Fandom: STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE
Pairing: Trip/T'Pol
Author on LJ: konstantine03
Author Website: A Pleasant Interruption
Why this must be read: Dusk is the events of the season three episode Twilight as seen from a Trip/T'Pol perspective. In this story, Konstantine explores what effects Archer's condition and the end of the world have on a relationship between the Trip and T'Pol by showing a "behind the scenes"-style series of vignettes throughout the episode's timeline. It's not a happily-ever-after, or a love story per se, but it is honest and a perfect example of "what if".

Stay, essentially, is a "missing scene" from Dusk and shows us how, sometimes, it's the little things that can mean the most.

( excerpt )

Dusk
Stay

Hi, my name is Mara and I'm thrilled to be driving the Batmobile for August. I'm fairly Gotham-centric, so the majority of my recs will involve Batman, Robin, or Nightwing, but I've mixed in some other folks for variety. I've also tried to pick stories that are accessible without knowing decades of incredibly confusing continuity, including older and newer stories.

Fandom: DC COMICS
Pairing: Dick Grayson/Tim Drake (aka Nightwing/Robin III)
Author on LJ: someinstant
Author Website: None as far as I can tell
Why this must be read:

Because this fic is brilliantly original in style and seamlessly gives us both the humor and the angst that are the highlights of anything that takes place in the world of Batman (the Batverse, as we say). This fic is slash, but even if you hate slash, read it. If you insist, you can stop reading once you hit the sex (which is at the end). But you won't regret giving the story a chance.

I find myself unable to briefly summarize the story except by using the author's summary: "Day fifty-seven. Nightwing appears discontent with territory. Consumes large quantities of fermented agave root. Does not eat the worm."

You know you want to read it. How can you resist a story with endnotes?

( Read an excerpt )

How Much String is in the World. Who Has It

Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing: Fifth Doctor/ Ace
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: http://www.geocities.com/pqlaertes
Why this must be read:

This fic has succeeded to the title of Hottest Fic in the Fandom. (since the fic that previously held that title has disapeared. Gah! I hate it when great authors decide to take their toys back and go home.)

Anyways, in addition to being hot, the characters in this fic are extremely well written. We have the fifth Doctor in all his uncertainty stepping greatly out of his depths and not being at all sure how to handle himself, and an Ace who is just as brash and forceful and damaged as she ever was. The way that they know each other despite the fact that he hasn't met her yet and she has never met this version of him is handled really well. This fic has been around for ages and is one of the classics in the fandom.

Triangle

Hi. I'm bitchygrrl and I'll be driving your LOTR van this month. I'll offer brothercest, dominant Legolas, femmeslash and a crossover or two. There will be more tradtional recs of course. I've loved LOTR since I was a child, but for those newer to the fandom, or only familiar with the movies, I'll try to stick with characters from the film. Note I said try, no promises, that a lesser known elf won't slip in. I hope you enjoy the ride. Buckle Up. :)

Fandom: LOTR
Pairing: Boromir/Faramir
Author on LJ: randi2204
Author:randi
Author Website:http://randi2204.tripod.com/
Why this must be read: It's tough to write a pairing that's inherently squicky, but this is the fic that broke my ban on brothercest. This story is so sweet you forget any reservations you may have had after the first few lines. What makes this story special is that it manges to show a softer side of Boromir, but is still true to his basic nature. There is some tendency to portray him as brutish,it is avoided here. I fear my summary does this story no justice so I offer an excerpt.
( Read more... )
Close Your Eyes

Hi, I'm halfdutch and I'll be your Lost driver for August. For me, Lost is all about Sawyer (the snark! the sex! the angst!) and the fandom is all about Jack/Sawyer, but I'm happy to bring you some amazing gen, het, and slash fics that don't feature Jack/Sawyer as well.

Fandom: LOST
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: hackthis
Author Website: dysFUNctional
Why this must be read:

There have been so many fics that attempt to sketch in the spaces between what little we know of Sawyer's past but this is one of the most haunting. The angst is palpable (as it should be in any Sawyer-centric fic) but it's the unexpected details here that get to you, like portraying his mother as an aristocratic Southern belle with a penchant for chansons. A sad and beautiful fic for a sad and beautiful character.


Diamonds on the Inside

( an excerpt )

Hi, I'm Jenavira, and I'll be reccing for Pirates of the Caribbean this month. I've got a weird selection of recs, some of which I've had bookmarked since weeks after the movie first came out. I'm primarily a Sparrington fangirl, but I've got a bit of gen thrown in here, too.

Fandom: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Pairing: Jack/Will...then Jack/Will/Elizabeth, Jack/Will/Elizabeth/Norrington, Jack/Will/Elizabeth/Norrington/Barbossa...
Author on LJ: flamedame
Author Website: the link's dead, unfortunately
Why this must be read:

For my first rec, an old fic -- from back when the movie was still in theatres. One of the things I love about this fandom is how quickly it got on to making fun of itself. The movie carried around quite a few cliches on its own, and fandom quickly added on some more. Mandolin did a great job of lambasting all the cliches that multiply so quickly in slash fic. After all, you can never mock euphamisms too much.

It's just a short little series, and silly as all hell.

Shagging Sparrow
Part Two: Revenge of the Fetish
Part Three: It Came From Will Turner

Hi! I'm Karen and I'll be driving you through the world of The Sentinel this month. I like a wide range of fic styles. I'm very picky about the character voices, so I hope you will be happy with my choices. I'm primarily slash, but I will probably put in a few gen fics. I hope you enjoy my selections.


Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

Lemon Drop really knows Jim and Blair, and the feel of The Sentinel. This is a nice long first time fic with a strong focus on their work as detectives. The story develops well and includes interesting original characters. Oh, and also really hot sex.


A Man of Integrity

Fandom: BLAKE'S 7
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: watervole
Author Website: Hermit.org
Why this must be read:

I'm Daisee Chain, and I'm steering the Blake's 7 Crack Van for August.

In honour of David Jackson the actor who played Gan, and who sadly died a few days ago, I decided to make my first rec a Gan story. Sculpture is a quiet back story filling in gaps in Gan's history. The story is set post-season 1, so there's a major spoiler for events involving Gan. The writing is spare and clean, the style I prefer.

It explores love and loss in the lives of two very different but lonely men, and while there is despair, it is ultimately a story of unexpected friendship.

Sculpture

Hi, I'm partners4life and I'll be your X-Files driver for August. First and foremost, I am a 'shipper, a Mulder/Scully 'shipper. But this month I am going to try and expand my horizons and rec some slash pairings too. Mainly, Skinner/Krycek and Mulder/Krycek. I may throw in a little Doggett/Reyes smut too, you never know!

So, everybody jump in the van and lets get going.


Fandom: The X-Files
Pairing: Skinner/Krycek
Author on LJ: josanpq or tales_of_josan
Author Website: Josan

Why this must be read: If anyone could make me believe in the Skinner/Krycek pairing, it is Josan. Her Sk/K stories are hot, compelling and full of wonderful characterizations between Skinner and Ratboy.

In this story, Skinner goes looking for Krycek and when he finds him, he wants to exact revenge, which is why the story is called, "The Fuck." Guess what type of revenge he wants? *g*

However, instead of falling into that tired cliche and leaving the story like that, Josan goes the extra mile and has Skinner fall in love with Krycek. Then, Walter does everything in his power to woo Krycek into falling in love with him also. Alex is not amused, but you will be.

Deeply moving and humorous at the same time, Josan is able to weave a tale of love, lust and forgiveness.



The Fuck

Hi, I'm Rhi, and I'll be driving the Highlander Crack Van this month. I suppose I should say now that I've always had a thing for the more minor characters. Since there are clearly plenty of people happy to recommend good Duncan/Methos slash, my recs will mostly focus on the rest of the cast. Not entirely, though, knowing me. Other than that, I like het, slash, and gen, so everything goes. I hope you enjoy these. Even more, I hope you find some new stories to enjoy, or old favorites you'd forgotten.

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Connor MacLeod/Matthew McCormick
Author on LJ: killabeez
Author Website: Killa's Adventures in Melodrama
Why this must be read: Because there's so little Connor slash, and so little of that set in the past. Because the story starts off with both a (literal) bang and some lethal misunderstandings, and then deals with the ramifications of both. Because it's got two gorgeous, sarcastic men trading snarky comments when they're not consoling each other about mistakes, past and present. And because the final paragraph makes me sit and smile every time I read it.

( To whet your appetite )

"Waylaid", by Killa. Don't forget to click the link to the visual aid she did for the story, either!

(Disclaimer: I encouraged this story, although I didn't beta it. However, that strikes me as more of a reason to recommend it, not less.)

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Mulder/Scully
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Sarah's web site


Why this must be read: Ten years later, this is still one of the most amazing MSR stories out there in my opinion.

The story starts with Mulder and Scully on a stakeout, but they are kidnapped and taken aboard a spaceship. The aliens do tests, which are horrendous, and it is during this time the pair come to rely on each other for comfort and moral support. Nearly a year passes --or so it seems -- and Mulder and Scully fall deeply in love.

Many things happen (I don't want to give away this cool plot point, I will let you read it and find out) and eventually the aliens return Fox and Dana to Earth, where they note only a day has passed, not a year. However, Mulder and Scully don't remember what happened.

It is only the sound a wind chimes (what they aliens used to signal when one of them was being taken or returned after the experiments) that brings it all back: their love and loss and why they are destined to be involved in each other's lives forever.

For those fans who have issues with non-con scenarios, this has one in it. Basically, aliens make them do it. If you don't like those type of stories (and this is not too graphic and is resolved in a satisfactory way), then don't read this story.


Note: I am having problems with the direct link to the story. But this one seems to work. Scroll 3/4ths down the page and story is listed under 'Sound of Wind Chimes, The.' Click there.


The Sound of Wind Chimes

Hi, I'm theantimodel and I'm happy to be reccing for The West Wing this month. I'm a Sam/Josh girl myself, but I've tried to branch out a bit for reccing purposes. I'm mostly into slash, but I'll try to mix it up because for me, The West Wing has always been about the characters and fanfic is just a really good excuse to explore them even more.

Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: Josh/Donna
Author on LJ: smut_queen
Author Website: no formal site, but all fic is in her memories
Why this must be read:

I'm not big on the het, but I wanted to branch out when I got called up for crack_van duties. And well, every fandom needs an apocalypse story or two (or ten!) So when I saw this one I decided to take a chance. And it was well worth it. Coming from popfandom, which has possibly the largest selection of brilliantly worked AUs of every variety, I've always enjoyed a good AU. And this story certainly provided it. The writing is sparse, but in a world overtaken by an apocalyptic plague, it works perfectly.

He stepped closer, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “I’m sure they’ll need manual laborers.”

“You can’t do that. Not anything strenuous.”

“Then I’ll … cook.”

“Oh, that’s great,” she said sarcastically. “And if there were a newspaper around here, the headline would read, ‘182 People Survive Apocalyptic Plague, Only to Die, Tragically, of Food Poisoning, at the Hands of Joshua Lyman.’”

“That’s a bit long for a headline, isn’t it?”

Apocafic

Fandom: The Professionals
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read:

Hi I'm Doylebaby and I'll be driving The Professionals van in August!

A story that shows the deep caring Bodie and Doyle have for each other. Every little gesture and look on their faces is no mystery to the other. Unable to have contact they find another way to entertain themselves: they watch each other without knowing it.

( read some excerpts )

Through a Glass Darkly

Hi, I'm Ceares and I'll be driving the van for QAF this month. I've never done this before, so bear with me. I'm a Brian/Justin fan, but in honor of the series end, I'll try and mix it up a little. I will be reccing future fics since I'm a big fan, and it's interesting to see some author's visions of the future of the gang, and I'm going to try and recommend at least one story representing each season. (Takes a deep breath) Okay, here we go.

Fandom:QAF:US
Pairing:Brian/Justin:
Author on LJ:>ConcernedLily
Author Website:None
Why this must be read: As QAF draws
to a close, I admit my nostalgia is already kicking in.
This is a piece set in the first season, and it
beautifully captures the dynamic between Brian and
Justin at the beginning of their relationship.

Don't Forget Your Toothbrush

I'm Steph, and I'll be driving the popslash tour bus this month. I have to admit that I'm completely an NSYNC girl, so that's pretty much all you're getting this month. However, I'll try to vary the genres and pairings as best I can.

Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: Chris Kirkpatrick/JC Chasez
Author on LJ: lucyhale
Author Website: FuBitch Academy
Why this must be read:

I've noticed in my years in the popslash fandom that the AUs are particularly good. I think the reason for this is that since it's RPS, and therefore the characters are real, fully formed people, it's easy to imagine them with the same personalities in a different setting. This story is a high school AU, and if you know anything about popslash, you know that high school AUs can be their own subgenre in the world of fanfic. Lucy's story is the best one I've come upon, and I've come upon many.

The story, told primarily from Joey's perspective, starts out by referencing The Breakfast Club, a movie that many writers of this subgenre owe their thanks to. The premise is that Joey grows up in Brooklyn where there really aren't strict social cliques, and everyone mingles with everyone else. Then he moves to Orlando during his junior year of high school, and steps right into, as he puts it, The Breakfast Club. The audience meets the young, pretty, impressionable jock Justin, the reluctant book geek Lance, the spacy art and choir freak JC and the angry, vulnerable outcast from the wrong side of the tracks Chris. Joey, ever the nice guy, can't abide by these social strictures.

( Joey's plan )

Lucy loves Chris as much as I do, and it's obvious through her fond, sympathetic characterization of him. If you aren't familiar with his history, Chris' mother raised him and his four younger sisters alone, and they lived in poverty for most of his childhood. I can really see Lucy's representation of Chris as an alternate outcome of his life if he didn't have his quick wit and loud mouth to gain the respect of his peers.

Best Laid Plans

Hi, I'm Nemo and I'll be your Stargate Atlantis driver this month. For the most part this month is going to be all about the porn, the whole porn and nothing but the porn. What can I say, I know what I like and I like, as you may have guessed, porn.

To get off this week, we'll start with one of my favorite kinks, genres, cliches, species and or genus (I say potato, you say potahto) - Aliens Made Them Do It.

Enjoy!

*************

Fandom: STARGATE ATLANTIS
Pairing: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard
Author on LJ: kylielee1000
Author Website: Slash Fan Fiction
Why this must be read: Kylie Lee has written this story in a way that's quick and breathless and a perfect mirror of the action. After that, it's all about the porn.


"No," he gasped, and "no," but it wasn't no, it wasn't no at all, it was yes, the way he said it, the way he reached down and touched Rodney's head, it was assent, but he couldn't want this, couldn't want this, because don't ask don't tell. Rodney's warm mouth, his hands, his eyes when he looked up--and he couldn't do this, but he couldn't not.

Assent

Hi, I'm Bradamante, back with some more great Star Trek stories to share with all of you! I'll be recommending mainly slash stories, and mostly older gems that may not have been seen by those in the livejournal-world.

Fandom: STAR TREK: TOS
Pairing: Kirk / Spock
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: jat_sapphire's story pages
Why this must be read:
Pon Farr stories are certainly a cliche in Kirk/Spock slash, but when done well they can be an interesting expansion of what was shown in the actual episode. "Still Amok" follows the infamous "Amok Time" episode - Kirk and Spock are back safely on the Enterprise, T'Pring has been foiled, but is Spock's Pon Farr really over? It's a realistic view of how Spock, and Kirk, might react to circumstances beyond their control.

The sequel, "Coals of Fire", is a fabulous episode-length story that follows immediately on the events of "Still Amok". It has political intrigue, great original characters, an interesting plot, and some serious hurt/comfort...and the happy ending that is denied the reader at the end of "Still Amok". Both are well worth reading. The author also has a few other prequels set in the same universe on her "Star Trek: The Original Series Fiction" page. Well-written and intriguing, these stories truly take you beyond the episode.

Still Amok
Coals of Fire, Prologue (subsequent parts are linked at the bottom)

Hi all, my name is Kay and I'll be driving the Sports Night crack van this month. Most of my favorite stories in this fandom are Dan/Casey, but it is also a great fandom for humorous and dramatic general stories as well, so with any luck I'll have some variety when it comes to my recs. And now on to a... Dan/Casey rec. Well, at least I am consistent.

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey, with appearances by most of the cast
Author on LJ: out_there
Author Website: Amazed by Mathematics (Sports Night fic found under the Sorkinese menu)
Why this must be read:

First of all, new fic! Published just last month, this is truly one of the best Sports Nights stories I have ever read. Clocking in at over 80,000 words, it is the perfect thing to get you through a rainy day or a sleepless night.
Annie has Dan's charisma nailed, but what makes this story unique is her firm grip on Casey's characterization. There aren't many stories that come from his POV, and this provides a wonderful new outlook. There are smoking hot erotic scenes, laugh out loud moments, and true romance that doesn't make you sugar-sick. Despite its length, this fic flies by with its tight pacing, keeps you lured in with its realistic development of Dan and Casey's relationship, and it is incredibly faithful to Sorkin's voice as well.

And as she says in her summary - Oh, the Olympics happen, too.

"I have a question for you."
"For me?"
"You are a worldly man, Isaac, who has been to many places and seen many things. You are wise and knowledgeable about the ways of the world."
"Stop buttering me up and get to the damn question."
Casey laughed. "If you kiss someone while drunk, does it count?"
"Does it count as what?"
"As a kiss." Casey shrugged. "As whatever it would have counted as if you'd been sober."
"If I say no, will you get out of my office?"

Not Homophobic

Hi there! I’m laughingacademy, and apparently I’m a total fandom slut. Having previously driven the crack van for Star Wars: TPM, Sherlock Holmes, and due South, I’ve now clambered though the gullwing door (terribly impractical for those of us who favor miniskirts and go-go boots) and taken the wheel of the U.N.C.L.E. car.

---

Fandom: Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin
Author on LJ: cordwainer_s
Author Website: n/a; stories archived at The Chrome and Gun Metal Madhouse
Why this must be read:

I wanted to start my month of recs with a bang. Sadly, this story does not contain any literal explosions, but it has nearly everything else. It opens with Illya and Napoleon escaping from a Thursh stronghold, with the senior agent very much the worse for wear.

( Later, the nightmare task of dragging a limp, nearly unresponsive Napoleon out of the satrapy would be summed up by two lines in his report: ‘Agents exited the premises with all caution and stealth. Disabled one enemy operative; were not observed.’ )

From that fraught beginning, Cord spins a longish (120 K) tale of fiendish Thrush plots, disguises, hairbreadth escapes, wonderfully snarky dialogue, incredibly precise and beautiful descriptions, and some of the most astounding sex scenes I’ve ever read. (Hot doesn’t begin to describe them—reading some of these passages is like walking on the sun.) And although our heroes are described as two little boys who never grew up in the brief introductory chapter, Illya and Napoleon do evolve as they grapple with issues of identity, control, the specter of loss, and their feelings for each other.

Masks

Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: Josh/ Sam
Author on LJ: julianlee
Author Website: The Thwarted Invasion
Why this must be read:

First of all, don't ask me to explain the title. Julian gives a reference in the header the story. You should check it out.

So this is not the happiest story I've read. And I must admit to having an aversion to tearjerkers. That said, I like the very serious attempt to describe a relationship here and particularly what it means to be in that relationship. I like that the sadness is palpable but not cliched or emotionally overwrought. I liked being sad in this story. I like the feeling of knowing something beautiful had died but its beauty, while it existed, was worth bearing its demise.

Julian is perhaps better known for her comedy and her sharp, funny dialogue. This is also evident here but I like that she takes on a weightier subject this time with the same no-fuss style and still comes out with something quite simplistically wonderful.

( In love with your ghost... )

Forgie a Hameless Loon

Fandom: OZ
Pairing: Simon Adebisi/Ryan O'Reily, Simon Adebisi/Miguel Alvarez, Simon Adebisi/the former Mrs. Adebisi/Ryan O'Reily
Author on LJ: visionofblue
Author Website:
Why this must be read:

Well, it's nearly midnight on the 31st over here and this is my last rec. I've had a blast - both on The West Wing and the Oz rec front. Be sure to keep the feedback coming, kids. And don't forget to live a little! Try a new fandom today! Preferably Oz...

But on to the "Sweet Motherfucking Dreams": I was keen to rec Oz stories that weren't all Beecher/ Keller. I'm all for more Beecher/ Keller, of course, but with all that testoserone in Oz, it would be a damn shame to waste the fic on just two guys.

I'm a *big* fan of Sistersleep's poetic, almost beat poetry style (which I've sampled below). I'm also impressed by her extremely well executed attempt at Adebisi point of view, which can't have been easy but which she seems to carry off effortlessly. It's an inspired idea, a unique style and just such a big freaking hooray to get Adebisi in fanfic this way.

Yet another reason why Oz writers rock. :)

( All night long... )

Sweet Motherfucking Dreams