Fandom: Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin
Author on LJ: not that I know of.
Author Website: Wayfinding
Why this must be read:

Napoleon is a college student who comes across a group of drunk bullies laying into another student. After fighting them off, he takes their victim - on study leave from the Soviet Union - to hospital and later to his home for the night. The Russian leaves the next day, but it is the start of a friendship that kindles amid adversity into something much more.

This is an atypical UNCLE fanfic. There are no explosions or life-or-death dramatics here - simply two people trying to reach each other against the tide of prejudice and Cold War politics. Rest assured, Illya is no victim. He knows how to hold his own - which is partly how their problems start. Napoleon is generous and courageous to the point of recklessness...just like canon.

Purists may frown at the college setting, but they will be entertained by clever use of dialogue from eps and the Return movie, plus some familiar names from the series.

This pre-UNCLE AU is understated and restrained, bereft of overwrought hand-wringing or needless angst, and yet it builds to a powerful emotional finale. Just mind the odd grammar confusion between 'its' and 'it's'.

A Little Darkness

Fandom: THE PHANTOM MENACE
Pairing: Qui-gon/Obi-wan
Author on LJ: ausmac
Author Website: Mac's Phantom Menace Page
Why this must be read:
Hello, this is frahulettaes , your TPM/Starwars rec-er for January. I ran into Mac via destina 's rec page though I was actually looking for Robin Serrano. Since I'm a sucker for AU's and dark one's at that, imagine my sense of serendipity at finding Mac's section of such at the bottom of her page. This one I chose by random. It's the first time I've read TPM and found an unflinchingly dark look at the inverse of Qui/Obi. SithLord!Qui courts Sithinitiate!Obi in the darkest and most succulant way. Short but not one iota of sweetness to be found. Written with an economy of exposition not commonly found in any fandom. A little jewel or dark pain and dark love. V poetic. If my previous use of the word dark is not enough to warn you, then you probably should redefine it. This is not for fluffy Qui/Obi readers.

Blood Music

Hiya peeps. After my long fic rec earlier in the week, I think it's time for a short, fun read that'll brighten up your mid-week day. ^_^ As always, any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Fandom: QUEER AS FOLK US
Pairing: Brian/Michael
Author on LJ: -
Author Website: -
Why this must be read:

Because it's frickin hilarious. Heh. This fic is a delightfully entertaining parody of QAF in Season 1. Basically, the plot consists of Michael being confused about his relationship with his best friend, and after some rude advice from a certain blonde, decides to find the Three Sages of Liberty in order to find his brain and solve his problems. It sounds trite, but through a charmingly spot-on sending up of the various characters' main characteristics, CeeAre manages to keep me rapt and amused all the way. The writing style is simple, but befitting the fairy-tale "once upon a time" mode of the story. With droll lines galore and an adorably comical ending, this read is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. I hope you guys like it as much as I do, and remember to send feedback to the nice author!

( The Big Book of Boyfriends )

The Three Sages of Liberty

Fandom: ALIAS
Pairing: Julia/Simon Julia/Sark
Author on LJ: fatema
Author Website: Fatema
Why this must be read: It’s short and sweet. Julia and Simon had/have undeniable chemistry. It’s sexy. It’s erotic and most of all it has a dose of Sark that just makes me smile at the end.

Cold-Hearted Killer

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: scrunchy
Author Website: 55 Scrunchy
Why this must be read:


This is another of those stories with no real pairing and free of angst. It’s fun and light, reading like part of a real episode. Dan’s idea of games is adorable and everyone’s responses fit their characters perfectly. The voices are dead-on…and have I mentioned it brings the funny at various parts?

( For an excerpt from the story… )

If you don’t read them as you go, be sure to scroll down after the end of the story to the footnotes! Definitely worth it!

So go read and feedback this fun story: Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics

Fandom: SILMARILLION
Pairing: Maedhros/Fingon
Author on LJ: rcfinch
Author Website: A Medieval Quadrant
Why this must be read:

One of the real Silmfic classics -- ask anyone to recommend some Silmarillion fanfics, and 'Under the Curse' will turn up in their top few. I don't know if it's the first story to feature this slash pairing, but it certainly contributed to making Maedhros/Fingon amongst the most popular pairings in the fandom. It's also an excellent introduction to Silmarillion slash, as most of those around the couple -- particularly Fingon's father, the High King Fingolfin -- regard their relationship as transgressive, which gets round those pesky Tolkien Would Turn in his Grave feelings.

But 'Under the Curse' is far more than just a slash story: Finch cleverly uses the pairing to walk the reader through many of the events of the First Age from the perspective of her Noldorin protagonists. The characterisation of Maedhros successfully walks the tightrope of being sympathetic, but not whitewashed.

( A brief taster under the cut... )

Author s.a.
Fandom Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Pairing none
Author on LJ sathinks
Author website fubos
Why this story must be read

Look, I love long stories. I crave plot like it's a drug. The higher the wordcount, the more likely I am to read a story, and it'll sit there open on my desktop for days while I work and write and then I'll come back and read, and yeah. I love long stories.

Which is why it's so strange that I love this story.

Occasionally, a writer will come along whose work conveys an absolute understanding of a character. For s.a., this character is Goren, and that... that's a remarkable feat. Goren is not someone whose layers you can peel away to reveal the soft cuddly teddy bear underneath. If there is a teddy bear under all of that psychosis, he'll bite your hand off and swallow it. But s.a., in one of the most powerful short stories -- so short it's just this side of flash fiction -- I've ever read, reveals Goren to us, and also illustrates how the bizarre partnership of Eames and Goren balances itself so delicately. And she shows us the Goren that could be, without that carefully orchestrated balance.

s.a. paints one of the most realistic depictions of partnership -- cop or otherwise -- I've ever read. Read this story for that, or read this story for the solid characterization of Goren, or read it for both. (And if you enjoy it, don't forget to feedback the author.)

Focus