Island Innocents

Zine
Title:	Island Innocents
Publisher:	there was a one-off reprinting of it done by the Gryphon Press publisher, but it wasn't actually a Gryphon Press zine
Editor:
Author(s):	Glen Fiddich
Cover Artist(s):	Glen Fiddich
Illustrator(s):	Glen Fiddich
Date(s):	1985
Medium:	print
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Professionals
Language:	English
External Links:	on AO3
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Island Innocents is a slash Professionals 155-page novel by Glen Fiddich. It has the subtitle: "Or, The Strange Affair of the Bishop and Wolf."

There are many small illos by the author.

This novel was written in response to Injured Innocents: "Dedicated with respect and affection to the author of INJURED INNOCENTS, a story to which it bears no real relation."

In it: "Bodie and Doyle are sent to the Isles of Scilly to prevent an assassination plot."

Table of Contents

• Maps: The Isles of Scilly (v)
• The Environs of Hugh Town (vii)
• Tuesday: "From Ushant to Scilly 'tis Thirty-Five Leagues" (1)
• Wednesday: Waiting for God-Knows_Who (28)
• Thursday: The Buccabu Experience (46)
• Friday: Buccaneers (73)
• Saturday: It's the Early Bird that Catches the Mermaid (99)
• Sunday: "Rosy Lips Above the Water" (126)
• Author's Note and Appendices (151)

Sample Interior Pages

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Reactions and Reviews

1996

Island Innocents (I think that's the one that Mfae swore up and down was her favorite and then I read it and it was this travelogue of a trip to the Scully Isles. I've been to the Scully Islands. Even got badly seasick on the ferry. Nice islands. Boring story.)

I enjoyed "Island Innocents" far more than I expected to for reasons similar to yours, though the illustrations made me wince when I opened the circuit library envelope. But I don't think I could've gone on for twice the length without someone either doing heroin or being cruel to a canine (or worse yet, one of the Lads) or *something*.

Here's a question I've mulled before. Is it a phenomenon particular to Pros, this travelogue disguised as a work of fiction thing? I am thinking not just of "Island Innocents" but of (then-- I assume -- infamous) "Sword of Damocles," in which B&D spend nearly an entire novel staying in B&Bs and worrying about what to do with the condoms. There are moments in both where I can only thank the good lord above that technology has not advanced to the point that I have to sit through the slides.

Not that I didn't have fun reading both, mind. They just struck me as a tad peculiar in the the touristic sense.

2007

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*).

...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...

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

2011

I was a bit disappointed by Island Innocents, although I love established relationship stories. The island parts itself are lovely - but the relationship is IMO a bit superficially treated, more like a travel and case diary. (No, I don't mean the sex! ;-))

I think the relationship is beautifully done in Island Innocents. It's new, and tentative, and as understated as I think the lads would play it, as they play it in the eps. I'm not one for them being very vocal and overwrought about things anyway, mind!

... not every story is a grand, laughing passion, and although I adore grand laughing passion I can appreciate other possibilities too... I do think there's a wealth of "good relationship background story" in Island Innocents, but it's very subtlely done, and I find it quite powerful (and full of promise) myself... And there's definitely banter - as much visual as oral, come to think of it! *g*

2014

I must confess to reading Island Innocents for the umpteenth time, just because I love it so much! The lads on a mission and sort of on holiday, out of their comfort zone, but totally together in an exciting new relationship, taking comfort in each other - and yet with the zing that newness brings... And the gorgeous Isles of Scilly as backdrop, in summertime, and a case to solve and... just... *sighs happily* It's a beautiful gentle read too, so that you're all comforted and lulled as a reader - this is a fic to hug to yourself. Thank you Glenfiddich, where ever you are!

... the drawings are absolutely delightful (though I think it's Bodie who contemplates the tall rocks - and various shrubbery that seems rather... suggestive... *g*) The House that George Built (in ProsLib) has drawings in the same style - the one at the end makes me think most of those in Island Innocents... *g* Actually, is there any chance that Island Innocents might be up on ProsLib one day, since Glen Fiddich has other work up there, and the zine isn't actually in print any more (well, it wasn't last time I checked, and the publisher was rather emphatic about that?)

I seem to remember that Joan Martin told me she was leery of any wider exposure because she'd based several characters on real local people.

I think the author says something about that at the end of the zine actually - that some of the characters really did exist, and she hopes no one will be offended by their inclusion. There are maps, and a newspaper story about the PM's dunking, too... *g*

I'll have to read that one again. Seem to remember disliking part of the Bodie/Doyle characterization, but am not quite sure what exactly it was.

Oh, interesting - I can't imagine not liking their characterisation in this one. You're not thinking of Injured Innocents are you? I know I thought their characterisation got a bit soppy in that one (though it started off well). Island Innocents is very different and not at all soppy (but beautifully affectionate... *g*) I think I remember that the title Island Innocents was a response of some kind to O. Yardley's Injured Innocents...