Fandom: LIFE ON MARS UK
Pairing: Sam-centric, Sam/Maya
Length: 955
Author on LJ: lozenger8
Author Website: Loz's master LoM fic list on LJ
Why this must be read:

Here's an angsty classic from 2008 by the wonderful lozenger8. It's about Sam Tyler, nominally — but only as he's seen through the clear and merciless eyes of Leslie Roy, a.k.a. Maya's mum.

Why do I love this? Because Loz breathes life and conviction into her portraits of Leslie and Maya, two of my favourite women in the LOMverse. Because she takes the tried-and-true "five times" template and works some amazing magic with it, bridging the gap between young!Leslie and the unseen older woman of 2006. And, cherry on top: there's just the tiniest touch of timey-wimey goodness.

( Excerpt from the story )

Five times Maya's mother really hated Sam Tyler..., by lozenger8
 

Fandom: TORCHWOOD
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Jack, Gwen, Ianto, OCs, Minor Characters; Canon Pairings
Length: 13 episodes of 11000-35000 words each, ca. 280 000 words total.
Authors: 30+ people; full credits here.
Why this must be read:

The Torchwood Virtual Season 3 is a 13-part series of loosely connected case-stories, complete with art and extras, in the style of the first two seasons of Torchwood.

The Virtual Season splits off from canon and goes AU a bit before Children of Earth, but uses the canon families and a few other details from it. We join Jack, Gwen, and Ianto sometime after 'The Dead Line', with the three of them overworked, stretched thin, and badly in need of some help. The season arch is about finding and training new people and integrating them into the team.

The OCs introduced are well drawn and believable, both as people and as potential TW recruits, and add interesting things and viewpoints to the story without taking it over, and the individual episodes are engaging and varied. The cases range from comedy to drama to thrilling suspense, and from small-scale, local problems to Earth-shattering, species-level threats. Culminating, of course, in a dramatic two-part season-ender, with the world in peril and the Torchwood team the only ones in place to save it.

All in all, it's a plotty, well-written, and enjoyable read with excellent characterization, that starts out well and just keeps on getting better as it progresses. ♥!

tw_itallchanges - Start at the beginning.

Fandom: STARSKY & HUTCH
Pairing: None
Length: 31k
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Some of her stories can be found here: http://meandthee.shahrazad.net/author.php?authorid=25 and others here http://www.starskyhutcharchive.net/viewuser.php?uid=14


Why this must be read:
Starsky is back, but only on desk duty. He's bored, especially with Hutch treating him like bone china. Something's gotta give... I love stories that make me laugh, and Keri's writing is so good that I can see it unfolding whilst reading.

Reprimand

Fandom: SHERLOCK BBC
Pairing: John/Sherlock
Length: 14,490
Author on LJ: orange_crushed
Author Website: More Sherlock fic here on LJ.
Why this must be read:

If you're looking for the most adorable school AU ever, this is it. I love stories where Sherlock is really surprised that John keeps turning up and sticking around, and this warms the ol' heartspace with a damaged John and a delinquent Sherlock and the mystery they need to solve (and the friendship they need to have).

This fic neatly wraps up several interesting story threads - riveting! - and has lots of lovely, funny, sweet and bittersweet bits. Go, read, appreciate the adorable.

The Dangerous Book for Boys

Fandom: SHERLOCK BBC
Pairing: Gen
Length: 5,615
Author on LJ: thirdbird
Author Website: Master List on LJ
Why this must be read:

From the user name alone, you may deduce that this author likes birds. You may be skeptical about birds in fic, but trust me, when Lestrade brings a pet bird from a crime scene and Sherlock turns it into a pet, you’ll be amazed at how much it brings out of him. I was entranced by this fic, much as Sherlock was by this bird!

John, on the other hand:

“If it bites me again, I’m going to drop it,” he warned Sherlock. “Oh, this is weird. Its feet feel like lizard feet. It’s not going to try and bond with me, is it? What exactly does that entail? Ouch! That bloody hurts, you little--”

The author describes this story as fluffy casefic, and who can deny the appeal of casefic... with cuddles?

Sherlock scoffed. “There is no cuddling. I’m merely trying to keep the creature warm. It’s native to the subtropics, you do realise, and London in March has an average temperature of--”

“Get pictures,” Lestrade suggested to John, who grinned back at him.

Fly off and read, my pretties!

The Case of the Unexpected Guest

And so, here I am, about to hand over the keys to the sled Van over to next month's reccer.

Before I do that, though, I'd like to thank y'all for coming along as I drove us through the streets of Chicago, the Arctic and anywhere in between. Remember to leave a comment for the authors of the stories you've dug reading. Finally, you could always sign up to drive the dS Van too! :D!

Fandom: dUE SOUTH

Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski

Length: 6,325 words

Author on LJ: gloriana

Author Website: N/A

Why this must be read:

Because this is simply one of the best stories to come out of last year's due South Seekrit Santa fic exchange. Additionally, it's a delightful combination of the whimsy from the canon with the more realistic limitations of what a turtle can and cannot do.

For this is the story about Turtle--from the time he had just stepped out of his egg all the way to RayK's apartment. That the fic is told from Turtle's POV should be incentive enough. You'd be hard-pressed to find a quirkier, funnier and happy tears-inducing Turtle fic out there.

Finally, there are all these wonderful illustrations that enhance the story in unexpected ways. It's a totally brilliant take on one of the most beloved characters in the fandom. Part fairy tale, it's a story worthy of many a re-read. ♥



Prologue

You may think that this is simply a black box, lying on a table.

But when you stand it up and open it, you will find that it is just a shell, and inside there is a glimpse of another world.

Welcome to Turtle's story, and Turtle's world.


Zugunruhe (Link goes to AO3)

Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Length: ~55.800 words
Author on LJ: caarianna
Author Website: Hidden Muse
Why this must be read:

So, maybe by now you all could have noted that I'm a little bit biased towards long, first-time, post-TSbyBS stories. Maybe, just maybe. *g*
And this one is... just great! Arianna writes fabulous stuff, and this story just proves it. Here, Blair decides he doesn't wants to be a cop, and gets his second chance via Orvelle Wallace, who offer him a job as director in a community center. So, Blair is moving on, but he still needs to mend fences with Jim. And it would be a thing of beauty if he manages that before the local gang decide it's time to take him off the picture.
So... a Blair who is able to find his way without anyone else decide for him, a Jim who is capable to understand and respect Blair's needs, a great storyline and good 'ol suspense, all packed up in fantastic Adriana's writing

Have a taste ( here: )


So, read Too Little, Too Late, and later let Arianna know what you think :D