Fandom: STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE
Pairing: Soval/Cole
Length: long
Author on LJ: none known
Author Website: House of Tucker's author index page (scroll down to find shouldknowbetter)
Why this must be read:

Another unusual Human/Vulcan pairing. This one takes Corporal Amanda Cole, who was in a single episode for the purpose of making T'Pol jealous, and turns her into a real character. It also deals with the abrupt transition in Soval's image among humans, and the ramifications of revolution--however peacefully carried out--on the already strained relationship between Earth and Vulcan. Transferred to the Earth embassy on Vulcan, Amanda meets and falls in love with the former ambassador to Earth. But does true love really conquer all?

There Is No Sin But Ignorance

Where has this month gone to? Spending it with you has made it fly by!

Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Length:  short
Author on LJ: kassrachel 
Author Website:  http://www.trickster.org/kass/

Why this must be read:   Because sometimes you just need a PWP to cleanse the palate. ::snickers::


Interrogation

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

Like Vangie’s In Essentials, A Little More Practice takes its twist from one of Austen’s lines. What if Elizabeth had acquiesced to Lady Catherine’s suggestion that she practice on the pianoforte in Mrs Jenkinson’s room? As you can imagine, the time in Hunsford passes somewhat differently. The relationships between Jane and Bingley, and Lizzy and Darcy, develop rather more quickly than they do in the original, and several unpleasant events are avoided. And it’s all Lady Catherine’s doing. She does so love to be useful.

A Little More Practice

Fandom: HOUSE
Pairing: House/Wilson, with a bit of House/Stacy
Length: 2,863 words
Author on LJ: stickmarionette
Author Website: fic archive
Why this must be read:

The author's summary is that "Chinese folklore tells of a man who died, quite suddenly. He had urgent and painful regrets which barred him from a peaceful afterlife. Only by erasing those regrets could he then rest in peace." I don't want to give anything else about the story away, but you really need to read this. The story itself is great, but the tone, the writing, the style, the characters, everything just adds to the effect.

In Memoriam

It's been a pleasure to drive the House van this month, and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did!

Fandom: Bandom
Pairing: Frank/Gerard
Length: ~23,000 words
Author on LJ: dsudis
Author Website: http://dira.ficlaundering.com

Why this must be read:

I couldn't let this month end without reccing something by Dira. Dira was the first Bandom author I read and I love everything she's written in this fandom, but Chimerical Romantics is by far my favorite.

Chimerical Romantics is a historical AU, set in some nebulous, undefined point in the mid 1800s. But, where the physical setting of this story is vague, the emotional and philisophical setting is sharply defined. Gerard Way is a Romantic in the grand 19th Century style. Shortly after inheriting the family estate on the Isle of Jersey, Gerard determines to form a secret society, The Chimerical Romantics. They will produce Great Art! And do Good Deeds in service to their fellow men! Frank Iero, a common sailor found ill and injured in an alley near the docks is one of those Good Deeds. Gerard insists on his being brought back to the Way estate to be nursed back to health, and then on bringing him into the Chimerical Romantics.

In the romance that follows, Dira displays an adroit knowledge of the complex class issues that divide Frank and Gerard and an understanding of the period mindset with regards to same-sex desire that is rare to find in fiction of any sort, but especially in fanfic. The greatest challenge facing Frank and Gerard is not their differing social status, it's the completely different ways of seeing and thinking about the world that result from their very different backgrounds. I especially love the way Dira has adapted the characters to fit their historical circumstances while still keeping them very much themselves. Frank, in particular, is both nothing like the Frank we know in background and yet everything like him in attitude and personality, and I absolutely adore this version of him. Basically, I adore every single thing about this story and think everyone should read it and tell Dira how awesome and fabulous she is for having written it!

Chimerical Romantics

My apologies for having been scarce. Real Life got kinda crazy. Posting *just* under the wire while it's still August. Barely. First up is a pair of short, cute little ficlets, both written long, LONG before "Guess What's Coming to Dinner" aired, but seeming disturbingly prescient given later events. Fannish hive mind strikes again, a.k.a. "Crack Van BSG Recs, the Pop Tart and her Mystical Crayons Edition".

Fandom: Battlestar Galactica
Pairing: Starbuck; Hera
Length: v. short
Author on LJ: beccatoriaAuthor Website: n/a

Why this must be read: "All right, Hera, you see this? This is not a good hand. This is the kind of hand that got me into this mess. See you've got Prince red - which would be great, if you had anything else red. You know red? Say it with me, 'red'."

"Okay, so you're the quiet type."

"The point is, you want to ditch as many of these cards as you can. Now, bet's to me. No - no come on, Hera, don't eat the cards. What is Helo teaching you? Yeah well, not Triad, that's for sure. When you grow up, if you treat my viper this way, I'm going to have second thoughts about flying lessons."

Babysitter


Fandom: Battlestar Galactica
Pairing: Hera; Athena; Helo
Length: short
Author on LJ: sabaceanbabe
Author Website: Sbabe's fic list

Why this must be read: [Hera] laid down the red pencil she'd been using and took up a blue one, sparing her father the briefest moment of her attention before returning to her drawing. His smile faded as he looked over her artwork.

Lines of Dissonance

Fandom: Battlestar Galactica
Pairing: Laura/Maya; Hera
Length: 5,350 words
Author on LJ: beccatoria
Author Website: http://beccatoria.livejournal.com/tag/writing

Why this must be read:

I hated dreaming about my past when it wasn't me doing the dreaming.

I concentrated on nothing all day, and in the end, I put Isis in the crib at the schoolhouse and left early. I told Laura I had something I needed to do and she didn't ask any questions. She's never known me to keep a secret.

I've only ever had one secret. It seemed like too much bother to learn how to keep more of them.

I Am Maya Argo (R)

Fandom: ANGEL/BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Pairing: gen
Length: 8,800 words
Author on LJ: inlovewithnight
Author Website: Exaggeration and Blank Verse
Why this must be read: Post Not Fade Away, the family that Angel created for himself is either dead or gone, and Buffy's not an option. What's left for Angel? This is a great fic about how to move on, and it doesn't give a definite conclusion as to what will happen, but that's part of the beauty of it, just a snapshot of that time, of things to come, that things are going to be okay. It's great to see the survivors reunited, and there are moments of sheer awesome in this fic, like when Illyria goes on to conquer reality tv!

"I think I've got it now, finally. I think it makes sense. It's not souls saved, it's not apocalypses foiled, and it's not even the mission, not really. It's people- letting them love you, and letting yourself love them back. And it doesn't matter what kind of love...there's so many kinds, and they're all real, and they're all too precious and awesome to let slip away. That's all that matters, I think, in the end. Maybe what the Powers have been trying to beat into my head all these years is that..."

"All you need is love?" Lorne threw his head back and laughed. "Sweetcheeks, four very wise men said that fifty years ago. But who knows, between the five of you, you just might have something."

They Say You Can't Go Home Again

Fandom: TOUR OF DUTY
Pairing: Lieutenant Myron Goldman//Sergeant Zeke Anderson
Length: 2063 words
Author on LJ: dawnchsr 
Author Website: Notes From the Underground

Why this must be read: 

“Touch” shows how the war is affecting the very young Lt. Goldman, how all the death he sees on a near-daily basis is incurring soul-deep damage to go along with the grief he’d already experienced before coming to Vietnam.  DC shows how Sgt Anderson tries to take care of his friend and lover, doing his best to give Myron some much-needed surcease. 

Excerpt:

“It’s okay, Myron… let it go, kid.”

Myron shook his head, but let the silent tears spill. Zeke only continued to hold him, whispering it was gonna be all right now. As long as they had each other, could come to each other, it would be all right. Nothing would change that. He turned Myron in his arms and hugged him close, swearing that nothing would change so long as they had love between them.

Touch by DC

Tags: fanfic, tour of duty

 

These are my last recs for Die Hard fandom. Since there are quite a few in this wonderful series, I am submitting them as my quota for the week. *g* I hope you have enjoyed the McClane/Farrell ride into the fandom.


Fandom: Live Free and Die Hard (Die Hard 4)
Pairing: John McClane/Matt Farrell
Author on LJ: poisontaster
Author Website: Love Is Just a Bloodsport

Why this must be read: because the series evolves from the first story of Matt and John meeting to have a meal together occasionally, to the later stories of John struggling to work through his confusion at being in a same-sex relationship - at his age - and being gay. I enjoy John's revelations and his coming to terms with the fact that he wants Matt and all that entails, as it seems completely in character for McClane. Then throw in the fact that John's son reveals he is also gay, and you have some great drama going on.


Connectivity (Five Meals John Didn't Plan to Have)

Rewriting the Disk

All I Want for Christmas

Mornings After Nightmares

Save As

Technobabble

Hope you've enjoyed this month's recs!

Fandom: ANGEL
Pairing: Angel/Cordelia/Wesley, Connor/Cordelia, Fred/Gunn, Wesley/Lilah
Length: 5,500 words
Author on LJ: jennyo
Author Website: Jennifer Oksana's: new site, old site
Why this must be read: This is a lovely follow up piece to "Slouching Towards Bethlehem." I love how this fic covers all the major pairings going on in Season 4. The fic has the tone of S4 down perfectly, angst and mistrust and longing. Everyone is incomplete, searching for something, gazing across the voids they have created between themselves, not quite sure of what they want or need or have.

"What do you wish?" Charles asks in a voice that's begging her to come to dreamland with him, and Fred is ready to go, she's about to go with him, but she has to make a wish before the morning star goes out...

"I wish that all our friends can go to sleep happy tonight," she murmurs, sinking deep into the pillows and blankets of their shared bed.

Even friends who we can't trust now, she adds silently before falling into REM cycles and unconsciousness. Even the friends who we know aren't sleeping in their own beds tonight.

Seven People in Search of Dreamland

Sorry. I majorly screwed up the formatting in my earlier post and am now fixing. My thanks to eledhwenlin and magician113 for taking the time to let me know.

Fandom: Battlestar Galactica
Pairing: Kara/Sam (but more of a gen piece)
Length: medium
Author on LJ: palmetto
Author Website: http://palmetto.livejournal.com/tag/fic

Why this must be read: A little sentimental, but still a beautifully bittersweet look at life on Earth after Revelations.

Daybreak (R)

Fandom: Battlestar Galactica
Pairing: Caprica Six/Gaius Baltar; Caprica Six/Head!Baltar; Gaius Baltar/Head!Six
Length: medium
Author on LJ: nicole_anell
Author Website: http://nicole_anell.livejournal.com

Why this must be read:

It was obvious they needed some form of family counseling, but unfortunately, a therapist would only be able to cover the visible spouses and children. They might do better with some kind of vision-having Oracle, but some people had noticed how seeing an Oracle often directly coincided with impending death.

Either way, Caprica decided that the time had come to get to know her imaginary twin-sisterwife better, so against all logic they had a family meeting.

Like Rogue Unicorns (PG-13)

Fandom: Star Wars - Expanded Universe
Pairing: Luke/Mara
Length: 32 chapters
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: FFN profile

Why this must be read:

This is one of the most addicting Luke/Mara fics I've read. Kayladie is wonderful at hooking her audience with a mixture of suspense and romance. In this fic, Luke and Mara begin a relationship, and right when they decide to tell their family and friends, the unthinkable happens. The graphic situations are dealt with in a non-cliche manner. It's nice to see an original post-Return of the Jedi villain who has a classic craftiness. As an L/M newbie myself, I think it's a good starting point.

Whisper Your Weakness

Fandom: STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES
Pairing: Spock, McCoy
Length: one-shot
Author on LJ: none known
Author Website: Ingrid Cross's Trektales page
Why this must be read:

Star Trek fandom existed for decades before the internet, and in fact the Star Trek fanzines shaped fannish internet culture from the very beginning. (Did you know the term "slash" comes from the old original-series fanzines?) Sadly, most of the wonderful stories of this era are no longer available, the fanzines they were collected in being long out of print and most having never made it online. I would be remiss if I didn't rec at least one of those gems that still survive.

After Image, first published in 1980 in Odyssey #4 is an episode tag for "Mirror, Mirror," the one where they get switched to an alternate universe where Spock has a beard and everyone's evil. They get home safely in the end and Enterprise goes on its way. Ingrid explores some of the lingering effects of their stay in the evil-twin universe.

After Image

Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Gibbs/DiNozzo
Length: 1000 or less but other parts are longer.
Author on LJ: slashyme
Author Website: 'The Tenth muse1 Fan Fiction'

Why this Must be read: This is my last rec of the month and I wanted to go out with a fic that grabbed me and would not let go. Be warned. It's very dark and not for everyone.

The struggle both Gibbs and Tony go through will have you wanting to read every last sentence. The Gibbs here fascinates me as does DiNozzo. They are familiar yet forever changed by the things that happen to them and to each other.

The fic becomes a crossover in later parts with Without a Trace. If you don't know that show, don't let it stop your reading.


This guy, though, something about him, about his skills…Tony couldn’t shake the sensation of wrongwrongwrong as blow followed blow. The barely there, silver buzz cut. Cold blue eyes. Anger etched into a hard face. A body with no give to it, pure muscle and accented by scars that declared a violent past of some kind. Every time they came together in a flurry of fists and kicks, something held Tony back from unleashing his full power. It wasn’t mercy or conscience, not after everything that had gone before, it was…something indefinable…



Fight

Fandom: Battlestar Galactica
Pairing: Cally/Tyrol; Tyrol/Boomer
Length: 1,300 words
Author on LJ: rose_griffes
Author Website: http://rose-griffes.livejournal.com/48696.html

Why this must be read:

Once upon a time there was a handsome young prince. He fell in love with a beautiful princess, and she loved him. The laws of the land didn't allow for them to form an attachment, so they kept their love hidden. They met when the moon was new and darkness guarded their secret. But what the prince didn't know is that the princess he loved was really an evil sorceress in disguise.

Fairy Tale, Ending (PG)