Yuletide

[cyphomandra]

Thanks so much for doing this! I really look forward to seeing what you've written, and I hope you have a good experience writing it. I've copied my request details below, but just to let you know that where I've selected characters it's based on a desire to see them as important to the story, but that doesn't mean they have to be the protagonists (or even there!) as long as they're significant in some way. One of the things that holds true for all of the fandoms requested is that, in the source material, the characters are integral parts of their world; even when they try and change things, there's still an acknowledgment that they're very much part of the thing they're attacking. I like that a lot, and if you find a way to remind me of it for whichever world you chose I'll be thrilled.

Copying this over again from previous years –in general terms I like plot (particularly if you can surprise me with characters doing consistent but unexpected things), humour, and justified angst, not necessarily all at the same time. I can cope with unhappy endings without slitting my wrists and am in fact rather fond of the Casablanca-style bittersweet resolution. I'd prefer something not written in the present tense, but if you do that and make me like it I will respect you even more. I am not really after explicit sex, although could certainly see it as part of either the Vinge or Barnett/Scott requests if appropriate for the characters – with Hands Off!, I’m probably happier with the subtext level of the story, unless it’s in the future. And I would prefer not to contemplate sex and the Moomins if possible!

But anyway, all of these are just suggestions and you should feel free to ignore them if the story that fires you with enthusiasm is from somewhere else entirely (and along those lines – wildly out there formats, prequels, sequels, extrapolations etc are also fair game).

And I don’t know if this is helpful – sometimes I really like reading things that I could never have written – but my previous Yuletide stories can be found here. I've written for Yuletide three times now - An Unwilling Heart (Diane Duane’s Young Wizards), Good and Faithful (Robin McKinley’s Damar) and Body of Work (David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas).

Requests:

Joan Vinge, The snow queen

I love what Vinge did with this universe, all the different cultures and customs, and the way so many possibilities get picked up and expanded throughout the stories (the sibyls especially), and really, I'd be happy with anything more set there. But BZ Gundhalinu is my favourite character - I love that archetype, the agent of a dubious order who none the less struggles to define and do good - and centring the story on him would make me even happier. Before Tiamat, maybe - another planet? - or when he first started working with Jerusha, or after the end of the series - anything would be great.

Lisa A Barnett and Melissa Scott, Point series

I love the magic, the city and the politics, and also the fact that despite all this going on, much of the tension in the second book is due to Eslingen being forced to move in with Rathe sooner than their developing relationship may be able to bear. I was very sorry to hear of Lisa Barnett's death.

A glimpse of the world and the characters is all I'm looking for - a short case would be great, but so would a more domestic moment (food is always good), especially if there's magic involved in an unexpected manner.

Hands off!

Despite the fact that I've only got around to mentioning v1-4 on my lj, I've read the whole series. I love all three leads, and the way the story manages to balance humour with its darker themes. Basically, I'm looking for the chance to catch up with the characters again (within or after the series), whether or not they're doing anything more than arguing...

And I'm unhappy with Kotarou forgetting what happened at the ending, so if you felt like fixing that I'd be thrilled!

Tove Jansson, Moomins

I don't think you could do anything wrong here (although please don't see that as a challenge!). I've loved the Moomins for a very long time, and anything that gets even close to their mix of sadness and humour would be amazing. Moomintroll is my favourite, so I'd like him to at least show up, but anything - day-to-day life, family history, another disaster, or just a quiet moment on a beach at dusk.


(oh, and for the first time ever, I'm not in a different country when the archive goes live (city yes, country no), so will comment as soon as I can without having to deal with absent internet and bizarre keyboard variants)

Comments

[orannia.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

Ohhh, I look forward to seeing what you write :)