Title: Refuge by Elizbeth Ann Lewis
Pairing: None (Gen)
Author on LJ: lizbetann
Author Website: Fiction by Elizabeth Ann Lewis

Why this must be read:
There aren't a whole lot of Firefly crossover stories out there, but I found a few, and this was the one that made me squee, mainly because of the integration of the two fandoms. I won't spoil it here because of the author's note. But the other fandom only comes into play in the epilogue, so do give this story a try. (And yes, I know that some wouldn't consider this a true crossover, but Firefly is the dominant fandom, and the other fandom isn't likely to get a shot at a small fandom slot in crack_van because sadly there is so little fanfic written in it.)


Refuge

Title: A Faint Hope by Lara Bartram and Mike Loader
Pairing: Akane Soro/Ranma Saotome, sort of...
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Lara's Fanfics
Why this must be read:

( Because even a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, big governments and big rebellions never have only one operation going on at once... )

The inhabitants of Mos Eisley looked up in mild interest as a spacecraft gracefully rocketed out of a landing pit, leaving the echoes of blasterfire behind.

A minute later, they hit the dirt as a landing bay on the other side of town exploded in a superheated fireball, out of which drunkenly rose the _Impudent Hedgehog_.

Believe it or not, the Ranma characters' plotline actually shores up some holes in the canon A New Hope plotline for me, while still maintaining the crazy mayhem style of Ranma fandom. I love this story.

A Faint Hope

Fandom: HARRY POTTER/BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Pairing: genfic, though James/Lily is, of course, important to the plot, and there are some suggestions past of Giles/Ethan
Author on LJ: marinarusalka
Author Website: Rusalka's Realm
Why this must be read:

Giles and Ethan think they know magic - dark and light - until they run into some truly magical folks in the summer of 1981, and get caught up in their struggle against a deadly enemy. Not only is this story tightly plotted, suspenseful and a great read, it takes into account the differences in magic and metaphysics in the two universes. It also tackles the question of how MWPP could have become so fractured.

( a quote )

Ethan and Snape snark, Giles is Research Guy, and James and Lily's courage and desperation will break your heart.

The End of the Beginning by marinarusalka

Fandom: POPSLASH/HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Justin Timberlake/Harry Potter, Lance Bass/Draco Malfoy
Author on LJ: stubbleglitter
Author Website: unaware

Why this must be read:

Cause it's hilarious. Short and fluffy. Sometimes, that's just what you need.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Luuuurve.

Title: “Danger, Little Stranger” by Lilith Sedai & Cori Lannam
Pairing: Qui-Gon/Curt Wild, Curt Wild/Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
Author on LJ: Lilith Sedai - unknown; Cori Lannam - marzilla
Author Website: Lilith Sedai - unknown; Cori Lannam’s Fan Fiction
Why this must be read:

Curt Wild.

I suppose I should say more than that for those who have not seen Velvet Goldmine. (Those who have watched it have probably already scrolled down and clicked on the link.) VG, which is set in the heyday of the seventies glam or glitter rock movement, is best described as Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars meets Citizen Kane. Ewan McGregor got top billing for playing what he called “a birthday present of a part”: Curt Wild, a leather-trousered American rocker (and Sex God) apparently based on Iggy Pop and Kurt Cobain, with bits of Lou Reed thrown in for good measure.

In this crossover, as the authors put it in their Master Apprentice header, after his padawan falls through an interdimensional portal, “Qui-Gon seeks Obi-Wan and finds him...and more of him than he'd bargained for...a rather...autoerotic, faintly incestuous pairing.”

( ‘I'll seduce you, if you let me,’ Curt promised, the smile escaping. ‘Wouldn't you like to get... a piece of your own, Kenobi?’ )

“Danger, Little Stranger”

Fandom: POPSLASH/TRADING SPACES
Pairing: Chris/Lance, Justin/Joey, JC/Ty
Author on LJ: giddygeek
Author Website: The Geekdom

Why this must be read:

Because I'd pay money to see the guys on this show in real life. Because JC and Ty make a pretty, pretty picture in my head. Because the story's just fun in one of those fannish 'What if?' kind of ways.

( Read more... )

Never Before Seen.

Fandom: RANMA 1/2
Pairing: Ranma Saotome/Akane Tendo, Tatewaki Kuno/Akane Tendo, Ukyo Kuonji/Ranma Saotome, Kodachi Kuno/Ranma Saotome, Shampoo/Ranma Saotome, Ryoga Hibiki/Akane Tendo, Ryoga Hibiki/Akari Unryu, Genma Saotome/Nodoka Saotome, Tatewaki Kuno/Nabiki Tendo, Dr. Tofu/Kasumi Tendo
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Sterman.org
Why this must be read:

Richard Lawson writes long, beautiful stories. This lovely example is a continuation story based on the complete canon directly, and it grew into a rather complex and wonderful series resolving nearly all of the relationship tangles in Ranma 1/2, collectively known as Thy Inward Love. These stories should be read in the following order:

Heart of the Home - An introspection by Kasumi.
The Right Side of the Ledger - An introspection by Nabiki.

Thy Inward Love - Ranma finally begins to do something about his situation. (Now that's a major understatement.) This is in ten parts:
I. Of Men and Pandas
II. Felt Yet Unspoken
III. To Pierce the Blackness
IV. That Way Madness Lies
V. Worth Killing For
VI. The Price of Glory
VII. Shadows of the Past
VIII. Decisions
IX. Cursed
X. One Part of Two

Brother - A side story to be read after part VII
Needs and Desires - A lemon to be read after part VIII (R to NC-17ish adult content, Nabiki Tendo/Tatewaki Kuno)

The Ways of the Amazons - Takes place immediately after TIL.
The Dying of the Rose - Takes place eight years after TIL.
Interview - Takes place thirteen years after TIL. - Even if you don't read the whole series, read this one. It stands alone, and it's charming.

(And as if that wasn't enough of a long, fabulous read, there's the sequel called Thy Inward Love: Magic, which is eight parts with two side stories. It's available from the TIL archive page here.)

Fandom: STAR WARS: TPM
Pairing: Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: unknown; BinkyTorture@ikillclowns.com
Why this must be read:

Qui-Gon is trying to solve two mysteries: Why is he being haunted by an unfamiliar Jedi of variable age whose blue-green eyes are always terribly sad, and how is this visitant connected to a boy Qui-Gon meets in the temple creche?

( Here's a hint. )

I thought I’d conclude the Angstapalooza with this interesting spin on a standard plot. I’ve read dozens of stories about attempts to alter or prevent That Scene, but this is, to my knowledge, the only one told from the decedent’s point of view, rather than his would-be savior’s. In addition to the usual angst, we’re given a well-rounded portrayal of a pre-Xanatos Qui-Gon as he banters with Mace, tries to make sense of Yoda’s “cryptic natterings,” and deals with some particularly adorable young initiates.

“No Other Sun”

Fandom: X-MEN MOVIEVERSE
Pairing: pre-Gambit/Rogue; gen
Author on LJ: hesychasm
Author Website: The Jinjoint
Why this must be read:

I love this fic for a multitude of reasons, but I guess the main one would be that it deals with the not-so-attractive reality beneath the surface glamour of being a superhero, and does so in a completely believable and sympathetic way. Considering the way in which the X-Men constantly cheat death and come out fine in the end, it's easy to forget that these are real people, with real fears and real mortality – and, in many cases, they're just children.

This story made the characters real for me, in a way in which few other fics have managed. Because 'I don't want to die' is a pretty much universal feeling, and it's not something a person can just override; and yet, it's something that few writers sufficiently deal with.

My other main reason for loving this story is that the characters are so well-drawn. Gambit is someone whom I rarely enjoy reading about in movieverse, given that he's often demonised and over-simplified, existing merely as someone for Logan (or whoever) to win Rogue away from. In contrast, the Gambit here is three-dimensional, neither a womanising bastard nor the embodiment of all perfection and centre of the universe (as is so often the case in comicsverse stories). The other players involved are also far from simplistic; this is reflected in a wonderful moral ambiguity, where no one path is right, and all are equally painful in their own way.

Plus, Gambit's speech patterns are entirely readable, without losing their essential Gambitness. That alone should be reason enough to read this story. ;)

Coquine and the Suicide King

Fandom: The O.C./Everwood
Pairing: Ephram/Seth
Author on LJ: 142978

Why this really should be read:

Written way in the early days (nearly a year ago!) of the O.C. airing, (and before Everwood's season 2 had begun), this is bringing together of two geeks, two 'no one gets how hot they are?' boys. Ephram and Seth are very similar in surface but with one big difference. I really adore this story, with its lovely Ephram and apt Seth.

It begins: When Ephram sleeps, he dreams of his mother.

Some nights he remembers things from the past, from his childhood. He remembers sitting on her lap in front of their grand piano in the parlor, her long fingers pushing down on his over the keys, her hair curling and brushing and tickling his cheek. He remembers the waffles she used to make, with butter and whipped cream – real whipped cream, thick and soft and smooth, not the stuff from a can – and fresh, dripping berries. He remembers walking in the park, her skirt caught in the wind like a sail.

It's Different, Now.

Fandom: THE O.C.
Pairing: Seth/Summer
Author on LJ: 142978

Why this really should be read:

And now for the non-crossover rec. This was written for the first OC flashfic challenge and it's, well, just the darnedest cutest thing. Watching ten year olds fall in love shouldn't be this adorable without being cloying, but it's wonderful.

And: Today might just be the best day of Seth Cohen’s life. He feels like he is going to throw up.

Paste-Eaters

Title: Advantage by Skud
Pairing: Archie Kennedy/Sophy Stanton-Lacey
Author on LJ: q_skud_
Author Website: The Scriptorium
Why this must be read:

If there's one thing Hornblower lacks it is good female characters. With the exception of Kitty Cobham, who kicks ass, the women who appear in the movies are overwhelmingly uninspiring. The Regency romance novels of Georgette Heyer on the other hand are notable for mostly having fabulous female characters, many of whom are incredibly strong and independent-minded particularly by the standards of the time. Thus, importing one of Heyer's best heroines is a brilliant solution to the Het limitations of Hornblower.

Here, Skud arranges a brief encounter between pre-novel Sophy Stanton-Lacey (of The Grand Sophy) and post-Justinian Midshipman Archie Kennedy. Skud captures the feel of a Heyer novel excellently, with light and witty dialogue and a wonderfully charged chemistry between Sophy and Archie. Plus, unlike the otherwise-fabulous novels of Ms. Heyer, in fanfic we get to see the inevitable smutty conclusion of all that chemistry and banter.

Advantage

Fandom: Queer as Folk USA

Pairing: Brian/Justin

Author on LJ: mmmorpheusq

Author Website: http://www.morpheusqaf.com/Index.html

Why this must be read:


The hiatuses between seasons of QaF are deathly long, and many fans survive on epic gap-fillers or fantasy seasons. Trading Spaces is part of this fine tradition, and is set post-Season Three. Brian, having been fired from Vangard and with maxed-out credit cards, must search far afield for a new job, and finally receives an offer in California. And wonder of wonders, he asks Justin to go with him! Thus begins a tale that includes everything from a B/J road trip, wild LA parties, and scenes of lovely domesticity between our boys. This fic has excellent writing, good characterization, and plenty of romance. Best of all, it's long enough to while away quite a few hours of the dry spell of hiatus.

Link takes you to main Trading Spaces index page:

Trading Spaces

Title: Blue Eyes by dargelos
Pairing: Tobias Beecher/Billy Tallent
Author on LJ: dargie
Author Website: Dargie's Outpost
Why this must be read:

I'm not much of a fan of crossovers in general, but this story just makes so much sense. At first glance, it may seem that Beecher and Billy have little in common - but this fic isn't just about Beecher and Billy. There are two other characters starring in this story, spectral though they may be, and their shadows loom large.

If this were any other pair of fandoms, I might call this a hurt/comfort fic. But both Oz and Hard Core Logo take the concepts of "hurt" and "comfort" to a entirely different plane, and it's that common ground that makes this story so believable. Logical, even.

Put all of that into this author's capable hands ( dargie is, simply put, one of the finest writers in this or any fandom), and you've got a story you won't easily be able to put out of your mind. Which is just as it should be.

An excerpt:

"I was in prison once."

"Yeah?" Tobias didn’t even pretend to care.

"Not one with bars." He tapped his forehead. "It was in here. And in here," he said, touching his chest. He took a few quick drags off his cigarette and rubbed his thumb over his forehead. Then he looked over his shoulder at Tobias. "I think that’s where you did your hard time, too, didn’t you?"

Go read Blue Eyes

Fandom: PROFESSIONALS/THE CHIEF
Pairing: Bodie/Alan Cade (Doyle)
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Unknown

Why this must be read: Because it's another great Jack story. In a strange twist of fate, Doyle and Bodie had become lovers, but someone higher up at CI-5 (not Cowley) decided to separate them upon finding out this fact. The separation was supposed to be permanent. Each thought the other was dead.

Doyle gets a new identity as Alan Cade (The Chief), and Bodie continues on as now the new head of CI-5. Yes, it sounds like some other Pros fiction out there, but this one is different, as Bodie and Doyle (now Cade) quickly figure out what happens and do not set out to correct the mistake. Doyle cannot go back to being Doyle. He has to be Alan Cade, but can he be Alan Cade and Bodie's lover at the same time?

It's an interesting question and one the author deals with quite effectively. A lovely story and a fresh take on an old plot device.



The Tangled Web