Distant Shores by April Valentine (Slash, Explicit)

[flamingoslim.livejournal.com]

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: Starsky/Hutch
Length: 201,415 words
Author on LJ: aprilvalentine
Author Website: April Valentine on the Starsky Hutch Archive
Why this must be read:

I am not a fan of hurt/comfort, which puts me outside the mainstream of Starsky & Hutch fandom. For h/c to work for me, it has to be a plausible part of the plot that adds to a larger conflict, not the be-all and end-all of the story. Distant Shores is one of the few novels that rely heavily on h/c that does work for me. In 2003, KimberlyFDR rec'd Distant Shores while it was only available in zine form. DS was published as a stand-alone novel in 1991. Author April Valentine worked on it for over six years, doing painstaking hard copy research long before Google was a glimmer on the horizon. The published novel had a color cover and 24 additional pieces of original hand drawn black and white art by some of the best artists working in the fandom at that time. We have finally managed to bring this 451 page epic novel to the archive through the efforts of many fans.

In the novel's prologue, Starsky and Hutch become lovers during Starsky's recovery from Gunther's shooting. But immediately afterward, Hutch disappears. Two years later, Starsky is tortured by Hutch's absence. When Hutch's ID turns up as evidence on a smuggler's plane that's been to Australia, it leads Starsky to search for Hutch Down Under. When Starsky finally finds him, Hutch is in a coma, unable to explain what's happened to him or how he managed to get half way around the world. How Starsky helps Hutch's recovery and how they both struggle to reclaim the life that was stolen from them constitutes the bulk of this well-researched, heartfelt, and painfully romantic novel. There are no easy answers for our heroes, but there is a future, and even justice.

Distant Shores was one of the best loved novels of its time. If you crave a good long read with a strong plot, plenty of angst, hurt/comfort, romance, and a satisfactory conclusion, this is the book for you. I heartily recommend it.

Distant Shores by April Valentine

Comments

[hsv-fangirl.livejournal.com]

So happy this is now available on line for all! xx

[nickygabriel]

You people at the S&H archive are AMAZING :)
Thank you! The art is sooo beautiful!

[hm-f.livejournal.com]

Thanks Flamingo, thanks so much all of you that worked so hard in order to make Distant Shores available online. I was waiting for it to be online for over one year, and now it is, finally! :D

[hansolo5.livejournal.com]

Hey!
Era la fic cui accennavi nella mail, vero? Flamingo alla fine ce l'ha fatta :-) :-) (peccato che con la mia lentezza chissa' quando la leggo)
Pero' devo ammettere che sono troppo fortunata, sono entrata da poco nel fandom e stanno succedendo un sacco di cose ! :-)
ciaooooo
Manu

[hm-f.livejournal.com]

Ehilà! :D
E' esattamente quella storia lì!! Anche se anche io al momento non avrò modo di iniziare a leggerla, almeno ora è finalmente stata pubblicata! :D E visto che ci sono, volevo farti sapere che penso ogni giorno a risponderti (a dire il vero aggiungo un pezzo di risposta ogni giorno, visto che ho già cominciato da un pezzo a risponderti... forse avrei dovuto seguire il tuo esempio e scrivere a pezzi... Mmmh, quasi quasi faccio così!). Hai visto il mio ultimo post verso l'inizio di gennaio? :)
Baci <3

[hansolo5.livejournal.com]

Non preoccuparti, anzi scusa se ti ho mandato un papiro! Ma son presa dall'entusiasmo, sai com'e'!
Veramente il tuo ultimo post che vedo si riferisce al secret santa... Tra l'altro, posso aggiungerti alla mia friend list? Ciaooooo facciamo a chi inizia x prima leggere Distant Shores? :-)

[hansolo5.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much Flamingo!!
This fic was recommended as a gem by hm_f but she told me it was not available on line ....I am so happy it is now!