All the Pale Nightmares by findmyantidrug (NC-17)

[tuff-ghost.livejournal.com]

Fandom: WATCHMEN
Characters: Eddie/Rorschach, Dan
Length: ~25k
Author on LJ: findmyantidrug
Author's website: fic list
Why this must be read:

This is an AU where Rorschach gets drafted, goes to fight in Vietnam, and becomes the Comedian's protege in the school of being an efficient human death machine.

It needs to be read because findmyantidrug is a sickeningly good writer, she'll make you feel like you're in the character's head, seeing what they're seeing, and you really don't want to be. She doesn't shy away at all from presenting gruesome images of war, or from allowing the Comedian to live up to his full capacity for amorality.

There are parts that are very difficult to read, but Rorschach's perspective is human enough that only the war comes off as gratuitous, not the writing. Having Rorschach be the one who retains his humanity in a horrific situation is a really interesting diversion from the canon; it's done with immense skill, and the result is fascinating, shocking, and affective.


All the Pale Nightmares

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Yessss, thank you for reccing this! I was reading it when it was originally being posted but lost track of it, and hurrah it's been finished AND posted in one place~~~!