Hello and happy October! I'm maerhys and the driver for the American Idol 7 van this month. I am new to the fandom and I was pleasantly surprised to find a very loyal and active group of fans even though the season ended over four years ago. I will be focusing on my personal favorites, which may be summed up as Cook/Archuleta angst fic. Well, angst with a happy ending. If the Davids are not your thing, there will be a few rare pair posts too, but check out nsaphrodite's recs made back in November 2008 for myriad slash pairings comprised of David Cook, Jason Castro, and Michael Johns.


Fandom: AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 7
Pairing: David Cook/David Archuleta
Length: 20,563 words
Author on LJ: astolat
Author Website: fan fiction website

Why this must be read: I seem to always open a crack_van run with my favorite story within the fandom and this time around isn't any different. This is a wildly popular story that most Cook/Archuleta fans have already read, but it's so good, incredible, really, that I rec it to anyone and everyone. I've had friends who have less than zero idea as to who these guys are read this fic and love it. "Real Forever If" is just that kind of fic.

( & )

Howdy! My name is georgiesmith and I'm delighted to be back behind the wheel of the van once again. UNCLE fandom has been a part of the van since pretty much the beginning, so whereas it's sometimes frustrating because so much great stuff has been rec'ced so far, it's also a terrific challenge to find those classic gems that have somehow fallen through the cracks. I've got a mix of old and new authors to UNCLE fandom lined up to share with you this month; I hope you find something you enjoy as well.

Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon Solo / Illya Kuryakin
Length: 295 KB
Author on LJ:  crimsonquills
Author Website: Crimson Quills
Why this must be read: I can't believe this amazing story hasn't been recommended yet. I honestly can't. I double-checked and everything. Napoleon Solo is a man renown for his charm, style and looks. What if his good looks are marred? The story follows Napoleon's journey as he learns to come to terms with his disfigurement and how it effects all of his relationships - from his co-workers, to his enemies, to his partner. If it sounds depressing, it's not. It's angsty sure, but it's also a marvelous character study of our favorite Chief Enforcement Agent. Trust me, set aside a couple of hours and curl up in your favorite comfy chair with a cup of hot chocolate to read; you're going to love the story to bits.

The Mirror, Mirror Affair

Hello, hello--I'll be flying the Firefly/Serenity boat for the month of October. I tend towards gen, canon pairings, and well-crafted AUs, so that's what you'll be getting. Shiny!

Fandom: FIREFLY
Pairing: None
Length: One-shot, 840 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Snow at AO3

Why this must be read: "Ambitions" is a fic that grabs you--there's nothing else like it in the fandom that I've seen.  It's an all-too-brief oneshot, the result of a “racebending” challenge wherein the Tam siblings are actually Chinese, and thus relative outcasts in the 1960s American town their family has immigrated to.  Mal is the hometown hero, but perhaps there's more to him.  Snow doesn’t waste a word and executes the period setting perfectly.  My disappointment every time I read this fic is that it’s not longer, that there’s not more of this brilliantly sketched little alternate universe.

( Simon would have turned around and told River to find another spot, but she was below him and refused to go anywhere but up. )

Ambitions Like Ribbons, Worn Bright on My Sleeve

Hello, I'm cloudtrader and I'll be reccing comics on Crack Van for the month of October! I'm a long-time reader of DC Comics and have recced them here in the past, but this time I'll be going for mostly Marvel Comics seeing as how we've had a huge injection of vigour into the fandom with all the Marvel movies that have come out recently. I hope you enjoy the reccage! :D

Fandom: THOR (movie!verse Marvel)
Pairing: Darcy Lewis/Clint Barton (background Thor Odinsson/Jane Foster, Pepper Potts/Tony Stark)
Length: 4,654 words
Author on LJ: sutlers, but the author is inactive on LJ and can more readily be found on DreamWidth
Author Website: sutlers on AO3
Why this must be read:
This story is laugh-out-loud funny, but not at all farcical. Darcy is an ordinary girl who finds herself as a member of SHIELD, and yet most of her problems involve her strangely god-obsessed friend Jane trying to set her up on a date. I love how this author portrays the cynical, wise-cracking Darcy of the movie in such a fun and yet spot-on manner. The author really has a gift for subtext and showing feelings and characterization rather than telling.

Just Temporary, Ma'am by sutlers

Hi everyone! I'm Hazel, and I'll be reccing for due South this month. First up, I have a short and sweet (and porny!) fic by Spuffyduds:

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Author on LJ: spuffyduds
Author Website: Her due South fics can be found on LJ and AO3

Why this must be read: Spuffy has gifted this fandom with quite a few truly outstanding stories over the years. I have a dozen of hers bookmarked, but this one is my absolute favorite. It's a short glimpse into Fraser and Kowalski's domestic life after the end of the show. It's an established relationship fic (a favorite genre of mine) with an excellent RayK voice, and it is full of Spuffy's trademark humor and heart.

Concrete

Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Gibbs/Tony
Length: 3,400 words
Author on LJ: chicklet_girl
Author Website: N/A
Why this must be read: Okay, so I'm biased because the story was written for me. *g* It was posted for this year's ncis_ficathon and based on my prompt “Keepsakes! Write a story involving something Tony keeps in his desk. Why does he keep it, what does it mean to him? Could be about Gibbs' medals or the fluffy handcuffs or something else entirely! :) Can be gen/friendship or slash (Gibbs/Tony), humor or angst or romance. Surprise me! *g*” And I thought I'd get some cutesy li'l ficlet about kinky Tony playing with his fuzzy handcuffs or maybe an angsty drabble about Gibbs' medals... And instead, I was gifted with the most awesome Tony character study I could have ever wished for! chicklet_girl shows us the kind of Tony I love the most: loyal, compassionate, smart, funny, passionate, brave...and with a huge heart of pure gold. If you're a Tony fan, you'll love this fic for the declaration of love it is. If you don't like or plain "get" Tony, you will after reading this fic. :)

( Excerpt: )

Clowntime is Over, or Six Things That Can Be Found in the Desk of Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, Jr. (yes, that's the official title! *g*)