Fandom: FRINGE
Characters: Astrid Farnsworth, Philip Broyles
Length: 435
Author on LJ: monanotlisa
Author Website: http://archiveofourown.org/users/monanotlisa/
Why this must be read:
If you know me, then you know I prefer long plotty stories to short, character-driven vignettes. However, there isn't nearly enough fic for these characters and monanotlisa does write them well. Until I read it, I didn't know how much the episode,"Lysergic Acid Diethylamide." needed this fic, or how much I wanted to read it. If only it were longer...hint, hint.

Summary: On the third day, Broyles seeks Astrid out.

Oh, and this was written for fringe_kinkmeme.

Read Hands of Above to Lean On

Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: (slash) Jim/Blair (also has references to Jim with other characters)
Length: ~ 144,000 words (total of all three fics in series --
Point of Contact is 106,870 words, Loss of Contact is 35,932 words and Point of Order is 1,176 words)
Author on LJ: janedavitt
Author Website: Jane's Stories

Warnings: D/s themes, spanking, and mild bondage.

Why this must be read: I get sort of incoherent about this 'verse. I'm not sure I can do it justice here at all, but here goes...

Barest of bones: Blair hires a female hooker from an escort agency and gets Jim by mistake. Things happen. Imperfect, messy, exploring, argumentative, difficult, nuclear-meltdown-sexy-hot, heart-hijacking perfect things.

Jane's writing is always a joy to read for so many reasons, all of which are as true here as in all her other fic: the words flow with effortless ease and naturalness, and you see and feel what's happening as if you were living it. There's honesty and the weight of reality and the incisiveness of a surgeon's scalpel -- and wry humor and gut-punch emotional connection -- running all through her words, through this Jim and Blair, this world.

Even if d/S isn't your thing (it's not an automatic "hot" button for me, actually -- the writing really has to make it work to make it work for me), or if you think TS can't be TS without the senses (which don't play a part here), this fic can totally get under your skin anyway. Jim and Blair are absolutely Jim and Blair, just with slightly different histories (or very different :-)) and a growing, uncertain itch beneath Blair's skin (that turns into an itch beneath Jim's skin) in a imperfectly, irresistibly, gloriously human way. The conversations they have as they start to get to know each other (and themselves) are among the best stretches of dialog I've read anywhere, and the smut -- wow. Just wow. Jane doesn't put her surgeon's scalpel away when she writes smut, so it's not just scorchingly written scorching-hot sex, but sex that lays the characters bare in more than one sense of the word.

The excerpt is the very first paragraphs of the fic, in case you'd like a (longish) teaser.

( Excerpt )

Full disclosure moment: I was beta reader for PoC and LoC, in case that's the kind of thing you're supposed to mention. But seriously, seriously, beta reader or not, I would follow this fic to the ends of the earth, set up house with it, have its babies...

Links:
  ~  Link to Point of Contact series at Jane's website
  ~  Link to Point of Contact series at AO3


Podfic by laurie_ky is also available for Point of Contact and Point of Order:
  ~  Link to Laurie's master post for the podfic and podbooks
 
 

Fandom: FRINGE
Pairing/Characters: Peter Bishop, Walter Bishop, Olivia Dunham, Astrid Farnsworth
Length: 5762
Author on LJ: rivkat
Author Website: http://archiveofourown.org/users/rivkat/
Why this must be read:
Okay, I admit it. I saved this story for last because it's holiday fic. Written for Yuletide 2010, this is one of the more widely-read stories in the fandom (but, but, but...I read it first! Look! I'm comment number six!), and deservedly so. Its sophisticated structure, inspired by Wallace Stevens' poem, contains a heart-breaking portrait of Olivia Dunham following her return from the Other Side. It does what I like best in fanfiction: it slots perfectly into canon, while illuminating and enriching it. If you haven't yet read this fic, you're in for a treat.

Read 13 Ways of Looking at a Betrayal.

So here we are. I can't believe it's already November 30th. I had over forty stories to rec here and didn't even get to half of them, which means I'll have to sign up to do this again!

Fandom: SUPERNATURAL
Pairing: Gen (Jimmy, Claire, Castiel)
Length: ~1,700 words
Author on LJ: wandersfound
Author Website: her_own_write
Why this must be read:

Castiel is an apple tree in the Novak's back yard.

This is such a creepy, creepy take on Thingstiel. As it should be :-D Some writers have played with the idea that angels - usually Castiel - can possess things other than people; this is a great example of it, with the mood gradually slipping from comforting to unsettling.

Between the Branches

Fandom: FRINGE
Music: "You Are A Runner And I Am My Father's Son" by Wolfparade
Pairing: Oliva Dunham/Peter Bishop
Length: 2:29
Vidder on LJ: I have no clue.
Vidder's Website: http://www.youtube.com/user/ImagineImpossible
Why this vid kicks ass:
I have no memory of how I ran into this vid on YouTube (flist, was it recced to me?) but this song was made to be a Peter Bishop vid. Now I wouldn't exactly say I like this song (when do I ever), but it really works here with its choppy rhythmic lines and percussive instrumentation. The lyrics paired with the Fringe clips tell Peter's story quite effectively. Both Olivias are there, Both Walter Bishops, too. You even get a cameo by the season four version of Our Side's Lincoln Lee, giving Peter an intense look. I wish there was a link to download it because it's already been deleted from YouTube once.


Watch I Am My Father's Son.

I know, it's not Friday, it's Wednesday. But I was eating turkey and pie last Friday and forgot to post it. Don't hurt me.

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (specifically X-MEN: FIRST CLASS)
Pairing: Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier
Length: 35,000 words
Author on LJ: zamwessell
Author Website: AO3 Account

Warning: None.

Why this must be read: One to take to your bunk. This is hot like fire, but there's a theme and a message in there too -- a happy combination of porn and plot. It starts with some gloriously vigorous and enjoyable sex, starkly contrasted with Charles' hilarious internal monologue about what a good boy he is, and how good boys don't. The tension in him gets ratchetted up in every subsequent scene, and Erik is wickedly unsympathetic and just devilishly irresistable, damn it. Poor Charles and his "ideas you get from reading too much Kipling" never stood a chance.

Good Boys

Fandom: CWRPS
Pairing: Jared Padalecki/Jensen Ackles
Length: 23213
Author on LJ: zuben_eschamali
Author Website: zuben_fic

Why this must be read: This is a fun, crazy ride with sleep-deprivation, intense rivalries, and a Jensen that is very good at planning for a scavenger hunt. And really, it's a fic about a giant scavenger hunt!

( Excerpt )

Scav Hunt

Fandom: CWRPS
Pairing: Jared Padalecki/Jensen Ackles
Length: 42200
Author on LJ: bandit_queen_1
Author Website:

Why this must be read: This is a fic about PTSD so be warned. It's PTSD post-Civil War where it is all too common with the returning soldiers who survived. Jensen is one of them, a doctor who couldn't save the boys fighting and it weighs on him. Jared is a younger brother who is set to marry the widow of his older brother because it's the right thing to do even if he really has no desire to do so. Both of them have their secrets, their fears. Both of them need each other without knowing why. It's a wonderful read, very detailed and rich in language.

( Excerpt )

Soldier's Heart

I'd like to apologize for totally falling off the wagon with reccing this month. I'm usually a lot better then this! I'll be back next month to rec SPN fic so I'm leaving you with one of my old favorites. This one never comes off my Nook.

Fandom: CWRPS
Pairing: Jared Padalecki/Jensen Ackles, previous Jensen Ackles/Jeffery Dean Morgan
Length: ~36,200
Author on LJ: vamphile
Author Website: Master List

Why this must be read: Okay so this is schmoopy and kind of silly and heartwarming at the same time. It's J2/CW does Project Runway. And it's just as wonderful as anyone who likes both things would hope.

Jensen is the fussy Tim Gunn personality. Jared is a contest who not only can sew like whoa, but is hot as hell. Jeff is the mothering type and Chad is kind of amazing and annoying at the same time. Plus there are challenges and sex. Not at the same time. Well except that one time.

( Excerpt )

Project Runway

Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Pairing: John/Rodney, John/Teyla, many others
Length: ~55,000
Author on LJ: cesperanza
Author Website: Speranza's SGA Fiction

I looked and looked (no really, twice), and so if I've missed it, I need glasses. But, to my shock (and happiness), Written by the Victors has not been recced. We all know by know cesperanza is a fabulously talented and prolific writer. Written By the Victors, however, is in my opinion, her crowning achievement.

Reading it the first time, it reminded me of the most epic of fantasy/sci-fi novels that have a broad-sweeping scope to them and their universes. But what really impressed me, was the structure and style of the story. As an (future) academic, I was blown away by Speranza's grasp of the intricacies and style of academic writing. She may be an academic herself, I don't know, but for me reading it, it was like reading the very sources I use to write my own research papers. But don't let an academic bent scare you away. The story is richly told, encapsulating all we love about the characters, the action, and the drama of the show. This, is what I wanted from the show; it realizes the full extent of the characters and the SG 'verse. I would give anything for this to have been the movie script.

It's got heart, excellent prose, a unique and brilliant style, and a beautiful universe that spans generations. A must read.

( Mini-Teaser )

Written By the Victors

As well, there's an entire page dedicated to art created for the 'verse as well as further stories in it: Victorsverse Art and Artifacts

This is the last rec of the month! Hope you all enjoyed the stories and that, perhaps, you found one you hadn't read before.

In light of tomorrow being December 1st, a Christmas story seemed appropriate.

Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Pairing: John/Rodney
Length: ~6,400
Author on LJ: chase_acow
Author Website: Tags

In which John and Rodney have to deliver toys to all the good little boys and girls, Comet is a meddling reindeer, and Santa isn't what he appears. It's sweet, heart-warming, and a little silly.

( Mini-Teaser )

John and Rodney Save Christmas