Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ:
Author Website: Devine Madness

Why this must be read:

There are lots of alley scenes in Pros. There is a rather painful one in Ringing in the Changes, just reccd. Here’s another: one without angst, promiscuous, full frontal sexuality, kinked and slightly insane. Have fun, be safe.

Monopoly

Edit 9 June 06. The Circuit Archive link is now:
Monopoly
I've left the old link in place in case the domain is returned.

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Gen
Author on LJ:
Author Website: Her SW fic is indexed here
Why this must be read:

By the beginning of ESB Vader has discovered Luke's identity and is intent on finding him, with the crushing of the Rebellion almost an afterthought. This story - between ANH and ESB - shows how that obsession might have come into being.

This shows a visit by Vader and the Emperor to a burnt-out farm on Tatooine. It depicts a detached Vader - stunned by the discovery of a son - rediscoving his anger, and a deceptive Emperor intent on manipulating his apprentice, yet still with plans within plans. And all this takes place on the back-drop of the Lars farmstead amid Force echoes of Luke's childhood. You can see in Vader both the father who will betray his master to save his son and the man who will torture others to find him.

( Excerpt )

Shifting sands

Fandom: STAR TREK VOYAGER
Pairing: Janeway/Chakotay
Author on LJ: cruisedirector
Author Website: Your Cruise Director's Voyager Stories
Why this must be read:

There are so many 'Janeway finally gives in to her feelings for Chakotay' stories, but this one is special. It's romantic and playful and realistic, all at the same time, and the characters remain sharply in character throughout. As the title implies, this is a one time only deal--or so it's meant to be. This story makes me nostalgic for the early seasons' J/C, and more than a little wistful that it never played out like this.

Once

Fandom: due South
Pairing: Fraser/RayK
Author on LJ: nestra
Author Website: Nestra's Pantheon
Why this must be read:

Must confess, this was written for me by nestra in her kissing challenge thing. So lovely. Fraser and Kowalski should be kissing. You know they do it all the time, huddled up in bed when it's raining outside (like it is today).

Spring Thaw

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: unovis_lj
Author Website: Stories by Unovis

Why this must be read: Because it's a brand new fic from Unovis and it's a rare writer who can write Kronos amusingly and keep him perfectly in character, but she seems to do it effortlessly. Kronos' voice is exactly right all through this funny, literate and very well-written vignette. Kronos is malevolent, vengeful and homicidal, just as he should be.

And did I mention it's funny?

Kronos is fresh out of the well (where Methos trapped him in the Revelations 6:8 out-takes), the world has changed, and he is most displeased about the fact. He goes hunting, but things don't go as planned.

( a small taste... )

Like Patience on a Monument

Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: AJ McLean / JC Chasez
Author on LJ: pierson
Author Website: Infinite Passions
Why this must be read:

Since this is also JC month in Livejournal Land, I wanted to add some JC to the Backstreet goodness and since the most popular pairing is JC/AJ (otherwise known as letterboys), this is the way I went. This is a college-AU story although most of the action happens around their student jobs at the radio station and a bookstore. It has all of the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC as supporting players as JC and AJ build a relationship.

In most of their stories together JC and AJ are portrayed as bendy, kinky sexaholics. And nothing else. What I like about this story is that it has the components of those stock characterizations of JC and AJ but then expands them into greater depth, maturity and 3-dimensionality. AJ is post-rehab and getting his life together. He's been there and done that but hasn't been broken down by his fall. Instead he has gained a truckload of self-awareness and inner-peace while maintaining his edgy and sexy personality. I probably like JC's characterization more though. It has a lot of the standards of kitten!JC- flighty, pink-loving, sex-obsessed, and endearment-heavy- but this JC incorporates all of that without losing his mature masculinity and strength as so often happens.


( A voice that managed to be both smooth like rich black velvet and rough as a cat's tongue slid from the speakers )


Love and Other Miscommunications by Deirdre

Fandom: HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS
Author Website: The Less Than Legendary Journeys
Why this must be read:

A Young Hercules story told in Hercules', Iolaus' and Jason's letters home. I've never seen epistolary form used in this fandom before, but this is just perfectly done and very funny. Liz Sharpe makes excellent use of the different points of view in telling her tale. She drops a hint here, then another there, and builds joke upon joke, managing to save the best joke for last.

( Excerpt )

Letters Home From The Academy

Fandom: THE OC
Pairing: Theresa/Trey, Theresa/Ryan
Author on LJ: torchthisnow
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read:

Most people who know me know that I only read slash. So if I rec a het!fic, it must be splendiferous. Well, this is het and this is splendiferous. I’m usually heterophobic when it comes to fanfiction in the OC, so I rarely read a good Theresa fic, but I think this one more than made up for the lack. The characterization is so spot on. I only wish clem’s ending for Theresa and Trey could have been the same on the show.

Times Like These

Attn. Drivers: Tomorrow's the last Friday of the month, which means Friday Night Drive-In, a.k.a. Fan Vid Recs.

Reccers may post 1 vid rec for their fandom, formatted as follows:

Subject Line: VID REC: Fandom - Song Title

Vidder:
Musical artist:
Pairing:
Vidder on LJ:
Vidder's website:
Why this vid kicks ass:


Because the vidder community has some unique ownership issues, it’s important that reccers be extra careful when making vid recs. Depending on the vidder’s preferences regarding public access to their work, please link your rec in the appropriate manner:

1. If the video is publicly accessible, direct link to the web page the vid is linked on, or if it’s the vidder’s request, to the HTML splash page of their site.

or…

2. Link to the site with instructions on acquiring the password, if the site is protected – do not reveal the password yourselves.

or…

3. Provide contact info for the vidder if their vids are only available privately (tapes, dvd-R’s, collections, etc.).


Do not:
Hotlink, i.e. link directly to the video file rather than the webpage.
Re-upload videos that a vidder has removed from the web.
Delay in removing a vid rec if requested to do so by the vidder.

Thank you!

Fandom: OZ
Pairing: Beecher/Keller
Author on LJ: maverick4oz
Author Website: Maverick's stories at Unit B
Why this must be read:

If loving this is wrong, I don't want to be right. Can you say "instant classic"?

This was a piece written for the Cuff ‘Em, Vamp ‘Em, or Just Make ‘Em Come Already Kink and Cliché Multi-Fandom Challenge by one of the best "Oz" boosters in the universe. Speaking of universes, it is a more recent entry in a similar universe to the story in my last rec, in that it has (pre-Oz?) Chris Keller on the prowl, looking for fresh meat.

I'll leave the rest of the "Why this must be read" answer to Mav herself: "This is by far the dirtiest, nastiest, most graphic story I have ever written." Oh, my!


Read on: White Swallow

Fandom: ALIAS
Pairing: pre-Sydney Bristow/Julian Sark
Author on LJ: celli
Author Website: Fanfic 101
Why this must be read:

If the name of this story sounds familiar, it's because it's a quote from The Return of the King, the third in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Sark says the same line (with a slight modification) to Sydney that Frodo says to Sam.

Sydney's response to that made me laugh, as did this exchange:

( Excerpt )

It's good to see an Alias fan that can mock the melodramatic relationship Sydney has with her mother (or, really, her melodramatic life in general). Sark calling her on it is hysterical to me, mostly because I could see Sydney saying something similar about the trilogy to Francie or Will or someone in a fit of self-pity. Yes, I do love Sydney, but if I had a nickel for everytime she cried on the show, I'd be a rich woman. Great ending, and good overall. Nice subtle Sark/Sydney, with neither of them bending out of character to get to it.

It's a short story, but it makes me smile. I know that recommending Celli Lane is pretty cliche at this point, but it's warranted. Every one of her stories reads like additional scenes from the show. Supplements, instead of fanfic. Enjoy.

The End Of All Things