Fandom: THE MIGHTY BOOSH
Pairings: Howard/Mrs. Gideon, Howard/Vince
Length: approx. 1,300 words
Warnings: mild het, misuse of magic
Author on LJ: thymeth (AKA Astrid)
Author Website: On Facebook
Why this must be read:

Fanfiction grows out of the cracks in canon: the missing details, the contradictions. This fragmentary, impressionistic piece concerns Mrs. Gideon, who was Howard’s one-time bandmate and lover in the radio episodes, and the seemingly amnesiac object of his unrequited desire in series one of the television show, and how she went from the former condition to the latter. What the story is about, though, is Howard, and Vince, and the hazards and rewards of living in the moment.

It’s all jazz.

It just happens.

“You Used to Play Jazz, Didn't You, Howard?” on Livejournal and at the Boosh Slash Haven.

Fandom STARSKY AND HUTCH
Pairing: Starsky/Hutch
Length: 29K
Author on LJ:smudley
Author Website:Kaye Austen Michaels' site

Why this must be read:KAM is a dear friend and a fantastic writer. This was written for a Secret Santa exchange in 2005, and I cannot remember if it was actually written for me--or I just wish it was. Starsky and Hutch are spending Christmas eve in the Dobeys' spare bedroom because of a fire at their own home. There's everything here: a little bit of sex, holiday spirits, banter and the loveliness of Starsky's Tibetan Hut theory.


The Tibetan Hut Theory

Fandom: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
Pairing: Troy/Gabriella, Chad/Taylor
Length: about 47,000 words
Author on LJ: queenitsy or temira (writing journal)
Author Website: Fic Masterlist
Why this must be read:

I really do attempt not to rec the same author twice, but I'm making an exception in this case. For one thing, non-shippy fic doesn't seem to get as wide a readership, and this brilliant superhero AU deserves as much attention as it can get. For another thing, this is genius. This fic covers the neatly interwoven beginnings of a whole cast of superheroes, taking us through Troy's fumblings (and orangeness), Zeke's determination to take up the mantle of a previous superhero, Gabriella's efforts to fit in, the tragedy and hope of Taylor and Chad, and the style and sibling awesomeness of Sharpay and Ryan. It starts out funny and light, which makes the emotional blows, character complexity, and downright excitement even more of a treat as they develop.

This fic is full of little nods to canon and fanon, but it's such a solid world that it would also be a fantastic story for those of you who like to dabble in random fandoms. The main pairings are the canon het pairings, but there's a nice mix of UST (het, slash, femslash) and action/adventure to provide something for everyone. I kind of want a million sequels. Seriously, go read it now!

( Excerpt )

Go. Read. Love. Tell the author.

Wildcats: Beginnings

Fandom: MAN FROM UNCLE
Pairing: Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin
Length: 3,362 words
Author on LJ: utopiantrunks
Author Website: East of Sanity
Why this must be read:

This is fluff. Totally adorable fluff. A truly clever concept; wonderful, sharp banter; and the explanation behind one of MFU's iconic props. No, not the communicater pen, but The Glasses. The female-repellent, all-purpose disguise, Soviet issue glasses.

There are two kinds of MFU fans. Those who love geek!Illya and his fugly, black rimmed, tinted glasses, and those who love geek!Illya, but hate the glasses and wish he'd get a pair like those cute, rimless ones that he found in the lab coat in "The Virtue Affair". When this story starts, Napoleon is amomg the latter. So when Illya has to go buy a new pair, he volunteers to help him pick something out. But there's a reason the subtitle of this story is How Napoleon Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Illya's Glasses. Read and learn the secret of The Glasses right along with Napoleon.

At the end of another quarter hour, and a few more eliminations, Illya's 'maybe' tray held three candidates, none of which Napoleon had chosen, and Napoleon, with only two of his selections left untried, was trying not to scowl. "Why did you bring me along, if you were going to ignore everything I said? I would have given you the money."

Illya blinked at him through the horn-rimmed spectacles which he was trying on for the third time. "What do you mean? I'm listening very carefully to your opinion."

"But you've put down every pair I--" Napoleon's eyes rounded. "Aha!"

The Bespectacled Affair or How Napoleon Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Illya's Glasses

Fandom: Due South
Pairing: Fraser/Kowalski
Length: 3350 words
Author on LJ: china_shop
Author Website: China Shop’s Fanfiction Index
Why this must be read: I was trying to decide what to rec, and I decided I was in the mood for china_shop. I was browsing her website focusing on fics that hadn't yet been recced, and almost skipped this one because I was so sure it had to have been recced before. Leaving Normal is funny, insightful, and (pardon the pun once you've read the story) achingly real. What I love about it is how I really feel every word of it. Her character insights are wonderful. I love the theme of Ray trying to decide if Fraser is real or not. What really stands out to me is how much parts of this story hurt. There's no generic "misunderstanding on the way to happy ending" angst, but instead the same insight that makes me laugh in the beginning of the story makes me want to back away while Ray struggles with his feelings. It hurts because I believe it, but also makes the ending that much better.

( Excerpt )

Leaving Normal

Fandom: BONES
Pairing: Angela/Jack
Length: Short Fic/drabble
Author on LJ: teffy
Author Website: Author's Memory page of fics
Why this must be read:

This is a bittersweet little moment between Jack and Angela and speaks perfectly to the connection these two have enjoyed. The author captures their voices perfectly and it is a nice glimpse into the complexity of their relationship.

Go. Read. Enjoy. *grin*

Link: Hurt