Fandom: MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Pairing: None, gen
Length: novel
Author on LJ: not - that I know of
Author Website: much of it is at blackraptor
Why this must be read:

In keeping with my MOMA theme (this year's awards winners), this won - more than deservedly - as the best gen story.  I will admit upfront that I am amazed that nothing by the Cohorts has been mentioned on  Crack_van before.   They don't have a vast oeuvre, but what they have is outstanding.

To be straight - I don't write gen, not intentionally (sometimes things happen) and there aren't many stories that actually make me regret that, but everything I've read by these guys and BMP has been so good, so well-written in terms of plot and characterization and the dynamics of the team collectively and in smaller groups, that I know I would fail.  The talent these gen writers is stunning.

In terms specific to "Reality Check", there's an extra-added, sort of 'meta' level of writing going on.  For those of us who have read for a while in this fandom, it's a wonderful . . . commentary on the elaborate alternative universes that this fandom has engendered, and on the fanon some of these universes have produced, details that are so consistent that people who haven't seen the show itself are actually surprised to discover that there's no canon for the consistent qualities at all!  There's no cruelty in the presentation, though, and there's a balance of humor and seriousness that marked the actual episodes themselves.  The authors do a brilliant weaving of Old West, ATF, Little Britches, and the creation of a newer, modern AU, while keeping the characters consistent and in-character to the canon - and to the fanon, oddly, which is what's brilliant.  At the same time, they resolve several situations in several of the universes in a way that would make the writers of most television science fiction proud.

This award winner is one I back 100% - well and truly earned!

 

And here's the real thing - but it is wonderfully, wickedly, delightfully, long!!!!! 

Reality Check by the Cohorts


PS - The runners-up in this category (which is hard to be because you have to score within five points of the winner's score - and yes, there are 2 here, which tells you have close it was) are:

"Breathe" by BMP  and "So Easy to Kill" by - The Cohorts!

I'm taking over the wheel of the Cortina for this month's cruise through the beige flared, wedge-heeled world of Life on Mars. My first offering is actually the first story I read in this fandom, which gave me a very good impression of the writers.

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: None
Length: 7,092 words
Author on LJ: mellaithwen
Author Website: Fic list on her journal

Why this must be read:

Crossovers may not be everyone's cup of tea, but this one certainly was mine, because it's a Doctor Who/Life on Mars crossover. That's a fairly natural crossover, given that John Simm is in both shows, but this isn't the focus(because of the timey-wimey thing) but instead focuses on a man caught in two times and in two very strange situations. This is not just just a fun concept, but the hurt/comfort in the Li73 segments is pretty awesome. Just wish the author had written more in the fandom. If you read and enjoy it and comment, maybe she will....

Link: http://mellaithwen.livejournal.com/142049.html

Hi! My name is Nic, and I'll be your crack_van pilot in a well-loved galaxy far, far away this August. I am covering recs from the Star Wars trilogy, prequels, and expanded universe.

Fandom: STAR WARS - TRILOGY
Pairing: Mon Mothma/Wes Janson
Length: One-shot
Author on LJ: threeguesses
Author Website: Most of the author's SW fic is archived on their FFN profile
Why this must be read:

The pairing sounds wacky, even to non-EU readers. But Limelight weaves us a believable story about two extremely unlikely people -- a Rogue Squadron pilot and the Rebel Alliance Supreme Commander -- starting a relationship. This story will make you laugh, and give you appreciation for a couple of unsung heroes who helped bring down the Empire.

And The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon

Hello, I’m tree, and I’ll be driving the Literary Fandoms van for August. I have been ridiculously excited waiting for this month to roll around so I could pimp fic for one of my favourite novels, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

I find that Pride and Prejudice fanfic generally falls within three categories:

1. sequels to the novel
2. what if? stories (where some element of the original narrative is altered and hijinks ensue)
3. modern retellings

And, of course, there are always the fics that don’t fit into these categories, like fantasy/scifi stories, FWC (F**ck with Canon) tales, movie!fic, etc. So this month I’ll be offering fics in each category, as well as one or two of the ‘other’ persuasion.

As JAFFs are rarely rated, I’ve done my best to choose the appropriate ratings for these fics, but if anyone disagrees I’m happy to change them.

Fandom: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Pairing: Elizabeth/Darcy
Length: novel-length
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: The Derbyshire Writer's Guild
Why this must be read:

Lucy has several fics archived at the Derbyshire Writer’s Guild, but this is definitely my favourite. Generally I’m a stickler for grammar and spelling, and Lucy has some serious issues with homonyms which can be a bit distracting, but overall her writing is so charming that even my inner grammar maven can overlook the errors.

The story opens a few months after the wedding of Lizzy and Darcy. Its plot is quite large in scope – incorporating both characters from the novel as well as original characters – but maintains focus and interiority upon its main characters. While by no means explicit, Lucy manages to imbue Lizzy and Darcy’s more intimate moments with an eroticism I think many smut authors would envy. Filled with family and friends, love and romance, reconciliation and just a hint of scandal, Summer at Pemberley is a lovely, satisfying read.


Summer at Pemberley

Hi, I'm raincitygirl, and I'll be your BSG crack_van driver for August.

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

Pairing: lots and lotsa (Billy/Dualla; Starbuck/Apollo; Cally/Chief; Kat/Racetrack; Sharon/romance; Simon/art films; Leoben/poetry, d'Anna/porn, all Cylons/drinking game)

Length: short-ish

Author on LJ: mercurial_wit

Author Website: (or a link to where more of their fic is archived) here

Why this must be read: After 2.08 ("The Final Cut"), d'Anna has planted hidden cameras all over Galactica. The Cylons discover that watching the human soap opera is much more fun than genocide. A few even discover fanfic. (No spoilers beyond the first half of season 2)


Benevolent Sibling