6 +1 Fics That Defined My 2021
In a year filled with great stories, 6 really shaped my narrative! Thanks to the brilliant authors who put the blood, sweat, ink, and tears into them.
To Stand Before the Storm by @arwamachine (E, 132k, completed July 2021)
Summary: Somebody has been killing sheep on an uninhabited island just off the western coast of Ireland, and Sherlock—of course—can’t resist the call to investigate. As a soon-to-be-divorced John and a recently-not-dead Sherlock unravel the mystery of the murdered sheep, they find that they may be forced to confront unspoken sentiments that have lingered between the two them for some time—that is, if they don’t fall victim to the dangers of the island first.
How this fic left its mark on my 2021: This story makes me think of spring, and peaceful solitude, and moments by the water. Each Monday, I rode my bike down to the local park on my lunch break, unpacked my picnic lunch, put in my headphones, pressed play on Spotify’s Instrumental Celtic Folk playlist, and read the newest To Stand Before the Storm update. This fic was an escape when I needed one- it’s the kind of harrowing angst that somehow still manages to be comforting simply because arwamachine wrote it. When this fic was completed, I moved far away, so the two unforgettable settings of where I experienced this fic and Blasket Island, where the story takes place, will forever be connected in my mind.
The Case of the Green Gown by splix, read by @podfixx (E, 209k, 27 hrs, original fic completed 2016, podfic completed June 2021)
Summary: “...Watson had at that time deserted me for a wife, the only selfish action which I can recall in our association. I was alone.” -Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier
How this fic left its mark on my 2021: This fic is a fandom classic that had somehow eluded me until this year. But thanks to Podfixx’s brilliant recording that came out this summer, I finally saw (or, rather, heard) the light. The Case of the Green Gown is a masterclass in storytelling, and if I’m not the last one to have read it, I recommend you go read or listen to it as soon as possible. I binge-listened to this story in one (ONE) weekend when I was dog sitting for a friend- and this beast of a podfic is 27 gripping hours of content. Although the poor dog didn’t know it, instead of walking through the woods, we were both watching the layered case unfold before us, partaking in a murderous high society party. The dog didn’t seem to mind.
Ride On by @totallysilvergirl (E, 34k, completed September 2021)
Summary: After the disastrous reveal at the Landmark, John tells Sherlock there can be no excuse for what he’s done, and no forgiveness. Sherlock leaves London and starts a new life, and not even the British Government knows where. It’s up to John to track him down and make things right, with a trip around the world and a clue only John would recognize.
How this fic left its mark on my 2021: What can I say– I’m a sucker for travel fics with Irish settings, apparently. This fic introduced me to three things I can’t believe I didn’t know about before: the Getting to Know Johnlock Writers Fic Collection, some awesome Irish music, and the word artist that is @totallysilvergirl. I’ve been making my way through the comprehensive list of this author’s stories ever since!
You Should Have Changed Course Long Ago by msdisdain, read by @podfixx (E, 33k, 4 hrs, original fic completed 2016, podfic completed December 2021)
Summary: John realizes too late what has been in his heart all along, and flees London. But can he ever truly leave Sherlock behind?
How this fic left its mark on my 2021: It wouldn’t be autumn without a good cry on the train, would it? Podfixx’s retelling of this masterpiece of an epistolary fix-it fic had tears threatening to stream down my cheeks on two different modes of transportation through the city– train and bus. This fic left a mark because it inspired me to start journaling again, owing to John’s use of his blog as a personal journal in this story (fics can actually be free therapy, thank you very much). Again, this fic eluded me when it was published in 2016, but thanks to Podfixx, I could experience it audibly in 2021!
From a Drop of Water by @victorianpining (M, 96k, completed December 2021)
Summary: "It was simply my conjecture of what a future world might look like and how you and I might fit inside it. From a drop of water a logician should be able to infer the possibility of an Atlantic or a Niagara."
Sherlock is certain that James Moriarty is dead and he already has a theory for the person behind his apparent return. Considering Sherlock was overdosing at the time, it's only to be expected that he overlooked a few details in coming to his conclusions.
John meanwhile has moved back in with Mary after reconciling with her at Christmas, but finds himself agonising over why Sherlock would have thrown away everything he cares about to keep her safe. Could Sherlock be in love?
A reimagining of Series 4 picking up from the end of The Abominable Bride.
How this fic left its mark on my 2021: Since 2017, I’d forgotten what it felt like to await new BBC Sherlock content. This fic gave me that rush again. An elegant weaving of analysis and research and storytelling, FADOW reads like it came right off the BBC screen. Don’t forget to listen to the playlists, too.
Solstice by @calaisreno (T, 7k, completed December 2020)
Summary: It feels like the onset of winter, so gradual that you wake up one day and see frost decorating the windows and wonder when it suddenly became so cold... He lost John slowly, without either of them deciding that’s what would happen. The way to come back together must be so gradual that it’s almost imperceptible.
How this fic left its mark on my 2021: The moment I finished this fic, it struck midnight on the winter solstice, so it felt like the universe had led me there. I was moved by its achingly deep speculations on the passage of time and relationships. The author left me chewing on this line: “Maybe this is just the ebb and flow of life: intense intimacy followed by annual Christmas letters.”
And for my +1, the fic that defined my summer as I wrote it: Here We Go Again.
It was a Mamma Mia! BBC Sherlock fusion, and my first multi-chapter fic! I’ve never had so much fun writing something, jamming to ABBA on repeat as I typed.
Summary: Ransacking some old trunks, Rosie Watson finds her father's old journal filled with remnants of a blog he used to keep about his association with Sherlock Holmes. In an attempt to meet the man who had a profound impact on her early years, Rosie invites the long-estranged detective to her wedding under false pretenses.
Happy New Year, everyone!
