Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Author on LJ: resonant8
Author Website: In Medias Res
Why this must be read: 'After the War' and 'What Happens Next' fics are a staple in this fandom. And 'Transfigurations' is one of the better and one of the most popular in this genre. Summary: Five years after Voldemort's defeat, Harry returns to England to help re-open Hogwarts, only to find changes in the lives of his friends and enemies that starts a search for peace.

This is an involving novel-length story, with an original, creative plot that obviously took a lot of work to think through. The details are smart and amazing, from the descriptive imagery, the different kinds of magical theories and spells, a distinct look at wizarding culture, a interesting (and often funny) take on life without magic, to the post-war fates of familiar characters. As their fates are slowly revealed to Harry (and to us), it's a touching and very evocative read; for some your heart leaps, others you feel deserved better. And even though you know some deserved much worse, Resonant writes with such compassion for all the for the suffering that has occurred, that you can't help but feel the futility of such. It's very much a story of remembering, laying the past to rest and re-building for the future.

The Harry/Draco relationship is slowly developed, which is refreshing, adding a touch of sex and romance. And although it's not a story of a big grand love affair and it's not the focus, it has lust and heart that works well.

The characterization is good. Harry is portrayed as a mixed character - a venerable combination of doubt, resentment, angst, bravery, sacrifice, goodness and...stupidity, and interacts as such (which is just how it should be!) Draco tends to veers towards fannon, but is sexy and very likable.

A must read.

Transfigurations

Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Direct Link: Poster Boy
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: harriet_spy
Author Website: Sometimes You Need a Story
Why this must be read: Because it gives some fantastic insights into what it must be like to grow up on a Hellmouth and shows a moving snapshot of the development of the very father and son-like bond of Xander and Giles.

Set very early in season one, this story deals with the aftermath of the vamping of Jesse, Xander and Willow's longtime best friend. It's short, sweet and very affecting.

Fandom: Starsky & Hutch

Pairing: Starsky/Hutch (slash)

Author on LJ: unknown

Author Website: unknown

Why this must be read:

False Accusation

As with most any slash pairing, a recurring theme in much of S&H fic is the when's, where's, and how's of the relationship revelation, and what it means to friends, family, co-workers, etc. This story offers a novel approach to the "coming out" crisis -- something far more pressing takes center stage, and the slow dance to UST and beyond is a pleasure to experience.

Fandom: Homicide: Life on the Street

Pairing: None

Author on LJ: stubbleglitter

Author's website: Elaysian Fields

Why this must be read: What makes H:LOTs different from all those other cop shows? Well, for one, we gain just as much insight into the characters when they're not out solving cases as when they are. So, okay, there's any amount of teasing and fighting and falling out and making up in the squadroom, but the real downtime takes place in the Waterfront Bar over the street. Co-owned by Tim Bayliss, John Munch and Meldrick Lewis, this is the place where the murder poh-leece can wind down, wind each other up, pontificate, philosophise, celebrate, commiserate, cry into their beer and generally do what they do when they're not putting down cases. This story is really a series of vignettes, wonderful little pen-portraits of some of the squad on either side of the bar. The rhythms of speech and nuances of character are spot-on. The Waterfront is a character in itself; a sometimes busy, mostly sleepy refuge for the weary detective and bar-room philosopher alike.

We Cover The Waterfront