March 14th, 2006 
01:04 am Disappear by August (R)
Fandom: STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
Pairing: Odo/Kira
Author on LJ: ?
Author Website: Sometimes August
Why this must be read:

When I first volunteered to rec in Star Trek I had a mental list of fics I was definitely going to rec, and this fic was at the top of the list. Unfortunately I couldn't remember where it was I'd read it and I spent several weeks abusing Google before I found it again. The reason I was so keen to rec it is that it is the best portrayal of the Odo/Kira relationship that I've read. It captures the connection between the two of them, how the manage to have such intimacy at the same time as having a chasm of difference between them.


It is easier for a Bajoran to mate with a Cardassian than a Shapeshifter, they learnt that on their first night together. When Odo had kissed her on the Promenade she hadn't thought that he would be simply mimicking humanoid behaviour.

"How do we do this?" She had asked later that night, as her food got cold on the table, as his fingers grabbed at her clothes.

"I've seen, I mean, I know...how Bajorans.." He said, into her hair.

"How do *you* do this?" She said, pulling back and touching his face.

He looked away then, and pulled away. "I can't. Not with ... "

"... a solid?"

He nodded. "But I ... I can do it like you."



Disappear
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09:21 am Cipher by lalejandra (R)
This is my second turn of the wheel for The OC, and this month (despite the late start!) wer're going to kick it old school.

Fandom: The OC
Pairing: Ryan/Summer/Seth
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] lalejandra
Author Website: Apostatize
Why this must be read:

Do I need to tell you? Look at the pairing! Set post-first season in the summer, this is a strikingly aware story that has Seth as we all wished he was back then.

Summer waits and holds her breath and doesn’t move and watches Seth – but he doesn’t move either. He lies on the bed and stares at the ceiling and has an arm bent over his face, so maybe he’s not staring at the ceiling. He’s totally naked, and he’s not what Summer ever thought she’d end up with, especially now that he’s back from wherever he was all summer – Tahiti, New York, Boston, Seattle, Toronto, Portland, Kalamazoo, blah blah blah, whatever. He’s all. He’s all like. Like tan. And lean. And long. And it’s no wonder that Ryan couldn’t say no to him because Summer couldn’t say no to him either, and Summer’d never had trouble saying no to him before.

Cipher
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02:24 pm Cracked by Whereupon (R)
Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: Gen
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] whereupon
Author Website: N/A
Why this must be read: Powerful. Intense. Beautifully written. This post-Asylum story gets inside Dean's head so well it's almost scary. It's unsparingly honest and insightful in its look at the brothers' relationship and paints a very believable picture of how they might carry on in the aftermath.

Go read and give the author some love:
Cracked
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05:27 pm Nurturing The Legend by Flintstriker (PG-13)
Fandom: FARSCAPE
Pairing: John/Other
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Unknown archived on Leviathan
Why this must be read:
 
This is one of the first hurt/comfort stories I ever read and I return to it periodically because it also was the first story that delved into some of the sociology of the so-called Black Ghost lifestyle. The original characters are not one-dirmensional villains, although a major character is pretty scary. All of the Moyan characters are written in fine voice. The story takes place in Season 3 between Eat Me and Fractures and posits the capture of John Crichton by Peacekeepers who may not be quite what they seem, or not? I love the mystery as well as how John Crichton copes with a hopeless situation.
 
Nurturing The Legend 
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05:59 pm Impression by sweetestdrain (R)
Fandom: QUEER AS FOLK US
Pairing: Lindsay/Sam
Author on LJ: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]
Author Website: another breakfast
Why this must be read:

You know that you love a story when you feel the need to rec it even though you hate both the characters that it features. And I really do hate both Lindsay and Sam. Yet I find myself feeling sorry for them in this fic, and for once, I actually understood their motivation. Which is something that the show never did for me. So yes, the writing of this fic is killer; beautiful imagery and in-depth characterization. Wonderful all around.

Impression
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06:22 pm Sneeze Me by Rae (NC-17)
Wow, I didn’t realize how gen all my recs were going to be last week. So now it’s definitely time to feed the S & H slashers! And not just with any old hot-man-on-man sex, but hot-hot-hot-man-on-man sex stories which convinced me that when Aaron Spelling's back was turned, Starsky and Hutch really were making it like bunnies.

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: Starsky/Hutch
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Leaning Birch Productions
Why this must be read:

Because this story is a sexy, funny and convincing glimpse into their lives between episodes, where they’re just two, mostly ordinary guys who enjoy getting in on together when they're not otherwise engaged. Now, I had to add the caveat of mostly, because when Starsky’s on a personal mission, nothing can be ordinary. Hutch has reason to be worried that his sanity won’t survive his Brooklyn boy toy’s latest obsession.

Sneeze Me
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07:15 pm Crossover Day!
Tomorrow is the 15th of the month, which means Crack Van Collisions, a.k.a. cross-over day.

Drivers, you may rec one fic that crosses over your fandom with another (no, this does not count against your maximum). Please post crossovers in the following format:

Subject: Fandom/Fandom (Rating)

Title: Title by Author
Pairing: (no abbreviations, please)
Author on LJ:
Author Website:
Why this must be read:

(link to story)

Thanks, all!
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07:17 pm Paladin by S Nankervis Trimmer (PG)
Fandom: FARSCAPE
Pairing: John/Other
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Unknown archived on Redbeard’s Archive
Why this must be read:
 
How do I describe this story? Gender-bender... love story... detective story... gothic novelette... gorgeously written romance where things are totally not as simple as what they seem. This takes place in Season 1 where John has agreed to transport a son of a merchant to his wedding. But many things happen that John totally is unprepared for, such a love, a challenge to his honor, and a test of his morality, loyalty, and ability to survive unscathed in the UTs.
 
Paladin
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07:50 pm A Sojourn In The Hundred-Acre Wood by Ioannia (NC-17)
When I said that I was reccing fic that converted me to the plausibility of Starsky & Hutch slash, did I mention that with canon lines like “it’s these kinky clothes that are making me nervous” I'm easily convinced Starsky & Hutch aren't just into vanilla sex?

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: Starsky/Hutch
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read:

Because we’re not just talking about well-written and entertaining Starsky & Hutch homoerotic porn (henceforth WWESHHP), but WWESHHP that’s creative, kinky, and dirty as the great outdoors! Ioannia lets us know (barring a few fun details) exactly where this story is heading early on, but this foreknowledge in no way detracts from the reader’s enjoyment of the inevitable climax (pun intended). On the contrary, in Ioannia's masterful hands, the foreshadowing only builds up a sense of delicious anticipation, and ensures that for weeks afterwards just the mere mention of certain household items will make you giggle and blush.

DO read her warnings if kink ain’t your thing, baby, but be assured the bdsm is fairly mild (medium spicy at the most) and certainly well-deserved.

A Sojourn In The Hundred-Acre Wood
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08:08 pm Remnants by Rosemary (NC-17)
And now for something completely different . . .

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: Starsky/Hutch
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read:


Because this story breaks every rule I thought existed for the making of a plausible, let alone mesmerizing slash story. The villains are Satanists in very silly outfits, macho men weep their guts out, and worst of all, I can hardly bear to confess that most heinous of all fanfic crimes -- rape is made better through hot-man-on-man sex!

Dear gods, I should hate this story with a passion, but instead I can’t stop indulging in the guilty pleasure of re-reading “Remnants” every couple of months. Because against all fanfic reason, Rosemary makes all of the above work. The Satanists are genuinely menacing, the tears are not only justifiable but pretty darn manly, and the post-rape sex is not only believable, it's so damn hot it should be illegal.

Ah well, I guess the old aphorism is true: learn all the rules so you can break them well.

Remnants
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08:43 pm Vorkosigan Universe: An Overview
Many thanks to the two individuals who are responsible for the majority of this overview, [livejournal.com profile] thefourthvine and [livejournal.com profile] quietann. My contribution was as editor and supplier of Web links. My collaborators graciously did the heavy lifting. I apologize to them if I changed their comments too much as I merged their writings. Further changes were made by [livejournal.com profile] beatrice_otter in 2011.

The Vorkosigan Universe

The Vorkosigan Overview )
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08:48 pm The Force Bond Series by KittandChips (PG)
Fandom: STAR WARS OT
Pairing: Gen
Length: Epic
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] kittandchips
Author Website: Kitt's Homepage, KittandChips's Fanfiction.net Profile

Why this must be read:

There are quite a few excellent stories floating around the internet about Luke and Vader's father/son relationship. This should come as no surprise, as that relationship is the primary focus of the Original Trilogy. All other relationships and friendships fade into the background when it comes to the pivotal scenes between Luke and Vader. It is through Luke's love and firm belief in his father that Vader is able to rediscover himself, save Luke's life, and die in the light. Thus, many fanfic writers love to explore the complex and multifaceted relationship between father and son.

More about the fic )

* * *

Excerpt )

Force Bond 1: Orphan

Other Stories in the Series )
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10:27 pm Age of Aquarius, by Speranza (NC-17)
Fandom: THE WEST WING
Pairing: Josh/Donna
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] cesperanza
Author Website: Speranza's Fiction
Why this must be read:

OK... this last weekend has been a BIGGIE for us Josh & Donna shippers, and so I thought it would be a good idea to go for a fic that would keep us feeling the smack high - and only one name sprang to mind!
Read more... )

So, do yourself a favour - READ THIS NOW!! Smack high guaranteed!

Age of Aquarius
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10:55 pm A Deeper Season by Eolianbeck and Sahiya (PG-13)
Fandom: VORKOSIGAN UNIVERSE
Pairing: Miles Vorkosigan/Gregor Vorbarra
Authors on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] eolianbeck and [livejournal.com profile] sahiya
Author Website: but there's a devil in the looking glass

Why this must be read:
This is my current favorite Vorkosigan fanfic, and it's a lovely read. I wish I could be as eloquent as this story deserves. It's plotty slash, low-key enough that readers who prefer gen should find it appealing, too. What do I love about this story? It's an engrossing, lengthy AU that takes place post-Memory, assuming there is no Laisa. I found the slash aspect pleasing, but the plot and authentic re-creation of LMB's universe were just as important in my enjoyment. I'm also happy to report that the authors have been working on a sequel, What Passing Bells, so stay tuned for more of this storyverse (last I read, it's completed but still undergoing editing).

A Deeper Season
(You can read an LJ version starting here in Eolianbeck's journal or here in Sahiya's LJ.)
Take one Miles, a hapless cousin, Cetagandan social politics, a galactic conspiracy, a scientific discovery, a lot of firepower, and an unexpected declaration.
Mix well and step back quickly.


What Passing Bells cookie, set about one-third of the way through the sequel.
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11:13 pm Prince Serg's Secret & Cordelia Talks to Gregor by Quietann (PG-13)
Fandom: VORKOSIGAN UNIVERSE
Pairing: Miles/Gregor implied
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] quietann
Author Website: Ann's Fanfic Page

Why this must be read:
I really like this pair of stories set after The Vor Game. Based on the "A Deeper Season" storyverse created by [livejournal.com profile] eolianbeck and [livejournal.com profile] sahiya, but still true to canon, these two stories are a good exploration of what happens when terrible secrets are revealed. I particularly like the Cordelia characterization in the second story.

Prince Serg's Secret

Cordelia talks to Gregor

Be sure to check out the other ADS spinoff stories by quietann.
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11:17 pm The Winter's Heart by Brighid (R)
Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Blair Sandburg/Jim Ellison
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] brighidestone
Author Website: The Brighid E. Stone Memorial Reading Room
Why this must be read:

Brighid is one of my favorite writers simply for the beauty of her prose. I particularly love her Sentinel adaptations of faery tales. It was hard to choose one of these jewels. The Winter's Heart is a retelling of The Snow Queen with its themes of emotional isolation and the healing power of love. The old tale illuminates the relationship between Jim and Blair and they bring the faery tale to life.

I feel Brighid's writing like an ache in my chest. I started off writing a flowery description of its sensory delights, its elegance, its wit, its evocative imagery, its revelatory moments, yadda yadda yadda. I can't do the story justice, so just read it.

Excerpt:

In the months he'd lived with Ellison, he'd long ago figured out that Jim was the sort of guy who needed to be needed. He was always doing little things, all gruff-like and defensive and on the sly, but doing things, all the same. "Here, Sandburg, stop borrowing my fucking socks, these were on sale at Costco." and, "Hey, Sandburg, I found this bookcase down at the Salvation Army store, can you believe it?" not to mention, "What do you mean you're taking the car in for an oil change? Christ, no wonder you're always broke. Didn't any of your mom's boyfriends ever teach you anything about cars?"

The man was a big ol' softie, provided you didn't point it out to him.

Not to mention, Carolyn struck him as a talker, someone who liked to draw boundaries and debate things all civilized and keep Robert's Rules of Order, and as far as he could tell, saying "Jim, we've gotta talk," was the surest thing to get the man down into a hole so fast there'd be six more weeks of winter. Jim didn't talk, he just did.

The Winter's Heart
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11:33 pm Wildflowers by Quietann (R)
Fandom: VORKOSIGAN UNIVERSE
Pairing: Miles/Gregor
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] quietann
Author Website: Ann's Fanfic Page

Why this must be read:
The novella "The Mountains of Mourning" was the first Bujold piece I read, back in 1989 in Analog, and this short romantic interlude took me back to that crucial experience in Miles' life. It made sense that Miles would take his lover to Silvy Vale. Another aspect I like about this story is the way Miles teases Gregor.

Wildflowers
More ADS spinoff stories by quietann
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