Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: yasminm
Author Website: Craving
Why this must be read:

The One Ring To Rule Them All Challenge produced some wonderful stories back in the day. This particular one, to me, has always stood out: it’s a tale of what might have been, of what desperation and duty will do to someone. It’s a story told within a story, and the prose and style flow smoothly.; you can almost feel the fire crackling and the cold seeping into your bones.

What if Eowyn had acquired the Ring? What would’ve become of the world?

( Read more... )

The White Ladies of Rohan

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski/Turnbull
Author on LJ: basingstoke
Author Website: Land of Basingstoke
Why this must be read:

basingstoke (who appears to be making her crack_van dS recs debut, much to my surprise) summarizes this short story as Three guys, one bed, no plot. Which is entirely accurate, but omits the frottage; and bondage; and spanking; and oral sex; and penetration; and inappropriately located Stetsons; and dialogue which is both in character and utterly hilarious, particularly the safewords and Turnbull’s ejaculation—um, I mean exclamation. Though actually…you know what? Just read it.

“Bonspiel”

ETA: Yes, this is the same basingstoke who wrote “Neutron,” the HCL Joe/Billy fic recced a few posts below.

Hi, I'm doing the recs for The West Wing this month. As season five has only just been released on DVD over here and there's no sign of season six, this month's recs are only going to be season one-five and I'll stick a warning on the season five ones to stop people being spoiled. Okay? Right.

SPOILERS FOR SEASON FIVE: JEFFERSON LIVES

Title: Descanso
Fandom: The West Wing
Pairing: Ensemble. Gen
Rating: PG-13
Author on LJ: megwriting
Author Website: Gray Area
Why this must be read:

Glancing back through previous recs and I see that Marguerite has been recced before. This isn't surprising; she's a stunning writer. I actually downloaded this one ages ago and forgot to read it so it was only when I stumbled across it recently (when I should have been doing something else, naturally) that I read it.

Firstly, she has a superb grasp of the individual character voices which is not as easy as she makes it appear. Secondly, this story hangs together like an episode of TWW; it has charming flashbacks to earlier points in the administration, a powerful message and some deep-seated emotional angst and moves around a visit Zoey and her father make to a SADD (Students Against Drink Driving) event.

I have a lot of favourite moments in this story but my absolute favourite has to be the conversation between Josh and and a Zoey who is trying to come to terms with what happened to her. Somehow Marguerite navigates this potentially deadly ground without either of them slipping out of character and she gets it so right that it surprises me that it didn't feature in season five.

( Extract )

Descanso by Marguerite

Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Author on LJ:saffronhouse ; Lemon Drop/Quercus is no longer in the fandom
Author Website:
Why this must be read:

Another Post TSbBS story. A story by two very talented and wonderful writers. On their own they are wonderful. Together. Almost perfect. : )

This story has the spooky atmosphere, the supernatural web that Martha weaves so well. It also has the academic side, research and books and the mystique of The Sentinel lore. It's also a long wonderful read for a sunny or rainy Sunday. It's a slow pace but well worth the journey. It deals with the aftermath of TSbBS. The hurts, the mistrust, the consequences for both Blair's and Jim's lives.

But it also brings a plausible happily ever after ending to a series end that left the future wide open.

I've read this story many times. Probably will read it again many times

Distant Journey, Unknown Lands

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Comments always welcome. Please send the authors feedback. : )

Fandom: HORNBLOWER
Pairing: Hornblower/Pellew, Hornblower/Maria
Author on LJ: nautacarus
Author Websit: N/A

Why this must be read:

There isn't enough black humor in this fandom, and even if there were tons of it this would still be a gem. Regardless of what you thought of HH3 this is a truly hilarious AU (but not LKU, to be clear - you could call it a bookverse AU too) about Hornblower's unhappy marriage to Maria and Pellew's attempts to help. Like a lot of people, I find HH2/3 Pellew pretty much detestable, but this story allows you to laugh at the moral problems of HH3, which are demonstrated perfectly here. This is also the only time I've seen an actual dynamic between Hornblower and Pellew - moral guy led astray by immoral friend. Poor Maria, but it's all pretty damn funny.

A Horry-fying Tale

Fandom: CSI
Pairing: Catherine/Sara (Pre-slash)
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Mindwalker's Refuge

Why this must be read:

I'm not a Sara fan, but this fic really makes Sara likeable. I wish the show's writers could write her this way. It is pre-slash, mostly friendship. It is a good plot, and well developed characters. It just leaves you feeling good at the end.


From the Outside

Fandom: Popslash
Pairing: JC/everybody
Author on LJ: nopsued and flambeau
Author Website: Torch's 'The Flambeau Factory' and Nopsued's 'nO PsEUD aTTATCHED'

Why this must be read:

It's hard to sum up why one must read this, other than 'because they should.'This is one of the best, most creative uses of a GSF in popslash. While the sex is there (hence the term), the comedy is the reason why this story is so instant vintage. A warning, however: It is horribly zombie-based. And while they aren't hungry for brains, they're hungry for coooooooooock. JC, especially, is a most delightful character. By all means, Torch and Nopsued both built an amazing character with charisma all his own, even as his eyes roll out and his hands detach away from his body. And to see the rest of the guys freaking out, trying to keep him happy with all the cock in the world is just hilarious.

Even if you hate zombies, even if gore is revolting to you. Even if you think the very idea of JC and his never ending need for coooooooooooock is disturbing, you should read Things to do in Orlando when You're Dead. It is indeed instant vintage of the pop variety, and will no doubt make you laugh.

Things to do in Orlando when you're Dead by Nopsued and Torch

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: N/A

Why this must be read: This story can be found at the Oblique Publications website, where you can spend hours reading Pros. But this particular story is a bit of a departure from the usual Pros story. Short, but very dark and hot for all its short word count. It hints at a darker Bodie and Doyle, a Bodie and Doyle that take a secret thrill from all those interrogations. Warning, though -- there's knife-play, and some readers might be put off.

Read Technique.