Adena 1950, by Scott (R)

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

Fandom: HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET
Pairing: mostly gen, but a little Munch/Kay
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: 11 Cents Fanfic Archive
Why this must be read:

In "Adena 1950," Scott reimagines the pivotal crime of Homicide, the brutal rape and murder of eleven-year-old Adena Watson, in a far different Baltimore than the one we know and love. Homicide always did an excellent job exploring racial tensions; in the Baltimore of 1950, they're explosive. What might have become of some of our favorite detectives if they had been barred from the police force because of race or gender? How might they have behaved in a time of prejudice and segregation?

The characterization is excellent (though Felton fans, be warned), and is best of all in its portrayal of the tenuous alliance between war hero turned homicide detective Tim Bayliss and Frank Pembleton, a man who refuses to conform to what society expects of his race. This one's a don't-miss for Bayliss/Pembleton fans.

Author's Note: "This story is set in 1950 and has a great deal to do with race. Since it is set in a different era and is about white cops from that time, there are racial slurs in it. I want to stress that these aren't my feelings. I am only trying to put words in the mouths of ignorant people so please don't bash me for being a racist. I also want to point out that words like 'colored' and 'Negro' were the polite way to refer to African-Americans back then as ugly as they sound today. I have also portrayed some of the H:LotS cast in a less than flattering light. Please remember that this is a 'what-if' story. I'm fully aware that our favorite detectives from Baltimore wouldn't have acted like this today. That's the point. What would they have been like then?"

Adena 1950

Comments

[umbo.livejournal.com]

I'm sitting here saying out loud, "I recced that already! I *know* I recced that already!"

But, uh, I guess I didn't. So I'm glad you did! Because I had a rec all written up and everything, and I could have *sworn* I posted it, which is why I didn't post it again, because I thought I already had...

Anyway, I'm really glad you recced this, because it's a great story. (and I coulda *sworn* I recced it already! ;-))

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

I was shocked that you didn't rec it last month -- after all, you're the person who recced it to me!

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

Ah, this is one of my favorite stories of all-time, possibly the best fanfic I ever read, simply because of what it does with the canon. And it was the story that convinced me that fanfic was a viable artform, and not just teenies writing about Buffy/Angel smoochies.

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

It really is incredible. I think it's probably the best fanfic I've ever read also.

[thermidor.livejournal.com]

K, I didn't know you were on the van! :)


We need to get you sucked in to an Atlanta fannish meetup sometime soon :)

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

That sounds terrific! :D

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

You don't happen to have an email address for the author, do you? I tried to send feedback to the email on the story but it bounced :(

Great story, thanks for recommending it :)

[kellinator.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I had the exact same experience. I've made some attempts at tracking down the author and will let you know if I can ever find anything.

[erilyn.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I appreciate it :)

[chicating.livejournal.com]

Muses, that Icon is beautiful...I even googled Scott but there were a couple his real last names, so I didn't know which was him. I would like to shake his hand, though.