Torchwood Ghost Train
Feb. 21st, 2024 10:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccaelizabethI liked this one. Read by Kai Owen, and also by Rhys Williams, a lot (a lot a lot) of the Torchwood stuff in this is happening around the edges of what Rhys really notices. So huge great alien invasion stuff and entire buildings doing time shifty things are happening, and mostly Rhys notices because it messes with the routes for his lorries.
I liked when the satnav started talking to people, and Rhys hears about it because the drivers say they dont like what it's telling them to do, so you Imagine a lot of stuff, but then later Rhys hears it. And it's kind of a bit rubbish? Like, Rhys clearly shouldnt believe it, and then he's telling it like he's a bit embarrassed, like he was standing there with his arms crossed having an argument and oh yes also he had the biggest knife but oops hey all a bit of a misunderstanding really.
But then Ianto explains that Cardiff *always* has this stuff? Like it's a Field of Despair or something, and people hear messages through the radio, and they end up doing *appalling* things. And it's worst when things are kicking off already, but, like, Cardiff is just Like That? So in the middle of this story where Rhys is sounding all put upon and out of his depth and, basically, it's all a bit funny, Ianto just drops in to the conversation that on the Rift the voices on the radio really *are* telling you to kill.
Like the First but with more daytime TV options.
Really gives it some horror but makes you do the work on it. Rhys is telling it so the important bits sound everyday but you can see the bigger picture and it's dark.
So much of this story is in the telling of it. Like, the second half of the story should be mostly less interesting because we know a lot already, but it stays just as fun as the first half.
Also everyone keeps flirting with Rhys and Rhys says no on the basis he's married and Gwen would object. Which, if Gwen would in fact not mind Jack and Ianto, leaves open some Possibilities for fanfic...
But it's kind of funny that when Rhys tells the story everyone tries to kiss Rhys. Like, yes mate, clearly.
The conclusion of the story relies on either Rhys making a cunning plan or having incredible luck of timing, so, probably the luck thing. But you never know.
I like how most of the story isnt bad guys. One attempted escape from a dying world via rift, some unanticipated side effects, a bunch of aliens objecting to it and guessing wrong on who is doing what, and then you see a different perspective and realise why they guessed that. It's fun.
It's also great that the setting gives you vivid Cardiff. Like, Rhys mentions a lot of street names and such, because road routes are important to him, and I just complained about that in another story the other day, but this story doesnt only use the names, it fills in enough details you can see it in your head, and you know that kind of place and can see how it fits in the story. And its great at timing too, like how Rhys mentions one rail station as the epitome of the absolute arse end of nowhere, so you get it in the back of your head before you arrive there. And every grand amazing thing that could only happen on Torchwood is happening to and in Cardiff, right up until the Ghost Train very much is somewhere Else. Like giving you a view off the edge of the world. And then you see what's out there, and are really very glad to get back.
So you get these big swings in emotion, and if the story was following anyone other than Rhys it would be a very different story emotionally, but because of his angle it's very grounded and keeps dropping funny in the middle of the end of the world.
It's very well told.
I liked when the satnav started talking to people, and Rhys hears about it because the drivers say they dont like what it's telling them to do, so you Imagine a lot of stuff, but then later Rhys hears it. And it's kind of a bit rubbish? Like, Rhys clearly shouldnt believe it, and then he's telling it like he's a bit embarrassed, like he was standing there with his arms crossed having an argument and oh yes also he had the biggest knife but oops hey all a bit of a misunderstanding really.
But then Ianto explains that Cardiff *always* has this stuff? Like it's a Field of Despair or something, and people hear messages through the radio, and they end up doing *appalling* things. And it's worst when things are kicking off already, but, like, Cardiff is just Like That? So in the middle of this story where Rhys is sounding all put upon and out of his depth and, basically, it's all a bit funny, Ianto just drops in to the conversation that on the Rift the voices on the radio really *are* telling you to kill.
Like the First but with more daytime TV options.
Really gives it some horror but makes you do the work on it. Rhys is telling it so the important bits sound everyday but you can see the bigger picture and it's dark.
So much of this story is in the telling of it. Like, the second half of the story should be mostly less interesting because we know a lot already, but it stays just as fun as the first half.
Also everyone keeps flirting with Rhys and Rhys says no on the basis he's married and Gwen would object. Which, if Gwen would in fact not mind Jack and Ianto, leaves open some Possibilities for fanfic...
But it's kind of funny that when Rhys tells the story everyone tries to kiss Rhys. Like, yes mate, clearly.
The conclusion of the story relies on either Rhys making a cunning plan or having incredible luck of timing, so, probably the luck thing. But you never know.
I like how most of the story isnt bad guys. One attempted escape from a dying world via rift, some unanticipated side effects, a bunch of aliens objecting to it and guessing wrong on who is doing what, and then you see a different perspective and realise why they guessed that. It's fun.
It's also great that the setting gives you vivid Cardiff. Like, Rhys mentions a lot of street names and such, because road routes are important to him, and I just complained about that in another story the other day, but this story doesnt only use the names, it fills in enough details you can see it in your head, and you know that kind of place and can see how it fits in the story. And its great at timing too, like how Rhys mentions one rail station as the epitome of the absolute arse end of nowhere, so you get it in the back of your head before you arrive there. And every grand amazing thing that could only happen on Torchwood is happening to and in Cardiff, right up until the Ghost Train very much is somewhere Else. Like giving you a view off the edge of the world. And then you see what's out there, and are really very glad to get back.
So you get these big swings in emotion, and if the story was following anyone other than Rhys it would be a very different story emotionally, but because of his angle it's very grounded and keeps dropping funny in the middle of the end of the world.
It's very well told.