. Elizabeth Walsh! Angst!
Hunted by Devils - HG. Strictly speaking not Pros, but I adore Kit Kilroy.
Voice Over - Elizabeth O'Shea. A wonderful first time, and the *best* sex-gone-bad scene *ever*.
Trial Run - Ellis Ward. I love my partner so much I'll change my whole life. Sigh.
Matters in Hand - Brenda K. One giant PWP, and funny as anything.

My episode: Stakeout. The plot makes no sense, but who cares? You get to watch Bodie grope Doyle all over the bowling alley floor. *g*

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Voice Over was ninth on my list, and Hunted by Devils 12th *bg*. I love both of them and re-read them a lot.

Which reminds me . . . I must pimp All the Queen's Men to a friend with a thing about vampires! And the illos are just gorgeous.

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

oh, God. I can never remember the titles!
OTOH, that makes it sort of easier, because this is in no way a definitive list - but here goes, in no sort of order whatsoever!

Snowman in a Dark Coat - Castalia
Freezing - Helen Raven.
Of Foxes and Feelings - Brenda K. Yes, it's gen, but it's pre-slash for me.
Gun Practice - goodnightlady. My fave PWP of all time.
Hunted by Devils - HG. I love HG, and I love James Griffin, and Kilroy is a great Bodie-clone... need I say more?
Precisely When - DVS.
What Friends are For - Georgina Kirrin.
Brass Tacks - Gloria Lancaster. The first Pros story I ever read, before I was even a Pros fan, and I fell in love with it even then.
Fly On the Wall - Lezlie Conch. The only fic that's actually had me laughing out loud as I read it.

but that leaves no room for so many others... I'm feeling guilty now, for all the ones I've left out!

My episode - Man Without a Past. I'd have gone for Heroes, which has Shotgun Tommy, but MWAP has John Castle and a suffering Doyle. And the plot makes sense! - ish.

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Freezing and Hunted by Devils were both on my long list which I somehow whittled down to eight *g*. And I love Brass Tacks. I now want to go and re-read it!

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

And I love Brass Tacks. I now want to go and re-read it!

Oh, please do! *g*.

I came across it in a multi-show zine, one of the 'Uncharted Waters' series, which I had bought because it had a 'V' story - that was my fandom at the time. Of course I read all the fic, not just the V, and I distinctly remember looking at BT and thinking, 'oh, I remember that programme!'

And then, of course, it does suck you in - er, pun not intended - immediately. I remember reading the first page and that was it - hooked. I had to read the rest!

What's interesting is that the version on the Circuit Archive is longer - the zine version only had Bodie's POV, so I was just - yaay! - when I doscovered that there was even more to it!

I really like Gloria Lancaster's stuff - I wish she was still writing in Pros. Especially as she's still got 'A Walk to the Paradise Garden' to finish!

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Waaaah! I reallyreallyreally want her to finish that story!

[sineala.livejournal.com]

I did this in a post to my LJ (http://sineala.livejournal.com/892148.html) a while back, trying to entice my friendslist, but now I have to narrow it down to eight and an episode. Hmm.

Episode: Mixed Doubles. "Are you scared? / Yeah. You? / All the time" just gets me.

Stories (for fuller explanation of love, please see linked post).

1. Ellis Ward - Harlequin Airs
2. Miriam Heddy - Fire Held High and Away

(which are my two favorites, ever, I'm pretty sure. The rest, in no particular order...)

3. Sebastian - Army Games (mmm, PWP)
4. DVS - Suitable Gravity (yay, science fiction AU)
5. Tarot - Masquerade (yay, undercover!gay)
6. Gloria Lancaster - You Dancing? You Asking? (yay, dancing)
7. Jackie Thomas - A Special Working of Gravity (yay, um, angst)
8. Helen Raven - The Cook and the Warehouseman (yay, more science fiction AU)

There. That was *hard*.

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Haven't come across the Jackie Thomas, so that's one for my list!

I don't usually read a lot of science fiction, either in fandom or in RL, but I did enjoy both Suitable Gravity and the Cook and the Warehouseman.

Edit: I *have* read the Jackie Thomas, but had forgotten it. So I've just had an enjoyable re-read of it *g*.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I really can't pick eight so here's eight keepers for today. There are tons more I'd have to have! And as for episode, I'd say today my favourite is Discovered in a Graveyard.

Amid the Noise and Haste by Callisto
Blood Still Cries by Deb Hicks
Rules by PFL
Fevers by Pamela Rose
Hunted by Devils by HG
Strange Days Indeed by HG
Catch a Fallen Star by Rosemary
Suitable Gravity by DVS

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

And now you've made me want to go and re-read Fevers and Strange Days Indeed *bg*.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

It's hard picking eight stories! I know I left off my favourite BDSM story in three fandoms, Monopoly by Kitty Fisher

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I didn't have a Kitty Fisher story on the list, as she's one of my favourite writers! If I did the list again today, I'd probably include Paper Flowers or Rainy Night in Soho. Don't know what I'd drop, though *g*.

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, now I have to think.

1. In Hot Water, an Idyl by JN on the proslib CD
2. A Family Affair by Lizzie
3. B&D By the Sea by Sebastian
4. Fruit of the Spirit by O Yardley
5. Injured Innocents by O Yardley
6. Veils of Morning by Rhiannon
7. Cider with Bodie by Lizzie
8. The Victorian Kitchen Gardener by Lizzie

Now that was bloody hard - and I have left out people like HG whom I absolutely adore!!!

As for ep, hmm difficult, but I think maybe...no, how abou...um...er...Stakeout, no, Hunter Hunted actually I think maybe First Night...or even It's Only A Beautiful Picture...*coughs*

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

LOL! We should hope we can slip all the DVDs into our luggage *g*.

I totally adore In Hot Water and hated having to leave it off my list. In fact, I love every last one on your list. I now have the urge to re-read Lizzie's stories before I go to bed *g*.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Some of these were easy, and some were really hard, especially the last few...
1. Larton by Rhiannon (all five stories in one zine - it's not cheating!
2. Voice-over by Elizabeth O'Shea
3. The Cook and the Warehouseman by Helen Raven
4. Suitable Gravity by DVS
5. Snowman in the Dark Coat by Castalia
6. Professional Dreamer by Pam Rose
7. The Keeper by Irene
8. A Birdwatcher's Guide to Cornish Ghosts by Lizzie (all of them as one story - which might be cheating, but...)

Only... that means I've left off HG! How can I leave off HG? And there's no Sebastian... or... or... In Hot Water! Oh, or the gorgeously beautiful Third Friday in October? Or In Balance With This Life? Or... I may be too traumatised to last long on the island...

Hmmn - for my ep... erm... erm... Mixed Doubles, for touching and general fitness and gorgeousness? Whose distressing idea was this, anyway?!

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Whose distressing idea was this, anyway?!

*Looks shifty*. Not mine, guv *bg*.

Waah! I wish I hadn't left out Voice-over now. And I'm currently wallowing happily in Cornish Ghosts after probodie made me want to go and re-read all Lizzie's stories! Of course it's not cheating to have all the stories as one choice *vbg*.

[siskiou.livejournal.com]

Maybe we could all be on the same island and combine resources?
We might end up with all the episodes, at least, and lots of stories!

But if I had to decide today, I'd go for the following stories:
-Strange Days Indeed (it was the very first Pros story I ever read, and what an experience! I re-read it regularly!)
-Fevers by Pamela Rose
-All these Years by Angelfish Archivist
-A Bodie Carol by Ancasta
-Black Sheep by HG
-Picture This by Heliophile
-Beggar's Banquet by HG
-The story where Bodie and Ray have been apart for a reason I can't remember right now (just like the title), Bodie is working elsewhere and Doyle is invalided out after a shooting, but Cowley wants him and Bodie back. Bodie pretends he is married and has a son (but it's really his lady friend's sister's baby). They work together to find a mole in CI5 and slowly get back together. Long story and what *is* the title?

I picked some of these over other stories, for length, because I'd want as much to read as possible on that island.
Now what episode? DIAG, maybe, but maybe not, because I'd want as much Bodie and Doyle interaction as possible.
Maybe "Female Factor"? Or Hunter/Hunted? Or Mixed Doubles?
I can fit about 12 episodes on one dvd, in avi format! :D

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

LOL, I think we smuggle the one DVD containing lots of eps onto the desert island *g*. And everyone ending up on the same island is a cunning plan!

The story where Bodie and Ray have been apart for a reason I can't remember right now (just like the title), Bodie is working elsewhere and Doyle is invalided out after a shooting, but Cowley wants him and Bodie back. Bodie pretends he is married and has a son (but it's really his lady friend's sister's baby). They work together to find a mole in CI5 and slowly get back together. Long story and what *is* the title?

I'm pretty certain it's Jigsaw Puzzle by HG. One of my choices for the island *g*.

[siskiou.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's Jigsaw Puzzle! Thanks for the title and I have to read it now, of course! :)
And having a "Pros Con" desert island would be great!

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

I've started packing! The thought of a desert island Pros paradise is wonderful *bg*.

[biani.livejournal.com]

I am a little late, but I hope I am still allowed to play ;).

Choosing - Kate McLean
Redemption - Kate McLean
Yellow Brick Road - Kate McLean
The third Friday of October - Dana Austin Marsh
Once more - Donna (gen)
Aftermath - Gwyneth Rhys
Love's the last to know - Meridian
Pamela Rose - Poison Apples

The Pros ep I can´t live without? Involvement! Because Ann Holly never had a chance anyway ;).

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

I hope I am still allowed to play ;)

Definitely! Hope we can carry the debate on while people still have lists to post *g*.

Yellow Brick Road is fabulous -- I shall now have to go and re-read. And Aftermath is an awesome story as well!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Just at the moment it is:

Mere Anarchy by Rebelcat
Long Shadows be NN West
Rules by PFL
Fugue In V Minor by Anne Carr
Arabian Nights by Pamela Rose
Learning Trust by Russ
One Night In Bangkok by LilyK
Of Sunshine And Cemeteries by Slantedlight
Rent Boy by Elizabeth Holden

Damn 9... Forget one of them! :-)

Episode is Fugitive. Yes!

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

LOL! Arabian Nights is lovely! *Dribbles at the thought of the artwork*

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Ermmmmm.... That's the best artwork of all... :-)

[rosie55.livejournal.com]

I know I'm hopelessly late but it's taken me this long to get my list down to 8 (ish!). So they are:

Desert Island fics

In no particular order

Strange days indeed by HG
Well, it had to be that or Jigsaw.

Redemption by Kate Maclean
YBR leaves me cold. But this one definitely got me!

The Cook and the Warehouseman by Helen Raven
I have no idea why, when I normally dislike SF, I can re-read this one time and again! (On the other hand, could I manage without Echo by Ellis Ward? Such hard decisions but Helen got me into Prosfic, so I reckon it's this one!)

The Tangled Web by Jack d’Arcy
Just because. And Cade. Yum!

Firewalls/Firestorm - by Elspeth Leigh.
Can I count them as one? Pretty please? If not it has to be Firestorm. Older lads. Together. So hot!

Voice-over by Elizabeth O’Shea.
So I have a h/c kick, ok? And it’s Doyles’s voice I can hear. And I can walk through those French streets with them. Just so perfect!

The End Is Where We Start From - by PFL
Injured Ray, Bodie trying and failing to leave. Doyle background. Lovely!

Harlequin airs by Ellis Ward.
Just gorgeous. The illos.....

But how can you limit it to 8? All the faves I have left behind? The list wouldlikely be different another day, as others have said!

And my ep? Oh, it has to be Female Factor - the lads all dishevelled in tuxes - I could watch them wander down that embankment all day! And Doyle kicking in the window. And Doyle h/c. Oh, yes ....

Better late than never, I hope!

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Never too late to suggest lovely stories to read *g*.

I love your list! I haven't read Firewalls/Firestorm for ages, but was thinking about it the other day. Time to re-read, I think *g*.

And yay for dishevelled lads in tuxes!

[magenta-blue.livejournal.com]

What a good idea! In a way it has been great being late to discover this post, as I get to see everyone’s recs – there are a few here that I simply don’t remember, although I know I have read them at some point…

My list for today would be:

1. Sebastian – Et In Italia Ego
2. Rhiannon – Larton
3. Pamela Rose – Where the Worms Are
4. Jojo – Love in a Cold Country
5. Tarot – Endgame
6. Slantedlight – Just Enough Rope
7. PFL – Ringing in the Changes
8. Laura (or Dinah) – To Derby (gen)

This was such a hard list to make - I would have to hope that we'd all managed to coordinate our desert island to be the same one, and we'd set up a lovely fic sharing library before shelter!

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Love your choices! Don't remember the Jojo one -- *rushes off to re-read*

I do like the thought of a shared desert island where we have all the eps and lots of stories to share *g*.

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

Err, I'm a little late here, sorry! But I've been wanting to post this for ages, finally got a chance to do it now!

Right, episode choice is easy - The Purging of CI5!

Fics is a little more tricky! *g* But I'd be happy to while away the days with these to keep me company (in no order):

Echo - Ellis Ward
Trifles and Confirmations - Sally Fell
The Sorcerer's Web - Liz Bradford
Hunted by Devils - HG
Betwixt and Between - Josey
Matters in Hand - Brenda K
Transients - Helen Raven
Arabian Nights - Pamela Rose

This was a great idea, thanks for doing it!
Cheers!

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Glad you got the chance to post! And I do like the Purging of CI5!

Hunted by Devils was one of my near-misses. I think I need to re-read it *g*.

Don't think I've read the Sally Fell. Is it online or in a zine?

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

It's online, here you go:

http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/15/triflesand.html

*g*

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

*Scuttles off to read it*

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

I *had* read it before, but it stood up very well to re-reading! Really good story.