Fandom: TRON
Pairing: Alan/Sam, Junior/Sam, Sam/various, Alan/Kevin (mostly past)
Length: currently ~20K words
Author on LJ: nhpw
Author Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/~nhpw
Warnings (consolidated from all chapters): Post-Legacy AU. BDSM lifestyle - established relationship; dubcon; BDSM play party; fisting; gangbang; orgasm control; voyeurism; non-traditional collaring ceremony; “the original prompt was ‘Flynn holds Sam down while Alan has his way with him.’ So... that.”
Why this must be read:

Canonically, Sam Flynn is an adrenaline junkie who has problems with authority; it’s no surprise that some ficcers think he needs a healthy dose of discipline, and who better to dispense it than his father’s best friend — and in this ’verse, former Dom — Alan Bradley? I have to admit, the premise of the first chapter (see “Warnings,” above) gave me pause, but I’m glad I took a chance on this series. nhpw uses the characters’ interrelationships to examine the different power dynamics at work, explore dominance and submission from both sides, and lay out what she considers the rights, responsibilities, and rewards of those who engage in BDSM. Above all, this is a love story, albeit an unconventional and exceedingly kinky one.

( Sam, though he thrashed and cried, loved every minute of it. )

The Re-Education of Sam Flynn

1. “Collared”: Kevin makes Alan a proposition
   
2. “Break Down/Rebuild”: Alan and Sam come to terms
   
3. “Well Done”: Alan and Sam host a dinner party
   
4. “Transformation”: Junior looks after Sam while Alan is away

Note: “Collared,” “Break Down/Rebuild,” and “Well Done” are chapters one to three of the first part; the second part, “Transformation,” is in two chapters.

Fandom: STARGATE SG1/STARGATE ATLANTIS
Pairing: none
Length: 6:10
Author on LJ: fanmagicks
Author Website: more vids are on main LJ page along with alternate link to this vid
Why this must be watched:

This vid is the epitome of all that I love about both of the first Stargates, SG1 and SGA. The wonder of discovery, the grand epic feel of the circumstances the characters find themselves in, the pain of gone loved ones lost in the protection of their own, the coming together of forces to protect family, friends, and worlds... All are present in this glory of a vid.

And on top of the glorious content is the sheer editing, music selection, and clip selection skills from fanmagicks. The music for one fits Stargate to a tee, especially the way fanmagicks is presenting the shows. And the way she has combined her clips and words to the music and each other speaks for some SERIOUS editing chops. All together it tells an incredible story of the Stargate and how it impacts our, and other worlds and the residents therein. You'll feel energized, amazed, in awe, and just plain JAZZED after watching this. I guarantee!!

Epic

Fandom: SHERLOCK HOLMES (BBC)
Pairing: None
Length: 6520 words
Author on LJ: basingstoke
Author Website: At the AO3
Why this must be read::

It's bizarre and yet hilarious. "Sherlock takes John home to meet the family" has quickly become a cliché in Sherlock fandom, but I've rarely seen it done as well as this. This is third in a series that crosses over with Black Books, but you don't have to read the first two stories or know that show to read this story.

Eggcrate

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E/MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
Musical artist: Was (Not Was)
Characters: Illya Kuryakin, Napoleon Solo, M:I Ensemble
Vidder on LJ:  drworm
Vidder's website: Dr Worm's youtube channel
Why this must be seen:

I missed cross-over day, so I'm giving you two for one on Vid Rec Day: an MFU/M:I fanvid crossover from drworm. It's got a great song from Was(Not Was), "Spy in the House of Love", it's got footage from two icons of mid 60's spy chic, Man from UNCLE and Mission:Impossible (and man do the spies look good); it's got the impossibly elegant Barbara Bain. All is fair in love and war-- Spies in the House confirms our lingering suspicion that the two can have a lot in common.
I told her I am a spy in the house of love/Gathering clues to be used/ In the war of the affections

Spies in the House

Fandom: TRON
Vidder: humansrsuperior
Music: “Da Funk/Daftendirekt” by Daft Punk*
Pairing: refs to canon pairings
Vidder on LJ: humansrsuperior
Vidder’s website: http://www.neuralcluster.net/
Warnings: Spoilers for entire franchise
Why this vid kicks ass:

This video could be titled “Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose,” or “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Built around a thumping track from Daft Punk’s amazing Alive 2007 album, humansrsuperior uses brisk and witty edits between clips from TRON, the 2009 teaser trailer, Daft Punk concert footage, the “Derezzed” video, and Legacy to demonstrate that the effects and the fight choreography may have evolved, but the TRON ’verse has always been and still is a full-throttle ride.

“Da Tron Funk” (links for streaming and downloadable versions)

* Back in 2010 I made an untranscribable noise when I learned that Daft Punk were providing the soundtrack for Legacy. Has there ever been a more perfect film/composer pairing? I mean, who better to score our return to the Electronic World than a duo that, judging from their previous releases and stage shows, are from there? No disrespect to Wendy Carlos and her beautiful blend of choral, symphonic, and electronic elements for the ’82 film, but come on — look at those shiny GQ motherf—ers.

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Vidder: Elliepdowd
Musical artist: Theme song from "Simon & Simon"
Pairing: Gen - Sam and Dean
Vidder on LJ: ee_p_dee
Vidder's website: Ellie's Supernatural Videos; Ellie's Youtube Channel
Why this vid kicks ass: So, maybe many of the current Supernatural fans aren't quite old enough to remember the hit 1980s TV detective show, "Simon & Simon", about two brothers who are very different from one another. For those of us who do remember, there's this lovely vid that is as much a tribute to the original series (and the challenges of working with your brother) as it is to the Winchesters. For those who aren't familiar with the original series, I suggest clicking on the LJ entry and scrolling to the bottom to watch a video of the original series credits--that will give you an idea of exactly how much thought went into this vid, as the vidder recreated (as closely as possible) many of the scenes from the S&S credits. It's just a delight to watch, and honestly, "Simon & Simon" had one of the best theme songs on TV. Give it a listen - it might be more familiar than you think!


Link to LJ entry with accompanying "Simon & Simon" original credits: 1981 Credits

Youtube Link: Supernatural: 1981 Credits

Remember to feed your vidders!

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Vidder: Nikki
Musical artist: Imogen Heap
Pairing: Dean/Castiel - through S4.10
Vidder on LJ: sarashina_nikki
Vidder's website: unknown
Why this vid kicks ass: Yes, there are about a zillion versions of "Hallelujah" out there and countless videos using those versions. So what makes this one different? (Hint: it's not just that the version is only 2:57 long.)

If you haven't heard this cover of the song before, it's ... well, haunting, is one way to describe it. It's an a capella version and somehow that fits perfectly here. It's intense and breathy and you can practically feel the ache in Dean's heart through the song. The video does a beautiful job tracing Dean's journey back from hell and his struggles to find out who he is now, where he fits in the world after what he's been through, and how to make sense of how the world has changed in his absence. This is a Dean caught between Heaven and Hell - between Castiel and Ruby, between the Sam he knows and the Sam who hides things from him. This is a Dean who wants--desperately--but doesn't seem to know exactly what he's searching for.

It's a striking piece of work with a really effective song choice. Don't pass it by just because the song's been over-used. It's well worth three minutes of your time.


Link to LJ entry with both embedded and downloadable versions: Hallelujah


Remember to feed your vidders!

Fandom: TRON
Pairing: DJs/Rinzler
Length: ~1K words
Author on LJ: naopao
Author Website: http://www.naopao.tumblr.com/
Warnings: AU for Legacy, involving a major spoiler. Dubcon. Songfic. Sorta RPS.
Why this must be read:

There’s a freaking hurricane bearing down on me, so what better time for shameless songfic helmet!OT3 PWP? In this story, it turns out the DJs or “mp3s” are none other than Daft Punk themselves, on the Grid and s3xx1n’ up Rinzler, because why the hell not.

( The song thrummed along his body, and the wandering hands followed, slipping lower. Kneading and massaging his thighs, curling and cupping his hips and back with a tenderness that left a slow, agonizing burn where their hands passed. Rinzler could hardly keep still with these gentle ministrations, soft, hot, needy touches so unknown to him. )

“Untitled”

Fandom: DONALD STRACHEY MYSTERIES
Pairing: Donald Strachey/Timothy Callahan
Length: 900 words
Author on LJ: blackbird_song
Author's website: N/A

Why this must be read: That old line about good things coming in small packages was never more true. Falling somewhere between a steam-of-consciousness narrative and a prose poem, this lovely and lyrical, beautifully written and touchingly whimsical little piece of introspection packs a big punch. This may be schmoop, but it's schmoop like you've never read before....

An excerpt:

He never particularly thought about the gleam of sex sweat as it limned Timmy's Greek-god form, or the way it plastered down the chest hair he loved to comb with his fingers when he awoke in the morning. He definitely didn't forsake all other things in life to eat, drink, breathe, sink and weld himself into Timmy, body and soul. Not at all. Don Strachey never did that sort of thing. Not more than every chance he could get, anyway.

Bare 

Fandom: TRON
Vidder: Aislynn
Music: “I’m Too Sexy,” by Right Said Fred
Pairing: refs to canon pairings
Vidder on LJ: ageless_aislynn
Vidder’s website: http://community.livejournal.com/signed_aislynn
Warnings:
Why this vid kicks ass:

Okay, I’m shamelessly cheating by making a second vid rec, but I had to share the joy. Drawing footage from the ’82 movie (including the deleted love scene), this is a very funny celebration of hot boys in spandex. The clip selections are spot on (“I'm too sexy for my shirt...”), the editing is tight (watch for the handclaps!), and the coda is perfect.

“TRON Is Too Sexy” (links to streaming and downloadable versions)

Fandom: STAR TREK: REBOOT
Pairing: Crew gen
Length: 2,575
Author on LJ: stripedpetunia
Author Website: At AO3
Why this must be read:

Spock tells a mom joke.

Except, of course, it's more than that. The context surrounding the mom joke is just as important as the joke itself, and I'm not going to spoil that.

This fic has a lot for being so short, from the crew bonding to the crew beginning to heal after the Narada. Probably my favorite thing about it, though, apart from the mom joke, is the beginnings of the McCoy-Spock friendship. There is (understandably) a lot of focus on Kirk with both of them in fandom, but I really like being able to see them building something on their own.

( Excerpt )


Your Mom

Fandom: RPF: THE X-FILES (kind of)
Pairing: truthfully, none
Length: 1:34
Vidder on LJ: n/a
Vidder's Website: http://www.exeterstreet.net/
Why this must be watched: I couldn't bring myself to post a "snogger" vid. But I did find this brilliant mock-up by Lyle posted on You.tube. It's a marketing video for two imaginary episodes of A&E's Biography, featuring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. Now I really want to see those non-existent episodes. Not safe for work, however.

The concept: It's X-Files week on A&E's Biography channel in cross-channel promotion for the worldwide theatrical release of THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE. Fox Mulder and Dana Scully's alter egos David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, media darlings of the 1990s, feature prominently in two spots.


"Promos" for David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson on Biography

Fandom: DONALD STRACHEY MYSTERIES
Pairing: Donald Strachey/Timothy Callahan
Length: 116,000 words
Author on LJ: candyjbshsc
Author’s website/masterlist: squidge

Why this must be read:  Ever wish you could read a juicy, novel-length story about the movieverse characters you know and love?  This may just be the fanfic you've been searching for.  Angst and H/C abound in this tale of a brutal crime and its aftermath.  Though the writer deals with difficult subject matter some readers may find unsettling (see author's warning) she provides a first-rate, multi-dimensional plot interlaced with plenty of Don/Tim moments both tender and hot.  These guys can get through anything as long as they have each other to lean on, and Candy gives us a meaty drama that underscores the point. 
( an excerpt )
Like Water, Like Breath, Like Rain

Fandom: RPF: THE X-FILES
Pairing: David Duchovny/Gillian Anderson
Length: vignette
Author on LJ: not_as_we
Author Website: fic tag; there is a "Heather" at Gossamer but I'm not sure it's the same writer.
Why this must be read: This is another IWTB fic, (mostly) David POV. This happy-sad short-short story weaves reality and fiction together seamlessly. There are some great lines, but it's too short to quote from. Just read it.

Little Histories

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: Sam/Gabriel, Dean/Castiel
Length: ~ 6500 words
Author on LJ: libraryofsol / entangled_now
Author Website: Library of Sol
Why this must be read: It's interesting to me that most times when I rec a story with Sam/Gabriel and Dean/Castiel, the Sam/Gabriel relationship ends up stealing the show.

When you're routinely fighting for your life and trying to stop the world from ending, friends are important. Sam doesn't realize how important until he complains that Gabriel isn't like the other angels. Isn't "sensible, serious, and helpful." Like Cas.

It's a case of "be careful what you wish for." Gabriel takes Sam's words to heart, tries to go back to being the kind of angel he once was, stripped of his personality. But the story's much more complex than that. It's about how we see ourselves and others, how what we think we want and what we actually want are often at odds. It's about how Sam's desire for a little stability ends up turning his world upside-down when he gets exactly what he asks for. And ultimately, it's about making choices--whether man or man-shaped being; it's about admitting when you're wrong, about needing someone who makes you a little bit crazy. It's a great story, and really showcases that "larger than life" feeling Gabriel brought to the show.


( 'So that storm outside's your doing then?' Dean decides. 'Ok, what the hell did you do to piss him off this time?' )

Read the story and feedback the author: All Come Back Around