Fandom: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin (pre-slash)
Author on LJ: crimsonquills
Author Website: Obsidian Quills

Why this must be read:

Don't let this short but sweet vignette fool you. Nix can pack more insight into her characters in a few paragraphs than most authors can in a novel. What's more, Correlations is the most original rendition of the "Napoleon finally realizes what Illya means to him" scenario that I've ever read, and every word of it rings true. So, what are you waiting for?

Correlations

Fandom: STARSKY AND HUTCH
Pairing: Starsky/Hutch
Author on LJ:http://kassidy62.livejournal.com/
Author Website:http://kassidyrae.com/shslash/
http://starskyhutch.kassidyrae.com/
Why this must be read: First, I gotta warn you. This story is dark, intense and may cross more than a few lines for some; there’s certainly one line in there I know that I can’t handle.

Starsky and Hutch are at the edge, and it’s fight or flight time.

“He’d look at Hutch just before he’d kiss him to see all there was in those open eyes, see the small care-worn lines at the corners, faint tracks of blue-veined exhaustion under the thin skin beneath when he was tired, and he’d think how lucky he was to be the one to see him this way. When he thought about it lately, late at night, remembering and wanting things that were gone, he still thought those times were close enough to come back to if they tried hard enough. And he’d tried to bring them back. He tried, but he couldn’t. He’d been wrong.”

Life on Mars

Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Chloe/Clark
Author on LJ toomuchplor
Author Website: Smallville Fic Tag

Why this must be read: A lovely and hot little fic that has Clark gay for Lex, Chloe (still) in love with Clark and a 'finally' between the two that just needed to happen. Doesn't matter your fictional sexual preferences, this fic has what you want: heart, sweetness, friendship, love, angst and acceptance.

Author's Synopsis: Chloe does her best to comfort Clark when he has a bad break-up.

( Excerpt )

Nookie

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan/OMC (implied) Duncan/Methos
Author on LJ: amonitrate
Author Website: Amonitrate on HLFiction
Why this must be read:
A brilliant and atmospheric story from an unusual perspective. This story actually inspired me to poetry (the poem can be found here).

Originally written for the Highlander Holiday Shortcuts fic exchange.

( A Taste: )



Les vagues de l'oubli

Fandom: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Pairing: Anne de Bourgh/Colonel Fitzwilliam
Length: 158,000 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Elegant Extracts

Why this must be read:

Anne de Bourgh is a almost a non-entity in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. She does not speak at all in the novel and is described as "thin and small" and "sickly and cross." With a mother like Lady Catherine de Bourgh, it's a wonder she wasn't worse than that! On the other hand, Colonel Fitzwilliam is a fascinating character to readers and fic writers alike. I've seen him paired with Caroline Bingley, Jane Bennet, Elizabeth Bennet, Charlotte Lucas (saving her from marrying the odious Mr. Collins), Kitty Bennet, Mary Bennet, Charlotte Collins (after the fortunate untimely death of Mr. Collins), Georgiana Darcy, and Anne de Bourgh. Since Jane Austen did not deign to give us his first name, and since writers cannot have the heroines of their stories call him "Colonel," they must invent a name for the dashing Colonel Fitzwilliam. I've seen Richard, Colin, Edward, Andrew, Fitzwilliam (yes, that would make him Fitzwilliam Fitzwilliam), and a few more as his given name.

Suffice it to say, Anne de Bourgh and Colonel Fitzwilliam make a somewhat unlikely pair. Yet, the author somehow makes them work, and work well.

Since we only know Colonel Fitzwilliam a little and Anne almost not at all from Jane Austen's words, this series' author was then free to choose how to characterize them. Her characterization rings true for what we know. In addition, we get a cast of original and returning Pride and Prejudice characters. Those who were created by Austen are true to her work (especially Lady Catherine), while the original characters fit seamlessly into the story and are memorable in their own right.

Aside from all that, the story is interesting and the plot engaging and enjoyable. In the first story of the trilogy, the author somewhat follows the style of Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary. However, in the second and third stories she branches off and begins to find her own voice. Overall, it's an enjoyable trilogy of stories.

* * *

( Excerpt )

There are three complete stories in the series:

Anne de Bourgh's Diary
Anne de Bourgh's Guide to Hunting and Fishing
Anne de Bourgh's Wedding

( More information )

( Update January 2012 )