I thought I dropped Merlin a couple of weeks ago.

[osaraba]

But I spent all day today reading rageprufrock's epic Merlin 6-part modern-day!AU series, which starts with Drastically Redefining Protocol. You should read it even if you've never seen Merlin -- and you don't really need to have in order to read this fic. Because JFC. I never thought I'd care much, BUT MERLIN GAGGING FOR ARTHUR'S COCK IS FUCKING HOT WTF?! (And now I'm gagging for more good Merlin fic, dammit.)

So, there have been adorable gifs of behind-the-scenes stuff for Merlin going around everywhere -- I suppose now that the season 3 finale has just passed. It makes me want to try and watch the show again, but I don't know if I can actually bring myself to do it. Does anyone maybe have a list of good episodes to watch for seasons 2 and 3? Or conversely, a list of episodes I can/should skip?

And do you know how annoying it is to love another character named Arthur? *rolls eyes at self*

Also, a book rec for everyone, but especially fredericks! Almost Like Being In Love by Steve Kluger. Not your usual romance, gay or otherwise. But this was probably THE MOST HILARIOUS LOVE STORY I'VE EVER READ -- and I'm not really a huge fan of comedy. But it had me laughing out loud everywhere. What's even better is that the characters are wonderful! Amazingly developed; they're not stereotypes; they have real stories to tell you. Even the secondary characters! Kluger introduces them and you think they're going to be these minor background characters, but somehow they become more and more involved, or just have a stronger voice, and before you know it you've gone and invested in them, too. This is a mainstream published book, which means no sexytiems or anything, which was possibly my only disappointment. But more importantly I give it the highest praise I can give any book: I was absolutely unsure what the ending would be. There were several possibilities, all of them equally plausible, and all almost as equally desirable in my mind.

Travis and Craig's story is ABSOLUTELY worth reading. <3

ETA: Forgot to mention that the format is as unusual as it is interesting; epistolary-style, I suppose you'd say, though it's not solely letters. My one peeve with this book is the usage of interoffice memorandums (in 1998) between two coworkers who are also best friends. I felt the use of email would've been much more appropriate here and it bugged me enough to jar me out of the story every so often.

Comments

[honeymull.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I'm only on the outskirts of Merlin fandom and I still love the crap out of Pru's fic. So rereading it all tonight BECAUSE I CAN. Epiiiic.

[osaraba]

Hey, let me know if you have any Merlin recs, then! (Especially AUs because I think I'm not actually all that interested in the canon verse, lol.)

AND GOD YES, THAT FIC!!! SO DAMN GOOD.

[firefox1490.livejournal.com]

Theres a pretty amusing Inception/Merlin fic I read. I was happy.

[osaraba]

If it's The Pendragon Job by frantic_allonsy, I've read it! And yes, it's DAMN GOOD. =D

[firefox1490.livejournal.com]

hehehe that would be it :D

I need to post my ever growing list of recs

[endcredits.livejournal.com]

Nothing really comes close to a) the joy of S1 Arthur/Merlin, and b) rageprufrock's DRP.

Merlin S2 made me go 'eh', but I have actually enjoyed quite a bit of S3. They seem to actually be moving the plot along a bit now. There are still some (a lot) of elements that frustrate the hell out of me, particularly the treatment of Morgana and the fact that Merlin and Arthur's relationship NEVER SEEMS TO EVOLVE. I don't want to say more for fear of spoiling you if you do watch it. It *is* the season of Merlin and his many boycrushes, though. Much amusement.

astolat wrote a heap of gorgeous Merlin fic, but it's mostly non-AU (well, set in the BBC's random version of the mythological 6th century, anyway.) On the AU front, I loved paperclipbitch's We're a Storm in Somebody Else's Teacup.

[osaraba]

I'd really gotten to the point where I was done with Merlin; not interested in investing any more of my time in the show unless I knew that at some point Merlin confided his secret to Arthur, so I asked that anyone watching should tell me whether that happened. Because as much as I HATE spoilers normally, that was really what was required for me to continue.

So then knowing that Arthur STILL doesn't know about Merlin's magic... I really couldn't find it in me to keep going. Until all this damn behind-the-scenes cuteness. AND THEN PRU'S FIC. DAMMIT.

So I've declared amnesty on spoilers for Merlin (so if anything is particular interesting, feel free to let me know). Because I'm interested but I think in this case I actually need to be enticed back with the knowledge that interesting things occur! Instead of me just waiting around for something that'll never happen. =(

Also, I wonder if I'm alone in not liking Morgana? She's an interesting character and I want to like her, but I haven't been able to from the beginning.

THANK YOU for the recs! Even not-AU is fine, as long as it's a good story, though I probably wouldn't read much gen in this fandom as I'm less interested in the canon itself. (Why does slutty Merlin amuse me SO VERY MUCH?! I don't even like him that much; I'm more an Arthur fangirl.)

ETA: ALSO OMFG THANK YOU FOR THE TEACUP AU - JFC IT IS AWESOMMMMMMME!!!! <3333333!!!! I'M AT THE CLIMAX AND I DON'T WANT IT TO END EVERRRRRRR.... T_T And I need to go find an Arthur icon, like RIGHT NOW. ALSJFLSJDFLJSA;FJAS

[merith.livejournal.com]

I loved Almost Like Being in Love! And for the same reasons you've mentioned. It's hilarious and outrageous and so wonderfully warm and charming without thrusting stereotypes in your face. (Besides the show tunes!)

[osaraba]

\o/ A friend lent me her copy and I absolutely devoured it -- I think I read it over a 36hr period to/from/at work! So happy others are aware of it! Trav is the most hilarious person I've ever met. I want to know how much of him is based on Kluger or someone he knows because if he's real... LOL!

Have you read any of Kluger's other books? The same friend who lent me ALBiL highly recommended Last Days of Summer (though it's not a romance). I'm looking forward to that one too~! =D

[merith.livejournal.com]

I have not, though a couple of his other works come highly recommended.

If you like that sort of romantic comedy with a quirky main character, I would recommend trying Ethan Day's As You Are. Julian (Julie) gives a hilarious narrative.

[osaraba]

Yay! Thanks for the rec, I'll go check it out!!! =D

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I spent last night staying up late re-reading Drastically Redefining Protocol. I blame my morning grumpiness on you. :)

And, yay! rec! I totally downloaded that book last night. I'll read it once I finish up a couple I have electronically waiting for me. Lack of sexytiems? not a deal breaker at all.

[osaraba]

Ahahaha, I will take the blame. I've sure done it to myself countless times before! ^_~

When my friend told me about the book (we were also talking about fic recs in the same conversation), I could've sworn she said something about the awesome sex (but I guess she must've been talking about the fic by that point)... so I think this was the origin of my expectation and disappointment.