Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: Sam/Rosie, Sam/Frodo
Author on LJ: irisbleu
Author Website: Flowers in a Lightning Storm
Why this must be read: An exploration of almost-unrequited love, written in the most gorgeously bitter way. This is the fate awaiting Sam after the story arc of the books. Beautiful.

Never More Than Dreaming

Fandom: TOUR OF DUTY
Pairing:Friendship: Lieutenant Myron Goldman -- Lieutenant Johnny McKay
Author on LJ:DC’s Journal
Author Website: No personal website
Why this must be read:

In the episode “Nightmare,” McKay's helicopter is shot down and he is written off by his chain of command. Badly wounded, he survives alone in enemy territory until Goldman, of all people, organizes an unauthorized rescue party.

“Still Waters” is a follow-up to “Nightmare.” McKay is appalled to realize he’s afraid to fly again. Normally careless and self-centered, he finds himself thinking of his mother and how his loss would have affected her. I like this story because it makes good use of canon, and features an uncommonly thoughtful, vulnerable McKay, as well as a supportive Goldman. The author does a nice job with atmosphere, vividly describing the setting, from the misty gloom of the flight line to the noise of the Officers’ Club.

Still Waters

Fandom: SPORTS NIGHT
Pairing: Dan/Casey implied
Author on LJ: circusgirl
Author Website: Hotel Gypsy
Why this must be read:

Another rec from Sandy who asks, "What becomes of little boys?"

Stuck and an airport in Omaha, with Casey waiting patiently for him in New York, Dan wonders just that thing as he smokes a cigarette and tries not to think too much about the funeral he just attended. Once again sandy allows us a brief glimpse into the inner workings of Dan Rydell. He's often not altogether sure what life is all about, but he tries anyway and at least he has Casey to keep him grounded when things start flying out of control.

Groundless and Free

And now back to slash!

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Lyrebird's Mound

Why this must be read:

Because I promised sensine an amnesia story! Because I sadly failed to find a convenient Christmas story when it was the proper time.

More seriously, because it's simply an excellent story, a convincing first time story, neatly written and cleverly developed, with acute insights and good characterizations. Because the situations and the two men's reactions and interactions are plausible and fitting with their age, genre, job and previous relationship (not always the case in slash stories).

Everything begins with a moment of drunken lapse of self control: alcohol, as everybody knows, being assuredly the most effective of deshinhibitors among the easily available pychoactive substances. So, they are both fairly intoxicated and Napoleon is getting more and more aware of his partner's and friend's physical presence and attractiveness, while Illya is loosing his inner defenses against his deeply repressed feelings. Not original? Maybe but I tend to think this scenario remains the most acceptable for men of this kind, having the background, the profession and the personality they have, especially in the US and in the sixties. Lust as a start looks to me more credible than love. It can play the role of an eye opener but not at once. For the moment it only pushes them entangled in a hot knot of shivering limbs under the Christmas tree! But that's only the beginning of the story, which is more about the aftermath of the coupling than the coupling itself.

And what about amnesia? Well, it's just a partial amnesia; a side effect of hangover, but it plays an important part in the plot and the psychological evolution of our heroes. I won't say anything about the method used by Napoleon to revive lost memories! just read the piece...

After the Ball