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Fandom: TOY SOLDIERS Pairing: Billy(/Joey), but Billy's the only person in this story. Length: 1100 Author on LJ: ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif) pickledixyWhy this must be read: I hadn't intended to end these recs on such a sad note, but it's one of the inevitabilities of TS canon. Randy's story is a fine example of the way in which we all write with each other in this fandom, in perpetual collaboration, no matter what other differences we may have (this story's atmosphere can be read as a dark response to the Book of Hours series; where it takes one fork in the road, Randy undercut that decision by bravely taking the other, which is simultaneously far more obvious and far less comforting). Randy is first and foremost an incredible graphic artist, so the visual immediacy of his foray into writing surprised no one. Although this isn't in first-person, his Billy POV is unapologetically startling in the honesty of its grief. This ficlet is very dear to my heart, badly though it leaves me broken. I feel as if the body of writing that a small handful of us have built in the past six years has managed to stare the film's blatant lack of resolution square in the eyes and say what only Joey dared to say to Cali's face. It's that simple: we fought back. (Sent) | | |
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Fandom: TOY SOLDIERS Pairing: Billy/Joey, Billy/Snuffy, Ensemble Cast Length: 2000 words Author on LJ: lipsumWhy this must be read: This is a rare example of fic that contains a pairing other than Billy/Joey (although Billy/Joey is, as you can see, still an element). What's unusual about this sequence is the point of view; first-person isn't often done in this fandom, and I feel lipsum has done an admirable job of portraying Snuffy. (Six Vignettes) | | |
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Fandom: TOY SOLDIERS Pairing: Billy/Joey Length: 1000 words Author on LJ: archerlassWhy this must be read: In a sea otherwise filled with unsettling intensity, this is TS at its sweetest (without the treacle). archerlass has the rare ability to spend most of a piece in one character's POV and then, when you least expect it, flip the mirror around and show you effortlessly what's going on with the other person in the scene. (Flu Season) | | |
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Fandom: TOY SOLDIERS Pairing: Gen Crack!Fic, Ensemble Cast Length: 1200 words Author on LJ: sunqistWhy this must be read: Let me just say, I'm not usually in the habit of encouraging people to write crack!fic solely for the purpose of writing crack!fic. However, the conversation to which sunqist alludes in her introduction did, in fact, happen, and if you want to know why she wrote this, well, she's more or less telling the truth. I personally think just plain space pirates would've worked, but space-pirate monkeys do have something to be said for them. This is like Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets...er, I'd say Toy Soldiers, only not. To this day, "A Crime Against Nature" remains the fandom's only specimen of crack. You can't accuse us of lacking diversity! (A Crime Against Nature) | | |
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Fandom: TOY SOLDIERS Pairing: Billy Tepper/Joey Trotta, Ensemble Cast Length: 3000 words Author on LJ: vissyWhy this must be read: This story was written for me in the 2006 Yuletide Treasure fic exchange. vissy has done an absolutely outstanding job of capturing the characters' voices, and she also got the group dynamic down pat. If this piece doesn't leave you grinning like a loon, I'll be shocked. It's nothing short of delightful. (Pluck On Laughter) | | |
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Fandom: TOY SOLDIERS Pairing: Billy Tepper/Joey Trotta Length: 400 words Author on LJ: kbfanWhy this must be read: Impressive length and convoluted plot aren't everything, especially when essence and atmosphere are so thoroughly accounted for. kbfan skilfully captures the tense restlessness of the film's night-scenes and makes clever use of it in a slightly different context. To its credit, this fandom has just as much well written short fic as it has exceptionally long. (A Little While) | | |
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Fandom: TOY SOLDIERS Pairing: Billy Tepper/Joey Trotta, Ensemble Cast Length: Novella in eight parts (all linked together) Author on LJ: jennaria (everyday journal)/ karolja (fic journal) Why this must be read: Having served as tech, plot, and every other kind of support possible for this story, I had the honor of watching it come into being bit by bit. Thia writes great stories to begin with, but for her to delve into the undertaking of a longer work is a rare treat. The emotional arc of this story is one of the finest you'll come across in this fandom, and her characterization is, simply put, spot on. Her command of this universe isn't limited to the two protagonists; she writes the rest of the guys just as well as she writes Billy and Joey, and she isn't afraid to prove it. (Where the Ocean is Deep) | | |
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Fandom: TOY SOLDIERS Pairing: Billy Tepper/Joey Trotta Length: 500 words Author on LJ: perianWhy this must be read: In spite of the fact that it's quite short, this little ficlet has everything you could wish in a solid piece of canonical work - good characterization, witty dialogue, and just the right balance between humor and innuendo. Sadly, perian never wrote anything else in this fandom, and she used to have a screencap collection that was a lot more complete than the one I link to in the fandom overview. She has been sorely missed! She's still around, albeit in other fandoms. (Finishing Touches) | | |
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Fandom: TOY SOLDIERS Pairing: Billy Tepper/Joey Trotta Length: 2000 words Author on LJ: leliseWhy this must be read: This is one of only two pieces of fiction that lelise ever wrote in TS fandom, but, to this day, I consider it one of the best we have. In a little over two thousand words, she manages to capture a sequence of seemingly random moments that, when taken together, add up to a poignant and stunningly accurate portrayal of the Billy/Joey relationship. For all that the rating is only PG-13, the sex scene is surprisingly vivid. There's something to be said for choosing sensual language over the crudely graphic, which you wouldn't immediately assume to be effective in the case of a couple of teenage guys! (As Things Are) | | |
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