May 22nd, 2005 
09:18 am The Boys From Berlin Affair by Cord Smithee (NC-17)
Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: None
Why this must be read: I think the thing I like most about this story is how the Affair and the culmination of Napoleon and Illya's relationship are so neatly intertwined. The outcome of one hinges on the other. There's really no separation between their personal lives and the job they do because what they do is very much who they are. That, in fact, is the underlining theme of the story as it applies to Illya. Thrown into turmoil by what he learns about himself, his vulnerability never overpowers his strength, mainly because his work and his partner are an anchor he can hold onto.

Add in the unerring characterization and the fantastic sex-scenes Cord does so well, and you have one truly enjoyable story.



The Boys From Berlin Affair
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11:07 am Brothers in Arms by Barb G (R)
Fandom: HARD CORE LOGO
Pairing: Billy/Joe
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] troutkitty
Author Website: http://www.slashcity.com/barb/
Why this must be read:

Billy's not expecting a call from home. He's definitely not expecting his father--and he doesn't believe it at first that he's calling to say his mom is dead. I love this one for the plausibly dysfunctional family (in which Billy's father is not a psychopathic child abuser, and he has a cool aunt), the glimpse into teenage Billy and Joe, and the very real emotional reactions. Billy's mom dying isn't just an excuse for Billy to sleep with Joe, nor does he fall sobbing into Joe's arms, an emotional wreck who Joe must tenderly nurse back to health. Billy's in shock, and the grief hits him hard, so he does what he always does--drinks, and leaves.

The sun was too blue and he was too sober for this to feel like a part of his life. His mother was dead. She had been dead to him for much longer. Sean hadn't told their father that Joe had been in bed with him, but he did tell their mother. He told her he wasn't a faggot, but when she continued to press him he had finally gotten up from the kitchen table and just left. Joe had been about to climb up the tree, and didn't ask any questions about where they were going.

That was the first time they got drunk enough to actually black out. For three days they had slept in Stanley Park, gotten shit-faced, and lived in their music.


Brothers in Arms
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12:56 pm Just Looking by Zahra (NC-17)
Fandom: SMALLVILLE
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] hackthis
Author Website: Dysfunctional
Why this must be read:

Zahra has a style of her own. Her stories are usually filled with little humourus gems that makes reading them a real pleasure. While I prefer her O.C. fics to her Smallville ones, Just Looking and The Big Black And White Game are two of my favourite Clex fics.

In Just Looking, Lex finds himself unable to look away from a wet Clark (who could?). A fun trip in Lex's thoughts and hotness ensue.

Excerpt )

Just Looking
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06:15 pm Revenge of the Fanfiction Husbands, by Theresa Green (PG-13)
Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: none
Author Website: Stories at ff.net
Why this must be read:

Theresa is better known for her hilarious series “Owner’s Guide to…” (If you haven’t read those, BTW, what are you waiting for?) but this fic also stands on its own. We LOTR fans sometimes forget there’s a world out there that also needs us to work: this time, it’s the husbands who have had enough!

It’s a fun fic to read, so much so because it gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling that comes after pure, real laughter.

Revenge of the Fanfiction Husbands
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10:14 pm Small fandom overview: Gilmore Girls
First off, I have to apologize. I should have finished this, erm, almost a month ago. But I've been sick, and real life has otherwise interfered with my [livejournal.com profile] crack_vanish ambitions. I plan to post some fantastic recs, but this recap was the best I could do without putting it off for yet another week and officially becoming the biggest small-fandom loser in Crack Van history.

I'm also going to point you to The WB's website for this show, because they've got a summary of current plot twists as well as pictures of many of the main characters. Under the circumstances, it's the best I could do.

Gilmore Girls mini-overview: a primer for the uninitiated. Beware lest you be mocked. )

PS. I'm Shaye, you may remember me from [livejournal.com profile] crack_van turns for Farscape, The West Wing, and SportsNight. At least I think those are the ones I've done.
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10:39 pm The Magic Lamp by Marnie (G)
Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Gen
Length: 4,500 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: The Borrowed Ones

Why this must be read:

The summary the author provides for this story is really the best description I can think of: "Luke Skywalker finds a buried holocron at Ben's house, and lets a Jinn out of the lamp."

Luke accesses the holocron, but finds that Master Qui-Gon Jinn is not like other Jedi holocrons. Qui-Gon's holocron ponders, argues, and does not switch off when asked to do so. In short, he has a mind and will of his own, and he forces Luke, in his kind but stern manner, to examine some hard truths about the Jedi Order, Anakin Skywalker, and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Qui-Gon's explanation to Luke about the destruction of the Jedi and why the Jedi were a religion and not just keepers of the peace rings very true, but also fits nicely within Obi-Wan's definition of truth, "from a certain point of view." Qui-Gon is very much in character, as is Luke, and their conversation is full of surprises. This story is brief, but it makes a impact on the reader.

For a fresh perspective on the saga as a whole, I highly recommend this story. It will certainly get you thinking.

* * *

Excerpt )

The Magic Lamp
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10:40 pm After All by gaityr (PG)
Fandom: GILMORE GIRLS
Pairing: Luke/Lorelai, Lorelai/Max
Author on LJ: I suspect [livejournal.com profile] gaityr is the same author, but I can't say for certain.
Why this must be read:

(I've just realized that I've left out a character that is important for my first rec. Duh. Max was Rory's English teacher her first year at Chilton, then he and Lorelai began a steamy relationship, then decided to break up because it was weird for Rory. Then they decided to get married. Then she freaks out and breaks it off. I never claimed Lorelai's love life made sense.)

This is, hands down, my favorite Gilmore Girls fic of all time. Okay, well, maybe one of my two favorites.

There's something very simple about it - Luke dancing with Lorelai at her engagement party with Max. But it's delicate and sad and wistful, and the Luke POV feels very true, sort of bitter at life in general. The whole thing is suffused with unrequited longing, and it says so much about Luke. It's a tiny, perfect moment in time.

And that's all it is. Just one dance, after all.


After All by gaityr
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11:10 pm Someone Left the (Pan)Cake in the Rain by cgb
Fandom: GILMORE GIRLS
Pairing: Luke/Lorelai (yes, again. It's a theme, just roll with it.)
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] mandysbitch
Author Website: Mandysbitch.com
Why this must be read:

I debated which of Christine's two Gilmore stories to rec, but I decided to go with "Pancake" because it's hilarious and bizarre, and captures the typical tone of the show flawlessly. Lorelai attempts to make pancakes for Luke, after they've gotten together. She fails miserably. She becomes convinced that they're doomed. She references "Macarthur Park." It's fantastic.


an excerpt: do you have any idea how bad I am at baking? )


Someone Left the (Pan)Cake in the Rain by cgb
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11:23 pm To a Daydream Believer and a Homecoming Queen by Mosca
Fandom: GILMORE GIRLS
Pairing: Rory/Dean, and some hilariously inappropriate Dean/Lorelai fantasies
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] mosca
Author Website: homoneurotica
Why this must be read:

And now for something completely different...a sixteen-year-old Dean fantasizes about his girlfriend's mother, because "for all Rory's fine qualities, up to and including her unusually endearing manner of shoplifting cornstarch and her insights into Oompa Loompa culture, Rory wasn't sexy."

Again, this fic captures the quirky feeling of the show, and also tells a story that's just so wrong it's right.

Dean's fantasies go awry. )


To a Daydream Believer and a Homecoming Queen by Mosca
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11:52 pm The Things She Knows by Lula Bo
Fandom: GILMORE GIRLS
Pairing: Luke/Lorelai
Author on LJ: unknown - feel free to drop a note if you do.
Author Website:FF.net profile
Why this must be read:

I may be going a bit overboard tonight, but this story makes such a great bookend to my first rec, I couldn't resist.

Because the thing is, three years later, Lorelai and Luke did dance together, at his sister Liz's wedding. It later prompted Lorelai to proclaim with glee, "Luke can waltz," and it made fangirls everywhere swoon.

Lorelai's POV on this night, with a clever format, and chronicles the beginning of something we'd all been waiting years to see.

excerpt )

The Things She Knows by Lula Bo
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11:59 pm Flu by Sebastian (NC17)
Fandom: PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: No
Author Website: N/A
Why this must be read: If you're reading Pros then you've probably already read Sebastian, and I suppose, if you're new, it would be easier for me to just tell you to read all of her stories. But this one is sweet -- has a content feel to it, and hot as well. Only Sebastian could make having the flu something desirable.

Read Flu
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