Fandom: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Pairing: Elizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam Darcy; Lydia Bennet/George Wickham
Length: 18,000 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: The Derbyshire Writers' Guild

Why this must be read:

This delightful story is completely canon-based, which is not as common as one would think in Austen fandom. The author tells his tale completely from Fitzwilliam Darcy's point of view, and does so very well. Indeed, much of the dialogue is almost, dare I say, Austen-esque, while the descriptions paint a vivid picture of early 19th Century London.

The story begins shortly after Fitzwilliam Darcy arrives in London to search for the eloped (but unmarried) Lydia Bennet and George Wickham. He is determined to find them and separate them if possible. If not, Wickham must be convinced to marry Lydia.

The author depicts Darcy as being a man of great passion and feeling, but a man who does not show such feelings in his expression or demenour, which is consistent with how Jane Austen wrote him. Some readers might be startled at how intensely the author describes Darcy's inner thoughts and tumult of emotions. Considering that Darcy just had his hopes dashed (yet again!) in securing Elizabeth's hand and that he considers himself at fault for the mess Lydia is in, I do not think he is out of character.

The other two characters who have the most page time are Lydia and Wickham, and their characterizations are absolutely spot-on. In fact, I have never read a better depiction of Lydia. She is thoughtlessly loyal to Wickham, who is charmingly two-faced. One almost despairs along with Darcy at his attempts to negotiate with Wickham and to convince Lydia to remove herself from her poorly chosen situation.

I cannot really give away the plot, as we all know how it turns out. The purpose of the tale is not to surprise the reader, but to show what Darcy did and why he did it from his viewpoint. There are many Darcy POV fics out there, but this one is particularly well done.

This is an excellent story, and I highly recommend it.

* * *

( Excerpt )

One Has All The Goodness

Fandom: DRAKE’S VENTURE
Pairing: Thomas/Francis
Length: ~400 words
Author on LJ: blakefancier 
Author Website: None
Why this must be read: Thomas and Francis, together again and again in a series of vignettes, linked by an image, cloaked in a sense of mystery and inescapable destiny. This prose-poem by Blakefancier takes the genre of reincarnation fic and both expands and contracts it to a logical conclusion. It’s all the rain’s fault.

What Thomas remembers most was that he tasted like rain.

Storms

Fandom: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Pairing: Author labels gen, but Ezra/OFC, and a hint of Chris/Mary
Length: ~6,000
Author on LJ: greenwoman
Author Website: GreenWoman's HALF AFT
Why this must be read:

My next several recs will be stories that focus on Ezra Standish, M7's odd man out. A professional con man and card sharp, he is pulled into the Seven against his will, and only gradually finds his place amongst the others and earns their trust (and his own).

In this story, Ezra has a fortuitous encounter with a woman new to town. The title gives away the story's twist, but, really, the story isn't a mystery, it's an examination of what makes Ezra tick, and how he may have, and need, more support from more quarters - natural and supernatural - than one might think.

( a snippet )

Ghosts and Guardians

Fandom: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Pairing: Landry Clarke, Tim Riggins
Length: 1400
Author on LJ: them0rgue
Author Website: in memories, sorted by fandom
Why this must be read: Because it's *Landry* and *Tim* and the two of them, snarking back and forth will never not be made of awesome. It's late on a Friday night, Tim goes searching for pie and finds Landry doing homework in a 24 hour diner. They rag on each other, talk about girls, and eat pie. What is not to love?


( excerpt )


Six Kinds of Coke and a Cup of Coffee

Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: Christina/Pink, Justin/Britney, Christina/everyone
Length: multi-part
Author on LJ: pop_tarts
Author Website: do your thing
Why this must be read:

I love big, slightly insane, gloriously-imagined AUs. This one has sex and fighting and mud and hunger, blood and money and tension and sweat, and it has Christina and Justin and pretty much everybody else in (and periphery to) the popverse. Part of the fun is deciphering the characters; the other part of the fun is the drugged-out, lustful, ravenous violence of the world; it's almost absurdly vivid, like somebody screened the entire world in a hard-light filter. While digging up the links to post, I reread the entire thing because I just couldn't stop myself.

ring the alarm

Enjoy!

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: none
Length: drabble
Author on LJ: keerawa
Author Website: Keerawa's Fanfiction and Vids

Why this must be read:

Keerawa has so many great drabbles on her LJ that it was really difficult to choose just one. "Gameboard" is a lovely character snapshot (pun intended) of Adam Pierson working late in Watcher HQ. It packs a wealth of insight about Methos, the rather skewed POV of the Watchers, and the human nature of the Immortals into a very small space.

Gameboard

Fandom: DOCTOR WHO
Pairing: None, Rose Character piece
Length: Short
Author on LJ: cadhla 
Author Website: LJ Tags
Why this must be read:

It's set in the very beginning of Season 1 of the newer seasons, so it's the 9th doctor that Rose is trying to deal with. While on her first night she decides to explore the TARDIS a little and find things left behind by the companions who came before.

Nice little mood piece, captures Rose's confusion quite well and gives a little hint that there is so much more history to the doctor than what is seen in the new show.

All in all, a good little piece.
Look Upon The Sky

Fandom: DOCTOR WHO
Pairing: Ummm, some slight 9th Doc/Rose/10th Doc, but nothing explicit
Length: short, one shot
Author on LJ: nekare 
Author Website: Tag on LJ
Why this must be read:

There is a time crash slightly earlier than 10 meeting 5 that we got for the Children in Need special, in this one the ninth and the tenth doctor have to try and get along and share both Rose and the TARDIS, while Rose quietly goes mad in the corner.

Then there's adventures, and running about in silly clothes, and eventually tea and bisquits. Well they are Brits after all!

It Comes With The Job