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ci5hqThe fic for this week is: "Harlequin Airs" by Ellis Ward:
http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/arc
http://hatstand.slashcity.net/ellis/airs1.html
This story grabbed me from the beginning, first, the deaths of two of Doyle’s partners – with just a tiny bit of information about each – and then the discussion about his new disguise, which matches MS’s appearance in Ladder of Swords. We learn about the op, and that Bodie’s a trapeze artist, that Ray used to be, and we’re pairing them up. Tight costumes and lots of muscles? Oh, we’re going to a happy place.
Several things made this a really good read for me:
• Buckets of research obviously went into this fic.
• The Lads are very much in character. Doyle’s stroppy and cocksure by turns; Bodie helps out old friends to the detriment of his new relationship; the Lads know exactly where each other is on the trapeze just like they do in canon on an op.
• The secondary and tertiary characters are so beautifully fleshed-out. Even the animals have personalities.
• The pacing is wonderful. I never felt any part was dragging or superfluous. There’s a lot of world-building in this fic – there has to be, how many readers are circus people? – but it’s necessary to the plot and never takes too much time in any one spot.
• The one chapter per day format gives you a feel for how busy the characters’ days are. The whole op takes only two weeks, but you get both the crazy rush of trying to put together an act in just a couple-three days when the whole circus is sharing the same rehearsal space, the thrill of an opening, and the dread that accompanies days where the attendance seems too slow to keep the circus going. And oh yeah, there’s that CI-5 undercover op thingumy of Ray’s, too.
• Oh, did I mention the great sexual tension? Ray and I both thought maybe he was never gonna get laid. But when he did… yeah, it was good. Our Lads are hot together.
A couple of things I didn’t care for:
• I thought Sergei / Alfred was a bit of a caricature. Absolutely no redeeming qualities other than that he loves the circus? And we only get a couple of instances of that.
• I also felt Sanjay (the tiger) was a bit over-romanticized. Yeah, that’s necessary for the climax, but still, after the recent ugliness in Las Vegas, San Francisco, New Zealand, Dublin, etc. we all pretty much know different. At least everyone in the fic was always on guard around Sanjay. Doyle’s fear of being locked in the cage while bleeding was appropriate, even if Sanjay’s reaction probably wasn’t. (Yes, yes, I know – willing suspension of disbelief, Gritsy.)
In all, a long read but a really satisfying one, where I was concerned.
http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/arc
http://hatstand.slashcity.net/ellis/airs1.html
This story grabbed me from the beginning, first, the deaths of two of Doyle’s partners – with just a tiny bit of information about each – and then the discussion about his new disguise, which matches MS’s appearance in Ladder of Swords. We learn about the op, and that Bodie’s a trapeze artist, that Ray used to be, and we’re pairing them up. Tight costumes and lots of muscles? Oh, we’re going to a happy place.
Several things made this a really good read for me:
• Buckets of research obviously went into this fic.
• The Lads are very much in character. Doyle’s stroppy and cocksure by turns; Bodie helps out old friends to the detriment of his new relationship; the Lads know exactly where each other is on the trapeze just like they do in canon on an op.
• The secondary and tertiary characters are so beautifully fleshed-out. Even the animals have personalities.
• The pacing is wonderful. I never felt any part was dragging or superfluous. There’s a lot of world-building in this fic – there has to be, how many readers are circus people? – but it’s necessary to the plot and never takes too much time in any one spot.
• The one chapter per day format gives you a feel for how busy the characters’ days are. The whole op takes only two weeks, but you get both the crazy rush of trying to put together an act in just a couple-three days when the whole circus is sharing the same rehearsal space, the thrill of an opening, and the dread that accompanies days where the attendance seems too slow to keep the circus going. And oh yeah, there’s that CI-5 undercover op thingumy of Ray’s, too.
• Oh, did I mention the great sexual tension? Ray and I both thought maybe he was never gonna get laid. But when he did… yeah, it was good. Our Lads are hot together.
A couple of things I didn’t care for:
• I thought Sergei / Alfred was a bit of a caricature. Absolutely no redeeming qualities other than that he loves the circus? And we only get a couple of instances of that.
• I also felt Sanjay (the tiger) was a bit over-romanticized. Yeah, that’s necessary for the climax, but still, after the recent ugliness in Las Vegas, San Francisco, New Zealand, Dublin, etc. we all pretty much know different. At least everyone in the fic was always on guard around Sanjay. Doyle’s fear of being locked in the cage while bleeding was appropriate, even if Sanjay’s reaction probably wasn’t. (Yes, yes, I know – willing suspension of disbelief, Gritsy.)
In all, a long read but a really satisfying one, where I was concerned.
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Date: 2009-07-05 03:19 pm (UTC)You are absolutely right(especially with the elephants)!
But we can observe a rethinking in the last years. Just look at zoos. There is no longer that 'as many animals as possible' thinking. They try to specialise in just a few species and try to deliver the best conditions that are possible - something a circus can't do!
Yes! - it's not perfect! Wild animals are supposed to live free... But how many of 'us' are forced to do a job/live under bone and mind breaking conditions...