How do you move in a world of fog that's always changing things?

[sovay]

I don't know what the photographer intended this composition to signify, but it looks like a male-male Little Mermaid to me:



I haven't seen Hans Christian Andersen (1952) since I was in middle school at the latest. It was almost certainly one of my introductions to Danny Kaye, the other, more lasting imprints being The Court Jester (1956) and my grandmother's stories. I recognize but do not entirely remember most of the songs by Frank Loesser, although I make an exception for "Wonderful Copenhagen," which can get stuck in my head for weeks. I don't know if it would hold up to rewatch (I worry less about the Suck Fairy per se than the Twee Fairy). In any case, while I know the musical explicitly represents itself as fantasia rather than biography, from the time I learned anything of Andersen's actual biography it has always burned me that the film has Kaye's Andersen composing "The Little Mermaid" out of unrequited love for the ballerina played by Zizi Jeanmaire, when the real-life Andersen found some romantic fulfillment with the ballet dancer Harald Scharff. I recognize it's not every day that someone's life gets more tragic when it gets more straight, but still.

It's not that I am not aware of the current politics; I am not posting much about them because I am trying to survive most of them. In things I have read today in news outlets which pleased me, Anthony Lane has checked his usual distaste for anything resembling science fiction or fantasy and loves The Shape of Water (2017).

Comments

[thisbluespirit]

but it looks like a male-male Little Mermaid to me:

It does rather.


This has nothing to do with anything here, but I keep meaning to say and waiting for an appropriate place to say it, but would you like a recs list for interesting & good S&S fic? (I have a very thorough set of bookmarks fully maintained from 2012 to at least 2015 and am a frustrated librarian, so this is not a problem for me, quite the reverse, but obv. you may not want such a thing!)

[sovay]

This has nothing to do with anything here, but I keep meaning to say and waiting for an appropriate place to say it, but would you like a recs list for interesting & good S&S fic?

I would, and thank you for asking. I spent most of last night on the couch reading Tanith Lee and Bruce Robinson, and could always use more things to curl up with.

S&S Recs List (pt1)

[thisbluespirit]

\o/ There is, you will be glad to hear, lots of very interesting and very good S&S fic out there, and it is always highly intriguing to see how differently everyone approaches the sheer strangeness of it. (I'll try to make this manageable, though!)

Missing assignments etc.
Entitled by Nope (Teen, 6228 words. Sapphire, Steel, Silver.) Sapphire and Steel are assigned to a Time breakout in a library.

The Green Girl by Mab (Teen, 2696 words. Sapphire, Steel.) An assignment for Sapphire and Steel set before the beginning of the series. (Mab or mab_brown has written several more similar pieces, all excellent. If you like this, I can recommend them all.)

A Warrior Knows by Uncle Charlie (spikesgirl58 on AO3 & elsewhere) (K, 4439 words. Sapphire, Steel, Silver, a Transuranic element) Somehow, the Terra Cotta figures Od Xi'an are walking and Sapphire and Steel are not only confronted with a sizable army of well armed warriors, but also a weasel within their own ranks. (Some of her fic can be a bit too humanly Sapphire/Steel for me on occasion & varies, but she also has many more missing assignments like this & is very active in the fandom & friendly.)

Shattered Reflections by amaresu (Teen, 1122 words. Sapphire, Steel.) Can you make somebody stay when they want to leave? (The author has a couple of other similar ficlets, all v elusive and good.)

Lieder ohne Worte by eponymous_rose (G, 1365 words. Sapphire, Steel.) He and she and an abandoned music hall: a solitary performer plays for an empty audience, keeping Time.

Now You See It by Thia (G, 5817 words. Sapphire, Steel). The delight of stage magic is that it isn't real.

The Angler by john_amend_all (G, 1330 words. Silver.) Silver diverts himself with a little quiet fishing. (john_amend_all has also written a few more like this, also a bunch of ficlets and crossovers. Probably the most similar in this vein is Field Repair).

Daisy Bell by Nemo_the_Everbeing (Teen, 32,278 words. Sapphire, Steel, Silver, Diamond, Radium.) In 1979, Sapphire and Steel arrive at the Howard Street Hospital to investigate a time break. They have a chance encounter with the receptionist, Daisy. In 1999, Diamond, Radium, and Silver arrive at the Howard Street Hospital to investigate a time break. They have a chance encounter with the receptionist, Daisy.

Things Are Not When They Appear by Aris Merquoni (Teen, Sapphire, Steel.) Sapphire and Steel are sent to investigate a breach--but they arrive to find that they may have already failed.

Days Go By and Still I Think of You by Kittenmommy (G, 681 words. Steel, Sapphire.) Sometimes, things just seem to slip through our fingers.

Green, Red and Gold, and Blue Follows by kaffyr (G, 1015 words. Sapphire, Steel.) It was a terrible gift to have to give, and she was honoring it. (Kaffyr has written several other pieces and I would imagine you would probably enjoy most of them as they are all pretty beautiful and she enjoys Elements and their strangeness - some of them are crossovers I mean, so accessibility may vary, not the fic quality!)

S&S recs List (pt2)

[thisbluespirit]

Post-Assignment 6
(Because obviously there are plenty of fixits and non-fixits of all kinds!)

Sea Changes by raven (Not Rated, 2229 words. Sapphire, Steel.) Getting out of the cafe; or, the inhumanity of Sapphire and Steel.

Time in a Bottle (Teen, 1000 words. Sapphire, Steel.) It's difficult to pass the time, when neither you nor time are moving. In the end, all you can do is wait.

After the Assignment, Us (Teen, 2000 words. Sapphire/Silver/Steel.) There's three, even when there's two.

All at Sea by DesertScribe (G, 2789 words. Silver, Sapphire, Steel.) Where is Silver at the end of Assignment Six? Why, he's working to save Sapphire and Steel, of course. Well, that's the plan at least. Before he can do that, he needs to save himself.

Pull the Handle by orockthro (G, 1013 words. Silver, Diamond.) They’ve lost. But that’s what makes gambling fun, Sapphire said it herself. The game thrives on repeat customers and playing the odds with the understanding that losses are anticipated, but that there is always still hope. He pulls the coin from his pocket and looks at it from the dim light of the oppressive concrete box he’s in. He can sense Diamond not far away. He’s drawing her attention; he’ll have to move fast.

Silver Lining by JJPOR (All ages, 3606 words. Silver, Seventh Doctor, Ace.) Even the most seemingly insoluble problem has a solution...somewhere in time and space... (A crossover, but first and foremost a post-Assignment Six fic, and I know already that you're familiar with Seven & Ace, so I thought it should go here.)

Quiet and Peace (an Epilogue in Dialogue) by deejay (G, 1789 words. Sapphire, Steel, Silver, lots of other Elements.) Post series cliffhanger episode "The Trap" ~ an addendum epilogue in dialogue form.

A Happy Irregularity by icarus_chained (G, 812 words. Sapphire, Silver, Steel, other Elements.) Better late than never. In the aftermath of Assignment #6, Silver comes to the rescue, with a little help.

So o'er a pint I asked how he by Clocketpatch (G, Drabble. Silver.) Silver wishes things could go back to the way they used to be.

(Hopefully this list isn't getting too long, but the majority of the pieces are very short, and it was helpful to break it up so that I didn't outrun the comment limit at awkward points. But 1 or 2 more parts to come at most!)

S&S Recs List (pt3)

[thisbluespirit]

Vignettes, shipping, & exploring Elements
Corridors by phantomlistener (G, 433 words. Sapphire, Steel.) Time whispers permanently in the back of her mind, growing stronger if she lets down her barriers to probe its recent past, and developing in to a harsh ache when she encounters those broken tiles. (The author has a similar tiny gem: i'll be waiting for you.)

Night Thoughts by Allerleirauh (G, 890 words. Sapphire/Silver/Steel.) Steel muses about elements, elemental powers and his role in the grand scheme of things. (This author also has a lot more, all v interesting.)

Look and See by sophiap (PG, 1200 words. Sapphire/Steel.) What does Sapphire see when she looks at her partner?

Even such is time by azdak (Sapphire, Steel.)

dare to eat a peach by moriwen (G, 1736 words. Sapphire/Silver/Steel.) Time is like a corridor, where three may walk abreast.

Safe by silver_sandals (K, 528 words. Silver/Sapphire/Steel.) After the conclusion of a dangerous case, Sapphire and Steel are glad that Silver is safe.

And this Gray Spirit by nemo_the_everbeing (G, 630 words. Steel.) Steel doesn't envy Silver for any of the obvious reasons.

Blue by Lurky Mclurklurk (All ages, 1181 words. Sapphire/TARDIS.) Sapphire and Steel crossover: TARDIS/Sapphire.

Something New by eponymous_rose (G, 702 words. Sapphire, Steel.) Before and after the work, the duty, the cold.

Be Here by girlintheglen (G, 594 words. Sapphire/Steel.) A moment in time. Can Steel simply be?

something lifts towards a light by raven (Not Rated, 944 words. Sapphire/Steel.) Three times they tried it the human way.

transgressive sight by incandescens (PG, 413 words. Sapphire/Steel.) how much does Sapphire really see?

Encounters With Elements by astrogirl (G, 1122 words. Sapphire, Steel.) Five brief glimpses of Sapphire and Steel, through the eyes of others.

Mirrors by eponymous_rose (G, Drabble. Silver, Steel.) Reflections and refractions; together, they bend the light.

S&S Recs List (pt4)

[thisbluespirit]

Crossovers
(Given the go-anywhere nature of the fandom, there are quite a few good crossovers too. I went for ones that either don't matter if you know both, or which I know you know.)

The Potter's Field by Annariel (Teen, 4215 words. Silver, Claudia Brown. Crossover with Primeval.) (Basically a missing assignment, really. Annariel has written quite a few other good S&S pieces, but they are mainly crossovers with Classic Who, which may depend on how much of it you know, or mind not knowing about. But all good stuff.)

The Glade by Wiccagirl24 (All ages, 5807 words. Sapphire, Steel, Seventh Doctor, Ace. Crossover with Doctor Who.) Sapphire and Steel are assigned to investigate a snow covered glade where something has gone wrong with time. The Doctor and Ace are drawn to the same place, but for them it's spring and the flowers are in bloom. An angry man, a sobbing woman, a mystery.

Echoes by fog_shadow (G, 2811 words. Sapphire, Steel, Maria Absalom. Crossover with Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.) Sapphire and Steel investigate curious happenings in a ruinous house.

Of Angels and Elementals by Allerleirauh (Teen, 65,142 words. Silver/Steel, Lord Asriel. Crossover with His Dark Materials.) Steel and Silver have been assigned. Their destination: Oxford. Upon their arrival they soon discover that they’ve stumbled into a trap — a trap specifically designed to capture an elemental. The question is what is more perilous? Steel realising that he is slowly turning human, Silver discovering that he’s somehow ended up as Steel’s dæmon, or the fact that a dark shadow is transforming innocent school-boys into statues?


Other
After the Last Bus by john_amend_all (G, 800 words. Sapphire/Steel.) Sapphire and Steel's latest assignment has taken longer than they expected. The obligatory coffee shop AU. :-D

Time's Transients by thisiszircon (Teen, 58,769 words. Sapphire, Steel, Jet, Silver.) The Transient Beings have escaped from their prison in the past. Through a sequence of distractions and deceptions they have imprisoned Sapphire and Steel in an impossible cafe, adrift in the lonely expanses of space. The universe is about to become the plaything of the Transients: somewhere to indulge their insatiable capacity for cruelty and malevolence. All life is at risk, now. Fortunately, there is still a glimmer of hope: a Silver glimmer. (A long A6 fic, which looks good - I just haven't managed to read it yet, so can't rec it properly.)

Also, while I wouldn't normally put my own stuff in a recs list, I am responsible for an embarrassing no. of the fic on AO3, including a mass of ficlets, so it's not as if you could easily rifle through it. But I think these are either interesting or worked out well:
Of Elements and Existence (S&S/Discworld crossover)
The Rose Garden (Sapphire/Silver/Steel)
In Darkness (Silver, post-canon, for Yuletide)
Cul-de-sac (No hawkers, traders, cold callers, canvassers or purveyors of religious knowledge) (I'm not sure what to call this one. The not-an-AU because S&S, I think.)
The Cornfield (Silver/Steel and how to S&S a sex pollen prompt)
Quadrangle (Missing assignment)
A Tear the Sun Lets Fall (Full on OC Elemental weirdness.)
(Etc. Etc. So much. /o\ I can link you quite a few more if you like them.)

ETA: And that's it! Most S&S fic is somewhere in the decent to amazing range, so I just went for making sure most of the main authors were represented (hopefully) and otherwise focusing on ones that emphasise the strangeness of it, rather than ones that humanise Sapphire & STeel. (There are quite a few of those and I can point you in the right direction if you're interested, although I naturally have less of those bookmarked. I just assumed you'd be more interested in the former.) Have fun, I hope you enjoy a few of them.

Re: S&S Recs List (pt4)

[sovay]

Have fun, I hope you enjoy a few of them.

Thank you! I've encountered a couple of these before—"Daisy Bell" was astonishing—but not the vast majority, and I look forward.

Re: S&S Recs List (pt4)

[thisbluespirit]

Yeah, that one is pretty outstanding. There are some shorter things that are amazing, too, but nothing else of both that length and excellence that I've come across yet. But that's a pretty high bar!