January 10th, 2005 
11:00 am The Work of Her Hands by RobynBender (R)
Fandom: FARSCAPE
Pairing: John Crichton/Aeryn Sun
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] robynbender
Author Website: The Fanfiction of Robyn Bender
Why this must be read:

Robyn took a pivotal moment in Farscape canon and branched into a masterpiece AU series, the Talyn Suite, which details the developing relationship--emotional and physical--between John Crichton and Aeryn Sun.

Other parts in the series explore Human (and alien) sexuality in all its variety; but The Work of Her Hands brings fantasy to a crashing halt when tragedy strikes. This heart-wrenching fic is vivid and unforgettable. Familiarity with Farscape's characters and storyline isn't strictly necessary--The Work of Her Hands will leave an indelible mark on anyone who has loved.

Spoilers for episode 3.15, Infinite Possibilites: Icarus Abides.


The Work of Her Hands
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11:17 am Brother Mine by Pluto (NC-17)
Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: Aragorn/Boromir
Author on lj: Unknown
Author website: Unknown
Why this must be read: A duel between the two Men leads to... Well, a duel between the two Men. I love the dialogue in this piece and how it fits flawlessly with the feel of the text. The ending is quite successful, setting aside the clichés too often found in slashfic and aiming for something more honest, if not necessarily satisfying. Plus, on top of all of that, it's really quite hot.

"But though you may be loved by elves, and fostered by them, and sing their songs, it is Men whose blood dominates in your veins, and among Men you will be counted when you die."

Brother Mine
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01:10 pm A Witness to Courage by Fubsycations (PG-13)
Fandom: HORATIO HORNBLOWER
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: n/a
Why this must be read:

This is a gen story, very much a character piece. I don't tend to read much gen in Hornblower, for me its all about the character interaction and the relationships in this fandom. But this, this is something else, and it's beautiful and terrible and true.

It's 1809 and the shattered remnants of the British forces in Spain -- including the 95th -- are huddled in Corunna after a 250 mile retreat to the coast. Captain Horatio Hornblower's is among the ships that arrive to evacuate the survivors, among them Horatio's old acquaintance Major Edrington. Fubyscations' characterization of Edrington here is both perfect and heartbreaking. And the interaction, the little details, every aspect rings terribly true. Based on a true event, this is a gut-wrenching and powerful look at the terrible cost of war and the terrible strength of courage.

A Witness to Courage
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04:19 pm Chrysalis by [livejournal.com profile] geneticallydead
Fandom:Oz
Pairing: Beecher/Keller
Author on LJ: Geneticallydead
Author Website:
Why this must be read: Err... Because it's good? Nah, I'm kidding. Well no, I'm not, not really. It's a great fic. An AU believable fic; very well written, the dialogues are dead on, Beecher's characterization is perfect. Our Aussie might be one of the best Oz writer around here!

So Toby's out of Oz and ... Guess what happens? [livejournal.com profile] geneticallydead's fic are dark; this one is both dark and not so dark. The author creates a strange oneiric mood. Everything's real but seen through Beecher's eyes nothing is and he needs, he craves something, someone -besides secretaries, delivery boys and cheap fucks- to come and make it look like it's *life* and not just a parenthesis between week-ends when he's with his kids. Will Beecher's mind ever leave Oz? Will Oz ever leave Beecher alone?

Toby walks Jo home, and they talk and laugh like normal people. He kisses her goodnight at the door, chaste and tender. He walks home, it is a nice night, as nice as you can get in the city with its serenade of sirens. He skirts dark alleyways and does not let his gaze linger (corners and shadows and needles, oh my), and his keys are already in his hand by the time he reaches the third floor landing of his building.

Same shitty landing, same flickering light. His reflexes are slow, dulled by complacency. He hears the scuff of a boot on the cracked linoleum, the rustle of clothing, tries to swing around but is too late. He’s slammed against his own apartment door, tasting the paint-steeped wood, his forehead hitting hard. He tries to buck, to lash out with his fists, but is caught and pinned well, too well. The hard weight of another body pressing him in place.

Like a bug to a board.

Panic rises, gorge in his throat, his mind regressing to darker places and darker times, waiting for a crunch or a crack or the hot feel of his own blood. Money, he thinks, I have some money in my pocket, maybe enough to buy a junkie, but not any other mugger.


Wanna know more??

Chrysalis
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07:22 pm Oak and Willow by Marnie (PG)
Fandom: SILMARILLION
Pairing: Galadriel/Celeborn
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: Silver Tree
Why this must be read:

Galadriel was among the most prominent of the Noldor. Her husband Celeborn was a prince at the Sindarin court of Doriath; with the rest of the court, he would be close kin to the Telerin Elves of Alqualonde, massacred by the Noldor in the first Kinslaying. (Thingol the Sindarin King was the brother of Olwe the King of the Teleri.) How the two ever got together is thus a bit of a mystery!

As befits the self-styled defender of Celeborn, Marnie's version of their stormy courtship is the best I've yet encountered, with strong, plausible realisations not only of the couple but also of all their friends and relations. There's a particularly sympathetic look at Celeborn's friend Daeron the Minstrel, who is later key to Beren and Luthien's tale. The novel paints an excellent portrait of life in Doriath, chockful of believable details. It gives a clear idea of the differences between the two Elvish races, the Noldor and the Sindar, the oak and willow of the title. My favourite passage comes before the pair even meet, with the reactions to the coming of the sun and moon....

Snippet )

Oak and Willow
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10:04 pm No Greater Gift by Kathy Hintze (G)
Fandom: BLAKE'S 7
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: none
Author Website: none, but most of her stories are now on the Hermit Library
Why this must be read:

Kathy Hintze was one of the first authors I discovered on the web when I fell for Blake's 7 in 2001. Vila is her favourite, but she does tend to torture the poor guy to get Avon and others to show they care. Though I think her Vila lacks the trademark Restal sense of humour, I do enjoy her stories very much; she writes all of the crew well, especially Avon and Vila.

This story, set in season 3, is a classic hurt/comfort story and a favourite of mine. Vila and Avon decide to break into a vault containing the main offworld monetary centre of the Federation Banking System on the aptly-named planet Mephisto. The vault is protected by complex security systems and concealed traps, and Avon makes a mistake; Vila impulsively saves him, almost at the cost of his own life. Avon obviously cares very much for his injured friend, but without any out-of-character sentiment or overt revelation of feelings. He shows it by his actions and by the concern he displays when no-one is there to see--just as in the series.
The wall comm beckoned. "Cally?" Avon's voice sounded very tired. "Has there been any change?"

Cally smiled and walked over to the comm. "He's regained consciousness, Avon. I think he'll be fine."

"Thought you were rid of me, didn't you?" called Vila.

Vila could not see the expression of relief which crossed Avon's face nor his smile at Vila's remark. "What makes you think I care one way or the other?"

No Greater Gift
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