Fandom: CRIMINAL MINDS
Pairing: Spencer Reid/Derek Morgan
Length: 10,100 words
Author on LJ: rawumber
Author Website: none that I know of
Why this must be read:

The plot of this story has been Jossed by canon recently, but I think the emotional intensity of it remains true. It's about Reid and fathers and family, both the genetic kind, and the kind you fashion for yourself. I especially love the Morgan POV. It gives a layer of distance from Reid's emotions, while at the same time, gives them a clearer voice than Reid could have, with the jumble he's feeling in the moment.

Finally, the burgeoning Morgan/Reid relationship is icing on the cake and delicious in it's own right.


( Morgan hadn't known anything about Reid's family until the kid's mother was talking to them, hidden behind her own bag. )


Thicker Than Blood Part 1

Thicker Than Blood Part 2

Thicker Than Blood Part 3

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: gen
Length: ~3750 words
Author on LJ: lozenger8
Author Website: none that I know of
Why this must be read:

One of Loz's greatest gifts, in my opinion, is her dialogue. Specifically that between Nicholas and Danny, who bicker, support, and adore each other in equal measure in this story, all of which comes alive in their many, many conversations. The reader gets to know these characters simply through what they say to each other, and that makes a story feel real to me. In many ways, this could be seen as a fannish sequel to the movie - with a shoulder rub. Nicholas and Danny are allowed to be equals in this story, with each partner bringing his distinct personality to the action. Another thing I adore: Loz allows her Danny to be a crafty, ingenious bastard. Which he is, when you let yourself think about it.

( An excerpt (with plot summary!) )


Here, There and Everywhere

Fandom: PROS (THE PROFESSIONALS)
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Length: 230k
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Angelfish at The Circuit Archive
Why this must be read: Because no one can scour the heart quite like her. In ‘All These Years’, Doyle’s buried past is gradually brought to the surface by the consequences of a seemingly routine op and an encounter with his artist sister. As she comes into both their lives, Doyle and Bodie have adjustments to make..

Those are simply the bare bones around which this skilled storyteller draws you in and has you trusting her, even as she has you holding your breath at what she’s doing to Bodie and Doyle’s relationship. She nails emotions and character observations with audacious word choices and a kind of breathless free-flowing style, which I have no idea how to describe adequately but which I adore beyond reason. This excerpt is from the first sexual encounter between Bodie and Doyle in the story and is a great example of the way she writes. And if it all sounds like an emasculated Doyle story, it isn’t. She’s one of the few that can make him this vulnerable without doing that.
( an excerpt )
All These Years by Angelfish

I've noticed just now that I've been reccing a lot of serious fic, so now let's try for something lighter:

Fandom: M*A*S*H
Pairing: None. (maybe Hawkeye/Mulcahy if you squint)
Length: 3,400 words
Rating: PG
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

I have to admit that Hawkeye's playboy attitude is probably my least favorite thing about the character, so any story that involves said attitude leading to even vaguely negative consequences strikes me as just great. But lest you fear this is a morality tale, allow me to put you at ease: this story, which is built around a practical joke getting wildly out of hand, is very funny and perfectly in keeping with the characters. If you're looking for a fic that reads like an actual episode, this is the fic for you.

( Read more... )

Perfectly Normal

Title: Deutero
Fandom: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Pairing: None; Gen
Rating: PG
Length: Short
Author on LJ: the_grynne
Author Website: Author's Memories
Why this must be read:

Author's Summary: "Observe the observer observed." - William S. Burroughs, Ghost of Chance

This fic is slightly different. Although it was authored by the_grynne , it owes a part of its creative lineage to so_spiffed. There are graphics embedded in the fic so skillfully that it becomes less about the writing and more about the story.

This is future fic, written from Cameron's POV as it looks at John's inner circle. Also, this is an incredible look at Cameron. It's dark and complicated and captures the subtle complexity so well that it seems almost easy. But trust me, this fic is a true stand out.

( Excerpt )

Deutero

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: No Pairing
Length: 4,600 words
Author on LJ: mercurial_wit
Author Website: MASTER LIST
Why this must be read: What a gorgeous character study of Arthur this is; through Merlin's eyes, he becomes something more than a cardboard Prince, something a lot like a friend.

Meteorology (five ways to defuse a prince)

Fandom: YAMI NO MATSUEI
Pairing: Oriya/Muraki; hints of Muraki/Hisoka
Length: about 2300 words
Author on LJ: incandescens
Author Website: http://homepages.tcp.co.uk/~maya/fanfic/fanfic.html

Why this must be read:

If you know Maya's work from any of her fandoms, everything I'm about to say will be redundant. You already know why this is a story you have to read: it's Maya, and since this little jewel appeared in the 2003 Yaoicon anthology rather than on LJ, you might have missed it.

Jewel is the right word for this story: Maya condenses an extraordinary richness of sensory detail and of emotional complexity into a story with the density and dazzle of a cut diamond.

Newcomers to YnM could be forgiven for suspecting that Muraki's popularity within the fandom stems from nothing more than a classic fangirl tropism in the direction of Teh Pretty, of the sort that leads us to pretend that a character who is, you know, evil -- in this case, a rapist and a serial murderer -- isn't really that bad. Or to make up excuses for his behavior, or to find ways to redeem him after all -- you know the sort of thing.

But in fact, one of the compelling aspects of YnM (at least in the manga version) is that Muraki's allure is a matter of canon, and the other characters' feelings about him are less straightforward than one might expect. "Dress Me In Silk" is a gorgeous example of what a writer as gifted as Maya can do with this material -- and of why Muraki's popularity as a character isn't quite the sign of fandom shallowness a person might otherwise think.

Dress Me In Silk

Fandom: TOY SOLDIERS
Pairing: Billy/Joey
Length: 1000 words
Author on LJ: archerlass
Why this must be read: In a sea otherwise filled with unsettling intensity, this is TS at its sweetest (without the treacle). archerlass has the rare ability to spend most of a piece in one character's POV and then, when you least expect it, flip the mirror around and show you effortlessly what's going on with the other person in the scene.

(Flu Season)

Fandom: PRIMEVAL
Pairing: General but with some implied Nick/Stephen
Length: one shot
Author on LJ: telperion_15
Author Website: fanfic masterlist
Why this must be read:

I mentioned in my overview that parts of the fandom really love their original characters (OCs), and telperion_15 showcases some of the best in this story.

While the story features OCs, it's the canon characters who are the focus of this story, seen through the eyes of Ryan and his (OC) team. The observations made about the canon characters are spot on - strengths and weaknesses both - and reflect the amusement - and the underlying affection - of Ryan about their foibles, complete with grumblings from his team about bloody scientists and having to keep them safe. It's Ryan's point of view in the story - seeing both his team and his charges with the same clear eye - that pulls the whole thing together. Well worth a read.

Soldier's-Eye View