Shades of Blue and Jodhpur by darkstar

Fandom: Alias
Pairing: Sydney/Noah, Sydney/Vaughn
Author on LJ: I'm pretty sure she has one, but I don't know it.
Author Website: Below the Moon
Why this must be read:

Darkstar was one of the X-Files fans who fell in love with Alias, and she brings to her writing the same underlying despair and hopeless longing that a lot of good X-Files fics were known for.

These two stories deal with the season 1 episode "Masquerade," where Sydney met an old lover (Noah, played by Peter Berg), and the fallout from that storyline. One is from Noah's point of view, the other from Vaughn's.

I have a hard time describing Darkstar's writing. I think you either find her compelling and full of intricate layers, or you walk away rubbing your head and vowing to only read fluff ever afterwards. :) Her stories aren't easy to read, and she's not afraid to push the envelope of characterization and style, but she set the bar for a lot of the darker fic in the fandom, and nobody breaks your heart with more beauty.

(Go down the list, check off what you have left, what you've lost along the way. Innocence, gone. Faith, gone. Starlight in palms, gone. Gone, gone, gone. Broken down. Casualties of war. Love, gone. No, wait. Love: damaged, burnt to the core but not broken.)

A Game of Heroes by JenC

Fandom: Alias
Pairing: hints of Jack/OFC
Author on LJ: nope
Author Website: Fanfic 101
Why this must be read:

For my last *sniffle* rec, I'm going to indulge both myself and all of you and rec an old favorite by an old friend.

This story is listed as "part one," but it works perfectly as a standalone. It's an outsider's view of an outsider; a bookstore clerk with her own problems makes up stories about her customers, and she can't help but wonder about Jack Bristow:

The mystery man was a high-ranking diplomat, still looking for the woman with whom he'd fallen in love on his first visit to America. He'd sworn long ago that he'd never love another. So obviously there would be no point in speaking to him.

*sigh*

Being An Anchor
Fandom: Sports Night
Pairing:Dan Rydell/Casey McCall
author on lj:
Author Website:
Why this must be read:Being an Anchor is the king of Dan/Casey hurt/comfort fics. Be warned, it is not a pretty read. Casey is raped, and Dan, who has been down this road before, helps him. He also loves Casey dearly, and it shows. This is a long, intense fic, and one you won't want to put down. And believe me when I say you won't watch certain episodes and characters of the show the same way again. I have a completely visceral reaction to one of them whenever they appear on screen, and it's all based on Lanning's take on them, and its complete believability.

Another thing I like is Lanning's writing of psychotherapist Alex. He rings true in a way tv shrinks often don't. (Really, they ought to send him to Smallville to work on Lex.)

As I said before in my other Lanning Review, she has an amazing grasp of Dan and Casey's voices. She also gets Dana and Isaac down pat.

Go. Read. Love.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Original Male Character (Fox Mulder/Dana Scully UST)
Author Website: Xaminations
Why this must be read:

It rarely shows in the kind of M/K centred stories I've been reccing so far, but there are people in the XF fandom who can write stories that actually read like proper X-Files. This is a superb example of that kind of story. "Artist Claims Bomb Threat Result of Ancient Family Curse", says the newspaper headline that sets Mulder and Scully on the case, and on we go from there, with an excellently crafted plot which does what every first-class X-file should do - delve deeper into the characters of our heroes.

Terma99 is primarily a Mulder/Scully shipper, and there is no doubt that the Mulder in Cadenza has more than feelings of friendship for his partner, but the way he comes to terms with those feelings here is through the discovery of his own bisexuality, a discovery which allows him to open up to new aspects of himself and understand his emotions better. The writer has chosen an original character as the focus of Mulder's sexual interest, and I know this will drive some readers away, but it really shouldn't. The character in question is very well-written, with a natural place at the centre of the mystery being unravelled, and personally I find him quite hot.

This is a wonderful, plot-driven story with a very insightful characterization of Mulder and a fascinating case to be solved. It is also a must for anyone who likes classical music.

I'm linking you to the result page at The Basement here, because I find the formatting on the author's own page too annoying to read for 600 k. And bad formatting really shouldn't keep you from enjoying this.

Cadenza

Fandom: CSI
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Author on LJ: demon_faith
Author's website: Faith of the Heart
Why this fic must be read: You didn't think I'd rest until I found some Nick/Greg to rec, did you? Ironically enough, this fic appeared in my inbox just yesterday, just under the wire to round out my month of CSI recs.

"Scaffold" is a Greg characterization piece, set after "Play With Fire", and dealing with his fears regarding going back to the lab after his accident. The language of the piece is gorgeous, and Nick's role in Greg's struggle to regain his self-confidence is quiet and very believable.

Scaffold

Also, check out Demon Faith's other post-ep Nick/Greg fics: Strength, Duty and Love, and Flashes of Mortality.

For folks who have read the books, or in other ways know the end of RotK, I'm going to make a few post-LotR recommendations as my last few recs for October. The descriptions/"why this must be read" will be cut-tagged to spare those not in the know.

Pretty Good Year by Mary Borsellino
A Series of stories - ratings vary from G to PG-15. Only one piece, "Wind and Rain" possibly qualifies as an R, though that depends on your personal preference.

Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Pairing: ( spoilery )

author's webpage: Ink Stigmata
author on LJ: monkeycrackmary

Why this must be read: ( and herein things get really spoilery. don't say I didn't warn you. )

Fandom: THE SENTINEL

Pairing: Jim/Blair (slash)

Author Website: <http://lanning.slashdom.com/>http://lanning.slashdom.com/

Author on LJ: lanning


Why this must be read:

Lark

What did Blair really give up when he refuted his dissertation? And how much of what he was is lost? How much more might he have gained? And how does Jim really view Blair's sacrifices when the smoke finally clears?

Lanning answers all these questions, and in a way that leaves you torn between laughter and gentle tears. The narrative is gorgeous, the emotions beautiful, and the story one worth reading again and again.

Go, fall in love with it for the first time!

Title: Never Be the Same Again by Vicki
Fandom: Stargate SG1
Pairing: Sam/Jack, Daniel/Janet
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: N/A

Why this must be read: This story actually made me cry. I haven’t come across many stories that can do that, so while I know that most people won’t feel the depth of emotion I felt with this story, I still want to recommend it. It’s a poignant piece that shows the connection between SG1 and their extended SGC family. It’s about the impact individuals can make in a person’s life. It shows how legends are honored. How mothers and fathers are remembered and mourned.

Fandom: Farscape
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: alara_r
Author's Website: alara.net
Why this must be read: For one, Alara writes Scorpius like no one else (aside from andrastewhite). For another, this story is subtle and brilliant. Why is Scorpius so attached to the Aurora Chair? What really happens when a species that craves heat is hybridized with a species that can't be exposed to it? Is Scorpius really the stuff of Shakespearean tragedy?

This story will have you answering yes to that last question. This isn't exactly a "sympathetic" portrayal of Scorpius, but it gets inside his head and makes you understand him, which is a far greater accomplishment.

This story is so plausible, so enlightening, so unflinching. You won't forget it.

The Melting Man by Alara Rogers