Title: The Tallest Order
Fandom: The West Wing
Pairing/Characters: CJ/Toby
Author on LJ: kormantic
Author Website: The Ska Lab
Why this must be read:

( About the time she figured Toby was debating to himself whether or not he could legitimately *order* her to go in his place, Sam stuck his head in and asked CJ if she'd been able to find any time for the committee on farming goodwill, and weighing a night out, dressed up, in a limo, with an open bar and expensively prepared chicken, against a night spent with a vast number of greenbean farmers who had a bone to pick, she replied, 'I can't. I have a thing. I'm going to that cancer benefit thing? Remember?' )


The Tallest Orders

Fandom: QUEER AS FOLK: UK
Pairing: Stuart/Vince
Author on LJ: almostnever; fic journal: almoststories
Author Website: Cesare's Cabinet or Cesare's page on ATP

Why this must be read:

This novel-length series is deservedly popular. Cesare was one of the first writers I read in the fandom, and this series got me started reading fanfic in the fandom. More than four years later, you can see my enthusiasm is as strong as ever. Almost Never is one of those essential series that anyone new to the fandom must read. So what are you waiting for--go read Cesare's brilliant story! The psychology of her complex, self-aware, lovely but difficult Stuart seems dead accurate to canon Stuart, and the S/V interaction and dialogue still makes me want to hug myself in delight. I think she's got an accurate view of Vince's issues, too. I like the way Stuart's perceptions of Vince develop during their road trip in the story "48 States." Cesare mentions the minor characters, and they are recognizable, if not prominent. (I wouldn't mind hearing more about Nathan in "Unison," but that's a minor quibble.)

Try here, but if the story links are still broken, go to the Web-archived link: Almost Never series
( Index of Stories in the Almost Never Series )

"Unison," the final part of the series, is a lengthy, unfinished, post-road trip WIP, and I am commenting on it separately because in many ways it feels like a sequel, even if it is set in the Almost Never storyverse. It has a different emotional tone. In "Unison," Stuart and Vince sort of settle down in Manchester, and Alfred is a regular part of Stuart's life. The guys have to deal with the challenges of maintaining a long-term relationship. There's also an OMC, a new friend of Vince's, who could confuse things.

The link is to the Web-archived copy, and two of the eleven chapter links (5 and 9) are broken. But the story is still enjoyable, so don't let that stop you.

(this should have had a Sayid icon, but somehow I've managed to never get one. I have no clue how that happened)

Fandom: Lost
Pairing: Sayid/Charlie,a little Charlie/Hurley, but mostly a Sayid character piece
Author on LJ: goldatamera
Author Website: N/A

Why this must be read:

This is just a lovely, haunting character piece on Sayid and is one of those stories that you just can't shake off.

Sayid/Charlie now kind of seems like a random pairing, but it wasn't when the show first started. Sayid was the first person Charlie latched onto and it is fascinating to see Charlie from Sayid's perspective, and to Sayid almost let himself care for someone.

The interaction between Sayid and Charlie is sweet and sad, but this story is more about how Sayid views himself and his need to distance himself from everyone.

The whole thing is hauting, lovely, and will stay with you for a very long time.

I Have Sins, Love

Aaaack! It's the last day of my month, and, what with one thing and another I've only posted recs on four of the many Pirates of the Caribbean fics I adore. I must draw your attention to a few more, before my month is over. First up:

Fandom: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Pairing: Jack Sparrow/Elizabeth Swann
Author on LJ: hereswith
Author Website: Hereswith on Fanfiction.net
Why this must be read: hereswith writes some of the best Jack/Elizabeth fics in the fandom. In this series of stories, which are each complete in themselves but flow one into the other quite wonderfully, Elizabeth has been widowed after a happy marriage to Will, but has maintained her friendship with Jack Sparrow, who has been a faithful visitor to the Turner home. A Matter of Trust is the first in a series that is, at present, four stories long, in which hereswith establishes and develops the relationship between the Governor's daughter and the infamous pirate captain (who is also a Good Man). The characterizations are beautifully rendered, the writing is elegant, and the subject matter is both sensual and handled with great sensitivity.

A Matter of Trust
Reasons To Believe (Chapters 1-4)
In The Dark Watches Of The Night
Fair Weather Morning

Fandom: Farscape
Pairing: n/a
Author on LJ: leadensky
Why this must by read:

This is one of the most elegant fics I have ever read. It has truly captured the essence of early S3 Zhaan. Her search for Divine Grace, for redemption, for being one with the universe comes to a poignant head in this fic. She sees possible futures and painful pasts. She sees beyond the facades of her crew mates and understands and still loves. This is a woman strong in her love and beliefs and a woman who is not quite ready to receive her due reward.

Go read and don't forget to feed the author.

Dying Light

My last two Pirates of the Caribbean recs are taken from impofperversity which is "dedicated to crossover slash fic featuring characters from the film Pirates of the Caribbean (property of Disney Corp) and the novel Quicksilver, by Neal Stephenson". The latter is set during the same epoch in history as PotC. viva_gloria and tessabeth came up with the perfect character with whom to pair Captain Jack Sparrow: Quicksilver's Jack Shaftoe. Sparrow and Shaftoe are equals in every way, each being inordinately sexy, funny, intelligent, and adventurous to the point of madness. All of this, plus the superb writing skills of the moderators, make every post to this community something to be anticipated and treasured. My advice would just be to start from the first post (back in August '04), and read all the stories there. Don't worry about a lack of familiarity with Quicksilver, or even with Pirates of the Caribbean: characterization, plot, language, and (last but not least) smut are truly without parallel. As much as it hurts me to do so, I will focus on just two of the stories, today...

Fandom: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Pairing: Jack Sparrow/Jack Shaftoe
Author on LJ: tessabeth
Author Website: impofperversity
Why this must be read: Picaresque, and its sequels Trochal and Malabar Trade, are stories I find myself returning to again and again. The first story begins when Jack Sparrow is a very young First Mate on the Black Pearl and is incarcerated on a remote island by the British. One of his fellow inmates is none other than Jack Shaftoe, who is inclined to look askance on this exotic and (in spite of Shaftoe's avowed heterosexuality) alluring newcomer. High adventure, and the most delicious smut ever, ensue. Trochal is set twenty years later, and Malabar Trade is set directly after the end of Trochal. tessabeth has a way with characterization, setting, and detail that draws one in right from the first, and the plot, combining canon elements from both sources, is fantastic!

Picaresque
Trochal
Ink (a one-chapter follow-up to Trochal that may be my favorite PotC fic ever)
Malabar Trade
An Enquiring Mind is a one-chapter follow up to Malabar Trade, the story of Indilla, Princess of Malabar, and her (ahem) experiences aboard the Black Pearl, quite perfect and written for ME!!

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: None
Why this must be read:
There's no way I could end this month without reccing one of Ellis Ward's works; as far as I'm concerned, she can't write a bad story. This one is one of my favorites. For starters, I love stories set after Doyle's shooting; the emotional intensity between him and Bodie always seem to be that much higher. And here, the two living together while Bodie helps Ray recover adds to the slow simmer. Then there's the banter between the two that adds just the right amount of humor. Ray may have almost died but there's nothing mauldin about the story. Doyle needs to mend and Bodie is there for him.

But mostly, it's the just right way in which the lads are portrayed that brings me back to Ellis Ward's stories time and time again. They are as I like to see them; a bit rough, a bit unsure, yet two truly decent men who care deeply for one another.



Breaking Cover

Fandom: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Pairing: Jack Sparrow/Jack Shaftoe (from Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver)
Author on LJ: viva_gloria and tessabeth
Author Website: impofperversity (for details on this go here.)
Why this must be read: This is a work-in-progress, but frankly, we don't ever want it to end. It's up to sixty-two chapters (as of this writing--the authors are amazingly fast at updating), and just gets better and better. There are sea and land engagements, sword fights, Greek Fire, illicit drugs, sea monsters, evil Spaniards who have Designs (both violent and otherwise) on our heroes, torture, mayhem, humor, angst, maps with secret writing, X's that mark the spot, moonlit reefs, severed extremities, and some of the hottest smut ever. viva_gloria started the tale, but shortly began to trade off writing chapters with tessabeth, and the way they egg each other on with hints and twists and cliffhangers is an amazing thing to witness. A brilliant story, by two brilliant writers. Don't miss it!

An Alchemical Prescription

Fandom: QUEER AS FOLK: UK
Pairing: Stuart/Vince mostly
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Offline currently, but here's the Web-archived page

Why this must be read:
For my last rec, I had to mention writing of the Rhipodon Society. I can't link to these stories directly, so I'll put them all in one rec. Anything by the Rhipodon Society is worth reading, as any long-time fan knows.

Navigate to these stories in the menu on the left of the Web-archived page.

( My brief summaries of the Rhipodon Society stories )

Fandom:CSI
Pairing: Nick/Greg and Sara & Greg friendshippy :)
Author LJ: girlnorth
Author Website:Perchance to Dream
Why this MUST be read:

I have mixed feelings of Greg and Sara friendship, just simply for the fact that most push Sara and Greg into this awkward latent sexual tension that makes me want to scream and poke at people with sticks. That being said, girlnorth is the Queen of all that is Greg and Sara friendship, and this is the perfect example of it. The perfect little picture of what I would hope to be a great friendship between the two, mixed with angst and Nick and Greg? This fic speaks for itself. :)

Shattered

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Gen
Author on LJ: glockgal
Author’s Website: every flavour
Why this must be read:

I know this isn’t necessarily a popular opinion in HP fandom, but I love Ron, and I love fics that go beyond his angst about his family’s poverty, or his envy over Harry’s fame. This story explores a topic I really would have liked to see addressed in canon. That is, Ron’s reaction to Scabbers transformation into Wormtail, traitor and Death Eater. This is a subtle, but powerful, look at Ron, and Scabbers place in his heart.

“I think I’m gonna be sick,” said Ron. And he threw up all over the rat hearts.

He told Hermione after classes, as they sat together in the common room and she gave him glass after glass of water, that it wasn’t fair.

“I know,” she said gently.

“He gets fame and love and a new broom and everything. I get nightmares about rats. I get to throw up every schoolyear, all over everything.”

Transfigure

Fandom: STARGATE SG1
Pairing: Jack / Daniel
Author on LJ: don't know
Author Website:Fanfiction by Quercus
Why this must be read:

Quercus is by far my favorite SG1 writer. Her tales are well crafted, the backgrounds (scientific, military, the cultures) are always well thought out. Her OC are wonderfully written. This tale is a Happy Daniel story. No angst, a archaeologist!Daniel story, a smart Samantha and a wonderful Jack.

In one of SG1 exploration, the team comes upon an old friend of Daniel's. Norse culture, Viking mythology. The works. You won't be disappointed at all. Quercus just rocks.


The Grave Yields Back Her Robberies

Comments always welcome. Please send feedback to the author.

I've not been very prolific this month driving the van. RL made things difficult but sometimes it's not quantity that counts. : )

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Gen
Author on LJ: tessfawcett
Author’s Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

I liked Goblet of Fire, in part, because it added so many shades of grey to the HP universe. There was darkness in the book, and tragedy, and I teared up more than once upon each rereading. What happened to the Crouch and Longbottom families was especially striking, and Tess tackles those events from Crouch Sr.’s perspective, as he weighs familial loyalty and duty.

I've heard what they say about me.

Have they forgotten so easily what it was like? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named rising, nearly ascendant, Death-Eaters everywhere you looked, the Dark Mark rising over homes and places all over the country?

I remember. I remember it very clearly. And I knew then, as I know now, that we had no choice. What can you do against people, highly trained Dark wizards, who are bent on murder and mayhem of all sorts? Sending the Aurors in with orders to capture, forbidden to kill, would hamper them to the point of imbecility. I remember when Tom and Rosie McKinnon were captured... We found their bodies a week later. One of the happiest days of my life was when I was able to send Anatoly Travers to Azkaban for it. I defy anyone to look at what remained of Tom and Rosie McKinnon and tell me that their colleagues and friends should not have had the right to kill the filth that had done this, rather than let the same thing happen to them.

Ghosts I Keep

Variation on a theme no. 4: The LKU

Fandom: HORNBLOWER
Pairing: Horatio/Archie
Author on LJ: tanacawyr
Author Website: Janis Cortese/Recondita Armonia/Carmen Bizet’s Fanfic Archive

Why this must be read:
This is another LKU that is more interested in the way in which these characters lives their lives than in the miraculous survival and reunion that preceded. Although the story is set in their old age, Janis provides insights into the events leading up to the moment in time that is at the story’s heart and the road they traveled to get there. It was a bumpy road to be sure, but that just adds to the sweetness of this tale which flirts with schmoopiness, but retains just enough of an edge to keep it from becoming cloying. The contrast between the Admiral Hornblowers in this and Clotho’s previously recc'd story is most interesting.

Comfort and Joy

And with this rec, I close my stint at the helm of the jolly crack boat. It's been my pleasure to steer you this month and I hope you enjoy the stories.

It was great being this month's driver. Apologies for the lack of reccage, but as another driver said earlier, sometimes quality is better than quantity. As recompence, here's my personal rec post. Other LOTRIPS I didn't get to, WIPs, LOTR proper... take your pick. It's the least I can do for all of you.

Fandom: LOTRIPS
Pairing: Elijah/Dom, Dom/Billy
Author on LJ: lux__aeterna
Author Website: memories
Why this must be read:

They just need to be. The relationship between the Hobbits comes to a head in this one. Lij and Dom are the item now, but Dom can't forget Billy. It's a beautiful fic... it really is. Each story in the trilogy is the same moment in time, just a different POV. It's easy to see the time put into each fic, and without a doubt, these are in the higher echelons of LOTRIPS fic.

( Excerpt. )

Elijah, Dom, and Billy

(Damn it! How the Hell is the month over already? I didn't get to rec nearly as many stories as I wanted to! Sorry! Also, please go sign-up to take your turn reccing Lost so that we can continue to have Lost recs here. Thanks :)

Fandom: Lost
Pairing: Sawyer/Sayid
Author on LJ: malisita
Author Website: malisita.com

Why this must be read:

If some absolutely cruel person forced me to name my OTP for Lost, I would have to go with Sawyer/Sayid. He kin of likes being tortured, he used to torture people for living, they have absolutely amazing chemistry when they are on screen together, and they are both ridiculously pretty. It's a match made in, well definitely not heaven, but somewhere very, very good.

This fic shows a playful side of Sawyer/Sayid while never forgetting that these are very dangerous people who could do tremendous damage to each other. Told with a fabulous and hilarious Sawyer voice, Sawyer and Sayid banter and flirt by and in the pool in various stages of undress.

This is the kind of story that makes me want to scribble "Sawyer and Sayid forever" in pink pen in notebooks everywhere. And it also gets bonus points for excellent use of the word 'sugarplum.'

Dead Man's Float

Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: Legolas/Gimli
Author on LJ: not that I know of
Author Website: her ff.net profile
Why this must be read: This is the fic you read late at night, after a really long day. Intense, compelling and - yes, I dare say - extremely fucking hot. *coughs*

This fic starts with the Battle of Helms Deep. Legolas falls after a trap set by Saruman leaves him in crippling pain. Gimli, trying to guard him, discovers that the only thing that can distract Legolas from the pain is, well, sensation of another sort.

I saved this one for last because it's good enough to go out with a bang - or three. Nimue I Am has a great grasp of the writing style, and I love her use of the language. My only complaint is that everyone's a little all-knowing about it. I doubt Gandalf and Aragorn had nothing better to do than wait around to see if these two would ever hook up.

Set aside some uninterrupted time for this one - it's worth it.

When You Are With Me by Nimue I Am