Warp 5 Complex

I just found this while wandering around the archive - never read it before.

I loved the looming sense of spookiness of the whole thing, the madness threatening all of them. I loved twistedTrip and unhingedMalcolm, and finally Hoshi's seemingly rational madness.

Very good!

love
Surya

I very, very rarely read deathfics or Archer/Reed, but you're one of my favourite authors, so I bit the bullet - and was mightily rewarded.

This story is absolutely wonderful - poignant without being saccharine, and as much as Tucker/Red is my one true slash pairing, Malcolm's nascent relationship with Archer was deeply respectful of Trip's memory.

Sal, you already know I love this story, but I'll leave a review anyway.

The AU is beautifully crafted and close enough to 'ours' to keep the reader slightly off-balance. The master/slave relationship and the non-con are tastefully handled, and although Reed is nominally in the 'weaker' position, he never appears weak or feminised - in fact he maintaind an inner strength and dignity throughout as he and Tucker finally come to terms with each other and their situation.

Tucker has the longer journey in this story, but again that's very well handled, with the gradual revelations about his past and the opening up of his emotions - so long denied - leading to a quiet epiphany.

Great story.

Author's Response: Thank you so much - I\'ve managed to work out how to log in - I\'m going to leave some reviews of my own! This was a monster to write but I enjoyed doing it and was amazed how easily the whole universe came together. Sal x

I love this series and the AU you've created here. Having Trip and Malcolm able to read each other's minds is a novel and interesting idea, and you've executed it with unusual flair.

This is one of my favourite fics, and I read it often. I love the way Charles and 'James's' relationship slowly grows from patient and carer to friendship to love. And the difficulties of having a same-sex relationship in a historical period aren't ignored either.

This whole series made me giggle. I loved Malcolm's inventive responses to 22nd century spam ... but how depressing that it'll still be around 150 years from now!

Just the thing to cheer me up on a rainy morning. Thank you.

I've just taken time out to read this in full. Deathfic isn't my favourite thing, but this was very well done, and very real, I think, especially Trip's 'conversations' with Malcolm, and the crew's reactions to them. Nicely done.

Author's Response: Thank you as well for taking a chance on a story from a genre you don\'t normally favor. I thought Trip continuing to \"speak\" to Malcolm as though he were still alive was the best way to show how deeply he had loved him for a good part of his life and how bereft he felt without him. It may be an unorthodox coping mechanism, but one that taps into the crew\'s sense of loss even while they worry about their captain\'s well-being. I\'m pleased you found it an effective device.

I really enjoyed this story. Althought the subject matter was difficult and sometimes dark, that was tempered by moments of tenderness and even humour.

And I'm glad Hoshi is fluent in 'Malcolmese' - that was a lovely moment.

S

Author's Response: Thank you for reading! I\'m glad you enjoyed it! Sita

This was lovely, Sita - very sweet. I have a feeling I'll be reading it again and again.