No Big Deal
| Sentinel Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | No Big Deal |
| Author(s): | Dasha |
| Date(s): | |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | slash |
| Fandom: | The Sentinel |
| External Links: | online here |
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No Big Deal is a Jim/Blair story by Dasha.
Reactions and Reviews
The more I read Dasha's stories, the more I've come to realize that she's my favorite author in the Sentinel fandom. It's not just that she's a great writer (which she is) or that she's got a knack for character's voices (which she does), but it's the way her stories are grounded and realistic and not at all melodramatic. Sometimes you want melodrama. Sometimes you want Jim and Blair to act like rational human beings. Dasha's absolutely brilliant at writing the latter.No Big Deal is essentially the entire series (seriously; this story is *epic*) retold strictly from Jim's POV. You've got all of the canon there, and overlaid is Jim's growing realization that he might not be totally straight and that he's got a pretty good idea why (*cough*blair*cough*). Angst and humor and realistic personal growth for Jim are this story's strongest points. My favorite part of this story, however, is how Dasha handles the senses. She does a brilliant job of describing how the senses work (I especially loved all of the details about Blair's tests early on) and how Jim's perceptions are different because of his senses. Best of all, she consistently remembers that Jim has his senses throughout the story, even later on, when they are mostly under control.
If you're looking for a good, solid, dramatic (but not horrifically dark), engaging story, this is the fic for you.[1]
Oh yeah! I wanted to re-read that one for a long time! It was one of the very first TS fics I've read and I was just about gobsmacked by its magnitude, LOL. If memory serves right I think I like it best of all her fics. Although her writing is very good in all her stories, I cannot really get into the crossover series, because I have no idea who most of the characters are. And although I love her Dorset County series to pieces, it sometimes depresses me, because fragile Jim is *so* not my thing.[2]
It was one of the first TS stories I read as well, back before I bothered keeping track of who wrote what, so I was thrilled to find it again. For one thing, it taught me a *lot* about what happened in the series (though I will get around to seeing the canon...someday). I also like the Dorset County series, but it doesn't seem like there's ever going to be another story and so it feels...incomplete to me. So, yeah, this might be my favorite of her fics as well.[3]
No Big Deal is a huge, beautifully written retelling of the entire series from a slashy standpoint. The story is told from Jim’s point of view, and Dasha does a great job of threading canon events with Jim’s mixed feelings about being a Sentinel, as well as his growing feelings for Blair. She also gives us plausible reasons for things on the show that didn’t make sense. Ever wonder why Jim wasn’t right there when Blair finally stepped safely off the elevator in Dead Drop? Well, now you’ll know.[4]
Summary: This wonderfully written series goes through canon from beginning to end, providing missing scenes that make remembering the show infinitely more enjoyable.Reccer's Notes: When newbies coming to TS want recommendations to help them understand the fandom, I usually include this series. One reason is that it goes through the entire series, providing interstitial information that helps fill in the canon plot holes. But another reason is that it's written through Jim's eyes, but in a very even-handed way. Too often Jim is portrayed in fanfic as either a stone-faced loner who is made human only through the magic of Blair's intervention, or someone who constantly needs Blair at his elbow to function.
If you actually watch the show, you'll see that Jim, although flawed, is competent, confident, loyal to his friends and has a wonderful, snarky sense of humor. Dasha really highlights the chemistry between these two men that was the heart of the show. Enjoy.[5]
So, did you ever want to know what went on off-screen during the show? How Blair convinced Jim to do tests or get him a ride-along pass? What happened when Jim came back from fishing in “Crossroads”? Whether he and his father and brother continued to make amends with each other? If Jim *really* thought Blair would make a good partner? Here’s your chance to explore. No Big Deal is a big engrossing tale told through Jim’s eyes starting the day after the Switchman episode and continuing through to the end of the series. It fills in all sorts of details that might bog down the action-packed episodes but are essential to understand how two such different people became so important to each other. If you’ve never read any of Dasha’s works, you’re in for a treat. If it’s been a while since you’ve read this excellent series, this is just a reminder of how good she is. Enjoy.[6]