Fandom: HOT FUZZ
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny, AndyWainwright/Andy Cartwright
Length: 7,359 words
Author: random_nexus 
Author’s website: random nexus’s LJ
Why this must be read:

It's a comedy full of misunderstandings, naughty misunderstandings. 

Exceprt:

Andrew sucked his lips inward to avoid saying anything, gripping them in his teeth hard, the ends of his mustache nearly touching the cleft in his chin. His face had gone pink and he gripped Andy's shoulder tightly. He didn't know how long he could keep from laughing out loud. Nicholas Angel and Danny Butterman? Having it off before work? Together?

Something In The Air...Vent

Fandom: HOT FUZZ
Pairing: Nicholas Angel/Danny Butterman
Length: 1000 words
Author: zeddish 
Location of fic: sandfordpolice 
Why this must be read:

Those three little words, "I Love You", hold a lot of meaning, but there's more than one way to say it than you think. This is a sweetly understated fic worth checking out.

Excerpt:

"There's got to be somebody," Danny said, looking round the pub again. "Nobody in here strikes your fancy?"

"Well," Nicholas started without casting so much as a glance over his shoulder. "There is one person, but I think that goes without saying."

Five Times Nicholas said “I Love You”

Fandom: HOT FUZZ
Pairing: Nicholas Angel/???
Image size: Medium (I guess…)
Author: skew_whiff
Location of fic: sandfordpolice 
Why this must be read:

In every fandom, there is that one character that all the other characters want to bang. Nicholas Angel is that character in Hot Fuzz. He has been slashed in every combination you could possibly think of. Skew_wiff hilariously lampoons this in her comic. It’s also a good primer for Hot Fuzzdom’s pairings.

Everybody Loves Nicholas Angel

Fandom: HOT FUZZ
Pairing: Gen
Length: 4154 words
Author: waffleguppies
Location of fic: sandfordpolice 
Why this must be read:

this is an AU fic. normally, i wouldn't rec an AU fic for someone entering a fandom, but this one really turns the whole film on its ear. this is Hot Fuzz when it enters Poison Oak Epileptic Trees. it's also a good story.


Excerpt:

He'd been worrying ever since he'd recognized that all Nicholas needed was a good mate to talk to and room to unwind, and it was like he'd never had that before in his life, only all these mad theories about conspiracies and murder and fuck knew what else were more than trying make sense out of senseless accidents.

They were an obsession.

He'd become even more worried when Nicholas had publicly accused Simon Skinner of being a murderer. You just didn't do things like that if you were thinking rationally, especially not to people who ran the local supermarket.

Real to Him

Fandom: HOT FUZZ
Pairing: Nicholas Angel/Danny Butterman
Length: 6,000 words per part (approx)
Author: mikes_grrl
Location of fic: sandfordpolice 
Why this must be read:
This story is full of angst, romance, smut, angst, and angst, with extra angst on top. And smut. A personal favorite of mine from Hot Fuzzdom.

Excerpt:

He got the idea that maybe this Josh was more important to Danny than that, and he flushed with a renewed desire to beat the damn kid to death. Then he stopped his own train of thought: what was it to him, anyway? If Danny had sex with the entire football club, what should it matter to him? The answer was “not at all,” but Nicholas felt that it did matter, and he sat on the floor, silent, completely confused.

First Time for Everything, Part 1
First Time for Everything, Part 2
First Time for Everything, Part 3
First Time for Everything, Part 4

Fandom: HOT FUZZ
Pairing: GEN
Length of Video: 1 min, 10 sec
Author: DoubleDipProduction
Location of video:Youtube
Why this must be viewed:

It’s a funny video with a funny song.

The plot:

Nicholas Angel sure is a happy guy! Oh wait, no…he isn’t…

( View... )

Fandom: HOT FUZZ
Pairing: Nicholas Angel/Danny Butterman
Length: 1200 words
Author:dr_tectonic 
Location of fic: sandfordpolice :
Why this must be read:

A really sweet story about the embarrassing and mundane things we do for love.

Excerpt:

It was not a story that he would ever tell anyone, because it was intensely unromantic and embarrassing, not to mention a little bit gross and disgusting, but Danny Butterman knew the exact moment when he realized that Nicholas Angel loved him just as much as he loved Nick. Maybe more.

The Spot

Fandom: HOT FUZZ:
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny
Image size: Large
Author: taconaco 
Location of fic: sandfordpolice 
Why this must be read:

Is it fan art, fan fic? No, it’s a comic strip! A rare thing in Hot Fuzzdom. And it is a…maz...ing, you will laugh your arse off. SFW, sort of…You know what? Maybe just read it at home.

The plot:

Danny has a bomb…in his bum! And there’s only one way to defuse it!



“There’s a bomb…in me bum!”

Fandom: HOT FUZZ
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny
Length: 2985 words 
Author: tawg 
Location of fic: sandfordpolice  
Why this must be read:

Because it’s damn good smut! And I happen to be very picky about my smut. Not just any smut will do. If you’re new to Hot Fuzz, I must tell you that there is a lot of slash. This particular fandom was never shy about the film’s homoerotic subtext. Hell, the film is the very first Nicholas/Danny story there is. Even the director says it’s a love story.

Excerpt:

Inside the cubicle, Nicholas frowned. “I can’t trust you not to be inappropriate regardless of what I’m doing. Why do you think I demanded we go all the way to Cheltenham?”

“I assumed it was so there’d be none of my family around when we eventually got to the hot dressing room action.”

“Danny. There will be no dressing room action. I forbid it.”

It’s in Your Jeans

Hello, I am big_twinkie . During December, I will be the driver for Hot Fuzz.  If you need to see the fandom overview, go here.


Fandom: HOT FUZZ
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny
Word Count: 4000 words
Author: annlarimer 
Author's website: Annlarimer’s LJ:
Why this must be read:

This story is fun, charming, and full of the general weirdness that is Sandford. It's one of those slice of life stories, except, perhaps, the explosion part. But this is Hot Fuzz, so things will blow up...from time to time...

Excerpt:

When dealing with the vast distances of interstellar space, time -- and our concept of time -- starts to get tricky. The things we see in the sky are only as current as the speed of light allows. The moon we see is ten seconds old. The sun in the sky actually happened eight minutes ago.

The red giant Betelgeuse marks Orion's right shoulder (his right, our left). Betelgeuse, I'm sure you know, is getting on in years, and likely to go nova as soon as the mood strikes. Light from Betelgeuse only reaches us after 500 (and a bit) years of hard slog. So bear in mind that the following sentence, while accurate, is only accurate from a particular spatiotemporal point of view:

Just then, Betelgeuse exploded.

Stars Fall on Sandford

Title: Don't Drink, Don't Smoke (What Do You Do) by Minervacat
Pairing: Gen (but slashy of course, given the two canons)
Length: 12,600 words
Author on LJ: minervacat
Author Website: when the floods roll back
Why this must be read:
Hilarity ensues when RayK and Fraser collide with the wacky world of Sandford. This story is 12,600 words of delightful crossover goodness, with great Fraser POV and voice, and the Hot Fuzz world and characters as seen through Fraser's clear eyes. It's a fantastic read.

Don't Drink, Don't Smoke (What Do You Do)

Here is my last rec. Thanks to everyone who let me know they enjoyed the stories I picked. As I said before, there are many more at the archives and new stories being written on a regular basis, so come visit us!

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny
Length: novella length (seven chapters)
Author on LJ: pepperlandgirl4
Author's Website: The Pepperverse
Why this must be read:

Hot Fuzz is not a fandom that inspires writers to lengthy stories, though I don't know why. There are many elements to explore, and as an ensemble movie, many characters to go exploring with. I had always wondered what the immediate aftermath of the events in the movie would be in such a town as Sandford, where trust may become an issue and so many needed to heal both physically and psychologically. Pepper deals with these issues, some bodies in a castle, Nicholas's stress and worry over Danny, and a new face in town, in a manner that is both serious and believable.

This isn't a happy story, because it deals with unhappy events. But it's a hopeful one, with an ending that honestly made me feel sentimental and pleased. It is easy to read this and see how everyone made it from the explosion to the epilogue of the movie. And...yes, this is Pepper Espinoza we're talking about, of course there's hotness.

( Intro )

Side With the Seeds - the stories don't link off each other, so I'm posting all chapters here. Or you can go to her Hot Fuzz memories.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: gen, ensemble
Length: 5000 words
Author on LJ: annlarimer
Author Website: Her Fuzzfic tag
Why this must be read:

I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't blast-post too many stories from one author, no matter how much I love her work. But I also wanted to finish out the year with my favorite stories, and this one definitely counts as among my favorites. Told in a quasi linear/vignette fashion, it recounts the events immediately following the explosion while everyone is still in hospital.

To say this story makes me giggle like a madwoman is an understatement. Sometimes I cackle. Still. There is a brilliant juxtaposition between thought and dialogue that allows the reader to feel they are inside the characters' heads and wondering when exactly everyone went mad at the same time the characters are interacting. Weaving throughout it all is the bond between Nicholas and Danny, unbroken and filled with glee that each is alive. And then there's the moustache hijinks.

( An example of what you're in for. )

(Turkey With Fireworks)

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: gen, ensemble
Length: 1630 words
Author on LJ: fivil
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

At first glance, this small ensemble piece seems little more than a bit of life thrown on the page. But one can look deeper and see the bits of interaction and humor evident throughout the story are actually a love letter to the movie. Like a couple of the other gen stories I recced here, "Direct Evidence" works best when viewed as part of the larger whole of the movie-verse. Nothing spectacularly angsty or emotional happens, but that doesn't matter. These are our characters, moving on. Making us laugh.

( The briefest samples... )

(Direct Evidence)

Hola! I have been having so much fun picking stories for everyone to read and introducing others to the wonder that is Hot Fuzz fanfic. I have a couple more to post today, but I wanted to give a mighty shout-out to zeddish and redderz for keeping us in line over at sandfordpolice, to ldhenson for maintaining the original archive, and to mikes_grrl for setting up the new archive. There are lots more stories to be read than I could post here, so please go over and check them out!

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny (pre-slash)
Length: 1730 words
Author on LJ: lozenger8
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

Aside from having the most brilliant title ever, this is one of the best stories that addresses Nicholas's adjustment to having a best friend in his life. One can't help but get the impression that he had few friends in London, and had gotten used to that. Loz addresses this and also manages to throw in a wickedly funny conversation comparing Vin Diesel to Chuck Norris. As usual, the greatest strength of this story lies in the natural-sounding banter between Nicholas and Danny. It ends on a beautifully hopeful note that I believe is perfect for the coming year.

( Sample? )

(Cheer Up (You Miserable Fuck))

To make up for the community-locked Andy/Andy I posted earlier, I bring one inspired by the first!

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: Andy/Andy
Length: ~1300 words
Author on LJ: annlarimer
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

While it may lack the touching unrequited heartache, this story delivers the Andes at their bawdiest best as they egg each other on, puzzle over messages on candy hearts, and make fun of Nicholas and Danny. This is classic Ann Larimer - hilarity and subtlety wrapped in a red cellophane heart-shaped package.

( Sample the hilarity! )

(Lambs)

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny
Length: 745 words
Author on LJ: irisbleufic
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

Another short gem, this story manages to convey all the warmth and attraction between Danny and Nicholas without once being unnecessarily explicit. It is hot and tender and relates a depth of feeling that instantly knocked my socks off.

( Briefly... )

(When to Stop)

Sorry for no recs last week. It was just one of those...
I'll try to finish up with some fun stories for everyone to get their Fuzz fix before the month runs out.

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: Andy/Andy (unrequited)
Length: 895 words
Author on LJ: thebirdmachine
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

NOTE: It has come to my attention that this story is locked for those not members of sandfordpolice. I'm sorry I didn't notice this earlier.

I don't usually do Andy/Andy, but this story caught my eye with a vengeance and I thought I should put it up here for some equal time for other pairings. Annie catches the spirit of the Andes' closeness and banter in just the right light, matching moustaches and all. "Love Hearts" manages, for its brevity, to convey humor and heartache in one fell swoop.

( The tiniest snippet ever. )

Love Hearts

Vidder: pepperlandgirl
Musical Artist: Magnetic Fields
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny
Vidder on LJ: pepperlandgirl4 
Vidder's Website : her YouTube channel
Why this vid kicks ass:

The most touching aspect of Hot Fuzz is the relationship that develops between Nicholas and Danny.  Not simply because of the onscreen chemistry between Frost and Pegg, and not because of the almost romantic aspect of its development, but because one gets the impression that Nicholas doesn't have many friends.  Here is a vid that highlights the loneliness Nicholas must have felt upon settling in Sandford, and the one thing that can ease it.  The song choice is brilliant, playing up the melancholy ambience of the vid.


My Only Home

Reccer's note: Posting will be light over the next week. I hope everyone has a great holiday!

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny
Length: 6906 words combined
Author on LJ: pepperlandgirl4
Author Website: The Pepperverse
Why this must be read:

I don't know who started the Nicholas and Danny figure their shit out while watching a movie trope, but it's a popular one because it works so well, and it fits beautifully with the characters. And, hey! they're already on a couch, so no awkward getting things to the bed moments. This time, the movie is Tombstone, Nicholas is stuck in his head, and Danny is patient. Hotness follows.

This pair of stories, taking place within the same night, should be read together. You then get the dual perspective of Nicholas and Danny's reactions to their changing relationship. I especially love Pepper's Danny. His clear-eyed view of Nicholas belies the hero worship other writers wish to box him into. Her Nicholas, as in the movie, is well aware he over thinks situations, but uses it to his advantage in the second story. Then there's the hotness. Have I mentioned that?



( A taste from Somewhere in the T's )

(Somewhere in the T's)

(Somewhere in the Night)

Reccer's Note: In honor of today's recommendation, I watched twenty minutes of Independence Day last night. Nicholas is right.

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny
Length: ~1800 words
Author on LJ: koshiroryuu
Author Website: Her fic page on journalfen
Why this must be read:

I thought after yesterday's rec, we could all use a nice dose of ridiculous hilarity...involving gay porn. There is all kinds of funny going on here, from Nicholas's UST to the physical comedy surrounding Danny's desperate attempts to conceal a certain box Nicholas spies under his sofa.

I love this story because it reminds me it is sometimes in those small silly moments that the most momentous changes of our lives take place. Plus, it's funny.

( The only teaser you need... )

(Danny Butterman's Magical Box o' Love)

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny
Length: 2188 words
Author of LJ: tawg
Author Website: none that I know of
Why this must be read:

And now for something completely different.

I am an unapologetic happy ending junkie and normally I would guarantee a happy ending with every recommendation I post. Can't quite do that here. Which is not to say "Twilighting" has an unhappy ending, it's simply a darker, more complex story story than I would normally put on my personal list of Best Stories I've read in this fandom. But that's how good it is.

Tawg opens up a dreamscape that we enter willingly, because it is a happy, warm, glowing place filled with Danny - his sweetness, his adoration of Nicholas, his love of fantasy. We ride with him through tawg's beautiful imagery, and even if we know where we're going, we push those thoughts aside because we love Danny so much, it doesn't matter where we go, as long as we get to ride along.

( My usual taste. )


(Twilighting)

Title: June 30th by Ann Larimer
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny, The Doctor
Author on LJ: annlarimer
Author Website: none
Why this must be read:

Because Ann Larimer pulls off a sublimely Pythonesque level of hilarity that cannot be matched in this fandom.
Because it only takes three sentences of implied emotion and one hug for the reader to feel the depth of Nicholas's affection for Danny.
Because The Doctor is his usual scrappy, interfering, nonplussed self, and we love him for it.
Because you don't even have to be a Doctor Who fan to appreciate this story.
Because only Nicholas Angel would be unimpressed hurtling through time and space, battling robots, transvestite dogs, and dinosaurs:

( A wee taste... )

(June 30th)

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny
Length: 3900 words
Author on LJ: prairiestar
Author Website: none
Why this must be read:

Prairiestar takes the basic 'Nicholas and Danny hook up after the events yadda yadda...' and turns it on its ear for me because Danny is...Danny is...simply fantastic in this. He reacts to what is happening like a man does, not a cartoon character, not a wannabe action hero, but a man. One who gets angry, makes inappropriate jokes, and loves his friend. I love stories that refuse to gloss over what the impact of Frank's actions might have on Danny and Nicholas, and this one - in my opinion - deals with the emotional fallout in a way that feels real. There is also an element of sweetness to this story that is entirely without fluff. It kind of punches me in the gut every time I read it. And then unicorns come out.

( Excerpt with The Andes! )


Progress

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: gen
Length: ~3750 words
Author on LJ: lozenger8
Author Website: none that I know of
Why this must be read:

One of Loz's greatest gifts, in my opinion, is her dialogue. Specifically that between Nicholas and Danny, who bicker, support, and adore each other in equal measure in this story, all of which comes alive in their many, many conversations. The reader gets to know these characters simply through what they say to each other, and that makes a story feel real to me. In many ways, this could be seen as a fannish sequel to the movie - with a shoulder rub. Nicholas and Danny are allowed to be equals in this story, with each partner bringing his distinct personality to the action. Another thing I adore: Loz allows her Danny to be a crafty, ingenious bastard. Which he is, when you let yourself think about it.

( An excerpt (with plot summary!) )


Here, There and Everywhere

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny
Length: 3300 words
Author on LJ: kassrachel
Author Website: Fanfiction by Kass
Why this must be read:
I have to admit, the 'one partner finds out the other is in love with him and freaks' is a personal kink. Mostly because I think we've all experienced some element of this in our lives, regardless of the gender of those involved. And we've all reacted differently. Kass takes a long look at Nicholas Angel, digs into his head, and gives us her take on what would happen in this situation. His evolution from freaking out to awkward acceptance isn't dragged out or over-angsted (though it could have been), but instead feels seamless and natural as we undergo with Nicholas a life-altering transition in the course of one night.

( Per my usual, the brief taste: )

Long Shot

I hope everyone had a good weekend. Last week, I tried to illustrate the diversity in Hot Fuzz fanfic by recommending a variety of stories from different genres. This week, I would like to delve into the earlier work, written in the months after the movie's release. Many of them have similar themes, but use different means and skills to showcase them.

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny
Length: 4,593 words all together
Author on LJ: ldhenson
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read:

This is a beautifully written exploration of Nicholas as he realizes, and struggles with, his attraction to Danny. Told in three parts, this story weaves memory and interaction together to form a thoughtful portrait of a man who has failed in previous relationships and fears what furthering this new one may damage. Throughout the entire story, I feel I am inside Nicholas's head completely and believe this is exactly what he may think. That is, I believe, the heart of true characterization. Added to this, her Danny is a wonderful amalgamation of enthusiastic boyishness and hidden maturity that I adore.

( A brief taste. )



And Not Be Moved By You
(part 1)
(part 2)
(part 3)

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny (hints at Andy/Andy)
Length: ~19,000 words
Author on LJ: dr_tectonic
Author Website: none that I know of
Why this must be read:

While Dr. Tectonic's online presence is sweet and friendly, I have no doubt that he shares his soul with an evil genius madman, because there is no other explanation for something this wickedly brilliant. I'm almost afraid to say too much, for I want this story to hit everyone square in the chest like it did me. As for actual reasons? Here are a few: three little words, random easter-egg references to other stories, Nicholas tweaked on chai, dog collars, Bobby Saxon, spot-on characterization, meticulous attention to detail (that you won't even notice until it's all said and done), and a fantastic send-up to one of the greatest comedy-horror movies of all time.

Really, just read it, you won't be sorry. You may want to spend about fifteen minutes running around your house with manic glee (or maybe that was just me), but you won't be sorry.


( An entirely random and a-may-zing sample )


A London Werewolf in Sandford

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: gen
Length: 2950 words
Author on LJ: annlarimer
Author Website: none
Why this must be read:
I must confess to having never heard of Ann Larimer, despite her apparent legendary status in all of fandom, before I started reading Hot Fuzz fanfic. I am glad of this because it allowed me the perspective of encountering her amazing stories with fresh eyes and no preconceived notions. In fact, I was a little disappointed to find her so popular already. I wanted to keep her my secret.

Why should you read this story? Because it will blow your mind into tiny, tiny pieces with its characterization of Danny Butterman as he struggles with events during and following the movie. Because for all her ability to eke hilarity out of any situation, Ann approaches the events of Danny's life, his relationship with his father, and his friendship with Nicholas with subtlety that gets under your skin and kind of lives there for a while. Because it is superbly written. Because the ending, may make you tear up a little. And because she manages to do all of this without falling into that fandom trap of "bleakness is a virtue" when dealing with serious subject matter.

( Sample the intro! )

A Boy's Book of Practical Magic to Mystify, Baffle and Entertain

Fandom: Hot Fuzz
Pairing: Nicholas/Danny
Length: ~2500 words
Author on LJ: calathea
Author Website: plant fiction
Why this must be read:

I really wish calathea would write more in this fandom because she has a fantastic ear for Danny-voice. She also brings that touch of whimsy that the movie employed, but did not exploit. I mean, one would never guess that a flame thrower and man-eating plant would fit so well in Fuzz-verse (well, perhaps the flame thrower), but fit they do, and seamlessly. This is also the first story I'm featuring which contains the other members of the Sandford Police Service, and here she surprises by fitting in all their quirks without becoming cartoonish in her depiction of them.

( The intro as brief taster: )

Go, enjoy, ignore the rising pitch of the flugelhorns as you near...
Fade to Black