Close to a Knockout by Linda Cornett (G)

[azdak.livejournal.com]

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: lcorn
Author Website: Observations
Why this must be read:

I came across this story recently when someone posted a query about it on that splendid fic-finding community, mfuficfind, so it isn't exactly unknown, but it's so brilliant that I couldn't resist reccing it to the wider world. Linda is one of those multi-talented comic writers who can combine humour, drama and emotion in the most satisfying way. Her stories are hugely entertaining: funny, exciting and moving, and wonderfully written. Many of them are told in the first person, from the point of view of an innocent who gets caught up in UNCLE activity, either tangentially or directly, and the voices of these original characters are an absolute joy. The narrator of "Close to a Knockout" is a Chandler-esque private eye (so Chandler-esque, in fact, that his name is Chandler), and the pastiche is spot on. What I love best about the use of OC's as narrators is that it opens all sorts of possibilities for dramatic irony and comic misinterpretations, because the readers know what's going on so much better than the narrator. Linda makes the most wonderful use of this trope. Here's a taster:

They were both staring back at me. The closest one, a brunet who looked like he'd stopped by on the way from a very good barber, nodded a greeting from the padded chair. It was a friendly gesture, considering this was my office.
"I hope you don't mind us coming in," he said. "The door wasn't locked." He had a plummy, nondescript voice, the kind they use on TV to convince you there's a better cereal than the one you're eating.
"Lucky I'm forgetful today," I said, sliding into my seat. "I'd hate for you gentlemen to have had to wait in the hallway."
I shifted my eyes to the other visitor. He sat pressed back into the shadows so mostly what I noticed was the pale, smooth face that displayed a little less emotion than the file cabinet behind him. There was a lot of light-colored hair above his high forehead, which was confusing because he didn't dress like a hippy and he didn't show enough feeling to be a pansy.

Close to a Knockout

Comments

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you recced this, because Linda's work is just amazing and she deserves a wider audience.

[azdak.livejournal.com]

She's absolutely brilliant. I can't believe her stories haven't already filled the recs list to overflowing.

[periwinkle27.livejournal.com]

Did you see your "Lost and Found" was recc'd on mfuficfind?

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

I hadn't until now. Thank you!

[periwinkle27.livejournal.com]

Linda's zine stories are also fantastic. Thanks for reccing this and thanks for the lovely plug for mfuficfind

[azdak.livejournal.com]

My pleasure. mfuficfind is an incredibly useful fan service and I am constantly amazed at how many helpful people there are out there with an encyclopaedic knowledge of UNCLE fic. You can get the author wrong,the title wrong and confuse the plot with another fic entirely and they'll still help you find what you were really looking for. Amazing! So my thanks should be to you rather than the other way round.

[periwinkle27.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Once I get my NCIS zines to the printer I'll finish my database of stories and then I'll start organizing all the mfuficfind stories by genre and author and put them in memories.

The idea isn't original to me, you realize. I was already in groups for NCIS and Harry Potter.

[azdak.livejournal.com]

There is nothing new under the sun. Having an idea is easy; actually making it work is the hard part!

[theladyrose.livejournal.com]

This is easily one of my favorite MFU stories out there - she's got such a knack for capturing character voices, and I love the juxtaposition of genres here, pseudo-noir with a healthy dollop of absurd humor.