Fandom: LORD PETER WIMSEY
Pairing: None
Length: 1,400
Author Website:None that I know of
Why this must be read:


One of the great pleasures that fanfic gives us more of is the meeting of characters who, in canon, may not even know of each other's existence. In this vignette, the Viscount St George finally learns his lesson about climbing over the walls of Women's Colleges, when a night time escapade results in a memorable encounter with Hilary Thorpe. The conversation between the two is a delight, and as a bonus it's peppered with wonderful little insights into the trials and tribulations of being Peter's nephew.

The coast seemed clear enough, so St. George ambled back into range of the streetlamp and switched on his most charming smile-- which, he was reliably informed, was very charming indeed. 'Seeing as I've been trapped here by pure unfortunate accident--'

The girl nodded tolerantly. 'Naturally.'

'Naturally,' St. George echoed without missing a beat, 'I was hoping to find my way out with a minimum of fuss, and therefore with a minimum of damage to--' he bowed, slight but entirely sincere-- 'the virtuous reputation of your distinguished College.' Enough long words in there, he thought, to satisfy just about anyone.

The corners of her mouth twitched up into a smile that was dangerously close to genuine. 'If you didn't look like such a nice young man, I'd say you were trying to blackmail me.'

The Social Climb

Fandom: ENTOURAGE
Pairing: Vince/Ari kind of, Eric/Vince maybe
Length: 1000 wds
Author on LJ:black_eyedgirl
Author Website: Fic Masterlist
Why this must be read:I love epic fics just like the next greedy little fangirl but this story is like a hard jab-quick, short and still a knock out. One of my favorite Entourage fics--this offers a great Ari pov and it captures everything frustrating, intoxicating and addictive about Vince.


“Not if the romance doesn’t sell.” Ari really is going to kill this guy. A string of bad career choices have in no way affected Vince’s ability to moisten every pair of panties in the room. Danby looks Vince up and down. “He doesn’t look like he could be gay.”


The Lesser of Two Train Wrecks

Fandom: HOUSE
Pairing: House/Wilson
Length: 3200 words
Author on LJ: bironic
Author Website: http://bironic.nostatement.com/
Why this must be read:

Of all the fics to come out of the third-season Tritter arc, this is the best. An episode tag to "Son of Coma Guy," it is deceptively quiet, but its emotions ring loud and clear.

( Excerpt: )

Untouchable

Fandom: HOUSE
Pairing: House/Wilson
Length: 6000 words
Author on LJ:nightdog_writes
Author Website: Nightdog Writes
Why this must be read:

Here we have a holiday fic rec, as befitting the season. "It's A Wonderful Life," House-style. They say that the last thing we learn of ourselves, is our effect on others. Here, Nightdog shows beautifully what this truly means for House.

( Excerpt: )

The Better Angel

Vidder: Speranza and Seah & Margie
Musical artist: Sparks
Pairing: None... or many and various
Vidder on LJ: cesperanza and flummery
Vidder's website: Speranza's Fiction and Vids by Flummery
Why this vid kicks ass: To wrap up meta week, I leave you with this serious meditation on the fannish use of metaphor. *serious face is serious*

Metaphor

Fandom: PRIMEVAL
Pairing: Nick/Stephen
Length: Two parts
Author on LJ: elfinessy
Author Website: Sundive
Why this must be read:

When I first saw Primeval, my first thought with Nick and Stephen was: "They're sooo doing it!" elfinessy has written some fabulous Nick/Stephen stories, so it's difficult to choose just one to rec. But Sunshine is probably the one of hers I re-read the most. It's an angsty, plotty fixit with some very striking scenes in.

Sunshine part 1

Part 2

Fandom: EUREKA
Pairing: Could be read as Jack Cater/Nathan Stark, depending on how strong the prescription is in your slash goggles
Length: 610 words
Author on LJ: out_there
Author Website: out_there
Why this must be read: I've mentioned before how much I love the dynamic between Jack and Zoe on the series, and I love finding fanfics that capture that interaction so well! This story had me from the first lines:

The trouble with having a bright, precocious teenaged daughter was that sometimes ridiculous things came out of her mouth. Yesterday morning, it had been the issue of dyeing her hair red and green ("You want to argue for red or for green?" Jack had asked, confused, and got the eye roll of parental uncoolness and a sigh, followed by, "Both. They'd do them in zig-zags, and--").

Also, I adore the twist at the end (which I'm not going to spoil for you)!

Panic!

Vince/Eric is pretty much the default pairing in the Entourage fandom, and absolutely my OTP but one thing about small fandoms is that pretty much any pairing gets read and appreciated. So these next few recs are all about mixing it up a bit.

Fandom: ENTOURAGE
Pairing: Eric/Ari
Length: @ 1,000
Author on LJ:paragraph
Author Website: http://www.thelongdarkteatimeofthesoul.com/

Why this must be read:Eric/Ari is the 2nd most popular pairing in the fandom. It's like the strong, slightly bitter black coffee to Vince/E's creamy cappuchino. This story is all claws and teeth like their relationship, and it's good like that.

Eric checks them in at the desk, asks for a double room, like they're business partners on a budget, pays in cash and doesn't wait for Ari once he has the key. Ari has to fucking jog to catch the elevator and he wants to smack the shit out of Eric, but that's not how this game is played, so he just raises an eyebrow.



Fun Things to Fuck(If You're a Winner)

Fandom: THE AVENGERS
Pairings and Characters: Steed/Emma, background Gambit/Purdey, Cathy, Tara
Length: 17,806 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: The Thunder Child: SF & Fantasy Webzine
Why this must be read:

This is an Avengers story set in the present day (well, probably a few years ago now, but this decade at least), and it works, and that's a huge achievement by itself, because The Avengers lived by ridiculous '60s' illogic that simply doesn't translate. However, here Caroline Miniscule manages to imagine plausible futures for everyone, and she gets the tone exactly right: the villains are quite odd, just as all Avengers villains should be, and the plot has the feel of an episode but is just enough darker to be believable in our time. All of the Avengers are very much in character, and if this is indeed their last adventure, it is a wonderful way to go out.

( Excerpt )

The Avengers Forever (this is a PDF download link; it's the first story in a collection)

Fandom: PRIMEVAL
Pairing: Becker/Connor
Length: Five parts
Author on LJ: sallycandance
Author Website: None
Why this must be read:

Sometimes, you just need a cuddly, snuggly, feel-good story – and sallycandance's You Can Wear My Hat fits the bill perfectly. The women of the ARC get together for some match-making between Connor and the sexy new Special Forces captain. The author has a lovely lightness of touch, and you'll read the story with a smile on your face! And of course the sight of Connor sitting on Becker's lap in a car during series 3 was fodder for the fangirls …!

You Can Wear My Hat part 1

Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5

NOTE: The story itself is FRT, but, since it was part of the rounds_of_kink challenge, the default icon on that page is NWS.

Fandom: EUREKA
Pairing: Jack Carter/Nathan Stark
Length: One-shot
Author on LJ: kristories
Author Website: kristories
Why this must be read: For any other show, having characters stuck in a life-size video game would be crack!fic, but this is entirely plausible within the Eureka universe, which is what makes it so absolutely wonderful! The absurdity of it all just leaves me with a crazy grin on my face!

Once Upon a Time

Vidder: thingswithwings
Musical artist: Angelo Badalamenti, from A Very Long Engagement (instrumental)
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: thingswithwings
Vidder's website: complete list of fic, vids, podfic, and meta
Why this vid kicks ass: thingswithwings says that this vid was inspired by Henry Jenkins' research into slash, in which he said that "slash is what happens when you take away the glass" between two characters like Kirk and Spock. This vid is a gorgeous meditation on that theme, showing exactly why fans have such a fascination with the barriers -- both real and metaphorical -- between all our favourite characters.

The Glass

Fandom: Alias Smith and Jones
Pairing: Hannibal Heyes / Kid Curry
Length:  25kb / 3,778 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Karen's Fiction

Why this must be read: All is not what it seems when Curry abandons an injured Heyes and makes off with $2,500. Heyes tracks Curry down and demands answers - and the answers he gets are not at all what he expected. This is a nicely put together tale that rolls right along and holds your interest until the very last word. She captures Curry's "voice" particularly well, I feel. There's plenty of angst in this story, good conversation and a happy ending. And that is a good deal.

End of the Trail

Vidder: OTW (directed by Francesca Coppa and edited by Laura Shapiro, sound editing by AbsoluteDestiny)
Musical artist: Various
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: None
Vidder's website: Vidding History Projects
Why this vid kicks ass: I kicked off meta week with songvids about songvids, and so now it seems appropriate to rec a project that takes this idea of vidmeta to its logical conclusion -- documentaries about vidding, made by vidders.

Not long ago, the Organization for Transformative Works interviewed a whole heap of vidders about vidding, sampled their work, and created a series of snapshots that showcase their art and philosophy. What a neat idea! I love the voices of fans talking about their passion -- it's so rare to get a chance hear fans' real voices -- and I also love that this series has been made by vidders, using the skills they acquired through vidding, and that it's unashamedly pro-fanworks. I fell in love with vids all over again when I watched this.

Vidding

Fandom: EUREKA
Pairing: Jack Carter/Henry Deacon
Length: 147 words
Author on LJ: smallwaldo
Author Website: Account at AOOO
Why this must be read: It's short and sweet! It's adorable and funny and so very *them*!

J is for Javelin

Fandom: PRIMEVAL
Pairing: Stephen/Ryan
Length: 2036
Author on LJ: oddegg
Author Website: None
Why this must be read:

Captain Ryan, the capable and phlegmatic soldier, seems to be one of the most popular characters in the fandom. He's routinely paired with Stephen, but also with Connor and also Lester. oddegg's story portrays a very dark side to Ryan that you don't often see in fanfic – but it makes sense in view of the horrors he'll inevitably have seen. This story is bleak and shocking and like a punch to the stomach – and be sure to heed the warnings on it!

Time Does Not Bring Relief

Vidder: f1renze
Musical Artist: Tom Cochrane
Pairing: none
Vidder on LJ: f1renze
Vidder's Website: kitze productions
Why this vid kicks ass: First, I'm sorry that this is so early; I'm going to be without computer access for the next week and half so I'm posting this now.  Second, I know that this is technically breaking the rules but I'm going to rec two vids, because honestly the vids are the best part of this fandom.

'Ragged Ass Road' was my introduction to Prison Break, and it took my breath away without ever having seen the show.  The shots are beautifully put together to show what the entire prison experience was for Michael: a labor of love for his brother.  The vid captures the emotional intensity of the show at its best, and is an excellent introduction for newbies.

I didn't actually start watching the show until I saw SDWolfpup's 'Like a Stone.'  'Ragged Ass Road' was beautiful but it also felt complete, like I'd seen the best parts of the show so I didn't actually have to sit through the season.  'Like a Stone' introduced me to Mahone, and I liked him so much that I had to see more of him  The vid is smoking hot and very, very slashy.

Fandom: Prison Break
Pairing: Michael/Mahone
Length: 31,000 words
Author on lj: unknown
Author Website: X-art
Why this must be read: 'The Ninth Fold' takes place in season four, and succeeds by virtue of its length, which is considerable, and which gives it plenty of time to work out the psychological pitfalls that lie between the two main characters.  It's well plotted and characterized, and it's nice to see the characters acting as a cohesive team in a more rational way than they usually do in canon.

Excerpt:
He didn’t have to look for his ride. There, centered at the curb was the sleek black limo they’d rented that morning. His driver stood before it, hands clasped in front of him, legs apart, eyes hidden behind unnecessary sunglasses.

Alex must have arrived early to get such a choice location. Either that, or he’d quietly threatened the other drivers into giving up the spot. Probably the latter—Alex was good at quiet threats.

The Ninth Fold
The link is to the main page; find the story in the story index under 'Stories by X.'

Concluding our brief journey. This is as far as I know the last of the Entourage rpf out there. Fortunately it's as terrific as the other two.

Fandom: ENTOURAGE-RPF
pairing: Kevin Connelly /Adrian
Length: One-shot. Under 12k
Author on LJ:dirty_diana
Author Website: http://shockingpink.compromisingpositions.net/
Why this must be read:The evolution of a relationship in 5 parts--except it's still evolving and that's what makes this so affecting. There's no foregone conclusion, no pat ending and you're swept along for the ride.

They've been fucking for a year and a half, on and off. Mostly on. Kevin has yet to figure out what this is really about, for Adrian. The one time he tried, Adrian asked him if everything had to be about something, and ended up down on his knees in Kevin's kitchen, with his mouth hot around Kevin's cock. Pretty much anytime Kevin has a question, he just seems to end up coming so hard he can't breathe, or even remember what he wanted to know.




Speed

Fandom: ENTOURAGE
Pairing: Kevin C./Adrian
Length: under 400wds
Author on LJ:flash_indie
Author Website: none for Entourage
Why this must be read:This is short but adorable. I'm always a little in awe when people manage to just nail the story in under 500 wds and this does. I can see this happening just this way.

Adrian slows a little, wrinkles his nose. There are a lot of ways Adrian isn’t Vince, about as many ways as Kevin isn’t Eric.

Untitled

In honor of yuletide posting day, I'm reccing the tiniest fandom within a tiny fandom. Entourage RPF.

Fandom: ENTOURAGE-RPF
pairing: Kevin Connelly /Adrian
Length: One-shot. Under 12k
Author on LJ:dirty_diana
Author Website: http://shockingpink.compromisingpositions.net/
Why this must be read:Well, when I said it was a tiny fandom I should have said miniscule. As far as I know, this was the first ever Entourage RPF. It was also a Yuletide gift for me, so I'd be a little biased even if it wasn't awesome, but it is. Those things make it unique--the fantastic writing, poignant undertones, fun cameos and kick ass characterization make it a must read.


Adrian worries about what's going to happen when they're not so into this anymore. This being going out at night, getting drunk and fucking in the early morning, damp kisses and slow, teasing handjobs and falling asleep in each other's beds and getting woken up at awkward hours by friends and agents on the telephone.




Las Vegas

Vidder: counteragent
Musical artist: Thomas Dolby
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: counteragent
Vidder's website: My vids
Why this vid kicks ass: counteragent has a real gift for remixing disparate sources and styles, and forging them into something seamless, with it's own narrative drive and logic. This songvid is a perfect example. It's gorgeously framed with the trappings of the cinema, beautifully matched to the music, and at the same time working as an elegant showcase for Charmax's vids. Such a clever piece of work.

She Blinded Me with Science (a Charmax tribute)


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes three of charmax's vids (links go to the recs):

Multi-fandom - I'm your Man
Lost and Delirious - Cry Me A River
Multi-fandom - Seven Nation Army

Vidder: Charmax
Musical artist: Patricia O Callaghan
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: charmax
Vidder's website: Bronze Ambition
Why this vid kicks ass: Made for the International Day of Femslash, this vid is a glorious celebration of friendship, romance, crossdressing, and women generally being awesome with other women. Need I say more?

I'm your Man


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes:

• charmax's vids: Lost and Delirious - Cry Me A River , Multi-fandom - Seven Nation Army, and
  
• The commentary She Blinded Me with Science (a Charmax tribute) by counteragent

Vidder: Charmax
Musical artist: Effcee
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: charmax
Vidder's website: Bronze Ambition
Why this vid kicks ass: The theme of this vid is very simple: it is an ode to robots. Killer robots! Seven types of killer robots rampaging across time and space! And yes, it is made of win.

Seven Nation Army


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes:

• charmax's vids: Multi-fandom - I'm your Man, Lost and Delirious - Cry Me A River and
  
• The commentary She Blinded Me with Science (a Charmax tribute) by counteragent

Vidder: Charmax
Musical artist: The Cliks
Pairing: Tori/Paulie
Vidder on LJ: charmax
Vidder's website: Bronze Ambition
Why this vid kicks ass: I haven't seen this movie yet, but in this gorgeous vid Charmax makes it look all kinds of awesome -- private girls school, duels, forbidden love, angst, lesbian romance. Yay.

Cry Me A River


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes:

• charmax's vids: Multi-fandom - I'm your Man, Multi-fandom - Seven Nation Army, and
  
• The commentary She Blinded Me with Science (a Charmax tribute) by counteragent

Fandom: EUREKA
Pairing: Allison Blake/Nathan Stark
Length: One-shot
Author on LJ: sheepfairy
Author Website: www.planet-fiction.net or sheepfairy_owns's Bookmarks on Delicious
Why this must be read: Sure, this may be porn, but it's really in-character porn. I like how the author depicts the little differences in how Allison and Nathan behave when together as opposed to when they're in their public roles (especially Nathan):

Nathan moans, and she smiles and shifts up against him. He's always so calm and so cool, and she likes to see him losing his composure, especially when he's losing it with her.

I also like that this is porn about two adults who have a history together, whereas so much smutty fanfic is first-time!fic (which, is fine in some cases, but can become boring after the 10,000th story).

I Still Love You

Fandom: Alias Smith and Jones
Pairing: Hannibal Heyes / Kid Curry (Gen)
Length: approximately 3,600 words
Author on LJ: suemc and gillyp
Author Website: A lot of their stories can be found at  Alias Smith and Jones Fanfic

Why this must be read: Heyes and Curry are exhausted, holed up in some small town ruminating over the events that brought them to this particular town and whether or not they'll get their amnesty over a friendly glass of whiskey while Heyes attempts to read a dime novel he found in their room. Just the kind of scene we'd see in the show. It's filled with warmth, friendly banter and the camaraderie that made the chemistry between the two former outlaws so memorable. Honestly, this could be a missing scene from an episode, it's just that good.

Happiness was Born a Twin

Fandom: ENTOURAGE
Pairing: Vince/Eric
Length: 11,000 +
Author on LJ:chase65
Author Website: Entourage fic tag
Why this must be read:I'm a sucker for a good hitman story and this really one works. It begs the question--E and Vince without each other, what would they have become? And maybe it begs the question of when is it too late to meet that person. It's all draped in a well created universe with perfectly framed cameos by canon characters.



Later, watching Vincent Chase, inelegantly sprawled on his back where he‘d been deposited, snoring to the heavens, Murphy realized that he wouldn’t be killing Vincent Chase in the foreseeable future. He didn't kill puppies. And that's what Chase was, a shaggy, goofy puppy that had made a gigantic mess on the carpet. He could be corrected. But there was still the matter of the contract.



Hitman

Fandom: EUREKA
Pairing: Gen
Length: One-shot
Author on LJ: celli
Author Website: Both her fic and her recs can be found in her tag listing, organized by fandom. Fic prior to 2004 is on her website.
Why this must be read: Jack looked up at the sign hanging over the stage in the gym: Welcome to the Annual Tesla High Father-Daughter Career Extravaganza and Gala!

"Zoe, have you been lying to me for my own good again?"

Aw, I love the dynamic between Jack and Zoe on the show, and this adorable fic captures it perfectly!

My favorite bit:

"I'll have you know law enforcement is a demanding and rewarding career, and not only that, there's a lot of public interest in it. I mean, Law & Order!"

"Yes, because that attracts the interest of teenage girls everywhere."

Poor Jack doesn't understand teenage girls very well, but he *tries*.

I'm the Sheriff, Ask Me How

Fandom: LOST
Characters/Pairing: Ensemble
Length: 2700 words
Author on LJ: elliotsmelliot 
Author Website: Masterlist
Why this must be read: After the season five finale presented the possibility of a ‘reset’ in which the plane never crashed, a bunch of great fics have been written with this premise. This is one of my favorites. Each character is handled delicately and realistically. Most people find ways to meet in the real world that mirror the interactions that helped them bond on the island, but there are also sad dead ends for other characters, and moments of unrealized promise for yet others. My favorite bits include the Miles+Hurley friendship and Juliet and Sun still meeting.

Excerpt: “I’ve had my eye on you for quite some time, John. Do you mind if I call you, John?”

John shakes his head slowly and eyes the man’s satchel, suddenly wondering if it contains objects for a test. “Have we met before?”

"Many times, John. Many times.”


Collision

Fandom: LORD PETER WIMSEY
Pairing: Peter/Harriet
Length: 5,000
Author on LJ:nineveh_uk
Author Website: See the wimseyfic tag on her LJ
Why this must be read:


This is another look at Charles Parker after the events of Strong Poison, but this time examining not his relationship with Peter but his relationship with Harriet. How did Peter's friend and Peter's wife manage to find a modus operandi, when Harriet had so much to forgive and Charles so much to be forgiven for? The story is interspersed with hilarious excerpts from the Dowager Duchess's diary, and moves from stiff dislike and awkwardness to a lovely – and appropriately seasonal – conciliation, arising from the mutual respect each of them has discovered for the other.

`Miss Vane, please don't misunderstand me. I am not here in any professional capacity.'

`Of course not,' she had the upper hand now, and the smile came more naturally. `Else you'd already have spoken to Mr Croft. But I don't think it will do my reputation any good to be seen talking to a policeman in the hall, and naturally I have no intention of inviting you in.'

`Perhaps I ought to have written.' He did have a nice voice. She heard, beneath the grammar school surface, a faint breath of the North.

`Perhaps you ought. Alternatively, I should be quite happy, Mr Parker, never to have sight or sound of you again. Excuse me.'

The First Year After

Fandom: DARK ANGEL
Pairing: None
Length: ~7000 words
Author on LJ: abendster1601
Author Website: n/a
Why this must be read: Deliciously creepy gen fic centering on Ben and Alec. Gives me chills every time

( Excerpt )

Under a Wicked Sky

It's meta week in Songvid Oddity land! (And yes, how ironic is the timing, given this week's meta about meta? :)

There's been a trend in the last year or so of meta vids which reflect on what it is to be a vidder, and what vidders love about the art form. I'm going to try and give a sense of what that conversation looks like, and that means posting more than one rec at a time for a couple of days. Bear with me while I wrangle all the cross-links. Hopefully it will all be worth it!


Vidder: bradcpu
Musical artist: Various
Pairing: Various
Vidder on LJ: bradcpu
Vidder's website: Sticky post: My vids
Why this vid kicks ass: kiki_miserchic is one of the most unusual vidders out there. Her stuff is always gorgeous, and interesting, and often confronting. In this vidder profile, bradcpu captures what makes Kiki tick as an artist, combining an interview with excerpts of her vids. As well as being a brilliant introduction to Kiki's work, it's a stunning piece of work in its own right.

To make the experience richer, you might want to watch a sample of Kiki's vids (I've recced three below) before you watch this vidder profile.

August Vidder Profile: kiki_miserychic
Warning: The video excerpts included in this profile contain profanity, nudity, sexual images, and violence (including a torture/disembowelment scene from the movie "The Cell").


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes three of kiki_miserychic's vids (links go to the recs):

Multi-fandom - She's Awesome
The Cell - Bootystyle
The Fall - Once Upon a Time

Vidder: kiki_miserychic
Musical artist: "Excess" by Tricky
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: kiki_miserychic
Vidder's website: vid tag
Why this vid kicks ass: Wow. I just... you know what? Nothing I can say here will really do justice to this. It's surreal and stunning. Go watch it right now.

Once Upon a Time
Warning: Violence


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes:

• kiki_miserychic's vids: Multi-fandom - She's Awesome, The Cell - Bootystyle, and
  
• The DVD commentary August Vidder Profile: kiki_miserychic by bradcpu

Vidder: kiki_miserychic
Musical artist: "Glass Danse" by The Faint
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: kiki_miserychic
Vidder's website: vid tag
Why this vid kicks ass: This is like a short, sharp kick to the head, with a pounding beat, relentless movement, and glorious women in the centre of the frame. Awesome, indeed.

She's Awesome
Warning: Violence


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes:

• kiki_miserychic's vids: The Cell - Bootystyle, The Fall - Once Upon a Time, and
  
• The DVD commentary August Vidder Profile: kiki_miserychic by bradcpu

Vidder: kiki_miserychic
Musical artist: "Bootystyle" mashup from Dunproofin' using Teddybears STHLM's "Cobrastyle" and Robyn's cover
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: kiki_miserychic
Vidder's website: vid tag
Why this vid kicks ass: This is simultaneously one of the most gorgeous and one of the most disturbing songvids I've ever seen, with the kind of graphic violence I just don't expect in a vid. The gothic grandeur of the visuals is beautifully matched to unexpectedly perfect music. Apart from all that, this is an ode to Jennifer Lopez, and it really makes me want to go see all her films immediately.

Bootystyle
Warning: Explicit violence


This recommendation is part of a set, which includes:

• kiki_miserychic's vids: Multi-fandom - She's Awesome, The Fall - Once Upon a Time, and
  
• The DVD commentary August Vidder Profile: kiki_miserychic by bradcpu

Fandom: ENTOURAGE
Pairing: vince/Eric,
Length: Diptych - each over 20k
Author on LJ:fourteencandles
Author Website: Fic Index
Why this must be read: I love Sliding Doors type scenarios and this pair of stories is a great example of that. The author does such a fantastic job that the 'could have been' sticks with you. I still find myself wondering how things turned out for them.



Best of Both Worlds and Accept What You Cannot Change

Vidder: Hazel K
Musical artist: Portishead
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: aycheb
Vidder's website: new vid tag
Why this vid kicks ass: I'm wrapping up the small-fandom recs with this stunning vid by Hazel K. I keep watching and re-watching it, because everything about it is intriguing, from the unusual music choice, to the fantastic matching of images (both to each other and to sound), and the way Hazel focuses in on the sharp-edges of a film which feels much less bleak on the big screen. I keep seeing new things and making new connections and being astonished all over again. This is vidding at its very best.

Silence
Warning: Violence

Fandom: EUREKA
Pairing: Jack Carter/Nathan Stark
Length: 5,508 words
Author on LJ: clarkoholic
Author Website: Account at Archive of Our Own
Why this must be read: Jack is caught in a mutant tornado, which makes him rapidly deteriorate. The only solution Global Dynamics can suggest is to put him in a cryogenic freeze until an antidote is found. A cure is eventually discovered--forty-seven years later. Jack, however, isn't the only one to find himself unexpectedly in the future: Nathan rematerialized five years earlier.

I like the parallels between Jack and Nathan in this fanfic. I think clarkoholic has created the rare situation where Jack/Nathan is actually possible, since they are literally the only ones who can understand what the other is going through and empathize with each other. This story has a bittersweet tone, with just the right amount of hope at the end.

Ice and Air

Fandom: PRIMEVAL
Pairing: Gen (some Nick/Stephen hints)
Length: 16 comic book eps
Author on LJ: ethelfleda
Author Website: None
Why this must be read:

I've no idea whether you categorise this as fanfic or fanart – but who cares? It's hilarious! ethelfleda has turned the first episode of Primeval into role-playing comic book form. So we have badass Stephen, Nick fixated on dino-hos, long-suffering Ryan, no-nonsense Claudia and overseeing it all a game master who would clearly like to bang all their heads together . . .

Primeval, the role play episode 1
All the other eps can be found here

Fandom: AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 8
Pairing: Adam Lambert/Kris Allen
Length: 25k
Author on LJ: linzeestyle
Author Website: Fic Master List
Why this must be read:This fic stayed with me for a while after I read it. It's one of my favorites of the longer Kradam future-fics. I had a very easy time picturing the scenes as I read. The dialogue is great, and the sex is pretty hot.

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And Play a Favorite Song

Fandom: AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 8/NCIS
Pairing: Adam Lambert/Kris Allen/Katy Allen, Adam Lambert/Drake LaBry, Kris Allen/OMC
Length: 125,419 words broken into three books.
Author on LJ: amproof
Author Website: Delicious bookmarks.
Why this must be read: This might be the best fic I've read in a decade of fannish activity. Not one of the best fics, but the best fic. I was SO NERVOUS it wasn't going to be completed before this month was over. It's one of the reasons I signed up to drive this fandom in the first place. So there is that.

The truth is, I don't know if I could possibly do this story justice in these short sentences. It is at times gut-wrenching, powerful, sweet, heartbreaking and incredibly hot. Sometimes it's all of those things at once.

As an FYI, it's not necessary to know much of anything about NCIS to read this. You could treat the NCIS people as original characters and you'd lose very little, if any context.

The author's summary: The Washington D.C. tour stop goes horribly wrong when Kris and Adam are involved in an altercation with three off duty sailors that ends with one dead, Adam hanging onto life by a thread, and Kris accused of murder. A novel of love, desire, redemption, regret, and denial--not necessarily in that order.

Building Jerusalem (Directions Not Included)

Fandom: DARK ANGEL
Pairing: None
Length: 6578 words
Author on LJ: fauxcynic
Author Website: ff.net profile
Why this must be read:The one and only fic that has ever managed get me to like Joshua. Perfect characterization.

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The Journal

Fandom: ENTOURAGE
Pairing:Vince/Eric
Length: one shot-under 12k
Author on LJ:ofangoriousone
Author Website: none that I could find
Why this must be read: Yet.another a/u with the guys in different lives entirely, proving once again that they really do work in almost any scenario. The author does a fantastic job of keeping them in character and that is the thing that really makes this click for me. Vince is a dancer instead of an actor, but with the same natural talent, luck, laziness and lack of discipline, only here in an art that requires all that and more, it's not really working for him, until Eric. Cameos by the rest of the gang in parts perfect for them just make this a delight.



Same Tune, Different Lyrics

Fandom: THE AVENGERS
Pairing and Characters: Cathy/Emma, Steed
Length: 4,403 words
Author on LJ: aerye
Author Website: aerye
Why this must be read:

Re: the pairing -- yes, you read that right, and as if it weren't reason enough, this is a seriously entertaining, wonderful story that reads just like an episode, with all the classic Avengers quirkiness. Steed has been kidnapped, and it's up to Cathy and Emma to rescue him. It is really very sad indeed that these two awesome ladies in leather share no scenes in canon. They make an excellent team here, though I suppose that's to be expected, as they are Cathy Gale and Emma Peel, after all. aerye has both women's voices down pat, and their interactions are excellent.

Plot somewhat recalls 'How to Succeed... at Murder' but is much smarter and crazier and in every way better. aerye also gives us fun secondary characters who add color to the story without overpowering it, just like the show at its best. This story must be read simply because it is one of a kind, but also because it is insanely well-done.

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The D.O.D.O. Affair

Vidder: Jake Productions
Musical artist: The Battle of Kerak, Crusaders, Breached, and Burning The Past by Harry Gregson-Willaims
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: Unknown
Vidder's website: PowerMonkey Studios
Why this vid kicks ass: It's hard to pick what I love most about this songvid. It's gorgeous; it's epic; it's got heart-pounding action. But the thing that stands out for me is that the music has no lyric, and yet there's such a sense of drama conveyed through the editing.

Kingdom of Heaven (scroll down)
Warning: Violence and death

Fandom: HOUSE
Pairing: House/Foreman
Length: 42218 words
Author on LJ: queenzulu
Author Website: Author's Page at Archive of Our Own
Why this must be read:

A one night stand leads to something not intended by nature. This is an mpreg fic. An awesome mpreg fic that works because of Zulu's excellent characterization.

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There's No Such Thing In The World (As An Undo Button)

Fandom: PRIMEVAL, DICK FRANCIS
Pairing: Nick/Tony Beach
Length: 1245
Author on LJ: fififolle
Author Website: None – check LJ masterlist for stories
Why this must be read:

If you're a fan of crime fiction writer Dick Francis, then look no further for some intriguing crossovers in Primeval-land! grondfic, the queen of off-beat crossovers, is a writer to look out for. Today, though, I've gone for fififolle's short, rather bittersweet story where two men – Nick from Primeval and Tony Beach from Proof – who have lost their wives in very differing circumstances – meet up. She has the first-person Francis voice absolutely spot-on.

Perfect Accompaniment

Fandom: ENTOURAGE
Pairing: Vince/Eric, Vince/numerous others
Length: Novel length
Author on LJ:dancinbutterfly
Author Website:None
Why this must be read: By turns funny, hot and heartbreaking, this is pretty much the hookerfic to end all hookerfics. Based on the blog/book/tv series by Belle Du Jour, it runs the gamit of sexual acts. And the kink is fun, but the heart of it, is Vince at a crossroads in his life. Written as a series of journal entries, the story sweeps you up. Vince isn't 'a hooker with a heart of gold' and this ain't Pretty Woman. "It's a comedy and a tragedy, just like life."

I realize that I forgot to mention before that I fuck people for money. I like it. And more importantly, I'm good at it.



Illicit Adventures of an LA Rentboy