The Woods Series

Fanfiction
Title:	The Woods Series
Author(s):	Anna S (eliade)
Date(s):	October 2001, archived at AO3 June 2013
Length:
Genre(s):	slash
Fandom(s):	The Sentinel
Relationship(s):
External Links:
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The Woods Series is are slash Sentinel stories by Anna S.

The author warns for graphic descriptions of torture and rape.

Parts

• Down to the Woods (45577 words)
• The Tree Becoming (17038 words)
• The Wood Beyond (14633 words)

Author's Original Notes

I'm finally putting The Woods series online. This is more or less one long story, or series of stories, that's been sitting on my drive for about two years now. I think I started it in fall of '99, if not earlier. I first thought of this as a novel, then as a loose collection of stories, rather in the style of Francesca's Nature series. I'm tired of thinking of it as a work in progress, though. Some of it feels done, like stuff I'm not going to return to. There's a lot more I wanted to do with this, but probably won't. I've lost momentum and vision.

I would never have gotten as far as I did without feedback and suggestions from Sandy H, for whom I originally began writing this, when it comes right down to it. I'm pretty sure that a few others looked at it over the years, and I'm embarrassed to say I can't even remember who, except for Shoshanna. Despite the best efforts of such people, I made relatively few changes to the thing, and hold myself responsible for all of it. I don't even know to measure its success or failure as writing, though I know that I didn't accomplish everything I wanted to with it, and that certain parts I'm just letting slide with the hope that they work, but without revision.

For anyone who doesn't read unfinished stories, I'd say that it's still possible to read what's here with a sense of partial closure (i.e., for each part). It doesn't trail off mid-sentence, at least.

Anna S.

October 28, 2001

Reactions and Reviews

In Down to the Woods, we’re in the rhythms and banter of Man Land as the gang go fishing. It is joy to be there, especially because of the sweet sense of something building between Jim and Blair.

The Tree Becoming is where it gets dark, no bones about it. The cabin is invaded and Blair is brutally raped. But it is not torture porn in any shape or form and if you can manage it, read it.

If you can’t, then skip to The Wood Beyond, for the portrait of Jim if nothing else. This is the Jim I achingly want for Blair, at all times. All quiet, solid care and love, and not a gram of mush or sentiment to take him out of character. For all the darkness, this one especially, is pure comfort fic for me. And with some of the best writing on the planet.

Another one [I'm reccing] by Anna is The Woods, an unfinished Sentinel story that has all sorts of characteristics about it I wouldn't normally read; but I'm very glad I read this one... Your enjoyment is probably going to depend on your tolerance for unfinished stories. I was a little frustrated at the end, wanting that conclusion, but overall the richness of what's there outweighed my frustration. There's some really superb writing in The Woods, parts that made me just sit back and marvel, so give it a try.

Each of the three stories is complete, but the series itself is not, and the author says that it never will be. I found this daunting at first, and yet as soon as I started reading I was sucked in and couldn't have stopped if I'd wanted to. The flow of the writing, the images that her words build, the complete believability of her dialogue - if there are a dozen fan fic writers more talented than Anna, I'd be very surprised. (And no, I'm not finished writing this rec. Will finish it soon, though.