Post a comment below to take a turn pimping the House fandom!

A week in advance of your assigned month you will be notified with a reply to your comment. During that time, you agree to post a minimum of 1 fic per week in the following format:

Subject: Title by Author (Rating)

Fandom: YOUR FANDOM
Pairing: (no abbreviations, please)
Author on LJ: (if applicable)
Author Website: (author's fics, if available)
Why this must be read:

Emphasis should be on fics that you feel are especially outstanding and accessible examples of your fandom, e.g. it plays on a repeated theme in the show, it's a fandom or a personal favourite, it was a controversial fic, it's good smut. Whatever.

Warnings are not required beyond what the author has posted on their own stories.

Thanks for playing and remember, kids! Without you, the crack_van will run out of gas!!

(snerk)

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: Starsky & Hutch (Gen/Pre-slash)
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: SH Gen Archive (Minnie K), The Pits Archive (Minnie K), SH Slash Archive (Sarah Problem), The Pits Archive (Sarah Problem)
Why this must be read:

I'd like to kick off this month by recommending a story (originally appearing in Venice Place Times 2) that holds the distinction of being in my top ten favorites list out of any fandom, ever. Seems Starsky's brother, Nick, is back in town, and Hutch ain't too happy about it. He and Starsk had plans for a quiet weekend at home to celebrate Starsky's birthday (who has been waylaid by a sprained ankle), but everything changes when Nick shows up and coincidentally, things start going very wrong, escalating to a deadly situation.

Rife with plot and excitement, Minnie's capture of the boys is spot on, managing not only to emphasize all the action and drama that made the show a hit across the board (and carrying one of the most nerve-wracking, heart-pounding sequences I've ever read), but also to focus on the warmth and caring between the characters. She draws on plot and guest character ties from the third and fourth seasons, including a twist that'll knock your socks off. I love Nick-centric stories, because they often show us the interesting juxtaposition of the family we're born into with the family we choose, and demonstrate with whom true alliance lies. The subtle vying for Starsky's attention and affection between Hutch and Nick is compelling to watch, and, ultimately, the sense of home that Starsky has with Hutch, and lacks with his own brother, is pure heaven to genners and slashers alike.

( Excerpt )

Though this story can and does stand alone as a gen adventure, it is the first installment of a slash series. Its sequel, "Blood Ties" (under the alt-pseudonym Sarah Problem), is available in Venice Place Chronicles 4, and is slated to debut online in Oct/Nov of this year now online. A third story ("Blood Shed") is currently in progress, publication date unreleased.

Despite the page link, any and all feedback should now be sent to 62books@verizon.net


Blood Test

I've been waiting about a year to drive the van for Smallville, so I'm very excited about this. I'm going to try to rec a variety of things, including a few authors who don't get as much exposure. Week 1, a few classics - fics I can read again and again and they always hit my buttons.

Fandom: SMALLVILLE
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Author on LJ: cjandre and reetchick
Author Website: The Seraglio (CJ's site)
Why this must be read: It's College!Fic that has Lex taking Clark to Metropolis for Orientation. Complicating the course of true love are an overly-friendly Orientation Partner (who's convinced Clark could use a little help with orientation of another kind!), and Clark's alien physiology, which decides to kick in when least convenient, but after many misunderstandings, confusion, and confessions ... a happy (gloriously smutty) ending awaits! It'll leave you positively glowing. *G*

And it's got possibly the best Possessive!Lex scene ever:

( Excerpt from Golden )

Read the Story: Golden

Hi, this is Rocky, back for another turn at the starship helm. Once again, I'll be bringing you stories from all 5 Trek series, this time with special emphasis on TOS and VOY. Hope you enjoy the ride.

Fandom: STAR TREK TOS
Pairing: Kirk/f, Spock/f
Author on LJ: none
Author Website: Claire Gabriel's Fan Fiction
Why this must be read:

This is not just the story of another Mary Sue who has a relationship with both Kirk *and* Spock (not simultaneously), but a deft weaving of canon (including material from TAS) in which the author spins a highly credible tale of Spock juggling the demands of a relationship and family with his duties in Starfleet. The time frame runs through the span of the Trek movies, including Spock's dramatic death and rebirth. A very powerful and moving novel, with incredibly vivid and realistic settings and descriptions. There is also a sequel The Porcelain of Twilight.

Simple Gifts

Hi there! I'm Lilian, and I'll be driving both the Buffy and Highlander vans this month. I hope you enjoy the recs!

Fandom: BUFFY
Pairing: Buffy/Angel
Author on LJ: glossing
Author Website: Glossings
Why this must be read:

Sometimes, the B/A corner of fandom can be a scary place. We rage and holler for a happy ending, forgetting that sometimes, the first love isn’t the one true love. So stories like this one are regarded with suspicion and we thread carefully—we shouldn’t. This story is what might have been, what Buffy and Angel might have grown to become: uneasy friends.

Dear to Us

Greetings to my fannish sistren and brethren! I'm Mona and I'll be driving the Crack Van for Angel fandom this month.

I'm a big slash fan but my recs will also consist of gen and het fics - I'll try to mix it up a bit :). But enough about me, let's get to why you're here...the recs!

~~~~~

TITLE: Edge
Fandom: ANGEL
Pairing: Angel/Wesley
Author on LJ: thete1 and debchan (eta: my apologies to debchan, I didn't include you at first)
Author Website: Teland and Debchan.com
Why this must be read:

When I got the e-mail about being up for September Angel recs, this is the first fic I thought of, the fic that I said to myself: "I can't believe this hasn't been recced yet."

I'm a huge Angel/Wesley fan and this fic is at the top of my "favorites" list. Short, hot and flips the expected dynamic between Angel and Wesley upside down. Te and Debchan pack a world of Hot and Angst and Smut into just a few words. This is a fic that leaves you breathless, wanting more.

And the last line just reduces me to a puddle of goo. In a good way.

Hi, I'm theantimodel and I'm pleased to be reccing for popslash this month. I'm mostly an nsync girl, and I read a lot of JC/Justin but I'm going to try to mix it up a bit for this month's recs. I have a couple stories by some author's you've probably seen before planned but I'm also going to try to rec some new faces. One thing you might want to be prepared for is the fact that I love popslash AU's. That all said, let's start with a classic:

Fandom: POP SLASH
Pairing: lots!
Author on LJ: jae_w
Author Website: I Will Not Be Afraid of Boybands
Why this must be read:

Oh man. This is like the NSYNC/BSB crossover fic. I can't beleive it's never been recced before. Um it's a total cliché fic but in the good way, where the writing is good and sarcastic and it never takes itself too seriously but it's not really a farce either. The boys of NSYNC make a bet to see who can sleep with a Backstreet Boy first. And if that sentence doesn't make you want to read it, I'm not sure what I can do to convince you except say that it's really a very funny and satisfying story.

Coldhearted

Hi, everyone! I'm driving the van for CSI recs this month. I love Sara, Greg, Nick and Warrick in combination that I can find them, so you'll see a lot of that this month. I hope you enjoy the recs!

Fandom: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Pairing: Greg Sanders/Sara Sidle
Author on LJ: girlnorth
Author Website: Girlnorth's stories
Why this must be read:

I haven't found many really good Sara/Greg fics, but this is definitely one of them. It's moderate length, told from Greg's perspective, and you can really hear his voice in the narration. I love the way that Greg lets Sara come to him at her own pace, because he knows that it's the only way a friendship or relationship could happen between them. How Greg views her shows vestiges of his old crush, but also that he's matured since those earlier days (though I don't know exactly when this story was written). Nick has a memorable role in this fic that plays up his frat boy tendencies, while still keeping him fundamentally the same decent, friendly guy. There's just enough fluff in this story to make me happy, but not sick to my stomach, and also a gratuitous mention of Harold and Kumar go to White Castle. Really, what's not to love?

( Excerpt )

Nudge

Hi everyone! I'm Tommygirl and I'll be driving the West Wing recs for this month. I am, admittedly, a Josh/Donna girl at heart, but I'm much more about the banter than anything else. so that's what I plan to bring to all of you - the banter, in whatever ships/genres/etc. that might mean.

Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: em_meredith
Author Website: The Powder Room
Why this must be read:

This is a short, fun read that involves all our favorite staff members - CJ, Toby, Sam - as they pass a few minutes trying to figure out what Josh keeps in that backpack of his...making Donna fear for the country.

The voices in this are wonderful and there is plenty of back-and-forth dialogue, which really is the essence of the West Wing for me.

( A small excerpt to wet the palate... )

So go read and leave feedback: Mysteries and Scandals

A couple quick notes - Did you know that the Firefly movie is coming out at the end of the month. It is. Don't worry if you didn't remember. I'll make sure to remind you a lot. Remember, everytime you see Serenity, one of the cast members will take off an article of clothing. Really.

Also, the Firefly overview will be updated sometime this month with actual pictures that work and movie stuff.

Fandom: Firefly
Pairing: Mal and Saffron
Author on LJ: dirty_diana
Author Website: shocking pink

Why this must be read:
Because Saffron is a great character and fic written about her is a very good thing. Because the interactions between Mal and Saffron in this story are absolutely perfect. Because it's lovely and sad, but doesn't turn Saffron into something she's not. Because it's about two people who come so close to getting each other, it's just heart breaking that they aren't quite there. Because it shows why Mal and Saffron could work, but why they probably never will. Because it's just plain awesome.

The Last Time They Met

Noir

Noir, it is the name of an ancient fate.
Two maidens who govern death.
The peace of the newly born,
their black hands protect.

And so begins Noir, a twenty-six episode anime series. Noir is part mystery, part female bonding, and a whole lot of firefights and ass-kicking. It’s the first anime I fell in love with on it’s own terms, and not just because of the fandom surrounding it--which isn’t to say, of course, that there isn’t some excellent fanfic for this series.

A note of caution before we begin: Noir is a difficult show to talk about, without spoiling various plotlines. Many of the fics I’ll be rec’ing take place after the end of the series, or deal with major backstory issues. If you like going into a series unspoiled, and are planning on watching Noir at some point, you may want to avoid this overview and the upcoming recs until a later date.



( The Plot )
( The Characters )
( The Fandom )

Hi, I'm cat, and I was your LotRiPS driver in June (I also recced LotR back in January). I'm back this time with even more LotRiPS recs, because this is the fandom that keeps on giving and I just can't stay away. So sign me up for the Special Hell and let's get on with it already.

Fandom: LotRiPS
Pairing: Viggo/Orlando
Author on LJ: take_this_waltz
Author Website: None
Why this must be read:

Back in July, the anglicandoorway ficathon produced some really amazing Viggo/Orlando fic. This is one of the best of the really amazing bunch. It's short, but the author is incredibly in tune with Viggo's thought processes, depicting him as a man who knows what he wants but never manages to act on that want. But when Viggo publishes his book of post-Rings poetry, Coincidence of Memory, everything changes.

He listens to the words, and whether he believes or doubts them, he wants his share. His face blushes the first time he thinks that. He doubts that and he wants to prove those words wrong. And if he can't have that he at least wants his share, his share, his share of skin, of taste, of touch, of moans, of cock, of words, his fair share of the inner sides of Orlando's thighs. And if he can't have that, he doesn't know what. And, truth be told, he wants the shares of the others as well, he envies them, he wants summer and rivers, white linen, an angel's hip, the keys and the steady hands and the words, even if they're just that, words, for all he ever knew.

Everything

Hey there! I'm Lilian, and I'll be reccing both Highlander and Buffy stories this month. For Highlander, expect lots and lots of Duncan/Methos, and a healthy dose of Connor on the side. And off we go!!

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Author on LJ: elynross
Author Website: Principality of Whimsy
Why this must be read:

Anyone who has delved into the Highlander fandom knows who Elynross is. Her stories have been rec’ed here before, but The Tell-Tale Heart is missing and I’m remedying that as we speak.

Methos wants Duncan. Duncan is acting oblivious. What’s the Oldest Immortal to do? Make him jealous, of course. Hot, hot sex, and horny Methos: a combination that never fails to deliver, does it?

The Tell-Tale Heart

Hello, I'm Karen, your X-Files driver for September. My preference is for Mulder/Skinner, with Krycek or Scully along for fun. I will give you a good variety, though. I enjoy any good X-Files fic, regardless of pairing or genre.

Fandom: X-FILES
Pairing: Mulder/Skinner/Krycek
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: http://www.squidge.org/3wstop/
Why this must be read:

Hot, really really hot. I'm starting the month out with a hot, fun PWP. The boys are out of town and Skinner is alone. They don't want him to feel alone. Romantic, a little shmoopy, but fun and hot. It is in three parts and she's posted them each separately, so here are the three links.

Home Alone I

Home Alone II

Home Alone III

Greetings. I am Mojave Dragonfly, and I'm driving the van in September for PotC. I volunteered almost last minute when it looked like there might not be a PotC driver, and I find that many of my favorite fics have already been recced. No matter, PotC is a treasure cave of wonderful stories; I'll find some more.

I started out as a Will/Jack shipper, but I also love Jack/Elizabeth, and have recently been sucked into the wonderful potential dynamic that is Jack/Norrington. So I'll lead with one of those.

Fandom: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Pairing: Jack/Norrington
Author on LJ: Her journal is gone
Author Website: Her lovely website is also gone
Why this must be read:

Why? Because Jack spends almost the entire story tied to Norrington's bed. Need I say any more? ;-) Bondage! Also, Jack's starving, thirsty, and sick with a fever. Hurt! And, being Jack, he still manages to "suss out" what it is Norrington wants when Norrington doesn't even know, and use it to his advantage. Bloody Pirates!

Webcrowmancer's Summary: A repressed British Naval officer and a bound, unwell pirate captive in need of care. The question is, who has been caught, and who is owned?

( more, with excerpts )

A Most Accomodating Commodore

Hi! I'll be your driver for this month. I'm not much of a Fraser/Ray K person. I'll probably be focusing more on Fraser/Ray V or gen stories. I also have some recs lined up that deal with the secondary characters on the show. However, I'll try to mix it up and make everyone happy.

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: None
Author on LJ:?
Author Website: Melanie's Due South Fanfic Page
Why this must be read:

This story was one of the first ones that I read in this fandom and I was expecting it to be recced already. It's short, but it deals with a nagging question that that was a result of the episode Burning Down the House. I like this fic mainly because of the ending. It is moving, and shows just how much of an impact Fraser has made on some of his neighbors.

A Burning Question

Fandom: FARSCAPE
Pairing: J/A
Summary: A short piece written from an outside point of view. How one stranger's life changes after meeting a dispossessed Aeryn Sun.
Email: Analise@2cowherd.net
Author's Website: http://myscape.50megs.com/fanfic.html
Posted: September 2001

Why this must be read: "The Cutting Truth" is a quiet fic, told without fanfare. That only gives what we read greater impact. The imagery in the story is well-drawn, the narrator sympathetic, if alien. It will remain with you for quite a while. Although Analise wrote this fairly early in Farscape's run, it is as effective now as ever. It's true to the characters, and allows the readers the same choice of interpretations as the narrator, when he comes to the end of the tale.

The Cutting Truth