Title: Unfinished Business by sambethe
Pairing: Remus Lupin/Sirius Black
Author on LJ: sambethe
Author Website: her fic list
Why this must be read: I'm a big fan of the rs_smallgifts challenge, because it produces some great short fics with very little pressure. And this one's a gem that a lot of people don't catch because the fandoms don't often meet.

The premise is simple: during the first war, Lily and Alice make a mistake (advantages of working in a magical universe) and accidentally pull Felix Gaeta from New Caprica to their universe. What follows is a lovely tale of friendship forming between Gaeta and Sirius Black. It's a friends pairing that works extremely well, and it's actually kind of entertaining to see Gaeta be the older, more life-experienced character for a change. It's subtle, beautiful, and uplifting, and well worth reading.

Unfinished Business

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (NEW)
Pairing: Gaeta/Eight, with implied Caprica/Baltar, Gaeta/Hoshi, and possible Gaeta/Baltar
Length: 40,000 words
Author on LJ: kappamaki33
Author Website: Fic list
Why this must be read:

The "Face of the Enemy" webisodes were most definitely crucial viewing, giving Gaeta some motivation and some transition for his actions in Season 4.5. However, as much as I liked the webisodes, the Eight frustrated me. She was a bit Bond-villain-ish, kind of flat and confusing in her conflicting actions.

Not anymore! HAHA!

Mathematics is a story that takes the little bit of backstory that we were given in the webisodes and fleshes it out into vivid color. kappamaki33 captures the harried, anguished days of New Caprica perfectly, with some events we saw in canon and others that we didn't but easily could have happened. And she doesn't just do it from Gaeta's point of view, but the Eight's as well.

It's the Eight that really intrigues me here, although Gaeta is written pitch-perfect. (kappamaki33's other Gaeta fics are well worth checking out as well, by the way.) But the Eight is complicated and conflicted, not overly thrilled with her assignment but determined to do it well. And kappamaki33 doesn't make their relationship love, nor does she simplify it to hate. The Eight has... well, she definitely has feelings for Gaeta, but they're complicated and messy and they aren't anything that's easily categorized, and the same applies to his feelings for her.

But even beyond the relationship between Gaeta and the Eight, this fic is fascinating for the other relationships that are in it- Gaeta and the humans, the Eight and the Cylons. Their relationship sort of serves as an intersection for the two worlds to meet, and it's a fantastic read.

Mathematics master post, link to all ten parts

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (NEW)
Characters: Tom Zarek, Meier, gen
Length: 1,500 words
Author on LJ: brennanspeaks
Author's website: here
Why this must be read: My second favorite character in the entire franchise is Tom Zarek, precisely because he is such a complicated, interesting character. brennanspeaks captures everything I adore about this character (not all of it admirable) perfectly in this quick little fic about the aftermath of the Bastille Day episode. This is a Zarek that isn't so invested in personal power (I never agreed with RDM about that), but has a bright, shining vision of the future and will do anything... anything... to accomplish that vision. And brennanspeaks doesn't hold back on that part, either. She captures the concerned, ruthless visionary that makes me adore this character, and this little fic feels extremely canon to me. I know she's had other fics that she's put far more effort into (and are totally worth reading!), but this one sticks so hard with me I just had to rec it.


So This Is Freedom

Hey there :) I'm Lissa, and I'm getting my first set of wings and flying the Raptor this month. I'm a big fan of fic for the second-tier characters, so most of my recs have their actors credited after the main credits are done.

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: mention of Tory/Baltar, but it's really Tory gen
Length: ~5000
Author on LJ: frolicndetour
Author Website:
Why this must be read: Tory is far from my favorite character, but unfortunately, she really got the one dimensional treatment in the show. I don't mind her being a villain, but I do mind her being simplistic and boring. Fortunately, there's this fic. This fic takes what we've been given of Tory and fleshes her out, taking the Tory we met pre-Crossroads (you know, the one that actually stood a chance of being interesting), and extending her story into Season 4 and everything with Cally. I don't remotely like Tory any better after reading this fic, but I understand her and I feel like she actually got a story from it. frolicndetour really does a great job of getting that cold, practical feeling of Tory down without turning her into a drooling evil monster, and I could believe that this was really what was going on in Tory's head.

Light at the End

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: Zarek/Roslin, slight A/R undertones
Length: 1,279 words
Author on lj: swooning4a_r 
Author Website: Her fic archive. 
Why this must be read: Zarek/Roslin is one of those twisted little "guilty pleasure" ships. This well-written and in-character piece examines Tom's feelings on his relationship with Laura and his position in her government. Even if this ship isn't your cup of tea, I would give it a try. It made me a shipper. 

Excerpt:

They worked well together.

He did everything she told him to do, and although he didn’t always do so without complaint, they both knew what the ultimate outcome would be once she gave an order. She knew he didn’t want to be booted out an airlock. He knew she and Adama were perfectly willing to flush him away if they deemed it in the best interest of the fleet; in fact, he knew that the only reason he’d avoided that treatment was Laura’s interest in keeping him on. To work for her. Her second-in-command, in title at least.

Strange, how he was as good as invisible once he’d accepted her terms and she had resumed the top office. He did her work invisibly, which was often useful to her, so at least he was being of use. A cog in the machine, which was the last role he would have ever envisioned for himself… sometimes it sickened him to realize he was good at it.

They Work Well Together


 

Vidder: Tara
Musical artist: My Medea by Vienna Teng
Pairing: character study about Kara, destiny, motherhood. Includes Kara/Leoben content as portrayed in early season three (one-sided and sinister)
Vidder on LJ: taragel
Vidder's website: vid tag
Why this vid kicks ass: Okay, I'm biased. I loved this song before Tara made a vid to it. Plus it's about Kara (my favorite!) and her many layers: wounded daughter, vulnerable but strong woman, to reluctant mother and going beyond that into whatever her destiny means. It also packs quite a punch for a video that focuses so closely on just season three.

My Medea

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: none (gen); includes Caprica Six, Helo, Hera, others
Length: just under 1200
Author on LJ: aprilleigh24
Author Website: none found
Why this must be read: Another episode insert fic, because I love them so. This fits in during the season four mutiny. I haven't seen many stories dealing with head!Baltar and Caprica; awesome brief interactions here. Hera is appropriately spooky/sweet, too.

Strength to Spare

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: none; Tom Zarek and Hera Agathon
Length: 2800 words
Author on LJ: lls_mutant
Author Website: here
Why this must be read: I am in a mood today, so no tragedy or drama allowed. This makes for a somewhat limited selection in BSG fandom, but I found just the right story. Tom Zarek gets stuck babysitting Hera.

Do I need to say anything else to make you read it? Yes? How about: it's hilarious and lls_mutant has just the right voice for a child Hera's age.

Raptor Rides

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: Anastasia Dualla/Lee Adama
Length: under 3000
Author on LJ: jd_lit
Author Website: on ff.net or see her livejournal
Why this must be read: Good fic about Dee in which she's not the evil interloper is hard to find--even harder to find at fanfiction.net. This is a graceful and poignant Dee POV story, starting before her marriage and continuing through mid-season four. There are a few minor punctuation and phrasing problems, but this is definitely worth the read if you've been wanting to read some sympathetic, realistic fic about this marriage.

We Are Objects in Motion

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: gen, though there's hints of Felix/Eight, Felix/Louis, Dee/Billy and Boomer/Cavil
Length: three mid-sized parts
Author on LJ: falafel_musings
Author Website: her LJ has a sidebar with fic listings (bsg fic tag)
Why this must be read: Three minor characters (Dee, Felix and Boomer) are each given a moment to explain their actions while in conversations with the dead. What a fitting way for this to happen for a show that has canon head!characters. It's tightly-written and painful.

Where Bullets Can No Longer Wound Us

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: Kara/Sam (references to Kara/Lee)
Length: about 1200 words
Author on LJ: prolix_alllie
Author Website: fic list
Why this must be read: I enjoy episode insert fic quite a bit; this story fits in just after the events in 'Rapture' (mid-season three). prolix_allie has had at least one other story recced here, with good reason. Her characterization is so well-done, and Kara's not an easy character to portray. I was a big fan of Sam Anders in his relationship with Kara, and this captures why, without disregarding the importance of Kara's connection to Lee.

Momentary Weakness

Title: This Is What Will Be
Pairing: none; Two and a Jedi
Author on LJ: inlovewithnight
Author Website: Exaggeration and Blank Verse
Why this must be read: I was fascinated the first time I read this story. What was Two doing? That question gets answered in a chilling moment at the end. Brilliant.

This Is What Will Be

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: Starbuck/Chief friendship; mostly gen, with some references to Boomer/Tyrol
Length: 1100 words
Author on LJ: trovia
Author Website: found a bsg fic tag
Why this must be read: Kara Thrace and Galen Tyrol friendship fic? Yeah... it's unusual. I liked the writer's idea on how this friendship could have started. Plus the story is just cute, with Kara helping advance the budding Boomer/Tyrol romance. (Set before season one.)

How The Viper Jock Met The Choirboy (And It Didn't End In Tears)

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: Athena/Helo
Length: about 1600
Author on LJ: apparently doesn't have an LJ? kaynara
Author Website: on ff.net
Why this must be read: This is both sweet and disturbing; an unapologetic look at Sharon Agathon and how she perceives the other women who wear her face. It's also a fantastic exploration of her ties to Karl and Hera, her roles as partner and mother. Not a perfect story--I had a little trouble with the flashback being written in the same tense as the rest of the story--but interesting and worth reading.

There Are Many Copies

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing:none; Margaret Edmondson and Laura Roslin
Length: about 2500
Author on LJ: larsfarm77
Author Website: on LJ
Why this must be read: I loved the original story (The Small Moments, by runawaynun) and this extension of it works so well. Racetrack remembers her interactions with President Roslin, and those experiences range from tragic to tender. It goes past the endpoint of the first story (written in 2007) and uses information from the series finale to create a bittersweet yet hopeful ending for a secondary character who is often overlooked.

The Small Moments II

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: Kara/Lee (Kara/Zak)
Length: five chapters on livejournal
Author on LJ: flowrs4ophelia
Author Website: author uses tags; here's the bsg tag
Why this must be read: AU stories aren't something I seek out, but as this particular story proves, my attention can be held if the writing is done well. The point where it diverges from canon is that there is no cylon attack on the Colonial homeworlds. That changes a lot of things, naturally, but the basics of repressed pilots trying not to be in love with each other are still there.

I love this writer's prose. It's gorgeous. I'm also a fan of her dialogue--sure, there's banter, but there's also hurt and avoidance and anger. It's all done very well.

Aerilon Girls Are Easy (link goes to final chapter, which has links for all previous chapters)

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: none; Laura Roslin, Gaius Baltar, Caprica Six, Tory Foster, Ellen Tigh
Length: under 4000 words
Author on LJ: selenak
Author Website: list of fanfic
Why this must be read: Laura Roslin is a formidable person, with a distinct voice. Selena does justice to the character and to the others as well. (Note: this story does have connections to the plot point about Caprica Six and pregnancy.) I particularly liked Roslin's conversation with Tory Foster; Tory is given real motivations rather than just being penciled in as the stereotypical villain.

The Quality of Mercy

Back for another turn!

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: none; characters include Cavil (One), Simon (Four) and Doral (Five)
Length: around 2500
Author on LJ: grey_sw
Author Website: here
Why this must be read: I never thought I'd enjoy a story about the "bad" cylons trying to survive, after all that happened in BSG's fourth and final season. This is written with such humor that I found myself won over by the whole idea and sort of wishing for a few of those Ones, Fours and Fives to make it... and replace their gelatinous orbs and get gun arms, too!

All About Mathematics

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: Adama/Roslin, others
Length: 5,000 words
Author on LJ: aprilleigh24 
Author Website: At her LJ
Why this must be read: Sometimes dark fic is what you need. Something deeply angsty, but not over the top. Angst with beautiful writing and accurate characterization. This is one of those stories. It presents four different alternate universes in the future, all of them grim, but realistic.

( William Adama was no stranger to guilt. )

One Truth, Four Outcomes

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: Adama/Roslin
Length: 2300 words
Author on LJ:leiascully 
Author Website: BSG fic tag
Why this must be read: I absolutely knew that I wanted to rec something by leiascully, because she's one of my all-time favorite fic writers, but I had a difficult time choosing one story by her. She does everything well--humor, smut, angst, fluff. She writes a variety of pairings: Adama/Roslin, Kara/Sam, Chief/Tory and all manner of femslash. How to choose among such a wealth of goodness?

After tearing my hair out for a few days, I chose this story. Why? Because, first of all, one of the elements I loved best in BSG was Adama reading aloud to Roslin. There was something so intimate and beautiful about his reading to her comfort her during chemotherapy. In this story, Bill reads The French Lieutenant's Woman to Laura and, well, things go on from there... But this story is about much more than raw smut. It's about committment, the meeting of two lively minds, and the enduring nature love. The characterization is brilliant and the banter is right on.

( He could forget she was sick, times like these, when she was giggling on his chest, only her bare head a reminder. )

The Caprican Admiral's Woman

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: Helo/Athena
Length: 1388 words
Author on LJ: ninamazing
Author Website: planetbarcelona 
Why this must be read: For some reason, Helo/Athena seems to be a pairing that isn't seen nearly enough in BSG fic. I have no idea why, when their relationship is so rife with possibilities. This beautiful story explores what it means to be human and what it means to be Cylon. The writing is spare and every word is carefully placed, like diamonds set in a beautiful ring.

Please note that the story is set just after the Pegasus arc and it may be a little triggering for some, although nothing is graphic.

( Dreams were another thing humans claimed. )

Do Cylons Dream of Electric Helos?

Hey, everyone! I'm Dasha and I'm here to wildly drive the van through BSG country. My favorite pairing is Adama/Roslin, so we'll probably see a lot of recs in that vein, but expect a few surprises, too. Please fasten your seatbelt and I hope you don't mind if I play the stereo really, really loud. Right now I'm really into the Ting Tings, so let's blast "Shut Up and Let Me Go" and take off!

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Pairing: Adama/Roslin
Length: Seven-part series
Author on LJ: tjonesy
Author Website: Fanfic tag
Why this must be read: Humor fics don't always get the credit they truly deserve, in my experience. Deep, dark, angsty pieces get praise and kudos and recs galore, but truly hilarious stuff is sometimes overlooked. Don't overlook this absolutely funny story.  And don't read while eating or drinking anything that you might choke on. Without spoiling you, let me say that Roslin gets Adama into a situation that becomes more farcical and embarassing by the second. Somehow, in the midst of the rapidly accelerating madness, the characters still manage to stay in character and the laughter keeps on coming. This is a perfect fic if you're in a down mood and need a good, cleansing laugh.

Normally, I'd provide an excerpt here, but I really don't want to give away the premise.  Just go read it!

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (NEW)
Pairing: Lee, some Kara/Lee
Length: medium-length
Author on LJ: elly427
Author Website: some fic listed here
Why this must be read:

A description of this story involves spoilers for the recently-aired finale, so I’ll put it under a cut. ( Description )

Song of the Open Road

Vidder: Nicole Anell
Musical Artist: The White Stripes
Pairing: Cally/Tyrol, Boomer/Tyrol, Tory/Tyrol, Tyrol/Cylons
Vidder's Website: Vids listed here
Why this vid kicks ass:

Cally was, one might say, one of the more controversial characters on BSG (does it count as controversial when everyone hates you? *g*) and it can be difficult to understand her point of view. This vid is one of the most perceptive character studies I've seen. It plays on the Cally/Chief/Boomer/Tory relationship drama (the real quadrangle of doom?) to create a metaphor of Tyrol's Cylon identity as the "other woman" in their marriage. To paraphrase another reviewer, it takes the gendered not-so-sub text of the entire storyline and turns it into a story from Cally's point of view, showing the impact the Cylons have had upon her life and making us feel with her and for her. The clip cutting and editing are also tremendous.

Jolene

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (NEW)
Pairing: Kara/Lee
Length: about 1600 words
Author on LJ: shah_of_blah
Author Website: fic listed here
Why this must be read:

A description of this story involves spoilers for the recently-aired finale, so I’ll put it under a cut. ( Description )

The Disappearing Ground

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (NEW)
Pairing: Kara/Lee
Length: About 3,000 words
Author on LJ: daphnaea
Author Website: most fic listed here
Why this must be read:

My apologies for falling off the wagon last week! I blame post-finale shock. The end of the series left me in the mood for some old-school Kara/Lee fic, and this is about as good as it gets. Set briefly after "Scar," it depicts one brief encounter between the two in which they run the gamut from hatred to passion to unconditional love, as the story loops back upon itself in a circle. It pulls off the difficult trick of being incredibly angsty without crossing the line into melodrama. Pilots at their best.

His eyes caught on the line of her jaw, a small beauty memorized to the point of loathing. He wanted to shake her, to seize the frayed ends of her expression and unravel her back to something he understood. He wanted to be on the other side of the ship, anywhere but stuck in a dead end fight about everything and nothing. He wanted to find a piece of her that lacked a cutting edge.

Under The Shadow

Title: Ain't No Gorram Robot
Pairing: A little Jayne/Kara
Length: 2,200 words
Author on LJ: ana_grrl
Author Website: Check out her memories
Why this must be read:

As the summary says: Jayne Cobb. On the Battlestar Galactica. The contrast is just perfect and perfectly hilarious.

They get off the gorram robot-filled planet, and Helo gets them to some damn big ship. Bigger than Serenity, that's for sure. And the first thing Jayne sees when he steps onto that ship – besides all the people, and the soldiers with guns – is a little bitty girl Cylon that needs to get shot. He does that – shoots her right in the head without thinking twice – and then people are yelling, there's chaos and a prison cell, and some doctor poking and prodding him and taking his blood.

There's another doctor too, one who makes Simon seem relaxed, and rutting River Tam look like the picture of mental health.

People ask him questions. Too many gorram questions.

Ain't No Gorram Robot

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (NEW)
Pairing: Gen, multi-character
Length: 28,182 words
Author on LJ: beccatoria
Author Website: fic listed here
Why this must be read:

I have honestly never read anything quite like this. It goes AU after "The Hub;" Laura Roslin is the final Cylon, Natalie is still alive, and Kara Thrace is the first Cylon/Human hybrid. And that's just the first few paragraphs. This fic is epic in every sense of the word, delving into the history of the canon universe, the Cycle of Time, the fate of Earth, the Hybrids - all the mythology that makes the show itself so rich. It focuses primarily on Laura, Kara, Caprica, and the Cylons, but it's long enough that virtually every character has a role to play and gets his or her due. The characterizations are flawless and the ending is as satisfying as anything we're likely to get. And even though it's long, it's completely riveting; I couldn't put my laptop down. :)

Excerpt:

Laura Roslin died; so much morpha she was barely aware of Bill or the book. Of his son, or of Kara Thrace.

Laura Roslin died, a cold metal ring on her finger, two grieving men, and the harbinger of death at her side.

Laura Roslin woke up in a vat of white goo. She was a little disappointed. She was tired; she'd been ready, she'd felt done. But this was impossible. The hub was gone. This was a morpha-dream. She'd wake up, barely, to Bill and the book and his son and Kara Thrace and they'd start again, this waiting for death.

Thrace was terribly inefficient. She'd mention that, when she woke up, in her broken voice. She'd mention it if she could remember.

That room – the room where she had died (no, she reminded herself, the room where she was dying right now) – that room was a place where her thoughts never made it as far as her lips. Her brain was misfiring on morpha; her thoughts were eating themselves the way her body was eating itself, and this was the first time in days she had entertained an idea that complex.

She wondered if she'd forget it, when she woke up. If she'd forget this dream: the goo was warmer than it had looked in the hybrid's bath. The vat was so much more comfortable than a hospital bed.

Laura Roslin turned her head to the left and saw Natalie, the Six, kneeling. Natalie pressed her long, elegant fingers against Laura's mouth, just for a second, and said, “I'm so sorry, Madam President.”

“What for?” Laura asked. Her voice was high and clear: it was like discovering she could have been a concert soprano. She had forgotten what it was like to speak without effort.

“It's not a dream,” Natalie said. “I'm so sorry.”

The Body is a Myth

Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (NEW)
Pairing: Laura Roslin, Anastasia Dualla (Gen)
Length: 1800 words
Author on LJ: pellucid
Author Website: fic listed here
Why this must be read:

This fic explores the relationship between two characters who've never really interacted in canon, yet their lives and loves have intersected in many ways. But it's mostly a deeply sensitive character study of Dee; the pragmatism and quite self-discipline that mask her strong emotional attachments. The shifting point of view captures the similarities and longing for connection these characters share.

Excerpt:

Dee doesn't hurry as she turns the kettle off, washes out the mug, pours the tea. She wants to do this for the president, wants to do anything she can. She wants the president to know this, but can't imagine how to tell her. I helped you escape from prison, Dee wants to tell her. I helped you steal an election. My marriage was in shambles, but I stayed until he put you on the witness stand like that; that was the final straw. I've loved the same men you've loved. I've always believed in you.

When Dee was still with Lee, the admiral would invite them to dinner every couple of weeks. One evening the president was to come as well, an incursion into family dinner that the admiral clearly viewed as symbolic. Lee was skeptical; Dee was secretly thrilled. But skirmishes broke out that day in Dogsville, occupying the admiral with security and the president with the Quorum discussing alternatives to the housing crisis. Dinner was cancelled, and then came the trial, the end of her marriage, and Kara's return; Dee's second family slipped into the past along with her first.

Latter Days