Gardening at Night
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Gardening at Night |
| Author(s): | torch |
| Date(s): | August - September 1999 |
| Length: | 6,600 words |
| Genre(s): | slash fanfiction |
| Fandom(s): | Star Wars TPM |
| Relationship(s): | Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan |
| External Links: | Gardening at Night (The Flambeau Factory) |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Gardening at Night is a Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan story by torch.
Summary: Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi get caught up in a conflict while on a mission to a planet in the throes of political upheaval. Qui-Gon makes an in-depth study of local architecture, and Obi-Wan stubs his toe.
Recs and Reviews
Gardening at Night by torch is a wonderful little snapshot of what can happen in a single night. Torch calls this one a PWP, and I guess for torch, this is a PWP. But one thing that torch has always, always been able to do is create a fictional world so complete that every element makes perfect sense, and this story is no exception. I loved Aderie with its plants and flowers, and its long-tailed inhabitants speaking their own language. I loved that what brought Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon together, in the end, was completely integral to the setting and the plot (what plot?). And don't miss the little snip of a postscript to this story.[1]
This one is a hard one. Yes, Torch is an excellent writer (and her pro stuff is good as well), and this story contains what is, for me, the most beautiful and honestly plot driven sex scene ever. That being said, however, this story, like a lot of Torch's stories, left me wanting more -- not more as in a continuation of the story, but more of something else quite indefinable. It makes me nuts trying to explain that, so I don't think I will, and anyway, it could well be just me. I commend her for picking one POV and then staying with it; having just tried that myself, I know how hard (and how rewarding) that is. The aliens are fairly well defined within just a few succinct paragraphs, and the situation is clear and strong. I wish I knew why her stories are the equivalent of Chinese food for me, but I can't put my finger on it. At any rate, this is a beautiful story, and well worth the recommendation, regardless of my weird headspace.[2]
Torch clamis this is a PWP but it is too full for such a simple description. The whole story is full to burst with texture tone description and the sex is rather hot. I love self aware Obi. And of course Qui is just love.[3]
This is a wonderful little PWP, except torch can't write anything truly shallow so the plot sneaks in anyway. She has such a deft touch with language I was almost drooling when I read the opening paragraph. Obi-Wan's characterisation is perfect. A fun romp through an alien garden with a good action sequence to whet our appetites for the (lovely) smut.[4]
Okay, so maybe really love torch's writing. This piece is just so beautiful and poetic - I mean, let's be honest, it's definitely a PWP. But the language is so elegant.[5]
Qui-Gon's mastery of the Living Force is on full display in this marvelous story by Torch.Terrorists partly destroy the Spring-Gate entrance to the Chadriel Palace on the planet Aderie; Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon must catch them and fix the damage before flooding overwhelms the ecosystem and drowns thousands of people.
Qui-Gon assigns Obi-Wan the task of catching the ringleaders and himself the task of repairing the gate. Obi-Wan puts on a virtuoso show of Jedi skills, tracking and subduing the bad guys while high in the treetops of a rain forest. Qui-Gon shows his virtuosity in a different way: singlehandedly holding the Spring Gate together until Obi-Wan is free to help him.
"Qui-Gon was kneeling with his hands against the ground... no, down in the ground, fingers buried deep in the earth, roots coming up to wind around his arms...Power sang in the air. Qui-Gon was holding the gate up, was holding back the water, channeling the living force from the ground through himself and into the gate to make it heal and grow again."
This is one of the most extraordinary descriptions of Qui-Gon I've ever read.
Together, he and Obi-Wan bolster the Gate and prevent a flood. However, the Living Force they channel has to go somewhere. Qui-Gon wants to dissipate it through meditation, but Obi-Wan has more amorous ideas.
Luckily, Obi-Wan wins, and so do we.[6]
gardening at night and gardening post-script by torch. qui/obi, nc-17, sw:tpm, an exquisite first-time action/adventure. perhaps a bit overly sentimental. there's a slight rebellion on a planet--obi-wan chases the perps, qui-gon uses the living force in a rather spectacular display.[7]
An interesting alien world with a living palace. But the main reason I loved it was that Qui-Gon gets to do something impressive.[8]
Dominant Obi-Wan Stories: Don't just look at who penetrates whom here; Obi-Wan is definitely in charge.[9]
References
- ^ Jan and June's Slash Recommendations: The Jan and June Slash Weblog, 03 September 2001. (Accessed 10 April 2015)
- ^ mrshamill in tpm_flashback. Gardening at Night, by Torch, 19 June 2004. (Accessed 19 April 2015)
- ^ iatethebunny in furious_words: Perfection Is Flawed - Star Wars, 09 February 2007. (Accessed 20 April 2015)
- ^ veronamay. The Phantom Menace recs: Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan, 29 July 2005. (Accessed 21 April 2015)
- ^ recnabo. Star Wars Fic Recs, 21 July 2006. (Accessed 24 April 2015)
- ^ Merry Amelie in quiobisupport. Fiction rec: Gardening at Night Q/O, NC-17, 19 November 2014. (Accessed 27 April 2015)
- ^ cimorene. Recs: Star Wars, via Wayback. (Accessed 20 May 2015)
- ^ Eshva. The Forest of Eshva: TPM slash recs (Qui-Gon friendly). (Accessed 03 November 2015)
- ^ Amy Fortuna's Recs Page, Wayback: 04 October 2000 (Accessed 11 June 2020)