Durian Dreaming by Clare Chew (NC17)

[azdak.livejournal.com]

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya
Author on LJ: lyrebird
Author Website: Lyrebird Mound
Why this must be read:

This is a public service announcement: I'm going away on holiday on the 21st, so I need to fit in the remainder of my recs before then. This means there will be an increase in posting rate followed by a sudden cessation, for which I apologise. We now return you to our regular feature.

Clare Chew, with her deceptively simple writing, is UNCLE's equivalent of Ian McEwan. Like vanilla ice cream, her prose slips down the throat without ever drawing attention to itself, and yet every sentence is perfectly structured and perfectly placed. Her characterisation is equally fine, drawing you deep into the story until you don't want to come back. Add to this a sly and unobtrusive wit, that can nonetheless lead to laugh-out-loud moments, and you have one of the most pleasurable reading experiences going. "Durian Dreaming" is a perfect example of her style.

On a mission to Malaysia, Napoleon and Illya make the acquaintance of the durian, a vile-smelling fruit that is beloved of gourmets for its fantastic taste (and by "make the acquaintance of" I mean that Illya ends up in hospital after being struck on the head by two, and Napoleon is immersed in a vat of the stuff). When Illya is released into Napoleon's care, Napoleon becomes aware of a growing sexual attraction to him, but sees no way of overcoming his partner's apparent lack of sensuality. But he has reckoned without the effects of the after-scent of durian that still clings to him...

Durian Dreaming

Comments

[sorchar.livejournal.com]

OMG Durian fic! *runs to read*

[azdak.livejournal.com]

It sounds as if you could tell me if durian really does smell that ghastly (and taste that delicious)?

[sorchar.livejournal.com]

Well, mind, I've never had it fresh (though it's available at my local Asian market), only frozen, which tends to be milder than fresh. (I've also had it in a bubble "tea" drink.) Also, some cultivars are stinkier than others. But to me, it smells like if you left fruit salad in the sun to rot. It tastes very sweet with just a bit of the smell thrown in, and is creamy like a custard. It's an acquired taste, yes, but no more so than say, liver.

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

I remember reading this a few years ago, and I enjoyed it hugely. Wasn't there a follow-on fic?

[azdak.livejournal.com]

You're quite right - Weapon of Choice (http://www.chromeandgunmetal.com/chrome/archive/2/weaponof.html).

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

That's it! In the zine "Clandestine Affairs"
Now I know what I'll be doing this weekend....

[(Anonymous)]

You are doing a fan-tastic (get my pun?) job - picking out a lot of my favorites. Clare is an amazing writer. This story could have so easily been just a little sex vignette but, with the addition of the sequel, becomes angsty and very revealing of the two characters' feelings and personalities. Frustrated Napoleon - gotta love it!
You're going away? *sniff, sniff* My heart is breaking. When will you be back? Btw, may I friend you? I mean, if we're getting married and all... ;oD

[azdak.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you approve of the recs - when I first signed up I thought I was going to be hard-pressed to scratch four together, given how many excellent stories have already been recced. But it turned out to be a doddle, as all of my favourite writers still had work that hadn't yet made it onto the list. I think if I ever do it again, I'd set myself the task of only reccing people who've never yet been recced in this fandom, just to even things out a bit.

I'll be back at the beginning of August, then off for another week, and then back properly, so I'm sure you'll be able to cope :-) And of course you can friend me - to be honest, I assumed you already had. I mean, I've friended you - what were you waiting for, me to go down on one knee with a gold ring? Sheesh woman, just friend me, already!