Fandom: THE OC
Pairing: Ryan/Seth
Author on LJ: wearemany
Author Website: i am one and we are many
Why this must be read: What fandom doesn’t have an AU where one of the main characters was a hooker? It’s kind of a requirement. Every fandom seems to have its own version of Pretty Woman, except usually without a happy ending. Or the shopping scene. Or anything other than the hookery... Anyways, this fic is superb. This is one of those fics that make me wish I was better at reccing because I know I’m not doing it justice. The sex! The dialogue! Everything! Perfection. Just go read, you won’t regret it.

( excerpt )


The Difference Between Breaking the Bank and Just Breaking Even
and it’s sequel: Everybody’s Looking Like the Color of Money

Fandom: FARSCAPE
Pairings: John/Aeryn, D'argo(Jr)/OFC, OFC/OMC, Aeryn/OMC
Author on LJ: None
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

One of the staples of Farscape fanfic is futurefic, glimpses into the lives of our beloved characters and their possible destinies after the cut-off point of either the series or - now that it's been released everywhere - The Peacekeeper Wars Mini-Series. Even with the amount of loose ends tied up by PK Wars, there are plenty of strands a clever writer can follow up on.

In an interconnected series of fics, Chaz tells us the story of D'argo Sun-Crichton, right from the end of The Peacekeeper Wars, crying in his auntie Chi's arms, through conferring with his parents on the arrival of his brother Jack Talyn, to searching out the half-sister he and JT have never met, to the far future where the Sun-Crichton boys have married and had little Sun-Crichtons of their own.

Chaz populates her rich and involving future history with both perfectly rendered future versions of canon characters - particularly Aeryn Sun, Chiana, Braca, and Scorpius - and a sparkling array of original characters, fully fleshed out and just as endearing as the canon Moyans. Between the two is her D'argo, taking what is nearly a non-entity in canon and developing him through his life until he is a unique and fully realized person, with many of his parents’ qualities and a unique spark of his own.

While the entire series is fantastic, the concluding story "Reports of My Demise" is the crown jewel, a self-contained epic adventure featuring the Sun-Crichtons and the "Peacemongers" they founded embroiled in a scheme to keep the galaxy safe from the Scarrans for once and for all, even if sacrifices must be made.

( I knew your father personally, you know. He was...an extraordinary person. )

Go, read, enjoy, review, and meet me back here for my parting shot.

Reports of My Demise

The rest of the series, for those interested in backstory:

One For My Baby, And One More For the Road (PG)
The More Things Change (PG-13)
Family Planning (R)
A Step Behind (G)

Fandom: LotRiPS
Pairing: Viggo/Orlando, a bit of Billy/Dom/Elijah and just a hint of Elijah/Orlando
Author on LJ: _cee
Author Website: fanfiction by cee
Why this must be read:

I've had a wonderful time driving the van this month, re-discovering old favorites and hopefully helping some people find new ones. My last rec of the month is, appropriately, a Vigorli epic. I feel so lucky that this fic was finished this month, because now it's all mine to rec. Anyway, I almost don't want to summarize this, because nothing that I could say could be equal to the power and grace of the author's own words; however, it's kind of my job, so I'll give it a shot. This is a brilliant AU fic that places photographer!Viggo in New Orleans, where he acquaints himself with a group of street urchins, thieves and sooth-sayers, headed by Orlando. Each of the characters represented here, from Viggo and Orlando all the way down to Liv and Sean Bean, are gloriously flawed and beautifully written. The story itself is chock full of sex, angst and New Orleans heat. Set aside an afternoon and read the whole thing in one sitting-- It will stay with you for days after.

Viggo rubs at his mouth, his palm scraping the two-days' beard on his chin. "I like to think I'm pretty hard to freak out. I mean, I. I'm not going to tell you that you don't break my fuckin' heart, kid, but-"

"Why?" Elijah interrupts. He flicks ash on the floor, shaking his head. "I'm not, not sad. I'm fucking alive. This. This-" He waves at his eye. "-is nothing."

"I'm sorry, I-"

"See, okay, dude, the. It's like, of all the things I resent in the world - which include but are not limited to: bad coffee, paper cuts, tourists, monkeys and that fucking Doors song 'Hello, I Love You' - the thing I resent most is people assuming things about me, and particularly people assuming that I did not choose this." Elijah takes a long drag on his cigarette, his eyes narrowing. "So don't, actually. Don't tell me I break your heart. I can still change my mind about you."

( Read more... )

Sorry that I have to list each chapter individually, but the memories are down right now so I can't get to the index...

Go. Now. Read The King of New Orleans:
part one
( The rest of the chapters... )

Fandom: HORATIO HORNBLOWER
Pairing: Captain William Bush
Author on LJ:NA
Author Website:NA
Why this must be read:

This is the final rec for the month of June.

As they begin, so do they end. With Caudebec. And 100 words to sum it all up. Brilliant drabble. Perfect use of the form.

Idler has set this firmly in the Hornblower book canon and it presupposes knowledge of the events in Lord Hornblower and Flying Colors, but if you have sampled any of the fics recommended this past month related to the subject of Caudebec, you will have no trouble seeing the meaning.

Pretty men in pretty uniforms. Dashing and courageous. Yes. But there is always a price.

God Help Sailors ...

Fandom: THE OC
Pairing: Seth/Trey; Seth/Ryan
Author on LJ: julissak01
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read: I really like this fic because every time I re-read it I find something new I like. There was an explosion of Seth/Trey fic after Trey’s debut episodes. This one is very, very high on the list of great Seth/Trey fics. (Trey is Ryan’s older brother. See the family resemblance? Neither do I. Trey was in jail for stealing a car. He moved into the Cohen’s poolhouse for a while.)

( excerpt )

Supersonic

Fandom: FARSCAPE
Pairing: John/Aeryn
Author on LJ: trajictale
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

And now we come around full circle. I kicked off the month with a perfect intro to the series, I know finish with a perfect summation that while much more effective if you've seen the series, also hits nearly all of the high points and peaks your curiosity for the full story. It does stop at Bad Timing, however, so feel free to read and then watch the Mini-Series spoiler-free.

Lest you shy away from this one due to the title, I should let you know that I too have read a cubic ton of parody fics of the "Secret Diary" variety, and while fun fluff they do tend to be marked by widely out-of-character remarks and situations, played up for comic effect. This is not that sort of Diary fic. This is in fact a fairly good portrayal of what John may indeed be scribbling in that notebook of his, and weaves together snark, buffoonery, mush, and angst as seamlessly as the show itself.

( Aeryn has great breasts. )

Plus! It's illustrated. John Crichton apparently draws as well as he sings. You've been warned.

Go, read, and scribble in the margins.

The Not So Secret Diary of John Crichton

~~~

Well, that's it for me. It's been a blast! Hope you all liked this tour of the weirder side of the fandom, and if not, you can always add your name to the cue and get me to read what you like. Win-win situation, really. Thank you shaggirl and stopawhile for giving me this incredible opportunity, and thank you to everybody who let me know how good a job I was doing. Peace. *tosses keys to harsheve*

Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Not...really.
Author On LJ: nifra_idril
Author Website: Neon Nights

Why this must be read:

This is my favorite story of Nifra's, mostly because her Lex in here makes you feel really, really badly for what the hell is coming Clark's way. You can't help but feel for Lex, he's just...drowning but damned if he isn't going to take everyone with him when he falls. The structure, the plot, everything is just amazing. I can't really describe it, you just have to go and read it. She starts out here--

Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance to the State.

It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry, which can on no account be neglected.

The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one's deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field.

These are: (1) Military Philosophy; (2) The Weather; (3) The Ground; (4) The Commander; (5) Military Methods. ”

...and takes it to places like this:

And, at twenty-three, Lex knows that he’s about to begin fighting on another front, as well – he’s already begun his half of the arms race. He’s not naïve; there have been skirmishes and there has been friendly fire, but he and Clark have reached a truce so uneasy, so fragile that it will clearly shatter. There will be war, no matter what they would have happen instead. Lex will be ready, though Clark was born with his arsenal in place.

A Warlike Prince

Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Author On LJ: meret
Author Website: Meret's SV Site

I can think of no better way to wind up my month on crack_van than to rec this story. One of the best humor fics in the fandom, and remarkably easy for me to rec to people. This is one of the few stories I've let my RL best friend read, so I can speak to its universal appeal.

Clark has a talking penis. Who is ever slightly attracted to that cute bald guy down the road.

....why are you still here? Hey, hey, hey. This is *Smallville*. Weirder things have happened than having a loquacious penis.

Clark jerked upright in his bed, looking around for what had woken him. Had he been floating again?

"Lex."

Who was that? Turning his head back and forth, he scanned the room, but even using his x-ray vision revealed nothing. "Who said that?" he said, becoming increasingly creeped out.

"I did."

He saw movement under his sheets and whipped the covers off.

"Let me out of here. We need to talk."

No. It couldn't be. Hastily he pulled down his pajama bottoms. He watched aghast as his cock sprang up, the head bent toward him as if it was looking at him.

Priceless imagery herein. Kryptobiology

*dusts hands* It's been a good month. Happy Smallville Reading!

Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Author On LJ: astolat
Author Website: Fanfic by Shalott

Okay, I was wrong in that the last rec was my final rec. I looked at my list of things I started out with wanting to rec at the beginning of the month and I cannot believe I nearly forgot this one. I cannot believe all the reccers before me forgot this one!

This story is on the shorter side, but wow does it ever pack a punch. So chilling, so good. (Also, be aware that I really love the doomsday/ dark AU type of stories so you know, don't be surprised when this story goes where it....goes.)

Waiting for Yes

And now I'm *really* done.

Fandom: Starsky and Hutch
Pairing: None
Author On LJ: Not Known
Author Website: http://kerryok1.tripod.com/

Why this must be read:

Basically A Coffin for Starsky is one of my favrouite episodes (besides Shootout) and there are many different missing scenes you can write for it, but what I love is when someone tries to tell the story from a different prosepecive which is just what this one does. Only inside of choicing a different person it does something unique and even though at first I thought it was weird and really unsure about, but Karen has such a wonderful written style and the way she did it just works so well.

Extract:

Their hearts may run deep, but I sit high on my throne. Driving my threshing blade through his last defenses. Starsky may be a stubborn ox. Sure gave me a run for my satisfaction. But, even so, he is on ox on the way to the slaughter. I bullied him down to the dirt by his horns, and there he will lay. Rare jeweled look or not.

I am confused however, mind you. The voice of their eyes holds an understanding my wickedness can never ascertain, but none the less, to the depths of his burial place I shall send him. You loose Hutch! I win! You can't stop me.

Starsky opens his lips to speak, but little more than a stray breath is produced. I expect to hear some great influential words of wisdom that will go down in the history books. "Hey." His lips barely move. I wait for more, but more never comes.

That's it? Hey? That's your last dying words upon this earth? Then they are separated by the Doctor, by time, and by me. Glory be!

<ahref="linkhttp://kerryok1.tripod.com/enemywithin.htm">The Enemy Within

Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: Howie Dorough / Chris Kirkpatrick
Author on LJ: ??
Author Website: Lois Lane Fic
Why this must be read:

Ending with one of my favorite pairings and the classic boy popstar turns into a girl plot. How can you go wrong?
Howie turns into a girl and uses this opportunity to hook up with straight Chris, a long-time crush. I like how Howie is depressed and lost as a girl. Being a girl can be fun, but he is too focused on what he's lost to enjoy the novelty. It isn't until he throws emotional caution to the wind that he can reap the benefits. The rest of the Boys are fun as well. Kevin is worried, Brian is shocked, AJ is sweet, and Nick is confusedly attracted.


( AJ tossed the rest of his cigarette out of the window and rolled it back up. "Kevin thinks you need to get laid." )

What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful) by Lois

Fandom: FIREFLY
Pairing: Simon/Jayne
Author on LJ:
Author Website: http://www.geocities.com/kylielee1000/
Why this must be read:
This is the first part of a series but it stands alone well. The tension between Jayne and Simon is palpable and well played out leading to a quite hot sex scene. River and Kaylee are nicely written and the whole story holds together really well. There are a lot of little bits that make me grin and the dialogue is good canon-esque dialogue.

Assets

Fandom: Man from Uncle

Pairing: Gen/pre slash (N/I)

Author: Rosemary

On LJ: tiranog

Website: (This story) Chrome and Gunmetal

Why this story must be read: One of the things I was quite keen to do while reccing MFUf was to find less usual sources than file 40. I love reading peoples recs from 40 but they are always revisits for me. I know that C and G is also a big well known archive but it seems to be less well represented here. This story is one I found new when looking for recs for Crack Van. I read it and only after loving it discovered that it was written by one of my favourite Harry Potter authors. It is one of my fav set ups.. how Ilya and Napoleon met, this one is credible and is also a good MFU story line. Also, at least to my probably warped mind, it is pre slash. All good stuff and by a great author, what more do you need?

He stared down at the fine boned man before him for a moment, assessing. The dark, rumpled suit beneath the lab coat looked like someone's cast offs. Kuryakin's file proclaimed him to be eleven years Solo's junior. Every picture Napoleon had seen of the man made the Russian look like a bookish, high school kid. There was nothing either bookish or childlike about the man in the flesh. Staring into those frosty blue eyes, Solo was under no misconception. He'd just met another killer.

"If you wouldn't mind the company, I'd rather leave the chair right here. You mind?" Solo politely gestured at the seat across from the Russian.

The gaze sharpened on him, burning into his face like a vivid blue laser. "No, I've been expecting you. Please sit down." Those piercing eyes temporarily left Solo's face to scan the immediate vicinity.

Napoleon couldn't help but notice how silent the surrounding tables had become. Rather like Dodge City, he thought, just before two gun slingers started blasting away at each other. He wasn't surprised to see some of the other nearby diners pick up their half eaten meals and leave the possible combat arena.

"Thank you." Napoleon placed his own tray down. The lamb stew had looked large when he'd ordered it, but compared to Kuryakin's repast, it now seemed tiny. "What did you mean when you said you'd been expecting me?

"You've come to seal our leak. I take it that I am not under arrest yet," Kuryakin calmly commented as he took another bite of his food.

The Story

Fandom: FIREFLY
Pairing: Simon/Jayne
Author on LJ: inalasahl
Author Website: http://inalasahl.compromisingpositions.net/
Why this must be read:
I really like the details and the development of the relationship between Simon and Jayne in this story. The world is fully realised and the supporting characters support the relationship. And well, hot sex.

Reconciliation

Fandom: MFUF

Pairing: IK/OMC IK/NS (pre slash)

Author website: (This story) File 40

Why this story must be read:

And to finish, its been a busy month chez Kulfold and I haven't done nearly the recs I could have done, but possibly I've sent the afficionado's to some new places and given any newbies some food for thought. So this is unashamed angsty fluff. Its redeeming features are great Ilya backstory, good MFU story structure, gratutious sex, Ilya hurting and Napoleon being a very big man indeed - in fact why I am apologising for it?

When he spoke, Napoleon’s voice was calm and very quiet, another sign of danger.  “So what have I come to say?  Please, enlighten me.”

 Illya was not going to back down now.  He preferred a quick open confrontation to dancing round the subject.  “You came to say, ‘Thank you very much for everything, but on the whole I don’t want a little foreign rent-boy as my partner.  Now that I know that‘s what you are, I want to call it a day and end the partnership.’  I understand, Napoleon, just say it and go.”

The Story

 

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Methos/Kronos
Author on LJ: lannamichaels
Author Website: unknown

Why this must be read: Because you can never get enough black humour. And Methos and Kronos are made for the blackest humour. In this short fic, Lanna packs a lot of laughs into a few words. Methos is demanding, pushy and difficult. Kronos is homicidal, determined and obsessive. Together there is blood and pain and death. Lots of death. But Methos likes it that way.

You will too. It's dead funny, pardon the pun.

Necro-Eroticism.