Fandom: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Pairing: Elizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam Darcy
Length: 219,000 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: The Derbyshire Writers' Guild

Why this must be read:

In the closing pages of Pride and Prejudice, Darcy tells Elizabeth that he was given good principles as a child, but that he was taught to follow them in pride and conceit. What if there had been someone to teach him better? In this story, Mr. Darcy has a mentor in a Mr. Bradley, the curate of the local parish to Pemberley. Mr. Bradley has humbly served his flock for years, and Darcy comes to him for advice, comfort, and spiritual guidance, as did his father before him. This guidance and help softens Darcy's manners and aids him when dealing with stressful relations, scoundrels, and everything else in his life.

Elizabeth, meanwhile, has to deal with ill-behaving family members, gossiping neighbors, a nerve-stricken mother, and an absent father. The initial meeting between Darcy and Elizabeth goes much better than in the novel, but there are still obstacles in the way, as is so in any good story. Some characters are so altered that they are hardly recognizable--Mr. Collins is truly evil, while the reader gains much sympathy for Mrs. Bennet--but overall, everyone stays true to themselves as Jane Austen wrote them. There is a great deal of backstory before Darcy and Elizabeth first meet, so we really get to know them well individually.

This work may not be to everyone's taste, as there are clear and direct religious references throughout. (But do not let that scare you off, as this is a wonderful fic!) Mr. Bradley makes no apology for his profession and quotes scripture liberally. It was refreshing, really, to see an overtly religious character portrayed as righteous--not perfect, but righteous--while not being self-righteous or hypocritical. All the main characters, but especially Darcy and Elizabeth, grapple with moral issues and treat religion as a way to address those issues. It is not jarring at all, but fascinating how seamlessly the author has woven everything together. She also provides citations to not only any scriptures referenced, but also to Regency-era language the reader may be unfamiliar with.

The excerpt below that I have chosen is part of a larger conversation between Bradley and Darcy. They have several such conversations throughout the story, with Darcy wrestling with issues and Bradley challenging him to think beyond himself.

This is an excellent story. Highly recommended.

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( Excerpt )

Given Good Principles

Fandom: HAWAII FIVE-0 (NEW)
Pairing: Steve/Danny
Length: 480 words
Author on LJ: forcellari
Author Website: just her LJ that I can find
Why this must be read:

It's pieces like this that Hawaii has become by squee-ful fandom, a place where my fangirl squeals of delight find a home in the sheer pleasure of ficcage. Steve and Danny in a post coital snuggle. Not a huge epic plot. But oh the love! Two men who don't usual cuddle just deciding to go with the flow and ssssppppoooonnnn.... Yeah, can't you hear the fangirl squee echoing? LOL I could feel the love coming off the screen between these two men, and the visuals in my fangirl brain were a sight to behold. :)

Room Enough For Two

Hoping my internet connection stays on long enough for this to post. And I apologize profusely if this has been recced here before. I couldn't see that it had but I was rather hurrying along in the hope my still wonky connection would hold long enough for me to post.



Fandom: STARGATE ATLANTIS
Pairing: None
Length: 17k
Author on LJ: rhymer23
Author Website: http://www.rhymer.org.uk/
Why this must be read:

Although the author claims this is just a self indulgent story with gratuitous whump, I beg to differ. Besides I like some gratuitous whump. But there's some great character-driven scenes in this too and some wonderful dialogue and friendship moments.

( Excerpt )

As Far As It Takes

Fandom: MEN'S PROFESSIONAL TENNIS RPS
Pairing: vaguely Roger Federer/Andy Roddick, Roger Federer/Stanislas Wawrinka but basically Gen.
Length: ~ 6000 words
Author on LJ: crysfics
Author Website: crysfics
Why this must be read: Crack!fic at its absolute best.  Roger Federer as Ebenezer Scrooge! Stan Wawrinka cleaning trophies on Christmas Day!  Rafa filling in as the Ghost of Christmas Past because he's got the flu!  Still at fourteen Grand Slam titles (written in early 2009), Roger will do absolutely anything to beat Pete Sampras' record.  Now seventy years old, he refuses to admit it's just not going to happen. 

This was originally written for the now-defunct tennis_crack site, hence the lack of reviews and the very last paragraph.

A Christmas Slam

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Length: 1450 words
Author on LJ: slidellra
Author Website: LJ fic index
Why this must be read: Since I've mostly recced gen so far this month, here's a bit of porn! In my head, this fic is called "The One With the Butt-Plug", and trust me, it's a really hot fic. But it's not just that--the Ray POV is delightful, with some really funny lines, and there's so much affection and character observation in it, too.

Remedial Studies

Fandom: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Pairing: Elizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam Darcy (background)
Length: 5,000 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Netherfield's Library

Why this must be read:

Mr. Hurst is at best a minor character in Pride and Prejudice, easily overlooked. All we know about him is that he is married to Louisa Hurst née Bingley, that he drinks and eats to excess, and that he falls asleep on the couch on occasion. He has hardly any lines of dialogue in the novel at all. Naturally, he is an irresistible character to fanfic authors!

This fun little story from Hurst's point-of-view depicts what would have happened had the Netherfield party dined at Longbourn some time before the Netherfield Ball but after Elizabeth met Wickham. Hurst is in raptures over Mrs. Bennet's food, and events spiral out from there. Truly, the way to another man's heart is through Mr. Hurst's stomach!

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( Excerpt )

A Taste for the Country

Fandom: Man from UNCLE
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya
Length: short
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Here's her archive at Chrome and Gunmetal.

Why this must be read: First of all, I couldn't believe that this hasn't been featured on the Van before! I looked and looked, and didn't see where it's ever been on here before.

This is a post-Reunion fic, when Napoleon and Illya have reunited years after their original partnership dissolved. It's never too late to get a second chance at love.

The Once and Future Partner