The time is nigh upon us!!

[errant_jane]

RIGHT, so you guys want to know how awesome I am? When I decided to write my big bang, I asked rhythmsextion to be part of my email audiencing cabal, since she'd been super helpful and awesome with my past couple J2 stories. Then I was like, "And I can totally helpfully audience for you in return!" DO YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS?

For those of you who haven't heard, she's posting Hail Mary, the sequel to Next Man Up, today and it is AWESOME!!! No lie, I completely STALKED googledocs while she was writing. As in, every two minutes I would refresh and be like, "HOORAY MORE SENTENCES!!!" like a complete and total creeper. I'm actually not even exaggerating there.

I'm so in love with this whole universe, I've been trying to think of a way to properly articulate it for like a week now. It's not a J2 fairytale romance and generally I am totally a fairytale romance sort of girl. But the universe completely sucks you in. You know, in that way where you want to dwell there long after you've stopped reading.

Here's the funny thing: I HATE football. I'm not talking the negative, apathetic, "Blah, whatever" kind of hate, either. I'm talking about the active, take time out of your day to concentrate on it and nurse the hate sort of loathing that I generally reserve for Sting and people who slow down on freeway on-ramps. Football is not allowed on my home TV, not even on holidays, GDI!!! I have been known, from time to time, to even consider it a cruel trick of the universe, created just to torment me for some past life misdeeds.

It doesn't even matter. Joy is such an incredibly talented and deft writer that I find myself not just reading the football parts, but actually interested in them.* Trust me, that is HUGE!!

Umm, honestly, I'm thinking Hail Mary doesn't really need any talking up at this point. I guess I just wanted to brag say that I had a chance to re-read it in its entirety this weekend (around having houseguests—I totally stayed up way too late reading after everyone else went to bed). It's such an amazing story and an incredibly satisfying read.

If you haven't read Next Man Up and the timestamps and stuff, the master post for that is here. I can't recommend them highly enough.

* WRT the whole football thing, it's one of those things where I think, if the author knows the subject and is passionate about it, that's going to come across to the reader. The closest comparison I can think of for my feelings on QB 'Verse is Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Catch Trap (which is not to say that it's one of those, 'if you liked/didn't like x, you will/won't like y' sort of things).

I think the actual writing for The Catch Trap is not overwhelmingly fantastic, but MZB had obviously done her research and I was completely drawn in to the world she'd created. It was one of those books where I felt sort of adrift afterward, because I wanted to read something that I could similarly get so completely absorbed in. (Ack, you know what I mean, right? When you get to the end of a book and you're like, "I want that again!!!")

That's how I feel about Joy's QB 'Verse. Like I'm completely engrossed in the world and the story and the characters that I'm not quite ready to leave by the time the story is done.

Oy, so! Yeah, there's that. Perhaps not so much a rec as a long rambling squeefest on my part. OH WELL. I can't WAIT for everyone else to read it!!

Comments

[maraceles.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD, I AM DYING HERE.

*FLAILS*

I want to read this SO BAD.

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

IT'S COMING, I PROMISE!!! It might be a little while yet, but it is so worth the wait!!

[maraceles.livejournal.com]

I'm refreshing like a mad woman over here. It isn't pretty. *g*

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

I am totally sympathetic. I am SO ANXIOUS for her to post!! When she told me she wasn't going to be able to post first thing today I was like, "OMG WTF YOU'RE KILLING ME!!!"

[egotists.livejournal.com]

If she doesn't post it soon I'm going to do something dramatic like... die LOL. No but seriously, I'm going insane over here. I haven't seen any of it and I've been waiting since I started the art for Next Man Up for this baby to be out. I'm going to be a zombie tomorrow, I just know it, because as soon as it goes up I'm stuck here.

I love football, it's the one sport other than swimming that I can actually understand (while, I get soccer a bit but. That's besides the point), so this fic is like heaven for me. And knowing people who don't even like football love it too is just nsdjandjnd YAY.

God it isn't my fic, I shouldn't be so excited. BUT I AM. I AM SO EXCITED FOR JOY. AND MYSELF. AND EVERYONE.

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

DO YOU SEE NOW HOW CLEVER MY PLAN WAS? I will ~*~audience~*~ and be helpful!!! win/win/WIN!!

I hate football so much! I can't even overstate how much I hate it. So, yeah, the fact that she makes it interesting and enjoyable to me is effing HUGE!!

Ahahahahaaaa, I have totally been spazzing out about it since I posted mine!!! I am so freaking excited for everyone else to read it!!!!

[egotists.livejournal.com]

LOL I know I should've begged her to let me beta it +D Even if she had a few people already betaing it. Super Sam Beta. SSB.

I have plans for her :o I've already talked to the lovely dauntdraws and she doesn't mind me making another manip for Joy +D For as much as people put them (manips) down she likes Jared in cowboys gear so -sticks tongue out at them-

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

Hee!! We are very thoughtful and helpful friends indeed!!

OMG YAY!!! That's AWESOME!!! I LOVE your art for NMU!!! All of the art for the 'verse has been incredible!!

[elizardbits.livejournal.com]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES FROM LAST YEAR OMG OMG

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

IT IS SO GOOD AND HAPPY-MAKING, LIZ!!! I HAVE NO APPROPRIATE WORDS FOR ITS AWESOMENESS!!

[wendy.livejournal.com]

IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS POST.

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

OMG RIGHT, THOUGH?!? I have been daydreaming about it all day. I totally cannot get enough!!!

[maichan.livejournal.com]

Here's the funny thing: I HATE football. I'm not talking the negative, apathetic, "Blah, whatever" kind of hate, either.
Same here and I have a freakin' Dallas Cowboys fanboy for a husband. He's failed miserably in his attempts to get me to like football, and yet I have no problem immersing myself in Joy's NMU verse.

So I'll just be here refreshing like a madwoman (like everybody else) until it gets posted :)

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

FOOTBALL HATERS REPRESENT!!! Heh. Seriously, my knowledge level on football is so low and I had no problem following what was going on with the football action. Joy is kind of amaaaaaaaaaaaazing like that.

Heeeee!!! Totally valid way to spend the evening. *nods*

[mysticwaters.livejournal.com]

I'm so excited for the NMU sequel! I've been waiting on pins and needles all day for it to be posted. \o/

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

It's so good! It's so so good!! I've been flailing over it for six months now. I'm so excited it's FINALLY posting day!!

[without-me.livejournal.com]

I want (though don't expect) to live to see the day when football is outlawed. It's an evil "sport" that causes worlds of harm.

That said, EEEEEEEE LOVED THE ORIGINAL, CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE!!!

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

*nods* I think that's fair.

IT IS SO SO GOOD!!! I have totally spend the evening rereading the timestamps because I CANNOT get enough!!

[fayemeadows.livejournal.com]

As in, every two minutes I would refresh and be like, "HOORAY MORE SENTENCES!!!" like a complete and total creeper. I'm actually not even exaggerating there.

Oh, you did that too? :D

[bientot.livejournal.com]

Unlike the above, I'm very new to the party - I've almost caught up with SPN over the last four months and have been wallowing in fic and being deeply grateful when I come across really great stuff I hadn't found yet - so thanks in advance - now I have TWO big stories to enjoy! Thanks!

[maraceles.livejournal.com]

Dude, that's the best way! I only read NMU on the Friday before Hail Mary was posted. Being late to fandom is AWESOME. *g*

[rhythmsextion]

OMG HOLLY! YOU ARE SO CRAZY AND WONDERFUL. Seriously, I could NOT have finished this stupid thing without you. And your whole post has me kind of FLOUNDERING. I just. It's YOU and I ADORE you and your opinion means the WORLD to me.

(Also I kind of feel like vomiting right now, but that doesn't have to do with this post.)

Also, seriously the BEST thing I've taken from this whole big bang experience has been getting to know you and coming to call you a friend. Not just someone whose writing I admire, not just someone whose life I read about from time-to-time and not just a friend on the internet. But a true blue FRIEND.

AND NOW WILL YOU NEVER GET RID OF ME. <333

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

HEY, JOY!! Did I ever mention that I was excited about you posting? ;D Naw! ♥ I am really so thrilled that I got to be a part of it in some small way because it's AMAZING and you are INSANELY TALENTED and the whole universe makes me giddy!!!

(I am sympathetic there. Have the vommity feelings gone away yet?)

The feeling is ENTIRELY MUTUAL, bb. In fact, I remember saying something suspiciously similar around the time I posted. TEAM CODEPENDENCE 4EVR!! \o/

I WOULDN'T DREAM OF TRYING! I KEEP YOU FOR ALWAYS!!

[radiophile.livejournal.com]

A;LKSDF;LAKSHDG I'M STILL HALFWAY THROUGH NEXT MAN UP

IT'S SO GOOD HOMG I'M SO HAPPY THERE IS EVEN MORE <333

I NEED TO READ FASTERRRR

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

Hee!! No no no! TAKE YOUR TIME!!! Savor it, for when you run out of story, you will be VERY SAD INDEED that there is no more. And then you will just be a little pathetic with missing them as I am!!

[thandie.livejournal.com]

Oh god, AND I THOUGHT I WAS EXCITED BEFORE. It's more than 100,000 words of awesome, how am I supposed to FIND THE TIME TO READ IT!

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

IT IS SO SO GOOOOOOOD!!! IDK, set aside a day? I mean, I suppose there are people who can read it in parts, but I pretty much read NMU in one sitting the first time and did the same with the final version of Hail Mary.

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Since I'm still catching up with BigBang 2008 (I'm still an SPN n00b;), I only heard about NMU in the past week when fandom started to get excited about the follow up;)
I would like to read the original set up before I continue with BB2010, but see there are timestamps before the actual story.
As a fan, would you recommend reading all available goodies in chronological order, or should I start with the big NMU fic first? I desperately want to find out why everyone is so excited:)

[maraceles.livejournal.com]

I just discovered this series a couple of days ago, and I'd say to read it in this order:

1. Next Man Up
2. Game Time Decision
3. Take a Knee
4. All wrapped up in him, too.
5. Keep It On the Field
6. Hail Mary

Next Man Up sets the tone and establishes the world of the series, and I think it's best to learn about Jensen through Jared's eyes before you take a trip into Jensen's head.

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Unfortunately I was too impatient and did start with All wrapped up in him, too + Keep It On the Field before I got your advice. I'm now half way NMU and know what you mean. Of course I was already aware of some of Jensen's struggles because of discussions I came across in fandom, but knowing as much as Jared would have made the pov more intense. Not that I need added suspense;)

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I agree with maraceles in that you should read Next Man Up first. Part of what's compelling about it is that you don't know what's going on with Jared. But I think for overall order, I'd go:

1. Next Man Up
2. Game Time Decision
3. All Wrapped up in him, too
4. Keep It on the Field
5. Take a Knee
6. Hail Mary

I would DEFINITELY have Take a Knee be the last one you read before starting HM.

[maraceles.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, yeah, I think this way works better. I was struggling with "Take a Knee" myself--I actually read it first of the lot, which I wouldn't recommend as it gives everything away. *headdesk*

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You and maraceles were absolutely right about Jared's pov and I should have waited for your answer, but just like with StarWars I did the chronological thing - and regretted not listening to an expert's opinion;)
I will save Take A Knee as the penultimate read though, so your advice is not completely in vain:)

[errant-jane.livejournal.com]

Ha!! Well, I think it's pretty amazing any way you slice it, but definitely Take A Knee as the penultimate fic (and OMG YOU ARE AWESOME FOR USING THAT WORD!!! I sometimes lament that there is not more occasion for it in everyday conversation!)!