Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: none
Length: short vignette (500 words)
Author on LJ: maidenjedi
Author Website: Uninvited - XF Fanfic of Maidenjedi
Why this must be read:

In keeping with the short vignette theme, I offer up another one. This story was written for a 500 word Jeffrey Spender challenge doesn't feature Mulder or Scully (except in passing). It answers a question raised at the end of One Son and involves Kersh's unnamed secretary and Jeffrey Spender. Although the show revolved around Mulder and Scully, there was an excellent cast of supporting actors that had their own fantastic storylines. Although this story is too short to really give a "story line" to any of them, it does feature a snapshot of a moment not involving Mulder and Scully.

Maidenjedi is an excellent author with a comprehensive body of work. Although I wouldn't consider this a "flagship piece" by any means, I'm proud to be able to recommend one of her stories and hope you read some more of hers.

Staying Late

Attn. Drivers: Tomorrow is the last Friday of the month, which means it's time for Friday Night Drive-In, a.k.a. Fan Vid Recs! Reccers may post 1 vid rec for their fandom, formatted as follows:

Subject Line: VID REC: Fandom - Song Title

Vidder:
Musical artist:
Pairing:
Vidder on LJ:
Vidder's website:
Why this vid kicks ass:


Because the vidder community has some unique ownership issues, it’s important that reccers be extra careful when making vid recs. Depending on the vidder’s preferences regarding public access to their work, please link your rec in the appropriate manner:

1. If the video is publicly accessible, direct link to the web page the vid is linked on, or if it’s the vidder’s request, to the HTML splash page of their site.

or…

2. Link to the site with instructions on acquiring the password, if the site is protected – do not reveal the password yourselves.

or…

3. Provide contact info for the vidder if their vids are only available privately (tapes, dvd-R’s, collections, etc.).


Do not:
Hotlink, i.e. link directly to the video file rather than the webpage.
Re-upload videos that a vidder has removed from the web.
Delay in removing a vid rec if requested to do so by the vidder.

Thank you!

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS -- Iron Man movieverse
Pairing: Howard Stark/Maria Stark
Length: 4,100
Author on LJ: gabby_silang
Author Website: gabby's fic tag on lj
Why this must be read:

Okay, so this story includes not one character with a speaking role in the movie. And yet reading this, you'll see where Tony Stark might have come from. Gabby's Howard and Maria are fully-fleshed, complex characters in their own rights, the historical setting is vivid, and the language is gorgeous. Though Howard Stark is everywhere in the film, Maria is notable only for her absence. After reading this fic, you'll never wonder about the woman who was Tony's mother, because you won't be able to forget her.

"Well, hello there."

He talks to her like she's a kid, so she talks to him like he's nobody.

"If you can't tell, I'm busy." She pulls out the card for Fission of Uranium, The, and traces the edge of it with a nail, then holds the card to her lips, drags it across the side of her face, looking at her father's papers, looking at the man's hands, stilled in the A through C drawer.She spins away and walks backward into the stacks and smiles at him around the card. "And I know you, don't I. You're that Howard Stark fellow."

"I am. Please tell me I'm infamous, you'll really brighten my day."

Dust is Gonna Settle

Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: Rodney McKay/Evan Lorne, past Lorne/Everyone
Length: one-shot; medium: 2300 words
Author on LJ: ana_grrl
Author Website: anafic
Why this must be read:
This pornilicious McKay/Lorne story is a couple years old, and it's a fun take on the ever-classic "aliens made them do it" kink.

On the Ground, Off-world

First off a note from me: sorry about posting so little lately. School has started for me and my life has just exploded in the last couple of weeks from both school and other personal stuff. So sorry about all of that. I'm trying to finish up the month and post as much as time allows.
Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Tony/Ziva very-heavy on platonic Ziva/Gibbs
Length: Each Part is ~11,000 
Author on LJ: ygrawn
Author Website: http://ygrawn.livejournal.com
Note: The second part of this fic is linked after the first part.
Why this must be read:

Ygrawn writes the best Tony/Ziva in the fandom hands down. The fics seem like they could actually happen, but also that they never would if only for the fact that we cannot see the characters thoughts on tv. This fic covers an AU version to post-Ziva leaving. (There are no spoilers for season 7) The best part of what ygrawn writes is that the fic(s) don't move too fast, for some maybe slow, but the wait is worth it. Tony and Ziva never magically fall into eachothers' arms and all of their problems are addressed realistically. The fic respects the fact that wounds do not heal so fast, even if they do love eachother. There is also a little humor thrown in and the each of cast makes their appearance and are in character. And after you are done reading Refuge be sure to check out Damage, the epitome of Tony/Ziva fic.


( snippet )

Refuge

I will be away tomorrow for the Drive In, but that is OK because I don't really watch enough vids to rec one anyway. However, I wanted to have something visual to entertain the Van with, so I thought this would be the best time to post this.

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Author on LJ: fern_tree
Author Website: Ferntree at deviantART
Why this must be seen: Ferntree produces art in several distinct styles that range from gritty and realistic to so cute it will melt you into goo. What is even more remarkable is that she manages to make a statement about some aspect of Sam and Gene's relationship with each one. The link below takes you to a post listing a few of the Life on Mars highlighs, but I highly recomend taking the time and looking up all her stuff.

Various pieces

Fandom: SMALLVILLE
Pairing: Clark/Lex
Length: epic novel length, 808K, 144,702 words
Author on LJ: plnunn
Author Website: bishonenworks, fanfic and fanart, original fic, and art
Why this must be read: no rec marathon of mine would ever be complete without Plnunn!
She, bagheera_san and xparrot are like the unholy trinity, whose characterization of Clark and Lex has never failed to drive me totally and completely crazy!!
its like , they are *better* (better being a relative term) than on the show, but lightyears from being wholly likeable.
One of Plnunn's fic characteristics is like dissecting everything, both in finished stories as well as current WIPs, things that are like being glossed over in the show, or conveniently forgotten.
I read her clex fics, despite more often than not hating clark and lex. They are so very human, they make mistakes, make wrong assumptions and conclusions, are more often idiotic than not, but they are still larger than life, and their errors are bigger, and hurt more and , they try harder then on the show...and ALL ITS SO MADDENING! *hits them*

all in all, Plnunn not just has lots of new Clex WIP going on, her entire SV work, the fics and the clex comics and art etc (sample on her homepage are entirely brilliant!

(  excerpt )
What You Sow
or here
What You Sow