selenak

Last day of the year, and last part of my Yuletide recs. Given this news about Terry Prattchet, what better fandom to start them off with than Discworld? (Though given how unhappy Vimes was about the Patrician making him a duke...)

Discworld:

Entering with intent: if you thought the Hogsfather had it tough in Hogswatch, just wait until you read about his encounter with Sam Vimes...

End of the Day: Vimes post-Night Watch; captures the spirit of this arguably most serious Watch novel perfectly.

Queen of the Cats: containing an actual adventure plot, the cast of both the Witch and the Watch novels, an awesome Granny and Sam Vimes taking-each-other's-measure scene, Sybil being awesome and a very plausible Young Sam, worthy of being the offspring of Sybil and Vimes. I felt like cheering out loud.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles:

Joseki: Cameron and Sarah, Cameron and John. A Cameron pov of the Connors that captures both their messed upness and need to hope.

Tell me how this ends: The beginning is the end is the beginning in this story which starts post-Judgment Day and ends in the show's present, offering glimpses of Martin Bedell, both Reese brothers, Allison, John Connor in the future, Cameron and finally John in the present. It captures the great paradox of this show - that its backstory, forming the characters, is actually the future it tries to prevent - along with the characters it chooses.

Cinderella, Made of Steel: Cameron and Sarah have a strange relationship in that Sarah goes out of her way to avoid having one, never forgetting the danger Cameron poses, and yet depends on her, teaming up with her more and more. This story, another Cameron pov which gets her growing sentience right without ever sentimentalizing her, explores her interaction with Sarah the way few stories do (and has a great, great punchline).

Arthurian Legend:

What is and what seems to be: One of the most original takes on Guinevre I've ever come across. In this story, she starts out as a Saxon princess named Cyneswith, and the role she eventually chooses will surprise you and yet make complete sense. I loved it, and I don't look usually to Guinevre as my focus of interest.