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Fandom: FIREFLY Pairing: Mal/Inara, Simon/Kaylee Length: 2,704 words Author on LJ: flash_indieAuthor Website: her DeviantArt accountWhy this must be read: Post-BDM, Mal and Inara start changing the steps of their dance---but not completely. I like that Mal and Inara's relationship is not a simple thing here. Realistically, I don't think it should be easy between them, not with all their issues and sharp tongues, and I can't imagine buying into a story in which everything between them ran to sweetness and light from the very beginning. I find the sometimes awkward and often uncertain way they fit together here to be more satisfyingly plausible. I also like the way sophie deals with Inara's place on Serenity, and her relationships with and observations of the crew. On top of that, the characterizations are all nice and sharp, the style is subtle and more powerful for that restraint, and the dialogue---especially River's insightful and strangely lovely contributions---is strong. ( read an excerpt )There is No Such Place | | |
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Fandom: ANGEL: THE SERIES Pairing: Connor/Faith Length: 2,261 words Author on LJ: alizarin_nycAuthor Website: just her lj Why this must be read: Post-Sunnydale, Faith is hanging out with Team Angel, and she finds herself puzzled and intrigued by Angel's strange obsession with a seemingly-normal teenage boy; she decides to investigate. Alizarin does a smashing job with all the characterizations and voices here, but her Faith is especially wondrous. Faith's complex and often wistful relationship with Angel is fully drawn here, as is her staunch refusal to let herself become mired in regrets for all the doors closed to her. The whole story feels very canonical, and the deftly layered emotional dynamics make it one of those fics that takes irrevocable root in my memory. ( read an excerpt ) All the Boys to the Yard | | |
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Fandom: GLEE Pairing: Rachel/Finn/Puck Length: Seven chapters, all short, all funny. Author on LJ: adlervan Author Website: floramcdonald on FF.Net Why this must be read: This is one of the funniest Glee porn fics, if not THE funniest. Rachel, Puck, Finn and everyone else are perfectly in character (although Finn and Puck definitely get the best lines) and even though the situation is a bit farfetched, it works for me as a piece of A/U, kind of, and it's just laugh-out-loud funny. I hate to put a tempting bit here, for fear of spoiling something, but I guess I should.
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Fandom: AMERICAN IDOL Pairing: Kris Allen/Adam Lambert Length: 50k Author on LJ: winterlive Author Website: on her lj Why this must be read: This is a post-apocalyptic AU that is absolutely brilliant. The author takes the tropes and cliches of the apocalypse/dystopia theme and somehow makes the entire story completely unpredictable. The set-up is basically, American Idol Season 8 happened and then the world went to hell; the story is about what comes next. This story is twisted, bizarre, and heart-breaking with absolute genius world-building. The imagery and characters really do make you feel like this place exists. The author also manages to imbue a little hope into the darkest of places. Kris and Adam's relationship grows because of how much they need each other despite of (or because of) how damaged they both are. I remember getting to the end of this story and just being completely stunned at how amazing it was. Everyone should read this, even if you have no idea what American Idol is or who these people are, the story is just that good. Future LegendShe also wrote a very small sequel that is a MUST read for after the main story. It is just as disturbing and insanely awesome: Diamond Dogs | | |
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Fandom: HARRY POTTER Pairing: Gen; Draco Malfoy Length: 7,700 Author on LJ: [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com]Author Website: Magically-Delicious.netWhy this must be read:This piece is such a great character study of Draco Malfoy as circumstances beyond his control force him to make a name for himself in the Wizarding World. Pansy and Blaise serve as great supporting characters and their friendship with Draco is one of the highlights of this story. I love reading about Pureblood society, and seeing a competent Draco using his Slytherin traits to accomplish his goals really made the fic for me. ( Excerpt )The Family Business | | |
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Fandom: THE X-FILES Pairing: Mulder/Scully Length: Six parts and change Author on LJ: jlmfromnycAuthor Website: Fic Index (not current) Why this must be read:I can't believe no one has recommended this story yet. It's an interesting and different way to tell a tale, not to mention alternately sweet, heartbreaking and real. Also, wickedly funny. If you haven't read it before, go now. If you have, follow my (bad) example and shirk your responsibilities and reread it. How I Slept With My Partner (Without Really Trying) | | |
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Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Pairing: Roslin/Adama Author on LJ: pellucid Author Website: fic tagWhy this must be read:This is about Laura Roslin, and dying. This is about the fourth season, and everything falling apart. This is about life, and faith, and revelation. It's lyrically written and makes Roslin's canon characterization towards the end of the show's run make sense. (Also, though it was written before the destruction of the Resurrection Hub, it makes sense of that, too.) ( snippet ) Eschatos | | |
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Fandom: STAR TREK:REBOOT Characters/Pairing: Gen crew plus Pike and plot aliens Length: ~2500 Authors on LJ: lazulisong and leupagus Author Website: also here at A03 Why this must be read: The aliens were very sorry for nearly killing Captain Kirk, and wanted to fix things. Turning a member of the Enterprise crew into a cat is a surprisingly common occurrence within the ST fandom and this story is one of the best. It’s crazy funny, (seriously, do not read in the same room as someone else unless you're prepared for a ‘See, Captain Kirk gets turned into a cat…’ explanation) and delightful in the very best possible way. ( Read more... )With My Tail in the Air | | |
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Fandom: DUE SOUTH Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski Length: 1,544 words Author on LJ: helens78Author Website: DW writing journal or at AO3. Why this must be read: because this is a sharp and biting look at the politics of same-sex marriage. Stella's getting married to Ray Vecchio and it burns like acid in Ray's stomach, because as much as he loves Fraser, that's the one thing they can't do. I love this story for its realism, and for the hope that one day, we all can have our own happily-ever-afters. ( A taste... )Branta Canadensis | | |
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