Fandom: FARSCAPE
Pairing: John, Rygel
Author on LJ: cretkid
Author Website: Geology Rocks
Why this must be read:

This particular fic takes place after the events of the We're So Screwed trilogy. There were many fics written after the trilogy but Cret's is the one that still stands out to me to this day.

Why? For the simple fact that the author writes Rygel like he is more than just a deposed Dominar with a chip in his shoulder. Throughout the series run, we've seen Rygel show us glimpses of greatness, kindness, and compassion. Here, Cret shows us a Rygel who is gentle, delicate, albeit in his own way.

I like that the person the author chooses to keep John sane in this fic is not the obvious choice, but the person who might be the smartest in terms of experience with a background that many of us forget.

And her John is picture perfect. Flailing, desperate and totally at a loss for what to do in a situation he wants to control, but can't.

Remember, With Advantages

Hi, this is boniblithe and this month my co-conspirator, ranalore and I will be introducing you to the lesser-known fandom of Yami no Matsuei. Like many anime/manga based fandoms, it isn't exactly a "small" fandom, but it is not that well known to people who are in more traditional Western TV/movie/media based fandoms.

I was drawn into Yami No Matsuei because it has everything I could ever want in a fandom: pretty immortals, moral dilemmas, supernatural mysteries, textual and subtextual attractions between friends and between mortal enemies ... so what if they happen to be cartoons, instead of live actors? Angst is angst!

This overview contains some character and plot spoilers for the series - I tried not to give away anything too major, but you do have to know certain things about the characters going in.

( The Series )

( The Premise )

( Characters and plot )

( The Fandom )

( Where to Find More )

I look forward to posting fics here over the next few weeks and luring more unsuspecting writers encouraging more people to check out the fandom! The manga has recently been licensed for translation by the English-language publisher Viz, and is scheduled for release on August 18, 2004, so ask for it at your local bookstore.

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: none (in and of itself. There is a sequel that is Fraser/Kowalski so you could consider it pre-slash)
Author on LJ: not to my knowledge
Author Website: none to my knowledge
Why this must be read:

Because sometimes you miss the show as a whole and not just the characters. You're not interested in a pairing or exploring a romantic relationship or smut. You want them to solve cases and catch bad guys. You want quirky criminals and quirkier bystanders.

I put myself on the list of possible rec-ers because no one had rec-ed this story yet. This is a fun, little (alright, medium-sized) gem. The author creates an ordinary 'working day in the life' story for Fraser and Ray. Or, well, ordinary compared to Fraser and Ray's episode days, anyway. It is a funny, dialogue-driven story that beautifully bridges the divide between giving existing fans nuances between Fraser and Ray to explore and giving fans and not-yet-fans a hysterical cop tale about looking for some small-time criminals.

(  Detective Vecchio, I swear I've never known someone who can turn a room quite like you. )



Serendipity Style Part I



A quick introduction: I'm sperrywink and I'm excited to be your Due South driver for July. Like a diligent driver I reviewed the past recs and calculated some statistics (really now, doesn't everyone?) and to summarize: Boy, do Due South rec-ers love long, usually epic, Fraser/Kowalski smut. Out of the 48 non-crossover recs, 45 were Fraser/Kowalski (94%!!!) and 8 of those were cesperanza (That is 18% or nearly 1/5 of all recs! And none of them were in my Top 3 of hers!). So, although I am also a dyed-in-the-wool Fraser/Kowalski and most of my personal favorites were previously rec-ed or stories just like them, I'm going to try and mix things up a bit and offer more Vecchio, offer more gen and not rec cesperanza (but my Top 3! ...sigh). We'll see how successful I am at resisting the lure.

Fandom: BLAKE'S 7
Pairing:  Avon/Vila
Author on LJ: mfaeglasgow
Author Website: Oblique Publications
Why this must be read:

If you like good dialogue, gorgeously lyrical prose, hot sex and stories that just *grip* you and won't let you go--You can't go wrong with M. Fae Glasgow. "Bothy" is one of her lighter pieces. It's a take on the classical cave/cabin theme, this time with Avon and Vila being snowed in. You can tell this is her favourite pairing--the love shows in the delightful way this is written. The dialogue is excellent: mastering Vila's and Avon's speech patterns and creating Robert Holmes banter is no mean feat. The humour is laugh-out-loud funny, the angsty parts whimper-out-loud sad, the sex squeak-out-loud hot:).

Also? Bonus points for convincing me of the possibility of Avon/Vila (On the basis of canon dialogue being so nasty at times, I usually see Avon despising Vila too much for any slash to happen).

Go. Read. Now. It's the good crack:).

Bothy