Despatches

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'm not so good at the inspirational stuff, so let's cut to the important stuff! :D

Fanfic:
The Nizam of Hyderabad Chapter 8 by josbanks; Aubreyad; PG; Stephen, Jack, William Babbington, Harry Johnson; In Calcutta, Stephen’s travails result in a zero-sum re-encounter with Harry Johnson

Son et Lumière:
hmsacasta_feed: Evolution of the Acastas
hmsacasta_feed: Put and Take
Wallpaper: Happy Birthday, Amaraal by delorita
Fanart: Jack and Stephen by dreamboatdreamer70

Of historical interest:
hmsacasta_feed: The clothing of a bosun

Miscellany and meta:
From hmsacasta_feed: Jacob Book
From hmsacasta_feed: Destroying the Semaphore

Communities and challenges:
sharpiefan: Picture Prompts Fills post
smallfandombagn is open for artist sign-ups
mandc_read will be reading Chapter four of The Surgeon's Mate this weekend

Rec of the Week:
Dear Friend by Empress_S; Hornblower; G; Hornblower/Kennedy, Bush; Some time after the events of 'Loyalty', Lt Bush writes to an old friend

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.

Note from the Editor: Um. For those of you who think you've somehow missed an issue, you didn't. I missed a week. My bad. :( Apologies all round.

Fanfic:
Quietus by justincase; Aubreyad; PG-13; Heneage/Jack/Stephen;

Son et Lumière:
latin_cat posts Trafalgar Day 2013

Of historical interest:
From hmsacasta_feed: Find my Past: Trafalgar
From oldcuddy_feed: The Trafalgar Day That Was
vanilla_elf posts Trafalgar: Nelson, Navy, Nation. New Exhibition at the National Maritime Museum

Miscellany and meta:
From hmsacasta_feed: Royal Tars of old England
From hmsacasta_feed: About Baptiste, surgeon's mate
From hmsacasta_feed: Engagement in the Gale
From austenblog_feed: Your Sunday Austen Meditation
From hmsacasta_feed: A Letter to the Doctor
From hmsacasta_feed: When I Was Shipwreck'd
From hmsacasta_feed: Young Mister Hamilton
From hmsacasta_feed: The Battle at Mississinewa
From austenblog_feed: Review: Henry Tilney's Diary by Amanda Grange
From hmsacasta_feed: The Doctor's Wedding 3

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read will be reading Chapter Fiur of Fortune of War this weekend

Rec of the Week:
That We Should Take This Road Again by Argendriel; Hornblower; PG; Bush, Hornblower; An old Admiral Hornblower takes a walk down to the shore and watches the sea, reminiscing.

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: Sorry we're late this week! There's quite a bit from the esteemed Austenblog this week, as well as a fair amount from the crew of the gallant (recreated!) frigate Acasta, who always post good stuff.

Fanfic:
The Sickness by josbanks; Aubreyad; PG; Jack/Stephen, Diana; Stephen ponders the nature of his attachment to Diana Villiers

Son et Lumière:
From hmsacasta_feed: HMS Victory: A Virtual Tour

Of historical interest:
From hmsacasta_feed: Napoleon's Semaphore Network

Miscellany and meta:
From austenblog_feed: Austen Mythbusters: The Bennets were not poor
From hmsacasta_feed: A Covert Mission
From austenblog_feed: S!#ff Jane Austen says
From austenblog_feed: Sick of the very name
From austenblog_feed: Review: His Good Opinion by Nancy Kelly
From austenblog_feed: Jane Austen's ring torn from Kelly Clarkson's hand by greedy nefarious Jane Austen fans
From austenblog_feed: Sheldon Cooper is trying to ruin Pride and Prejudice
From hmsacasta_feed: Acastas Ashore
From hmsacasta_feed: Haste to the Wedding
From hmsacasta_feed: The Doctor's Wedding

Communities and challenges:
latin_cat: Advent Calendar 2013: Sign Up<
alltoseek: Small Fandom Bang is open for author sign-ups
mandc_read will be reading Fortune of War Chapter 1 this weekend
sharpiefan: Trafalgar Day Challenge: A reminder

Rec of the Week:
It's been a while since I recced a vid. I probably shouldn't rec my own stuff - it is something I try not to do - but I'm pretty proud of this one and would love more views for it. Sailing by sharpiefan; Age of Sail; Hornblower, Kennedy, Bush, Jack Aubrey, Stephen Maturin, Anne Elliot, Frederick Wentworth; U; We are sailing, across the water, across the sea...

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: It's been kind of a long week here - hope you've all had a good one, though?

Fanfic:
The Nizam of Hyderabad Chapter Five by josbanks; Aubreyad; PG; Jack/Stephen; Stephen realises his long-awaited dream of naturalising in Tristan da Cuhna

Son et Lumière:

Of historical interest:
From hmsacasta_feed: Annoying the Enemy

Miscellany and meta:
From hmsacasta_feed: The Ship's Carpenter
From hmsacasta_feed: Awards
From hmsacasta_feed: Ill Tidings from the North American Station
From hmsacasta_feed: Trouble at New Boston

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read is reading Chapter Eight of Desolation Island

Rec of the Week:
Clean, Neat and Freshly Shaven by generals_best and le_russe_satan; Sharpe; NC-17; Richard Sharpe, Sir Arthur Wellesley; Opposites attract and smut (almost literally) ensues.

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:
One Foot in Sea by sidhebeingbrand and binz; Hornblower; NC-17; Horatio Hornblower/Maria Mason, implied Horatio Hornblower/William Bush, implied Horatio Hornblower/Edward Pellew, implied Horatio Hornblower/Maria Mason/William Bush; Scenes from the imperfect but by no means completely unhappy marriage of Horatio and Maria Hornblower. Written for kinkbingo Round Six

Son et Lumière:
dreamboatdreamer70 links to Another brilliant illo from DeviantArt
dreamboatdreamer70 posts make a Chibi Jack and Stephen
dreamboatdreamer70 posts A bit of fan art by my 13-year-old daughter
Screencaps: chvrsg posts North and South caps
From hmsacasta_feed: Recruitment banner


Of historical interest:
From hmsacasta_feed: For stroke of sun
From hmsacasta_feed: To cure beer that has turned sour
From hmsacata_feed: Prickly heat: Symptoms & cure
From austenblog: Jane Austen's House Museum raising funds to buy her ring
From austenblog: Anonymous donor contributes £100,000 towards Jane Austen ring purchase

Miscellany and meta:
From austenblog: Review: Austenland
From austenblog: PBS will air Death Comes to Pemberley
esteven posts Even after nearly ten years
From hmsacasta_feed: Pressgang Week is coming!

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read will be reading Chapter Four of Desolation Island this weekend
dreamboatdreamer70 posts Caption this!

Rec of the Week:
Sharpe's Secret Weapon by jj_minerva; Sharpe; NC-17; Richard Sharpe, William Lawford, Patrick Harper; Blame it on the French!

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: Sunny days are here again! And I'm 'on holiday' (read: house- and cat- sitting for a friend for a couple of weeks).

Fanfic:
Toulon 1815 by esteven; Aubreyad/Les Miserables crossover; G; Guillaume Christy-Pallière, Javert (Les Misérables), Jack Aubrey (hinted), Jean Valjean (hinted), Stephen Maturin (hinted)The military commander at Toulon harbour sees a stranger and is reminded of a friend
Montreuil 1823 by esteven; Aubreyad/Les Miserables crossover; PG13; Jack Aubrey, Stephen Maturin, Inspector Javert, Madeleine; Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin stay in Montreuil on their way to the Opéra in Paris; and they meet an old shipmate.
Paris 1832 by esteven; Aubreyad/Les Miserables crossover; PG13; Inspector Javert, Jack Aubrey; Someone keeps Javert from falling into the Seine, and he is not Valjean

Son et Lumière:
From hmsacasta_feed: Images from the Jane Austen Festival
From hmsacasta_feed: Acastas Ashore: A Duel
From hmsacasta_feed: Acastas Ashore: Cricket
From hmsacasta_feed: Acastas Ashore: Bridal Shower
From hmsacasta_feed: Acastas Ashore: A Duel 2
dreamboatdreamer70 links to Sketch dump by ufficiosulretro aka Captain's Violin on Tumblr

Of historical interest:

Miscellany and meta:

Communities and challenges:
mandc_read will be reading Desolation Island - Chapter Two this weekend

Rec of the Week: Bit of POTC fic this week! Missed the Most by vanilla_elf; POTC; G; James Norrington, his mother, the House of Lancaster (of sorts); James Norrington, what are you doing there?

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.