Fandom: STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE
Pairing: Qui-Gon Jinn/Obi-Wan Kenobi
Length: Essay
Author on LJ: randomalia
Author Website: NA
Why this must be read: This is a love story within an essay;
beautiful and subtle, it captures the essence of the Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
relationship and why they remain an enduring OTP. A must read for any Q/O fan.


It begins with trust. The trust between a Jedi Master and their
apprentice must be absolute, undying, unbreakable. It is the foundation of a
hard life, one dedicated to service and peace. They must be able to rely on
one another for anything, for everything. It ends with love, held deep and
secret in an Order that forbids it.


I Have a Good
Feeling About This

Hello! I'm Helen,hsv_fangirl driving the van once again for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.
I have a variety of recs planned for February featuring our favorite Jedi lovers.

On to the first rec!


Fandom: STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE
Pairing: Qui-Gon Jinn/Obi-Wan Kenobi
Length: Word count: 993
Author on LJ: sydian
Author Website: NA
Why this must be read: Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan find comfort in
each other in the aftermath of Episode III. This an AU in which
Qui-Gon lived to train Anakin. Beautifully written emotional
hurt/comfort.


Qui-Gon never asks about him.

Once, on Senator Organa's ship, when the horror is still fresh on your mind
(Anakin, lying on the ground, burning with hatred, limbs severed; burning)
there's a pained look in his eyes as though he wants to ask but is afraid to
know. You look away from him then and focus on your breathing until the
memory - anakin burning burning I hate you burning - fades.

Qui-Gon never looks that way at you again.



Like Rain
in the Desert

Vidder: Thomas (Xeth) Pencz
Musical Artist: Unknown
Pairing: Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder Website: YouTube Channel
Why you must see this vid:

First off, this is musically rather odd, because the emphasis in the rec is on the animation, rather than on lyrics or beat. The background plays music suited to special effects, or perhaps a demonstration of special effects that vidders use, such as spiral-in and fade-out. But the animation tracks the Duel of the Fates, matching expressions of the actors in a unique perspective and body design in animated form. Sort of ... surreal? Anyway, commenter Abriggs500 suggests, if you want to try a different viewing: "Just mute [] and open up a new tab on youtube. Search "Duel of the Fates." Then play both vids at the same time." It works!

Darth Maul vs. Qui-Gon featuring Obi-Wan

'Bye for now. I've had fun reccing and hope you consider driving the van. It has GPS and heated front seats that vibrate.

Fandom: STAR WARS
Characters: Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Anakin
Length: 1117 words
Author on LJ: ima_pseudonym
Author Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read:

As a last fic rec of the month *and because rain for five days looms on the horizon*, this story suits because the two seminal Master-Padawan relationships in the prequels get a look-see: Qui-Gon-Obi-Wan, and Obi-Wan-Anakin. The subtle differences emerge on a stormy night; this was written to a very interesting quote.

A Quiet Conscience Sleeps In Thunder

Goodbye for now. I hope you enjoyed the recs and can take a turn at the wheel - it's fun!

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Anakin/Obi-Wan
Length: about 15000 words total
Author on LJ: monchy_fics
Author Website: Masterlist
Why this must be read:

What a time I had selecting just one of her works, because there is so much to monchy's stories. Light, fun and inventive ones alternate with poignant tales that will knock your socks off. In this story, the socks and everything else comes off, because it is a very hot second-person POV series of the ultimate attraction of Anakin for Obi-Wan, and vice versa. Please read all the series, and go on to the rest of her works, and experience the monchy. Feedback is always nice, too!

The Red Button
Irritating
Heat

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
Length: Drabble
Author on LJ: jessicaqueen
Author Website: Masterlist
Why this must be read:

This is a savory on the palate, a burst of flavor in the Thanksgiving meal: Qui-Gon gives Obi-Wan what he asks for, and Obi-Wan is grateful.

For Each Strike Of His Blade

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Anakin and Obi-Wan
Length: 2379 words
Author on LJ: littlewings04
Author Website: Profile
Why this must be read:

It's a dark day, loaded with rain and undercurrents of approaching storms. This story satisfies on such a day. Warnings for non-con. EAD 011014: Freedom of Speech DOT net has been replaced by Ghosts of the Vanguard; if you know of any other place to find this story, I will fix the link if you contact me before crack-van's closure.

Saints and Cigarettes

Title: A Force To Be Reckoned With
Characters: Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, Donna Noble, Tenth Doctor
Length: 6074 words
Author on LJ: hobbit_eyes
Why this must be read:

Today is Crossover Day, and two mighty vans collide in a heated Destruction Derby: Star Wars and Doctor Who. It's the Tenth Doctor, who, along with Donna Noble, lands in a Predicament, which is worse than a Fix, but not as bad as a Disaster. This author writes Anakin as young and earnest. Donna deals. The various personalities are perfectly in tune, and the action-filled plot delights. Go ahead, read it!

A Force To Be Reckoned With

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan
Length: 3494 words
Author on LJ: archaeologist_d
Author Website: Masterlist and FFN Profile
Why this must be read:

Because this author wrote one Star Wars story for nine years, completing it last year. Because this story indicates the techniques that a long-time author explores, writing drabbles and ficlets and even epics through the years, each story illuminating a different facet of characterization or plot. This story is a PWP, written to a first line prompt: "I can explain."

On a personal note, this author is about the first whose stories I read upon discovering the wonderful world of online fanfiction in 05.  Way to go, D!

I Can Explain

Fandom: STAR WARS
Characters: Anakin and Obi-Wan
Length: 3441 words
Author on LJ: There doesn't seem to be one.
Author Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read:

This is a sweet story of Obi-Wan bending like the wind-swept grasses of his homeworld as he lets Anakin into his innermost thoughts. It doesn't happen often. Anakin is appreciative.

Skipping Stones

Fandom: STAR WARS
Characters: Clones, lots of 'em
Length: 7619 words
Author on LJ: spikala
Author Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read:

When a profile states that an author 'has a weakness for clones, Kaminoans, and Mandalorians,' I am right there. Since another episode of The Clone Wars airs tomorrow, hop on board the van to solve a mystery and romp with Fives, Echo, Captain Rex and others.

The Phase II Saga

Fandom: STAR WARS
Characters: Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, many Jude Watson creations
Length: About 11000 words
Author on LJ: There does not seem to be one.
Author Website: C Author Listing
Why this must be read:

This story contains many of Jude Watson's characters in a Temple story of intrigue and blackmail: Tahl, Xanatos, Bruck Chun, Reeft, Garen Muln and an adorable Bant. The story allows the reader unfamiliar with Watson's EU tales to figure out all the characters pretty swiftly. The action plumbs the depths of the archaic Temple so very well, and the Wodehouse-ian style of writing made me giggle as Qui-Gon strives to explain his actions to Yoda from a safe distance away in hyperspace. He succeeds, I think.

The Book of Sins

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Anakin/Obi-Wan
Length: ~3k words
Author on LJ: spartan_117
Author Website: Some stories I enjoyed: Nothing But You, A Lesson In Control, Anakin's Revenge, and One Step Closer. Others are here on ewan_hayden's archive. Also, more links here.
Why this must be read:

Because there is a genre 'angsty sexy fluff' and this author writes it well, with not only Obi-Wan and Anakin, but Quinlan, too. It's Rest Day and time for a light, romantic read: Obi-Wan takes control, dumbfounding Anakin. Also, this is a hangover!story, and it is Sunday morning, well-known for hangovers.

Surprises

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: No pairings, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka friendship
Author on LJ: 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

Hi everyone! I'm patientalien, and I'll be driving the van for the Star Wars fandom this month! This month, you'll get a variety of Clone Wars-era stories, most of which focus on Anakin's relationships with the people around him - because those relationships, in the end, really are his downfall.

That being said, here is the first stop!

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Anakin and Obi-Wan friendship
Author on LJ: I don't think she has one
Author Website: Ruth Baulding on ff.net
Why this must be read: Anakin and Obi-Wan's relationship during the Clone Wars is both tender and adversarial, and Ruth Baulding manages to capture the ebbs and flows of the friendship with pitch-perfect accuracy. In this story, Obi-Wan's exasperation with Anakin's pride and recklessness and Anakin's frustration with always being one step behind Obi-Wan congeal into a hilarious and touching portrait, the highlights of which include not only a biting commentary on Anakin's fashion sense, but also Obi-Wan in a kilt.

I had a hard time picking just one of the author's fics for this, so please make sure you go to her ff.net profile page and check out the rest!


Fashionably Late

Vidder: 1jonde1
Musical Artist: Lifehouse
Pairing: Obi-Wan/Satine
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder Website: 1jonde1 channel
Why you must see this vid:

It's complicated - tired of trying - it is what it is are bittersweet lyrics for the romance that was and is no more. Such was the Clone Wars animated show's depiction of a romance for Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, and such is the mood of the piece, in washed-out tones. All the looks between the two characters, loaded with memory, speak for themselves.

With the upcoming final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars program, this vid shows the level of animation that we have enjoyed for four years now.

And so, the keys to the van go back on top of the refrigerator. I hope someone has as good a time as I have had on this comm! Bye.

It Is What It Is

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Q/O
Length: about 2000 words
Author on LJ: temve
Author Website: Personal website
Why this must be read:

As a final fic offering, here is a bouncy, eager Obi-Wan, Padawan to a gorgeous Master, and young enough to enjoin some talented help in pursuing the man of his dreams. Dream on, Obi-Wan, because the person you've enlisted to help may have designs on you, too.

Read Me A Jedi

Fandom: STAR WARS
Characters: Hondo Ohnaka, OCs, Obi-Wan, Anakin
Length: ~37000 words
Author on LJ: laloga
Author Website: Profile with stories
Why this must be read:

Because it is a whopper of a plot, laced with engaging OCs in the form of a Jedi General and her squad of hyper-efficient clones. Moment not to be missed: when Hondo sees what a clone looks like underneath his helmet. Then another clone. Then another. Well-plotted and exciting, a real find.

Warriors of Shadow

Fandom: STAR WARS
Characters: Obi-Wan, Ahsoka
Length: 2537 words
Author on LJ: There doesn't seem to be one.
Author Website: Profile with stories
Why this must be read:

This story brings a moment of quiet to two warriors, each burdened with the cost of war upon their souls. As they meet and immerse themselves in contemplation and simple camaraderie, the war fades and they rest. A compelling story, one which whets the appetite for the upcoming fifth, final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars beginning next month.

The Way of Tea

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Anakin/Padmé
Length: ~500 words
Author on LJ: butterfly
Author Website: Personal site
Why this must be read:

Diana Michelle writes the most exquisitely right characterizations for Star Wars, whether Prequel Trilogy or Original Trilogy. This story details Padmé's emotions and thoughts as she awakens the day after her wedding, clear-eyed, in love, and thinking about the future and the immediate past. Asleep, Anakin is as beautiful a man as can be, and despite the hints of future problems, on this day she isn't listening.

Lesser Worlds

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Anakin/Obi-Wan
Length: 1830 words
Authors on LJ: imadra_blue and rabidfangurl
Authors Website: Imadra_blue Fics on LJ and archived work. Rabidfangurl archived work and Fics on LJ.
Why this must be read:

crack_van encourages references to well-used themes in a fandom, and the theme of 'Padawans must wait until Knighthood until beginning relationships with their Masters' is common both to the Qui/Obi branch of Star Wars slash as well as to the Ani/Obi bough. 'Pure Torture' is an especially apt title for such a story. These authors also weave in Anakin's mechanical genius and Obi-Wan's lack of such. A light-hearted piece with pepperings of angst, it's a fun read.

Pure Torture

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Anakin/Obi-Wan
Length: Oh, about 6 inches 1116 words
Author on LJ: rebelsaint
Author Website: Tags page
Why this must be read:

Because it's a personal favorite setting: tent!sex. The author does it justice. Sweet and hot and angsty, this story moves The Team into most pleasing placement, they jockey for position, and they both win first place.

Too Much

EAD: Whoops! My stint is the last one signed up for, so there's no September driver for the van. I hope someone grabs the keys and takes the van for a spin. It has off-road capability, spinner wheels and a cherry-red paint job.

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairings: Ferus Olin/Anakin Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker/Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker/Padmé Amidala
Length: 16953 words
Author on LJ: patientalien
Author Website: FFN Profile
Why this must be read:

In the Alternate Reality stories, only a sure hand keeps characterizations true, no matter the choice of setting. This author takes the reality of an ad agency on Earth, places recognizable forms of beloved Star Wars characters in their proper places, and the drama unfolds. She has the Force with her, because not only is the tone consistent in each chapter, but an additional entry fleshes out the marriage that we glimpse in the main stories. For those unfamiliar with the EU characters Ferus Olin and Siri Tachi, let's say that you will be old friends by the end of this tale.

Suits

Good morning, my name is pronker and I'm rarin' to drive the van. To start with, when is the last time you discovered a new fanfic archive? It's sort of new to the internet, over on fanfictionDOTnet, and it is loaded with stories revolving around the characters and situations of Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV program, including those characters specific to the show, such as Cad Bane. And on that archive is a community, From The Top Shelf, devoted to selecting fine stories on the archive. So, here we go, revving away with

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairings: Hondo Ohnaka/Aurra Sing
Length: 983 words
Author on LJ: x_x_igorina_x_x
Author Website: Profile
Why this must be read:

This is delightfully written, with a punchy plot and an eye to characterization, the niche of 'scoundrel' being difficult to write, I should imagine. You would not want to make them too mean, and lose sympathy, or too nice, and lose interest. This story uses the most un-scoundrelly Star Wars character, Obi-Wan Kenobi, in the semi-official role of marrying man. Read it, and start off the month right.

Mr and Mrs

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Gen – Yoda
Length: ~653 words
Author on LJ: not on LJ as far as I know
Author Website: fanfiction.net profile
Why this must be read:

Author's Summary: People fight best for people, not ideologies. 'Let my people go' is much more motivated than 'Liberty'. Certain Jedi Masters would do well to realize that - if they can.

One of the many details which the Star Wars movies leave to our imaginations is the origin of Jedi Master Yoda. This short fic presents one interesting possibility for Yoda's past which serves to explain the dysfunctional state of the Jedi Order during the prequel era.

Harmony

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Gen – Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Length: 687 words
Author on LJ: fialleril
Author Website: fanfiction.net profile
Why this must be read:

This story deals with what is possibly the darkest moment in the Star Wars films: the moment in which Anakin murders the Jedi children. As he stands outside the Council Chambers before entering, he has a flashback to his one of his worst experiences in the war. The author is a master of writing PTSD!Anakin, and in reading this fic it becomes clear exactly how the war and the Jedi philosophy of non-attachment brought the naturally compassionate Anakin, once known as “the kindest boy in the galaxy,” to the point where he can detach himself from his emotions sufficiently to kill children. It's actually somewhat disturbing how easy it is to understand Anakin's mindset in this moment - but it goes to show that when put through horrific circumstances like war, anyone can turn into a monster.

Psalm 137

Since I'm so horrendously late in getting started, I'll skip the introduction and just get straight to the fic.

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Gen – Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, Jar Jar Binks, mentions of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader and Padmé Amidala
Length: first story ~4224 words and second story ~1721 words
Author on LJ: fernwithy
Author Website: http://humongousbighead.homestead.com/
Why this must be read:

The morning after the end of RotJ, Leia is trying not to deal with the knowledge that Darth Vader was her father, when suddenly Jar Jar Binks shows up on Endor. He's there to pay his respects to Anakin's remains – and to tell a story to Anakin's children. It's not unusual to see stories in which Luke and Leia meet people who knew their parents, or for such meetings to help them come to terms with their heritage, but “Old Friends, Long Gone” and its sequel are the only ones I've seen in which the twins encounter Jar Jar. In fact, I don't know whether it's because of his (undeserved, imo) unpopularity or because he's difficult to write, but these are almost the only fics I've seen featuring Jar Jar at all. They're worth reading for that reason alone, but all the more so because FernWithy is such an excellent writer (though, to give fair warning, the first fic was written before AotC and RotS came out, so a few of the details are wrong). And no, Leia doesn't actually come to terms with her heritage after hearing one story about Vader's past – that would be unrealistic – but it's a start.

In the sequel “Learning To Fly,” Luke and Leia are on Coruscant rebuilding the Jedi Temple when Jar Jar comes to see them again. There's an interesting dynamic in that after their last meeting, Leia considers Jar Jar an Imperial sympathizer and doesn't entirely trust him. Jar Jar thinks they shouldn't reject everything that came from the Empire out of hand just because it came from the Empire, and illustrates this by telling them a story about Padmé just after the Battle of Naboo. As a Jar Jar fan, I love these two stories for portraying Jar Jar in a non-trivializing manner, but all of the other characters, in both the framing and interior stories, are treated with equal thoughtfulness and insight.

Old Friends, Long Gone
Learning To Fly

Fandom: STAR WARS
Pairing: Anakin/Padmé
Length: 988 words
Author on LJ: luminations
Author Website: Just her LJ, I think.
Why this must be read:

Because it's a poignant look at the anxieties of a wife in wartime, and the stress fractures in a doomed relationship. It's not a fluffy read, but it's a must for fans of A/P angst.

Flicker