Freeport by Maldoror (NC-17)

[poodlerat.livejournal.com]

Fandom: GUNDAM WING (fandom summary)
Pairing: Duo Maxwell/Chang Wufei
Author on LJ: maldoror_gw
Author Website: a little piece of gundam wing or Gundam Wing Addiction
Why this must be read:

Because aside from being great fanfiction, it's also an amazing sci-fi story, and showcases some very talented world-building.

Maldoror creates an unsettling post-war world, one where Endless Waltz, and the rosy picture of peace it left us with, never happened. Instead, the Earth Sphere Unified Nation is plagued by terrorism and continuing economic crises in the worst-hit areas. Crime and drug addiction are rampant, and relentlessly cheerful television programming serves to pacify the population.

In AC 200, Wufei is working for the Preventers. He's less than pleased when his newest mission requires the cooperation of his wartime ally, Duo, an occasional petty smuggler. Duo is the Preventer's entry into Freeport, an independent colony renowned for its shipbuilding---and its unsavoury reputation for criminal activity. Wufei is prepared to blend in with a crowd of smugglers, drug dealers, and pirates...but Freeport turns out to be unlike anything he was expecting....

"You mean... " The import of the conversation was finally dawning on Wufei. "You mean I might actually have to use a sword on Freeport?!"

"Yup. Well, no, hopefully not, but if we get into a fight-"

"People fight with swords?!"

Duo looked at him steadily, his eyes searching. "Wufei... just how much research did you do on Freeport?"

Freeport is slash, but for most of the story it reads more like gen. It's long (34 chapters), with an engrossing, tightly-woven plot. And it's even surprisingly funny in places.

Freeport

Comments

[twigged.livejournal.com]

Your subject line is missing the rating. Thanks!

[poodlerat.livejournal.com]

Sorry about that---as you can probably tell, I meant to replace that before I posted, but I must have overlooked it. Thanks for pointing it out to me.

[redhedlvr.livejournal.com]

Oh yes! Yes! I loved this story, and all of Maldoror's fics. I read it when she was first writing it and just couldn't wait for each chapter to be posted. For another Wu Fei story of epic proportions, check out The Arrangement.

*runs off to re-read both*

[kelpsoda.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. Maldorer's fics can't be recommended enough. All of them are excellent.

[bluealbertaskys.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for helping me find this story again. I read it ages ago and looked for it in my bookmarks a few months ago and couldn't find it anywhere.

I'll be sure to bookmark it somewhere safe this time because this is one utterly fantastic story I don't want to lose again!

[raveninthewind.livejournal.com]

Wow, that was a great read. I know nothing about GW, but I enjoyed the world building and now would happily check out the canon.

[poodlerat.livejournal.com]

You're welcome---glad I helped you find it again.

[poodlerat.livejournal.com]

Well, I hope you enjoy the other things I rec this month, too. I actually find the canon kind of painful, but I feel that way about most cartoon/comic/anime fandoms...I just don't have the right imagination for it, or something.

Do check out Morgan Richter Guide to All Thing Gundam Wing (http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Highrise/9688/gundam.htm) if you haven't already (it's mentioned in the fandom summary.) It's a good summary of the series, including a quick episode guide, and it's pretty funny.