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  1. Rec *

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    Summary

    Communication is hard, ten years after tragedy. Tom grew up, and Alex got older. The trouble is in the difference between those things.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    11,424
    Chapters:
    1/1
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    Comments:
    34
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    625
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    17 Oct 2022

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    Bookmarker's Notes

    For a long time I thought it was impossible to write good Alex Rider fics. The original material did not really allow for romance (I refuse to even think about Yassen in that context) and I didn’t really see how to do Gen fics well either. I feel like we don’t know anything about who Alex is, which is kind of ironic after 10+ novels, a movie and a TV show. AH does not in my view tell us enough about Alex’s character to allow writers to extrapolate. His writing is more plot-driven than character-driven.

    So this is the first time I actually read an AR fic in its entirety and, to me, it’s just perfect. The jump in the future works perfectly and the relationship between Alex and Tom felt utterly real. I’d love to read more about a jaded mid-20s Alex clumsily trying to connect with his best friend.

  2. Rec *

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    Summary

    It’s a whole new season for Samwell men’s hockey, with plenty of new challenges. Dex is struggling to stay on top of things as their newly minted captain, while also navigating new territory in his and Nursey’s relationship – which is so good, and sometimes even wonderful, but still just a lot. Meanwhile, something is definitely up with Whiskey, and it’s either got something to do with that cute boy in his statistics class or the increased attention from those NHL scouts. Either way, Dex thinks he just might know how to give Whiskey a push in the right direction. Sometimes the best way to take care of yourself is by having others to care for, too.

    Still, it’s one tough season, filled with expectations to meet, traditions to uphold and an unexpected abundance of scones. Between classes and practice and kegsters, there’s only so much time to stop and think and feel. As Dex and Whiskey continue on their own paths, their journeys often intertwining in moments of friendship and trust, they both find out what it really means to have someone’s back, but also how difficult it can be to stay true to yourself. What happens when you need to make a choice between who you are, and who you’ve always wanted to be?

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    47,358
    Chapters:
    26/26
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    535
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    116
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    25 Dec 2020

    Bookmarker's Collections:
    Bookmarker's Notes

    The one thing that for me singles out OMGCP from all the other fandoms I’ve been involved in for the last fifteen years or so is how it allows so many different characters to shine. Almost all characters seem to have generated at least one novel-length fic that explores one aspect of their personality or one part of their lives the comic only hints at (be it Jack or Kent after the overdose, Bitty's Georgian teen years,.....). It’s probably a consequence of both the inspiring characteristics Ngozi gave to her characters and the quality of the writers drawn to them.

    In the comic, Connor is not a massive presence but he seems to be by far the character most written about in 2020. This fic is the second I read that is centered around him and it does everything I want and look for in a character-driven fic. It gives me an insight into who he is and what he wants from life.

    The Dex portrayed here is quite similar to the character described in past fics so even though he’s great too, it’s this version of Whisk I mostly take from it.

  3. Public Bookmark 11

    Words:
    23,599
    Works:
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    Bookmarks:
    11

    07 Jun 2018

    Bookmarker's Notes

    Great story about Kent Parson's semi-forced coming out. Other characters from OMGCP make only somewhat brief appearances but there is in the middle of the story a discussion between Jack and Kent about their respective situations that rang very true to me.

    To be fair, the story would benefit tremendously from a good beta reading. There is a number of spelling mistakes that muddle the meaning of some sentences but the story in itself is strong enough to get the reader to disregard it.

    It obviously calls for sequels too.

  4. Rec *

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    It’s almost funny. All he ever wanted was to play hockey, to play in the NHL, to win the Cup. This—Samwell, the team, the Haus—was supposed to be just a detour, but now it feels more like a destination he failed to realize he’s already reached.

    (Or: Jack signs with the Falconers, graduates, and leaves. It's the hardest thing he's ever done. What comes after is even harder.)

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    157,904
    Chapters:
    20/20
    Comments:
    2,274
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    126,195

    04 Feb 2018

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    Bookmarker's Notes

    This is one of the first fics I read in this fandom, and it was I think a pretty good introduction to these characters. Both sets of parents play a significant role while both Georgia and Canada are the locations of key scenes. The relationship between Jack and his parents, especially Bad Bob, is thoughtfully described as well as the that of Kent with all Zimmermanns. Eric's teenage years in Georgia are also touched upon, most notably with one memorable scene with Simon, described as his teenage crush, that would in itself call for a whole other story.

    Most SMH players from the first two generations appear heavily (Ransom, Holster, Shitty, Lardo, but also Dex, Nurse and Chowder). It looks like the fic was finished before later characters were introduced by Ngozi (no mention of Tater for instance)

    It is also notable by its use of LJ and Tumblr posts, tweets and instant messages as ways of telling the story. The comments written to these posts show the author has more than a passing familiarity with fandom workings. You also have within the fic recommendations to what is, from that perspective, RPF works, which are so well-done that the fact that they don't exist is a bit crushing.

    In that same universe, the author wrote nine other stories (one of which is likely never to be finished) that flesh out even further the universe, most notably by telling the story from Kent's perspective (Nate plays the Swoops-like role here since Ngozi had yet to introduce him) or imagining Jack's later life as captain of the Falconers.

    The writing is mostly very good, despite a few jarring POV changes that could possibly have been made clearer (but I only write this as to appear somewhat objective).