Fandom:Pirates of the Caribbean
Pairings: Jack/Elizabeth, Will/Elizabeth, Jack/Will, Elizabeth/Norrington, Will/Norrington
Author on LJ: penknife
Author Website: Penknife to Paper
Why this must be read:

The whole fandom may be waiting to see what happens in At World's End but the real opportunity for fic writers is what happens after it's all over. Penknife offers up five possibilities in five pairings for what might happen after the journey to the world's end. Penknife has a great feel for all the characters and for the complex web of subtext and desire that connects them. Each of these ficlets ultimately explores one particular pairing, but the format and the Penknife's writing style emphasize the fluidity of relationships in this fandom, how easy it might be for almost any pairing to come to pass.

Five Ways of Running for Home

Fandom: DOCTOR WHO
Pairing: Mickey/Rose, Mickey/Trisha Delaney
Author on LJ: sarah531
Author Website: Heartstars.net
Why this must be read:

When in comes to new series fiction, the vast majority, whether shippy or not, tends to focus on the Doctor and/or Rose. Particularly during the first series, Mickey and Jackie were only really seen as comic relief, and were rarely ficced (The second series has done quite a bit in getting them more notice, it has to be said. Particularly Mickey, who has some great fic about him now. Which, being a big Mickey fan, I highly approve of).

Now, I personally am a big fan of minor character fics, and alternate POVs of canon stories. And sarah531 is one of my favourite writers of these fics. This was the first fic that brought her to my notice, as it had a heavy Mickey focus back when I couldn't find Mickey fic anywhere. But it's a wonderful story about those who have been affected by the Doctor - those who remain here on Earth - set alongside Series One (There is a Series Two sequel in progress). With wonderful development for Mickey and Jackie, but also in developing great characters from throwaway lines (and some great OCs), and it genuinely shows the influence that the Doctor has on anyone. And the power that gives them.

( Excerpt )

Turn of the Earth

Out of courtesy, I'm posting a rape warning for this story. Please keep in mind that the rape that occurs is not the point of the story, nor even a major focus of it; it’s more a character point than anything.

Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Author on LJ: alyburns
Author Website: The Kennel, or look her up at 852 Prospect
Why this must be read:

Lee Brackett, from the episode “Rogue,” shows up a lot in TS stories. And why not? Canonically, he knew more about Jim’s past than we do; he certainly intimated that he knew a little more about Sentinels and Guides than Blair; and Brackett’s the one who elevated Blair’s role in the partnership to one of equality with its own set of special skills and abilities.

As its title suggests, a Guide could certainly be a commodity in demand; we’ve met a couple of Sentinels in the course of the series, but the only Guide we’ve come across is Blair. This story – like so many others – proposes that Brackett’s developed some interesting heightened senses during his time in prison, and is now in need of a Guide. Do you wonder where he’s going to look for one? And do you even question what Jim and the gang at Major Crimes will do to bring Blair back?

This is one of the best stories I've come across that explores Brackett as Sentinel, and the impermeable bond that exists between Jim and Blair. Nobody handles twists and turns like Alyjude. She writes beautifully, knows Jim and Blair like the back of her hand, and even though you know everything’s going to turn out fine for our boys in the end, your heart still pounds with excitement and worry as you thrill to the story she lays out before you.

( Something's off kilter )


A Sentinel Takes a Guide

Fandom: DC COMICS
Pairing: Tim Drake, Dinah Lance, Roy Harper (gen)
Author on LJ: smittywing
Author Website: Smittyworld
Why this must be read:

This was one of the stories from timfinity, the Tim Drake AU challenge, that really stayed with me. Tim is Canary Lad, the feathered-shorts-wearing sidekick to Black Canary. I love how different Dinah's mentorship style is from Bruce's, and how that allows Tim to be more of a normal boy. Well, as normal as Tim gets. *g* Dinah, Tim, and Roy feel like a family as well as a team, and the story has some great scenes where we get to see the Black Canary team in action.

Birds of a Feather

Fandom: Popslash
Pairing: JC/Joey
Author on LJ: merryish
Author Website: any road

Why this must be read: The world this story builds is utterly delicious: warm and rich and comforting. There's love and caring and belonging, long before the first kiss is exchanged, and I'm a total sucker for that.

( excerpt )

JC and Joey aren't one of the more popular common pairings in popslash--but that just makes this story all the more special. Really, don't miss this one.

Nobody's Birthday