Title: Echo's Release
Fandom: Stargate SG1
Pairing: *pauses* MiniJack/Cassandra, maybe some Jack/Janet UST
Author On LJ: azarsuerte
Author Website: Probable Impossibilities
Why This Must Be Read:

one of my favorite episodes of Season seven is "Fragile Balance" and the 'mini'Jack' character. The idea that he's out there living a new life all his own intrigues me and when Azar posted this. I fell head over heels in love with the story. It's a very original concept, it's got great team dynamics, friend dynamics and the run in with Jack & his clone?

Priceless. It's odds on one of my favorite Stargate stories that Azar has written to date and I love going back and rereading it. It's a great fun story.

Echo's Release

Greetings from Florida! This month marks my first turn behind the wheel of the "Oz" Crack Van. I'll try to make it an enjoyable ride!

Fandom: OZ
Pairing: Beecher/Keller
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read:

Conveniently, June 1 is a Wednesday, and Wednesday is Smut Day in Oz fandom. In that spirit, here's a porny start to the month.

This story was the first fic I ever read in the Oz fandom, shortly after discovering Tobias Beecher and Christopher Keller necking in the laundry room (on TV, that is). I discovered fanfic shortly thereafter, and this story pretty much sealed the deal on my B/K obsession.

This fic was the author's answer to the "Season 5 Scene You'd Most Like To See" Fic Challenge. The author said, "What I most want to see in Season 5 is hot, tender, angst-free B/K fucking." (Well, didn't we all?)

Read on: Back Here

Fandom: Starsky and Hutch
Pairing: Uh, Starsky/Hutch
Rating: R
Author on LJ: http://www.livejournal.com/users/ginalin
Author website: Not sure, but stories are found here; http://meandthee.shahrazad.net/author.php?authorid=65
Why this must be read:

Because it's just a hilarious slice of life for the boys with some gorgeous characterisation that had me snickering for hours thinking about it, literally. Naked bodies and vinyl never did go well together...

Starsky Vs. Mother Nature: http://meandthee.shahrazad.net/display.php?storyid=701

Fandom: HORNBLOWER
Pairing: Horatio Hornblower/William Bush
Author on LJ:dastier
Author Website:Black Adios
Why this must be read:

Ahoy! *raises sail on the Crack Van*

The Hornblower fandom does not live by the A&E movie adaptations alone. There is a distinct and equally as valuable side to the fandom which relies on the original Forester written series of books for inspiration.

There are healthy differences between the movieverse and the bookverse worlds of Hornblower fandom in terms of plot lines, characterizations, and the actual cast of characters itself. And it's all to the good.

My first set of recs will dip into those fics that rely solely or most heavily on the original Forester novels, and the book canon couple -- Horatio Hornblower and William Bush.

When Husbands Go Astray by DasTier is at the top of that list. DasTier's characterizations are spot on. Her Hornblower is conflicted and self-doubting. Her Bush is straightforward, honest, loyal and the perfect subordinate.

This fic can be characterized as erotic in all caps. Lyrical flowing language, a clever use of fabric *g*, and an overall rating of furnace hot.

Read it and you'll never walk into a fabric store with a clear mind again. *g*

When Husbands Go Astray

I'm Rei and I'll be handing out QAF US crack this month. I ship Brian/Justin, but I'll also be trying to rec some of the rare pairings this month. Hope you enjoy.

Fandom: QUEER AS FOLK US
Pairing: Brian/Justin
Author on LJ: valereix
Author Website: The Holy Church of Brian and Justin
Why this must be read:

Because it's about Justin and his relationship with his father, and his relationship with Brian, and Valerie has a talent for writing extremely funny, extremely touching stories. This is the kind of story that makes you tear up while laughing out loud and saying to yourself, "yes, that's it." Also, it has the best written stoned conversation in fandom and a monkey butler. (Spoilers through Season 4 and Buffy Season 7)

( excerpt )


Lucky

Hello there. My name is Liza, and I have been given the keys to the Crack Leviathan this month.

Farscape - as you've probably gleaned from shaye's fantastic summary - was a TV show that was never shy about pushing the envelope. The fandom has attracted many talented writers who feel the same. This month on crack_van's tour of the UT, we're going to visit the very edges of this fandom - Alternate Universes, Mindscapes, Alien POV's, and other innovative or just plain odd narrative styles and techniques. This is the highlight reel of my favorite things about the Farscape universe, so prepare yourself for some very odd sights. I will try and keep you folks who like a good old fashioned romantic adventure interested, though.


Fandom: FARSCAPE
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: astrogirl2
Author Website: Blog: Maximum Verbosity
Why this must be read:

I myself got my introduction to Farscape from astrogirl2, so it seemed fitting to kick off this month with what is possibly one of the very best primers on the series I have ever seen in fic format, even if it means I am pushing my luck with how many reccs I intend to give a single author.

This is a sheer delight to read, even if you're unfamiliar with Mr. Snicket's narrative style (as I am). I'm told rather reliably that if you are, you shouldn't be eating or drinking anything when you read it.

Although short enough for me to post it in its entirety here, I'm merely going to whet your appetite, so you can go and give Astro the lj-comment feedback she so richly deserves.

If you have any sense at all, you will change the channel right now and watch something bland and pleasant which will not make you cry, such as Friends, or possibly America's Funniest Home Videos, avoiding all of the potential misery and distress before it happens.

The New Farscape Opening Narration, by Lemony Snicket

Hey, I'm TP and I'll be reccing Lost for June. I tend to like Charlie/Claire stuff, but I'll try to mix it up.

Fandom: LOST
Pairing: Jack/Sun
Author on LJ: maybedarkpink
Author Website: A Darker Shade of Pink
Why this must be read:

I don't want to spoil it too much, but this story is set in a future where a year has passed on the island and only Jack and Sun remain, in constant fear of The Others. It's scary and sad and sets up a terrifying "one year later" that's not outside the realm of possibility.

Day 365

Hi, I'm cat, and I was your LotR driver last January. I'm back this time with LotRiPS recs, mainly Viggo/Orlando, because that's my OTP, but I'll be mixing it up with a little Dom and some *gasp* mpreg and *doublegasp* wing!fic. *evil cackle* Buckle your seat belts.

Fandom: LotRiPS
Pairing: Viggo/Orlando
Author on LJ: cynical_terror
Author Website: Cynical Terror
Why this must be read:

This is a quiet little series that offers the reader small glimpses into the lives of Viggo, Orlando and Henry. Each character is allowed the opportunity to narrate a section, and each of the voices is spot-on-- I don't know that I've ever read a better Henry. It's a beautiful, honest series that takes the reader through a myriad of emotions ranging from joy to anger to hope and never takes the easy way out.

Orlando splashes around in an almost comical manner before he pulls himself from the pool, dripping wet and glaring at me.

"Vig, I hate you," he grumbles, his hair dripping on my shoulder.

"Got more nerve than the average man, because I sit on a rock and think about God," I continue to sing, and I know it's as out of tune as my banjo and Orlando's huffing and Henry's laughing.

monoamines
we jazz june
weather in the west
you are such a cunt
looking for sasquatch
the unflappable mr. mortensen
cobwebs, canada, clyde
stairway to heaven
the passageway to china is slanted
what you get for nothing
the point is

Hi, my name's Zeelee and I'll be introducing DC comics fandom and running the van for this month. *waves*

A note: This is *not* an overview of the whole DC universe. Rather, it’s an overview of the characters that appear the most in fic, and an overview of the fandom from a fic-writer’s point-of-view. If I gave even brief bios of *every* character in every comic, I would go insane. Therefore, these are just characters and events that are relevant to the fic I and others will be reccomending. Also, this overview covers *only* the comics, not the cartoons or the movies or any other spinoffs.

Note the second: DC comics canon is freakishly confusing. Continuity is constantly being retconned or changed or simply erased from existence; characters are often showing up in several different books simultaneously; and because so many different writers have taken a turn at writing these characters over the decades, fans often have many different versions of the characters to work with. Not to mention comics time, which, well—TPTB has tried and tried to make it make some modicum of sense, but safe to say that comics time moves slowly enough so that Batman will never turn forty, and that anyone who tries to wrap their brain around comics time will end up with a migraine, and leave it at that.

Still with me? Then let’s move on to the main attraction.

( Delicious Crack Universe )

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Anakin/Padme
Author on LJ:
Author Website:
Why this must be read:

Because Anakin has been in love with Padme for ten years. Because he thought about her every single day. Because Padme didn't immediately recognise him. Because his looks made her feel uncomfortable. Because Obi-Wan used the Force to twist someone's mind and Luke learnt the same trick. Because Qui-Gon Jinn had no qualms in altering Watto's dice or trying to defraud him. Because Anakin Skywalker has the highest recorded midichlorian count and may be the Chosen One. Because the Jedi may have had a point about discouraging attachments.

Because falling in love isn't always a choice.

For a darker take on the Anakin/Padme romance during AotC, from Padme's POV.

Succumb

Hi, I'm Heather, and I'll be your West Wing driver for the month. I'll be focusing on Josh/Sam for the most part but stick around and I promise to throw some rare pairs at ya a bit later. Enjoy!

All Who Are Hungry, by Jane St. Clair (PG)
Fandom: The WEST WING
Pairing: Josh/Sam
Author on LJ: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Author Website: http://www.ravenswing.com/~mirrorgirl/door.html
Why this must be read: In All Who Are Hungry, Jane has once again shown her talent for keeping things simple and yet making her story memorable. Each character, no matter how small the role, rings true and provide just a little more insight into the Josh/Sam dynamic.

Oh, and I must mention that the way Jane weaves words is absolutely delicious.

( Excerpt )

All Who Are Hungry

Hola, I'm Steph, and I get the dubious distinction of driving the crack van for Alias a mere week after the whacked out season finale. I will do my best. You should know that like many in the fandom, I'm fond of Sark and slash, so you'll be seeing a lot of that here, though I'll try to mix it up a bit too. My first two recs are Sark/Weiss stories, because I love Sark and I love Weiss, so why wouldn't I love them together?

Fandom: ALIAS
Pairing: Julian Sark/Eric Weiss
Author on LJ: shadesofbrixton
Author Website: here
Why this must be read:

I'll be honest. Pretty much the main reason I signed up to drive for Alias is so I'd get to rec this story. Brix has already been mentioned here a zillion times, which is why I'm surprised this story never got its due. Weiss is perfectly Weiss, which you won't doubt if you've read Brix's other stories. She obviously has great affection for him, and it shows in everything she writes. Sark here is sly, seductive and full of chutzpah. It takes place probably...mid-second season, but I'm not sure, and it's not really important anyway. Just realize that these were the days before Lauren and Nadia.

The plot is a bit like a game of tag. They're both attracted to each other (though Weiss feels understandably appalled at the same time), and Sark, ever the hedonist, decides to take what he wants, much to Weiss's shock. One person makes a move and the other follows, until finally Sark gets sick of the game and settles things once and for all. There's kidnapping, double crossing, sex and sarcastic banter the way that only Weiss and Sark can do it.

( Excerpt )

Somewhere Along The Way
And Then Again
Having

Hi all, I'm Mary Crawford and I'll be doing recs for Hercules: the Legendary Journeys for June, concentrating on Hercules & Iolaus stories - slash, gen and all points in between.

Happily, ltlj has done all the work for me by writing an excellent H:tLJ fandom overview forcrack_van, a Hercules/Iolaus essay for ship_manifesto and reccing a whole bunch of great stories in the fandom.

I'll start things off with a favorite h/c adventure story.

Fandom: HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS
Pairing: none, it's gen.
Author on LJ: sivib
Author Website: Sivi's Fanfic
Why this must be read:

I love hurt/comfort stories, but there is an unfortunate tendency in part of the fandom to turn Iolaus into a wimp who can't take care of himself. (See also: Whiny!Blair, Abused!Methos, and Cult of the Pallid Hunter, The.) Hecate's Chalice isn't one of that ilk. Iolaus gets into trouble - gets seriously hurt, in fact - but he solves his own problems and remains his feisty self:

( Excerpt )

Hecate's Chalice is a long, well-plotted adventure story with great original characters and a real episode feel to it, the kind of story you save to reread on a rainy day. Also, there's a sly nod to one of my favourite fantasy novels, Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds, that makes me grin every time I see it. This is the author's only H:tLJ story, and I live in hope that she'll write more.

Hecate's Chalice

Greetings! I'm faramir_boromir, and for those of you who know your LOTR, you'll figure out that means I fancy the boys from Gondor. My reading preferences are slash, and sometimes incest-slash, but I'll read just about anything from the LOTR fen so long as it is Man-related. And that brings me to the first rec I have this month:

Fandom: LOTR
Story Title: "Bored"
Pairing: None (features Denethor, Boromir, Faramir, and an OMC)
Author on LJ: Unknown. Name given as make_it_stop
Author Website: Posted in LJ at faramir_fics
Why this must be read:

This is parody, pure and simple. What would happen if Denethor's and Faramir's ability to "read men's hearts" were taken to such an extreme that they could torture each other at the dinner table over trivialities? This is told partly from the perspective of a new recruit to the Tower Guard, who's been forced to watch the family eat dinner together for a few months, and can't stand it any more.

Though it's pretty short for parody, I'll put a bit of it here, and then you can hit faramir_fics to read the rest, and fangirl make_it_stop for her genius.

Unfortunately, Faramir had just accidentally glimpsed his father’s plans for his birthday present. It happened every year, no matter how circumspect Denethor tried to be. This time, Faramir didn’t even bother trying to conceal his knowledge, or his reaction to it.

- Dad, that scabbard belt you’re planning to have made for my birthday? I like green better than brown.
- Not again! There’s no point in trying to surprise you. None whatsoever.
- Also I’m a size 7, not a size 9. Size 9 is Boromir.
- If you weren’t such a daisy-munching sissy, and visited the Houses of Exercise every now and then, a size 9 would fit you.
- I don’t even need a scabbard belt. You gave me one last year. And the year before. And the year before that.
- Okay, Mister Negativity. Then maybe I won’t get you anything at all.

“Pass the peas,” said Boromir.

Read the rest of it here.

Hi, I'm Sonia and I'll be taking the wheel for the Highlander recs this month. Luckily for me there has been a lot of really wonderful new Highlander stories posted recently. This is just one of them.

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Author on LJ: carenejeans
Author Website: The Garret
Why this must be read: Because it's brand new and wonderful and Carene handles the characterisations with a beautifully deft and easy hand. Because it's hot and funny and doesn't miss a step throughout the whole thing. Because how often do you hear Methos complain about too much sex? And there are pirates!

( Look here, little fangirl... )

Too Much Monkey Business