Despatches

Note from the Editor: We would like to send our best wishes to esteven and hope that she recovers soon! Fandom is not the same without you, dearest.

Fanfic:
Intermezzo by zilah; Aubreyad; NC-17; Jack/Stephen; Stephen and Jack find some happiness after rough times in their lives.

Son et Lumière:

Of historical interest:

Miscellany and meta:
sharpiefan informs us about In These Times: Living in Britain Through Napoleon's Wars

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read will be reading The Far Side of the World, Chapter Seven this weekend.
where_away: alcyone301 posts Jack is like Shakespeare

Rec of the Week:
To Be Laughed At by scrimshaw; Pride and Prejudice; G; Fitzwilliam Darcy, Charles Bingley; The revelation of Mr. Collins's philosophy on proposals, during a celebration of our two heroes' engagements.

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor: I've had a pretty busy week; I hope you're all doing OK now the summer's beginning to draw to a close? Or, if you're in the Southern hemisphere, perhaps you're looking forward to summer?

Fanfic:
Prise de Fer by josbanks: Aubreyad (pre-canon); G; Stephen Maturin, Ramón d'Ullastret i Casademón; At Ullastret, a young Stephen Maturin learns the noble art of defending his honour with a short sword
September Morning by barefoot_bard: Original; K+; Original characters; An old seaman observes the goings-on by the docks in Amble, Northumberland. September, 1797.
En Rapprochantby josbanks; Aubreyad; R; Stehpen Maturin/Diana Villiers;

Son et Lumière:
From hmsacasta_feed: The Press Gang at New Boston
From hmsacasta_feed: The Press Gang, Last Year
From hmsacasta_feed: Here's the Tender Coming, Again
From hmsacasta_feed: Smuggler Pressgang Part 1 and 2
From hmsacasta_feed: 'Smuggler' Pressgang Part 3

Of historical interest:
From hmsacasta_feed: British Tars 1740-1790
From hmsacasta_feed: Impressment Paperwork
From hmsacasta_feed: A Little Light Reading
From hmsacasta_feed: J. Wilson, Able Seaman

Miscellany and meta:
From hmsacasta_feed: How Do I Avoid the Press Gang?
From hmsacasta_feed: About Us
From hmsacasta_feed: A Book Review of 'Slaver Captain' by John Newton
From hmsacasta_feed: A Book Review of 'Landsman Hay; by Robert Hay

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read is on hiatus this weekend
esteven reminds us that Treason's Harbour Chapter Ten is still open for discussion on mandc_read

Rec of the Week:
I kinda pressured wayward_shadows into helping me with this week's rec... Passing of an Era by sharpiefan; Hornblower; U; Hornblower, Bush; He wasn't sure at first why he'd come. This wasn't like the glorious launching of a new ship, flags flying, music playing, people cheering.

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor:

Fanfic:
Requiescat in Pacem by justincase; Aubreyad; 18+ (major character death); Sophie’s telegram reached him at The Grapes just as he was leaving to explore a bog he’d recently learned about.

Son et Lumière:
Vid: hmsacasta_feed: The Blue Peter
Vid: hmsacasta_feed: You get paid to do it!
patches_the_shipcat: A Silent Movie of Napoleon

Of historical interest:
hmsacasta_feed: Adam Cuppage, Volunteer First Class

Miscellany and meta:
hmsacasta_feed: Heritage Artisan Days, New Harmony
hmsacasta_feed: A Letter of Intent Renew'd

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read are reading Chapter Seven of The Ionian Mission this weekend

Rec of the Week:
Stockings by Pariaritzia; Georgetter Heyer Cotillion; PG; Freddy Standen, Kitty Charing, Lady Legerwood, Meg Standen; In which Lady Legerwood and Meg advise Kitty on the niceties of a wedding night, including the importance of stockings.

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor:

Fanfic:

Son et Lumière:
Photos: hmsacasta_feed: While in town 4

Of historical interest:
hmsacasta_feed: Meet Mr. Crabb
vanilla_elf: Nelson's Teapot
oldcuddy_feed: Illustrated talk: Collingwood's Ships - Design and Construction
oldcuddy_feed: Admiral Collingwood: Of Flowers and DNA

Miscellany and meta:
hmsacasta_feed: Our Schedule
hmsacasta_feed: Post Labels

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read are reading The Ionian Mission, Chapter Five this weekend
hmsacasta_feed: Open Call to Writers
perfect_duet: esteven wishes everyone A happy Easter - Happy Spring Season

Rec of the Week:
Sharpe's Training by sharpiefan; Sharpe; U; Sharpe, Sergeant Bowaters; The first time Sharpe had fired a musket, he hadn’t known what to expect. On DW; on the AO3

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor: Emerging from the depths of research to find that somehow Despatches is nearly back on track. :D How's your week-and-a-bit been?

Fanfic:
The Danger of PeaceAubreyad; R; Jack, Stephen, Diana; Stephen bends a promise and Diana puts him under the harrow for it and his very deep affection for Jack.

Son et Lumière:
chrsvg: A Beautiful Tale (recap of Episode 8 of War & Peace)
chrsvg: Leave of Absence & Madness (War and Peace recap and screencaps)
Picspam: sharpiefan: Campaign furniture belonging to Captain John Vickery
Picspam: sharpiefan:Saltash family portraits
Picspam: sharpiefanPaintings in the Saltash collection
Picspam: Fallbrooke House
sharpiefan: From the Guidebook to Fallbrooke House
Video: hmsacasta_feed: New Orleans: British Teaser

Of historical interest:
hmsacasta_feed: Captain Edward Fellowes
hmsacasta_feed: Mr Midshipman Bushby
hmsacasta_feed: Captain James Wood
hmsacasta_feed: Know Your Nelson 8
hmsacasta_feed: Young Sea-Officer's Assistant

Miscellany and meta:
hmsacasta_feed: Leaving Bermuda
sharpiefan: Emma Vickery's scrapbook
sharpiefan: More of Emma Vickery's Activities

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read are reading Chapter Two of The Ionian Mission this weekend (Chapter one is still open for discussion also.)

Rec of the Week:
Recced by wayward_shadows. Breaking by latin_cat; Sharpe; PG; Sharpe, Wellington; When Sharpe was broken down from corporal. For the prompt 'Parade'

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor: Ah well. If you're going to do something, you may as well do it properly - which would explain why this is out at completely the wrong side of the weekend. Oops. Hope you've all had a good week(end)!

Fanfic:

Son et Lumière:
Screencaps: Poldark: Complete series by chrsvg
Screencaps: War & Peace (1972 version) by chrsvg

Of historical interest:
hmsacasta_feed: Know Your Nelson + A Little Extra
hmsacasta_feed: Hoisting the Blue Peter
hmsacasta_feed: Meet Captain Kerr
hmsacasta_feed: Meet Mr Brigstocke
patches_the_shipcat: Letters from 1809

Miscellany and meta:
chrsvg posts A review of War & Peace (1972 version)
chrsvg posts episode recaps of War & Peace (1972)
hmsacasta_feed: The matriarch of many a good fighter

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read are reading Chapter 11 of The Surgeon's Mate this weekend

Rec of the Week:
From the archive: The Duet of Hearts by zilah; Aubreyad; NC-17; Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin; Just Jack and Stephen as we all want them.

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor: Hi there! Hope you're not too drowned, frozen, scorching or whatever best describes how the weather's been treating your local area. Some good stuff this week - I'd like to draw your attention to the Acasta's request for period-correct letters (see under the Communities and Challenges heading).

Fanfic:
powder Smoke by barefoot_bard; K+; Original; A seaman witnesses the fall of one of his ship's officers.
Coup de Foudre by josbanks; Aubreyad; PG; Diana Villiers, Adhemar de la Mothe; Diana Villiers receives news of Stephen Maturin’s imprisonment in the Temple.
Seny i Rauxa by josbanks; Aubreyad; PG; Stephen Maturin, Ramón d’Ullastret i Casademón, Laetitia d’Ullastret i d’Empordà; Based on an incident recounted in Chapter Ten of The Surgeon's Mate, a young Stephen Maturin accompanies his godfather on an errand that thrusts him into a maelstrom of Catalan intrigue.
The Man in the Seine by binz and sidhebeingbrand; Hornblower/Doctor Who crossover; 15; Horatio Hornblower/William Bush, Horatio Hornblower/Eighth Doctor; ‘Make me a warrior,’ he said. ‘Watch me,’ said the TARDIS

Son et Lumière:

Of historical interest:
hmsacasta_feed: Know Your Nelson 2
hmsacasta_feed: Know Your Nelson 3

Miscellany and meta:
hmsacasta_feed: Five easy ways reenactors can improve their game
hmsacasta_feed: : a letter home from the bosun
hmsacasta_feed: A letter from the captain

Communities and challenges:
where_away: alcyone301 posts Chess with invalid!Stephen
mandc_read are reading Chapter Eight of The Surgeon's Mate this weekend
where_away: alcyone301 posts Chess and Cards
hmsacasta_feed; Mail Packet '14

Rec of the Week:
The Bolder Thing To Do by acalmingcupoftea; Persuasion; PG; Anne Elliot, Frederick Wentworth; How Frederick and Anne met and courted. Set before the events of the novel.

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor:
One or two different fandoms in this edition - including for the first time Warhorses of Letters fic. Enjoy!

Fanfic:
Propinquity by josbanks; Aubreyad; PG; Stephen Maturin, Ramon d’Ullastret i Casademon, Mateu Domanova i Berenguer; Pre-canon: Stephen Maturin arrives at the home of his uncle in Barcelona to commence his education
And they lived Happily Ever After by alltoseek; Warhorses of Letters; PG; Copenhagen/Marengo; A final exchange of letters between Copenhagen and Marengo. An alternate bracket and happy exclamation point end-bracket ending to the series. Not compliant with the canon final episode.
Syrup of Platitudes, Twice Distilled by feroxargentea and luzula; Aubreyad; G; Jack Aubrey & Stephen Maturin; Which is more important in the great scheme of things: the naval frigate Surprise with a chase in sight, or a dish of mouldering worms? An everyday dilemma in the lives of Aubrey and Maturin.

Son et Lumière:
Podfic: Syrup of Platitudes, Twice Distilled by feroxargentea and luzula; Aubreyad; G; Jack Aubrey & Stephen Maturin; Which is more important in the great scheme of things: the naval frigate Surprise with a chase in sight, or a dish of mouldering worms? An everyday dilemma in the lives of Aubrey and Maturin.

Of historical interest:

Miscellany and meta:
hmsacasta_feed: Know Your Nelson 1
hmsacasta_feed: A Letter To The Captain
hmsacasta_feed: From the Carpenter's Log at Bermuda
hmsacasta_feed: The New Dockyard
hmsacasta_feed: Scenes from Bermuda
moetushie is looking for a beta for a Sense & Sensibility fic

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read are reading The Surgeon's Mate Chapter Six this weekend

Rec of the Week:
The Dancing Master; To the Ends Of The Earth; G; Edmund Talbot/Charles Summers; Edmund decides it is time that Charles learnt to dance.

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor: I hope you've all had a good week and that this year is being kind to you?

Fanfic:
The World Inside Out, 1/3 by alltoseek; Aubreyad; NC-17, Jack/Stephen; a sequel to astolat's The World Turned Upside Down
Ursa Major by josbanks; Aubreyad; PG; Jack, Stephen; Escape from France proves a harrowing ordeal for Jack as it reveals Stephen’s mettle.

Son et Lumière:
Picspam: New Year's Nostalgia Part III from hmsacasta_feed
Picspam: New Year's Nostalgia Part IV from hmsacasta_feed
Radio play: esteven informs us Warhorses of Letter is back this weekend
Picspam: sharpiefan posts More Picture Thinkyness


Of historical interest:

Miscellany and meta:
From hmsacasta_feed: The Doctor
From hmsacasta_feed: The First Lieutenant
From janeaustenblog_feed: Your Sunday Austen Meditation

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read are reading Chapter Two of the Surgeon's Mate this weekend
Show the Colours is looking for new players
sharpiefan is running a Picture Prompts Fic Challenge
where_away: alltoseek posts To Speak of Obligation


Rec of the Week:
Megrim Misery by FemmeMalheureuse; Pride & Prejudice; G; Georgiana Darcy, Mrs Hurst, Miss Bingley; While hosting guests during her brother's absence, poor Georgiana Darcy suffers from a very bad headache and something more. Perhaps a cup of tea will fix what ails her.

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.

Note from the Editor: Last one before Christmas, so Merry Christmas, one and all, and thank you for being patient with me lately. Fittingly, this issue is jam-packed full of goodies! Huzzah!

Fanfic:
Corruption by josbanks; Aubreyad; NC-17; Jack/Stephen; Stephen accedes to Jack’s wish that he corrupt Jack further.
The Special Christmas Gift by delorita; Aubreyad; R; Jack/Stephen
Advent Calendar Day 21: The Only Player by le_russe_satan; Aubreyad AU; Jack, Stephen, Mowett, Killick, Pullings, Sophie; PG
Advent Calender Day 18: The Eve of the Hunt by alltoseek; Aubreyad; Jack, Stephen; G; The day before Savile's hunt, Jack and Stephen discuss their neighbours.
Advent Calender Day 16: Deeds, Not Words by josbanks; Aubreyad; NC=17; Jack/Stephen; Jack Aubrey, Stephen Maturin, Gedymin Jagiello; : Imprisoned in the Temple, Stephen saves Jack's queue from an ignominious end.
Deep Ocean of Secrets by zilah; Aubreyad; NC-17; Jack/Stephen; Stephen and Jack restore their friendship after Jack is wounded on Polychrest.
Advent Calendar Day 14: In Dulci Jubilo by alcyone301; Aubreyad; PG; Jack, Stephen; A ball is held in Chalcot Square; Stephen has an unusual conversation
Christmas Morn by ashley_pitt; PG-13; Jack, Stephen

Son et Lumière:
Video: The remade trailer for Show the Colours by sharpiefan
Advent Calendar Day 23: Another Aubrey/Maturin Animated video by dreamboatdreamer70 (PG-17 for nudity)
Wallpaper: Jack, the predator by delorita
Advent Calendar Day 22: Watercolour by oftheisland
Advent Calendar Day 20: Paper Dolls by johanirae
Advent Calendar Day 19: Christmas with the Aubrey family by hrh_taliesin
I have known you to stare into a deserted bird's nest for hours by sharpiefan
Manip: A salute to the Perfect Duet by dreamboatdreamer70
Music: Music for the fic In Dulci Jubilo by alcyone301
Wallpaper: Gentle Stephen by delorita
Picspam: Mary Rose by amaraal

Of historical interest:
sharpiefan: Turner and the Sea at the National Maritime Museum (Greenwich, London)
From janeaustenbolg_feed: Happy birthday, Jane Austen

Miscellany and meta:
age_of_sail: shapiefan: Meta: What's So Great About the Age of Sail?
From hmsacasta_feed: A Letter to Captain Freymann
From hmsacasta_feed: The seven most awesome things about reenacting
From hmsacasta_feed: A Letter to the Doctor
From hmsacasta_feed: Meet George Croghan
Advent Calendar Day 17: Aubreyad wristwarmers by sospan_fach
From hmsacasta_feed: The Carpenter's Christmas Recollection
sharpiefan: More AoS books on offer
From hmsacasta_feed: Baptiste's Leeches
From hmsacasta_feed: A Letter Home

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read will begin reading Surgeon's Mate on the 3rd January

Rec of the Week:
Concatenation by idler; Hornblower; PG; Bush, Hornblower, M'man Vincent; 1810, somewhere in the Atlantic. A good man may leave a legacy far greater than he might imagine.

Got a link for the next issue? Please comment and let us know. Remember to please tell your AoS friends about us. The more, the merrier, after all! And if you would like to include a particular favourite of yours in Rec of the Week, please leave a comment with a link.