Yuletide 2023 – gifts and recs

First, my gifts! I had two gifts in the main collection, and a Yuletide Madness drabble.

A Time Worth Living – Dragonriders of Pern, 1.4k, 1st Pass AU. This is a crunchy piece of worldbuilding that explores how the first dragonriders coped with the full brunt of the first pass, staving off the bad timelines through a persistent application of time-loops. It steps away from the closed time-loop mechanic that most of Pern canon uses, but honestly, more fics should play with that. What I liked best about this fic: characterisation of Sean, and the sense of weight and depth to the background setting and communities.

born as hatched – Dragonriders of Pern, 2.5k, Mirrim. This is the current best-loved Pern fic in this year’s exchange, and deservedly so. It really nails Mirrim’s strengths and flaws with so much heartfelt understanding, and it literally made me cry through compassion for her. Brilliant. I’m expecting to recognise the author of this one on reveals, maybe?

that which issues from the heart alone – Blood on the Clocktower, 100w, Chambermaid & Mezepheles. This is pure catnip for me: loyalty, friendship, betrayal, sacrifice, moral event horizons. Author, how you managed to do this in 100 words of gen, I do not know, but damn.

Recs:

Adios – Aliens, 1.6k, Vasquez. Great worldbuilding, a very effective use of time loops, and just a really crunchy and fun to read fic

Rise in Harmony – Dragonriders of Pern, 500w, Robinton/Menolly. A sweet AU where both Impress at Benden, staying true to character and really showcasing Menolly’s independence and agency in her affection for Robinton.

Soul Clap its Hands and Sing – Sarantine Mosaic, 1.9k, Shirin and Danis. Theatre history! Magic birds! Stunning work, exploring where art, love and pragmatism meet.

The Company You Keep – The Dark is Rising Sequence, 14k, Will, Bran and Jane. Exploration of the Watcher’s loneliness and the relationships between the characters as they move into their later lives.

All Things Honking and Horrible – All Creatures Great and Small, 2k, James Herriot. IT IS A LOVELY DAY IN THE VILLAGE AND YOU ARE A HORRIBLE GOOSE THAT EVEN DEMONS SHY AWAY FROM. ’nuff said. But the piece de resistance is how James handles the whole situation with professional competence while completely nonplussed…when Siegfried is expecting it to break his nerve.

A Confluence of Magnetic Poles – His Dark Materials, 9k, Scoresby, Pekkala, Byrnison. Friendship and politics, written convincingly and with great worldbuilding. I really enjoyed this.

The Eye of a Needle – Agatha Christie’s Poirot, 4.5k, Daemon AU. Brilliantly done.