September 9th, 2012 
12:41 pm Untitled by Mirror and Image - Rated PG
Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: No pairings, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka friendship
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] mirrorandimage
Author Website: Mirror and Image on ff.net
Why this must be read: Ahsoka has learned a lot from Anakin, but one thing she hasn't learned is letting go of her attachments and fears for the people she cares about. It is a concept that is touched on in an early episode of the series, and which is expanded upon in this story. Obi-Wan finds that Anakin isn't just passing on his skills with machines or lightsabers, and feels caught between teaching Ahsoka the proper Jedi way and letting Anakin teach his student on his own - which means making Anakin face his own fear and shortcomings. This story picks up the dynamics of the trio wonderfully, and Obi-Wan's interactions with Ahsoka are lovely; Obi-Wan doesn't want to step on Anakin's toes as a teacher, but does what he can to subtly change Ahsoka's fear. The question of whether Ahsoka can overcome her fear, when Anakin never does, is one this story explores to a beautiful conclusion. Plus add to that the fact it's long and plotty makes it that much better!

Untitled
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01:59 pm What I'm Missing by Sariah Loire (PG)
Fandom: SKIP BEAT!
Pairing: Kyoko/Ren
Length: 41 chapters, 123,893 words
Author on LJ: none that I know of
Author Website: FF.net profile page
Why this must be read: Here's an enjoyable epic that handles the Kyoko/Ren romance slowly and well while they continue to be more and more successful in the biz. I liked the author's plot twists and characterizations, though her Julie did seem a bit much at times. This long fic is definitely worth a read! [Splits from canon after the Valentine's Day fiasco]

What I'm Missing
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03:08 pm Virus by not dragon (Rated K+)
Fandom: THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E
Pairing: none
Length: approx 22,400 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/267825/not-dragon
Why this must be read:

This is this author's first work of MFU fanfiction and it's a rousing adventure tale. It starts out simply enough: Illya has survived a typical encounter with a Thrush baddie during which he was slashed. But it takes him 3 days to wake up from what is not a life-threatening injury. Why?

The circumstances of how he was found are odd to say the least. And why are several members of the ancient Drakoci family (yes, THAT Drakoci family) so willing to help U.N.C.L.E. in solving (or rather resolving) this mystery?

You may have encountered similar elements in stories before, but not put together quite like this. The tale is definitely an intriguing read that balances action and real espionage work with a touch of the supernatural.

Virus
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10:31 pm This Doesn't Look That Much Different From Home by theskywasblue (PG-13)
Fandom: INCEPTION
Pairing: Arthur/Eames (mostly implied)
Length: 1472 words
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] theskywasblue
Author Website: theskywasblue's stories on AO3
Why this must be read: I find the concept of Limbo fascinating. It's at once somewhere that seems to offer limitless possibilities and yet it's a prison of sorts. A place where trapped dreamers go to play amongst the debris of other people's broken dreams. The story offers no explanation for how Arthur and Eames end up in Limbo, nor is it a story about being rescued from there. What it is, though, is a beautiful rendering of Limbo itself - the attraction it holds, the wondrous things it can provide, and the dark undercurrent of madness that is the inevitable result of too much time there.

This is one of those short pieces that hasn't received the attention it deserves. The writing is beautifully lyrical, and manages to capture the almost surreal nature of Limbo. There are layers of metaphor here, and it's a perfect choice for describing somewhere that isn't exactly a real place, and yet is more than a subconscious thought. I fell in love with the language of this piece, the poetry of it, and when I think of the boys in Limbo, it's this version I most often imagine.

It’s almost like a post-apocalyptic Rockwell painting. )

This Doesn't Look That Much Different From Home

If you enjoy the story, remember to feedback the author!
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11:12 pm The Boston Job by cmonkatiekatie (PG-13)
Fandom: INCEPTION
Pairing: Arthur/Eames; Ariadne/Yusuf (mostly implied)
Length: 6400 words
Author on LJ: [livejournal.com profile] cmonkatiekatie
Author Website: cmonkatiekatie's stories on AO3; cmonkatiekatie's fic tag on LJ
Why this must be read: Arthur and Eames are working the same job together with Yusuf and Ariadne, but their schedules on the job are running counter to one another. When Eames is coming in to grab sleep, Arthur is heading out. Pretty soon it's apparent to everyone that it's the distinct lack of Eames that's been putting Arthur on edge.

This story's all about the peculiar connection between Arthur and Eames. They don't seem like friends, they spend a lot of time insulting and one-upping each other, but when it comes right down to it, they need one another. They miss one another, and insult by Post-it note just isn't the same. It's a lovely story about realizing how important someone else can be, and it isn't even about attraction. I love this look at Arthur and Eames here; both oddly vulnerable, and yet, still very much themselves.

Ariadne looks at the ceiling contemplatively. 'Oh. Oh my god. It's Eames.' )

On LJ: The Boston Job
On AO3: The Boston Job

If you enjoy the story, remember to feedback the author!
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