Normal by Hmpf MacSlow (PG)

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Fandom: FARSCAPE
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: hmpf
Author Website: all about hmpf
Why this must be read: The episode "Terra Firma," unsurprisingly, has inspired a lot of fic, some of it extremely good. But this one... This one is a standout among the standouts. It captures perfectly the strangeness and sadness of Crichton returning home only to discover that normality itself has become almost unbearably weird, that he's changed more than he's realized and more than he can possibly expect anyone to understand. The writing is poignant, evocative, and beautiful. I had tremendous difficulty deciding on an extract to quote from here; as I was re-reading, I kept coming across passages that would make me exclaim, "Oh, yes, that's perfect! It's wonderful writing, full of character insight, and encapsulates exactly what the story is about. I'll use that!" And then, a couple of paragraphs later, I'd be thinking the same thing all over again. In the end, I decided just to quote from the beginning. You can read the rest for yourself.

Excerpt:

I've come home from the Gammak Base. I've come home from the Shadow Depository. I've come home from the Command Carrier and I've come home from Arnessk. I've come home from Elack, and from Moya, and from the Leviathan of the Living Dead. Almost four years now I've been coming home from the Twilight Zone. Every day in my daydreams, every night in my sleep, I've been coming home.

Only this time, it's real.

And the first thing I could think of doing was pointing a gun at Dad's face.

John Crichton, space desperado. Earth beware, 'cause he shoots faster than his shadow.

And, oh, yes, did I mention it's got a terrifically characterized Crichton, complete with pop culture references used to excellent effect? Because it does. Really, I'm convinced the only reason this hasn't been recced here yet is because it's a fairly recent fic and I was lucky enough to get here first.


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Comments

[ixchup.livejournal.com]

Every time I read this story I find myself nodding at one more nugget of insight into the character of John Crichton. This is so deeply written. He is in love. I adore that because it is true.

Thanks for reccing this.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I recced it, as it gave me an excuse to re-read it. I think it was even better the second time. :)

Wow

[tormented-space.livejournal.com]

Wow! I'd never read that before so thanks for the rec. It had the John voice spot on. I will admit that I was crying by the end.

[lady-smith.livejournal.com]

Man, this is one of the best John stories ever written, and I'm so glad it's here. Thanks.