stormkeeper_lovedoris (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stormkeeper_lovedoris) wrote2011-12-16 04:24 pm
stormkeeper_lovedoris) wrote2011-12-16 04:24 pm
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Day 5 of 5: Slash Meme
Last day of the slash meme for me. At the end of the post, I will also ask and answer a summary question about all my pairings: do they have a happy ending in canon?
Again, no icon for this pairing so just picking next in rotation.
DAY FIVE: TOMMY/MARIO (THE CATCH TRAP BY MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY)
How did I first get into this pairing?
After reading “The Mists of Avalon”, I decided to check out other works by the same author. I’ll never forget sitting in the parking lot at my college, 20 years ago, not wanting to go to class and just wishing I could finish this book. “The Catch Trap” is an addictive novel taking place in the 1940’s and 50’s, about a family of circus performers and two men who fall in love. Given the times they live in, their love is forbidden, their relationship extremely tempestuous.
Since I first picked it up 20 years ago, I’ve re-read the book two more times and always get fairly obsessed with it when I re-read it. Although now it’s been a good seven years or so since the last time I read it, and out of all the slash pairings in this meme Tommy/Mario is the only one that I’m not really “into” anymore. But I have to include them here because I was once obsessively into them, and I suspect that someday I’ll give “The Catch Trap” a fourth spin and fall down the rabbit hole again.
Have I written about them?
No, for the same reason as Gareth/Johnny. They belong to an actual, lone (albeit deceased) writer, not a large fandom – and there’s unlikely to be an audience for any fanfic I would write about them. Finally, “The Catch Trap” is fairly long and it focuses totally on this pairing (unlike the Sevenwaters series where the same-sex couple is in the background), and its ending is perfect, so I wouldn’t even want to tinker with it. The ending should be left well enough alone.
What I do like about them?
Their story is so compelling. I wish more writers would tackle same-sex relationships taking place in settings where it is forbidden. Their relationship is a rollercoaster ride as they struggle with societal hatred, their own self-loathing (especially Mario), family disapproval, temptation from other men, losing their jobs because of homophobia, and just the regular ups and downs of an LTR.
Where’s the fandom at nowadays?
Non-existent. This novel was first published in 1984 (almost 28 years ago – dang, I feel old!) and is currently out of print. Although you’ll see some gobsmacked reviews on Amazon, I’ve never been able to find a fandom for this book and pairing.
Summary question for each pairing: Do/did they have a happy ending in canon?
o Bobby/Northstar - Unfortunately no since the comic writers decided Bobby really and truly is straight.
o Charles/Erik - They probably are one of the biggest “it could have been wonderfuls” in fandom! I don’t know what the sequels to “First Class” will bring but I can’t see any feasible way they can end the trilogy with them together.
o Riptide/Azazel - I don’t know because I can’t say what - if anything - the writers will do with them in the next two X-men movies. Will one or both get killed off? Will they even be in the rest of the movies? (Just because they signed contracts provides no guarantee). Will the writers pair Azazel with Mystique given that they are Nightcrawler’s parents in the comics, and given that we just don’t get any openly gay couples in “action hero” movies? Will both characters simply remain in the background like they are in the first movie? I hate to say it, but I can’t hope for much other than for them to both survive the movies and have a scene or two together.
o Gareth/Johnny - At this point in the Sevenwaters series, yes – they have a happy ending! And since Juliet Marillier doesn’t currently have any plans to write more about them (although she says she hasn’t ruled it out either), at least it leaves them happy and together. She tends to keep soulmates together in her books, which I have to say that I like.
o Tommy/Mario - After an exhausting rollercoaster ride, the novel gives them a happy ending and for that I have to love MZB.
Again, no icon for this pairing so just picking next in rotation.
DAY FIVE: TOMMY/MARIO (THE CATCH TRAP BY MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY)
How did I first get into this pairing?
After reading “The Mists of Avalon”, I decided to check out other works by the same author. I’ll never forget sitting in the parking lot at my college, 20 years ago, not wanting to go to class and just wishing I could finish this book. “The Catch Trap” is an addictive novel taking place in the 1940’s and 50’s, about a family of circus performers and two men who fall in love. Given the times they live in, their love is forbidden, their relationship extremely tempestuous.
Since I first picked it up 20 years ago, I’ve re-read the book two more times and always get fairly obsessed with it when I re-read it. Although now it’s been a good seven years or so since the last time I read it, and out of all the slash pairings in this meme Tommy/Mario is the only one that I’m not really “into” anymore. But I have to include them here because I was once obsessively into them, and I suspect that someday I’ll give “The Catch Trap” a fourth spin and fall down the rabbit hole again.
Have I written about them?
No, for the same reason as Gareth/Johnny. They belong to an actual, lone (albeit deceased) writer, not a large fandom – and there’s unlikely to be an audience for any fanfic I would write about them. Finally, “The Catch Trap” is fairly long and it focuses totally on this pairing (unlike the Sevenwaters series where the same-sex couple is in the background), and its ending is perfect, so I wouldn’t even want to tinker with it. The ending should be left well enough alone.
What I do like about them?
Their story is so compelling. I wish more writers would tackle same-sex relationships taking place in settings where it is forbidden. Their relationship is a rollercoaster ride as they struggle with societal hatred, their own self-loathing (especially Mario), family disapproval, temptation from other men, losing their jobs because of homophobia, and just the regular ups and downs of an LTR.
Where’s the fandom at nowadays?
Non-existent. This novel was first published in 1984 (almost 28 years ago – dang, I feel old!) and is currently out of print. Although you’ll see some gobsmacked reviews on Amazon, I’ve never been able to find a fandom for this book and pairing.
Summary question for each pairing: Do/did they have a happy ending in canon?
o Bobby/Northstar - Unfortunately no since the comic writers decided Bobby really and truly is straight.
o Charles/Erik - They probably are one of the biggest “it could have been wonderfuls” in fandom! I don’t know what the sequels to “First Class” will bring but I can’t see any feasible way they can end the trilogy with them together.
o Riptide/Azazel - I don’t know because I can’t say what - if anything - the writers will do with them in the next two X-men movies. Will one or both get killed off? Will they even be in the rest of the movies? (Just because they signed contracts provides no guarantee). Will the writers pair Azazel with Mystique given that they are Nightcrawler’s parents in the comics, and given that we just don’t get any openly gay couples in “action hero” movies? Will both characters simply remain in the background like they are in the first movie? I hate to say it, but I can’t hope for much other than for them to both survive the movies and have a scene or two together.
o Gareth/Johnny - At this point in the Sevenwaters series, yes – they have a happy ending! And since Juliet Marillier doesn’t currently have any plans to write more about them (although she says she hasn’t ruled it out either), at least it leaves them happy and together. She tends to keep soulmates together in her books, which I have to say that I like.
o Tommy/Mario - After an exhausting rollercoaster ride, the novel gives them a happy ending and for that I have to love MZB.
no subject
But I understand you. I also am obsessed with one series of books that is wonderful to me, but also old (from the firstboo published in 1965), so not many people remember about it (and if somebody does, more older people than young people). It's a series of 20 books about Wild West - about Doctor Ian who befriends a trapper, Carl Gordon, and Carl is introducing him to the Wild West :DDDDDD
These books weren't translated to English, unfortunately, so it's hard to expect it gaining more popularity... which is sad. Because these are my favourite Polish books ever.
no subject
no subject