A Few Cards Short of a Full Deck by E.E. Beck (PG-13)

[gaeta.livejournal.com]

I've waited out the long holiday weekend before issuing my maiden post.

Hi, I'm gaeta and I'll be doing the West Wing recs for July.
The West Wing was my first fandom, beginning way back last November. Because I came late to the fandom, many of the stories I love are old. If you've already read everything, you're likely to find me a bit boring, I'm afraid (unless, of course, you're one of the authors whose ancient story I dredge up).

Enough apologies. I'm a Josh gal first and a slash reader second, so yes, Josh/Sam is my OTP, but I'm not severely monogamous when it comes to fannish things. I generally choose good writing over good just about anyting else, so, even if you've read my selections before, you should enjoy reading them again.

With the obligatory babbling out of the way, here are the recs:

Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: Ensemble
Author on LJ: eolianbeck
Author's Website:But there's a Devil in the Lookingglass

Why this must be read:

I thought I'd start off my month with an ensemble piece. I also favor episode-related stories, and this one fits both bills. It's a small character study of each of the major characters as they, one by one, look in on Josh the night of the sniper shooting at the White House.

We get a little of each character's musings and a short conversation between each of them and Josh who patiently endures their well-meant concerns even though each time he's interrupted in the middle of an important phone call, the completion of which ends the story once all the others have finally left.

The characters are very well drawn. The author has chosen well the small details of thought that each of them is occupied with on this evening, revealing a tremendous amount about them and their roles -- public and private -- in a very short time.

In the end, though, it's a Josh-centric story; I won't deny that. And it concludes with just enough of the requisite Josh-angst to make me very, very happy. (But not too much for those who like their angst lite).

A Few Cards Short of a Full Deck

ETA: there appears to be a problem linking to this story. I'm having trouble addressing that problem at the moment but will keep working on it.

ETA: found a different link here it is:

A Few Cards Short of a Full Deck

Comments

[lightgetsin.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this--just found it, and am quite flattered. Had slight case of vertigo when I realized that yes, actually, I am sort of West Wing old school. *blink*.

site URL is broken, though--just take off the .html so it's www.jennielyn.com/lookingglass/

thanks again!

[gaeta.livejournal.com]

Fixed it.