Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: katallison
Author Website: http://www.katallison.com/
Why this must be read:

The real Ray Vecchio is undercover in Las Vegas and sees Victoria.

If that sentence doesn't make you go 'ooh,' here's the long reason: The most fascinating thing to happen off-screen in Due South is Ray Vecchio's stint undercover as The Bookman in Las Vegas. One of the most fascinating things to happen on-screen in Due South is Victoria crashing back into Fraser's life. Juxtaposing these two events provides a stark look inside the mind of a hardened Ray Vecchio, his feelings for Fraser, and what he will still do for friendship.


( We're going to have a private talk, me and her. )


Luck


I'd also like to again thank zebra363 for correcting me on cesperanza's livejournal name in my previous introduction.

Fandom: HORNBLOWER
Pairing: Horatio/Archie implied, Horatio/OMC
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read: Almost as common as the post-"Retribution" fixit is the post-"Retribution" wallow, where Archie's death is accepted as canon, and the effect on Horatio is demonstrated. Both types can be self-indulgent when done incorrectly, but here, it's done right. Honestly, this particular story is as grueling as anything I've ever read.

Horatio finds a particularly painful hairshirt for himself, and it all brings thoughts of Archie to mind. A reader may quibble with Horatio's choice, but the beauty of the writing and the excellent characterization make it worth a read. I've rarely found a story that gets across Horatio's attitude about sex so well. A warning, though -- don't read this if you're in a down mood. It's not a happy story.

( Excerpt -- )

One Time Too Many

Heya, I'm LJC, and I'll be your Small Fandom Guide this month for Jake 2.0

( overview )

( characters )

( the fandom )

Fandom: Firefly
Pairing: Jayne and Simon (but not so much with the slash)
Author on LJ: goldatamera
Author Website: None listed, sadly.

Why this must be read:
Goldatamera uses an interesting flashback/flashforward technique to tell this story; it's worth reading twice to understand everything that's happening in it. It doesn't quite have Jayne/Simon slash in it; what it shows is a lot of snarkiness covering a deep affection, giving the idea that, over time, they have developed a slightly antagonistic friendship. She's got great insight into Jayne. She takes cues that would have caused me to write something funny and silly, and turns it instead into something dramatic, tense and heartbreaking.

Waking the World Away by goldatamera.

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Snape/Lockhart
Author on LJ: Not that I know of
Author Website: Brenda Antrim’s Fanfiction Archive
Why this must be read:

Yeah, you read the pairing right. Wait, don’t go away! First off, I am firmly of the opinion that Lockhart does not get enough love in fanfiction, and even less well-written love. This fic gives one of the most compelling portraits of Lockhart post Chamber of Secrets that I’ve found. Read it, and see if it doesn’t make you rethink your opinion of him, even just a little bit.

And as for the pairing, it doesn't get a lot of love either. There are about three decent serious fics and a handful of smut fics worth reading and that's it. Still, one of the reasons I first got into this pairing, and why I enjoy them together is because Snape and Lockhart are different from each other in just about every single way. When you combine Snape’s biting snarkiness with Lockhart’s egotistical obliviousness and put them in any sort of situation together it’s funny as hell. For a great example of that, try Predatrix’s Photo Perfect, which I debated reccing here instead of Potio.

This fic isn’t so much about Snape and Lockhart's differences, but rather what they have in common. Set after the end of Voldemort, Snape has lived through a war and has nothing left to return to but teaching, a job he hates on many levels. Lockhart has escaped from St. Mungos, his mind and body more than a little broken. And they find each other.

One of the things I really enjoy about this fic is that it’s tense, quiet and extremely visual- the dialogue is sparse, and as Snape and Lockhart’s relationship evolves, it’s actions that speak louder than words.

( Excerpt )

So. A little unconventional, but give it a try, eh?

Potio

And if you’re in anyway intrigued, there’s an mini-archive of Snape/Lockhart stuff here.

Fandom: LOTRIPS
Pairing: Elijah/Henry Mortensen
Author on LJ: fugitivehound
Author Website: Lotrips

Why this must be read:

As the title says, this is made up of tiny little snapshots of Elijah visiting the Mortensens. It's subtle and short, and the ending made me shiver.

The swing on Viggo’s front porch squeaks in an annoying, rusty-hinge way that Elijah has never quite liked. The only thing that keeps him from finding a can of WD-40 and alleviating the problem is the slightly absurd belief that it lends to the rustic harmony of the sprawling ranch. The squeaksqueak of the swing is like a sharp melody above the sound of the trees rustling, and the birds chirping, and the snapclickwhirr of Henry’s camera. Elijah basks in the fading sunlight and pretends not to notice that Henry is stealing tiny bits of his soul with every click.

Snapshots

Fandom: CSI
Title: Stealing Glances
Pairing: Warrick/Sara
Author on LJ: helsinkibaby
Author Website: The Band Gazebo
Why this must be read:

helsinkibaby is a writer I've recently discovered and, to my glee she writes in a number of fandoms that I adore, and in this fic, she hits all my favorite things. Casual, comfortable scenes with a feeling of intimacy that just layers through the story. With CSI, the reality of the show is usually a stark forensic atmosphere or the glitz and glamor of Vegas so these types of stories give us a view of a private life that we don't normally get to see. helsinkibaby gives us a fic like that here with Warrick and Sara. It's not one of the dominant ships in CSI but it's there and she gives it a great, realistic and human touch. Warrick and Sara play off of each other well and this...this snapshot into a morning at home...it's just a relaxing and wonderful read.

Stealing Glances

Fandom: BUFFY: THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Pairing: Xander/Buffy, Xander/Anya
Author on LJ: silviakundera
Author Website: Silvia Kundera (mirror)
Why this must be read: Xander is Buffy's everyman, the Jossian stand-in, and one of the hardest characters to pin down in fic, which often takes him to extremes of villainy or sainthood. Truth is, Xander is flawed and goodhearted in equal measure; he's the ordinary guy in a world of superheroes and vampires and both his greatest and worst moments revolve around that fact, as does this fic.

Xander is literally (see "Primeval") and figuratively the heart of Buffy and this is his story. The Xander who was and is: shaped by his love for Buffy, both then and now, and his flaws; his self-awareness, his stark, quiet hope. It's easy to forget that behind all the wisecracks there's someone always watching, wise in the way only Sunnydale kids can be. This is not a 'shipper story, despite the pairings I've listed; this is Xander, and it's breathstealingly beautifully written. Lyrical and astute and bittersweet and it makes me ache and love and rereread it. It's about growing up and hanging on and taking what you can get and all the moments along the way. About how he got sucked into this world, adoration and chances. Plus it gets bonus points for really lovely and effective use of second person. Some quotes:

( You mean forever before you're old enough to understand what that means, and by then it's too late. )

Esperanza