Little Earth by Xanthe (NC-17)

[k2daisy.livejournal.com]

I'm reccing a couple of post-cols today.

Fandom: X FILES
Title: Little Earth, by Xanthe
Pairings: Skinner/Samantha, Mulder/Scully, Scully/CSM
Author on LJ: xanthefic
Author website: Xanthe's fic

Why this story must be read: Post-col is another of my favorite genres in XF because it allows writers to explore the darker side of the show's universe, namely the unexplored questions of, 'What if alien colonization was not averted?' What if the good guys didn't win?' The answers are not always happy, and Little Earth is no exception to that.

What makes this a must-read is not the just the imaginative, heartbreaking future Xanthe creates, but also the character she focuses on: Samantha. Now a grown woman, we see where she has been all the years, and we join her in her journey forward. We see Mulder, Scully, CSM and Skinner through *her* eyes, and it is a fascinating look from a very different angle. From them, Samantha learns about the human qualities and emotions she's been isolated from for years, and from her and from them, we learn that despite losing the battle for humankind, those qualities of *humanity* -- love, friendship, commitment, independence, freedom, respect, loyalty -- cannot ever be extinguished from us.

The descriptions are lush, the story is well-plotted, and the emotions of everyone leap off the page. It's impossible not to feel for Mulder, Scully, Skinner and Samantha as they struggle to survive after all hope is gone. Astonishingly, this fic was written in 1999, and it still holds up wonderfully today, which in my mind, makes it a true 'classic'.

Bring your tissues.

Little Earth

Comments

[loveanddarkness.livejournal.com]

Wonderful story, I heartily "second" the rec.

Xanthe has created an amazing world here, but one that totally works with the X-Files universe. She does this in many of her stories, but "Little Earth" and "Nexus" really stand out to be for accomplishing both great imagination and great faithfulness to TXF.

Xanthe recently had her 500,000th hit on her website. That should tell you a lot right there.

[k2daisy.livejournal.com]

"Little Earth" and "Nexus" really stand out to be for accomplishing both great imagination and great faithfulness to TXF.

Yes, that's it exactly!

Man, I should have you writing these reviews; I adore these stories so much it's about all I can do not to just provide the link and jump up and down yelling, "Go read! Blodkfjhgdkjghskdjh! *wibble*"

*g*

[loveanddarkness.livejournal.com]

If *I* did these reviews, it would be all Skinnerotica, all the time, with details analyses of how the author describes certain body parts.

[k2daisy.livejournal.com]

Hee! You say that like it would be a BAD thing. ;-)

I'm saving the Skinner het stories (sans the drooling, I hope) for my last week of reccing. Gotta finish big!

[xanthe.livejournal.com]

I've just seen your rec, Kristen, and Kim's kind words! Thanks so much to both of you - I sometimes forget I've written all this stuff so it's nice for me to revisit it too!!! I just went and tidied up the story page and had a re-read and a little sniffle over the story.

Thanks again for cheering up my rainy Sunday with your rec :-)

Xanthe

[k2daisy.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome, m'dear. This is one of my all-time favorite stories, and it always will be. You crafted a wonderful tale.

And hey, maybe re-reading your own stuff will inspire you to write some more XF! (Okay, okay, wishful thinking. I know! I'm stopping now! *g*)

[snacky]

Whee! This was always my favorite Xanthe fics!