Fandom: LotRiPS
Pairing: Viggo Mortensen/Elijah Wood
Author on LJ: _grievousangel
Author Website: Stories of Love and Depravity
Why this must be read: This is probably one of the most serious and tone-accurate AUs in the fandom. And if that isn't enough, the writing is also trememdously good. Initially set just post-WWI, over the course of the four 'books' _grievousangel divides the narrative into, we get to see the central relationship mature and change in relation and in reaction to the prevalent attitudes toward homosexuality and the events that changed the world in the 1920s, '30s and '40s.

The House Party

Fandom: LotRiPS
Pairing: Various
Author on LJ: blandandnormal, imogenics, paintedmaypole, smartlikejustin, throughadoor
Author Website: X Will Mark the Place, Mainly In the Plain, [through a] door
Why this must be read: This is multimedia and tremendously, amazingly, creatively fun. But the thing I really love about this? The voices. Crystal clear and spot on. Yumm.

Peter and Fran

Fandom: LotRiPS
Pairing: Various
Author on LJ: cynical_terror and dmbdragonfly
Author Website: Cynical Terror and Copacetic
Why this must be read: It's a story. And a game. It's choose-your-own-adventure and it'll keep you both guessing and on the edge of your seat. It's period and atmospheric and it doesn't pull its punches. And it's the closest I'm going to come to reccing a vid this month.

Go on and discover its world. You can come back to ours. Eventually.

The Identity Code

Vidder: Aldalindil
Musical artist: Tori Amos
Pairing: Gen
Vidder on LJ: tartanshell
Vidder's website: no website--just check around her LJ
Why this vid kicks ass: First of all, I've always loved the song "Winter" by Tori Amos, and finding a vid to it surrounding my favorite characters of Luke, Vader, and Ben Kenobi practically made me rub my hands with glee. Aldalindil mentions in a comment that it's supposed to be post-RotJ Luke looking back on his father, which puts the vid in a bit more perspective, but even without knowing that, it's lovely and haunting. The clips match the song very, very well, adding poignancy to scenes that were already poignant in the movies.

The link to the vid is currently on expired yousendit pages, but I've asked her to add another link so that more people can see this lovely vid. :)

All the White Horses

Fandom: RPS
Pairing: Teddy Dunn/Aaron Ashmore
Author on LJ: buffyx
Author Website: Here is a link to her memories
Why this must be read:

I thought this was a very different pairing. They're both on Veronica Mars (for those of you confused as to who they are, Teddy Dunn plays Duncan Caine and Aaron Ashmore played Troy Pendegraff for a couple of episodes). I liked the interaction between them, the friendship and comfort and realness. Very worth the read.

How Do You Like Your Blue-Eyed Boy

Fandom: RPS
Pairing: Michael Rosenbaum/Tom Welling
Author on LJ: khohen1
Author Website: kHo's Fiction
Why this must be read:

Back to my roots. I had to rec a Tom/Mike! I have always thought there was a lot of chemistry between these two. And this shows what could happen at the end of the series. Very well written, very plausable, and also very hot.

Maybe it was the Alcohol

Fandom: RPS
Pairing: Jensen Ackles/Jared Padelecki
Author on LJ: marishna
Author Website: A S S C O W
Why this must be read:

This is so very hot. The images in this fic threaten to cause serious damage, because GUH. Its one of my favorite positions of all time, and its done very well here. The author has taken a great scene in teh show and turned it into some very awesome fic. Plus, her banner is really hot and I have to stop myself from staring at it.

Preferably During Business Hours

Hi! I'm mtgat and I'm driving the Justice League van this month. The fandom overview can be found here. The show has moved on since the first overview and there are a few highlights you might like to know before jumping into the fandom. ( The high points. )
Fandom: JUSTICE LEAGUE
Pairing: Superman/Wonder Woman, Batman/Wonder Woman, Superman/Lois Lane
Author on LJ: seldear
Author Website: The Dragonborn.net (FF.net profile)
Why this must be read:
My first rec this month is a gateway 'fic. Sel mixes comics and animated continuities brilliantly here, taking what seems like a natural pairing, Superman and Wonder Woman, and showing the consequences of that coupling on their friendship and other relationships. Sel doesn't pull punches. She describes this as a purge 'fic, and it feels that way while reading, but like any purge, the reader feels better afterward for having gone through it. If you're coming in from the comics, or even if you've only just seen Superman Returns, this 'fic is a good place to go for an initial taste of animated fanfic. (And remember that feedback makes the world a happier place!)

Aftermath

Hi, I’m calliopes_pen, and I’ll be driving the van for the DC Comics Fandom this month. A Flash By Any Other Name is my first rec.

Fandom: DC COMICS
Pairing: Batman/Flash
Author on LJ: victoria_wayne
Author Website: The story--so far--is archived here.

Why this must be read: This author has an incredible grasp on the characters, and manages to combine DC Comics with the animated universe flawlessly. The relationship and the journey towards it is wonderfully and amazingly crafted.

The author makes the world her own; and just so everyone knows, her story is set after the series finale of Justice League Unlimited, and before a few major storylines in the Batman comics. If I said which ones, that would spoil the story for you.

( Excerpt from part 8. )

Fandom: Farscape
Pairing: N/A
Author on LJ: unknown.
Author Website: Vehemently's Fanfiction
Why this must be read:

Mixed-media works are growing in popularity, and it's not like they haven't been around for as long as writers have had access to PSP and Photoshop. But this particular creation by Vehemently has always stuck out in my mind as being particularly clever. Perhaps it was just that this was one of the first Farscape stories I'd read, but I suspect it has more to do with the sheer cleverness of the story/article.

Vehemently gives us a fascinating glimpse into the Earth John Crichton left behind through realistic journalist tone, accompanying images, and speculation. It feels just like you're reading an article from Science magazine or a similar publication, which adds new depth to the alien world John has entered into. I can't reccomend this enough.

Dashed Hopes

Fandom: STARGATE ATLANTIS
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Author on LJ: synecdochic
Author Website: Venus In Furs
Why this must be read: Can 22 pages of LJ comments be wrong? synecdochic is also a popslasher, and her stylistic bravura is in evident in this well-titled story, a futurefic character piece with Rodney McKay as a college prof. synecdochic's plot about his classes--typically McKay difficult--and mentoring weaves with asides about the events that happened on Atlantis (Why did McKay leave? Where is Sheppard?), but the story is about life, love, loss, and ambition. Under it all flows a current of emotion, all tied to Atlantis, that threatens to tug McKay--and the reader--into either happiness or devastation. This is quite simply a beautifully written piece that's about important things ("To say it was all worth it trivializes something so profound he knows he will never have the words to articulate it"), with a McKay changed and tempered--believably so--by his experience.

Freedom's Just Another Word For Nothing Left To Lose (PG)

After reading the fic, check out the extended DVD spoiler commentary, where she talks about writing it.

Hi, I'm iamtheenemy. I have a serious kink for Clark/Lex futurefics, so you'll be seeing a lot of those here.

Fandom: SMALLVILLE
Pairing: Clark Kent/Lex Luthor
Author on LJ: toomuchplor
Author Website: Earth Boys Are Easy
Why this must be read:

This is one of my favorite stories in the fandom. It's Clark in the early days of becoming Superman. He's still in college, he's interning at The Daily Planet, he's saving little kids, he's in a relationship with Lex, he's trying to be a good son...

It all adds up in one day, until Clark has a bit of a panic attack, but who could blame him? I love Lex in this story, too. The way he takes care of Clark makes me so happy and squeeful.

( Excerpt )

Hyperextension

'Ello. I am driving this Buffy van for July.But first, I recommend checking out the memories of this here community, because there is some really good stuff there that I myself can't rec, because it's been done.

Any, just so you know. I love slash. I am, in fact, a slasher. I am also deeply in love with one Xander Harris. It is almost guaranteed that the fics I rec will include one or both of those things. So, be warned.

Fandom: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Pairing: Spike/Xander
Author on LJ: tabaqui
Author Website: Scarecrow Horses
Why this must be read:

Taaqui is, by far, one of my favorite Spike/Xander writers. Every plot is original and daring and enjoyable. She has great character voice, and the stories bounce back from being funny to dramatic to filled with action to sad, while still having this constant and amazing flow.

Dogs of War is the first Tabaqui fic I ever read. It's an AU set sometime after Glory, in which the Initiative takes control of Sunnydale and nearly everyone Xander cares about most. Xander had managed to stay hidden, and is doing everything that he can to find his friends.

...alright, I'll say it. To find his friends....before it's too late!

Dogs of War.
Enjoy.

Hi, I’m catalenamara, and I’ll be driving the crack_van for Star Trek: The Original Series this month. I primarily read Kirk/Spock, so most of my recommendations will be for that pairing.

Fandom: STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES
Pairing: Kirk/Spock
Author on LJ: jennasts
Author Website: beyonddreamspress.com
Why this must be read:

“Rekindling Fire” picks up where STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE left off.

The first scene in this story has incredible emotional impact. Spock has been ordered back to Vulcan on Starfleet business. Both Kirk and Spock are determined to take what little time they have to speak some truths to each other, complex truths of love and lust and pain and anger. But Spock has one final, devastating truth for Kirk – even as he admits his love for Kirk, he reveals that they can never be lovers.

Kirk is reluctant to accept this – but he knows he must have Spock back in his life, on whatever terms that Spock is willing to grant him. When Spock returns from his mission to Vulcan, they have a small interlude of time to pick up the pieces of their friendship. Then an outside force intervenes – a force which almost destroyed Spock before and threatens to do so now.

Jenna’s writing is superb and utterly satisfying. She is a master at plotting dramatic, intense, emotionally complex stories. Her stories so vivid I experience them as if I were watching them on the movie screen.

http://ksarchive.com/viewstory.php?sid=537&i=1

Fandom: MAN FROM UNCLE
Pairing: None - Gen
Author on LJ: Not that I know of
Author Website: No personal site, but she has a couple of stories posted to David McCallum Fans Online. This site is well worth a visit for anyone interested in the actor.

Why this must be read:

A gen, character-driven story, this is the kind of fiction that transcends genre, I think, and can appeal to both gen and slash fans. In "Torero", Napoleon and Illya find a most unusual outlet for all that excess post-mission adrenaline. If you think field agents have a dangerous day job, you've got to see what they do for relaxation!

Here's the first paragraph - a wonderful set-up for a wonderful story:

( Read more... )

"Torero" has humor, action, mystery, tension, and gorgeous, naked men. There is no sex, but really? You won't miss it here.

Supposedly this story is the prologue to a novella titled "The Bulls of Sandovar". The novella is not online, and I do not know if it was, in fact, ever written. This would truly be a pity, as Barbara Zuchegna writes a mighty fine story. If anyone knows if it's available somewhere, please do leave a comment.

Torero, Part 1
Torero, Part 2

I hope you enjoy this story as much as I do.

Fandom: XFILES
Pairing: Skinner / Mulder / Krycek (and others)
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: None currently functional
Why this must be read:
The X-files lends itself to crazy AU's that aren't necessarily AU...we saw all sorts of strange things happen on the series, so why not a bizarre celestial phenomenon that releases magic into the world? This epic series is much more on the soap opera end of things than the high literary art end, and it's every bit as addictive as any good afternoon soap - the plot twists and turns are fascinating, the character relationships are ever-changing, and the sex is steamy and varied. The series is a bit similar in concept to another strange AU epic, "Life from the Ashes", which I previously recommended, but the Changing Series has werewolves and vampires and magic and all sorts of fun stuff.

There's a sequel, the Alliance Series, and another unfinished sequel, the Conquering Series. Even without a definitive ending, this series is well worth reading. The link below takes you to an index page where you can see links to all the parts of all three series.

The Changing Series

Master and Commander is the name given to the books in the 'Aubrey/Maturin series' by Patrick O'Brian and the film based on those books called Master and Commander: Far Side of the World*. They're about naval Captain Jack Aubrey and his best friend, the naturalist and secret agent Stephen Maturin, going around having exciting adventures on the high seas during the early 19th century. I promise that they're actually exciting, and a lot funnier than would usually be expected: there is plenty of good snark to be had, plus a narrative voice that is occasionally awesomely bitchy. Think Horatio Hornblower with extra Jane Austen, or (and I realise that this will make me look weird, but bear with me a second) a much more realist version of Jeeves and Wooster, gone back in time a century to fight Napoleon. It's awesome.**

( Master and Commander overview right here )


So, there we go. I hope you found it at least slightly interesting: I love these people and think their world is a fascinating one. Do feel free to ask questions or offer suggestions or whatever. It can be a bit daunting on first look, I know, but it's totally worth it. Also, if you see any typos or mistakes or anything, just say the word and I'll, y'know, edit or something, because obviously they were nothing to do with me. *cough*