Title: Bonnie And Clyde Didn't Work Alone
Author: Maidenjedi
Characters: Boba Fett, River Tam
Length: ~1k words
Author on LJ: maidenjedi
Author Website: AO3 and FFN Profile and LJ Tags
Why this must be read:

Two scruffy 'verses are these, nice and dirty and plagued with everyday concerns from our galaxy: how to make a living, survive and even thrive. River and Boba are bruised and alone, and they connect tenuously. Their characters need someone, and they are there for each other. Life doesn't require much more than this.

Bonnie And Clyde Didn't Work Alone

Fandom: STAR WARS
Characters: Obi-Wan, Luke, Owen
Length: One-shot from a huge gallery
Artist on LJ: buff_iroh
Artist Website: dA and many glorious goodies on capslock_cw
Why this must be seen:

A problem with a prolific artist is choosing which piece to rec, and whittling it down to this one took some thought. What struck me was the bright, desert-looking color scheme with its fierce shadows, and the eager look on little Luke's face as he reaches instinctively for the brightest Force presence around, and Owen ... well, Owen wants to protect his little one. That doesn't make Obi-Wan's heart rest any easier, though it must soothe his mind. Tagged both OT and PT because it is intertrilogy. What would a tag be for the upcoming Rebels series, I wonder? IT?

Obi-Wan and Luke

Fandom: STAR WARS
Characters: Luke, Han
Length: 635 words
Author on LJ: marienomad
Author Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read:

Light and funny, a cordial to savor after the heavy holiday meals, this story has a truly outstanding visual. Let's just say, Han and Luke dare to go where no one just a few select individuals have gone before.

Secrets of the Armor

Fandom: STAR WARS
Characters: Mas Amedda, OC
Length: 2745 words
Author on LJ: oqidaun
Author Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read:

Parents in any galaxy are a special case; we know that they knew us before we could possibly know them, and they have the lifelong advantage over us. What about when their lives dwindle to needing us, and only us, to relate to? Join the prominent statesman Mas Amedda's youngest son, as he tries to figure out his place in the galaxy far, far away, and discovers that it is not so simple and easy as it used to be before this particular Thursday. Join Mas Amedda as he tries to leave a better legacy.

Thursdays With My Father

Title: Lost Travellers
Length: ~2000 words
Rating: PG
Characters: Chewbacca, Hephaistion Amyntoros
Author on LJ: daegaer
Author Website: Fic Mems
Why this must be read:

You'll think your critical faculties are skewed, because the prose is like poetry, rich and metered. Really, this remarkable piece weaves two places far, far away into a mesh of in character events. Sorry not to be more eloquent, but the crossover visits my two favorite places and it's hard to be dispassionate. Just read it.

Lost Travellers

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing(s): Leia/Luke/Han
Length: 6k words
Author on LJ: greenspaces
Author Website: Stories
Why this must be read:

Leia's grief is a fearsome thing and we see next to none of it in the OT. Forbidding displays of sorrow seem to be the norm for the Skywalker twins, Luke for his aunt and uncle and Leia for her adoptive parents and entire world. But on the way to the new Hoth base, Leia's tedium gives her the next thing to a vacation that she's had in years, and she uses it to relax, and perhaps gain insights to her traveling companions. It can only do her some good.

Dark Days

Good afternoon, I'm pronker and I've spent so much time in a car lately that I just couldn't drive anything until today, but, you know, it's Friday so here goes. Before I turn the key, let's hear a great round of applause for this comm, because on September 20th, crack_van will be ten years old! Way to go!

Fandom: STAR WARS
Length: 1864 words
Characters: Leia Organa, Darth Vader
Author on LJ: jedinemo
Author Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read:

A New Hope's scene of Leia's torture on board the Death Star has sparked many a fanfic, fanart, and the imagination, whose ponderings have never been written down. jedinemo has written some down, and the result is an in-character, grueling story of Leia's strength and Vader's strength, too. Read it to find out why this rec does not say 'pairing: Leia/Vader', though perhaps it should. Strong, evocative prose and the gift for a stunning AU mark this author's work, all to the fandom's betterment.

The Nature of the Enemy

Hi there! I'll be driving the van for SW this month. I must admit that my interests skew slightly towards the prequel era. However, I will be kicking things off with an OT rec. Another note: this is my first time driving the van, so if you have any feedback about my posts or the recs themselves, please let me know. So, without further ado....

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Vader and various Skywalker grandchildren
Length: 8k and 13k
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: FFN profile
Why this must be read:

In a universe where Luke and Vader go their separate ways after Palpatine's demise on the second Death Star, the Dark Lord returns from an extended, shall we say, "exploration" of the Unknown Regions to find the Empire all but dissolved. He must now adjust to life in a new role - grandfather. Lord Vader's Limpet has Vader reluctantly host Luke's enthusiastic toddler aboard the Executor while Driving Lord Vader finds the (ex)Sith helping a teenaged Anakin Solo to obtain his first driving license. Both are completely hilarious and, as are all of frodogenic's offerings, very well-written. Have fun.

Lord Vader's Limpet
Driving Lord Vader

Fandom: STAR WARS
Vidder: Corey Vidal / Moosebutter
Vidder on LJ: Unknown
Vidder Website: Great website!
Why this vid must be seen:

Since May The Fourth Be With You Day is next week, what better time to enjoy a masterful a cappella tribute to the genius of film scores, John Williams? You may have seen this already - it's been around a while. But to get into the Galaxy Far, Far Away a week early, start by grooving to *did I say 'grooving'?* this unabashedly enthusiastic list of reasons why we love Star Wars. Pretty much based on the Original Trilogy, it is.

Star Wars (John Williams Is The Man)

Title: Star XIng
Author: Lelila
Pairings: Han/Leia, Mulder/Scully
Length: ~20000 words
Author on LJ: Doesn't seem to be one.
Author Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read:

Well, what can I say. I dropped the ball into a black hole for X-over day, but here is an excellent X-Files crossover story, everyone well in character and the plot exciting as all get out. With a bang, let's see how Leia, Han, Luke and Chewie fare in our own galaxy, and clear up some of the mystery about the X-Files gang, too. The Lone Gunmen also feature in this, and I couldn't be happier to see them once more.

Star XIng

Fandom: STAR WARS
Characters: The Emperor, Darth Vader
Length: about 34k words
Author on LJ: elegyforziggy
Author Website: Profile
Why this must be read:

As a class of story that may describe the life of recently fallen Jedi Skywalker, also known as Anivader, or as some say, Vaderkin, there are few equal to this story: Vader trembling his way to serve his new Master more fully. In this case, literally trembling, because Vader has awakened to a new set of physical rules for his body, and his body rejects the suit, to near disaster. See how the author explores the difference between OT Vader's speech cadences, and PT Jedi Skywalker's. It is most satisfying, linguistically.

Synergy

Title: The Disturbance in the Force Affair
Pairings: Illya Kuryakin/Napoleon Solo, Han Solo/Luke Skywalker
Length: Novella
Author on LJ: ladyra
Author Website: Visions of Pretty Boys
Why this must be read:

As a crossover, this succeeds with plenty of a/plot and b/characterization and c/juxtaposition of the GFFA with Our Galaxy. Along with a nifty website, ladyra gets my vote as a top multi-fandom author with a charming introduction on her site: "Happy Endings, All the Time. Seriously. Medium Angst, always with lots of payoff. No partner betrayals, no rapes, no unrecoverable injuries, just love love love. And some sex." So much to like, to savor about each universe she portrays, the timeless one of Star Wars and the Twentieth Century one of Man from U.N.C.L.E, that this rec is one of the easiest I've ever made.

The Disturbance in the Force Affair

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairings: Obi-Wan/Anakin, Han/Leia, Padmé/Bail, pre-Luke/Han, mentions of Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon, Padmé/Anakin
Length: around 50000 words
Author on LJ: zendsleigh
Author Website: Tags
Why this must be read:

This is a rollicking slash epic, full-throated and filled with humorous turns of phrase and dialogue. The story tackles the attraction, fulfillment and dissolution of the Anakin/Obi-Wan relationship. How does their story end? Through the years the tale encompasses, the Empire waxes, yet so does the opposition to it, and the saga's ending is most satisfying. As you can see by the pairings listed, it is filled with other romances, too. Breadcrumbs and Imperfections complete the story, though two chapters were completed of a sequel, Collision, link included. Each post is listed, though the posts have internal links, too. There was a surge of completist syndrome by me last night.

Breadcrumbs, Chapters 1-2
Breadcrumbs, Chapters 3-4
Breadcrumbs, Chapters 5-6
Breadcrumbs, Epilogue
Imperfection, Chapters 1-2
Imperfection, Chapters 3-4
Imperfection, Chapters 5-6
Imperfection, Chapters 7-8
Imperfection, Chapter 9, part 1/2
Imperfection, Chapter 9, part 2/2
Imperfection, Chapter 10
Imperfection, Epilogue
Collision, Chapter 1
Collision, Chapter 2

Fandom: STAR WARS
Character: Aunt Beru
Length: 2769 words
Author Website: FFN Profile
Author on LJ: treenahasthaal
Why this must be read:

On a holiday weekend devoted to food (mostly), this author shows how food is tied to love and giving and memories. Aunt Beru is baking on this momentous day, her thoughts interwoven with her work, and the way things play out will leave you pleasantly wrung out. A powerful story about a character who is often overlooked, Beru Whitesun Lars.

Private Thoughts

Fandom: STAR WARS
Characters: Ben Kenobi, Owen Lars
Length: ~3000 words
Author on LJ: ring34_ani
Author Website: Tags
Why this must be read:

Per posting guidelines, personal favorites are just dandy to rec, and the Dark Times are about my favorite setting. In this story, Ben is ill, a serious predicament for one who lives alone, isolated in a hostile environment like the Jundland Wastes. He drifts in memory deliriously and may have clearer insights than when he is well. I am under the weather myself tonight, and pretty much agree that the extra downtime leads to a sometimes unwelcome clarity.

Judgment Day

Fandom: STAR WARS
Length: 28008 words
Pairings: Palpatine/male OC, Moteé/Pestage
Genre(s) Romance, tragedy, drama
Author on LJ: ansketil_rose
Author Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read:

Because this story has intrigue, adult concepts and themes, slash, and an unforgettable character in Alexis. As the author describes the story, "When Alexis Ts'umin accidentally meets his Emperor in the Imperial Gardens his life spins out of control, setting him on a collision course with assassins, Darth Vader, and Palpatine's repressed desires." The characters include Palpatine, Mara Jade and pretty much everyone you'd expect to see at the Imperial Court circa A New Hope, plus some OCs. A finely crafted tale, enthralling for a good evening's read.

Alexis

Title: Hi, I'm Captain Jack Harkness
Pairing: Chewbacca/Captain Jack Harkness
Rating: R-ish
Author on LJ: frostfire_17
Author Website: Fics on LJ
Why this must be read:

In a bar on some interstellar crossroads, Han strikes out. The Doctor and Rose have each other. That's about it for a description, because as a crossover, this one delights. Chewbacca finds a kindred soul in Harkness, each looking out for his Primary Adventurer in unique ways.

Hi, I'm Captain Jack Harkness

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairings: Luke/Biggs, Luke/Wedge
Length: ~2000 words
Author on LJ: windsorblue
Author Website: Fic Journal
Why this must be read:

Luke's presence shines in this story, entirely on point, portrayed as we first see him in his A New Hope debut, waiting for his life to begin. I especially enjoyed the resonance of the cut scenes of Biggs' and Luke's protracted conversation, as Biggs here proves how much of a protecting big brother he can be.

Leaving Anchorhead

Since I'm so horrendously late in getting started, I'll skip the introduction and just get straight to the fic.

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Gen – Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, Jar Jar Binks, mentions of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader and Padmé Amidala
Length: first story ~4224 words and second story ~1721 words
Author on LJ: fernwithy
Author Website: http://humongousbighead.homestead.com/
Why this must be read:

The morning after the end of RotJ, Leia is trying not to deal with the knowledge that Darth Vader was her father, when suddenly Jar Jar Binks shows up on Endor. He's there to pay his respects to Anakin's remains – and to tell a story to Anakin's children. It's not unusual to see stories in which Luke and Leia meet people who knew their parents, or for such meetings to help them come to terms with their heritage, but “Old Friends, Long Gone” and its sequel are the only ones I've seen in which the twins encounter Jar Jar. In fact, I don't know whether it's because of his (undeserved, imo) unpopularity or because he's difficult to write, but these are almost the only fics I've seen featuring Jar Jar at all. They're worth reading for that reason alone, but all the more so because FernWithy is such an excellent writer (though, to give fair warning, the first fic was written before AotC and RotS came out, so a few of the details are wrong). And no, Leia doesn't actually come to terms with her heritage after hearing one story about Vader's past – that would be unrealistic – but it's a start.

In the sequel “Learning To Fly,” Luke and Leia are on Coruscant rebuilding the Jedi Temple when Jar Jar comes to see them again. There's an interesting dynamic in that after their last meeting, Leia considers Jar Jar an Imperial sympathizer and doesn't entirely trust him. Jar Jar thinks they shouldn't reject everything that came from the Empire out of hand just because it came from the Empire, and illustrates this by telling them a story about Padmé just after the Battle of Naboo. As a Jar Jar fan, I love these two stories for portraying Jar Jar in a non-trivializing manner, but all of the other characters, in both the framing and interior stories, are treated with equal thoughtfulness and insight.

Old Friends, Long Gone
Learning To Fly

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Palpatine (gen; it's an introspective piece)
Length: 500ish words.
Author on LJ: elizabeth_hoot
Author Website: archiveofourown.org/users/angrhaine
Why this must be read:

Because, as a decidedly unwise woman once said, "Palpatine introspection has a certain creepy flair as a genre." This one provides an incisive look at Palpatine's thoughts on the young Rebel who destroyed the Death Star. Chilling but also practical, it encapsulates a reading of Palpatine's character in a single moment of meditation.

up the waterspout

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Han/Leia
Length: ~4000 words
Author on LJ: tenacious_err
Author Website: Fanfiction Index
Why this must be read: It will remind you of all the reasons this pairing has been the favorite of fans everywhere for over 30 years. The banter is just as entertaining as in the movies, and the chemistry just as amazing. A delightful read.

Four Times Han Solo Annoyed Princess Leia, and One Time He Didn't

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Gen featuring Mara Jade, Darth Vader, and Luke Skywalker
Length: two one-shots
Author on LJ: jedimara77
Author Website: fanfiction.net profile
Why this must be read: This well-written series of two short fics contains some breathtakingly intense moments. It offers fascinating glimpses into the most poignant and compelling relationship in Star Wars: that of Luke and his father. The impact is in no way diminished by the fact that the two never interact directly in this series.

In Son of Vader, Mara and Vader talk about Luke, a conversation that leaves Mara stunned and mystified. Father Before Me expands on Mara's reaction upon finally finding out the identity of Luke's father. She confronts Luke about it, and a deepening connection forms between them as they realize that they both know exactly what it feels like to have "everything you thought you knew turned upside down in one single second", and Luke finally voices some of his anger and hurt about the way he found out the truth about his father.

Son of Vader and Father Before Me

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Gen
Length: 72,216 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: fanfiction.net profile
Why this must be read: One: the characters' voices are spot on, to a degree you'll rarely find outside the movies. Two: the premise is fascinating. Have you seen many - or any - well-written fics about Padmé trying to simultaneously be a Rebel leader and a single mother to Luke, and the conflicts that would inevitably arise between these two roles? The scenes where she pressures Obi-Wan into babysitting when she has to leave on missions are pricelessly dramatic and one hundred percent in character.

When a Rebel Padmé fic is recced by someone who dislikes the very concept of Rebel Padmé, it's got to say a few things about the quality of the fic in question.

( Excerpt )

Far More Than Rubies

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Bail Organa gen
Length: one-shot
Author on LJ: irnan
Author Website: fanfiction.net profile
Why this must be read: It's the best Bail Organa-centric fic I've had the pleasure to read. It's a compelling and unforgettable look at the man who raised Princess Leia to be so much more level-headed and mentally healthy, especially when it comes to romantic relationships, than her biological mother.

In this story, we get to see the tragedy of the Republic's fall, Padmé's death and her doomed relationship with Anakin, and the poor twins who must be separated for their own safety, through the eyes of the deeply compassionate yet very sensible and reasonable Bail Organa. He looks at the broken, dying Padmé and thinks, This is not what love is. Love is supposed to strengthen us, to support us, to help us get through difficult times - not destroy us in a conflagration of passion. Not only does it ring true to character... the sheer sanity of Bail's perspective is like a breath of fresh air in this fandom where the concept of romantic love is too often distorted into something dark and destructive.

where the wild blood flows @ LJ
where the wild blood flows @ ffn

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Gen – Bail Organa, Leia Organa, mentions of Padmé Amidala
Length: ~1281 words
Author on LJ: not on LJ as far as I can tell
Author Website: fanfiction.net profile
Why this must be read:

Leia has to write an essay on a Republic statesbeing of her choice, and she chooses Senator Amidala. Only, being a clever girl, she doesn't believe the Empire's account of Padmé's death, and Bail struggles with what he can and can't tell his daughter about her biological mother. This story lets us have a glimpse of the Organa father/daughter relationship that we never got to see in the movies, and gives expression to the wistfulness felt by both the characters and the reader that Leia and Padmé were never able to meet.

Dangerous History

...This took longer to write than I thought (I've never written a vid rec before), but it's still Friday in some time zones, right?

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Gen – Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Length: 3.38
Music: “In the End” by Linkin Park
Vidder on LJ: not on LJ as far as I know
Vidder Website: http://www.youtube.com/user/TinkleFilms
Why this must be watched:

I tried so hard and got so far,
and in the end, it doesn't even matter
I had to fall, to lose it all,
and in the end, it doesn't even matter

I'm not actually much of a fanvid watcher, but this one is so awesome I have to share it with you. Framed as Darth Vader's reflections on his past, it's the story of the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker, in all its heartbreaking glory. All his struggles to be a good person, to save the people he loves, and even just to love them, end in failure time and time again, until finally he sacrifices his soul and becomes the blackest villain – and yet even that doesn't matter in the end, because there is still the possibility of forgiveness and redemption. I've watched it a gazillion times, and it never leaves me unmoved.

In the End

Hi, everybody, sorry for the late start – I'm Gwinna and I'll be reccing Star Wars for (what's left of) February. I'm mostly a genfic fan, so that is what you will be getting from me, possibly with some canon pairings thrown in. Now, onto the fic.

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Gen – mainly OCs, with appearances by Darth Vader and General Veers
Length: 5 chapters/~11,280 words
Author on LJ: not on LJ as far as I can tell
Author Website: fanfiction.net profile
Why this must be read:

Author's Summary: Governmental contracts usually go to the lowest bidder. Even in galaxies far, far away. And, here or there, you get what you pay for.

This story does something I have rarely seen and shows the Galactic Empire dealing with a relatively mundane problem: contaminated food supply. When a low-ranking scientific officer aboard the Executor discovers a harmful chemical in the meal provisions for the troops, she has to cut through red tape before anything gets done about it; eventually Lord Vader finds out, and reacts as one might expect. The story continues with an Imperial raid on the facilities of the food supplier, in which our protagonist, Lt. Malan, is tasked with uncovering who's responsible for the crime.

Even if you don't think food contamination sounds all that exciting compared to the usual Star Wars fare, don't let that stop you from reading this fic – it's more interesting than you might think. Moreover this story is one of the best I've read at depicting what life is like for ordinary Imperials, full of detail that rings true, like the sometimes friendly, sometimes not-so-friendly rivalry between the Army and the Navy. The main (original) character is smart and competent, but not unrealistically so, and the canon characters, though not present for long, are treated in a very satisfying manner. In conclusion, you should read this because it's a well-written story with an engaging plot, which also manages to humanize a group of people who are nothing but cannon fodder in the original movies.

Food Scandal

Fandom: INCEPTION
Pairing: Arthur/Eames
Length: ~ 7000 words
Author on LJ: zarathuse
Author Website: Fic Masterlist; Fic on AO3
Why this must be read: A long time ago in a galaxy far away ... no, it's not a Star Wars crossover, it's better! The Inception team is hired to extract information from a huge Star Wars fan, and what could be cooler than getting to play parts from the movie (the original movies *cough*) in a dream? Except because it's a dream, the team plays a bit fast and loose with characterization, dialogue, plot, etc. What results is a hilarious parody of Star Wars with Eames as Han Solo, Dom Cobb as Darth Vader (because he's the only one who's a father, after all), Ariadne as Princess Leia, Yusuf as someone who's not supposed to be in the original film, and Arthur as ... well, not C-3PO, much to Eames' chagrin.

The team's relying on the fact that a lot can be explained away by it being a dream, but no one quite anticipated things like trying to get information out of a droid (what do all those buttons do?), trying to explain away Darth Vader's sudden appearance on the Millennium Falcon, or that Arthur would kind of like being swung across a trench by Eames (a la Prince Leia).

If you love the original trilogy, you'll love this, plain and simple. It's clear that the author loves the films as much as she loves the characters from Inception. May the Force be with you.

( A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away ... )

On LJ: those near and far wars

On AO3: those near and far wars

It doesn't matter how old or new or (how popular) a story is, authors love feedback!

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: None
Length: 800 words
Author on LJ: ladyhadhafang
Author Website: her LJ
Why this must be read: Because it's a poignant, beautifully written look at the most compelling and angstiest relationship in Star Wars: the one of Luke and his father. It's the story of Luke's mental journey from hating Vader as an evil enemy to the acceptance, compassion and faith that makes him attempt to redeem his father. This story shows us the conflict and depression that, realistically, must have plagued Luke after the shocking revelation and trauma he received on Bespin.

Wait For Sleep

Title: Four Ways To Survive A New World (The Jackson Town Remix)
Author: Templemarker
Length: ~2000 words
Author on LJ: templemarker
Author website: Her website
Why this must be read:

Surviving is what Kara Thrace does now, with all her skills from her Galactica days intact, not to mention her memories. She has landed in the Galaxy Far, Far Away when she meets a 'loud-mouthed' pilot known by the nickname 'Slick.' Momentum carries Han and Kara forward to a brief time together and Kara leaves it with her sense of self intact. Join this remix for a masterfully crafted universe filled with a backstory that will make you nod and say to yourself, "It could be this way."

Four Ways To Survive A New World