Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey
Author on LJ: miriam_heddy
Author Website: Miriam Heddy's Little Corner of the Universe
Why this must be read:

Dan's in a rut and Casey takes it upon himself to help him out of it, which then leads to Indian food, interesting turtle facts, lots of drinks and, of course, hot monkey sex. ( Read more... )

Shell Game

Fandom: ALIAS
Pairing: Sydney/Sark
Author on LJ: nightfawkes
Author Website: None
Why this must be read:

I'm about finished driving the van this month; there's been a bit of a dry spell for Alias fic, I've had to really hunt to dig up good fic. SD-1 seems to have suffered some kind of fatal damage and is down for the count. And while maybe not the home for quality fic all the time, there were occasional gems to be found there.

Let's hope Jan 5th births many many wonderful plot bunnies for all the Alias writers out there.

On to the rec, as I have said this is not a new fic but one of my favorites.

I recced Fawkes earlier in the month and am happily returning to her for this story.

This is the fic that made me believe in Sarkney, that Sydney could actually have a relationship with a killer like Sark. It isn't nice, it isn't pretty--just utterly wonderfully true. Fawkes' prose is clean and cuts like a knife with some stunningly evocative imagery.

I read this and an ache just built in my chest. The ache that comes from reading a nearly perfect story. I'm honestly surprised this hasn't been recced before.

Untitled Part One
Untitled Part Two

Fandom: FARSCAPE
Pairing: John/Aeryn, Chiana/D'Argo
Author on LJ: rubberneck
Author Website: http://www.wideopenwest.com/~lshirk0824/
Why this must be read:

Gee, how lucky can kixxa get? *g*

Farscape is a fandom that has been very poorly served by 'official' writers. The handful of 'official' novels in their bright and sparkly jackets are simply not Farscape. The stories lack the most basic of characterisation, the plots are awful, the dialogue flat, and the wonderful ensemble feel and banter which is so typically Farscape are just not there. So, yeah, those novels are disappointingly bad, keep your money in your wallet. (Am I allowed to say that?)

For those who've been following the seesawing fortunes of our show, Farscape's season four ended abruptly through cancellation. The final episode 'Bad Timing' *g* is where Feldman's 'Little Acorns' takes up the story. And, even though the mini-series has subsequently aired, the vast majority of FS fandom feel that Feldman's epic fic, 'Little Acorns', should be enshrined as canon, so closely does she capture the true essence of the characters.

Feldman doesn't take the easy options, she writes a hard, gritty story of flawed people coming to uncertain terms with themselves and those around them. The road these characters tread is a damned hard road, through which Feldman explores the latent physicality and repressed emotion that was never adequately addressed in Farscape canon (especially in the mini-series). In this story, questions lead to even harder answers. Lessons learnt can take long, long months. There are set-backs and heart-ache. There are also moments of triumph, of humour - and most wondrous of all - of a stupidly tenacious love between two very different people (love that is both selfish and unselfish) which ultimately leads to a conclusion that is really a beginning.

The dialogue and plot are written for grown-ups. The actions and situations address questions that each of us will probably ask of ourselves at some point in our lives. For me, that underlying psychology, that mirroring of an all too familiar reality, the bravery and risk-taking, elevate this fine story to the position it so richly deserves.

For me, this is Farscape's official novel.

Little Acorns

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: brenk
Author Website: http://www.geocities.com/brenkuebler/
Why this must be read:

I'm down to my final two recs ... Tonight it's one of my very, very favorite Pros fics, by an author whom I think is one of the best writing in Pros today.

Matters in Hand is a long, mildly angsty story about Bodie and Doyle discovering their ... flexible ... sexuality, experimenting with it together with not-so-successful results, calling it quits for a while, but eventually, finally, acknowledging the reality of their feelings toward each other. It's written in an interesting "reported speech" style, without dialogue, that in the hands of a lesser author might have been a disaster, but which Brenda executes brilliantly - she's a fantastic writer.

The story is heavy, heavy, heavy on the smut - it comes by its NC-17 rating honestly! - but Brenda is one of those rare authors who succeeds in writing stories that revolve around sex, yet are so much more than merely a succession of sex scenes. That's because the sex is completely integrated and integral, inseparable from the story, an essential part of the story, and the characters are entirely, recognizably themselves in bed. The sex is hot, sure, and that's never a bad thing - but it's also there for a purpose; through it the characters realize things about themselves, and we learn things about the characters, who they are and how they relate and respond to each other, their motivations and thoughts and deepest feelings. A good author can use sex to show us things about a relationship that we couldn't learn any other way - particularly when, as here, the relationship really is the story - and Brenda does.

Plus, the relationship and character development are superb, the voices are wonderful, and the author manages to achieve that elusive balance between guy-ness and feeling - she keeps the guys really guys, particularly during sex, while still conveying their confusion and hesitancy and insecurity and longing for each other. There's a deep but subtle poignancy and tenderness to the story - Bodie and Doyle try so hard to be tough, to hide, even from themselves, the depth of their feelings, how much they care, but it's so easy for us to see how they're just fooling themselves. There's a wee bit of angst, just enough to lend piquancy and set up a nice level of tension, and the conclusion is utterly satisfying.

I give thanks regularly that Brenda is still writing Pros and look forward to much more from her.

Matters in Hand

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan MacLeod/Methos
Author on LJ: kamilaa
Author Website: Kamil's Site and Chelle's Nightstand
Why this must be read:

Do forgive me for spamming you list with the last 4 of the my recs as the Highlander driver for this month. I've got tons to do tomorrow and will probably be far too exhausted to post any tomorrow. RL has gotten me behind. Sorry about that. This is the first of my set.

Ok, the premise of this story is a simple one. Methos is a virgin where m/m sex is concerned and Duncan is trying to seduce him. I'll wait for the laughter over the idea that Methos is a virgin when it comes to m/m sex dies down.... Yeah, I know it's a wacky premise. I don't believe Duncan is a virgin when it comes to sex with men. There's no way I can believe Methos is. The authors don't really either. Writing this story was a challenge. Seeing if they could do it and make it believable. When I first came across it I was dubious. I wasn't sure anyone could make it work. I gave the fic a shot though and damn if they didn't spin a web good enough that I was able to suspend my disbelief long enough to get through the story. It's a good read, lots of fun.

The Gift is the equally hot sequel that picks up the morning after Methos' deflowering. Wherein Methos gives as good as he got. *wicked smirk*

Towing the Line
The Gift

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan MacLeod/Methos
Author on LJ: ddayspring
Author Website: Dayspring's Desire
Why this must be read:

Mac and Methos are in an established relationship in this fic. (Meaning they are together when the fic begins.) They are renovating a home together and have settled into a nice quiet place. Duncan wants more though. He wants even more of commitment from the old man. Duncan wants Methos to marry him. How well does he really know Methos though? Is it Adam Pierson that he should maybe get to know a little better?

This fic explores this premise. Takes the boys on a journey of getting to know one another a little better. I really like the idea of Mac getting to know Adam a little better. I don't think mild manner Adam was a complete facade. I think he was a part of Methos expressed. This is a nice sweet fic that I've come back to read over and over again. I never get tired of it. It's always satisfying.


Dark Places and Fair

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan MacLeod/Methos
Author on LJ: k_julia
Author Website: Entenpotential
Why this must be read:

This is a new to me fic that I have just fallen in love with. I came across it not long ago and it became an instant favorite. It takes place after the episode The Modern Prometheus. It's one of the best fics I've read that deals with Methos' reaction to Duncan taking Byron's head. He deals with it in a way that is wholly Methos. Like the tactician he is he looks at it from all sides and analyzes his feelings as the come. He doesn't blame Duncan, but yes the loss of his friend hurt. In true Methos fashion he has to go off and think about things for a while, but as always he comes back. This a wonderful fic that is just so in character to me for Methos. It's a wonderful read. One I can't recommend highly enough.

Counting the Cost

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan MacLeod/Methos
Author on LJ: ciceqi
Author Website: Blood, Love, & Rhetoric
Why this must be read:

For my last rec as this months Highlander driver I am going to rec my all time favorite fic in this fandom. This is the fic that made me want to take a turn as the recs driver. I just couldn't believe no one had rec'd this amazing fic yet. So I just had to correct that.

This fic is going to be hard to keep track of while writing up this rec. It is an AU, within an AU, within an AU. When you are reading the story it's not that complicated I promise. Bear with me here.

Now you remember the last two episodes of the series To Be and Not to be? The AU world Duncan visited and got to take an It's a Wonderful Life tour with Fitz as his guide? Ok. Well the first story Found and Lost is an AU of that world. In this story Duncan decided to stay a while. See what it was like to be a mortal and not in the game anymore. Well, after doing some stalker-like watching of Methos for a while he decides maybe this alternate life isn't such a good fit anymore. He misses his world and decides to go home. Yeah, I sort of gave that one away, but it's mainly a setup for the next story any way. Not a lot happens in it. So don't fret.

It's the next story Lost that is the one I love so very dearly. This story involves the Methos from that AU world in Found and Lost. He'd noticed Duncan's stalkerish watching of him. Assessed him and wrote him off as a non-Watcher mortal and no threat. None the less he did notice him. So when Duncan leaves he's aware of that too. Well, in this fic Fitz shows up to give Methos an It's a Wonderful Life tour of his own. Not a tour of his own life or what the world would be like without him. No he shows him the life of another Duncan MacLeod. (Yes, this is now AU #3.) He takes him on a tour through AU #3 Duncan's life. The why is central to the whole plot so no way am I giving it away. Let's just say it's a wonderful reason. A reason for Methos to keep going. A promise of a what is to come for him.

I really can't express how much I love this fic. I truly can't. I don't think I've done it justice with this rec. Try as I have. Really just read it. It's wonderful. I love it and hope you will too. Whether you are a fan of AU's or not. Give it a try. It's not to be missed.

Well, that's it for me. It's been fun taking a spin as the Highlander driver for November. I hope the next driver has as much fun as I did. That's it for me.


Found and Lost
Lost