Hail and farewell!
I'll be driving for Highlander, this last trip. I've chosen some of my favorites, that I could find. After this year's hlh_shortcuts fic appears, I will undoubtedly have new ones to add. I'm beginning with the first author I read in Highlander, in fic at all, who made me sit up and take notice.


Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Length: around 8,000 words
Author on LJ: katallison
Author Website: Kat Allison's Fiction
Why this must be read:
This is a beautiful Highlander story, with the best of the best I love about the source and the writing it inspired. You could do worse than start here, if you don't know Highlander, or if you do, and you're revisiting old friends.

Methos walks through Paris to Duncan's barge, out of a warm September night--any night, outside of any calendar of canon. He finds Duncan sitting on deck, repairing an old phonograph. He sits, he drinks, they talk, as Duncan works. They talk about time, life, and the end of the world; they're talking about humanity; they're talking about attachment and hope and fear and certainty in the face of the unknown. They're talking about themselves, what you want them to talk about, in their ideal conversation. It's a fine blend of melancholy, hope, and affection. In the autumn, as the year turns down.


September Song

Fandom: HIGHLANDER/DOCTOR WHO
Pairing: Methos/Doctor, Methos/Duncan
Length: 2,500 words
Author on LJ: fractured_sun
Author Website: fic index on lj
Why this must be read:

This story has the most unusual Methos origin ever.

Endless Circles

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Parings: Duncan/Methos/Amanda
Length: 4,445 words
Author on LJ: gryphonrhi
Author Website: Rhi’s Eyrie or
on AO3
Why this must be read:

This story is a Timestamp for the Stone of Scone episode set in the universe of Kill’s vid Opportunities, an AU where Duncan, Amanda and Methos embark on a life of crime. And since it’s an AU wonderful characters like Fitz and Sean and Rebecca Connor are still very much alive.

Sticks and Stones

Fandom: HIGHLANDER/THE AVENGERS
Characters: Methos, Joe, Amanda, Nick Fury, Agent Coulson, Avengers cameos
Length: 14,076 words
Author on LJ: mackiedockie
Author Website: on AO3

Why this must be read:

A quiet brunch in New York City, what could possibly go wrong? Fast-paced and hilarious, this story starts off with a bang and just keeps going. No one writes Methos and Joe quite like mackiedockie.

Unready Reserves

Fandom: HIGHLANDER/AVENGERS
Characters: Methos, Amanda, OMC, Phil Coulson
Length: 5,132 words
Author on LJ: merriman
Author Website: on AO3

Why this must be read:

Tomorrow’s the day for CrackVan Collisions (cross overs) but I thought I’d toss out the fun little tidbit a day early. Wonderful way to ‘fix’ that glitch with Coulson in the Avengers. The amount of grief he gives Methos and Amanda is a bonus!

A Routine Operation

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Chracters: Joe Dawson, Methos, Rebecca Horne, Juan Sanchez Villa Lobos Ramirez, historical character
Length: 2,548 words
Author on LJ: jinxed_wood
Author Website: on AO3
Why this must be read:

Life moves on for all of us, including Methos and Joe. What really makes this story worth reading is the lushly detailed vignette from Methos’ past, as told by Rebecca and Ramirez. So many wonderful details in such a short tale.

The Final Stage

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Characters: Haresh Clay/Carter Wellan, Richie Ryan, OFC
Length: 10,241 words
Author on LJ: gryphonrhi
Author Website: Rhi’s Eyrie or
on AO3
Why this must be read:

This is something I rarely do: rec a Richie story, but the character is written so well that it won me over. This is a bit of an AU, but what a wonderful episode this would have been, instead of the direction that the character was driven in the show.

Pen & Ink

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Characters: Methos, Duncan (no pairings)
Length: 4,796 words
Author on LJ: ithildyn
Author Website: More of the author’s fic on Tales from the Dark Wood or on AO3
Why this must be read:

Although I’m a huge fan of sf future HL stories, that’s not the reason why I just had to rec this story. What I really love about this story is the poignant tale it tells of Methos as a survivor.

The Memories of Stones and Stars

I'll be reccing some of my favorite Highlander stories from the past year or so this month. I thought I'd kick things off with a wonderful Joe story.

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Characters: Joe Dawson (with mentions of Methos)
Length: 5,200 words
Author on LJ: enviropony
Author Website: AFAIK this is the only HL fic by this author
Why this must be read:

Joe Dawson paying it forward: this story is a fantastic little day-in-the-life vignette.

Fortitudine

Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Length: 113510 word count
Author on LJ:n/a
Author Website: http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/9/onfaith.html
Why this must be read: Xover with The Highlander. It's a different look at two relationships.

( snippets )

On Faith and Trust Alone

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Characters: Kronos, Methos, Silas, Caspian (gen)
Length: 2113 words
Author on LJ: ishafel
Author Website: author’s stories on AO3

Why this must be read:

In telling the origin of how Death came to ride a pale horse, this story is rich in tone and character.


Revelations

Vidder: Luminosity
Musical artist: Carl Stalling
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Vidder on LJ: sockkpuppett
Vidder Website: for downloads and older vids Luminosity’s Vidworks
Luminosity’s Youtube page
Why this vid must be watched:

Back in 2006, while I was attending my first ever con, I saw this vid and it is single-handedly responsible for making me want to vid. A Hero’s Take is over 10 years old and grainy, but the humor and spot on use of instrumentals from Looney Tune cartoons to poke fun at the Four Horseman are just fantastic.

This hasn’t been uploaded to her Youtube page, but you can still download it from her vid archive.

A Hero’s Tale

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Amanda/Renee Delaney, Joe, references to Duncan/Methos
Length: 8,700 words
Author on LJ: killabeez
Author Website: killa’s page at AO3

Why this must be read:

I’ve been vidding Amanda recently so I guess I’m in a very Amanda frame of mind, so even though femslash is something you won’t see me rec very often, but I love this story. Killa’s Amanda is smart and sexy and resourceful and amazing.

True Every Single Time

Fandom: HIGHLANDER/STAR TREK: TNG
Characters: Methos, Deanna Troi
Length: 2,240 words
Author on LJ: icarus_chained
Author Website: author’s HL page on AO3
Why this must be read:

I hadn’t planned on reccing another crossover, but I just reread this and loved the way it explores the depth and complexity of Methos. After wandering the earth for thousands of years, how would he feel about leaving it behind? This beautiful little story explores the facets of his emotions.

The Jewel in Heaven’s Eye

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairings: Duncan/Amanda, Methos/Amanda (in the past)
Length: 68,800 words
Author on LJ: jinxed_wood
Author Website: Jinxed Wood’s Hideout)

Why this must be read:

Before I get back to reccing new fic, I’m going back to go back a few years. There are times when what I want is something long and plotting, especially if Methos is central to everything.

Hamlet’s Ghost

Title: The Case of the Burglarious Bibliophile by mackiedockie and adabsolutely
Pairing: John/Sherlock, Duncan/Methos
Length: 19,9000 words
Author on LJ: mackiedockie adabsolutely
Author Website: mackiedockie’s page at HL Fiction adabsolutely’s page at HL Fiction

Why this must be read:

Every time I read a crossover between HL and Sherlock I am amazed at how well these characters meld. With the deft touch of mackiedockie and adabsolutely in writing fantastic dialogue and plot, this is a story to read and read again.

The Case of the Burglarious Bibliophile

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Characters: Joe, Amanda
Length: 5,200 words
Author on LJ: sholio
Author Website: ( Author’s HL stories at AO3


Why this must be read:

Although much of Highlander fic focuses on Duncan and Methos, I think other secondary characters offer rich ground for fanfic. Amanda and Joe are each, in their own way, looking at the world from the outside and in this story they are there for each other on a lonely holiday.

Faith, Hope and Charity

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Pairing: Duncan/Methos
Length: 2,900 words
Author on LJ: tryfanstone
Author Website: author’s website
Why this must be read:

A beautifully written post-Gathering story, this story has wonderful characters, a vivid sense of place and just the right balance of things said and left unsaid.


The Street of the Booksellers

Fandom: HIGHLANDER
Characters: Methos, Joe
Length: 3,716 words
Author on LJ: adabsolutely
Author Website: author's page at HL Fiction

Why this must be read:

The interaction between Methos and Joe is fantastic. adabsolutely has a knack for writing dialogue between these two that is intelligent and witty and spot on.

The Methos and Joe Immortal Hunt and Pub Crawl

Title:  The Sumerian Codebook Affair by Lokemele (G)
Pairing: none
Length: 27,000 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Her stories are posted on File40, The Wonderful World of Makebelieve and Ravens Lair.

Why this must be read:
You are the world's oldest Immortal and you've found a nice comfortable place to live and hide as a Professor. How are you to know that Thrush is going to introduce a new codebook, written in Sumerian of all things? And that U.N.C.L.E. is going to want your help? You are, however, aware that getting caught between the two organizations is going to attract the Watchers' attention. So you need to evade Solo and Kuryakin as well as the THRUSH and get out of the country. Easier said than done.

( Here's an example: )

The Sumerian Codebook Affair

Fandom: HIGHLANDER/Star Trek: The Next Generation/The X-Files
Pairing: Guinan/Duncan McLeod
Length: 80,103 words
Author on LJ: kelliem (can anyone help me out with Julia Kosatka's LJ?)
Author Website: Kellie Matthews's website (don't know if Julia Kosatka has a website?)
Why this must be read:
This story is 16 years old, but really good (within the first few paragraphs, there is mention of using a modem... ahh, I don't miss the good old days of fanfic where it took about 5 minutes for me to load a page...). Anyway, this is the first story of a series. The first part of this story is set in the "modern day" world of Highlander and X-Files, while the second part and the next two stories are set in the future world of Star Trek. I absolutely adore the theories that Mulder comes up with for what is going on! It fits so well with the mindset of that show and his character. Guinan is lovely and her interaction with both Joe and Duncan is spot-on. This story has everything: Guinan, the mysterious woman with a knack for listening; an Immortal hunting Duncan McLeod and Joe Dawson helping him out; and Mulder and Scully on the case! The later stories are also worth a read. Good stuff here, highly recommended!

In the Dark by Kellie Matthews & Julia Kosatka

Fandom: HIGHLANDER/Kindred: The Embraced
Pairing: old version: Duncan McLeod/Lillie Langtry, Richie Ryan/female OC; new version: Duncan McLeod/Lillie Langtry, Richie Ryan/Frank Kohanek
Length: varible, depending on version: 25k to 36k words (see links below)
Author on LJ: beren_writes
Author Website: Beren's Fic Journal
Why this must be read:
So, amazingness of amazingness, a good Kindred: The Embraced story! This was a series on in the late 1990's based on the Vampire: The Masquerade RPG (which, being the big nerd I am, I played) and it only lasted for 8 episodes. I loved this show and wrote and read as much fanfic about it as I possibly could. This story stood out among all the others as a true gem, and it just so happens to be a crossover with Highlander, my other favorite TV show from that period! YAY!

While researching for this rec, I've discovered that the author re-wrote it in 2007, polishing the POV, changing it from het-heavy to slashy, and adding about 10k words. My cup, it runneth over! I love the concepts of this story. What I really love about crossovers is the interaction and discovery between the two universes. Immortals and Kindred are both peoples that are in hiding, so of course there would be mistrust, misunderstanding, and hijinks should they find out about each other. As in the show, Frank gives us a nice outsider's perspective on both secrets. It's delicious as a reader to know what's going on and watch the characters try to figure out everything, too, plus there are a few fun surprises for us as well -- I especially like the very end.

Beren is a seriously prolific writer and dang good to boot, so be sure to check out her other stuff, too.

Opposites by Tasha (older archive version, 25,881 words, published in 2000, primarily het)
Opposites by Beren (revised version, 36,277 words, re-published in 2007, slashtastic)

Fandom: HIGHLANDER/Stargate Atlantis/Stargate SG-1
Pairing: none
Length: 5,956 words
Author on LJ: sapphiresmuse
Author Website: Sapphire's Book of Musings
Why this must be read:
It's always fun to see conspiracies and heroes collide. This story sees a Wraith on Earth. Don't worry, Methos is way more badass than a mere Wraith.

Some Days Are Stranger Than Others by Sapphire

Fandom: The Sentinel/Highlander
Pairing: Gen
Length: 1850 words
Author on LJ: xparrot
Author Website: http://www.xmagicalx.net/
Why this must be read: - I interpret the writer's notes as saying this was written as a fix-it for the end of SenToo Pt 1, before viewers knew if there would ever be a fourth season. Blair finds himself in what appears to be the reception area of a hotel. He's directed down a tunnel... but there's a wolf there, standing guard, refusing to let him pass...

From context I assume that the next character who appears is from Highlander. I know almost nothing about that show, having seen no more of it than the first ten minutes or so of the pilot, but the author says this is a crossover with it and that knowledge of it isn't needed, and I'd agree, it's easy to consider this character as an OC.

As someone who came into Sentinel late, seeing it on videos borrowed from a friend who had been sent them by an American friend (it wasn't shown in the UK until another couple of years after that) I had about a two minute (if that) delay between seeing SenToo parts 1 & 2, and I'm fascinated by the stories written as fix-its during the hiatus. This is a very good one even though the writer describes it as 'a bit of fluff'.


Bureaucratic Error

Fandom: HIGHLANDER/Sherlock
Pairing: none
Length: 100 word drabble
Author on LJ: marbleglove
Author Website: MarbleGlove on FF.net, MarbleGlove on DreamWidth
Why this must be read:
I personally want to recommend EVERYTHING by this author, particularly her Highlander crossovers (her Stargate crossovers with Highlander are SO GOOD). This drabble is a good jumping-off point. It literally made me bark outloud with laughter and exclaim how good it was, and that's a rare reaction to a drabble for me. Please go read this and then everything else this author has ever written, you won't be disappointed, I promise!

Anderson Hates Sherlock by MarbleGlove

Fandom: HIGHLANDER/Lord of the Rings
Pairing: gen (non-explicit King Elessar/Arwen Undomiel)
Length: 4,474 words
Author on LJ: dhrachth
Author Website: Jill on FF.net
Why this must be read:

This is an older story (about 10 years old, I think?), but it is still one I re-read on an annual basis. I'm a sucker for stories where a character is displaced into an entirely new universe. This story sees Methos (ROG = really old guy in older Highlander fandom parlance) unexpectedly transported into Middle-Earth in a post-Return of the King world. Aragorn is rebuilding Gondor and is understandably suspicious of such a shady character as Adam, son of Pier, who appears by sorcery and who doesn't die like he should. There is a murder mystery, the mystery of Methos's interdimensionl travel, and some mysterious assassination attempts. I really love the characterization in this story and how the characters all interact. Jill does an amazing job of making me believe that the characters from these two fandoms would interact like they do in the story. The concepts and execution are lovely, and although the prose could use a little polish, I love it for that alone and it is thus one of my all-time favorite fanfiction re-reads.

( Here is a sample of dialogue between Legolas and Gimli in the story. )

ROG on Vacation by Jill

Fandom: HIGHLANDER/X-Men 2
Pairing: none
Length: 1,770 words
Author on LJ: thete1
Author Website: Teland
Why this must be read:
I pretty much have to recommend just about everything by this author. Te has shaped how I see the characters of many of my favorite fandoms simply by the amazing way she portrays them. Her characterization is always deep, and this is no exception. This story is much shorter than her usual fare, but I am still continually amazed by how much of a punch it packs. This is one of my "comfort" reads, not because it is all that comforting a story, because it most emphatically is not, but because of how dang well it is written.

This piece is a epilogue to the movie X-Men 2 involving Sergeant Lamb (aka - Methos) and Yuriko (aka - Lady Deathstrike in the comics). It's a coda story that awakens your imagination for what will happen next. HIGHLY recommended, like all of Te's work.

Unbound by Te

Fandom: HIGHLANDER/Batman (comics)
Pairing: none on-screen
Length: 3,625 words
Author on LJ: melannen, but this author is inactive on LJ and can instead be found on DreamWidth
Author Website: on Ao3
Why this must be read:

This little gem of a story is, quite simply, delightful. I had a grin on my face through reading it. OF COURSE a Timothy Drake in the world of Highlander would end up as a Watcher! How could our creepy little obsessive stalker-boy NOT!? Also, Richard Gracen, RICHARD GRACEN! Fusion between Richie Ryan and Dick Grayson, of course, but using the name Gracen (Elizabeth Gracen was the actor who played Amanda in Highlander). That is excellent, right there. This story is fun, witty, and the undercurrents are simply delicious. In a battle of wills between Methos and Batman, who would YOU bet on?

Observe and Record by melannen

Hello! My name is cloudtrader and it is my honor to drive the Highlander van this month. I've gotten permission from the mods to do a little something different for my turn at the wheel, too. Highlander is the little black dress of fanfic... you can basically fit it into just about ANY fandom there is. In fact, I kinda don't consider a fandom to be mature until people have written a crossover with Highlander for it. So this month I'm going to feature exclusively Highlander crossovers!



Fandom: HIGHLANDER/Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman/Batman (comics)
Pairing: Clark Kent/Lois Lane
Length: 22,153 words
Author on LJ: ffutures
Author Website: Marcus Rowland's work archived on AO3
Why this must be read:

Nine Lives was written awhile back, but that's okay, all of the fandoms involved are pretty old, too. Lois & Clark was a delightful and still beloved version of the DCU for me and in this story we get to look back at the 1990's from a future perspective (I love the line about Lois wondering what eBay is). This gives the story a nostalgic feeling, but don't worry, the pacing and action of the story put you right into it. This is a very plot-driven story where you as the reader take a ride with the characters to try and solve the mystery centered around headless bodies, a Toledo Salamanca sword up for auction being bid on by powerful elites like Bruce Wayne, and a conspiracy between a newspaper social reporter and those same powerful elites. You know more than Lois and Clark do, but you still have to work out the intricacies of what is happening with them. I found the characterizations and motivations of the entire cast of this story, original characters included, very compelling. The resolution of the story fits well with all the universes involved, too. This is a fun romp and an excellent read.


Nine Lives by Marcus L. Rowland