Magenta Blue, congratulations. This is wonderful on every level; it's a Christmas tale, but you've resisted the temptation to wallow in mawkish sentimentality; instead you've opted for a winning combination of humour and warmth.
The reader is treated to dialogue that is spot on, action scenes that crackle and superb characterisation. What I especially love is your subtlety with regard to Bodie and Doyle's relationship; it isn't always necessary to spell everything out, sometimes less is more and you achieve that brilliantly throughout. There are too many areas of insight to list that kick you square in the gut.
And as for the way you write Bodie and Doyle's Christmas day? Scratch the surface and Freud would have a field day.
Already, a favourite and one I'll definitely be reading very frequently over this festive period. I look forward to more from you in this vein.
BTW, just thought I'd mention that Channel 4 started in November 1982, so fic set after this time should note four terrestrial TV channels in the UK (I couldn't quite work out when yours was set, but just for general info). Also, on the question of how one refers to a Knight, Sir Paul McCartney is referred to by his full name the first time it is written, and afterwards Sir Paul suffices. I haven't come across 'Sir McCartney' or 'Sir Jagger' yet, so I guess Sir Langton should've been Sir Henry. A small point - but I hope it helps.
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The reader is treated to dialogue that is spot on, action scenes that crackle and superb characterisation. What I especially love is your subtlety with regard to Bodie and Doyle's relationship; it isn't always necessary to spell everything out, sometimes less is more and you achieve that brilliantly throughout. There are too many areas of insight to list that kick you square in the gut.
And as for the way you write Bodie and Doyle's Christmas day? Scratch the surface and Freud would have a field day.
Already, a favourite and one I'll definitely be reading very frequently over this festive period. I look forward to more from you in this vein.
BTW, just thought I'd mention that Channel 4 started in November 1982, so fic set after this time should note four terrestrial TV channels in the UK (I couldn't quite work out when yours was set, but just for general info). Also, on the question of how one refers to a Knight, Sir Paul McCartney is referred to by his full name the first time it is written, and afterwards Sir Paul suffices. I haven't come across 'Sir McCartney' or 'Sir Jagger' yet, so I guess Sir Langton should've been Sir Henry. A small point - but I hope it helps.