Fandom: X-FILES
Pairing: Mulder/Scully
Author on LJ: If anyone knows, drop me a line...
Author Website: Imagine the Possibilities
Why this must be read: Set post-Gethsemane, I read this fic while it was coming out as a WIP during the summer hiatus before season 5 began. The PTB were making us wait until November for the new season, so several very talented authors took up the challenge of arriving at their own conclusion as to how Scully’s cancer, which had recently metastasized, could possibly be cured, as well as how viewers were supposed to reconcile the idea of Mulder’s “suicide” with the fact that he wasn’t likely to actually be dead. Lydia Bower’s tale is, in my mind, one of the best (if not the best) of these stories.

This story is not the nice and neat rewind we got with Redux, where Scully knew all along that Mulder had faked his death. Lydia took the despair that Gillian projected on screen and interpreted that to mean that Scully was unaware of Mulder’s plans (and in this story, Mulder’s plan is a lot more carefully thought out and plausible than him breaking into the pentagon on a whim). She also depicts the ramifications of these decisions in all their hear-rending, angry turmoil. Although this is an MSR fic (with some damn fine smut), as Lydia says on her web page, “These stories are not the "hearts and flowers" type. I much prefer to write Mulder and Scully as the flawed, less-than-perfect human beings they are.” And they are so much better that way

Read it because it’s a well plotted resolution to a story arc that badly deserved proper resolution. Read it because Lydia’s characterizations (especially of Mulder) are dead on. Read it because it’s just a damn fine story.

The link to this story on Lydia’s page does not seem to be functional, but you can follow it to see the lovely cover art:

Web Page

To read the story, you will need to go to Lydia’s page at Gossamer and scroll down until you find “Primal Sympathy,” broken into three parts:

Lydia's Gossamer Page

Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski
Author on LJ: bethbethbeth
Author Website: http://beth-h.mrks.org/
Why this must be read:

Probably the shortest story I'll ever rec (only 22 K and it's even work safe!), Unplanned is a quiet little pop tart about a slip of the lips on Ray's part and how it impacts his relationship with Fraser. Subdued and well-written and perfect if you need a little pick-me-up.

Unplanned

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya
Author on LJ: viviana7
Author Website: None
Why this must be read:


Viviana is a bit of an enigma. As far as I know, she has written only a handful of MfU stories, which are so outstanding that they've all already been recced here, with the exception of two drabbles and "Room at the Top". I'm not sure why this one escaped, because it's a lovely long, emotionally involving story, written with Viviana's characteristic poetic touch. However, I'm glad it did, because otherwise I wouldn't have had an opportunity to drool publicly over her work. Viviana is one of those authors who write so well that they can reconcile me to things I normally don't care for, in this case hardcore, explicit emotional wallowing. Napoleon has been offered the Number One spot in Hong Kong; Illya believes this means their relationship must be over. I'm not sure I've ever read a better version of a catastrophic argument, with each starting off being reasonable by his lights, then going for blood and ending with the horrified feeling that he had never really known the dark side of his partner. The pig-headedness, the conflicting motivations, the absolute impossibility of finding a solution all ring true, and the language in which they conduct this bitter debate is a delight:


'It's a good thing they've finally found you a top job, Napoleon. Maybe now your monstrous ego will be satisfied, and give the rest of the world a chance! It never occurred to you that anyone could refuse you, did it? That they might have a life, reasons, ties they do not wish to break, careers, plans, or any purpose in existing but to serve you?'

Napoleon looked stunned. 'Hey, don't hold back. Express yourself.'


The story is on Viviana's lj but not behind a cut, so you need to scroll down past her two drabbles (which you can read on the way - they're both excellent) to find it. And once you've finished, you can go straight on to the story which follows, "Poker Night", which has already been recced here.

Room at the Top

Vidder: P.R.Zed
Musical artist: Dandy Warhols
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya
Vidder on LJ: przed
Vidder's website: Zed's Place
Why this vid kicks ass:

My apologies for putting this rec out at the wrong time, but since I won't have internet access at the right time, I figured better early than never.

There is a terrible dearth of MfU vids, a miserable state of affairs that will hopefully change dramatically once the DVDs finally become available (DVDs, yay!), but that doesn't mean that there are none at all in existence. The best one, also by P.R. Zed, is Moscow Drug Club , which has already been recced. "Bohemian Like You" is a bit of a cheat because it's actually a multifandom vid (Starsky and Hutch, Due South, The Professionals and Man From UNCLE) but although Napoleon and Illya have to share screen time with all these other guys, it's still well worth watching because it's so funny and so cleverly done, picking out some absurdly slashy moments from the various shows (I come close to death-by-laughter every time we reach the shot where Hutch cooks Starsky dinner) and stringing them together in a storyline that's also an exercise in Compare & Contrast. One day MfU fandom will have lots and lots of vids all of its own, but until that day comes, it's well worth claiming this one.

This is it from me, folks. I've thoroughly enjoyed this reccing business, and I hope I managed to turn up at least one story you hadn't read before, or reminded you of forgotten loves. Happy holiday!

Bohemian Like You

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 2003
Pairing: Helo/Sharon
Author on LJ: repr0b8
Author Website: Kindreds
Why this must be read:

Set during after Resurrection Ship 2, but with shadows of Epiphanies, this is a very matter-of-fact look at Helo and Sharon from Helo’s point of view. On the surface, it’s a somewhat hopeless fic, depicting the how stagnant their lives had become with nothing to look forward to but more of the same, Sharon locked in a cage and Helo going through the motions of a life, but not truly living. But Helo is a stubborn man, unwilling to let things be, persevering against whatever is thrown at him…

( excerpt )

I hope you enjoy this angsty little piece as much as I did, and re-reading it to get an excerpt for this post was no different from when I first read it, many months ago. The fic definitely holds its own against the test of time and canon. But, um, do me a favor? Just read the fic and maybe post a comment to it, if you feel so moved. Don’t read the comments that are already there, ‘cause, well, I seem to have been an emo headcase at the time and it’s a little embarrassing. :P

Walls of Steel and Glass

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: lithium_doll
Author's website: Alter Idem

Why this must be read:
Kripke has described episodes of "Supernatural" as each being a mini-horror movie. In fic, sometimes we get horror, sometimes family drama, sometimes pure crack; Lithium Doll's tightly-wound story falls firmly into the horror genre. Set post-"Asylum," it starts at a slow, uneasy pitch, steadily pulsing with dread. Each step Sam and Dean take, every sentence turns the screws another notch, ratcheting up a wringing tension until you're forcing yourself to keep breathing.

And by the end? Well, my initial reaction was "I'm just gonna be over in the corner, curled up in a ball and rocking back and forth, thanks."

This isn't overwrought gothic horror, full of bombast and monsters; it's subtle, insidious, crawling bleakly under your skin. And you won't be able to get it out of your head.

"And if we went we'd just end right up back here anyway." -- The Thousand Ways to Bleed

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: Sam/Dean
Author on LJ: mona1347
Author's website: none -- fic tagged on LJ

Why this must be read:
If you need a bit of relief after that last fic, Mona's "Don't Step on the Grass" is a fantastic cure-all. It's one of my no-fail feel-good fics -- just fluffy, happy, pot-loving porn.

Before John disappears, before Sam runs away to college, Dean's just getting by with a little help from his friends. Sam freaks out, a late-night Denny's assault ensues, and eventually it's all hands and mouths in naughty places. What really makes this piece, though, is the snap-and-crackle banter and Sam's hysterical flailing inner voice. Plus, Mona doesn't forget a light, sweet touch of their tight connection; Dean always, always looks after Sam. But sometimes Sam also looks after Dean.

Don't Step on the Grass, Sam

Fandom: The Sentinel
Pairing: Jim and Blair
Author on LJ: hellblazer06
Author's Website: Nine Muses

Why this must be read:
It’s hard to know how to rec this without spoiling it. Suffice to say, the Blair here is not the Blair we know and love. This story was written early in the show’s run, in ’97, and apparently caused something of a kerfuffle at the time. I can see why.


The BS Factor

It doesn’t have a happy ending but is not a death fic. There’s a sad little sequel that gives some resolution:
The Blair Project