Fandom: RPF - FAKE NEWS
Pairing: Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert 'close friendship' ;-)
Length: 2700
Author on LJ: stellar_dust
Author Website: katycat.net
Why this must be read:

As you may or may not be aware, there was a writer's strike not too long ago. This meant that television shows were not being written, and some of the first ones directly effected were the late night programs. Oddly enough, this actually inspired an influx of stories in the fake news fandom as viewers of the shows started speculating on how the strike was effecting our favourite faux pundits ... and so you get lovely stories like stellar_dust's Improv 101.

I chose this one in particular not just for the 'blatant fanservice' stellar_dust warns for, not just because she is a lovely writer with too few stories in this fandom, but because of the creative medium she used. Have you ever read a link!fic? Well, get to it, then.

Read on.

Hi hi. I'm victoria p. and I'll be driving the Impala crack van this month for Supernatural fandom. I will be reccing a variety of gen, het and Wincest this month, including a few stories in which Sam gets turned into or was born a girl, which is kind of my bulletproof kink in this fandom.

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: Sam Winchester/OFC
Length: novel-length (approximately 80K words)
Author on LJ: hiyacynth
Author Website: stories tag on LJ
Why this must be read:

The story is AU after "What Is and What Should Never Be," i.e., "All Hell Breaks Loose" never happened, so things with the psykids etc. play out differently, and as "Mockingbird" begins, Sam and Dean are still recovering from what it cost to defeat the yellow-eyed demon. Sam starts having visions of fire again, but he's been hollowed out by his experiences with the YED, and Dean's just barely holding the two of them together when they arrive in a small town in Oregon, trying to figure out what's triggering Sam's abilities now that the YED is gone.

Sam gets involved with one of women who works at the motel they're holing up at, and in my personal favorite part of the story, Dean develops a wonderful friendship with the woman's three-year-old daughter.

( an excerpt )

It's a magnificent story -- long, tightly plotted, well paced, seriously engrossing, heartbreakingly true to both Sam and Dean and their mythos, and full of wonderful original characters I came to really care about and want to see more of. There's the formation of a family of choice for Sam and Dean, and a really smart use of To Kill a Mockingbird, both literally and thematically.

Obviously, I really enjoyed it (that's kind of an understatement, if you couldn't tell), and I think you would, too. So, you know, carve out some time and give it a whirl. Make sure to leave a comment if you enjoy it, too.

Mockingbird by hiyacynth

~*~

The microphone has been passed to me for the next month of Bandom recs, and I'm pretty pleased to be doing so! I hope to share a wide range of fics with you, including some little recced bands such as The Cab and The Used this month. I've over 1000 fic recs bookmarked, so I'm sure I'll be able to come up with something for everyone :)

Fandom: BANDOM (Panic at the Disco)
Pairing: Brendon/Spencer
Length: +42k
Author on LJ: sunsetmog
Author website: sunsetmog_fic
Why this must be read:

sunsetmog calls this fic her not-so-secret love letter to fandom. It kind of really is. Mog gets right into Brendon Urie, a Mormon kid with no friends and too much energy and a huge need to please. She tells his story from before he met the rest of his band, his trials at school and at home, and one of the most significant periods of Panic canon history: Brendon leaving his parents and home for the band.

The emotion in this fic is amazing, Mog's perspective and how she portrays Brendon and the band are perfect and real. And the quiet, subtle relationship that developes with Brendon and Spencer is fantastic.

( Brendon's almost asleep when Spencer's mom comes in. )

If Music Be The Food Of Love (I'll Have The Veggie Burger)

Fandom: STARGATE: ATLANTIS
Pairing: John/Rodney, Teyla/Sora implied
Length:Novella
Author on LJ: lilysaid
Author Website: improvidence
Why this must be read:
John and Teyla are really put through the wringer in this story, both of them suffering stronger side-effects to the modifications that Michael made in their DNA than Ronon and Rodney, most of the time. The four team members are set up on earth in a kind of witness protection program, while the SGC works to figure out when--if--the modifications can be reversed. Intense and pretty claustrophobic at times, as they are caught up in what is happening with each other. Great teamfic along with first-time Sheppard/McKay.

under our heads

Sorry for yesterday's little coding mishap with my rec, which has since been rectified. I recced and ran, and apparently copying and pasting from Word into LJ is a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad idea. I usually use GoogleDocs when I'm ficcing---and now I know it was the right decision! *shiny grin* Anyway, on to today's Life on Mars rec!

FANDOM: Life on Mars
AUTHOR ON LJ: taurenova
AUTHOR’S FIC SITE: fandomatemylife
PAIRING: Sam/Annie, Gene/Sam UST (loads and loads of it)
WHY THIS MUST BE READ: Because it is, quite simply, one of the most brilliant fics I think I’ve ever read. I was left speechless after having read it. taurenova has such a gift for plot that it’s really quite fascinating. A lot of people (myself included) find it much easier to write dialogue, but taurenova is incredibly impressive in that she’s an impressively well-rounded writer---and nowhere is this better evidenced than in this fic. Written for the LoM Ficathon 2008, it’s a two-parter (mainly because of LJ’s length restrictions on posting), and is 16,000 words in total. Her prompt was World War One!Sam, Annie and Gene, love triangle, and this delivers on all possible fronts. It is grand and sweeping and positively epic in nature---and I'm not just saying that because it's long. It's written so well I almost swore I could smell the munitions whilst reading.

EXCERPT:

London to Edinburgh train, England, October 1917

The train compartment was a shade too chill for Gene's liking and he shifted his right leg restlessly in discomfort. Sam seemed oblivious to the crisp air, sitting as still as a statue with a stiff back. Like he was at attention on his seat, his crisp sling holding his broken arm close to his chest. Gene couldn't stop himself from staring and would give no excuse if asked why he was doing so.

“This isn't right,” Sam insisted, finding the thread of a day old conversation. He stared out the cold window as the countryside rolled past. Gene watched his profile, sharply shadowed by the diffused sunlight, and felt something ache in his chest.

“I'm sorry, Tyler,” he said, retreating behind a screen of formality. “It's for your own good, man. To rid yourself of the demons that are following you.”

“Couldn't I just lose myself in whiskey as you do?” Sam asked, his eyes piercing Gene's careful façade. The words were almost as cold as the compartment. Gene felt again the irrational stab of anger that Sam had caused in him the first time they met. He let it slide wearily, knowing Sam had won that battle long ago. Instead he reached a hesitant hand across the space between them and touched Sam's knee.

“I don't want you to follow my path,” Gene said, voice low. “Just because one of us chose it, doesn't mean we both should.”

Sam stared at Gene's hand until he withdrew it and then switched his gaze to Gene's face. Gene forced himself to hold the gaze, hoping his eyes showed nothing of the tumult of emotion within.

“You're right,” Sam said after a long moment. “You're always right eventually, Guv.”

Gene knew he shouldn't let the word affect him – but it had become so connected to the other Sam; the one that looked at him with something more, something new. Something tightened in his chest and he forced himself to look away, casting his own eyes on the rolling countryside. Sam shifted and a moment later pressed a hand briefly to one of Gene's.

“I mean it, Captain,” Sam said, his voice familiar again. “Thank you.”

Gene tilted his head to see Sam smiling at him and simply ducked his head in reply, becoming again the Captain Hunt his Lieutenant needed.

Pro Patria Mori

Hola, my name is Ixquic and I will be driving the House,M.D. van this month.

Fandom: HOUSE, M.D.
Pairing: House/Stacy, House/Cuddy and Strong House-Wilson Friendship
Author on LJ: Heart in the sky
Lenght: Four LJ Chapters (Left of West) and One-Shot (Way to Make)

Why this must be read: This fandom has some incredibly imaginative writers who have transported the characters from the series to new and fantastic worlds without losing the traits that defines them.hannahrorlove creates an intriguing world where two lost and lonely souls, Gregory House and James Wilson, meet and forge an strange and enduring friendship. Be prepared to be surprised and moved, for this is a tale with a wondrous beginning and a sorrowful end.

Left of West

Companion Piece

Way to Make

Hi, I'm rebelliousrose and I'll be driving the van for the new Battlestar Galactica this month. Probably badly, because that's the way people in Atlanta drive.

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 2003
Pairing: Racetrack/Lee/Helo
Length: One-shot.
Author on LJ:inlovewithnight
Author Website: http://inlovewithnight.livejournal.com/tag/fic_bsg
Why this must be read: Because this is one of the best, hottest, and first fics I read, and inlovewithnight is one of Battlestar fandom's greats- she's been recced here before, and deserves them all. In her own words, it's "smut with no redeeming qualities" but she's so very wrong- the story's AU, but the characterization is spot on and I almost like Lee Adama here. To tempt you......

But then Helo finally dropped his eyes and tentatively let one hand rest on Apollo's shoulder, just where it curved into his neck, and cautiously bent his head. Another heartbeat of tension and Apollo stepped into it, raising his own chin and meeting Helo's mouth. Racetrack let out a soft huff of surprise, feeling another blush scorch her cheeks. Well, damn, Margaret, sometimes you win.

Calling The Shots

Special mention shoutout to sabaceanbabe without whom I would not be here.

Greetings! I'm oce, and I'll be recommending for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine this month. Sorry for the late start.

For your reference, the DS9 Fandom Overview was just updated last month by elizabethhelena . Though the show has long ended and the fandom is pretty quiet, DS9 writers are still turning some wonderful stories. I hope to recommend a mix of new and classic fics which will show some of the depth and diversity of the fics out there.

Fandom: DEEP SPACE NINE
Pairing: none
Length: 2400 words
Author on LJ: babel 
Author Website: Babel's Livejournal

Why this must be read:

I'm starting with a relatively new fic which deals with the heart and soul of DS9: consequences. The series finale left behind two characters, Kira and Bashir, who were there from the beginning but who rarely interacted in the show. When the series began they couldn't stand each other. By the time it ended, they had a lot more in common that either might like to believe. Babel starts from that end and explores the people Kira and Bashir have become -- and how to find the way forward forward from there.

Babel's fic encapsulates the essence of DS9, filled with people who don't live in paradise but won't let that stop them from trying to make the best of it.

Moments of Weakness

Thanks for tuning in, and hope you'll stick around for more DS9 fic!