byslantedlight ([info]byslantedlight) wrote in [info]ci5hq,
2007-06-03 19:05:00
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Zine fic rec - Island Innocents

It's ever so quiet around here... *tiptoes in*... Maybe I'd better...

Title: Island Innocents
Author: Glen Fiddich?
Link to story: Tragically, not online.
Zine: Island Innocents
Review:

I read this zine only because [info]msmoat included it in her list of zine fic recs. I'd been mildly curious before that, because no one seemed to say much about it, and I assumed it was just a so-so fic.

I was really wrong.

This story follows the lads on a mission to the Scilly Isles. It's absolutely beautifully written, full of gentle humour that made me laugh out loud, and the way their relationship was drawn just made me want to hug the lads. There was an almost Larton-esque atmosphere flowing through it, and I can't tell you how sorry I was when it ended!

And I now want to go to the Isles of Scilly!

Oh and speaking of drawn - it's illustrated with some absolutely brilliant line drawings (I liked "Bryher's-eye view of a french yachtsman"... and "Conscientious response to Scillonian water-shortage", although there are other reasons why that one... *g*).

I would like to double-double check something though, because my copy doesn't have an author's name on it. Can anyone confirm that it is definitely Glen Fiddich? Although having read one of Glen Fiddich's other stories, as well as "The House That George Built", in ProsLib I'm fairly sure myself. And does anyone have any publishing information for it? My copy seems to be a Circuit copy... Hatstand says Gryphon and ProsLib, but it's certainly not on my copy of the cd, and it's not on the current Gryphon list, either... Help?
Tags: author - glen fiddich, rec - zine stories, title - island innocents

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  • 25 comments

[info]elizabethoshea

June 3 2007, 19:50:59 UTC 4 years ago

I'm so glad you mentioned this one – it's one of my all-time favourite stories (well, as you say, it has definite Lartonesque overtones, and you know how I feel about Larton). Gorgeous, isn't it? And I agree completely about the illustrations. Wonderful, wonderful stuff. And now I want to read it again and I can't because all my stuff's on its way into storage again. Pah!

As far as I know it's definitely by Glen Fiddich – that's what it says on my copy at least *g*.

[info]byslantedlight

June 3 2007, 20:35:02 UTC 4 years ago

Oh yeay, a definite written-on-my-copy answer! *eyes own copy sternly* Thank you!

Actually, now I want to read it again too... I'd offer to send you over my copy, now that you're just down the road, but you're off adventuring soon, I think?

[info]angel_ci5

June 3 2007, 20:31:04 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you for this, it sounds quite enchanting.

I'm also intrigued by The Larton Chronicles, (which I often see mentioned), and having checked on Paleyloitering.com, I see that its also published by Gryphon Press.

I think I may have to treat myself to both stories.
(Assuming they're both still available, of course!)


[info]londonronnie

June 3 2007, 20:36:48 UTC 4 years ago

You can definitely still get Larton from Gryphon Press, but as [info]byslantedlight says, Island Innocents isn't a Gryphon zine.

Just about everyone knows that I'm a Larton nut, so if Island Innocents is similar I'd love to read that too.

[info]angel_ci5

June 3 2007, 20:48:06 UTC 4 years ago

Oh! I was hoping the Hatstand might be correct. :-(
Thanks for the info. At least Larton is still available!

Could you tell me a little about Larton, what to expect?
It's one of those stories that is so often talked about amongst Pros fans, I'm keen to read it.

[info]londonronnie

June 3 2007, 22:39:57 UTC 4 years ago

Could you tell me a little about Larton, what to expect?

Ah, where to begin...Probably best to start off by saying if you don't like AUs then don't bother with Larton, cos it's probably the most AU AU you're ever likely to read!

The Ray Doyle of this story is an ex-copper who is now a reasonably successful crime novelist. Sick of London life, he buys a cottage in the village of Larton where his path soon crosses that of the local 'squire', an Irish Army officer by the name of William Bodie who spends most of his time on the back of a horse.

And that's about it really - it's the story of how Doyle settles into village life and life with Bodie, and how he copes with the various crazy situations that Bodie and his eccentric family are forever getting into.

I find it difficult to describe the book, actually - it's the whole atmosphere of the thing that I love so much, not to mention the gorgeous and totally believable (and not always idyllic!) relationship between Doyle and Bodie. People often say that you either love Larton or hate it. If, like me, you love it then you'll adore it and I guarantee that you'll read it many times.

[info]msmoat included some lovely extracts from the zine in her LJ not so long ago - go here to read them:
http://msmoat.livejournal.com/15406.html

That should give you a good taster! Hope you decide to join the Larton lovers!

[info]angel_ci5

June 4 2007, 10:11:10 UTC 4 years ago

I absolutely love AUs!

It sounds wonderful.
And Bodie astride a horse? Oh my, it's got to be worth reading for that alone! *g*

I shall read msmoat's link - thank you very!

[info]callistosh65

June 4 2007, 03:24:09 UTC 4 years ago

Just adding my tuppence here about Larton for you. I was *so* sceptical when I sat down with a Larton fic, since Londonronnie is right, it doesn't get much more AU than Larton, but there is something about the characterisations, the spare style, the situations she creates, that draws you in. It's also as funny as hell once you're in. Really, I chuckled a lot. So give it a go, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[info]angel_ci5

June 4 2007, 10:15:32 UTC 4 years ago

Thank you very much for this.

It sounds just like the kind of story I enjoy (and I adore good AUs!), so I don't think I'll be disappointed!



[info]byslantedlight

June 3 2007, 20:40:48 UTC 4 years ago

I'm not convinced that Island Innocents is still available, actually... in fact I'd go so far as to say that I'm pretty sure it's not, which is a total tragedy. I picked my copy up, unexpectedly and with much squeeing, from someone incredibly nice at Nattercon.

Larton is definitely available, because I've finally bought my own shiny copy with all five - five! - stories in it. Wheeee! Now I want to read that again too... *g* Larton is just... indescribably wonderful, I think...

[info]angel_ci5

June 3 2007, 20:52:33 UTC 4 years ago

I'm pretty sure it's not, which is a total tragedy.

Ah, that is a shame!

Good to know I can get the Larton stories though. I've just emailed Gryphon Press, so fingers crossed...

[info]byslantedlight

June 4 2007, 19:25:08 UTC 4 years ago

Oh yeay - I do hope you like it! People either love it or hate it (are you on the Yahoo Group Pros-Lit at all? Very coincidentally they're talking about Larton over there too... *g* Some different opinions, anyway!

And btw, I think Gryphon Press is away on holiday for a couple of weeks, so if you don't hear back straight away it's not that she's bad at replying, cos she's actually dead good...

[info]angel_ci5

June 4 2007, 20:00:13 UTC 4 years ago

Thanks for the Pros-Lit nudge - very varied and interesting points of view on there about it. (I always forget to check that group regularly, and it has such a high volume of posts, doesn't it!)

Thanks for letting me know about GP too, I was starting to fret that I'd had no reply!

[info]solosundance

June 3 2007, 21:40:41 UTC 4 years ago

Oh I would love to read this, specially as it so very happens that I'm off to the romantic, gritty old Scillies in two days' time .. (weirdly enough, I first went circa 1977) ... I'm wildly curious to know what the mission was *g* and so pleased that the lads were *there* (in a manner of speaking).

[info]byslantedlight

June 3 2007, 22:16:38 UTC 4 years ago

Oh I'm so jealous! And I also have no idea how I could get the story to you in just two days - I'm sorry! And I don't even dare tell you more here, cos it'd spoiler it - what lousy timing of me!

Also - hmmn, I'm starting to have this vision of a Prosdom holiday to the Scilly Isles, visiting all the places in the story, and just wiggling with glee at being there... *g* We'd all be cycling around, staring at the many large... protrusions on the islands... *g* Have a fabulous time!

[info]solosundance

June 4 2007, 10:44:06 UTC 4 years ago

I'm starting to have this vision of a Prosdom holiday to the Scilly Isles I'll check out an itinerary and report back *g*

[info]byslantedlight

June 4 2007, 19:22:25 UTC 4 years ago

Ooh - yes please! *g* I wanna know about protrusions... just like the lads do (wanna know about them, that is... not do them themselves, cos that'd be rude... oh, never mind...)

[info]solosundance

June 4 2007, 20:43:47 UTC 4 years ago

oh right ... protrusions ... there's this one island, called Samson, which is basically shaped like a pair of moderately-sized um, bazongas *g* I know the lads wouldn't have been interested in that but I s'pose where there's bazongas there must be lots of other sticking out bits ... ooh, looking forward to this trip more than ever now, heh!

[info]msmoat

June 3 2007, 21:56:12 UTC 4 years ago

Oh, I'm so glad you liked it! It's splendid, isn't it? It's very hard to describe, but...irresistably charming works for me. *g*

I'm trying to think back and I believe where the confusion about the publication comes in is that there was a one-off reprinting of it done by the Gryphon Press publisher, but it wasn't actually a Gryphon Press zine. (My fault for being confusing with the original post--sorry about that.)

[info]msmoat

June 3 2007, 22:10:11 UTC 4 years ago

I assumed it was just a so-so fic
Oi! I forgot to say: how could you doubt me?? Would I put a so-so fic on my list, eh? Hmmm! *g* Tsk-tsk.

[info]byslantedlight

June 3 2007, 22:19:54 UTC 4 years ago

there was a one-off reprinting of it done by the Gryphon Press publisher, but it wasn't actually a Gryphon Press zine
Ah, that might explain why the Hatstander has it up as a Gryphon zine! It's definitely not on the list now though, I double-double checked... :(

how could you doubt me?? Would I put a so-so fic on my list, eh?
Never! Never would I doubt you! 'Twas your very words, that led me to Island Innocents, whereas before I had read their veracitous glory I was unsure! *g*

Rec me more!? *vbg*

[info]faramir_boromir

June 4 2007, 03:55:39 UTC 4 years ago

I got my copy from Gryphon/Sara S in the last month, so still in print...though I'm working my way through the stack to get to this one.

[info]byslantedlight

June 4 2007, 06:33:55 UTC 4 years ago

Oh now that would make me very happy, because the printing is so faded on my copy that it's hard to read. Are you sure it was Island Innocents though, not Injured Innocents by O. Yardley?

[info]faramir_boromir

June 4 2007, 06:35:35 UTC 4 years ago

*hangs head in shame* Argh. Too many "i"s running around in my head at 2am. Sorry.

[info]byslantedlight

June 4 2007, 06:37:51 UTC 4 years ago

Oh, too good to be true! Never mind - and Injured Innocents is pretty good too *g* (well, you can't go far wrong with O. Yardley, can you?!)
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