August 11th, 2004 
02:16 am The Iris Tales by Nicholas Leifker aka Nightelf (R)
Fandom: RANMA 1/2
Pairing: Ranma Saotome/Akane Tendo, Ryoga Hibiki/Akane Tendo, Kasumi Tendo/Dr. Tofu, Shampoo/Mousse, Tatewaki Kuno/Ranma Saotome
Warning: mental illness, suicide attempt
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Nightelf's Elysium
Why this must be read:

This series starts out very dark, but struggles its way towards the light by the end. (I know, I know, I need to rec some more non-dark-fics soon to keep this month balanced...)

Nightelf wrote Iris first, and then Angel, the prequel. I like reading the stories in the order they're listed on his Iris Tales page.

There are a lot of controversies around any story which locks Ranma into his female form, because gender definition is not a simple issue. Different authors approach these issues differently, and I really enjoy seeing the kaleidescope of possibilities and interpretations that exist in this fandom.

I think the Iris Tales are a believable depiction of the Ranma/Tatewaki pairing, and that's saying a lot. The pairing is a tricky one, and a rare one.

The Iris Tales
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06:02 am Logos by Te (NC-17)
Fandom: FIREFLY
Pairing: River/Simon
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] thete1
Author Website: Teland

Why this must be read:
The River voice in this story is so good it makes me shiver. Also, this pairing does have a sizeable following in the fandom, but few River/Simon stories feel as real as this one does.

River is having a bad day )

Logos
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11:27 am Normal Like You by Dirty_Diana (PG)
Fandom: THE O.C.
Pairing: Seth/Summer
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] dirty_diana
Author Website: shocking pink

Why this really should be read:

A break from the season finale fics, this is a bright happy flirty and funny Summer/Seth story. These two are an adorable couple on the show and this is one of those stories that captures that loving teasing dynamic so nicely.

Begins:By noon on this Saturday, he had already taken Darrah Mcleod for her sailing lesson and beaten the Moscow level in Tony Hawk Underground. He was just starting in on his second breakfast, a bowl of Lucky Charms, and trying to decide whether he should wait for Ryan to wake up before he started the extended version of The Two Towers, or whether he should watch Fellowship of the Ring first anyway, when Ryan wandered into the kitchen, barefoot and half-asleep.

"Seth," Ryan asked, absently running a hand through uncombed hair, "do you know that Summer is in the driveway?"


Normal Like You
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02:59 pm The Levity Series by Pru (R overall)
Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Remus Lupin/Sirius Black
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] rageprufrock aka [livejournal.com profile] lupercali for HP stuff
Author Website: glitterati
Why this must be read:

Absolutely gorgeous series detailing the long, slow fall of Sirius Black - into love with Remus Lupin, and then into doubt and shadow as war encroaches on their not-really-idyllic romance.

more detailed blathering beneath the cut )


Magic Words
Vector
Levity
And Still by [livejournal.com profile] rageprufrock aka [livejournal.com profile] lupercali
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07:55 pm The Post Gurnius Affair by Ro Callahan (NC-17)
Fandom: MAN FROM UNCLE
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] tiranog
Author Website: None that I know of, but a couple of her MfU fics can be found at The Chrome and Gunmetal Madhouse
Why this must be read: Because it's a classic story by one of the great multi-fandom slash writers.

"The Gurnius Affair" is a wrenching fourth season episode that has inspired some truly excellent fanfiction. In the episode, Illya goes undercover and ends up having to brutally torture a captured Napoleon or risk both their lives and the mission. They survive and complete the mission - but how do they reconcile what happened to them here? In "The Post Gurnius Affair", Rosemary suggests one way they might handle the emotional fallout. As you might expect, the solution involves sex, but this is no simple comfort sex fic. This is raw, primal sex with all the jagged edges of their strong personalities and competitive natures coming into play. There are several sequels to this story, but unfortunately they are not (yet!) online.

read an excerpt )

I hope you enjoy this story as much as I do.

The Post Gurnius Affair
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07:58 pm The Key to Christmas by Nicole D'Annais (G)
Fandom: MAN FROM UNCLE
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] ndannais
Author Website: Nicole's Fic
Why this must be read: Nice banter between the boys and a revealing bit of Illya's character.

This little vignette illuminates a private moment snatched from the midst of a public occasion, offering as much character insight as a story twice its length. Nicole creates a timeless snapshot of affectionate understanding when gifts of great value are exchanged.

I hope you enjoy this story as much as I do.

The Key to Christmas
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