February 18th, 2004 
03:54 am Not Willingly Unlock by Isos Arei (PG-13)
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Pairing: Gimli/Legolas
Author's LJ: n/a
Author Website: n/a

Why this must be read: Because I wish I would've thought of it and written this story. It's tender and quiet. The pacing is lovely, and I totally buy the characterisation. It's done with love and care. And the last line simply left me speechless.

Not Willingly Unlock
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08:15 am Twilight by Shannon(Part 2 of 2)(PG-13)
Fandom:HOMICIDE:LIFE ON THE STREET/THE X-FILES
Author on lj: still unknown.
Author's website Unknown. Found the story at http://xover.happyfunland.net/categ/homicide.htm
Pairing: None/gen
Summary: Efforts to apprehend the Poet Killer intensify as a witness is murdered, and one of their own is injured.
Why this must be read: Fanfics that quote poetry appropriately help advance my "Of course fanfic is intellectual!" cause.Several exciting, well-paced, Box scenes, and some guilt and pain for Timmy. Who could ask for anything more? And her ear for dialogue is good, too.Excerpt )
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08:31 am Eel of Fortune by Locita and CapnNate (PG13)
Fandom: HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS
Pairing: n/a
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website:Locita's Story Page on the Iolausian Library
Why this must be read: This is one of the first stories I found when I got into the fandom. It's an adventure story where Iolaus loses his memory and ends up a slave in a far away land, where Hercules eventually finds him. I know the plot sounds very typical, and I tend to dislike most of the Iolaus-as-slave stories I've found since they tend to be more Iolaus-as-pitiful-victim stories, but this one has some original concepts (the God of Madness and the sacrifice scene are effective and scary), good characterization, a sexy part for Aphrodite, and it's great watching Iolaus work through his initial distrust of Hercules and reinvent himself as a hero, even without his memory.

Eel of Fortune
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09:25 am Rules by PFL (PG)
Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website:n/a
Why this must be read: PFL is one of my favourite top authors in Pros fandom. What I especially like in all her stories is that I have to read them two, three times to catch all the subtle turns of phrase, all the subtext, since each and every single page of her stories is like an arabesque, perfectly and beautifully crafted. This story is a coda to the episode Wild Justice: it has all that you want in a story, characterisation, plotting, sex...it's a pleasure to read and re-read :)


Rules
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11:14 am Sugar and spice and . . . by Te (PG)
Fandom: X-MEN MOVIEVERSE
Pairing: gen
Author on lj: [livejournal.com profile] thete1
Author's website: Teland
Why this must be read:

Because no one can live on a diet of nothing but angst, and good XMM humor is a rare and precious thing. This one's short: Charles takes his revenge on Logan for smoking in the mansion one too many times. It's priceless.

Sugar and spice and . . .
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12:01 pm Venus Wanting (R) & Once More With Feeling (NC-17) by Jane Fairfax
Fandom: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin
Author on LJ: not that I know of
Author Website: no, but her stories are listed on File 40

Why this must be read:

Napoleon becomes fixated on Illya after they share a bed together. It starts to affect their working relationship. Illya offers a compromise: one night, no strings attached. Napoleon leaps at it...but he's really after a whole lot more.

This series has some of the most sizzling sex scenes I have ever read. I have re-read them again and again, trying to reconcile the visceral intensity of the sex and the emotional detachment of the characters. Are they so incapable of the trust required for emotional intimacy that sex is the only form of communication left?

There have been mutterings about a half-completed third part, but I believe the series is complete as it stands. Angst fans should have a field day.

Venus Wanting
Once More With Feeling
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12:43 pm Airlock Sealed by Misha Restar (G)
Fandom: BLAKES7
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: ?
Author Website: ?
Why this must be read:

A decidedly AU version of the first encounter between Vila, Avon and Tarrant--or, then again, the prelude to a very, very long Flight Deck argument. Interesting off-stage glimpses into Blake, Gan, and Travis, and Scorpio's real nature, as well.

This is a taut, depressing story with a very unsparing look at what Our Heroes are really like. The story's a pastiche, but it'd spoil things to tell you of what.

Vila's face darkened. "Right. Well, now that we've broken the ice, do you really think I look like a torturer? How do you recognize torturers when you see them?"
Avon had turned away form him and started pacing the room. Vila was caught by surprise when Avon answered him. "They look frightened."


Avon stood up and held the probe in front of his eyes. "Worthless tools. How appropriate. This probe is just a hollow shell; nothing inside. Just a sharp object for poking things with." He smiled. "Just like the three of us." Avon locked his eyes on Tarrant, but his words were directed at Vila.

Airlock Sealed
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12:57 pm The Fusion Affair by Dorinda (NC-17)
Fandom: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin
Author on LJ: not that I know of
Author Website: Dorinda's Bare Bones Page

Why this must be read:
Napoleon is saddled with a new partner, and he's not too happy about it. There's a delightful whimsical tone to his introspections as he muses on the loss of his freedom.

excerpt )

However, everything changes as Napoleon and Illya seem to forge a mental union in order to escape from Thrush. Or did they? Is this 'fusion' real, or is Napoleon imagining things?

It's funny and intriguing and there's this lovely half-clothed scene in the shower. There isn't much banter, but that's only because they've found a more elemental way to get their point across.

The Fusion Affair
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03:36 pm Time Will Tell by icyfire (NC-17)
Fandom: ALIAS
Pairing: Will/Abby
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] icyfired
Author Website: None, but her other stories can be found at Omega 17.
Why this must be read: Will's downfall through the eyes of Abby, his co-worker at the paper. Lovely little piece using a minor character.

Time Will Tell
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04:08 pm Two Characters In Search Of Subtext by Michelle K. (PG-13)
Fandom: WEST WING
Pairing: Sam/Josh... sort of
Author on lj: [livejournal.com profile] michellek
Author's website: http://glimmershine.tripod.com

Why this must be read:

Because in this fandom? You need a break from the angst sometimes. And we all remember that terrible time when all of the Sam/Josh action seemed to disappear. This remediates that.

Two Characters In Search Of Subtext

I was going to rec a crossover, but it had already been recced, so I'll only say: read Echoes by [livejournal.com profile] fourteencandles if you didn't read it the last time it was recced.
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08:13 pm Sleeping on the Wing by Brancher (PG-13)
Fandom: SMALLVILLE
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read:

Hauntingly atmospheric vignette. Lex wakes to find Clark floating above him, and their destiny becomes clear.

Read it: Sleeping on the Wing (4K)
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10:30 pm An Even Tighter Closet by Rosemary
b>Fandom: STARSKY AND HUTCH
Pairing: Starsky/Hutch
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

Because endings aren't always happy, and in this story, that's okay.

Originally published in the 'zine "Cross the Line" (still in print) this story brilliantly weaves the events of "Hutchinson for Murder One" with a healthy dose of slash, angst, hurt, comfort and humor.

In a nutshell, Starsky loves Hutch, and desperately wants to tell him, but then there's the murder of Vanessa, sending our boys on the lam. Hiding out at Huggy's, things come to a, uh, head.

Perhaps it was subconscious planning on Starsky's part or maybe he really was more asleep than awake. Whatever the case, the drowsing detective was not aware of the moment when the nature of his touches altered, when a reassuring rub became a sensual glide, when an innocent hug became something only slightly less than a lover's embrace.

Shoulda slept on the floor, Starsk. Or maybe not...

As the story progresses, it gets better, it gets worse, then better, then... not so much with the better.

Visibly torn, Hutch tried to explain, "I barely know myself today and I don't recognize you at all. The day before yesterday, we were cops, sworn to uphold the law. I knew that we…stood for something, but now..."

Ah, Hutch, Hutch. Such angst, such confusion...

Okay, I won't spoil it for you, but suffice to say, this story practically begs a sequel, but there isn't one, and that's okay, too.


An Even Tighter Closet
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11:29 pm Eleven P.M. in the Pool House of Hot and Sexy by lalejandra (NC-17)
Fandom: THE O.C.
Pairing: Summer/Anna and Ryan/Seth
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] lalejandra
Author Website: link to her lj memories
Why this must be read:

For the hot girlporn.

the rundown )

And maybe Seth did want to make out with Anna -- that was fine with Summer. Anna had a bad attitude -- but nice lips, and good taste in earrings; Seth could do a lot worse. And maybe Anna would bring Seth up in the social stratosphere, so perhaps someday Summer could be seen in public with Seth without feeling embarrassed for herself.

Eleven P.M. in the Pool House of Hot and Sexy
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