Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Length: 33,367
Author on LJ: t_verano
Author Website: (or a link to where more of their fic is archived) Her gen fic site. Her slash fic on LJ
Why this must be read:

There is never a time when it is NOT a good idea to read some of T's fic. Gen or slash, she is, hands-down, one of the best writers in the TS fandom. Her command of language is profound, and her grasp on the characters extraordinary. And this, this fic must be read because it is a slightly sweet and slightly angsty exploration of the relationship between Jim and Blair. It's also one of the hottest things I've ever read, and it doesn't even have that much explicit content. All of which just goes to prove how amazing this author is.

Sidewalk Sex

Fandom: VORKOSIVERSE
Pairing: Kareen/Serg, Ezar, Negri
Length: 1598 words
Author on LJ: jmtorres
Author Website:  AO3
Why this must be read:

Here is another awesome story about Kareen, set a few years after the first. This story answers the question "Why is Gregor named Gregor?" Vor names for boys follow a strict pattern: first son gets called by his two grandfathers' first names, second son gets called after his grandfathers' second names. (So the name Miles should have had was "Piotr Miles," but Piotr refused to allow his name to be used when he found out Miles would be born deformed.) So why is Gregor called Gregor, and not Ezar?

This story answers that question with a chilling look at what Kareen has gone through and what kind of a monster Serg is, and how ruthless Ezar is. It is compelling, and shows just how much guts Kareen's got to survive.

( snippet ) 
Second Son

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Canon pairings, despite some Obidala stirrings, so back off, Padmé!
Length: 151745 words
Author on LJ: I don't think she has one.
Author Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read:

"Do you really think it was a wise decision to let Obi-Wan train the Skywalker boy?" Mace voiced his doubts. "He turned out well enough despite Qui-Gon's training, but don't you think we should give him a break? I mean, we made him take care of what I like to call the Jinn problem for many years longer than was justified. We never told him that he'd been knighted years ago just so that the Council wouldn't have to deal with Qui-Gon's quirks. And now, you push him to take care of the next problem Jedi right when the first one is gone?"

This rare bit of compassion from the Jedi Council alone makes reading this story worthwhile. Where else would Mace express his tender, thoughtful side except in parody? And this is a doozy, updated faithfully for over one year and taking word 'insertions' along the way, casting a humorous eye on The Phantom Menace's plot from start to finish. Read this and discover Queen Amidala's unhealthy attachment to her wardrobe and the reason why Qui-Gon never says "Goodbye" when he uses his commlink. Obi-Wan always wondered about that.


Who is the Phantom Menace, anyway?

So this will be my final rec for this month, I have enjoyed it hugely and I hope you have enjoyed the storis I have picked as well.

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Length: approx 18000 words
Author on LJ: przed
Author Website: Links to przed’s stories can be found archived here, here, and here.
Why this must be read: because I love stories that cover first times and this has a whole range of them from meetings to kisses to fights to falling in love, and each first time builds a picture of who Bodie and Doyle are and what they come to mean to one another. Well paced, riveting, and with brilliantly drawn characters this is a wonderful read and as each facet of Bodie and Doyle’s lives and feelings is revealed you will want to know more. ♥

( Excerpt 1 )

( Excerpt 2 )


Firsts (at A03)
 
 

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS
Characters: Sgt. Nick Fury, various Howling Commandos of his squad, mystery guest
Length: ~3k words
Author on LJ: cat_13145
Author Website: LJ Tags
Why this must be read:

Author's summary: Nick assumes that the whole 'don't have sex with other guys' thing is just another silly army regulation that doesn't apply to him or anyone under his command.

In his wartime world, Nick is king, but even kings need grand viziers. One such comes to Fury's rescue when a Howler is threatened and the above summary becomes as true as it can be.

More Comfortable

LJ is loading sloooow, so I'm skedaddling out of here in my jeep. Thanks for listening to my recs, comics fans, and Happy Spring (or Autumn, to be Equal Opportunity to Southern Hemisphereans) to you all. I hope you grab the keys to the van from the top of the refrigerator and take her out for a joyride. It's lots of fun.

Fandom: STARGATE SG1
Pairing: Jack/Daniel
Length: 12 chapters
Author on LJ: marzipan77
Author Website: marzipan77 Livejournal
Why this must be read: Written in response to a screencap challenge this is a wonderfully angsty new tag for Small Victories. There's a typically nasty Kinsey and a Marine who's determined to save Jack from Daniel's "unnatural desires." The writer lets us see Carter's vulnerability and jealousy but without turning her into a shrew as some slash stories tend to.

With Sword And Salt

Extract:



She hadn’t understood the rush of smug triumph that had shot through her when she, Teal’c, and the colonel had returned from their eight day exile and she’d seen Daniel standing there, vulnerable, alone. She hadn’t understood the coiling jealousy in her belly when the colonel had chosen to go to Daniel rather than help her fight the NID. And one need at the center of Samantha Carter’s being was the need to understand. Herself most of all.

Fandom: VORKOSIVERSE
Pairing: Aral/Cordelia, Miles, Piotr, Gregor
Length: 4700 words
Author on LJ: dsudis, dira
Author Website: AO3
Warnings: Canonical attempted infanticide
Why this must be read:

Bothari brought Miles to them at lunchtime and reported that he had intercepted the General at the side of Miles's cradle.

This is another missing scene set after the end of Cordelia's Honor but before the epilogue.  On Barrayar, mutants are hated and feared, and it is the traditional duty of a mother to cut the throat of any infant born visibly deformed.  This barbaric process is one that our heroes fight against, within their culture and even within their own family.  Miles was born with twisted and brittle bones because of a poison gas attack on his mother Cordelia before he was born.  Miles' grandfather Count Piotr was shocked and horrified at the "degenerate" galactic woman who fought to keep her "mutie" son alive, and even more so that Aral (Miles' father) supported her.  Miles tells us once, years later, that Piotr tried to kill him as a small child, and only the intervention of Miles' bodyguard Sergeant Bothari saved his life.  Yet eventually Piotr gave up, and even later he was reconciled and formed a fairly good relationship with Miles.

This is the story of what stopped Piotr for good.  It wasn't just Bothari.

( snippet )

Hold the Line

Fandom: HARRY POTTER
Pairing: gen with hints of Harry/OFC
Length: 80765
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read: For a first story, this is phenomenal; in general, it is very nice example of a HP au. This takes place during the summer before fourth year. Due to some not so great circumstances, Harry finds himself agreeing to act as a Breaker Helper for Bill Weasley. Bill has been given the opportunity to join a curse breaking expedition in Central America but he needs a Helper to do so. With his family all traveling to Romania to visit Charlie, he's all but given up on the opportunity when Harry knocks on the door. After healing Harry up, he asks if Harry would like to join him, and of course Harry agrees.

What's nice about this fic is that it lets Harry learn new magics and about the wizarding world before everything goes to pieces in the Wizarding world. This fic stands strong with all of the original characters and it's nice to have a magically powerful Harry but one who is also learning. He takes the opportunity to learn about magic from all the different people joining the expedition. It is also not just about Harry learning about curse breaking; politicking in Britain makes Harry's future uncertain and interesting. In the end, this is a solid story that sets up a believable au.

( snippet )


Harry Potter and the Cursed Summer

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan/Methos/Amanda
Length: 10K
Author on LJ: amand_r 
Author Website: her fic master list
Why this must be read:Nearly the end of the month but I couldn't let my turn at reccing pass without mentioning this hilarious fic from Amand_r. This has to be read just for the image of our three favourite immortals working at walmart. The hilarious hijinks, wonderful crack! and D/M/A relationship are just the icing on the cake.

Read it here

Fandom: THE X-FILES/FRINGE
Pairing: Mulder/Scully
Length: longish one-shot
Author on LJ: wendelah1
Author Website: Fic post
Why this must be read:

So I meant to post this on crossover day; what can I say, I'm a putz. The great thing about Fringe and Xf is that it's canon that they exist in the same universe, so there's no difficulty getting them to interact. And what wendelah1 pulls off here is even more fun: it spins us off into "Over There," getting to show us a very different Scully (and a quick half-shot of a different Mulder) living in a very different world. Like the alternate versions of the Fringe characters, altScully is both herself and not herself, and totally compelling. This is also the most legitimately shippy thing poor Wen has ever written. That's not why I like it--but it doesn't hurt.

Reason

Fandom: LIFE ON MARS
Pairing: Sam Tyler/Gene Hunt
Length: 9,090
Author on LJ: lozenger8
Author Website: lj fic index
Why this must be read:

My last rec of the month, so I'm going to forget polite company and simply gush all over the place. XD I make no secret of the fact that I fangirl Loz's work like crazy and I strongly suspect I'm not the only one. There's a good reason she's so well-loved; she consistently produces high-quality, insightful pieces of writing and the fandom is incredibly lucky to have her. I've chosen this fic in particular because of its wonderful blend of case-fic, slash and character study. There's some great grin-inducing banter, but Gene also calls Sam out on his hypocrisy and there are layers being explored here - you finish reading feeling like you've gained a greater understanding of what makes these guys tick.

Every now and then, things would be clear to Sam. It was like someone stood ahead and guided his way by use of lantern. Sometimes, he thought that lantern holder was Gene. Sam knew he could be a complete bastard, he had the bruises to prove it, but he wasn’t simply a thug. He was more. Gene was a person who showed that the world wasn’t lost. He was strength and bravery. He was respect.

“I’m not morally superior to you, Gene,” Sam said eventually, his voice soft but determined. “It’s precisely because you’re a moral person that I’m trying to convince you not to do something I believe would be a mistake.”

Thanks, That Was Fun

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Obi-Wan/FOC
Length: 94532 words
Author on LJ: mya_scarlet
Author Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read:

Filled with romance, an actual plot of subterfuge and action, this story of Chloe O'Brian, security analyst extraordinaire, and her mutual attraction to both Obi-Wan and danger fills all my happy fic requirements. It doesn't skimp on describing feelings, it has a supporting cast of memorable characters both original and canon, and it ends most satisfyingly. Settle in for a good long evening repast with this one, and for an after-dinner mint, try the companion fic, Walking The Line, which relates the story from Obi-Wan's point of view.

Anywhere But Here

So long for now and a Happy Spring (and to Southern Hemispherites, a Happy Autumn) to everyone. And hey, why not take the van out for a spin? You're only committing to reccing four fics per month, and it's a nice way to spend quality time online.