Expectations by N. L. Hayes (PG)

[elizabethhelena.livejournal.com]

Fandom: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: brief mention of Illya Kuryakin/female, Napoleon Solo/female
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: unknown but stories can be found here File 40 Gen Fiction

Why this story must be read:

Because this story is so much more than just an excellent Solo and Kuryakin first mission story told from Illya's perspective. Harry Beldon, the head of U.N.C.L.E. Northeast, was a bizarre caricature in the episode The Summit-Five Affair, but here he is a fully realized character that Illya has good reasons to respect. Thrush is a convincing enemy exploiting Cold War tensions in a wholly believable and insidious manner. In fact, the author effectively uses the backdrop of East and West Germany in 1960 to both highlight the personal and cultural differences between Napoleon and Illya, and underscore why they are on the same side nonetheless.

Expectations

Comments

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with your presentation. I mentioned this story in the comments added to my previous rec in crack_van of another story by the same author: Roots of the Present. The choice was difficult!

Expectations by N.L. Hayes

[elizabethhelena.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the feedback on my rec. I love her stories, and it was through the reviews on crackvan, including your own, that I discovered them. Your Roots of the Present was excellent.

Right now, I'm enjoying reading John Lewis Gaddis' "The Cold War: A New History". Despite his Western bias, Gaddis does present the complexity of that time period that is missing from USA #1/USSR evil empire POVs. It's also refreshing that he perceives that more than just these two superpowers were active on the world stage, and at times, these other countries wagged the superpower dogs.

So, naturally, I enjoy stories that capture the above as well, and as you wrote, Roots of the Present certainly fits that bill.

Re: Expectations by N.L. Hayes

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's always irritating to read fics where the author assumes Cold War was something universal in all the western countries, while it was mainly a US syndrom. Of course, most westerners were rather wary towards the eastern countries and the Soviet Union, and disliked their political system, but it didn't come near to hatred, it was just some worry. Even this feeling was rather moderate in Great Britain (less than in Germany, for obvious reasons) and almost nil in France where 20 to 30% used to vote communist! The right-wing itself was in favour of cooperation.

[ashley-pitt.livejournal.com]

Great story, and the beginnings of the great Solo/Kuryakin repartee.

Expectations by N.L. Hayes

[elizabethhelena.livejournal.com]

"Great story, and the beginnings of the great Solo/Kuryakin repartee."

I'm a sucker for great Solo/Kuryakin banter, and this story certainly delivered. Glad you enjoyed the story, I still live in hope she'll write more MFU in the future.