Fandom: The Sentinel
Title: Crossed Out
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: None as Far as I know
Author Website: Immortal Cascade
Why this must be read:

Another of the episodes from the Virtual Series Faux Paws Productions, this one is authored by CarolIROI who has written some fairly extensive AUs which feature crossovers with Highlander and such and sundy. She is also a strong author of original characters and is not afraid to feature them to the amount they deserve in her stories. This made her a perfect choice for the Virtual Seasons. She created, in this story, what would be a fantastic Blair-centric episode if it had been filmed.

Through an old friend, Blair is accidentally drawn into the Cascade drug scene and, in true Sandburg style, promptly lands into trouble up to his neck when, not only does it become one of Major Crime's cases...but involves the DEA as well.

CarolIROI crafts very engrossing stories and very entertaining ones and Crossed Out is no exception, it's quite a memorable read.

Crossed Out - (Direct link) the story itself is hosted at the Faux Paws Productions website but is also linked from Carol's site.

Fandom: Lotrips
Author: Zarah
Author website: What This Is
Author on lj: zarah5
Pairing: Orlando/Dominic
Rating: R/NC-17

Why this must be read:

I had decided that I was going only rec one fic per author. However, this is so good that even though I've already recced Zarah's Natural Progression, I had to rec Dilectics as well.

What this is is a study of a friendship that has always been more than friendship as it slowly and inexorably moves towards being something else. Picking out various moments that occured during filming - Orlando breaking up with his girlfriend, the bungee jump that Dom and Orlando went on, various drunken nights out and other entertainment and mishaps - Zarah puts her own spin on events and gently weaves the two young men together. While this sounds fairly similiar to Natural Progression the two stories are actually very different and this rests in Zarah's extraordinary characterisation. It is the measure of a writer that they can use similar conceits for two different pairings and produce two beautiful and distinct stories.

Zarah's writing is always a joy to read; her characterisations are spot on, the pace of the story is never rushed and they are always utterly charming. I've been a fan of Zarah's writing in a variety of fandoms for a good while now and as I've 'shipped various different
pairings in this fandom, she's always been one step ahead of me with a gorgeous gem like this. It's sweet and funny and remarkably uncliched - the ending is a brave alternative look at one of slash fictions biggest conventions.

And, in keeping with this month's apparent theme, there's a healthy dose of denial.

( 'You ever wondered,' Billy's tone is very light, total small talk mode only that Orlando knows Billy too well to fall for it, 'why Sean always runs when Elijah forgets his keys?' Eh? )

As with Natural Progression, the link goes to Zarah's website. Follow the link to Lord of the Rings fiction and then scroll down. The stories are archived alphabetically.

Dialectics by Zarah

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: some Sirius/Remus
author's webpage: Bright Wanderer
brightwanderer

Why this must be read:

If you read one Ootp denial fic, let this be the one. There are so many strong elements in here: several moving portrayals of grief, the characters are all fabulously sympathetic but flawed, and in searching for the solution to Sirius' apparent death, she crafts a plausible history of the Gateway and chilling branch of arcane magic.

A lovely, lovely piece - both well crafted, and a happy ending. Just what we all needed after OotP.

Beyond the Veil

Fandom: BTVS
Pairings: Various, het and slash, but none of the sex is fluffy
Authors on LJ: thete1, debchan, and spike21
Author Websites: Teland, chalk scribblings on the sidewalk, and The Spike's Slash Pages

Spoilers: Through Season 3

Why this must be read:
The premise is "What if Xander hadn't been able to revive Buffy?" and the events of the story flow from that question. This trippy story is like a punch to the gut, and it's utterly unlike anything I've read in the fandom--unforgettable.
It's got death, magick, vampires, a werewolf, blood, sex, drugs, and heroics; Te, Debchan, and the Spike's trip to the Dark Side of Sunnydale is a wild, horrific dream.
The other short parts of the series focus on Oz, Faith, Xander, and Willow, respectively.

Cicatrix

Fandom: HORNBLOWER
Pairing: Horatio/Archie
Author on LJ: destina
Author Website: Worlds Without Boundaries
Why this must be read:
This is another story set within the confines of "Retribution," and it's a heartbreaker. The Falling Glass is a brief meditation on the relationship of Hornblower and Kennedy before during and after the events of Retribution." The style is spare and understated, more evocative than descriptive, but within the space of a few pages Destina succeeds in capturing the depth of attachment between the two characters and the wrenching sense of loss that will inevitably follow. It's every bit as wrenching in its own way as the final scene in the Kingston infirmary and is not to be missed.

The Falling Glass

Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: Merry/Pippin
Author on LJ: andraste_oz
Author Website: Brandy Hall
Why this must be read: The One Ring Challenge produced a wonderful and sinister collection of au stories in which a character takes the ring for him or herself. A World As Clear As Water is one of my favourites. Merry has claimed the ring, and the results for Middle-Earth, the Shire and Merry's fellows are chilling. The story is told from Pippin's point of view, as he desperately tries to fool himself that everything can be all right, tangled up as he is in adoration, fear, denial and despair. The contrast between Pippin's sweet memories and his present relationship with Merry is heartbreaking.

A World As Clear As Water

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: don't know
Author Website: don't know
Why this must be read:

I'm going to end my month of recs the way I began it - with a story that concerns itself with the inner workings of Bodie's head. In the case of Labyrinth, I mean that quite, quite literally.

I love pretty much all of Jane's work, so here's why I chose this story to recommend. One - it's long - long and complicated and beautifully layered. Two, she rewards us over and over with great dialogue and sexual tension and the Bodie and Doyle for which she's rightfully celebrated...

And then the story really begins.

There's a lot going on here and not everyone will like it. Along with a powerful love story, there is also terror, pain, and unbearable brutality, so this one's not for the faint of heart. Because we're dealing with Bodie's mind - a mind altered by violence - there is good and evil, love and hate, memory and fantasy - and Jane does not spare our feelings as we accompany the Lads on a long and quite visceral journey.

On a personal note - for all that it's Bodie who's the center of the story, it's Ray that I adore throughout. His love for Bodie is so strong, so pure - it will steal your breath and break your heart.

Labyrinth

(And if you pay attention to Bodie's musings in the hospital, you'll want to read the sequel - Be It Ever So Humble)

And that's it for me, Veronica - back to comfortable obscurity I go. Thanks for the ride.

Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: not applicable
Author on LJ: danachan
Author Website: musings
Why this must be read: The 'five things' theme is a great way to explore all the intriguing little might've beens of any particular fandom. Pippin is a curious, adventurous character with an appealing vulnerability who courts danger for the length of LotR before finally emerging as a true hero. Dana twists some of his choices and scrapes here to bittersweet and sometimes heartbreaking effect, proving five times over that even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

Five Things That Never Happened To Peregrin Took

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: nothing mentioned, but there's clearly Remus/Sirius
author's website: It's All in the Wand
lisew

Why this must be read:
This is one of those stories that isn't about anything, really - it's just a moment, a slice of time. But it's a slice of time we didn't get to see in canon, which makes it sweeter, and a little bit poignant. It's simple, but it makes it all the more necessary for characters to be spot-on - there's no pyrotechnics to distract from unlikely dialogue or manner - and Lise just completely sells the scene.

Set early in Order of the Phoenix, Harry sits down to breakfast at No. 12 Grimmauld Place with his godfather and Lupin.

The Most Important Meal of the Day

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin, Illya/female (off-screen)
Author on LJ: leethet
Author's Website: I can't find a personal site, but gen stories are here and slash stories are listed here. Some fic has also been posted to leethet.

Why this must be read: Because Lee has a very deft touch, and the story feels like a really good episode with a slashy twist. Napoleon and Illya toss off one-liners with light-hearted savoir faire, bantering their way through another day of saving the free world.

( Excerpt )

The Road to Morocco Affair, Part One
The Road to Morocco Affair, Part Two