not so much a review--

[roxy]

The Last Outpost of All There Is by eighth_horizon

I read some stories while I was gone. I thought I'd share my thoughts. Wow--it's hard to talk about a fic without spoiling it all to hell, geez.

I'll put it behind a cut to be polite. :)


Everyone's read this—anyone who's come into fandom has had to have read this because it's a fucking classic and one of the best representations of Sam and Dean ever. Their characters are so on, there's never one false step, never an OOC moment—and this in a story that includes wincest.

On the wincest scale it rates low—for me. It is the kind of story I think even a dedicated gen reader can enjoy without wincing. The sex is important to the story, yeah, but not in a "spicy bits to hold your attention" kind of way—the sex that happens is so closely and quietly woven into the story that it really makes sense. In a world where only the two of them exist, having sex, the way they end up having it, is not that great a leap to take, not for characters whose lives canonically are way too intertwined. It felt, to me, like the logical conclusion to a life that really doesn’t lead itself well to including others. We all know that they can be with other people, they can be in love or serious like, but the brothers will put it to the side for each other, Dean more easily and completely than Sam, maybe but still, we're shown them make this choice over and over. It's not that hard to imagine them becoming lovers (for lack of a better word)

This is a post-apocalyptic tale that really isn't. The world ends with a gasp—or rather humankind does. The story points out quite clearly that it isn't the world that has died; it's just that humans have entirely ceased to be. Except for our boys, they have neatly, quietly, completely, gone. We never learn the reason why, but that's not even the important thing. What is important is how the Winchesters pull each other back from the brink again and again. Why, it's Show times a million.

I love the writing, kind of neat and clean, understated in a way that just reaches into your brain and won't let go. There is, of course, an assumption that we know these guys, know the who and the why, but even if you didn't know them, it's just that good that it draws you in and doesn't let go. The excitement is in following them on their journey, watching them try to carve out a life in a world turned into something alien—a place that looks the same but will never be the same again. Being on this journey with them, watching Sam learn more and more about himself, seeing just how much Dean will give and just how much he's willing to take on himself for family, for love…it's just kind of overwhelming, in the best way.

Yeah, there's a reason why stories become classics. If you haven't read it in a while, you should reread! If you've never read it—I envy you! Get going! Grab that thing and read it!

Comments

[locknkey.livejournal.com]

I know this story - Last Outpost Of All That Is, by G. (something I can never remember) - right?






Did you intend not to put in a link?

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Yep--that's the story--and thanks, hah! I did forget to put in the link--or credit the writer, fer cryin' out loud!

[locknkey.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

*waves* I'll be here all week, folks....

[jackien1968.livejournal.com]

Nice meta on a powerful, beautiful story.

<3
Jackie

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

That story! The first time I read I think I dried my whole insides out, just reading non-stop with my mouth hanging open going, "this is so damn gooooood!"

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

Aww, love that fic!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I KNOW RIGHT?

One of the best "boys dealing with mid-boggling shit" story ever!!

[jesseofthenorth.livejournal.com]

I can tell you as a dedicated SPN Gen reader this one of the few pieces of wincest I have read. Read and loved deeply.
Eighth Horizon is one of my faves and you picked one of her best.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I think that's one of the things I like about it--that gen and wincest readers can agree what a lovely piece of work it is. There's so much going on, isn't there?

This story is one I reread every few months because I enjoy it that much.

[orbiting-saturn.livejournal.com]

This is an awesome one to re-read on a long trip. Your meta was pretty much right on, darling. As someone who never really reads gen fics, this is probably a Wincest story that I would rec to a gen reader because you're totally right. The Wincesty parts are really inoffensive, brief, but very tender and believable.

You should do these review/recs all the time. I'm always looking for good recs from authors that I trust to have good taste. There's still so much out there that I haven't found.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I don't read a lot of gen, SpN is the only fandom that I will read gen in. Those boys are so fascinating they don't even need to be having the sex, hah!

I read a *ton* of stuff, so I think I will do some recs. Thanks for reading my little sorta review! *G*

[tabaqui]

Oh, that story. That story.
*sniffles*

Just thinking about it makes me tear up a little. It's so amazingly *beautiful*, and agonizing, and just...perfect. Both of them trying so hard not to freak out, not to lose it, not to just run screaming into the night.

And the puppy Sam wants to keep, and that moment when he thinks Dean is gone, and looking for a house, and finding Vegas, and...the last bit, the last little bit, the spray paint graffiti....
*chokes up*

I love it so very much. It's always awesome to find other people who love it, too. :)

[askellington.livejournal.com]

I tell you--I *CRIED* so many times reading that story. The puppy--ack! And that bit when Sam thought Dean was lost and Dean hears him--*wibble* Yeah, this story was a special one. :)

[rednihilist.livejournal.com]

If you've never read it—I envy you! Get going! Grab that thing and read it!

. . . uh? Whoops? Yes, ma'am!

*forcefully clicks link*

[askellington.livejournal.com]

GIRL!!! You've never read it!!! OMG, you have to tell me what you think! I tried not to be spoilery but onmg, there are so many scenes that just rip your heart right out! *sniff*

oh, it's me being lazy again. Two journals--what a pain in the ass.

[rockstarpeach.livejournal.com]

Ack! I only just read that story a couple of months ago for the first time and it was like, the best fic ever! The site that it's on doesn't take comments so I ran around LJ for like an hour after I read it looking for somewhere to comment and think I just ended up commenting on some random entry by the author who probably looked at it and went 'wtf?'.

Just as much as their relationship in the fic, I really enjoyed the step by step way the world starts to fall apart around them without people there to keep it together.

Heh, now I want to read it again :)