Net-Fic Review: To Be Left Behind (Doctor Who/Narnia)

[kerravonsen]

Title: To Be Left Behind
Universe: Doctor Who/Narnia

Author: WingedFlight
Size: 33K 5871 words
Tags: Short Story, Crossover
Characters: Susan Pevensie, Tenth Doctor
Ranking: Good
Review: http://www.katspace.org/reviews/netfic/Author/WingedFlight#Title_ToBeLeftBehind

Summary: Susan knew what it was like to be the only one left when all others had perished; she knew how it was to be older on the inside than the outside; she knew how it felt to be so alone. Maybe she wasn't so different from the Doctor after all.


When I read this, I realized I'd actually read it before and forgotten about it, just vaguely remembered that there were more than two stories in existence that had Susan Pevensie become a companion to the Doctor.

The thing I like best about this story is the contrast between Susan and Rose when they're given the opportunity to say goodbye to loved ones doomed to die; not just that this situation forces Susan to chose the living over the dead, but that she grows beyond even that.

So... what do you think?

Comments

[watervole]

I like it a lot, but the ending doesn't work for me. I don't believe she would have thrown the rings away.

The section in the railway station was a little confused to follow, but the overall story and writing were very good.

[kerravonsen]

I don't believe she would have thrown the rings away.

It surprised me that she did, yes, but then I thought about it, and it seemed to me that that action was a sign of her growing maturity, that she was rejecting the temptation to live in the past.
But there's an equally strong argument that she wouldn't have thrown them away, yes.

[watervole]

Remember, she still hadn't had a chance to say good bye to her family - throwing away the rings removed that chance for ever.

Also, the doctor had shown her wonders, surely she would have loved the chance to show him worlds too.

It's only a sign of maturity if Narnia was a fantasy. But she now knows it was real.

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reviewing this, I might never have found it otherwise. Very enjoyable, even if the end felt slightly rushed.

I really like how Susan is written as so polite and proper--not just character, but the defenses of her character. It seems quite right.

[kerravonsen]

\o/

but the defenses of her character

I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean by that.

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

I mean that although her politeness is part of who she is (Queen Susan the Gentle), she's also using it in this story as a wall, a set of defenses, against anything that might expose or stir up her pain.