Fandom: HEROES
Pairing: N/A
Author on LJ: sparky77
Author Website: Sparky77's Memories
Why this must be read:

This is a great look at Ando and his place in the grand scheme of things. It's also interesting to see how he views his relationship with Hiro, as well as the dynamics between them and the Petrelli brothers. Written before "Distractions."

( Excerpt )

Five Facts Ando Learned as Part of His Epic Quest to Help Save the World (and possibly a cheerleader or two)

Fandom: HEROES
Pairing: N/A
Author on LJ: rivkat
Author Website: Rivka T
Why this must be read:

This story was written for Yuletide and was pretty thoroughly jossed soon thereafter, but it's a fantastic Claire character piece. As she tries to deal with what she's learned about her father, she goes back to see Matt and Audrey. This is a relatively short piece, but by the end it feels like Claire's really grown as a character, and we're left feeling as proud of her as Matt is.

( Excerpt )

Clarity

Fandom: X-FILES
Pairing: None (Mulder/Scully UST)
Author on LJ: Not that I can find.
Author Website: The Underground
Why this must be read: This story takes Mulder and Scully out of their element and has them facing destruction and horror that is all too explainable, yet no less disturbing.  It’s the details in Punk’s story that make it amazing—they are precise, creating a clarity of imagery that can only come from artfully chosen words and phrases; you can almost taste the ash, feel the flames from the fires, as you read this fic.  The relationship is not a “romance,” but the undercurrent of what remains unspoken between the partners grounds this story and creates an additional layer of meaning to what is already a densely layered tale.  The story is short, but the length belies the evocative quality of Punk’s often admired (and rightfully so) prose.



Opsis

Forgive me for the day-lateness but my home comp went crazy this weekend. :(

Title: Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Pairing: gen
Author on LJ paperbkryter
Author Website: Words
Why this must be read: This story is pure crack in its fluffiest most lightest form. It's funny, sweet and even a tad sad. Also it blends and animated Disney movie with a weekly sci-fi teen angst drama flawlessly.

Author's Synopsis - While Lilo and Nani attempt to teach Clark, Chloe and Lana how to hula, Lex is having a rather unusual alien encounter.

( Excerpt )

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: lcorn
Author Website: Observations
Why this must be read:

I came across this story recently when someone posted a query about it on that splendid fic-finding community, mfuficfind, so it isn't exactly unknown, but it's so brilliant that I couldn't resist reccing it to the wider world. Linda is one of those multi-talented comic writers who can combine humour, drama and emotion in the most satisfying way. Her stories are hugely entertaining: funny, exciting and moving, and wonderfully written. Many of them are told in the first person, from the point of view of an innocent who gets caught up in UNCLE activity, either tangentially or directly, and the voices of these original characters are an absolute joy. The narrator of "Close to a Knockout" is a Chandler-esque private eye (so Chandler-esque, in fact, that his name is Chandler), and the pastiche is spot on. What I love best about the use of OC's as narrators is that it opens all sorts of possibilities for dramatic irony and comic misinterpretations, because the readers know what's going on so much better than the narrator. Linda makes the most wonderful use of this trope. Here's a taster:

They were both staring back at me. The closest one, a brunet who looked like he'd stopped by on the way from a very good barber, nodded a greeting from the padded chair. It was a friendly gesture, considering this was my office.
"I hope you don't mind us coming in," he said. "The door wasn't locked." He had a plummy, nondescript voice, the kind they use on TV to convince you there's a better cereal than the one you're eating.
"Lucky I'm forgetful today," I said, sliding into my seat. "I'd hate for you gentlemen to have had to wait in the hallway."
I shifted my eyes to the other visitor. He sat pressed back into the shadows so mostly what I noticed was the pale, smooth face that displayed a little less emotion than the file cabinet behind him. There was a lot of light-colored hair above his high forehead, which was confusing because he didn't dress like a hippy and he didn't show enough feeling to be a pansy.

Close to a Knockout

Really sorry I'm late with this -- I was out of town -- but I had to rec this the moment I got back. Not only is it a lovely crossover, but it's such a perfect portait of Amanda as a character, who she always is, and who she might become.

Title: Constants by Rhi
Pairing: None
Author Website: Rhiannon's Eyrie
Why this must be read:

She's the one teacher with whom every Companion trains, and not only for skill at arms. She teaches the Companions sword and knife, lock and pick, question and evasion. She teaches other things, too: How to smile and smile and miss nothing; how to distinguish between a client who's ignoring one and a client who's only pretending not to notice; how not to get caught, and what to do if one is. How to run, and when to run, and why it's best to walk if one must run in public. Why killing is sometimes the only choice, but the ability to hide the body is a necessary ancillary skill.

Constants

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 2003
Pairing: Kara/Lee
Author on LJ: widget285
Author Website: The Widgeteria
Why this must be read:

During the course of re-reading this gem before posting the rec, I discovered that, although I had enough presence of mind to add it to memories, apparently I never bothered to leave feedback on the fic itself. *headdesk*

This fic is a lovely and somewhat painful look at the frequently at-odds friendship shared by Kara Thrace and Lee Adama, as well as giving us some foreshadowing of things to come. Lee and Kara care for each other intensely even as they bewilder the frak out of each other. They continually pull up just short of understanding, but come just close enough to keep trying.

With spoilers through season 2’s Flight of the Phoenix, Vanishing Act gives us the test flight of the Blackbird, which we saw on screen, and then follows up with the aftermath, which we weren’t privileged to see. An aftermath that includes a bit of the celebration of Kara’s return from a successful test as well as the pain that Lee feels as she disappears on him, again, and then reappears in typical Starbuck fashion.

As good as I found Vanishing Act to be back in October of 2005, it’s an even more rich read now, armed with the new knowledge we’ve gained over the course of the subsequent season and a half.

Go forth and enjoy, and don’t forget to feed the author.

( excerpt )

Vanishing Act

Fandom: TORCHWOOD
Pairing: Ianto/Jack
Author on LJ: 3jane
Author Website: Janefic
Why this must be read:

A sweet little story about the team keeping an alien at the Hub. There’s not much plot, the story simply relies on atmosphere and images, and Jane manages to draw a very vivid image of the team. The Ianto/Jack moment at the ends comes off as very intimate and real.

"C12H22O11"