All right, I fell off the face of the earth for the past few weeks and have just today caught up with this amazing story. And all I can say is "Wow!" Just...wow.
(I won't go into how much I'm beating myself up over having passed up the chance to beta this story simply because it would have been a cake-walk of a job and I would now know very smugly what is going to happen...)
Really, CC, this isn't part-specific, but general gushing. I love this premise. The whole idea of Lois and Clark in the place that they indirectly created, and the concept that perhaps Utopia is on the surface a wonderful place to be but maybe not so much if you are stuck there is inspired. You've proven that really, everything *hasn't* been done to death - that there are great ideas out there just begging to be explored.
Love the slow coming to awareness on both Lois and Clark's part about where they are. First that they aren't in the same Metropolis - and Lois's subsequent assumption that this is all Clark's fault, of course - and then the realization that this is the future. Having them meet one of their own descendants is brilliant, and I'm thoroughly enjoying Silas. I hope to see much more of him and suspect that maybe he becomes a critical element in rescuing these two from Utopia-Hell.
And I'm just sitting in awe over the cast of characters you've created to populate this world. Madge and Hank, Andrus and Petal. Wonderful people who keep me reading intently. Such a fully fleshed-out world. Although, I do admit to wanting to see some more of Tempus simply because you do him so well. I can hear his voice when I read his dialogue.
Which leads me to mention that this story seems to include a bit more introspection than the usual CC masterpiece, and I want to tell you that I think you've struck the perfect balance. Not too much thought but enough that I really am feeling what Lois and Clark are feeling.
So far I have not had any problems with the amount of showing. I think in the places where you've skipped ahead, choosing to describe past actions, the decision is very appropriate, and I don't feel like I've missed anything at all. I have a very clear picture of where these two are and what is going on and what they are feeling. And I'm certainly sitting on the edge of my seat, anxious to find out what will happen next.
Fabulous!
Lynn
