Ill Met By Moonlight, by Naomi Prince (PG-13)

[marycrawford.livejournal.com]

Fandom: HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: naomi1642
Author Website: The Less Than Legendary Journeys
Why this must be read:

Naomi Prince's stories balance between sharp-witted humor and a solid, serious adventure plot, and the characterization is always excellent. 'Ill Met By Moonlight' is one of her best, managing to be grim and hilarious by turns : the plot features a hapless journalist who wants to interview Hercules and gets dragged headlong into a nightmarish adventure concerning a midnight race, the goddess Hecate, a townful of ghosts and a pack of undead dogs.

I love stories where you get an outsider's perspective on the heroes' relationship, and the journalist's increasingly bewildered response to Hercules and Iolaus is priceless. Plus, there's the oh-so-married bickering between Hercules and Iolaus - why yes, I have a soft spot for bickering *g* - and the hurt/comfort, and the clever dialogue, and the inventive use of Hecate, a goddess sadly missing from the H:tLJ series.

Just a great, hugely entertaining story.

Hercules scanned the horizon with longing but no distraught messenger hove into view crying 'Hercules! Come quickly!' They never do when you want them - and then two come along at once. He propped an elbow on the table and cupped his chin. Hopefully that would prevent his jaw dropping too much at the outrageous lies Iolaus was preparing to tell. The hunter was the happiest he'd been for days though, in full mischief mode by the looks of it. Hercules did not always subscribe to the Stoic philosophy but today the theme of steadfast endurance in the face of adversity seemed somehow appropriate.

"Now then," said Angeion, not rubbing his hands together - he had learnt that most people found this off-putting. "Back to the farm, if we may? When you're not travelling the countryside, doing that thing you do, you say you live together at the farm?"

Iolaus nodded. "Except, of course," he said solemnly, "when I'm dead."

Ill Met By Moonlight

Comments

[ltlj.livejournal.com]

Excellent rec. This is one my favorites next to "Reputations." I forgot how funny the bits with the reporter were.

[marycrawford.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I had a hard time picking out a good quote for this - the story's stuffed full of them. *g*

Another favourite moment is the bit where Iolaus meets up with Hercules and pretends to have been there for ages, because...well, just because. So well-observed, so funny.

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

You have a thing for Hecate, don't you. I'm beginning to notice a pattern...

*runs of to read rec*

[marycrawford.livejournal.com]

You have a thing for Hecate, don't you.

:eyes you:

I do?

I knew I had a thing for, oh, hurt/comfort, bickering, angst, snark, cooking, self-sacrifice...in short, the usual. But I didn't know I had a thing for Hecate, though I do love the way Naomi used her here. :-)

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

Three recs, two with Hecate (Hecate's Chalice). I'm just sayin'.

[marycrawford.livejournal.com]

Oh, man. Of course, you're absolutely right - while commenting above I completely forgot that Hecate was in the other story too, possibly because she's not quite as present there.

:is a big dork:

Mary, grinning

[dbw.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, this is a good one! I'm a sucker for stories with outsider viewpoints. :-)

[marycrawford.livejournal.com]

Me too. (And do please note how I am restraining myself from saying, Write me one. Because I'm being good. *eg*)