Fandom: Oz
Pairing: none - references to Beecher/Keller
Author on LJ: callmerizzo
Author website: Strange bedfellows
Why this must be read:
Looking for happy endings? Dude, you are watching the wrong show. I'm fascinated with what happened to those left behind when Oz finished up for good and what the consequences of the past six years have been for them. This is a fine example of speculative futurefic addressing that very issue with regard to the fate of one Tobias Beecher. Also, it scared the bejesus out of me, which is always good.

Post-"Exuent Omnes", Beecher's tenuous grip on sanity is under serious pressure as he's left alone with his ghosts. This is an unsettling piece, but is nevertheless brilliant, inventive, chilling and utterly plausible. Also, it scared the bejesus out of me, which is always good.

Death Becomes Him

Be warned - there's spoilers here for the entire run of the show.

Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Pairing: Buffy/Angel, Willow/Oz

Author's webpage: Fiction by Elizabeth Anne Lewis
lizbetann

Why this must be read:
"Coming to Terms" is the story of "I Will Remember You" - that big, showy BtVS/Angel crossover episode that reduced a good portion of the viewing audience to big sobby messes - as it happened to Willow. While sentimental and painful, this piece is neither a depressing angst-o-rama nor an indulgent wallow in maudlinness, but a poignant look at love and hopeless hope. It also has a number of striking visual images, and haunting verbal passages.

( example )

The operatic-scale pain of Buffy and Angel's Day That Wasn't is off-screen; this is quieter, subtler, but no less sad.

Coming to Terms

Genre: STAR WARS
Pairing: None really, though with the right outlook one could see either Han/Leia or Han/Luke, depending on their preferences.
Author on LJ: caraloup
Website: The Corellian Embassy and Elusive Lover (both contain a lot of her fanfiction, so I link them here in lieu of an an author's archive/website)
Why this MUST be read:

I'm assuming I'm still supposed to be doing the recs for March (last day and all), but somebody else has also sent a couple in this month, so if I'm wrong then feel free to delete this one, mods. Thanks!

Anyhoo...

I absolutely adore this fanfic and have only found it archived at the Correllian Embassy, along with a few other Cara pieces that I haven't found anywhere else. So the CE is definitely worth a look for that fact alone. :)

This one is mostly a gen piece, providing a wonderful portrait of both Luke and Lando set between ESB and RotJ. Seeing as I'm a HUGE Lando fan, and seeing as how not enough people use him well in their stories, this one fast became one of my favorites. The slowly developing friendship between Luke and Lando is perfectly written. But it is Luke who is the centerpiece of this story. Set shortly after the revelations on Cloud City, he's a study in contradictions: confused and certain, akward and graceful, despairing and yet still hopeful... he's so multi-faceted here, flawed in all the right ways. This is how Luke is meant to be written!

And what can I say about Lando? He's also developed extremely well, with just the right amount of hidden pain and guilt mixed in with his natural panache and his flair for the dramatic. Disarmingly charming, he makes a valiant effort at stealing the show!

All in all, a wonderful read. Among my favorite in the fandom and also one that never gets enough praise as far as I can tell!

Precious Possessions

Genre: STAR WARS
Pairing: Han/Luke
Website: http://www.elusivelover.net/
Why this MUST be read:

Yet another author that I don't have any website/LJ info on. If anybody else has that info, please do share it. Thanks!

This one combines some of my favorite elements of Star Wars fanfic: Tatooine, Han/Luke, spy games, witty banter, Luke's old friends, angst galore and plenty of hot sex. With a description like that, how can you *not* want to give it a try? ;)

Pitch perfect portrayals of both of the boys, a plot that's good and detailed enough to keep them on their toes while not getting in the way of the characters and their relationship, and a fabulously crisp writing style. This one's got it all!

The Magic of Second Glances

Genre: FIREFLY
Pairing: Mal/Simon
Author on LJ: skripka
Author's website: http://www.geocities.com/skripka2/
Why this MUST be read:

She says that it was just insta-smut, but with lines like this, I beg to differ....

The biggest problem with being drunk, thought Mal, was that it wore off. Just like honor, just like veneer, just like life itself.

Nothing left but ashes.

Is it gloriously smutty? Of course. (Drunken sex in the mess hall, 'nuff said.) But it's also a great little bit of Mal POV set after "The Message" that hits all the right notes... managing to be both melancholy and passionate at the same time. Definitely a must read! :)

Rhythm and Blood

Fandom: QUEER AS FOLK USA
Pairing: Brian/Justin, Michael/Ben
Author on LJ: eleveninches
Author Website: That Boy Ain't Right

Why this must be read: I've had a great time reccing this month. My wish, for those of you new to QAF/US, is that you've found this an excellent sampling of the work being done in the fandom. For those fans of longer standing, I hope that you've enjoyed re-reading some of my favorites.

I thought I'd leave you all with a light-hearted look into the lives of our boys. A wedding ~ Brian and Justin style. Absolutely, fantabulously funny.

Without further ado, I give you...

International Brian Kinney Day

Title: Fate and the High King's Falcon
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Author: Baylor
Author website: A Shortcut To Mushrooms
Author on lj: baylorsr
Pairing: non - gen fic.
Rating: PG

Why this must be read:

Don't let the fact that it's gen put you off: this is what is missing from the events in ROTK and clearly, Baylor has some kind of psychic connection to Tolkien. This many-chaptered story (there are about 28 but they're fairly short) takes up ROTK after the The Black Gate Opens. Merry was still in the Houses of Healing back in Minas Tirith, Sam and Frodo had just returned from Mordor and Pippin... well, Pippin was missing - presumed dead.

The vast majority of Baylor's stunning fanfiction concentrates on the friendship between Merry and Pippin. She portrays them as being closer than brothers or best friends; she sees their relationship as soul mates without the romantic connetations but her strength lies in the fact that she can do this without excessive sentimentality or a slash reader impatiently waiting for the sex.

Unlike other stories on her site, however, this one widens to include the relationship between other members of the Fellowship and it is utterly charming the way that Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn are brought into the story and their interactions with Merry and Pippin.

This is a heart-wrenching story however, but heart-wrenching in the very best way. This is an astonishingly accomplished look at the relationhips and connections between the members of the Fellowship without revolving around Frodo. There are other ways in which the Fellowship are bound which are not to do with the fate of the Ring and Baylor articulates them in possibly the most believable way.

( Excerpt )


The quality of the writing is superb and the flair and ease with which she handles the characters is breath-taking. Peter Jackson's adaptations and a great deal of fanfiction concentrate so heavily on Aragorn, Gandalf, Frodo and Sam that the important roles that Merry and Pippin play is often overlooked. This beautifully written, compelling and illuminative piece of writing is addressing the balance.

This is a story about what happens when the world has been broken and remade anew; a story about loyalty, acceptance, courage and the complex bonds of family and friendship which bind people together. But more than this it is a story about love and true heroism. And ultimately, like Lord of the Rings, it is a story about hope.

Fate and the High King's Falcon by Baylor

Title: The Bagenders
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Author: Random Dent and Lady Alyssa
Authors website: The website homepage seems to be down at the moment, although the links work for this story.
Pairing: Various. In slashy interludes: Aragorn/Boromir, Aragorn/Legolas, Merry/Pippin, Merry/Frodo, Sam/Frodo. Mention of het: Aragorn/Arwen, Pippin/other, Sam/other.
Rating: Ranging from PG-13 to NC-17

Why this must be read:

History became legend.

Legend became myth.

And myth became a three-bedroomed semi...

The Bagenders series answers one of the most pressing questions about Lord of the Rings: What would happen if the Fellowship were immortal and living in present-day Britain in a three-bedroom semi?

From such humble beginnings comes a saga which is well and truly out of control. From Frodo's unfortunate Sectioning under the Mental Health Act and propensity to hide in the
side-board, to Aragorn's present job as a park ranger and odd ability to blend in with the wallpaper to Gandalf's channelling of Father Jack and Legolas's sadly understandable neuroses, this series is side-splitting from the first episode.

Not only do the authors slyly poke fun at the typically serious representations of the Fellowship - even Tolkien had a joke at their expense occasionally - but they also cover the pitfalls of house-sharing and take a huge delight in lampooning and affectionately mocking Very British Insitutions. Without being hugely derivative, there are definite nods to Father Ted, Men Behaving Badly and possibly even The Young Ones. Don't underestimate them, however, the authors know their stuff but instead of throttling the story with Tolkien trivia, blend it subtly into the action.

One of my favourite things about this series is the fact that the authors use a bunch of minor characters who had a big impact in the book but who never made it into the films.

Elladan and Ellrohir (Arwen's brothers) steal every scene as Surfer! Elves - "Like, hey, little dude!" - Radagast the Brown (fellow wizard) puts Gandalf in drag as part of a cunning plan, Legolas's father Thranduil turns up for Christmas (and does a nice impersonation of the father in Sons and Lovers) and even the Valar get a starring role.

From mountains of porn to possessed fridges (and elves) to holidays in Center Parcs and outings to Whitby, this series is a riot and just when you think it can't get funnier or more outrageous - it invariably does.

Thoughtfully thinking of everyone, the authors have also included what they call 'Random Non Plot Defining Slashy Interludes' which can be skipped if slash isn't your thing or hugely enjoyed if it is.

This is probably one of the very best humour/parody works on Lord of the Rings in the fandom. Personally, I rate it higher than The Very Secret Diaries with the added bonus of a new episode every so often. Each episode can be read as a stand-alone but there is also a faint trance of continuity through the seasons.

Incidentally, most of the episode titles are corruptions of chapter titles in Lord of the Rings: a nice cross-section would be, The Long-Awaited Psychotic Incident, The Flight to the Ford Fiesta and The Karoke of Elrond. It's also worth reading the
authors' notes because they are also very funny. And occasionally informative.

Choosing excerpts has been extremely difficult over the last month (and will probably be next month when I'm doing the Lotrips recs) and this one really did me in. I've chosen a brief extract from one of the later episodes, And the Sign said: Center Parcs

( Excerpt: The Fellowship have decided to go on holiday to Center Parcs. However... )

The Bagenders by Lady Alyssa and Random Flatmate

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: http://www.tenebris.org/mbb/taselby

Why this must be read: Why? Well, I'll tell you. This story will give your heart a good wrench, pull it out by the roots, slam it to the ground, stomp on it -- and then pick it up tenderly by its trembling little heart strings and give it one soft kiss.

Duncan and Methos are -- I don't want to too much away, since the plot unfolds in such a delicate and devastating way -- forced to live apart after events that leave them both blaming each other, and themselves. They only meet, in secret, once a year. They've been doing this for fifty years. The story takes place during one of their yearly visits (which Methos, bitterly calls "conjugal visits") and the angst has, shall we say, built up. Almost the only way they can reach each other is through pain.

( A short, painful excerpt )
It's a brilliant and breathtaking story. But oh, man, give back my heart.

Conjugal Visits

This is my last rec for the month, and I'm turning over the keys to the next driver. Bye! It's been fun!

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Author on LJ: maygra
Author Website: http://wordsmiths.net/Maygra

Why this must be read: One of the things I most like about fanfiction (especially the slashy kind, of course) is the short, deft little stories that fill in the spaces with sweet spun sugar after you've gorged yourself on angst. This is one of those.

From Maygra's author note: "Goes nowhere, just a bit of a tag for the end of Not To Be...the montage inspired it with the fact that Methos didn't respond to Mac's comments and looked uncomfortable and hopeful at the same time."

Hopeful. Hold that thought…

A Question of Silence

Fandom: ROSWELL
Pairing: Max/Nasedo Max
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: N/A

Why this must be read:
As a character sketch of the enigmatic shape-shifter, Nasedo, this is a good story. As an insanely twistedwronghot encounter between Max and Evil!Max, it's great!

Also features a wonderful Nasedo voice, a giggle-worthy Liz characterization and a cameo by Tess.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Max)

Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
pairings: mentions of Buffy/Angel, Buffy/Riley

Author's website: fubos
author on LJ: sathinks

Why this must be read:
This is one of those elegant little vignettes that is all about small, hinting character reveals. The vehicle is Buffy, thinking about the crosses she's collected over the years from all the different people in her life. Each cross and the circumstances it's given in is like a mini-sketch or a captured sense memory of the giver and their relationship with Buffy.

Lovely and simple, and a little bit bittersweet.

Cross to Bear

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: no, but all stories at Oblique Publications

Why this must be read:

My recs of how Bodie and Doyle spend holidays end--surprise!--with the final holiday of the year, Hogmonay--or New Year's, as we non-Scots know it. When we join them, Cowley is heading home to Scotland for a brief leave of his own. Because of a security threat, he's been forced to take Bodie and Doyle with him as bodyguards. Neither Cowley nor his agents are happy with this arrangement, but it's particularly bad timing for Bodie and Doyle, who are caught on a cusp of change. Their fraught and angsty situation plays out under the sharp eyes of not only the Cow but the one person in the world even sharper than he is: his mother.

Getting to meet Cowley's wholly delightful mum--done justice to as only a writer who's a Glaswegian herself could--is one of the reasons why this story is a must-read. The other is the overt omniscient narrator M. Fae Glasgow employs. In her skilled hands, this narrative device embues an already wonderful story with distinctiveness and flair.

( Excerpt )

The High Road

PDF file - requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Pairing: the briefest of Willow/Kennedy mentions, and some Dawn/Wesley crushing

author's webpage: The Inner Geekdom
Author on LJ: fox1013

Why this must be read:
I've been reccing so many sadder/darker pieces, I thought it might be nice to close out with a fun piece. This is a quick look at Dawn in season 7: growing up a little, but still very much a teenaged girl - and a slightly klepto, younger-sister teenaged girl at that. Did I mention Amy has perfect Dawn-voice? This is her life - teasing Andrew, dealing with a houseful of Slayers-in-Training, alternately helping and hassling her sister, and staying out past curfew Oh, and crushing on Wesley, who understands a little how she feels and lets her be useful.

There's a lot of relationships between the lines here - just a couple of lines of Dawn's interactions with the rest of the Scoobies and the world, but they really get the job done.

Dawn gets home late. This is intentional.
Disco Inferno

And that's it for me, folks! Hope you enjoyed the ride, can't wait to see what the next driver comes up with.

Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: CJ/Toby
Author on LJ: intl_princess
Author Website: here
Why this must be read:

This is Toby all over, from A to Z. It tells the story of the whole hard year of season three, from Mancester, through the election, to the murder of Simon Donovan, CJ's assigned Secret Service Agent. All throughout, it's Toby and his love of words, his love of CJ, his profound feelings about his religion. (Aleph and tav are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet.) The structure of this story is such that it only enhances the experience of reading. It's beautifully told, and wonderfully insightful.

( excert. )

Aleph-Tav

Fandom:THE WEST WING
Pairing: CJ/Toby, Sam/OFC, others
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Gray Area
Why this must be read:

This is a long, long read, easily novel-length, plotty and political and personal and one of my favorite West Wing stories ever. The premise is simple: It begins with the defeat of the Democratic presidential candidate in 2006. This story covers the next four years, delving into the characters' personal lives and political careers, and eventually, a new campaign, as Sam Seaborn prepares to run for president.

But the writing of this story...the trueness make it so much more than that. It's a beautiful, hopeful story much more about people than about politics. It's about love, and friendship, and loyalty, and the victory of ideals. It's everything that I love about The West Wing, and it moved me to tears on more than one occasion.


( a little bit of Jed and Leo )

The Rarest Faith (This takes you to the first part of the first chapter. You can navigate the rest of the parts from there.)

Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: CJ/Toby; other
Author on LJ: thecitylove
Author Website: Skimming the Surface of History
Why this must be read:

I have a weakness for reflective Toby stories, especially ones about his family. Especially ones that also intersperse it with he and CJ on a kind of booze-fueled, sleepless downward trajectory, full of sex and innuendo and things left unsaid.

Only in this case, it's fueled by Chinese fast food, not booze. And the family revelations hurt a little more than usual. This is another story that plays on Toby's love of language; in this case, it's more of a word-association thing, and it works perfectly, down to the last paragraphs.

( excerpt )

The War Against Silence

Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: CJ/Toby
Author on LJ: mandysbitch
Author Website: mandysbitch.com
Why this must be read:

It's fun and sexy and angsty in that "we-shouldn't-be-doing-this" way that a lot of West Wing fanfiction has. It's four hours of sexual tension on Air Force One.

It's sentences like ( this. )

Four Hours



Well. I suppose four recs in one day is even at that a bit too much, so my stint as West Wing reccer has come to an end. I wish, of course, that I'd done more - I have heaps more stories to rec, but they'll have to wait for some other intrepid volunteer to uncover them. Cheers, all.

Fandom: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Pairing: Sparrow/Norrington ("Penumbra" also contains Norrington/OMC, but it's still all about the Sparrington, in a way that is difficult to explain)
Author on LJ: firesignwriter
Author Website: http://www.catthause.com/webcrow/firesignwr.htm

Why this must be read:

First off, yes, I've been a stunningly bad reccer this month. This brings me up to what? Four recs in one months? This is bad. I grovel at everyone's feet - RL caught up with me in that rather nasty way it has. So, for those hungry for more Sparrington who were hoping I would provide it, I link you to Webcrowmancer's J/N links. And I apologise once again.

So. The Full Moon series. I'd always intended to rec this last, because it is a Sparrington classic and because it was the first fic I ever read in the PotC fandom, so I consider it an excellent start for newbies. It's a huge, satisfying read, with sex and angst and love and I really can't recommend this story enough.

Pointless even speaking to the man. If a noose around his neck hadn't convinced him, nothing short of a final ending would. "Where am I to sleep, Sparrow?"

"What happened to 'Captain,' eh?"

"Captain," he growled, "Sparrow."

The grin broadened. The shrug offered no assistance whatsoever. "Dunno, Commodore. Most just sleep where they fall 'round here."

Full Moon
Tides
Drowning
Currents
Penumbra 1 and 2

*slinks away, guilty and shamed and grovelling*

Genre: STAR WARS
Pairing: Han/Luke
Author on LJ: irene_heron
Author's Website: http://www.luminousbeings.net/
Why this MUST be read:

This story can be summed up in a few short words: Han and Luke as seen through the eyes of an outsider. But really, that just doesn't do it justice!

I read this story for the first time today and was captivated by it. Not only is it a lovely look at the boys, but it also is done from such a fresh perspective! The OC created here is just a tech on duty, the kind of cynical yet good hearted guy who's seen it all and then some in his time. And even though we only know him for a short moment, he's a completely realized and fleshed out character, full of verve and just quirky enough to make me smile.

And the little moment he catches between Han and Luke is lovely and sweet, with just a tinge of sadness about the edges. Just perfect, as far as I'm concerned.

I really can't do it justice by talking about it, so I'll let the story talk for itself...

( Snippit )

The Stars Inside

Genre: FIREFLY
Pairing: Simon/Jayne
Author on LJ: sffan
Author's Website: http://sffansfireflyobsession.web1000.com/
Why this MUST be read:

If you want lots of good Firefly slash, look no further than sffan! Seriously, we should, like, put that on buttons and pass them out at all the shindigs. This girl is a fabulous author, has more great stories than God and, on top of all of that, she's super duper nice!

This one I love because it has a version of Simon that we just don't see often enough for my tastes. Wickedly naughty Simon! Tricky Simon! Sneaky Simon! Pick your term, because he's all of those things and more here. And poor Jayne is no match for the wiley doctor. Poor guy. If he wasn't gonna get all kinds of hot sex outta this deal, I might actually feel a bit sorry for him! ;)

Anyhoo, I wanted to close out my time here as your pimp of all things Firefly with one of my favorite authors. So go now and read! You won't regret it! (It has two sequels as well, which is always of the good. *g*)

Control

Fandom:ALIAS
Pairing: Sydney / Sark
Author on LJ: lunasky
Author Website: n/a
Why this must be read:


Enclosed Places is a raw, gritty, and very real exploration of how psychological barriers break down under the extreme conditions of captivity. Luna takes Sydney and Sark through an intense journey, where the characters' carefully constructed facades slowly unravel, and they are left with only each other to depend on. And in that journey a surprisingly humane Sark is revealed.

( Excerpt )

Enclosed Places

Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: Chris/Lance, JC/Justin
Author on LJ: foxmonkey
Author Website: Giddy!
Why this must be read:

Foxmonkey takes plenty of time and care with her characters, and it shows in all of her stories.

( An excerpt. )

If you've been paying attention to my recs this month, you may have figured out that what I like best is sweetness and light, with enough substance to make it worthwhile. This story is all of that and more. It's a funny, touching tale in which Chris figures some things out, and doesn't know why he didn't see them before.

Age of Love

Fandom: FARSCAPE
Pairing:  John/Aeryn
Author on LJ: simplystars
Author Website:Stars Fic

Why this must be read: Hey, I'm not a shipper but I really enjoyed this insight into the infamous coin toss scene. Told from both POVs, Stars's fic delves into the heightened, confused emotions of two people coming to uneasy terms with destiny, choice and fate.

Stars's fic always has a wonderful lucid quality to it. This fic is no exception.

Excerpt: The silver disc arcs in a high parabola, spinning and twisting, until it reaches its zenith and begins to plummet. Her eyes, dark with emotion, rise and fall as she follows its course. She swallows and the long, elegant line of her throat rolls with the peristalsis.

You are unable to tear your gaze away from her face to see your future as it unfolds before you. Even without the gift of precognition, you know Lady Luck will spurn you---recent events have proven, in fact, that you’re little more than Fate’s bitch.

Wicked Game

Fandom:ALIAS
Pairing: Sydney / Sark
Author on LJ: lunasky
Author Website: n/a
Why this must be read:


This sequel to Enclosed Places completes the journey which Sydney and Sark began during their pivotal experience in captivity. Told through Sydney's POV, we see Syd finally reach her breaking point, where she must decide how to give up her tightly held control, break the spy cycle, and learn to live life.



( Excerpt )

Exposed Spaces