Fandom: SLINGS & ARROWS
Pairing: none
Length: 2302 words
Author on DW: Petra
Author Website: Fic on AO3
Why this must be read:  Before I turn in the keys to the van, I'll leave you with this fic by one of the the best writers in S&A fandom.

It's a Canadian Shack (with bonus team building) tale about five people who shouldn't be left alone anywhere without supervision--but we're glad they are because we wouldn't have this otherwise. Petra does an amazing job with the characters, from Richard's enthusiasm and cluelessness, to Darren's gleeful snarkiness. But most of all, we do see the affection among this delightfully screwed up group, and you wish you could join them as they read aloud from Shakespeare. And thanks to Anna, you may never look at alphabet soup the same way again. 

( A preview... )

You can find Now Is the Winter of Our Management Retreat on AO3 or DW, and please don't forget to leave feedback for the author.

Fandom: THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
Pairing: n/a
Characters: Chris, Ezra, Vin, Nathan
Length: 27, 144 words
Author on lj: phoenix1972
Author website: phoenix1972's stories on AO3

Why this must be read: Because it's a road trip fic!! What's more, it's a longer story by a lovely newer writer also featuring some hurt/comfort and giving us a great look at a couple of the boys out of town.  However you ultimately see the relationship of Chris and Ezra, there is a wonderful and undeniable canon tension between them.  In terms of the show this centres mainly around trust and honesty issues and, unsurprisingly, in fiction both platonic and romantic, sparks often fly between them.  Who better therefore to send on a mission to Denver together?  One way or another, whether through events or personality, of course it won't be straightforward...

Chris started pacing back and forth waiting for the gambler to make an appearance.  He had specifically told Ezra the stage was leaving in thirty minutes.  How long did it take to get dressed?  Next time he'd just drag him down here in his nightshirt, kicking and screaming all the way.  Chris smiled, an evil glint in his eye at the thought. It'd be no one's fault but Ezra's.

"If it was me, I wouldn't be getting wound so tight at the beginning of a long trip, cowboy."  Vin flicked a gaze up the street trying to ignore Chris's obvious tense mood.  "You'll have yourself so twisted up by the time you get to Denver, you'll be walking hunched over..."

Just Get Me to the Next Town

Fandom: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Pairing: Elizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam Darcy
Length: 9,500 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Austen Interlude

Why this must be read:

This short and sweet story details how Mr. Bennet puzzles out the riddle of Fitzwilliam Darcy. He attempts to talk to the man before his marriage to his beloved Lizzy, but still is unable to quite figure him out. Is he, as Elizabeth said, one of the best men she has ever known? It is only upon visiting Pemberley months later that he learns the true worth of his new son-in-law.

Written in Austenesque style, this delightful story from Mr. Bennet's point-of-view is well written and has spot-on character voices. It's a quick read, but one not to be missed.

* * *

( Excerpt )

When Least Expected

Fandom: MERLIN
Pairing: none
Length: 2,250 words
Author on LJ: ankaret
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read:

And for the end of this Merlin rec cycle, how about a fic that will just take your breath away with its descriptive details and intricate interweaving of original Arthur myth and BBC canon. At the battle that ended Arthur's time on the mortal plane, Camlann, Arthur and Merlin share some quiet moments before the rage of the storm, sharing the comfortable and quiet task of dressing Arthur. An old established routine between prince and servant, now High King and Court Sorcerer, this quiet moment just makes the reader ache for all the history and companionship there is between these two men. They know each other so well and, knowing that a ferocious battle is coming, take what quiet comfort they can in familiar routines. I ached after reading this, knowing the fate of Arthur in this battle, and just had to chuckle at the exchanges between two old friends who know each other so well.

Camlann

Oh, my! Time has flown for me, and I didn't get to rec everything that I wanted to. *sad tears* I have patched the bullet holes with Bondo and now it's all shiny and new, ready for the next Cousin to take the van for a spin. As always, it's a pleasure to be your guide for the month. I hope you've enjoyed it, too!


Fandom: Man from UNCLE
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya, although it's the barest of pairing.
Length: ...A Friend Indeed - 236 K, Hindsight - 271 K
Author on LJ: svetlanacat4
Author Website: She posts at various LJ communities and her own journal.

Why this must be read: These two stories can be read on their own, but are much better when you read them together. :)

When Svet first posted "A Friend In Need is a Friend Indeed" at her journal, there were a few of us who were addicted to it. She created a thrilling adventure in which Illya may or may not be a traitor, and the struggles Napoleon faced to try and find his partner and prove what he believes to be the truth.

A few months later, she posted the companion story "Hindsight is A Wonderful Thing", which returns us to Mousehole and the world of intrigue that she wrote about in the previous story. Moles, villains, and the same delicious pacing that caused the few devoted readers that Svet had for "Friend" sit at her feet for "Hindsight."

Svet introduced us to a wonderful, fantastic new character named Mikey, who is the heart and soul of these Mousehole stories. Mikey is in the mold of the traditional UNCLE innocent, but with a twist. Those of us who read the Mousehole stories fell in love with Mikey, and I'm happy to introduce you to the world of Mousehole now.

A Friend In Need is a Friend Indeed - and - Hindsight is a Wonderful Thing

I kept looking over the recommendations, sure that I'd forgotten something.  Then I realized: oh dear, no lacosteslash!  Then: oh dear, it's all f-locked up!  I was happy to even find this one after a lot of digging.

Anyway, it's been fun riding the van this month but this is the last stop.  If you want to see more stuff, join tennisslash.  We won't bite (unless you're into that).

Fandom: MEN'S PROFESSIONAL TENNIS RPS
Pairing: Andy Roddick/Richard Gasquet
Length: ~ 2000 words
Author on LJ: e_goddess
Author Website: e_goddess
Why this must be read: Sometimes you just don't know why some pairings just don't get written despite lots of evidence while other pairings become quite popular despite scant signs.  The most lasting symbol of this phenomenom within fandom is this pairing.  The structure seems to be that, as cocky as Andy comes off, he seems to meet his match in the quiet-but-deceivingly Richard.  In the fic, Andy thinks he's the seductor but a bunch of slutty Frenchmen more than prove this is incorrect.

Scoring

Fandom: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Pairing: Kitty Bennet/OMC; other canon couples
Length: 149,300 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: None

Why this must be read:

Kitty Bennet takes center stage in this story all her own. It is presumed that Mr. Bennet does not have much family, especially since Mr. Collins is his heir. However, in this fic, the author creates a couple of sisters for Mr. Bennet, one of whom asks for a companion from among her nieces to accompany her for a time. The Bennets consider the matter and decide that Kitty is the child they could most easily do without. Of course, this is just as things are getting interesting at Longbourn. The militia has arrived in Meryton, and there are rumors of Mr. Bingley hosting a ball at Netherfield!

Kitty thus reluctantly embarks on her own adventure, learning a great deal about the world along the way. She travels with her aunt to London and enjoys a season and the attentions of several suitors. Meanwhile, the events of Pride and Prejudice are happening in the background, but they are affected by Kitty's storyline as well. Excellently written and a fun read, especially since it's about an oft-overlooked character.

* * *

( Excerpt )

A Hit, a Very Palpable Hit

I have come to the end of my recommendations this month. There are so many more stories I could recommend, but I have run out of time, alas. Before I present my last recommendation, I must encourage you to seek out other Austen fanfic. I have found that the Austen fandom has a great deal of quality stories in it. You just have to find them.

If you are looking for a good story, you should definitely check out the Jane Austen Fanfiction Index. Login information for the site can be found at every major Austen fic site on the web. (Look at the author sites from my recent and not-so-recent recs and you will be able to track down login info on most of them.) Once you log in, hit the "Fanfiction Therapy" button. You will be presented with a random list of excellent fics, all finished and almost universally well-written. You can also search under specific categories. Looking for a fic wherein Wickham gets his just deserts? There's a whole list of them! How about fics in which Mr. Bingley has more of spine? Or in which Elizabeth learns the truth about Wickham before Darcy's first proposal? There are hundreds of categories to cater to every taste. The site is a veritable treasure trove of links to wonderful stories.

Anyway, on to my last rec:

Fandom: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Pairing: Elizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam Darcy
Length: 5,300 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Jane Greensmith

Why this must be read:

In this excellent, excellent story, Fitzwilliam Darcy has a rare condition known as synesthesia. He sees letters and the written word in color. This affects how he thinks about people and everything around him. He inherited synesthesia from his father, and learned how to conceal it and yet use it from him.

This is a beautifully written story from Darcy's point of view. Colors are used to evoke emotion and understanding in the reader. We follow Darcy's journey in the colors he sees. I cannot explain better; I wish I could. Read it. You will not be disappointed. Highly, highly recommended.

* * *

( Excerpt )

The Color of Love

Fandom: DUE SOUTH
Pairing: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Length: 31,000 words
Author on LJ: secretly_bronte
Author Website: Fic index
Why this must be read: I was all set to dig up some obscure hidden pearl of a fic for my last rec, but then I saw that this fic had actually never been recced on Crack Van, and I had to remedy that. This is a rollercoaster of a fic, and if you're sensitive to angst you might want to give it a pass--specifically, Ray's mom dies in the first part of the fic, and there's a rather grisly undercover case in the latter parts. But it's really well-written angst, and the fic is full of love for Ray Kowalski, or at least it feels that way to me. Also, this fic feels fresh and new--it's quite plotty and does things I'd never seen before, and there are touches of quirkiness and humor in it that just fill me with love.

Dead On Arrival

Like all good tours, this one has come to an end. It's been an absolute blast to point the spotlight at some of the grooviest fics this fandom has to offer. How about we have one last ride before I have to turn the keys of the Bandom van to the next driver? :D?

Fandom: BANDOM (MCR)

Pairing: Frank Iero/Gerard Way, Mikeyway/Alicia, implied past Gerard/Bert

Length: ~29,000 words

Author on LJ: impertinence

Author Website: Author's AO3 Page for anything posted after 2009. Everything else is searcheable via the "fic" tags at Author's LJ.

Why this must be read: MCR did a cover of Dylan's "Desolation Row" for the Watchmen movie soundtrack. They made a video set in the Watchmen 'verse where we got to see rawer, punked-out versions of the band.

"Heaven's Not About Your Reputation" picks up from the end of the video and covers the next four years in the life of MCR. This is an universe in which the Tipper Laws have restricted everything from playing music to junk food. No one under 40 years old is to be trusted. Those who want to rebel usually disappear into the night. The band goes through a lot of ups and downs as they prepare themselves to become part of the revolution that's on the brink of happening.

It's an origin fic for how MCR got together in such an oppressive world. It's Gerard's story as he learns to be the leader he's meant to become. It's Frank and Gerard's story-- about their feelings for each other and what to do while on the run from the law. It's the story of a band learning to be one, about giving it every ounce of sweat and practicing in a basement to an audience of couch pillows. It's Ray and Bob's story too as they bring a stabilizing vibe to chaos in the streets. It's Mikeyway's story in being the guy who knows everyone. Bonus awesome: Alicia--who's badass and smart and knows how rig a sound system.

It's all this and much more. A revelation, a riot and a rally to never forget who we are and who we can be.


( An excerpt )


Heaven's Not About Your Reputation at AO3 and at LJ.


Remember: leaving feedback for a writer whose story you've enjoyed is awesome.

Fandom: STAR TREK: REBOOT
Pairing: McCoy/Chapel
Length: 8,300+ words
Author on LJ: falseeeyelashes
Author Website: n/a
Why this must be read: falseeeyelashes writes fabulous stories across a range of fandoms and pairings and Accidents is no exception. Written as a way to combine a series of fic cliches into one story, falseeeyelashes shows us the evolution of Chapel and McCoy's relationship -- from their first meeting at the Academy, to all the times that are going to come after it. Subtitled "Four Ways This Never Should Have Happened (also known as, four clichés to get you into bed)", and containing excellent characterisations and writing, Accidents is angsty, dramatic, funny, sexy and entertaining from start to finish.

( Excerpt )

Accidents

Fandom: STAR TREK: REBOOT
Pairing: McCoy/Chapel
Length: 3,800+ words
Author on LJ: vega_ofthe_lyre
Author Website: n/a
Why this must be read: Written for a remix challenge, Don't Give A Damn takes a sweet story where Chapel defends McCoy's honour, and twists it into an excellent mirror!verse tale about that time when our!McCoy and mirror!McCoy switched realities. Well written, with wonderfully twisted characterisations and pitch perfect dialogue, this is mirror!verse story telling at its best.

( Excerpt )

Don't Give A Damn ('Bout My Bad Reputation)

Fandom: STAR TREK: REBOOT
Pairing: McCoy/Chapel
Length: 2,700+ words
Author on LJ: silverlining_99
Author Website: n/a
Why this must be read: I could quite happily rec every story of silverlining_99's, so it seems only right that I should end the month the same way I started it.

Untitled is a response to a kink!prompt for McCoy and Chapel to have sex in the middle of an emergency, with the first part of the story showing a "missing scene" from the battle in the movie, and the second part dealing with the aftermath of both the battle and that moment. While sex is obviously a key aspect of the fic, it is the Chapel and McCoy's characterisations, and the emotions and stress behind their reactions to the battle, that will stay with you, after. Beautifully written.

( Excerpt )

Untitled