Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi
Length: ~3,000w
Author on LJ: Aronnax (purged account)
Author Website: None
Why this must be read: My friends, I have been saving the best for last. If you only read one rec from me this month, please let it be this one. This is my favorite writer in all of the twelve or so years I've been in fandom. Quite simply, this fic has it all: spectacular and powerful writing, a beautifully inventive premise, humor and heartbreak, and perfect characterization. This is a fic I give to people who have no idea what Super Junior is, and I've never found anyone who hasn't fallen completely in love with it. You can find most of the rest of this author's work through the Super Junior fanfiction archival project. From the link below, you can read it online or download it (as you see fit).

World Enough

( Final notes and author recap. )

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Donghae
Length: ~2,000w
Author on LJ: hyungdeul
Author Website: hyungdeul
Why this must be read: This fic consists of a sad, but surprising premise written brilliantly. This is a Kyuhyun-centric fic, but I love the way all the other characters are written, too. It gently piles sadness on you the longer it goes on.

*Comprehension notes: Kyuhyun was in a terrible car accident in 2007, around the time they were doing promotions for "Don't Don," their second album; he nearly died. More info here. "A Man in Love" is another song from that album. Kyuhyun also is really good at Starcraft.

A Peculiar Variation


I will be doing one more post this evening, so please stay tuned!

Alas, I have no fanvids to give you to watch tonight. (As Super Junior is 99% a youtube/visual fandom, please kindly go watch their mini-drama "Full House" and consider that my offering.) However, to make up for it, I have a movie-like fic for you!

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi
Length: ~13,500
Author on LJ: sujusarang
Author Website: le_oeuvre (new) / sujusarang (old)
Why this must be read: PART 4 IS HERE, since it's not linked to in the fic itself. Kyuhyun has a reputation for eating a ton whenever he's allowed to, and then becoming adorably plump; a.k.a. "fatkyu." This fic takes fatkyu and brings it to the next level because HE LITERALLY WANTS TO EAT ZHOU MI. Both hilarious and extremely thrilling, this is a delightful take on slasher tropes, where Zhou Mi is the plucky dumb cheerleader and Kyuhyun is the serial killer with a heart of gold.

Maneater

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi, Siwon/Sungmin, Han Geng/Heechul
Length: Fifteen one-shots and counting
Author on LJ: remixied, blahnicity, bittersnow
Author Website: sj_shippingco
Why this must be read: This is my favorite series in all of Super Junior fandom, because every one-shot manages to make my brain dump a truly massive amount of dopamine. This is so charming. It's fluffy domestic slice-of-life that never veers into sap territory, with moments of snark and banter and adorable fail. Every time they write a new one-shot for it, I drop everything I'm doing and sprint to read it. I especially recommend "We'll keep the skeptics humming" and "AM radio." (As an aside, remixied also writes some of the hottest NC-17 work in the fandom, so please check her other work out, too!)

Laundromat AU

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Mostly gen, with guest appearances from Siwon/Hankyung/Heechul, Kibum/Donghae, and Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi
Length: ~5,000w
Author on LJ: black_goose
Author Website: inkin_brushes (current) / dokutoku_ai (old)
Why this must be read: I've modified the title a bit because think of the children!, but if you know the Avenue Q song that the title is referencing, you know what the last word is already. This is a meta-ish fic about the hilarious and strange human invention that is fandom. It ranges from fandom personality stereotypes to drama to memes to the horrors of internet translation services (an important problem when you can't understand your fandom's canon unless you know Korean/Japanese/Chinese), but all in a really amusing way. As someone who loves fandom and popular culture, this fic made me shriek with laughter a few times. I'm not sure how to sum it up, so here's a snippet: ( Read more... )

*Comprehension notes: This fic simply isn't going to be funny to you unless you know about fandom and also know a bit about Super Junior, such as the "canon" pairings and some details about the members themselves (such as that Siwon is actually quite religious, Heechul is actually quite active on the Internet, and Han Geng tends to ramble). As we're reaching the end of the month, I feel safe reccing this anyhow. Besides that, Junsu is a k-pop idol from the group DBSK, and is friends with Eunhyuk irl; nudging is from MSN Messenger; and...oh I give up ;_; If you have questions about something in the fic, leave a comment here and I'll explain it to you!

The Internet Is For

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Henry-centric, sort-of gen-ish; implied Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi, implied everyone/girls
Length: ~1,800w
Author on LJ: meiface
Author Website: chineseink
Why this must be read: Meiface is one of the oldest, most prolific, and most respected SuJu authors. She writes a lot of lighter, heartwarming (and hilarious) fics, interspersed with some really serious interesting pieces, some awesome AUs, and some really hot NC-17 stuff. This is one of her fluffier pieces, which I chose because HENRY. Henry is awesome and nobody writes about him enough. This fic made me chuckle a few times. It's hilarious, clever, and a little cracky while also being endearing, and you can clearly see how much she loves all the people she's writing about.

Henry Lau's Love Column

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Donghae
Length: ~1,400w
Author on LJ: pregnantcigar
Author Website: warmboys
Why this must be read: Diana is my second-favorite author, probably ever, but at the very least in this fandom. She's an absolutely masterful writer. She's probably strongest when at writing dialogue; her conversations are so easy and feel so natural, and as a person who loves modernist writing, I am addicted to how simply, yet powerfully, she puts things. She couches devastating insight in innocuous imagery and rough, even crude language. ...And of course the fic of hers that sticks most in my mind uses almost none of that, lol; but I do love this piece a lot. Besides the fact that it's very different from most other fics I've read, almost daring (you'll see what I mean when you read it), it has a feeling of awkward, yet comfortable intimacy, and her imagery is just beautiful.

The Love Song

AND THEN I VANISHED FOR A WEEK, I am so sorry you guys! I will try to post daily until the end of the month to make up for it ;_;!

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Leeteuk/Kangin
Length: ~9,500w
Author on LJ: ficcy
Author Website: See above
Why this must be read: I absolutely adore post-apocalyptic stories, but I am terrified by zombies. This means that it's pretty hard for me to get my post-apocaptic fix—but this fic delivers in grand style! Not only is this one of my favorite AU genres, but it also chooses a really fascinating and mysterious premise to execute. It's inventive and softly insightful while maintaining an "innocent" feel. Be sure to scroll back up to the top of part 1 to get to part 2!

*Comprehension notes: Minho is from the boy band "SHINee," which is also signed with SM Ent (Super Junior's parent company), and is sort of infamous for fawning over his "hyungs," or superiors in the company.

Remake of a Broken World

Title: "How The West Was Won" by Civilized_era
Pairing: Han Geng/Heechul/Amber
Length: ~9.5000w
Author on LJ: civilized_era
Author Website: capebuffalo
Why this must be read: I love this fic so much, and it isn't just because it's about finding yourself and baking cakes—which are two of my FAVORITE THINGS to read about—but it's also because this is a large-cast fic and yet every single character is not only accurately portrayed, but also hilariously lovable. OT3s are hard, especially considering this one doesn't have a whole lot of "canon" support, but she writes it perfectly. It's also just an all-American fic, where the writer is writing about things she knows backwards and forwards, and that ease and comfort with the source material bleeds into the writing. This is a funny, thought-provoking, casual-feeling piece that really says so much more than it seems to at first, and it leaves an emotional impact that lingers in the best possible way.

How The West Was Won

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Ryeowook/Yesung
Length: ~7,500w
Author on LJ: hotarumyst
Author Website: ourhandsfroze
Why this must be read: Hotarumyst writes fun and unusual AU premises, and uses them to convey deeper lessons or thoughts about k-pop or the world in general. While her work isn't flawless, I think it works in her favor; in this piece, particularly, it helps to convey a sense of muted, yet raw urgency. This is a future!AU which muses not only on the importance and frailty of "humanity," but also echoes in the real-life practice of making k-pop stars undergo plastic surgery so that they all conform to a uniform standard of beauty.

It's hard to imagine that we're already halfway through the month, isn't it? Hope you're enjoying the recs so far!

Another Kind of Beautiful

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi
Length: ~8,000w
Author on LJ: canttakeabreath
Author Website: gulpsofoxygen
Why this must be read: This fic almost makes you hold your breath when you read it. She takes Zhou Mi and Kyuhyun's personalities (especially Zhou Mi's) and pushes them just a bit, adds an undercurrent of passion, bordering on madness, that's both unsettling and compelling. It also has some of the hottest, most intense sexual tension that I've ever read; it's positively (and deliciously) stomach-churning. Lastly, it's awesome in the way it discusses art/artistry as both a way of life and a profession, and you can tell that the author really knows what she's talking about (which is something I love in fic).

Icarus

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Donghae/Eunhyuk, sort of
Length: ~1,500w
Author on LJ: catskilt
Author Website: jewelledhours
Why this must be read: This rec took me so long because I couldn't decide which of this author's fics to rec. ;_; If I could, I would have rec'd Running Blind With Eyes Wide Open, but as that is a (very satisfying 57,000+ words) WIP, I can't. So instead, have this: a light-hearted short piece that captures several of the author's strengths: her lovely characterizations, especially when she writes Eunhyuk/Donghae (Donghae in particular really shines here, with all of his whimsy, unique logic, and deceptively simple affection); the ability to phrase things in the most beautiful ways; poignant scenes spun from simple details easily overlooked; and the way she grounds her fics in reality, even her AUs—whether it be the reality of the boys' real-life situations (as here), or the reality of their deep ties to each other. Check out her full body of work, though! You won't be sorry.

*Comprehension notes: Hyukjae is Eunhyuk's real name (Eunhyuk is his stage name). Sukira, also called "Kiss the Radio," is a radio show hosted by Leeteuk and Eunhyuk.

KBS Cool FM

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Kangin/Leeteuk (one-sided), Kangin/Heechul (eventual)
Length: ~9,000w
Author on LJ: thedogstar (has moved to DW with the username padfoot)
Author Website: hermiones (DW) / AO3
Why this must be read: I was talking to my friend once, and she said "I read this one amazing Kangin fic—" and I said "Was it 'Clowns Left Jokers Right?'" and she said "HOW DID YOU KNOW." This writer has written two of the best(-known) Kangin fics in the fandom (the other is "White Elephant"), but this one is 1) longer and 2) more complex/satisfying, so it's what gets special mention here. This fic deals realistically with recovering from a broken heart while not becoming angsty or depressing, has a beautiful, unhurried progression, and is funny and touching in all the right ways.

Clowns Left, Jokers Right

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Heechul/Han Geng (Hankyung)
Length: ~4,000w
Author on LJ: blahnicity
Author Website: sj_shippingco / yung_luk
Why this must be read: This fic absolutely blows my mind. It's another one of those fics that Super Junior fandom manages to produce, whose premise and execution is so wildly inventive and crazy that I don't even have words. This piece will be especially rewarding if you are a person who is well-versed in famous poetry. This is wing fic, but it doesn't even matter if that's not your cup of tea or if you don't even really know what that means—read this anyway.

*Comprehension notes: This fic takes place while Hankyung is away for the first round of SJ-M promotions in China. Yunho is an idol from the boy band DBSK (a.k.a. TVXQ). He's friends with Heechul irl.

For Thine is the Kingdom

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi
Length: ~6,000w
Author on LJ: evaporate
Author Website: thedayafter
Why this must be read: Almost all of the fics found at thedayafter make me roll off my bed laughing, but this fic is particularly amazing. "Kick me" is one of the smartest fics I've ever read, even though it's wrapped in a romcom-candy coating and tied with a sparkly fluffy bow (seriously, who includes differential equations in a romcom, this fic is awesome). It's a modern AU that captures the intricacies and awkward hilarity of modern romance, and—much like Super Junior itself—it's impossible not to love every character in this fic. This is also a good way to get an idea of the more unique parts of this fandom, like language problems, culture shock, and Kyuhyun's love of StarCraft.

*Comprehension note: Please click here to understand the "Seasoning" joke.

I changed my mind—I'm going to give a rec every other day this month, so see you the day after tomorrow! :)

kick me, and other romantic overtures

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: None; general band fic, but there is optional Donghae/Kyuhyun if you squint
Length: ~1,000w
Author on LJ: anisole
Author Website: subtleslide
Why this must be read: One of the reasons I love Super Junior fanfiction is that it comes up with the most interesting premises, and this is definitely one of most unique I've seen. This fic is magic realism-ish, and takes a discussion of the importance and problems of language to an entirely new level; it's humorous while remaining insightful. Few fandoms except SuJu would come up with something like this.

*Comprehension notes: "hangul" is the Korean alphabet; "hyung" is Korean for "older brother" and is used by younger males when referring to older males (for more information, click here); "east sea" is the literal translation of the characters that make up Donghae's name.

sticks and stones will break my bones, and words will probably choke me

"For you for you for you I fell": A Super Junior Fandom Primer



Super Junior is an amazing fandom willed with some absolutely fantastic fanfiction, but getting involved in it can be a little daunting—this fandom is huge and so is its canon. But don't worry! We're here to help.

Disclaimer: Obviously, I don't know how much you know about Super Junior, K-pop, fandom, or RPF. Therefore, these are the assumptions I'm working with:

1. You like fandom, fanfiction, and at least tolerate slash.
2. You're new to real people fandom (RPF), band, and K-pop fandom; you may not even really know what Super Junior is, and you definitely don't know who all the members are.
3. You're a very busy person and you haven't got all day.

With that in mind, I've made some presentation choices in this guide that not everyone will find useful/need/agree with. Obviously your mileage may vary; skip over the parts that don't interest you, use the parts that do. Read the sections in any order you want. It's all good.

Additional disclaimer for older SJ fans: I am not only13, I don't have any otps, I love everybody, and I'm about as neutral as you're going to get. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to discuss something, however.

*Below the cut is embedded-video-heavy, but not super image-heavy.

( Read more... )

Hello! My name is Larky, and this month I will be introducing you all to the wonderful world of Super Junior fanfiction!

Super Junior is a 15-person South Korean boy band, part of the "Korean wave" or "K-pop" music phenomenon. It was created in 2005 by SM Entertainment, and its members are a bunch of lovable, talented goofballs. Although Super Junior is a boy band, it's not considered a "bandom;" instead, it's usually called "k-pop RPF."

I plan to post three times a week, although I don't have a stricter posting schedule than that. Sometimes I'll post three days in a row, sometimes it will be more spaced out.

Let's begin with a rec for today!

--

Fandom: SUPER JUNIOR
Pairing: Kyuhyun/Zhou Mi
Length: ~4,000 words
Author on LJ: grisclair
Author Website: fumerie
Why this must be read: I always rec this fic first, because this is the fic that finally got me interested in Super Junior fandom (after months of my friend trying to lure me in). It's an excellent introduction to one of the most important aspects of super junior/k-pop fandom—how the entertainment companies produce an idol's "image," including their pairing assignments. This fic is a discussion of "what's real" in k-pop fandom, and the side of it that we don't always get to see. On a technical level, this fic has subtle character interplay and character growth, and tight, excellent writing.

In it for the show, baby.