April 30th, 2004 
03:47 am VID REC: Stargate SG-1 - Poison
Vidder: Amy (Oneofaradia)
Musical artist: Alice Cooper
Pairing: none--Hathor character vid
Vidder on LJ: I don't think so...
Vidder's website: Gypsy Gateway
Why this vid kicks ass:

It's hard to choose just *one* of Amy's vids, as all the ones of hers I downloaded have been just excellent. But the thing about "Poison" is that it's about Hathor. Now...I *hate* Hathor. I'll agree that she's an excellent villain, but I don't love to hate her. I just plain hate her for what she did to Daniel, and for what she tried to do to Jack (both times). That being said...I've watched this video dozens of times since I downloaded it. I'm mesmerized by it, in a way, and that's saying something considering how I feel about the character! The song--Alice Cooper's "Poison"--is word-for-word perfect to describe Hathor and the men's reactions to her, and Amy's gift for illustrating that with her choice of clips does not fail here. It's a thing of beauty--creepy and seductive all at once, and shiver-inducing in more ways than one. And like I said...any Hathor video that I can watch over and over and never get tired of *has* to be good. ;-)

Poison
(it's at the bottom of the page, under "Character Videos")
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05:21 am Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Closer
Vidder: Sisabet
Musical artist: Nine Inch Nails
Pairing: Angel/Spike
Vidder on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] sisabet
Vidder's website: Head Tilt is down as of 9/05; Info here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/sisabet/220944.html

Why this vid kicks ass:
This is one of the first slash vids I ever saw. (I discovered the pleasures of fannish vids only after I got DSL at home.) I love the choice of song--NIN is perfect for the vampiric nature of Angel and Spike. No matter what else they are, or what they strive to be, they're still demons. Sisbet says this was one of her first serious efforts at vidding, and that she wasn't prepared for the attention that the vid got. But I found that the images stuck with me long after I saw the vid. Besides, it seems appropriate to rec an A/S vid with Spike on Angel in season 5.

Download "Closer" here

Sisabet comments on the creation of the vid about one year after it was made in this post.
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06:03 am VID REC: Hornblower -- Iam I, Don Quixote
Vidder:Waldo
Musical artist: Cast, La Man of La Mancha
Pairing: none
Vidder on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] kwaldo12
Vidder's website: Vid Weasels
Why this vid kicks ass:
Because it's funny and clever and made me smile. In some ways, it's an obvious musical/thematic choice. There's even a direct canon connection of sorts between the two. That doesn't diminish the fact that the vid works quite well. The parallels between the lives of the two fictional characters, Hornblower and Don Quixote, match up surprisngly--even uncannily--well. Best of all, the vid puts a nicely ironic spin on the grand naval hero's tale that is interesting and rather amusing to see. And Sancho cracks me up every time. It's an enjoyable vid and well worth downloading. As always, remember to right click and save.

Iam I, Don Quixote
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08:37 am Remember, When Falling by Amanda Sichter (PG)
Fandom: X-MEN COMICVERSE
Pairing: Remy LeBeau/Ororo Munroe, aka Gambit/Storm
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] quodarkness
Author Website: I don't think so. If anyone knows differently, let me know.

Why this must be read: I really want to recommend this story for how beautifully it tells what otherwise might be a cliched plot. The language and the craft of this fic are just perfect, a snapshot of a moment in time that will have you holding your breath. This is really a classic in the fandom.

An excerpt )

Remember, When Falling
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09:38 am From: "A Brief And Completely Untrue History of His Majesty's Frigate Indefatigable" by Anais (PG)
Fandom: HORNBLOWER
Pairing: Horatio/Archie
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] minkboylove
Author Website: ...a big bunch of nerd porn
Why this must be read:
I started this month with humor, so I decided that I would leave on a similar note. There is a dearth of humor in the Hornblower fandom, which tends to lean more towards angst and drama, so this little ficlet is like a refreshing wind on a becalmed sea. It is something of a parody, written in the manner of a pseudo-historical text, with just the right hint of intellectual pomposity and the obligatory reference to "revisionist historians." It is also wry and clever and laugh out loud funny and not to be missed. If only all historical texts were this delightful to read!

Equally charming is [livejournal.com profile] nindulgence's very clever response .


"A Brief And Completely Untrue History of His Majesty's Frigate Indefatigable"
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09:53 am "Deus Ex Machina" by Silvia Kundera (PG)
Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Harry/Draco
author's website: wander by mistake
[livejournal.com profile] silviakundera

Why this must be read:
Really, I think the premise alone is worth it -- Draco attempts to defeat Harry through epic poetry. This is just a fun, silly fic that will make you laugh a whole lot. And for once the focus is on the Slytherins, which really, makes it even more entertaining.

Deus ex Machina
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10:09 am "The Very Secret Diary" by Arabella (PG-13)
Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: none, unless you count Ginny/Tom
Author's website: Arabella's page at The Sugar Quill
Author on LJ: not any more, apparently

Why this must be read:
At last, the story of Chamber of Secrets from Ginny's point of view. More specifically, this is the story of CoS told through Ginny's entries into Tom Riddle's diary. This is a dark, frightening story, as Tom takes advantage of her loneliness and naivete - first, winning her trust, and then slowly taking her over, piece by piece. Tom seems to say such normal, even supportive things, but because the reader knows who he is and what he's doing, we know he's really being sarcastic, cutting, and manipulative. But Ginny in her innocence has no idea, and it's heartwrenching to see her used so. Amazingly chilling stuff.

The Very Secret Diary
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10:38 am VID REC: CSI -- You Sexy Thing
Vidder: Nekosmuse
Musical artist: Hot Chocolate
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Vidder on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] nekosmuse
Vidder's website: www.nekosmuse.com
Why this vid kicks ass:

First, I have to apologize for my performance this month. I really dropped the ball on CSI recs, and my only excuse is that it's been a really trying month on a personal level and fic reccing wasn't at the forefront of my mind. But I signed up, and I should have followed through. I'm very sorry.

But I want to leave you with a vid rec, because there are some really talented people making CSI vids, and they don't get nearly enough recognition for it. It was tough to choose just one vid to rec, but finally I settled on this one because it's funny and kinda hot, and it's Nick/Greg. She's done some really fabulous Nick/Greg vids, but I think this one is my favorite just for the timing and the fact that Neko's sense of humor is injected throughout.

It's a song everybody knows, and it's just so Nick/Greg. Check it out, it's worth your time.

Recced with permission.

You Sexy Thing by Nekosmuse

Vids are at the bottom of the page, just scroll down and right click/save as.
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11:25 am "Scrabble" by MartianHousecat (G)
Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: a mention of Draco/Pansy, but it's a gen story
author's website: at Fiction Alley
author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] blackfall

Why this must be read:
It's not often you get a Slytherin general story. No grand plots, no evil schemes, not even any wild orgies in the background. As the title indicates, the Slytherins play Scrabble (and apparently invented it as well). Simple, but it's also an excellent little study of the Slytherins as well as being funny. With a board and a tile-bag that fight back, conniving, cheating, and use of "antidisestablishmentarianism," the Slytherin Scrabble Championships are far more exciting than you'd expect a Scrabble tournament to be.

Scrabble
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02:35 pm Precious by Georgina (NC-17)
Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: Nick/Howie
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] eponymous
Author Website: Boys Like That
Why this must be read:
This is a sweet story about two friends who are utterly comfortable with each other realising that they want to be something more, again. It's set during Nick's solo career. And there are pierced nipples, and fun sex, and it's just like riding a bicycle.

quote and a picture )

Precious
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07:40 pm Retrovirus by Siubhan (PG)
Fandom: STAR TREK FRANCHISE (VOYAGER)
Pairing: N/A
Author on LJ: don’t know
Author Website: Sadly it’s gone
Why this must be read:
This is a wonderfully compelling story. The author tells a tale about how different people deal with disease. When our favourite pilot, Tom Paris, contracts an AIDS like virus we all learn that the prejudices/differences between Starfleet and the Maquis run deeper then any of the crew suspected. I love this story and I come back to it time and again because I think it really highlights the great things about the characters and shows that the Starfleet way isn’t always the best way.

Be aware Trekiverse archive links are subject to random changes.
Retrovirus
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08:05 pm "When it Alteration Finds" by Victoria P. (R)
Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Remus/Sirius, Remus/Snape
Author's webpage: Achromatic
author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] musesfool

Why this must be read:
With Victoria's Harry Potter fic, it's very hard to pick out just a few stories to rec so that you don't over-represent one author. This is her take on the "Five Things that Never Happened..." challenge that has produced so many great stories.

What if Lupin wasn't sorted into Gryffindor? What if he were never bitten by a werewolf? What if James hadn't succeeded in saving Snape from the Shrieking Shack? Victoria plays with all these options and the resulting changes to the relationships in four parts - one for each House - that are alternately sweet, horrifying, bittersweet, and heartwrenching.

Love is not love / Which alters when it alteration finds
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08:27 pm "Seven Things That Didn't Happen On Valentine's Day At Hogwarts, Or Maybe They Did." by Pru (R)
Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Remus/Sirius, James/Lily
Author's website: Glitterati
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] rageprufrock

Why this must be read:
Oh, I have such a weakness for good MWPP stories. Combined with my weakness for good "Remus and Sirius get together" stories, it's no wonder I love this story so much. Seven years' worth of Valentine's Days - seven years of pranks, valentines, (prank valentines), James chasing Lily, flirtations, secrets...and, oh yes, a prank on Sirius turns him into a girl for a while. It's not all fun and games though - Pru doesn't shy away from sixth year and The Prank and all the messy, painful consequences.

Such a good story - you'll laugh your ass off, then sniffle and have your heart stomped on for a bit, but it all comes right in the end.

Seven Things That Didn't Happen On Valentine's Day At Hogwarts, Or Maybe They Did.
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08:59 pm VID REC: Lord of the Rings - The Dark Arising
Vidder: Shakeri
Musical title/artist: The Deliverer by Joseph LoDuca
Pairing: not applicable
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder's website: Video Visions
Why this vid kicks ass: LotR vids can be very hit and miss; there's no shortage of exciting, evocative footage, but finding appropriate music to match it with seems to be a tricksy proposition. For 'The Dark Arising', an exploration of some of the more sinister events in the first movie of the LotR trilogy, Shakeri has chosen part of the soundtrack from Xena: Warrior Princess's 'The Bitter Suite'. It's a dark and urgent orchestral work featuring what I've read described as 'a raging Omen-esque chorus', and it suits the shadowy, action-packed clip choices very well. The vid is dark, both thematically and visually, and Shakeri has used some well-placed colour and pace effects to provide eye-catching contrast. The final scene, as Gandalf throws himself off the tower of Isengard, is the perfect climax.

The Dark Arising
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09:23 pm Parry by Amirin (NC-17)
Fandom: TREK FRANCHISE (VOYAGER)
Pairing: Chakotay/Tom Paris
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Amirin's C/P Slash Page
Why this must be read: Amirin’s written tons of great Voyager fic and most all of it is centered around Tom Paris, an all around Fly guy. Tom’s the guy who drew me into the Voyager fandom and Amirin has so many great stories about him that I had a horrible time choosing just one. I eventually choose one that makes me go *wibble* inside everytime I read it. The pain Tom goes through during the story makes my chest ache. I love how he’s able to turn all that pain around and make it useful. The addition of Parin to the story tends to leave me squeeful.

Parry
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09:44 pm Fateful Hours, by Hawkmoth
Fandom: Firefly
Pairing: None
Rating: PG
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] hawkmoth
Author's Website: Hawkmoth's Firefly Site

Why this must be read:

Plot. Lovely lovely lovely plot.

Mal backstory.

An almost accidental tie-in to another JW production.

A snarky Book, a resourceful crew and a plan that goes to hell before the credits are over - heck, what more could you want?

Excerpt )


Fateful Hours
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10:10 pm Take Me Out To The Black, by Newgarde
Fandom: Firefly
Pairing: None
Rating: PG
Author on LJ: Can't seem to find
Author's Website: Not got one of those, either

Why this must be read:

This is a rec I'm making even though I'd wish the ending was a hair stronger.

Kaylee is the ship's - and the crew's - heart - a shining sun in the darkness of space, amid the grim and the dust. Nobody gets to make Kaylee cry.

So "Objects in Space", which did, delighted me muchly.

This is a dark, sharp examination of what frightens Kaylee. And who. It's not always what you'd expect.

Take Me Out To the Black
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10:17 pm Eyes To Grow Old by Zoicite (R)
Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: GSF, Brian/Leighanne
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] zoicite
Author Website: Commoner's Tales
Why this must be read:
When I started thinking about which stories I was going to rec this month, this is the first one I thought of. To me, this is what the Boys are all about. After everything, and no matter what, they love each other.

quote and a picture )

Eyes To Grow Old
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10:39 pm Rites of Passage by Willow-wode (NC-17)
Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: Frodo/various
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] willow_wode
Author Website: Willow’s Wode
Why this must be read: I’m a little hesitant about this rec because technically speaking, Rites of Passage is very much a WIP. However! The first book, 'The Hall', is well and truly complete and can be downloaded either chapter by chapter or as a massive 2.53MB .pdf file.

WIP alert done, can I just say how very more-ish this story is? Rites of Passage: The Hall is a sprawling, pre-quest family saga set in and around Brandy Hall, examining the forging of the Ringbearer, Frodo, and his complicated family ties (real, unwanted and imagined). There is angst. And romance. And family intrigues. And fights. And wet hobbits. Not to mention angst. I’ve left the ‘pairing’ category above vague because I don’t want to ruin any surprises, but needless to say I was gnashing my teeth and wringing my hands over all the romantic permutations. This is soap opera at its best and most compelling.

Rites of Passage
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10:41 pm The Anniversary, by dafnap
Fandom: Firefly
Pairing: None
Rating: R
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] dafnap
Author's Website:One More Cliche - but it's a photomap site, not fic. (The pics are lovely, they just aren't words.)

Why this must be read:

Because it's Mal and Zoe and Wash again, but mostly Zoe and Mal, and what the War - that war you failed to win - did to them.

And what they did to each other, in that war.

It's beautifully written, hard to read.

The author's done some other very good Firefly stories, archived at Silverlake. Go read. Send feedback.

The Anniversary

(It's been great rec'ing fics this month. I hope you all enjoyed! Thanks everyone for help with the links.)
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10:55 pm airs, waters, places by Vanzetti (PG-13)
Fandom: Alias
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] vaznetti
Author Website: Wrestling with Proteus
Pairing: None
Rating: PG-13

I have been struggling over which of Vanzetti's Alias stories to rec, because she's written so many that I love. It helps that she writes a lot of different characters and pairings (including less common ones like Sark/Allison and Vaughn/Lauren), but also makes choosing just one rec difficult.... Should it be one of her Sark pieces, like A Lifetime of Empty Rooms or Polyxena? Her set of Sloane drabbles, Appointed Hours? Her slash (Sark/Jack for the Secret Sarkfic Santa project or Sydney/Lauren for the Aliasslashficathon, depending on whether you feel like reading about boys or girls)? Her... am I cheating shamelessly here? Yes, I am, but anyway--why I picked what I did or

Why this must be read: Sometimes more is more, and this is the long, satisfying casefile which proves yet again that an apprenticeship spent writing X-Files is never a waste. It's set between seasons 2 and 3 and has of course been completely--okay, I refuse to use "Abrams" as a verb, so, J.J.ed, maybe--but that doesn't really matter; I think I may have enjoyed it more than the show's version of events simply because it focuses on Jack, Irina, and Sark and their complicated relationships in a way the show couldn't have with Sydney present and Irina gone.

Airs, waters, places
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11:14 pm VID REC: Star Wars:TPM - Come What May (Moulin Rouge)
Vidder: Diana Williams
Musical artist: Obi - er - Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman
Pairing:Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
Vidder on LJ:
Vidder's website: http://www.mindspring.com/~diwillia/order.htm
Why this vid kicks ass:

1) Because all of Diana Williams' vids are amazing
2) Because there aren't enough slashy SW:TPM vids (most likley because there weren't enough scenes with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon in TPM)
3) Because it's heartbreaking to hear Obi-Wan say "I'll love you until my dying day" as he cradles Qui-Gon in *that* scene.

Check this out soon - she rotates the vids available for download, so it may not be here for long.

Come What May, at the bottom of the page
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11:15 pm The Only Constant by Isabeau (NC-17)
Fandom: STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE
Pairing: Qui/Obi
Why this must be read:

For my final rec, a classic that deals with time, the endurance of love, and the inevitability of death. I'm not giving you much more than that - I'll leave it to the reader to decide which of the three is "the only constant." Pivotal issues for the pairing, pivotal issues for life.

Thanks for letting me be your reccer this month. It's been fun :)

The Only Constant
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