Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: Cedric Diggory/Hermione Granger
Author on LJ: koalathebear
Author Website: Fic Index
Why this must be read: This is one of those pairings that makes you stop, think for a second, and go "did they even TALK in the book?" Then you can't help but read it - Train Wreck Syndrome - and once you have, you don't know why you never did before because the fic completely blows your mind. This fic is well written. It's characters are real, and well fleshed out, and it's not completely unbelievable. It works itself into canon well enough, that if you step back, it could, possibly, have happened. And then there's those fics that make you cry - and you know you do it, even if you don't tell anyone, because sometimes you just can't help it. This is one of them. And despite the number of kleenex's you'll go through and the odd pairing it is, you'll find yourself wondering how this didn't really happen.

( excerpt )

The Boy Who Died

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 2003
Pairing: Six/Gaius
Author on LJ: bantha_fodder
Author Website: pen @ at the end of the world
Why this must be read: Six and Gaius are electric on BSG, and bantha_fodder does a fabulous job capturing all the intricacies of their relationship in this story. She especially excels at depicting Six's fierceness, and then undercutting that by illuminating her fears.

( snippet )

erase her face

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Solo/Kuryakin
Author on LJ: joolz01
Author website: Storygate

Why this must be read:
Mr. Waverly has learned about Napoleon's and Illya's true relationship and, to put it mildly, he is not happy. In fact, he is incensed. Now the agents are just waiting for the axe to fall and their careers to end. But then Mr. Waverly is kidnapped and Illya and a rookie agent are thrown in the cell with him. With Waverly looking on in horror, Thrush starts to torture the younger agents. And while this torture session is fairly ghastly, the next one promises to be even worse. As Waverly is forced to watch what is done to Illya, he starts to reflect on what it means to be an agent and face horror on a daily basis.

Rated NC-17 for violence and an unusual sexual situation.

( excerpt )

Desires and Adorations

So. LOTRIPS recs are now -- oh, hell, I'm sorry, but I am just too tired to come up with a vaguely dirty yet funny metaphor. I'm Elizabeth, and I'll be reccing LOTRIPS in March. You'll get a metric tonne of gen and ambiguity, and a healthy dose of Viggo/Orlando. Possibly at the same time. Excited yet?

You totally should be.

Fandom: LOTRIPS
Pairing: Billy Boyd/Dominic Monaghan
Author on LJ: beizy
Author Website: Under Your Skin
Why this must be read:

Because they're drunk, and they're goofy, and they love each other, and because the title makes you think it's even dirtier than it is. Not that it isn't fun and hot and you know, Dom and Billy. I don't bookmark much monaboyd, but this is bookmarked. That should tell you soemthing.

Sticky

Hello once again!

Sorry about my somewhat late start this month, but don't worry! I have a full slate of fic recommendations ready for your reading pleasure. This is my second time driving the crack_van for Star Wars (please see the memories for my previous recs from May 2005). Last time, I recommended mostly stories centered around the character of Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader in honor of the release of the final Star Wars movie.

This time around, I will widen my focus and recommend a broader spectrum of stories featuring more characters, particularly Obi-Wan, Padmé, Luke, and Palpatine. Keep in mind that I tend to favor gen stories and that Anakin / Vader is still my favorite character. Therefore, I do have a certain bias toward stories featuring him. Fair warning. *g*

Fandom: STAR WARS PT
Pairing: Gen
Length: 2,500 words
Author on LJ: fernwithy
Author Websites: Vader's Mask, Fern's Humongous Bighead Site

Why this must be read:

This fic is a quiet story, without any noise or excess words. It is a character study, really, of a despairing Obi-Wan Kenobi, who has lost all hope for the future. As he begins his long exile on Tatooine, he spends his time watching the twin Skywalker infant children from afar. Obi-Wan also dutifully goes through the motions of the training Yoda gave him, but that is all. Qui-Gon is there, but Obi-Wan determinedly ignores him at first.

In a very true to character way, Qui-Gon ever so gently forces Obi-Wan to face what has happened and what he did and did not do to Anakin on Mustafar. As long as Obi-Wan could not face and understand what he had done, he was unable to move forward and make the necessary changes in himself. It is clear at the end of the fic that Obi-Wan can now progress and truly become the mentor and master Luke will need him to be. This fic fits in nicely in canon and is very true to the characters and the Star Wars universe.

FernWithy's Star Wars stories have been recced several times on crack_van, and deservedly so. This is the first fic she wrote after seeing Revenge of the Sith in the theater. It is also a bit of a prequel to Process of Elimination, previously recced on crack_van here.

( Obi-Wan Trilogy )

* * *

( Excerpt )

Isolated

Fandom: STAR WARS OT
Pairing: Gen
Length: 1,200 words
Author on LJ: agentjedi
Author Website: agentjedi's Fanfiction.net Profile

Why this must be read:

This story takes place shortly after the end of Star Wars: A New Hope. Obi-Wan has gone from hating Anakin and wanting him to suffer for his crimes after the end of Revenge of the Sith to silently haunting Darth Vader after Vader discovers the name of the pilot who destroyed the Death Star. Obi-Wan does not appear to Vader, but he tries and fails to make his peace with his old apprentice. He now blames himself and his pride for Anakin's fall. Qui-Gon has told him that there is hope for Anakin, but Obi-Wan is convinced that all that was good in Anakin is dead, consumed by the Dark Side. Yet, he still silently seeks for forgiveness from Vader, believing he will never receive it.

( Obi-Wan Trilogy )

* * *

( Excerpt )

Whisper to the Wild Water

Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: Josh/Donna
Author on LJ: Dianora2
Author Website: Dianora's Fanfiction Archive
Why this must be read:

OK, so I figured it's time for some smut in the West Wing corner of the Crack Van! There's plenty out there to choose from - some very good... some not. But rest assured, this one definitely falls into the former category!
Dianora is one of the best Josh & Donna writers around - the smut is hot, the characterisation is spot on, and the dialogue is wonderful! Her own description of this fic pretty much sums it up - Donna leaves the West Wing -- so what happens with her and Josh? Exactly what you think.
Oh - and I defy anyone not to be amused by Donna's description of her nervousness - like gerbils participating in a cage match in her stomach!

Here ya go!

Us, But Better

oh - and there's a sequel - Better or Worse

Fandom: STAR WARS OT
Pairing: Gen
Length: 2,500 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Jedi-Princess-Solo's Fanfiction.net Profile

Why this must be read:

In this fic, Obi-Wan watches the final climatic scenes of the entire Star Wars saga. He looks on as Luke and Vader duel and Luke defeats first his father and then the Dark Side within himself. But Obi-Wan is a Force ghost, and so he can see to the heart of things. He sees the change come over Vader, as Anakin rediscovers himself and saves his son's life. Obi-Wan had given up hope that Anakin would return to the light, and this fic nicely illustrates his utter delight and total joy at welcoming his brother home. Some might say the ending of the fic is a bit sappy, but I dare anyone to read it all the way through and not get just a little misty eyed. I dare you!

Unfortunately, this story has only been posted on the Jedi Council Forums and I could not find it anywhere else. I will try to update the fic link if I do find it in a regular archive somewhere. I found it at Fanfiction.net, and the link has been updated.

( Obi-Wan Trilogy )

* * *

( Excerpt )

A Moment of Transcendence

My name is elizabethhelena and I’ll be driving the Crack Torino for the month of March. Sorry about the delay, but it was hard to get the keys back after the events that inspired this icon.

I will be doing theme weeks, as I will be posting most of my recs together due to hardware/software problems, and because -- ah hell, I love themes. So, I will begin with three superb stories focussing on the fallout of that perennial fan favourite episode Sweet Revenge.

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: morganlogan
Author Website: www.morganlogan.com
Why this must be read:

Sweet Revenge has led to many a brilliant fic due to its high h/c and angst content, but few have handled it with as gentle and deft a touch as Morgan Logan in "Family Loyalty." Hey, I love angst as much as the next fangirl, but I’m especially impressed when hard-hitting emotions are delivered with restraint, and when the quiet reactions of characters are far more devastating and uplifting than splinter-spitting scenery chewing.

( But EH, I only read GEN! )

Family Loyalty

Here’s the second installment of Sweet Revenge week, because I don’t know about other S & H fans, but watching my favourite character getting gunned down by an automatic weapon just never gets old for me. :-)

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: true_brit
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read:

I’m reccing Nik’s "Analysis and Therapy" for a number of reasons. First, she’s a newer fanfic writer, and I want to ensure you aren't missing out on her skills as both a excellent writer and storyteller.

Second, I love stories that can be read as gen or slash, without cheating either perspective. “Analysis and Therapy” accommodates both sets of goggles, and poolside, no less!

Finally, this story captures the macho nature of the injured yet recovering Starsky that so few S & H fangirls can manage as we tend to be less hairy and testosterone endowed than the character (or so I assume). Nik makes it look easy.

Analysis and Therapy

Last but not least, I end my Sweet Revenge recs with another relatively new S & H writer who writes on both sides of the gen and slash fence.

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: none, other than a tiny, stray S/H thought by Hutch
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website none
Why this must be read:

Sweet Revenge ended Starsky & Hutch the series. Kaye has written a poignant post-SR story that weaves together the events leading up to the last episode with what the future may hold for them professionally and personally. Plus there's a neat, little mystery for Hutch to solve.

Just what has Starsky been up to in the afternoons while Hutch has been back at work? Read and find out...

Beachcombing