probodie ([info]probodie) wrote in [info]ci5hq,
@ 2006-09-18 23:59:00
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Current mood: content
Entry tags:rec - online stories, rec - zine stories

Pros recc
Title: Suitable Gravity
Author: DVS
Link: Not sure if it's online, sorry
Zine: Lovers 5
Permission to archive at Palely Loitering: Yes, if you wish



This story is amazingly good.

I started reading it, and thought - oh well, because it's in this zine I've bought, I'd better read it. But my plan was to sell it because the other story I wasnt bothered about. Changed my mind, didnt I?

The premise is this: Doyle is a Pro, about to get married (or matched, as they call it) to Ann Holly who is a Higher, but AH calls the match off, just as they are supposed to leave on their honeymoon to Mars. Yep, it's sort-of sci-fi. Bear with me.

He decides to try and sell his other ticket, and go on his own. Unfortunately, to him anyway, he meets up with a bloke called Bodie, who turns out to be ex-Army, AND works for George Cowley in CI5...not the organisation we know and love, per se. Bodie is running from some men who work for Con Coogan. They get chatting in the queue for the shuttle to Mars, and it basically ends up them 'matching' in order for Bodie to escape the clutches of the henchmen.

But along the way, Bodie confesses his attraction to Doyle and although reluctant at first, eventually Doyle gives in ('all matched couples are expected to behave like this at first'), and they have sex. Eventually it does turn into love, but not without much thought and worry, and a dash of trouble from other quarters.

It's a wonderful story and one I completely expected to hate. Not that I hate DVS's stories, because I dont - I just dont usually like very AU/sci-fi based fic. But I sat and read it all tonight, straight through.

Now I just want to read it again...very unusual for me. But it just caught my attention and held it, and I would say to anyone who is wavering to give it a chance.


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[info]phantomas
2006-09-18 11:23 pm UTC (link)
It's one of my favourite top 5 Pros stories, because it's SO complete, so true to the characters, even if an AU version of them, and so balanced, in plot, emotions, hotness...I adore it :D
and yes, I re-read it regularly, and always with the same pleasure :D

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[info]probodie
2006-09-18 11:25 pm UTC (link)
You are so right - the characterisation is spot on, despite the AU-ness (new word LOL).

I cant wait to read it again :-)

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[info]faramir_boromir
2006-09-19 01:46 am UTC (link)
I just got this zine in the mail recently, and was a little dismayed, like you, because AU/sci-fi stories usually leave me cold. But I read it, and was drawn into the story and it was terrific, just as you say. I have no intention of parting with this zine, especially since the first story is by Ellis Ward and is likewise unexpected and very very good.

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[info]probodie
2006-09-19 02:57 pm UTC (link)
If I could separate the two stories I would, and get rid of Ellis Ward's, because that is one story I have read once and once is quite enough. I didnt enjoy it, to be honest.

But the zine is worth keeping for the second story.

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[info]rosie55
2006-09-19 12:52 pm UTC (link)
I like AUs so this sounds just up my street but - rats (or should that be mice, BSL? *BG*!) - it isn't in the Circuit Archive nor in The Hatstand. And no-one has it listed among the secondhand zines lists I've checked so far. I shall put it on my "Wanted list" - if anyone has a copy they'd be willing to sell or loan, I'd be eternally grateful.
I gather there are zine conventions from time to time. How does one find out about these or get an invitation? It would have to be in the UK! Any pointers welcome.

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[info]probodie
2006-09-19 03:09 pm UTC (link)
Have you tried the Rondeau's site? Link is http://www.crossovers.net/makeitgoaway/AdultNon.htm That's where I got my copy from, they may have another one.

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[info]rosie55
2006-09-19 04:37 pm UTC (link)
Thanks so much, [info]probodie, I hadn't seen this site before, have added it to my list of places to try. Lovers5 is still listed so I've sent off an e-mail and will see whether they still have it. They have quite long lists - could get carried away there!
What a helpful lot you are!

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[info]probodie
2006-09-19 05:11 pm UTC (link)
Well, they havent updated for a while, so it may be that the Lovers5 is the one I've just bought. However, keep checking because they do get new zines in.

What places do you use, may I ask?

And do you mind if I friend you?

Ooh and before I dash off, there is a lending library type thing, run by a lady called Sara Slinn, whereby you can join and pay so much 'on account' and get zines to read and return on a monthly basis, and it's really excellent.

If you want more info on this, feel free to email me.

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[info]rosie55
2006-09-19 05:18 pm UTC (link)
Worth a try anyway! Fannish Flea, Waveney and, don't know how I missed it but I did have the Rondeau site listed but may have linked to a different page. I'm still fairly new to the zine side and I've just ordered a couple of zines from Sara Slinn but didn't know about the lending library - sounds brilliant, thanks for that. (Drools at thought of monthly zines!!)
I'd be delighted if you friended me, I will friend you also if that's ok.
Cheers!

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[info]probodie
2006-09-19 05:52 pm UTC (link)
Now I really have to ask - what zines have you ordered??

And thanks, just off to do so :-)

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[info]rosie55
2006-09-19 09:30 pm UTC (link)
I've ordered Unprofessional conduct 1 and Yellow brick Road, plus Jigsaw
puzzle by HG. I know Jigsaw Puzzle is on the Circuit Archive but I keep going back to re-read this one, so I'm splashing out on a hard copy. "Yellow brick road" has been recced to me by a couple of people and UC1 because Sebastian's Perfect Day was highly recced (and the other writers are all pretty good, too!). You probably gather I do like longer stories!
The kids are both off away at the end of this week - one to London, one to Cornwall, so I'm anticipating some nice long dark evenings curled up with a good book! ;-)

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[info]probodie
2006-09-19 09:32 pm UTC (link)
OOh lovely. I have UC1 and YBR and both I really enjoyed. You'll have to let me know what you think of JP, if you will :-)

May I recommend, if you havent already got them, Fruit of the Spirit by Cherilyn (the ONLY zine I bought, read and straight away re-read), and O Yardley's Injured Innocents, which is fabulous.

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[info]rosie55
2006-09-20 02:12 am UTC (link)
Hey, thanks for that - it's difficult to know where to start with zines so I love getting recs. I see that Sara lists both of these so next time I feel in need of a little spending spree, I'll get these.
The description says JP is re-worked so it will be interesting to read it and see how different it is. I love the on-line version with the alienated lads, the h/c, the making up - and some lovely funny bits, too.
Thanks for the suggestions.

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[info]rosie55
2006-10-15 08:03 pm UTC (link)
Having devoured those zines, I have taken your suggestion and ordered these two! Have also enquired about the Lending Library.
Interestingly I didn't enjoy YBR as much as I expected to - not sure why. I've read a couple of others by KM and none of them quite do it for me. I will read it again, see whether it appeals more a second time.
UC1 could be the start of a collection, I think, if the others in the series are as good.
Jigsaw Puzzle? Not sure whether you've read this one? Well, as I said elsewhere, I've read this several times - it's on the Proslib CD, of course, not on CA or Hatstand, along with 39 others by HG which I must finish reading! Away on hol for a few days, I had more leisurely time to re-read it and confirmed my feeling that this one is be my current favourite story.
Why? Well. I'm not terribly good at this criticism lark, but I suppose I like the way the characters develop and grow through the story, how they both have to confront their problems and overcome them, I like the realism. In a lot of stories, one of them is shot or terribly injured and, within a very short time, they are fully recovered and back to full fitness. Well, you're in the medical profession, I gather, so you'd know better than me, but it always seems to me that it takes a while to recover from really major stuff like that and that you don't come back exactly the same sometimes. So I liked the realism of the recovered but altered Ray. You're not the author, are you? There did seem to be some medical knowledge in there - the lung problem Ray has, etc.
The characterisation seems spot on to me, they read like the Lads to me, nothing jarrs as I read. And that goes for Cowley, Murphy and others, all spot on.
I like an angry Bodie, too who just can't cope with his need for Ray, nor without him. And it resolves itself and moves on so you can imagine the older lads (and older lads are a favourite of mine!).
Right, well, I'll just go and start it again, I think!
Thanks for the recs. I've also asked Sara Slinn aboout the lending library arrangement but I think I'll buy a zine or two a month to build my collection!

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[info]probodie
2006-10-15 08:12 pm UTC (link)
Glad you liked most of the recs. Havent read jigsaw puzzle yet - at least, I dont think so. Have the CD so going to have to look it up.

YBR is good, but I do prefer FotS, and II - both for me are spot on.

Medically they can do lots these days, but back then, you are right; they probably wouldnt be fully recovered for a long while, and quite possibly wouldnt recover fully.

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[info]justacat
2006-09-22 03:16 am UTC (link)
Just fyi ... Suitable Gravity will be online soon!!! :-)

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[info]rosie55
2006-09-22 12:41 pm UTC (link)
Thanks very much for letting me know - and thanks for the fantastic job you do with the Archive. New (especially long) stories are one of the bright spots to look forward to but I also enjoy the random button - have found a lot of writers I like that way!

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[info]justacat
2006-09-22 07:02 pm UTC (link)
Okay, it's up there now!!

And thanks for your kind words about the archive - I'm really so glad to hear you're enjoying it ... :-)

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[info]rosie55
2006-09-23 11:30 pm UTC (link)
Yes, I see what you all mean. And I hope you all realise I didn't get to bed until 3am last night because I couldn't bear not to finish it!! (Yawns! Thank goodness it went up on a Friday so I could have a late night and not have to think about work the next morning). And I think I may have to read it again, err...soon!
Rather like The Cook and the Warehouseman which took me by surprise when I first read that because I don't normally like science fiction at all but both of these have fascinated me with such imagination! Of course, anything with the lads has a head start, whatever the genre!
Thank you all for reccing and making it available online!

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[info]probodie
2006-09-22 06:33 pm UTC (link)
Excellent news. Thanks for that, Justacat.

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[info]justacat
2006-09-22 07:04 pm UTC (link)
Okay, it's up there, as you might have seen ... I wonder if it's worth putting a note up on this comm - or maybe I'll just respond to the people who left comments indicating they wanted to read it, just in case they're not on the [info]circuit_archive list.

And btw, I really loved this story too, much to my surprise. I wasn't all that excited when I started - but I ended up reading it three times in a row (plus about three more times when I scanned and proofread it!), and ... I can't explain it; I just loved it! So hot, and yet sweet, and so satisfying ... really one of her best, I think!

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[info]probodie
2006-09-22 07:06 pm UTC (link)
I almost *almost* didnt read it, because I thought it wasnt going to be my thing, but boy am I glad I did.

I shall post an addendum to this on the list/my LJ so people know it's up there, and thanks again.

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[info]kiwisue
2006-09-19 01:08 pm UTC (link)
I so want to read this now! But according to the list on Hatstand the zine, from Chained-to-the-Typewriter Press, is OOP. So I guess, like [info]rosie55, I'm stuck for the moment :-(

Unless there's a plan to put it on line soon - there was an older one by the same author archived recently, so there's hope.

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[info]probodie
2006-09-19 03:09 pm UTC (link)
I hope so, for all your sakes, because it's so worth reading.

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[info]kiwisue
2006-09-20 10:31 pm UTC (link)
I just ordered the last copy from the Rondeau site ! Wheee!

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[info]hagsrus
2006-09-19 09:18 pm UTC (link)
It's being worked on for the Circuit Archive, and will go to Proslib too. May be a while, though.

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[info]justacat
2006-09-22 07:05 pm UTC (link)
Just fyi, in case you don't follow [info]circuit_archive - I've just posted this story to the archive; coincidentally, I'd just recently finished scanning and proofreading it, and in light of this discussion, I figured now would be a good time to archive it! So enjoy! (I love it too, btw.)

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[info]ancastar
2006-09-23 07:22 pm UTC (link)
Thanks to Probodie for rec'ing this and Jess for taking the time to put it online. This was =fabulous=! I loved the characterizations, the snarkiness of the relationship, the way the writer was able to create a world by giving us just enough info to get our bearings, the action--all of it! It was a marvelous read.

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[info]paris7am
2006-09-24 02:24 pm UTC (link)
I too was enthralled by SG - a wonderful wonderful read. Pros SciFi AUs seem too improbable to me before I begin them, but our authors are so good, they end up being some of the best stories ever. Thank you for recommending, Probodie and Justacat for putting it up at the Circuit. There's another very sleepy but ecstatic Pros fan out in the world today...

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