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

[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!"