Sorry for the late start!

Fandom: SPOOKS (MI-5)
Pairing: Tom Quinn / Christine Dale
Length: One-shot
Author on LJ: Not that I know of
Author Website: None that I know of
Why this must be read:

Tom Quinn’s departure was a huge moment in Spooks, the culmination of over two years’ worth of the question the show never stopped asking: What does spying do to spies? Tom Quinn found out, the hard way.

This story shows Tom on the outside, looking back in at the dark and seedy underbelly of the world of intelligence, thanks to none other than Jools Siviter of MI-6.

This story captures the mood and themes of the early series. Corrina’s writing really evokes a sense of unreality and nicely portrays Tom’s sense of dislocation at being drawn back into the shades of gray. Of the world of spies and the world of the innocent, which is the real, and where are the lies?

"You know, you told me once that you didn't do ambiguity. I knew then that you'd never be the sort of spook Harry wanted you to be. But I was sorry to see you go nonetheless.”

A Wilderness of Mirrors

Still okay in the back, there? Not travel sick? We’re not going very far today – we’re still in London and we’re just heading down towards the river. Although I’m still in Jubilee mode the river is now clear and back to its normal self, and here are Bodie and Doyle messing about in boats.

Not Even Good-bye

Fandom: The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: None - Gen
Length: 4800 words
Author: Avery11
Author on LJ: avery11
Why this must be read:

This is a pre-series tale that begins when Illya has graduated from Cambridge.  There are KGB and lost loves, intrigue and new beginnings.  The story is tightly written in the elegant style to which we are accustomed when reading Avery's work.  

A Taste:

belantana

This short, tightly-written story tackles four different storylines from series three: Zoe’s final, ill-fated undercover operation, Zoe and Danny’s assassination mission on the ferry, Zoe’s troubled relationship with Will North, and Danny’s unrequited feelings for Zoe. Belantana weaves the disparate plotlines into a dense, layered story. The rich imagery and complex themes strongly evoke the claustrophobic inevitability of Zoe’s downfall. There's not a word wasted in here, and some of the turns of phrase will take your breath away.


Excerpt:

She'd already given away the shoes she'd bought for the wedding. Now she took down the photograph on the fridge, the two of them being obnoxiously happy at the beach or somewhere. But the empty space on the fridge caught her eye more often than the photograph had. She put a bill there. It was a quote for the catering. She took it down and put up the surveillance photographs of Ozal and Celenk.

Do you MI5 take Zoe Reynolds to be your lawful wedded wife, she thought, and then she poured herself another shot of vodka.

Cleaving the Bone