Fandom: THE DARK IS RISING
Pairing: mild Bran/Will
Length: ~1,300 words
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Calligraphilia
Why this must be read:

I have a soft spot for stories in which Will isn't nearly as bright as he thinks he is.  It must be difficult for him, carrying around all the wisdom of the world, but with so little knowledge of how to actually live his life.  Fortunately, Bran is there to keep him grounded and remind him what it is to be human.  Bran's explanation at the end (which I desperately want to include here as an excerpt, but I'd rather you read it as part of the story) makes me melt a little because it is sweet and right and overall just the perfect way of telling Will just how wrong he can be.

( Read an excerpt )

Heart Like a Wheel

Fandom: HEROES
Pairing: Mohinder/Sylar
Length: 2150
Author on LJ: squills
Author Website: Fic Masterlist
Why this must be read: Because it is scorchingly hot. It’s hard to write really in-character Mylar, but this fic encapsulates the lust/hate quality that makes the Mohinder/Sylar paring so interesting (or at least did, before season three dismantled the ship). The dynamic between these two in this post-season two future AU is completely believable, as are Mohinder’s repressed feelings. There is no sappiness here; they’re still bickering and mocking and disdainful of one another, but after awhile the thing between them can no longer remain buried. And there can never be enough (consensual) shoving-roughly-against-the-wall scenes. UNF.

Excerpt:

“What if someone saw us?” he suddenly heard himself saying. It wasn’t what he’d meant to say, at all.

“There’s no one else around,” Sylar said softly.

He realized it wasn’t a threat. It was an invitation.

Again and Again Until Finally

Fandom: Xena Warrior Princess
Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle
Length: 2,300 words
Author LJ: n/a
Author Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/860245/modernbard

Why This Must Be Read:


The author presents such a small snippet of time for Xena and Gabrielle, yet it is full of longing and lies. Post-Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, the two women take a moment to reflect (together and separately) about the effect of Bacchus on their lives.
And from Xena's perspective, we get an insight into how that single bite on her neck led the warrior princess to a shocking fact.
Very well written and so much emotion for such a short piece.
And that last line just kills it.


( super tiny bit of the fic )


With Vision Cleared by modernbard

Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: None
Length: ~2K
Author on LJ: lyra_wing 
Why this must be read: 

It's not marked as such but lyra_wing 's There'll be peace when you are done is actually an AU. The author's summary reads "It sucks to know your fate."

Of course, when Dean, Season 1 Dean at that, is the subject of the sentence, it takes on a double meaning. lyra_wing takes Dean's fear of abandonement and gives it a world where it has justification. In under 2K words, with absolutely no fights or desertions and despite the promise of a long life, you will feel your heart break for Dean. I have never read anything quiet so ironically sad in this fandom and if you haven't read it before, you should definitely do so.


Dean never opens his fortune cookies.

Fandom: Maurice
Pairing: Maurice/Alec
Author on LJ: marauderthesn 
Author Website: Her fics are here.
Why this must be read: Maurice's relationship with his family is an aspect which is (IMO) sadly unexplored in fanfic. Taking place some hours after the final meeting in the boathouse, Alfriston Gardens offers not only some lovely Maurice/Alec interactions, but also a poignant glimpse of Maurice's feelings as he is about to leave his home, never to see his family again.

( Read an excerpt )

Alfriston Gardens

Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: AJ/Brian
Length: short story
Author on LJ: cjmarlowe
Author Website: The Studio
Why this must be read: Nick Carter can do algebra! Who knew? Just kidding! This is one of the most adorable stories I have ever read. Set in the early days of Backstreet, when young Brian and AJ both find significant others, things get shaken up in the Backstreet camp. Eventually Brian and AJ find each other, and Nick just wants things to get back to normal.

I am particularly fond of stories where the main plotline is portrayed from an outside perspective, oftentimes calling into question the narrator's own perception, and this is a classic example. Through Nick's eyes we see the exploits of the rest of the Boys, but his naiveté keeps him from seeing what everyone else can see. Brian and AJ's fumbling toward a relationship is adorable, as well as creating the perfect environment for Nick's own growing up. Lots of great dialogue and interaction among all five of them, and just all-around fun.

Law of Averages

Fandom: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Pairing: Chris/Buck rest of 7
Length: Longish approx. 60,000 words
Author on LJ: Individually maybe?
Author Website: This is the only story that I know of by this group
Why this must be read:

This story is one of the funniest of the ATF stories I've ever read and it is the only one that I know of that was written by this group of writers. Each of these authors is a treat but together they created a hilarious story. It is one of my favorites and has the most unique reason I've ever seen for having the guys all pretending to be gay. It isn't just another Chris and Buck story either, Ezra is particularly wonderful, but all the guys are in the story. Some of my favorite scenes are the ones where the guys have to take part in some of those horrible workshop role playing games. You will roll on the floor.

Room Keys to Paradise

Fandom: NEWSIES
Pairing: Spot/Race
Length: one-shot
Author on LJ: cymbalism219
Author Website: Refuge Profile
Why this must be read: One of the things I love about Newsies fandom is that Modern Day AUs are as much a part of it as 1899 fic. There's something about taking the characters and putting them in situations that you couldn't get in 1899 that I love, especially when you get to see the original characters shine through as well.

Cymbalism wrote a great Meet the Family fic, and her Spot voice is excellent. Of course, her writing is always excellent, so that isn't a surprise. I love her Spot and Race in this, and even though it is an updated setting, you still see so much of the characters in them.

( excerpt )

Christmas in Killarney

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: Athena/Helo
Length: about 1600
Author on LJ: apparently doesn't have an LJ? kaynara
Author Website: on ff.net
Why this must be read: This is both sweet and disturbing; an unapologetic look at Sharon Agathon and how she perceives the other women who wear her face. It's also a fantastic exploration of her ties to Karl and Hera, her roles as partner and mother. Not a perfect story--I had a little trouble with the flashback being written in the same tense as the rest of the story--but interesting and worth reading.

There Are Many Copies

Fandom: STAR WARS [AU]
Pairing: -
Length: 1,741 words
Author on LJ: vega_ofthe_lyre
Author Website: star wars fanfiction @ vega_writes 
Why this must be read: Fandom seems to be a bit ambivalent towards Ahsoka Tano. Half the time she's portrayed as a clichéd Mary Sue, brilliantly fighting off the forces of evil in nothing more than a tube top (why, George, why?). The other half of the time, she is seen as having repressed sexual feelings towards Anakin, who, despite having a pregnant wife who he ends up committing mass genocide for, enters into an illogical, slightly creepy relationship with her (14 and 21? Anyone?) without any consequences. Granted, she's a relatively new character as far as canon goes -- we've only got one season of Clone Wars and the movie to go on -- and so fandom has a bit of leeway as to how to go about characterising her. But when it comes to serious, well-thought-out genifc about Ahsoka Tano's time as Anakin Skywalker's Padawan, there's next to nothing. Admittedly, it doesn't seem like a teenage Padawan with a Valley Girl accent (again: why, George, why?) is exactly serious introspection material, but there you go.

vega_ofthe_lyre has written a simply gorgeous fic detailing Ahsoka's reaction to her time training with Anakin, and in relatively few words provides an exceptional insight into not only Ahsoka's mind, but also her Master's. In The Night Descending, we see the hypocrisy of Anakin's actions towards Ahsoka -- lecturing her for recklessness and anger, of all things, come on -- but we also see what could, in a parallel universe, have been a friendship. The Night Descending reminds us of the fact that Anakin is an abnormally young Knight (going by the logic that he never took his Trials and that Obi-Wan was Knighted at 25, and only because of exceptional circumstances), and certainly not experienced or balanced enough to take on responsibility for the fourteen-year-old Ahsoka. vega_ofthe_lyre subconsciously reminds us of the fact that Anakin and Ahsoka's relationship is, and will always be, defined by war -- but apart from the angst, there is also bittersweet friendship there, one that really defines exactly what Ahsoka may become to Anakin.

And of course, the writing is gorgeous.

(Okay, so I said I was reccing mostly humour. I lied.)

The Night Descending @ vega_writes 

Fandom: Firefly
Pairing: Jayne/Kaylee
Length: 7,158
Author on LJ: unkown

Why this must be read There's a crack in the bulkhead between Jayne and Kaylee's rooms. At first Kaylee just listens to Jayne sleeping, but then sex gets in the way and things change. The author depicts the loneliness of the black and the change in emotions between Jayne and Kaylee beautifully. Especially considering that much of the interaction between the two is conducted with a wall dividing them. This was one of the first Jaylee fics I ever read and is what sold me on the pairing. Jayne is sexy, a little bit dim, and a touch amoral and Kaylee is earthy, practical and sweet.

( Excerpt )

Slim as dimes

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: Gene/OMC, Gene/Sam
Length: 973
Author on LJ: dakfinv 
Author Website:
Why this must be read:

This is a new fic.  Really new.  Like, this week.  But it made such an immediate impression on me that I just had to include it in my recs for this month.

It's now canon (as per Ashes to Ashes) that Sam died in 1980 through his car diving into the canal during a chase - although no body was ever found which raises hope in my optimistic little heart that, just as Gene and Alex are closing for their kiss in the final episode of Series 3 (still to be filmed at the moment), Sam will come crashing through the door to claim Gene as his very own snuggle puppy, push Alex out of a window and run off with Gene for a lifetime of smutty slashy goodness.

Anyway, I digress.  At the time of writing, Gene thinks Sam is dead and is heartbroken.  This compact and bijou little fic gives us an insight into the wreck that is Gene after his loss and how he finds, just a little, hope again.

It's the sort of fic that you want to hug to your breast to keep you warm, cozy and hopeful that our Sammy will, one day, return.

I loved it.  I hope you do to.

( Click here for the hope . . . . )

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Length: 8,200 words
Author on LJ: shinetheway
Author Website: Master list
Why this must be read: It starts with Arthur being a prat and not listening to Merlin. Then there's the hunt, with a creeping sense of foreboding. And, of course, that's when everything goes wrong. This is a beautifully evocative story, in which the writer wrings out every jot of tension from the sympathetic weather, making you feel for Merlin, like a shot of terror straight to the heart.

An Unnecessary Freezing of Water

Fandom: Xena Warrior Princess
Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle, super-light Xena/Ares and super light Gabrielle/OC
Length: 6,525 words
Author LJ: n/a
Author Website: http://www.academyorbards.org/fanfic/t/temora

Why This Must Be Read:

Because it is the funniest thing ever written for the Xena-verse. Seriously.
The author does their own take of a regular day for Xena and Gabrielle, the warlord they encounter, the village they must save and every other cliched/repetitive thing that occurred on the show itself.
And it is so accurate in its snark, that you know this author absolutely loves Xena Warrior Princess like no other.


( a bit of the story )


Fighting the Good Fight by Temora

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: Starsky/Hutch
Size: 6K
Author on LJ: callistosh65
Author Website: http://www.callizz.org/S&H/S&H_stories.htm
Why this must be read:

Callisto wrote one of my favorite lines in the Starsky/Hutch slash fandom:

"Such devotion, Blondie. Wish I was a Boston fern."

It’s from her story Drenched, which, to my great sadness, has already been recced here.

Therefore, because I’m not supposed to recommend a fic that’s already listed on the van, I’m going to have to recommend another of her fics that always gives me a smile: Atrocities Perpetrated by Kenneth Hutchinson (The Abridged List) As Compiled and Edited by Det. David Starsky.

I would love to read the atrocities perpetrated by David Starsky (poke, poke, Callisto).

Please don’t forget to send feedback to the author!

Atrocities Perpetrated by Kenneth Hutchinson (The Abridged List) As Compiled and Edited by Det. David Starsky

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski
Length: 6,275 words
Author on LJ: arrow00
Author Website: Artemis-Arrow
Why this must be read:

Sometimes it takes a while to realize how far you've come in your life. And then sometimes, when you do realize, you panic.

( The silence in the tent is like a heavy black blanket pushing against Ray's chest. Fraser even breathes quietly, and Ray finds it annoying, just like most things that are perfect about Fraser. Like the way he sleeps on his back with his hands placed just so on his stomach. Or the way his hair, in spite of the lack of showers and haircuts and combs, even, still lies perfectly above his forehead in longer curls. Like the way he never says what he doesn't mean to, or does what he shouldn't. )

Too Far

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Gen - Fraser, Caroline Fraser
Length: 2,487 words
Author on LJ: dsudis
Author Website: Words Words Words
Why this must be read:

Pity Caroline Fraser, the first person to stand between the harsh, cold world and Benton Fraser's desire to help.

In this vignette, Dira Sudis presents us with six-year-old Fraser, too young to have anything like a grownup Fraser's competence in navigating an unforgiving frontier life, but already convinced he knows best. The child's POV is spare and unsentimental, and all the more heartbreaking for it, because the seeds of the person Ben will become are all there in plain sight - all the sweetness and determination and absolutely-crazy-makingness of the man.

The Way He Should Go

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing:none; Margaret Edmondson and Laura Roslin
Length: about 2500
Author on LJ: (not revealed)
Author Website: (will be added later) currently this story is only available at bsg_remix
Why this must be read: I loved the original story (The Small Moments, by runawaynun) and this extension of it works so well. Racetrack remembers her interactions with President Roslin, and those experiences range from tragic to tender. It goes past the endpoint of the first story (written in 2007) and uses information from the series finale to create a bittersweet yet hopeful ending for a secondary character who is often overlooked.

The Small Moments II

Fandom: STARGATE: ATLANTIS
Pairing: John Sheppard/Rodney McKay, mention of Michael/Teyla
Length: ~3000 words
Author on LJ: trinityofone
Author Website: tales of an unreal city
Why this must be read:

It's the story of how, post-"Allies", Rodney convinces the Wraith to give up on the culling Earth idea. As the author describes it, it's "kind of what the Season 3 premiere would be like, if it were written by Douglas Adams. And he was on crack". Honestly, isn't that reason enough?

If not, how about gems like: The Wraith blinked at him—it looked like it was having its own mental meteor storm. “You have sex...and live?” or “All right,” said Rodney, “I’m not a human Kama Sutra, you know” ?

Missionary Position

Fandom: STAR WARS [AU]
Pairing: Han Solo/Leia Organa
Length: 2,836 words
Author on LJ: -
Author Website: skywalker05 @ ffn
Why this must be read: So, the premise of this story is simple: Han Solo is Force-sensitive.

Yes, I am aware that there are multiple levels of irony associated with that statement -- Han, the self-proclaimed skeptic of Luke's "hokey religion", an actual adherent of the religion itself? Well, yes, actually. And not only does skywalker05 actually acknowledge this irony in the context of the OT, she expands on it, using it to add to and explain Han's own character and actions in the films in a way that doesn't, actually, contradict canon. In fact, this fic could almost be canon. Why did Han Solo manage to survive so long before joining the Alliance? How did he know that he had to turn back and save Luke at Yavin? In what way did he manage never to die, no matter how many shootouts were involved? Simple. If Anakin Skywalker would race pods while unaware of his own abilities, then damn it, Han Solo could fly the Falcon blindfolded. With one arm. While drunk.

Okay, so that doesn't actually happen in the fic. But you know what I mean.

Han's voice is down perfectly in Array, and skyawlker05 creates an excellent portrayal of Han Solo as you know and love him -- only this Han Solo's a lot more conflicted, in a perpetual state of denial, and has a lot more emotional baggage to boot. And critics, there's no reason to start calling Stu on us: Han's not even that strong in the Force. Vader even goes as far as to make an offhand comment about his relative weakness in it while torturing him on Bespin. So, no fear, there's no "second chosen one" in this. In keeping with the IC Han Solo that we know and love, he doesn't even become a Jedi.

The story is intelligently and powerfully structured as a series of single paragraphs each based on a common theme: that of the face of a Sabaac card (very fitting for a certain Captain Solo, eh?). And it's also angsty and introspective, with a perfect glance at the psyche of Han Solo, canon or not, Force-sensitive or not.

If Han knew how, he would command you to read this.

So, you will.

Idiot's Array @ ffn

Fandom: HEROES
Pairing: Adam/Mohinder
Length: 12,176
Author on LJ: seraphtrevs
Author Website: Fic Masterlist
Why this must be read: Adam/Mohinder (so pretty! so snarky! So fakely British!) is the Best. Pairing. Ever. Seraphtrevs's characterization of Adam as a dashing, devil-may-care charmer with his eyes set on Mohinder is swoon-worthy, and also a perfect way of thinking about what it means to be young, handsome, dangerously charming, and 400 years old. It’s such a shame they never met in canon, because they are perfectly in character and perfect for one another.

Excerpt:

“Adam!” Mohinder yelped. “Watch out!”

Adam just grinned at him. He reached over and ran a hand up Mohinder’s thigh as he steered around another corner with one hand.

“Let me guess – you’re one of those people who think that life’s too short to worry about speed limits,” Mohinder said, slurring his words a little.

“On the contrary,” Adam said. “Life is too agonizingly long – you have to go fast to outrun the tedium of it all because once that sucks you in, there’s no escape.”

Peace On Earth and Good Will Toward Men

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Length: about 8000 words, total
Author on LJ: tovalentin
Author Website: Valentin's Stories

Why this must be read: I read the third of these stories, Strip Him and Bathe Him, first and was so delighted I had to read the others. This is Duncan/Methos in the old style, with lots of jousting sex and power struggles between them. "Strip Him and Bathe Him" remainds my favorite, but "By Any Other Name" is totally hot, and "Payback's a Bitch" is delightfully kinky. These are truly adult, but all in fun. Perfect for a Thursday break.

By Any Other Name | Payback's a Bitch | Strip Him and Bathe

Fandom: DC COMICS
Pairing: Tim/Kon, Lex/Clark
Length: 9 chapters around 1200-1600 words each
Author on LJ:_angelicorn_
Author Website: just her livejournal
Why this must be read:Kon-El goes into heat and discovers he's not the only Kryptonian to do so. He seeks out his mate and the sex is really, really hot and pretty much never-ending, but then there are some really interesting scientific twists, and Dick and Bruce's reactions are priceless. Plus, there's a sort of innocent and adorable Bart. Lex and Clark are only in this a bit; it's mostly all Tim and Kon all the time.

The link below actually takes you to a calendar page where all nine chapters are linked. It's the easiest way I could figure out to get you all the chapters without a lot of scrolling. Enjoy!

( best last line ever )

Origins

Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: Brian/Howie
Length: short stories
Author on LJ: jain
Author Website: A Wild Surmise
Why this must be read: Nick has a crush on Brian. Brian is uncomfortable. In order to cope, Brian... seduces Howie? Amusing premise, and brilliant execution. In Surprise Brian needs a distraction from Nick's advances and turns to Howie for help, which Howie willingly gives. Hot sex ensues, and Brian's plan works.

In the sequel, Some Sort of Future, they realize that Brian's "plan" has developed into something more. I love this story because, firstly, it's somewhat of an unusual pairing (which I think there should be more of). It's sweet, sexy, will tug at your heart strings and leave you wanting more.


..."Wait, wait," he said. "You want to sleep with me?"

Brian looked at him slantwise, looked down, blushed, nodded.

"Because you want Nick."

The blush grew deeper; he nodded again.

Surprise and Some Sort of Future

Fandom: Firefly
Pairing: Mal/Jayne
Length: 14,800
Author on LJ: evilmaniclaugh
Author website: Scribblings

Why this must be read: To summarise; Jayne gets caught by the feds and is imprisoned, while Mal and the crew try to find him. While the summary is basic, the story is far from it - this fic is one of the best Mal/Jayne stories you could read.

The characterisations of all the crew are spot on and Mal and Jayne really shine through. The story is entwined with a wonderful collection of war poetry that illustrates the emotions of both men and the whole mood of the piece. The author has really researched the poetry used and it shows in the way each poem is matched to the scenes throughout the story.

If you like fluff this story is not for you - it's gritty and painful, heartbreaking in places and prosaic in others. As you could expect from this author, the sex is awesomely hot and the men are strong. Read it and enjoy...

Dulce et Decorum est.

Fandom: U2 (RPS)
Pairing: Edge/Adam
Length: One-shot (ficlet)
Author on LJ: inklingfair
Author Website: u2slash
Why this must be read:

At the start of the year, clandestine269 started a 'five things' challenge in u2slash. We got some really lovely stuff posted as a result, and if I could I'd pick all of the responses, but I'm only choosing one here - Five Thoughts by inklingfair.

Why? Well, the 'five things' structure has been done to death, probably in every fandom, and yet Sci manages to take a fresh approach that surprises and delights every time you read it. She packs so much into so few words, it amazes me and makes me extremely jealous of her talent. What makes this special is the characterisation. In five brief sections Sci has Edge down to an absolute tee, with his logic and his use of geometry and maths in his consideration of Adam (and she captures Adam beautifully, too, in a few well-chosen words). It's just brilliantly accurate, and brilliantly written. And anyone who can use the word 'asymptote' in a fic and make it sound erotic wins in my book.

Please do read this - it's wonderful.

Five Thoughts

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Length: 10,000 words
Author on LJ: tarayith
Author Website: fic tag
Why this must be read: I feel the need to say only one thing in order to properly sell the awesomeness of this story to you: accidental time travel. Yis. Why are you still here???

The King and his Sorcerer

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Gen, Duncan, Methos, Joe
Length: about 8,600 words
Author on LJ: corbeaun
Author Website: Corbeaun's Master Fic List

Why this must be read:

I am a big fan of AU stories, but in particular stories that change how Duncan and Methos meet. The memorable meeting from the series has been examined and reviewed and written of so many times, it's fascinating to see these two characters first impressions of each other under different circumstances. This story is gen and has a plenty of action, and evil immortal, and mysterious goings on. The dialogue is spot on and the characters feel true and the writing doesn't get in the way of the action. I only wish there was more. :) I rated it R for violence and blood.

The Carpathian Ridge

Fandom: THE DARK IS RISING
Pairing: Bran/Will
Length: ~2,700 words
Author on LJ: lightgetsin 
Author Website: but there's a devil in the looking glass
Why this must be read:

This is one of my absolute favorite stories in the DiR fandom.

It is short, beautiful, and absolutely devastating.  Beck doesn't try to imitate Cooper's voice, but the prose is nonetheless careful and lovely.  There are a couple of different places that make me catch my breath every time I read it.  It feels like canon.

( Read an excerpt )

Abort

Hi, I'm miss_morland, and I'll be your literary fandom reccer this month. To be more specific, I'll be reccing fics based on E.M. Forster's novel Maurice, the fandom of which sadly is not very large, despite its status as a GLBT classic. Here's to hoping that will change some day!

Fandom: Maurice
Pairing: Clive/Anne, allusions to Clive/Maurice
Author on LJ: athousandwinds 
Author Website: LJ memories
Why this must be read: Set sometime after the novel's ending, this short fic from Clive's perspective offers not only an impressive amount of insight into a character it can be hard to understand, let alone sympathise with; it also captures Forster's style beautifully, subtly showing us Clive's delusions as well as his underlying unhappiness.

( Read an excerpt )

Coldly Separate Stillness

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: Kara/Lee (Kara/Zak)
Length: five chapters on livejournal
Author on LJ: flowers4ophelia
Author Website: author uses tags; here's the bsg tag
Why this must be read: AU stories aren't something I seek out, but as this particular story proves, my attention can be held if the writing is done well. The point where it diverges from canon is that there is no cylon attack on the Colonial homeworlds. That changes a lot of things, naturally, but the basics of repressed pilots trying not to be in love with each other are still there.

I love this writer's prose. It's gorgeous. I'm also a fan of her dialogue--sure, there's banter, but there's also hurt and avoidance and anger. It's all done very well.

Aerilon Girls Are Easy (link goes to final chapter, which has links for all previous chapters)

Fandom: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Characters: Buck, Chris, OFC
Length: Longish but worth it
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Blackraptor GEN
Why this must be read:

I honestly went looking for a good Chris story over at the Deathdogs site and lo and behold this is the first one listed under Chris stories. It just so happens to be a wonderful Buck story as well. Will wonders never cease! Anyway it has great characterization, wonderful dialog, and it's a sweet story. So for all the GEN readers, I give you

All the Reasons Why

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: Ray/Chris
Length: 70,000  across 27 chapters
Author on LJ:elfbert 
Author Website:
Why this must be read: 


Considering that Ray is such an intriguing character in LoM, here's not a whole lot of Ray!fic out there.  Canon tells us that Ray was Gene's right hand man until Sam Tyler turned up.  He's portrayed as a totally unreconstructed blokey bloke who likes birds, booze and football and loathes Sam with a passion that few people could even aspire to.

Canon Ray, like Gene, is presented as a fully formed character but, also like Gene, we are given little or no information about Ray's past which leaves an awful lot of questions about the man totally unanswered.

In Previous Convictions Elf has given us a back story for Ray Carling that covers his life from a wild teenager until the time we first meet him in 1973, written with so much sympathy and obvious love for the character that, even if you're not Ray's biggest fan (and I know that there *are* people out there who don't much like him) you end up completely understanding Ray's motivations in his hatred for Sam and his total, unswerving loyalty to Gene.

It's a fantastic fic, well written and tightly plotted and a roller coaster of a ride through a fascinating character's life.

( Link to all chapters here . . .  )

Fandom: HEROES
Pairing: Peter/Claude
Length: 1750
Author on LJ: sarkywoman
Author Website: sarkywoman’s fanfiction tag
Why this must be read: Without being sappy, this is the kind of fic that makes you squee with happiness inside by the end. It has so much heart! But it also addresses adult relationship issues, such as Claude’s feelings of entrapment, their personality differences, feelings of insecurity, etc. The Claude voice is hilariously and endearingly pitch-perfect. You can really hear his grumpy self thinking and saying all of these things, and slowly understanding why he’s with Peter, and why he can’t leave. Heartwarming and lovely.

Excerpt:

He never should have slept with the floppy-haired twat in the first place. Peter Petrelli wasn’t someone who could just have sex and leave it at that. He needed more. It was probably an Empath thing. Emotion leeches. They couldn’t just sleep with you, they had to make you happy and know that you were happy all the bloody time. No issue would escape them, no matter how minute. Out of tea? They could get you tea. But is it the tea you like? Did you want tea? Did you want a beer instead perhaps? Wait, why are you drinking alcohol so early in the day, are you upset with them? Maybe you’re an alcoholic. Is it trauma-related? Can they fix it?

Caught In the Rain

Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: gen
Length: long
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Archived at Bauhaus Classics
Why this must be read: Alright, yes, it's genfic--but wait! Come back! I promise this is good. Jennifer is another of those authors who I would rec everything of theirs if I could. Her writing, to me, represents classic Backstreet Boys fanfiction. Firmly planted in reality, it depicts a day in the life of the Backstreet Boys as popstars: the overnight flights, the performances, the family dramas, the controlled chaos, all of it narrated in artful prose.

In the midst of internal strife, Howie and AJ decide to take a personal day and abandon their responsibilities in the machine that is the Backstreet Boys. And in doing so, they are all reminded of what is most important. Wonderful characterizations that make canon spring to life in clear, masterful narration. Simple, yet achingly beautiful. You will not be disappointed.

As It Is In Heaven

Hi, I'm kate_swynford  and I'll be driving the Doctor Who van in July.

Fandom:DOCTOR WHO
Pairing: Doctor/Master
Length: novel-length
Author on LJ: nemaline 
Why this must be read: "When the Doctor stumbles into his own future, he takes the chance to find a way to co-exist with an old enemy. But such things are rarely easy, and always come with a price - particularly when the Master is involved." I think the author's summary descibes this story best. I loved the spot-on character voices and the amazing complex structure of the story, paradox upon paradox. The Doctor and the Master keep running into each other at the wrong time - literally, which is very accurate for their relationship in general. But when their timelines converge, the result is really unpredictable.

Chasing the Paradox

( Excerpt )

Fandom: Xena Warrior Princess
Pairing: Gabrielle/Xena
Length: 3,404 words
Author On LJ: n/a
Author Website: http://www.academyofbards.org/fanfic/a/acidburn

Why This Must Be Read:

One of the earliest XWP stories I ever read and it convinced me that fanfic could be art.
The language is what sells this story, which is an AU based on the episode 'The Reckoning'.
The words are crisp and sharp and descriptive, like nothing I've read before or since.
It is, all at the same time, poetic and realistic.
And I love that is is from Gabrielle's point-of-view, where you can witness her own transformation in the early years of travel in the same moment that Xena is transformed before Gabrielle's eyes.

Just simply gorgeous.

( a bit of the fic )


Alpha And Omega by Acid

Hello again! This is your friendly neighborhood Lyr once more; I'm back to drive the Angel & Buffyverse van for July. I shall again be attempting to represent a broad spectrum in my recs, so that hopefully there'll be a little something for everyone. Let's get rolling!

Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Pairing: Mostly gen with some Spike/Buffy
Length: 26,861 words
Author on LJ: shapinglight
Author Website: Distorting Mirrors
Why this must be read: There is absolutely no aspect of this story which fails to impress. The characterizations are stunningly perfect, both in their trueness to canon and all the extremely believable ways they've been changed by later events. The setting is so richly detailed and vivid that it creates a compelling sense of full sensory reality---I actually feel a vicarious chill while reading. The plot is also wonderfully novel and exciting, as well as beautifully paced. The historical details about Scott and Oates and the Polar expedition add a wonderful grace note to the whole picture, too. What I love best about this story, though, are the emotional dynamics: how Spike and Buffy have settled into a comfortable, mutually reliant partnership that suits them both well; how Spike and Wesley mostly snarl at each other, but still have some connections and mutual understandings between them; how all three of these characters still love Angel after their own fashions with amazing force, and how that love still guides their actions in surprising, yet ultimately perfectly understandable, ways.

The Worst Journey in the World

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Length: 2,200 words
Author on LJ: snarkydame
Author Website:
Why this must be read: In the show, Merlin is shown to be a good influence on Arthur, and that is played up in the many humorous stories in the fandom. But, of course, beneath the geniality and idealism is all that power, along with a streak of ruthlessness that snarkydame brings to the fore in this wonderful story about what Camelot could be, with just one tiny little change.

Ceremony of Innocence

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: none; Laura Roslin, Gaius Baltar, Caprica Six, Tory Foster, Ellen Tigh
Length: under 4000 words
Author on LJ: selenak
Author Website: list of fanfic
Why this must be read: Laura Roslin is a formidable person, with a distinct voice. Selena does justice to the character and to the others as well. (Note: this story does have connections to the plot point about Caprica Six and pregnancy.) I particularly liked Roslin's conversation with Tory Foster; Tory is given real motivations rather than just being penciled in as the stereotypical villain.

The Quality of Mercy

Fandom: STAR WARS [AU]
Pairing: -
Length: 23 chapters | 72,000 words
Author on LJ: frodogenic
Author Website: frodogenic @ ffn
Why this must be read: Padmé lives. I say that, and what do you think? An angsty reunion with Vader for sure. She'll nobly throw herself at his feet, he'll forget he was evil, they'll live together in a penthouse on Naboo and the suit will magically disappear into the same thin air that logic did. Or, better still, she bitterly doesn't forgive him, takes Luke and Leia away and starts a passionate affair with Obi-Wan (who has no scruples about sleeping with his brother's wife, obviously). Or, better even than that, Luke and Leia are conveniently all grown up when she resurfaces from whatever dark pit she's hid herself in for however many years, and welcome her into their lives with open arms. And somehow, somewhere, Vader gets involved. And then there is sex.

Well, I can tell you here and now that Far More Than Rubies is nothing like that. After the tragic deaths of Owen and Beru Lars, Obi-Wan Kenobi finds himself taking care of a young Luke. He decides that the best course of action is to call Luke's mysterious mother, a high-ranking Rebel operative, to be reunited with her son, despite the danger that comes with being in the Rebellion. The Rebel's name?

Oh, come on. Don't tell me you haven't worked that out by now.

Fans of the young Princess Leia will be sorely disappointed -- there's next to no mention of her at all, save a few passing references to her life on Alderaan. But for fans of believable, brilliant OCs -- including the excellently portrayed L'Hanna -- tense plot lines, intrigue, mystery, space battles, Firmus Piett, manipulative Imperials, new technology, spies and Darth Vader and Obi-Wan having a long-awaited showdown? Well, there's plenty of that. There's also believeable, friendly interaction between Padmé and Obi-Wan, humour, several interesting subplots, an original ending, and the possibility of a sequel. Liked ANH? Well. You'll like this.

Far More Than Rubies @ ffn

Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Gen
Length: ~1K
Author on LJ: jwynn    
Why this must be read: 

The author calls this fic "My love letter to Dean". I would call it a love poem but that's only because I can recite it word by word. It's short but its emotional impact will knock you off your feet. And I think, after all this time, it'll give you shivers at how valid most of it still is.

Take 3 minutes to read it and remember to leave feedback for the author. There's even a podfic version in EVP edition 3 if you care for it!

"He has Sam to make proud, Sam to keep safe, Sam to keep sane..."

Hello everyone! I'll be reccing for SPN this month. I've been a pretty faithful sam/dean reader since the first season so that's pretty much what you'll get. And I've been pretty melancholy for the early days of the show (let's not worry about why, shall we?) so my recs will be fairly older fics from the early days of fandom. So, settle in for an 'oldies but goldies' ride and enjoy!


Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Sam/Dean
Length: ~4K
Author on LJ:  sevenfists 
Why this must be read: 

Remember when Dean's 'abandonment issues' were the 3rd regular on the show? *sigh* Good times... So, yeah, the first rec of the month is all about Stanford and leaving and staying. It's a remix fic and the original has already been hosted by the van. Both deserve heaps of praise.
 
sevenfists ' remix nudges the POV slightly more firmly into Sam's territory and still manages to reveal a brilliant picture of Dean's determination to Not Talk About Things and the all-consuming way in which he loves Sam. As with most early SPN fic, Landmarks (Wonders Bright and Rivers Remix) has plenty of bitter to go with its sweet but the way it makes you sigh is well worth the way it twists your heart. This fic will make you remember simpler times, for better or worse. Go, read, leave feedback.

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: Starsky/Hutch
Size: 62,000 words
Author on LJ: racric
Author Website: http://www.leaningbirch.com/The_stories.html
Why this must be read:

I love Winds of Change. I love it so much that I’ve read it at least three times in the last year; it has a permanent place on my Kindle (which means it’s pretty special; I just don’t keep any old fic on my Kindle).

There are many reasons that I love this fic. It’s beautiful and well written, and has everything a fan of our guys could want: hurt and comfort, a cold case for them to take a big chunk out of, a kidnapping, some great sex, and Pine Lake.

However, all of these reasons are not the main reason I love this fic so much. I love it because of its lack of slashy angst.

Don’t get me wrong; I love angst. However, sometimes I get weary and annoyed with reading the same kind of angst over and over again.

In this story, Starsky and Hutch discover how much they love each other, and that’s enough for them. The usual angst slash themes of “is he or isn’t he gay?”, “he can’t love me cause he’s straight”, and “I’m not gay so I can’t be in love in my partner!” are missing, and that’s what makes this story so wonderful. The love is without the usual doubts so prevalent in slash fiction, and that is unique and very refreshing.

( An excerpt )

Please don’t forget to send feedback to the author! They thrive on feedback, and thriving authors are happy authors who will write more wonderful fics for starving readers.


Winds of Change

Hello, I'll be your Atlantis driver for this month. This is my first time driving for SGA :). My favorite alien in the series is Todd, so expect to see a few fics with him as a major character. I apologize for the somewhat late start; work is always crazy before a holiday. So let's buckle up and get this show on the road.

Fandom: STARGATE: ATLANTIS
Pairing: John Sheppard/Todd the Wraith
Length: 5960 words
Author on LJ: sylvanwitch
Author Website: SylvanWitch @ Wraithbait
Why this must be read:

This story takes "Common Ground" and asks "What if the wraith who claimed John's life could offer something sweet in return?" But it doesn't just retell the episode from that supposition. It delves into John's past and gives him a philosophy that not only guides his decisions in the story itself, but could quite plausibly lie behind many of his choices and actions in canon.

The development of the relationship between John and Todd is well executed, and her John voice is very good. SylvanWitch's use of language is delightful and the descriptions in this are marvelous. And yes, there is sex between Sheppard and Todd, which may be a squick for some, but the focus is on feelings and emotions rather than physical descriptions.

Note: This story was posted days after "Common Ground" aired, so Todd was nameless. In this his name's Dave.

( Nothing was ever as simple as it seemed. )

Simple Truths

Fandom: THE DARK IS RISING
Pairing: Bran/Will
Length: ~128,000 words
Author on LJ: rhymer23 
Author Website: Assorted Fanfic
Why this must be read:

Make sure you've got your day free before you start this one.  It's long and it will suck you right in. 

One of the difficulties of writing for DiR is the fact that there was no happy ending.  Not in the general sense of the term, anyway.  Rhymer goes with this, embracing the bittersweet sense of the books, and giving real thought to what would happen when Will, Bran, and Jane began to grow up.  Will is living in a sort of self-imposed exile as he struggles to cope with his dual nature, and his friends are left struggling to understand what has happened to him.

This isn't just a story about the characters, though.  Rhymer gives us so much more.  The plot is complex and fascinating, thoroughly saturated in mythology and fantasty.

Two Worlds

Hi, I'm TSB, and I'll be driving the Newsies van this month. I'll start off with a fairly recent fic, but I'll also rec some of the fandom classics later on.

Fandom: NEWSIES
Pairing: Jack/David
Length: one-shot
Author on LJ: harmonyangel
Author Website: Fic on LJ
Why this must be read: This story was written for lgbtfest, and the prompt pretty much says why I love this story. Jack and David have been together for almost their entire lifetimes. Now that they're in their late 80s/early 90s (the late 1960s/70s), how do they feel about the rise of the public gay rights movement? What changes have they seen over the course of the 20th century?

I love fics that show the evolution of relationships, and that incorporate history. This beautiful and poignant story shows Jack and David dealing with the passing of history, from having to hide their relationship for years to finally being able to be openly together in San Fransisco. It's just a beautiful story, and one that I highly recommend.

( They were legends )

Legends

Good evening and howdy do! I'm Stephanie, and I'll be your driver for this month. I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be reccing for Bandom and bringing you some of my favorite stories this fandom has to offer. We've recently been flush with several Panic at the Disco fics, so I'm going to do my best to show you the other bands we have to offer. I promise they're just as delightful and ridiculous (if not moreso!) than the Panic boys. So sit back, relax, and away we go!


Title by Author (Rating)

Fandom: BANDOM
Pairing: Bob Bryar/Frank Iero
Length: 10,810
Author on LJ: Zee, aka ficsbyzee
Author Website: Zee's Bandslash tag
Why this must be read: I love Bob/Frank for a variety of reasons, but it is also one of the most difficult pairings to get right. Authors tend to over exaggerate Frank's energy (much as they do Brendon Urie's) and turn him into a manic six year old in an adult's body. While he *can* be like that, he's also, ya know, an adult, and I think Zee's fic does a good job of portraying that.

Bob can't seem to remember when he and Frank hook up, and that really starts to take it's toll on Frank. For all it's not a long fic, it does pack a punch and you just can't help but hurt for both of them. I think Zee does a agood job of keeping the entire band dynamic intact as well, not shovign them off to the side because she doesn't want to bother with them.

( A snippet )


Learned Your Name Without Words

also, my apologies to those who caught my abortive attempt at a rec this morning. There were some issues, and I had to delete it. Sorry!

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing:, M/A, D/A, D/M/A
Length: about 11,600 words
Author Website: Killa's Adventures in Melodrama

Why this must be read:


There are numerous reasons why this story must be read, and most of them have to do with Amanda. Oh, and I guess Duncan and Methos, as well. :D I love a devious Amanda, and this story has her working to lift Duncan out of his doldrums. And she and Methos succeed quite efficiently. :) Also, this story is guaranteed to give you food-envy. I'm just saying. As as the days grow longer and we march towards summer, I thought of this story and knew I wanted to recommend it first. Happy reading!

( An excerpt )

Mediterraneo