Paradoqz

Broken Swords in the Snow (Highlander/Buffy/X-Men)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 15th March 2003 (3)
Tags: Novelette
(53K)

Several characters get blown into Joe's bar at Christmas time; a stopping-place in the storm, a brief rest in the sojourn, an unexpected meeting. No violence, no "action", no danger; just light talk (but not fluffy), quips, teases, and a touch of the soulful, for those far from home, far from the ones they love.

Yes, I'm waxing poetical. That's because this was so good. The characters are spot-on, and I love that they're been seen through strangers' eyes, gives us another take on them.

This isn't a story for non-fans; there are too many oblique references, and if you haven't seen whatever-it-is, you haven't got a clue what they're referring to. I didn't get the X-Men references at all, for example, but I did get the Highlander and Buffy ones, and enjoyed their subtlety.

(Also at http://www.seventh-dimension.com/ and Twisting the Hellmouth http://www.tthfanfic.com/story.php?no=1024)