Title: Fear by Sleeps With Coyotes
Pairing: Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan/well...um...something
Author on LJ: ciceqi
Author Website: Blood, Love & Rhetoric
Why this must be read:

Imagine the full horror and abomination of the Alien universe. Add two Jedi knights and their powers of telepathy and mind-control. Then take the disturbing sexual undertone which seems to have increased with every new Alien movie and dial it up to max. What you end up with might look something like this.

Fear is a gruesome story, and you need to consider the warnings very seriously before you start reading, but it is not, contrary to what the warnings might make you think, in any way a sensationalist story. It contains extreme horror, yes, as well as sexual acts that even the most seasoned reader may find repulsive, but these aspects are there only as necessary parts of what amounts to one of the most well-conceived crossovers ever written. Because there is a reason why putting a Jedi face to face with the monsters of Alien is a brilliant idea, and that reason is fear.

"Fear is the path to the dark side," Yoda tells Anakin in The Phantom Menace. "Fear leads to anger... anger leads to hate...hate leads to suffering." This is one of the most fundamental tenets of the Jedi philosophy and one of the crucial concepts upon which the whole Star Wars universe rests. But what happens when the terror you are forced to confront is so inconceivably vast that the only response possible is fear? When you find yourself in a waking nightmare where fear and anger are the only things left to keep you alive? What are you supposed to do then? What can you do, and how will you be able to bear it? This story puts those questions front and centre, directly confronting the problems inherent in the "fear leads to the dark side" philosophy in a way that I've never seen anywhere else.

And apart from all that, Fear is also an incredibly exciting action story, fast-paced and heart-stopping, guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. I've never come across a fic that really brings home the excellence of the Jedi as warriors quite like this, and the Qui-Gon here, driven by fear for his captive Obi-Wan, kicks ass to a degree that had me alternately cheering, awe-struck and afraid for his sanity if his efforts to save his Padawan should turn out to be in vain - an outcome that the unique nature of this story makes entirely posssible. You don't know what will happen as you make your way through, and that's one of the reasons why I find this fic so amazing. I honestly can't recommend it highly enough.


Fear

Fandom: The Magnificent Seven
Title: Made Man
Pairing: None
Author On LJ: Not as far as I know
Author's Website: Tidia's Magnificent Seven Page

As I mentioned in the overview, one of the biggest Alternate Universes in the Magnificent Seven fandom is the ATF AU. It's easily as popular as the show's original setting so there's no shortage of good stories but every now and then one comes along that really stands out. Made Man is one of those. I read this one at least five years ago but it was still the first one to pop into my mind when I knew I'd be reccing for the Boys. The thing about the Seven is that they're very adaptable. The concepts and themes translate easily into other realities as well as the characters themselves. The real trick to it is incorporating the backstory. Vin's backstory of being a wanted man usually doesn't get brought over but in Made Man Tidia finds a very unique way to do it. In the series, Vin is set up by a man named Eli Joe. In Made Man, Vin is sent undercover with the mafia as one of his old military buddies (Eli Guiseppe) is in with the Family and gives him instant credibility. The story is a very good read. The characterizations are there, despite the changed settings, (one can easily picture Eric Close delivering Vin's lines) the storyline becomes a strong parallel to what happened in the series and is, on it's own, a great read anyway. This is one to read on a day when you've got a few hours and a good cup of coffee to go with.

And, to make the best of it, you don't have to wait impatiently for the sequel. Tidia's already written that too.

Made Man

Fandom: THE OC
Pairing: Marissa/Alex
Author on LJ: darkeyedwolf
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read: Recently on “The O.C” there has been a development of a relationship between two female characters – Marissa and Alex. The relationship was shown in canon as beginning very slowly. One week they’re hanging out every day, the next they’re figuring out how they feel and then finally they kiss.

This story explores a number of different kisses between the pair, giving the reader a little insight into each of their feelings for one another. The kisses are sweet, rough and most of all interesting. I’ve become enamored by the pair believing that Alex is the best person for Marissa to be with despite sexuality. The writer really brings to life the moments we don’t see.

( Excerpt )

Love, As Experienced By Kiss-Happy Teenage Lesbians

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: melanieathene
Author Website: No
Why this must be read:

( Survival )

Survival

(originally published in No Holds Barred 6, Kathleen Resch, 1994)

Fandom: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Pairing: Giles/Faith
Author on LJ: None
Author Website: Archipelago of Angst
Why this must be read: Giles Drinks Pernod with Faith. Not dark per se but about emptiness "The fact that Giles has only made a few bad decisions in his life is outweighed by the fact that they've all been monumentally bad ones." An unusual pairing that works in this instance.

A pretty young girl in boots on his floor