Judith Proctor's Journal

Q is for Quantum

"Events are discrete in nature. Either I go on holiday to Peru or I don't."
Carter's voice was kinda soothing when she was in monologue mode.
"Fascinating mummies in Peru," Daniel chipped in.
"If you're into dead children," Jack said, leaning back in his chair.
Daniel stared at him with amazement. "You read my paper!"
Jack blinked rapidly. "Saw it on the Discovery channel."
"If I go to Peru," Carter continued firmly, "then that is a discrete event."
"What necessity makes you require secrecy?"
"Secrecy?"
"Why do you need to be discreet?"
"Discrete, Teal'c." Jack drawled. "Means 'separate'. Carter's saying that something like a photon either is or isn't. You can't have half a photon. Quantum theory really pisses off people who think in terms of light waves."
"You read my article?"
"It's amazing what you can learn from the back of cereal packets."
And Carter was off again, explaing how the Quantum Mirror could only show an Aleph-naught number of infinite universes, because each universe was created by a decision made by an individual and the number of decisions was an integer not a real number.
Maybe, somewhere, there was an alternate universe where Jack O'Neill didn't find this stuff fascinating.
He yawned. "Time to call it a night, kids. Think I might do a little star-gazing before I go to bed." Half an hour's observation, then he might complete that article for 'Astronomy Monthy.' Under a pseudonym, of course.

 This one is a Harry Potter fic, but it would work almost as well if you'd never read Harry Potter.  It's just a beautifully written short story.  (There's a passing hint of slash,  but I think Kerravonsen would enjoy this)

It's a story with many possible interpretations (there are later stories in the series that might clarify or might not), but I know I got something different from it each time I read it. And this is a good thing, not a bad one.

The language is beautifully written (owes some inspiration to 'Singing the Fishing') and the descriptive text is also lovely.

There are hints of loss, redemption, sacrifice, read it how you will.

Even if it's not your fandom, try Ships that Pass.

Absolutely delightful short story about John and Sherlock talking over breakfast.

It's another AJHall story, but this one is funny as well as well-written.  I was giggling most of the way through.

I think this is a very rare case of a slash story that might work for people who don't like slash  (no actual sex, Sherlock is asexual).

The pretentious restaurant review is a particular delight.

I can see why this story has over 1,100 kudos on AO3.

I suspect many of my friends have already read it, but if you haven't, give it a try

 Just found a nice little fic by AJ Hall.

It's only a short story, but it manages to cross three fandoms I like: Torchwood, Wimsey and Inklings (Tolkien)

The thing that totally sells it is the character voices.  If you know your Lord Peter Wimsey, then you will recognise characters before they are actually introduced.  (And, as there should be, there are lots of throwaway literary and poetical references, some of which I can identify and some of which I don't recognise but am sure are genuine.)

And there's a lovely little twist that is so perfect that it makes me cry out: "I love this idea -I want to read more about it!"  (though I doubt I'll ever see it.)


Another story to love is The Affair of the Asphyxiated Acafan, I have slight quibbles with one aspect of the ending, but overall it's brilliant.  The murder victim, even when dead, is an excellent original character who has that knack of reminding you of several people you know.  Sarah (John Watson's girlfriend in some episodes) is extremely well written, intelligent and insightful.  Harry, John's sister, also shines with a well-developed personality.  When writers slash a couple (Hall has written John/Sherlock stories as well, which I'm looking forward to reading) they often tend to diss or simply ignore the canonical het pairings. I'm delighted to say this is not the case here.  John and Sarah have a strong relationship and a good understanding of each other.

The murder plot has some nicely thought out details and is complex enough to feel like a TV episode.  Sherlock himself is sharp as a razor and picks out lots of details (but I like it that Sarah works out a few things for herself).

(Thanks katlinel for introducing me to this particular writer)

 It's too hot to do anything, so I'm looking for random fanfic.

I wish to God there was a tag for 'writing for a fandom set in my own country'.

There are non-natives who can pull it off  -I've met some - but so many make gaffes that jar on a native.

I've just tried two highly rated Merlin fanfics and dropped out of them both in minutes.

Are there any British people who really don't know that Buckingham Palace is at the end of Pall Mall?

When do you see anyone in present-day London wearing a twin set and pearls? 

I remember my American beta reader laughing her head of at my gaffes when writing Stargate - but at least I made sure I HAD and American beta reader.

Anyone care to rec me good stories with plots in any of the following:

Sharpe, Merlin, Arthurian legends, LOTR, Avengers, Lois and Clarke, MASH, anything involving the British Navy, Stargate SG-1, anything you think I might like, SF shows in general.  I may even try shows I don't know if the tale is really good, but it would have to be excellent and not going on endlessly about how wonderful two people think the other is.

I don't care if it has sex or not or what the pairings are.  What I'm after is a good story that has a strong plot, that has depth in the background, feels like the author really knows the universe and fits the culture it is written for.

My only requirement is that it isn't too dystopian. There are times when I like bleak, downbeat fic, but not today.   That's not saying I want fluffy, or all sweetness and light, not even that I forbid character deaths - I just don't want to go too far downhill.

 What I like about this story is that it would still work if you'd never read Harry Potter.

It's got some lovely historical details that are all correct.

This is set around the (real historical event) theft of the football world cup.

 Via SelenaK, a delightfully amusing story about the names of Harry's children.

I've just got to the end of Rhaegal's 'Evolution' and have to recommend it as an excellent story.  (As long as you enjoy Kirk/Spock slash)

It's a novel length story, where each chapter is pretty much a self contained 'episode' but the episodes link together into a unified plot. (and some of the episodes are a nice tip of the hat to episodes in the original series)

And it's got science!  Real science!  I love it when scientists write fanfic.  You can visualise the author watching the movie and jumping up and down shouting "No, that won't work!"  (I know, because I do it myself when my areas of science are done wrong).

So, here's an astrophysicist writing fanfic and sorting out a proper explanation for the supernova in the new Trek movie - and getting a plot built around it.

It's also got a deeply satisfying Kirk/Spock relationship that is allowed to develop over time - and a good running joke about Kirk's shirt getting ripped all the time (shades of Galaxyquest!).

A quiet gentle story about Cameca and the Doctor reaching the end of his first life.

I really enjoyed this short story about Ian and Barbara.

A quiet, sad Star Trek fic that would probably work even for people who haven't seen the film.  I picked it out of the mass of stories purely because the title comes from a Stan Rogers' song, but the story is quality.

(It reminds me very strongly of an SF story I read once.  I can remember neither author nor the title - which is really annoying - but the overall feel is very similar.  The story I recall has a wedding dress in it, which should be sufficient information for anyone else who has read it to tell me what I'm remembering...)

This is a lovely little story and I really like the way the Sandman characters have been used.  They feel right.

As promised, a short story.  It's a Buffy-Stargate crossover.

Many of you will already have read this via selenak 's link, but I wholeheartedly recommend it to those who have not.

It's a Torchwood Narnia crossover from Susan's veiwpoint. I love the way it deals with Susan's memories of Narnia and how that made her want something more from her life.