Sahiya

Also has a journal at http://sahiya.livejournal.com/.

Mad Nursing Skillz (Doctor Who)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 16th September 2010 (12)
Tags: Short Story
Characters: Eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond, Rory Williams
(23K)

Summary: In which the Doctor has a very bad day, Rory gets to do what he does best, and Amy kicks things. Well, people. Well, one person, specifically.

Canon hasn't paid much attention to the fact that Rory is a nurse, except to imply that he would rather be a doctor. This story makes up for that lack, and shows us that Rory is really good at what he does; not just in actions, but in astute observation. Not only that, but the three of them demonstrate a mutual affection which warms the cockles of my heart. Lovely.

Old Friends Make the Worst Enemies (Buffy/Doctor Who)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 9th August 2009 (3)
Tags: Short Story
(27K)

Summary:Giles is having nightmares. But he needn't fear they might come true, because they already have. Spoilers for the end of S3 Who and all of Buffy.

I really do like this; if it was, indeed the case that those steeped in magic had hints of what happened in the Year-that-Wasn't, it's certain that Giles wouldn't let it be, and once he started looking, he has enough connections that he could track the right people down, unlike so many. This is a sympathetic and thoughtful Giles, who turns out to have an interesting number of things in common with the Doctor. I wish there was a sequel.

Countess and the Doctor

(1) Right At Home (Vorkosiverse/Doctor Who)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th August 2008 (15)
Tags: Novelette
Characters: Tenth Doctor, Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan
(64K)

Summary: "Doctor, this is my son, Count Miles Vorkosigan. Miles, this is the Doctor. Please try not to blow anything up, either of you, while I go pack a bag."

After Aral dies, Cordelia feels the need for something new; and when the Doctor appears, she thinks she's found it. This is utterly delightful; Cordelia saying goodbye to Miles in preparation to going off with the Doctor, is so full of zingers and feeling; it's so very them. And the Doctor is himself too.

(Also at the author's LJ)

(2) A Skewed Perspective (Vorkosiverse/Doctor Who)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th August 2008 (16)
Tags: Short Story
Characters: Tenth Doctor, Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan
(12K)

Summary: "Doctor. Do you think it's possible - just possible - that your semi-immortality may have given you a skewed perspective on the subject?"

Here we have a little scene on the TARDIS, with Cordelia and the Doctor having a conversation about Life, the Universe and Everything. And I think that Cordelia has to win the prize of Best Companion Ever; caring, insightful, not overbearing, speaks the truth, wry humour, and knows exactly how to treat the Doctor. Awesome.

(3) Only Biography (Vorkosiverse/Doctor Who)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 21st May 2009 (27)
Tags: Short Story
Characters: Tenth Doctor, Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan
(33K)

Summary: Biographies were the Doctor's favorite literary form.

The author is good at both their voices. I love how Cordelia puts the Doctor off-balance, and his mixed reactions to that. And clever how the author used timey-wimey stuff to solve the problem of why he decided to make her a companion.

(Also at http://sahiya.livejournal.com/503879.html)

Vor Dragon

(1) In a Name (Vorkosiverse/Temeraire)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th August 2008 (17)
Tags: Short Story, Crossover, Fusion
Characters: Miles Vorkosigan
(12K)

Summary: Young Miles contemplates dragon eggs, the course of Barrayaran history, and the importance of names. Piotr . . . is Piotr

This fits the universe of Temeraire into the Vorkosiverse by a "what if the Barrararran colonists had had some dragon eggs with them?" It works, adding to the traditions of valour and service, it makes sense in that context. But the heart of this story is young Miles, and his hopes and fears, and Piotr's stubbornness and pride. Both are very much in character.

(2) When You Fly (Vorkosiverse/Temeraire)

Reviewed by Kathryn A on 30th August 2008 (18)
Tags: Short Story, Crossover, Fusion
Characters: Miles Vorkosigan
(20K)

Summary: Miles wondered if he should go throw up while he had the chance.

This captures one of the things I loved about the Temeraire universe: the way dragons with their unconditional love, cut through and ignore the complexities of human prejudice and focus on the simple things that matter. Again this captures the worries and nerves of young Miles; and in this one we have a lovely Gregor too.