Vidder: Dr. Billbongo
Musical artist: Patti LaBelle
Pairing: The ship's company of the HMS Renown
Vidder on LJ: drbillbongo
Vidder's website: NA
Why this vid kicks ass:

The first time I saw this vid I laughed so hard I missed most of it. In a fandom awash with angst and woe, finding humor is not only rare, but totally refreshing. drbillbongo has done a wonderful job of taking the crew of the Renown and mixing and matching them in a brilliantly funny manner. It's all tongue in cheek fun. Most definitely worth the download.

And since this is a Hornblower vid, the ubiquitous deck shower makes an appearance so a naked ass warning applies.


Moulin Renown

Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGS
Pairing: Merry/Pippin
Author on LJ: None
Author Website: None
Why this must be read: A sweet, surprisingly hot first time story, which captures the feeling of the pre-quest Shire in a delightful way.

Cabbages and Kings

Fandom: VERONICA MARS
Pairing: None.
Author on LJ: Her LJ, always_winter, seems to have been deleted.
Author website: N/A
Why this must be read: This short story set post S1 starts out deceptively simply, then packs a major whammy by the end. It's a Duncan POV story--and there aren't a huge number of these in this young fandom--and it's a bloody brilliant one that cannily uses what we know of the character to lead us to somewhere unexpected.

( Excerpt )

Written Out

Vidder: Sally
Musical artist: Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder's website: Sally's Sentinel Songvids
Why this vid kicks ass: The Sentinel fandom can get a bit sentimental at times - who can blame us? Two good-looking men who share an apartment AND an "extra-sensitive touchy-feely" friendship. It's destined to create a certain spirit of schmoopyness from time to time. This video captures the very best of that impulse in the fandom. It beautifully sets up the notion of Jim dreaming about Blair - and then mirrors the impulse from Blair's POV in the second half of the video. You'll see lovely shots of them smiling and looking all dreamy. Serious eye-candy that won't disappoint. And when it's done, you'll find yourself going "OMG, that's the sweetest thing I've ever seen" - and it will be. Promise.

Go to Sally's site and scroll down to find the vid: Mr. Sandman

Remember to right-click and "Save as ..."
Email the vidder your feedback here: mail@sseymour.net

Vidder: f1renze
Musical artist: Something for Kate
Pairing: Hmmm, it can be interpreted as Lilly/Veronica, but I wouldn't label it a 'ship vid.
Vidder on LJ: f1renze
Vidder's website: Kitze Productions
Why this vid kicks ass:

Oh, my God. Where to start? This vid is sort of an overview of Veronica Mars S1, but it's an emotional overview rather than a narrative one. And what drove the main S1 arc forward was all about Lilly--who she was, what her friendship meant to Veronica when she was alive, and how Veronica was changed and haunted by her death. We see various images of Veronica through the season in the vid--redolent with grief, rage, despair, and determination--and around each refrain, there is Lilly, anchoring Veronica and shaping her actions. The clarity of the emotional throughline in this vid is breathtaking. And I haven't even gone into the fantastic editing job f1renze did in selecting and cutting each clip. Suffice it to say that it left in awe and in tears in the end. A tour de force.

Déjà Vu

Vidder: Euphony
Musical artist: The Tea Party
Pairing: none - Bruce Wayne (Batman Begins)
Vidder on LJ: euphony_m
Vidder's Website:: none that I'm aware of
Why this vid kicks ass: It's hard to rec vids for a comic book based fandom ... but it's not impossible with the movies and cartoons that are available. Using footage from "Batman Begins," Euphony explores Bruce Wayne's journey towards becoming the hero we know. It's not an action video and it really doesn't concentrate on the Batman figure at all, and that's what I particularly liked about it. Bruce Wayne is the central figure here - the boy who watched his parents die, the young man who left Gotham, the more worldly man who returned. From the overlay of the fluttering bats at the beginning to the boy's poignant wave coupled with the lyrics "fade away," you'll be captivated by this notion of the man who would be Bat and what he's given up to get there.

Go to this journal entry to find the author's notes and the vid links: Psychopomp - Batman Begins

* Remember to right-click and "Save as ..."

Fandom: QUEER AS FOLK US
Pairing: Brian/Justin
Author on LJ: _kiden
Author Website: Author on Skyehawke
Why this must be read:
This is a post-513 B/J fic in Emmett's voice; a rare thing indeed. I am always interested in looking at the B/J relationship from the POV of other characters but often the fic is just, "Hey, look, Brian DOES love Justin." Kiden actually subtly explores what Brian's (and Emmett's) lives are like without Justin.

To Build a Dream On

Fandom: DC COMICS
Pairing: Ventriloquist/Scarface (yes, I know)
Author on LJ: privatetentacle
Author Website: none
Why this must be read: One of my goals this month was to rec lesser known writers and show the wide-range of the DC verse. It's not all just bats and boys. You've really got to admire a fandom that can support a fic that makes most of the writers who regularly churn out creepy/disturbing/dark fic respond with "that's fucked-up", "shuddersome", or "totally squicked." In fact, that's where the Private got the idea from - trying to find a pairing that would disturb yours truly, and since I'm not all that fond of the creepy talking dolls, fic was born. Aside from the personal connection, though, it's good fic and disturbing at a very subtle level. The author throws in small hints that force you to remember "this is a puppet!" and it is not alive. It is not for the faint of heart, but it's definitely well worth the read. After all, not every fandom can boast it's got non-con BDSM man/puppet porn fic (also could be considered non-con self-masturbation, but I'm not one to nitpick.) *Evil Grin*

Read the fic: Puppet Master, and let the author know you were highly disturbed by it (or enjoyed it - whatever).

And if you're brave, there's a sequel/follow-up here: Puppet Show

Fandom: DC COMICS
Pairing: Dick Grayson/Tim Drake (Nightwing/Robin III)
Author on LJ: lcsbanana
Author Website: L.C.'s Banana
Why this must be read: Sometimes fic that's mostly porn tends to lose me - I know, I know, I'm seeking treatment. But this one - which is still mostly porn - is hot enough and screwed-up enough that it really held my interest through the 50k. Dick wants Tim. Tim wants Dick (no pun intended!). But Dick also has this little fantasy about Bruce, which is exposed when Tim finds a particular object in Dick's bottom drawer. Tim encourages Dick's fantasy, not realizing the effect it might have on both of them, and then they're left to deal with the screwed-up aftermath. It's boys with issues and sex toys and more issues. It's hot and messy and painful in all the best ways.

( Read an excerpt )

Read the story: An Unpretending Time, and let the author know you enjoyed it.

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Remus/Sirius
Author on LJ: callmesandy
Author Website: lowercase k
Why this must be read:

This story begins with a fabulous, creative description of what Sirius finds beyond the veil, and his journey back to his world is fascinating and surprising. What is equally interesting is how Sirius goes on with his life once he is back. Once again Sirius has missed a portion of his life, and he has to learn how to live in this changed new world.

( excerpts )

How to Function Without Hoping

Vidder: Kallie
Musical artist: Spirit of the West
Pairing: N/A
Vidder on LJ: Vidsalot
Vidder’s Website: Tour of Duty Notes
Why this vid kicks ass:

Kallie has a knack for doing wonderfully accessible vids that anyone can enjoy even without knowing the Tour of Duty fandom. Home for a Rest is both melancholy and funny and an excellent look at both the series and the Vietnam War itself. Visually, it’s a fast-paced vid with a sprinkling of just enough special effects to make it remarkably memorable without taking away from the vid itself.

For a download of this vid, email DC at dawnchsr [at] twcny [dot] rr [dot] com. Please be sure to put “Home for a Rest” in the subject line.

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E
Pairing: None (Gen)
Authors on LJ: Unknown
Authors Websites: Unknown

Why this must be read:

This time, I chose a story that could easily have been used as a script for an episode of the show itself. Everything is here: A devious THRUSH plot based on a pseudo-scientific hypothesis, a frustrated scientist seeking after recognition, a great female villain, a bold female U.N.C.L.E. agent, a charming female companion for Napoleon (see the former), a wound and some beatings for Illya and a lot of action for the two partners. With the help of a big amount of "Solo Luck", they can achieve successfully their perilous mission (and Illya gets the girl!).

This is gen, no doubt about it: nothing for you in there slashers (I am not feeding up my popularity). But the narrative style and tone is so ingenuous and faithful to the show's spirit that its appeal may work on every MFU fan and nostalgic reader, me-think. For, if the story is not focused upon the NS/IK relationship, there is still a strong and good working partnership, with all the usual banters and quips. the authors are not looking for originality but for efficiency.

Something (or rather someone) is really original however; a nicely sketched secondary character whose intervention won't be of much help to his unfortunate and rather unwilling U.N.C.L.E. co-workers: Bill Klein, C.I.A. senior operative agent, ardent though not very wise patriot, patented jerk and bigot as well as enthusiast follower of Mac Carthy's campaign: Bill Klein, the guy you will love to hate! His long nurtured distaste for Kuryakin, the pinkie Commie, will be given a second opportunity to flourish in a sequel, Mercedes' story: The Big House. Though the two pieces are completely independent and both quite worth of interest, I recommend to start by the first, this one:

The Moses Affair

Fandom: TOUR OF DUTY
Pairing:Sergeant Zeke Anderson/Lieutenant Myron Goldman/Lieutenant Johnny McKay
Author on LJ: Not known
Author Website: Morgan’s Tour of Duty Fanfic
Why this must be read:

You can’t do Tour of Duty recs without including at least one story about “the one true threesome.” I’m not sold on threesomes in my other fandoms, but with these guys, in this fandom, it works. It works with the characters, it fits with the relationships we saw on screen.

Catalyst is an exceptionally well-written and believable threesome story. Two years after Vietnam, Myron gets the squad back together in Fayetteville for a surprise birthday bash for Zeke. As in canon, Johnny’s the seemingly popular guy that no one wants to take home after the party. But he refuses to be marginalized any more.

We’ve just finished singing "Happy Birthday" and slicing up the cake, when John McKay walks in the door … walks in like he’s a regular, exchanging a few casual greetings and flashing that smile. He should be a politician … I can admit it now, that I envied him and his unconscious ease, and charming smile and handsome face, and that’s some of the reason why we clashed.

Some, not all.

Catalyst

Vidder: Clara
Musical artist: Tim McGraw
Pairing: N/A
Vidder on LJ: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Vidder’s Website: Pink-Martini.net
Why this vid kicks ass:

Okay, well setting aside that this is a video that I've wanted to see made for a VERY long time...

This is an awesome video. It's Jack O'Neill set to Tim McGraw's song Real Good Man. What I really wanted when I requested this video was just Jack being Jack. He is a bad boy and a damn good man. There's no real pairing in this, but there are clips of Jack with women because... yeah, he is a bad boy or is that a good man. *g* In this video, Clara does a fantastic job of picking scenes that fit the lyrics to the song.

To access the video, go to Pink-Martini.net. In the left-hand column click on Stargate SG-1, then character, and it's the third vid down.

Vidder: elandrialore
Musical artist: Rufus Wainwright
Character: Lex
Vidder on LJ: elandrialore
Vidder's website: N/A
Why this vid kicks ass:

I'm such a sucker for beautiful, broken Lex. Also, I love this hauntingly beautiful song. Put them together, and it's a sure bet that you're going to hit my emotional buttons. The clips she's used fit so well with the lyrics, and it just makes me hurt. So many lonely moments in Lex's life, so many times he's been abandoned and betrayed. This vid is lovely and sad, and one of my very favorites.

Hallelujah