Greetings! When the community member who'd originally signed on to pimp due South had an unfortunate incursion of RL, I was delighted to be asked to step in and to promote this show and its fandom. Without further ado, ( I bring you . . . )
Fanfiction recommendations to follow shortly.

Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski
Author on LJ: cesperanza
Author Website: http://trickster.org/speranza/
Why this must be read: I spent some time pondering what to rec in the lead-off spot this month, and settled on this story for several reasons:

--Though it's an F/K story, it gives all the major characters a turn on stage, and treats them with respect and affection.
--It's long, meaty, and has an actual plot (and ties up a major loose plot-point left flapping at the end of "Call of the Wild").
--Though Speranza is a peerless humor writer, this story intermingles some wrenching sadness amongst the funny, just as the show itself often does.
--I absolutely love the Fraser-voice and Fraser-persona here. It's worth noting that she does a fine job with writing a sex scene in Fraser-first-person voice, which (I can say from experience) presents a particularly difficult writerly challenge.
--Speranza's just one of the best writers out there, in any fandom.

Direct link to the story

Those who haven't seen "Call of the Wild" (the series finale, which this story immediately follows) might want to read an episode summary first (e.g., here and here. Word to the wise: Although this site, like some others, refers to Kowalski as "Stan" [a name he never uses], you would be well-advised not do likewise when talking to Kowalski fans, as it is likely to cause crankiness. <g>)

I'll endeavor to follow up with recommendations at regular intervals, without overloading people. Those looking for additional recs might want to check out ds_flashback.

Fandom: EVERWOOD
Pairing: Bright/Ephram
Author on LJ: misswindy
Author website: Fan Fiction by Miss Windy

Why this must be read: Miss Windy manages to create a realistic relationship between two very different characters. After two years of seeing each other on the sly, not-quite-out-of-the-closet Bright moves to Boston with fairly fey Ephram so that Ephram may attend conservatory. Ephram shines as a musical protege, and loves flaunting his queer status and his hot Abercrombie & Fitch-clad boyfriend. Bright isn't comfortable being "gay," even in a city like Beantown, and also doesn't know where he fits in Ephram's new artistic lifestyle. While the story mostly centers on the relationship between the two and how it adapts to changes in their lives, it's also a exploration of Bright's public acceptance of his sexuality and what it really means to be "queer."

Snippet: Bright found it immensely satisfying, the way his arm could sling comfortably around Ephram's neck without straining. Ephram shared height with some of the girls Bright had dated abortively years ago, but underneath the clothes and defensive posturing, Ephram was nothing like a girl. He was all angles and edges where there would normally be slopes and curves, places that jabbed you 'til it hurt, where on a woman there would be places that were soft and yielding. Ephram never did anything without a fight, without finding a way to have his say, too, and Bright liked that his body was no different.

Through the Wire

Fandom: BLAKES7
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: msmanna
Author Website: http://www.mannazone.org (NB: that's .org, not .com)
Why this mustbe read:

Just one person's vote, but IMO this is the definitive PGP. (So, I wouldn't recommend it to those who are not aware of the canonical description of the event, but I would to ahybody else.)

No sex, hence no pairings, but it should come with one of those little Suzy Homemaker ovens so you won't have to walk all the way over to the kitchen to stick your head in. In an angst-filled fandom, few writers are able to show Anna S's unsparing brutality *to the audience* (and I mean that in a good way).

This is a "documentary" story (and if you didn't feel bad enough reading through the story, the realization of the nature of the documents offers a punch in the gut)--beautifully rendered multiple viewpoints on the same event. The first second is brilliantly rendered and in-character 1st person Avon POV. It's not so much that Avon-POV is difficult to envision--I mean, in canon he talks a *lot* and is unfailing generous with his opinions (most of which boil down to "Even for you, Blake, this is a low point")--but the sticking point is getting over the "Why am I telling you this?" hurdle, here managed brilliantly.

My own personal choice for "single most depressing line in the history of B7 fic": "The prisoner indicated his understanding of these facts." Read the story to find out why.

Closing the File; also available at

Fandom: STARGATE SG-1

Pairing: Jack O'Neill/Daniel Jackson, Daniel Jackson/Paul Davis

Author on LJ: minkboylove

Author Website: http://www.versaphile.com/anais/

Why this must be read: Because this is the Funniest. Story. Ever. In any fandom. Yes, it's long. It's very long. It's very, very, very long. It is, after all, a year's worth of Daniel Jackson's journal entries--month by month. Don't let the length intimidate you. I've read this story all the way through several times and regularly reread my favorite parts and I still laugh til I hurt.

Anais chronicles a year in the life of SG-1 through the eyes of its civilian archaeologist/linguist/diplomat/etc. Along the way, they experience telepathy, rapid hair growth, bad romance novels, aging backwards, not-monkeys, virtual reality and of course, love. The characters are very OTT, but that's part of the fun. Just commit to reading the first month and you'll definitely be back for more.

Dr. Jackson's Diary

[Poll #199530]


*No offence intended to any scat!fic lovers in the audience (and, by extension, furries). crack_van is an inclusive community. *g*

Title: Log Rhythms
Fandom: Enterprise
Pairing: Tucker/Reed, plus various original character pairings
Author on LJ: Don't think so
Author website: Dnashional Archive

Why this must be read: Because I say so. If that's not good enough, then how about an absolutely incredible and rocky relationship between Trip and Malcolm? Not to mention that the series is woven so nicely into the canon of the show, I've been known to forget that the events of this series didn't actually happen in an episode!

D'Nash has created a number of original characters, so if you hate hate hate OCs, don't read this, but these characters are no Mary Sues. They're interesting and plausible members of the crew who have their own problems and worries and fights. This series has D&D games in the mess hall, love, hate, alcohol, and a former punk rocker.

Each chapter takes place in and around an episode and D'Nash has done log entries for the first and second seasons. I believe that the main log entries only go up to PG-13, with the R and NC-17 stuff in separate files. It's all good!

(Yes, I was also the October reccer for this fandom, but I have permission to do November as well. Just thought I'd mention that ::grin::)

Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: Sam Seaborn/OMC
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: The Big Block of Cheese - Anna Marie Jennings Stories
Why this must be read: Dialogue is very important on the show, and a good West Wing fan fiction writer needs to be able to master the nuances of speech and style of humour of the different characters. Anna Marie Jennings is one of the few who has really done so, who gives us Toby, Josh and Sam in a room and writes dialogue so distinctively belonging to each of them that we can hear them speaking it as we read.

This is a story dealing with the implications of Sam coming out as gay. There are a number of such stories, but this is a particularly good example because, as well as dealing with the normal political issues, we are shown other concerns of Sam. It also gives us the feel of the mess that such a revelation can have on relationships, the nagging worries and the way even the closest of friends can surprise.

And the ending is pure, manly schmoop! *g*

Stereotypical

Fandom: X-FILES
Pairing: Mulder/Krycek
Author's Website:Blood, Love & Rhetoric
Why this must be read: Creepy, creepy story, very much in keeping with the series. There's weirdness afoot, and Mulder's on the case .... I like the characters in this story, even the OCs are three-dimensional and interesting. It "explains" more of Krycek's background and motivations than 1013 ever did, and in believable ways.

Plus, there's sex. ;)


Breathless
And do yourself a favor -- read the sequel:
Solidarity