James Goss's Risk Assessment and why I like Ianto and Gwen as just good friends

[fide_et_spe]

This is almost spoiler free, but the character interactions are discussed a bit, no real plot details that aren't on the book cover.

Comments

[lucy_locket]

I really liked Risk Assessment as well. Agnes is win, and I was totally shipping Agnes/Gwen all the way through ;)

I'm a (really bad) Ianto/Gwen shipper - romantically as well as just as friends, I just love their relationship. I guess I'm biased, but I wouldn't say he doesn't fancy her :p

[fide_et_spe]

Isn't Agnes great? I love the way Agnes takes to Gwen. It's not sexual though, like i said, Gwen has enough admirers! And no, Ianto hasn't ever shown he fancies her. I despair I really do, here is my heart, sinking like a stone, poor me, I need therapy.

[lucy_locket]

Not canon, I know, but in Twilight Streets he does have a teeny crush on her :p Hey, you've gotta really scrape the bottom of the barrell when you have a non-canon ship :p I do ship Jack/Ianto though, as well as Jack/Gwen (which is canon, imo, but that's another can of worms, lol).

And don't worry, I ship most things but there are still some I won't touch with a barge pole - and I get a similar reaction to that. Me = hypocrite, lol.

I do ship Gwen with every character ever though, it's just too easy.

[fide_et_spe]

See I read the Twilight Streets thing a little differently. It is about the only thing you could use though I guess for G/I evidence as it were. I think Jack/Gwen UST, suggested by canon, but for various reasons I don't think the actual thing happening is indicated in canon, and even less so really after the wedding. However yes, a whole big can of worms. Also I love Rhys, i really do. So aside from not hurting Ianto, which I think would be awful, I can't bear Rhys to be shat on again.

Out of interest though what wouldn't you touch with a barge pole? Given I've revealed my barge poles. Or are they non Torchwood things?

[stargazer60]

Nice review....I really enjoyed this book...it was just a fun read.

Rhys was great...I loved the 'big reveal' -- with what Agnes did..and Jack's complete fear of her... And of course Jack being so touchy feeling with Ianto.

My fave bit was this:

Agnes tapped the side of he nose. 'That girl is too good for you, Jack. Stick to tea boys.'

Jack watched Ianto fondly as he dribbled slightly in his sleep. 'I intend to.'

And some people are just natural slashers with everyone.

I'm not. The only fanfic I read is with canon pairings. Other than that, I'd rather read original characters.

[fide_et_spe]

Thanks for this comment, I totally agree with you, it really was a great romp. I loved her tea boy comment as well. I also love the scene that it comes from it was so funny.

Yes, i didn't say it in my post, but I am fine with OC's. I can read any character with an OC if it is done well and I believe it. No problem. I just find non canon pairs really difficult, my mind gets in the way too much, and I keep thinking "but that would never happen, that character is straight, or that character just is never going there with that one" etc etc. I can't buy it.

[stargazer60]

I just don't get into a lot of reading with characters from tv shows much. I can read *some* of them with an OC, but for the most part, when I read original characters, it's not even fanfic...it's writers doing original fiction. So it's two original characters who I'm reading.

Which is why I love dreamspinnerpress.com so much!

[fide_et_spe]

OK, I'm checking out this website you mention right now!

[lefaym]

I'm still struggling with whether or not to buy these books -- I'm not sure if they'll make me feel better or worse about CoE, and I'm not sure that I even want to risk the latter.

A little bit of hair-ruffling would not have gone astray in CoE.

[fide_et_spe]

Agreed the hair ruffling is very sweet. There is a lovely moment in this book when Jack is too touchy in public for Ianto and Ianto says "Not on duty Captain" and Jack says "tsk" and straightens Ianto's tie. It's very cute.

This book is soothing, but I guess it can make you feel worse because they are the characters we expect from S2 and the radio, but not really the characters in CoE. Also of course it makes you feel sad for Jack, I always felt that he often seems rather smitten with Ianto, and that's how he comes across in this book.

[51stcenturyfox]

Anyhow this one is much better than Almost Perfect, which contained the classic line "you're shrimp's are ready".

Oh no! Really? I think I have that book; I bought some of the TW novels but socked them away for "when I run out of fanfic to read" and that hasn't happened yet! :D

I do ship almost every Torchwood pairing (and threesome) imaginable, because it's just fun to me and I think everyone has their quirky appeal and is gorgeous in one way or another, but I understand that some are squicky pairings for some people.

I'm a bit like that with Mulder in the X-Files. I can ship Scully with other people but Mulder? Most of the time (barring probably one writer's work) the thought of him with other people makes me say: "EWWWW! NO!" :P I wouldn't bash the 'ship if others like it, but Mulder/Skinner is just not for me.

[fide_et_spe]

Oh yes, the grammar is really amusing. With the X files it was Mulder/Scully all the way for me. I think though that it is just something I have about non canon. My brain is too thinky. If you suggest Mulder/Skinner, my brain says, but Skinner is straight, so for that matter is Mulder, this would never happen. Actually i think Scully/Skinner works, although I don't especially like it.

Like I say, if it's an AU, well fine as long as it's convincing. Also I definitely find it harder post CoE.

Also I do just object to Gwen getting all the boys. With her bloody freckles and shiny hair. It;s just like adolescence all over again!

[51stcenturyfox]

Well, Scully did kiss Skinner in that elevator... :D

When I say I can ship various characters who aren't in relationships, I do mean it in terms of, "I can imagine a situation in which these two could be (at least) physically involved and that would be fun to imagine", not as an OTP "I want them to be a canon couple and I hope the other character in the way falls off a cliff!" thing. The writer does have to convince me with the scenario in the story and they have to be in character. But for Ianto and Gwen, a reason could be "they miss Jack" or "they're angry at Jack for leaving" or "it's the end of the world" or "this is the way Torchwood people deal with loss/almost dying" or hurt/comfort or too many drinks or myriad reasons. I mean, I like Rhys, too.

As for Gwen getting all the guys, I've worked in fields where there are more men than women and that happens all the time. You don't even have to be gorgeous or encourage them! But I see it as a person who enjoys writing/reading het fic as well as slash, and Torchwood people do a lot

[fide_et_spe]

Scully and Skinner could have happened in canon I think, but I quite like Skinner as lonely and a bit pining!

It depends on what you mean by domestic I think. There are some amazing domestic stories out there. I love what Cyus did with domestic, for example, his series really is wonderful.

I have no problem with Aliens/alien gas etc Made them Do it. In fact I'm pretty sure I left a comment on your tentacle one? I like that kind of thing. I'm way too old to be overly soppy or romantic and think that people don't shag for a myriad of reasons. If Ianto and Gwen are indeed the last two people on Earth, well yes, that is a reason. Although equally sometimes I read stories and it occurs to me that in real life some people do actually manage to not have sex. Although of course I know that fan fiction is often about porn and smut as well, but it can be unrealistic sometimes. Even at the end of the world, lots of us may not shag that one other person. (Hey Ianto even said that in canon)

[gingerlr]

thanks for posting this review. It makes me feel better about J/I after reading the last books.

[fide_et_spe]

No problem, I'm glad you read it as it was too much to say in my comment on your book post as it were. If you want to feel good about J/I, it really will do that for you. It's very sweet.