The Sahara Experiment Affair by Jazline (NC-17)

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: None (gen)
WARNING: Graphic Adult Scenes
Author on LJ: jazline
Author Website: http://mysite.verizon.net/jazline/
Why this must be read:

My purpose being to show all the aspects of the MFU fanfiction (except the het stuff; sorry, I never got the courage to read anything of it till the end), I feel compelled to present now a real, dyed-in-the wool, hard-core H/C story. This one appears as a perfect example of the genre, neatly written, masterfully plotted to produce the maximum suspense, thrill and emotion.

However beware: This is not for the most sensitive souls. Some readers could even find there is more hurt than comfort here (but everything is mended at the end, of course) and the author herself describes her work in those terms: A badly damaged Illya is retrieved after a devastating captivity. Will he ever be the same man again?

Poor Illya, always the doomed victim! But the topic itself doesn't lack interest or originality; the question is: how deep can a mind manipulation go through? Is a brainwashing able to completely and permanently erase a man's memory, personality, loyalty and feelings?

The harshness of the situation is somehow alleviated in the reader's mind by a slight impression of unreality or, rather, by a modified sense of reality, like in a vivid nightmare. From nightmares, the narrative gets its power of suggestion, its blind desperation, its angst driven and breathless motion, but from nightmares as well comes the confused certainty that "it's not for good", that sooner or later you will awake from the dark depths of the night.

I sincerely hope I didn't deterred the potential readers from the trip, instead of encouraging them! Try the reading first, you have time to tremble afterward (it's not the darkest story in Jazline's universe).

The Sahara Experiment Affair

Comments

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

I remember reading this with a mingled sense of fascination and horror...mostly for the fact that I liked it so much. It definitely is a must for those with a h/c bent -- and a willingness to accept an Illya BEYOND feminized -- more reduced to a childlike or even animal state by circumstances. The original characters are very interesting, too.

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

I smiled while reading in your comment that you feel "feminization" is the stage just before "infantilization" and, if I dare say, "animalization"! Well, if we speak of the most conventional feminity, it's not completely wrong. And it's probably the reason why I loathe almost anything specifically feminine (but to say the truth I loathe as well a large part of what is supposed to be specifically masculine).

But this process is the topic; so, you have to accept it with the story. Personally, I don't see IK as feminine at all (actually I'd rather say he's totally alien to the feminine side of the world), while I could detect some feminine aspects in NS. And yet, I guess the choice of Napoleon for the victim wouldn't have worked here. And Illya is the ever suffering character in the show too. I don't think it's because he was set as the sidekick at the beginning. There is something else.

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

Yes! Of the two of them, Napoleon definitely has the more "feminine" traits -- his mannerisms, even the way he runs, are less than macho. That's not a complaint or a put-down -- it makes him fascinating. But it is always astonishing to me when writers "girly up" Illya -- the more butch and ruthless of the two, just because he's short and blond.

[alinewrites.livejournal.com]

Well, this one didn't work for me. I wasn't unsettled by the violence (I'm used to it in fandoms) but the story is very long and somewhat... Redundant. I'm not that thrilled by slave stories and I didn't find the characterisation
*that* accurate. Plus I really think that the author indulged herself in useless descriptions of Illya's mental state and that was useless.. The first paragraphs were precise enough to let us understand the situation perfectly. A little more ambiguity, a little less description would've made it work better -for me at least.

I must have a problem with hurt/comfort. I always suspect that the authors dwell a bit too much on the hurt part and don't deepen the "comfort" one as much as they should. So, Illya's back,the bad guys are punished and there's not further consequences? I can't really believe it. One way or another the relationship has to be altered between the two men.

Sorry to be a spoilsport!

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

the story is very long and somewhat... Redundant.

Yes, there are repetitions, and this adds to the somehow slight unreality of the tale and the likeness to a nightmare. The heavy stressing upon the emotional disturbances is a feature of the genre; H/C seldom uses understatement.

I always suspect that the authors dwell a bit too much on the hurt part and don't deepen the "comfort" one as much as they should.

Sure, I warned there may be more hurt than comfort in this story, but -still- that's rather representative of the genre. If you dare to read "The Pützen Compound Affair" by the same author, you'll find still more pain and less relief.

Illya's back,the bad guys are punished and there's not further consequences? I can't really believe it. One way or another the relationship has to be altered between the two men.

Certainly, but it would be another story. Here we see the dreamer awakening from his nightmare and...ordinary life returns.

[dinahmt.livejournal.com]

I was fascinated by this story although I found it very long. I think all could have been achieved in half the length, although I believe the author was trying to give a realistic timeline. All too often in H/C stories one or other agent is hurt beyond recognition, only to be resurrected after a couple of days in intensive care - often being well enough for bedroom games with the other almost immediately.

And speaking of bedroom games, I quite enjoyed the sex in the story, although as I'm not too keen on rape of any kind I skimmed over that, and I understand why it was important for Illya to have someone to love after his ordeal. I just wish it had been Napoleon. There were so many occasions of mm hugging, cuddling and Illya even comes on to Napoleon, that I felt a little cheated that they just went back to being buddies afterwards.

I always feel exhausted after reading this author's stories, but they're well written and I sense a medical background. I like H/C in moderation and after reading that I feel as if I've overdosed.

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

I like H/C in moderation and after reading that I feel as if I've overdosed.

Oh! you read it and so fast; I am impressed; I had no time to read it again; I had to rely on my memories.

All too often in H/C stories one or other agent is hurt beyond recognition, only to be resurrected after a couple of days in intensive care - often being well enough for bedroom games with the other almost immediately.

I noticed it many times. And once I received a rather sour and biting reply from a well f...ed and pissed off author who had duly recognized her story in my very discrete allusion on line (without any name, title, or other precision, such easy guess implying she probably was feeling awkward herself about the thing. The sex after a wound or a beating is also very dubious; the male organ is known to be rather whimsical and in real life a simple cold or even a mere bad mood is largely enough to froze the best dispositions!

I just wish it had been Napoleon. There were so many occasions of mm hugging, cuddling and Illya even comes on to Napoleon, that I felt a little cheated that they just went back to being buddies afterwards.

How I sympathize! I myself thought there were great slash opportunities wasted. I would like the author writing an alternate slash story and prune a little her text; but, what? Nothing is perfect and she is not obliged to share our tastes.