Torero, by Barbara Zuchegna (PG)

[vysila.livejournal.com]

Fandom: MAN FROM UNCLE
Pairing: None - Gen
Author on LJ: Not that I know of
Author Website: No personal site, but she has a couple of stories posted to David McCallum Fans Online. This site is well worth a visit for anyone interested in the actor.

Why this must be read:

A gen, character-driven story, this is the kind of fiction that transcends genre, I think, and can appeal to both gen and slash fans. In "Torero", Napoleon and Illya find a most unusual outlet for all that excess post-mission adrenaline. If you think field agents have a dangerous day job, you've got to see what they do for relaxation!

Here's the first paragraph - a wonderful set-up for a wonderful story:

There is always a letdown. The job is finished. The world is saved once again. The adrenalin has been churning furiously for hours or days, the muscles hair-triggered, and suddenly there is no outlet. There is no danger. The bright colors fade, and the sounds dull, and something inside itches maddeningly for something, anything, to blow off the built-up head of steam.

"Torero" has humor, action, mystery, tension, and gorgeous, naked men. There is no sex, but really? You won't miss it here.

Supposedly this story is the prologue to a novella titled "The Bulls of Sandovar". The novella is not online, and I do not know if it was, in fact, ever written. This would truly be a pity, as Barbara Zuchegna writes a mighty fine story. If anyone knows if it's available somewhere, please do leave a comment.

Torero, Part 1
Torero, Part 2

I hope you enjoy this story as much as I do.

Comments

[ivadel.livejournal.com]

Thank you - this is a wonderful story.

[vysila.livejournal.com]

Glad I could point you in its direction, then. The stories on that site are not as well-known as they should be.

[leethet.livejournal.com]

Oh good gravy. This is just one of the best best stories ever. It's nowhere near as well known as it ought to be. I'm glad to see you reccing it. This author is a total mystery to me, but this work speaks for itself eloquently.

[vysila.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. This is an amazing story, and I was both surprised that it hadn't been rec'd yet and delighted to be able to do so. Fabulous characterizations, don't you think? I am so hoping someone pipes up and says, yes that novella is written and is available at "x" location. Even in print. I'd buy it.

[st-crispins.livejournal.com]

Glad to see Barbara's work getting recc'd. Her stories are good and deserve more attention

[vysila.livejournal.com]

This one is certainly excellent and deserves as wide a readership as possible. What a fabulous take on the guys.

I don't see much by her in zines, sadly - one novella and a couple of short stories. Was "Bulls of Sandovar" ever written, to your knowledge? My emails to her have bounced.

[st-crispins.livejournal.com]

I don't believe so. I was in touch with her fairly regularly years ago, but not for some time. I think she stopped writing and drifted away; I'm not sure why.

But she was one of those gen writers I was very sad to lose. There have been others. Linda Cochran and Patti Ellis (who's still around but not writing) come to mind.

[vysila.livejournal.com]

Bummer that Barbara has drifted away. One of the perils of fandom, alas.

I'm not familiar with Linda Cochran - anything of hers online? I agree completely about Patti Ellis. What little I've read of her work is wonderful.

[st-crispins.livejournal.com]

RE: is Linda's work on-line?

I don't believe so. What I read, I read in zines. She wrote a very nice story about a seamstress who repaired Solo's suits and wondered what he did for a living. She also did a crossover with The Prisoner and another that I remember taking place on a cruise liner.

It's sad because folks whose work I really enjoyed, like Pat Foley and N.L. Hayes, for various reasons are no longer writing.

[sheilasmiles]

I'd read it once before and it is as excellent as I remember. Thank you for the opportunity.