Fandom: MERLIN/ DRESDEN FILES (Books)
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Length: ~6,000 words
Author on LJ: ras_fic
Author Website: ras_fic
Why this must be read:

So, in this reincarnation, Merlin can't find Arthur. So what's a wizard to do? Hire another wizard to find him of course! This is a fun little crossover between Merlin and the Dresden Files, told from the point of view of Harry Dresden who is none to pleased to find a really powerful wizard on his doorstep, much less a cheerfully cryptic one. It's a delightful and funny outside pov on Merlin.

Don't worry if you're not familiar with the Dresden Files. This story can be read without knowing it.

***
Excerpt

I couldn't help but boggle at the kid. First he had broken through my wards with no problems, had batted aside my (admittedly impulsive) attack without any visible effort, and now he was claiming to have helped make an ancient, powerful sword rumored to be Excalibur itself. I couldn't figure out if he was a really good liar or just batshit insane. It was too much to even try to understand, and I still didn't have an answer to the simplest question I'd asked from the start. I repeated it again, this time feeling even more frustrated and out of my depth than before. "Who are you?"

A strange smirk spread over the kid's face. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

I felt my hands ball into very frustrated fists and said through clenched teeth, "Try me."

And the kid's face lit up with a smile brighter than the glow of the sword currently cradled lovingly across his chest. "I'm Merlin."

I blinked. "You're right. I don't believe you."
***

The Once and Future Pain In My Ass

Fandom: DUE SOUTH/DRESDEN FILES
Characters: Ray Kowalski, Maeve (the Winter Queen)
Length: 4,100 words
Author on DW: melannen
Author Website: AO3 page
Why this must be read: I am not sure what to say here, since this story blew me away and I really want you to read it, but I don't want to spoil it for you, either. I came to this story with very little knowledge of the Dresden Files, but that didn't matter (there is a Faery court in Chicago, that's pretty much all you need to know). I have no idea what you'd get out of it if you knew DF but not dS. Anyway, there are some character insights into Ray Kowalski here that just gave me a huge wave of love for him. It's about Ray, his competence and persistence and vivacity and how he relates to Fraser and the North, and there are some pretty neat ties between Faery lore and due South canon, too.

One Warm Line

Title Scenes From A Marriage by Elementalv
Fandoms: THE SENTINEL, DUE SOUTH, DRESDEN FILES
Pairing: Jim Ellison/Blair Sandburg; Ray Vecchio/Ray Kowalski;
Length:16514
Author's Warning Explicit
Author on LJ:elementalv
Author's website: Elemental Vision And Her page on AO3
Why this must be read:

Summary: Some are born to be Guides, and some are dragged to it kicking and screaming.

This story is frankly, hilarious. It's a sentinel/ guide fic and there is a fair amount of cussing in it, so be warned, if that bothers you. When I first read the story, years ago, I didn't know anything about Due South, or the Dresden Files (Book Verse), and enjoyed it immensely, anyway.

The story takes place in Chicago. Ray Kowalski is acting strangely, after being kidnapped and held in an isolated place. He's driving his partner, Ray Vecchio, right up the wall ever since Ray K. was rescued. Cue looking up some expert help from Cascade Washington, (Hi, Jim and Blair) and things fall into place. And once they do, Ray K and Vecchio transfer to the weirdest cop shop in all of Chicago: Special Investigations, and Lt. Karrin Murphy doesn't take crap from anybody.


( Vecchio makes a panicked phone call to Sandburg. Unfortunately for him, it's Ellison who answers the phone )

Scenes From a Marriage by Elementalv.

Title Shaman You by Subcircus
Pairing None. Characters: Blair Sandburg, Jim Ellison, Harry Dresden
Author on LJ: idontlikegravy
Author's Website : Subcircus' page on AO3

Why this must be read

Chicago is where Harry Dresden, Wizard, has his consulting business – no love potions or endless purses provided – but when Detective Blair Sandburg cons convinces his superiors to hire Harry to help solve a case that has elements of ritual magic, Harry agrees and travels to Cascade. By train instead of a jet because wizards and technology don't mix. He's surprised to find that the unlikely pair who he liaisons with are a sentinel and a shaman.

I like outsider POVs and Harry provides an interesting one as he observes Jim and Blair and their little in-jokes that he gets enough to know they're based on some interesting history between the two.

Subcircus has a deft hand with the plot and characterizations. There is some description of gore but no more so than shows like CSI or what you see down in Ducky's morgue from NCIS. I particularly liked how she fit Blair's powers as a shaman into the Dresden Files magical universe.

A Wizard, a Sentinel, and a Shaman walk into a bar get acquainted.

( read more )


Shaman You by Subcircus (20846 words)

Title: Little Boy Lost
Pairing: Gen
Length: 3,725 words
Author on LJ: Phenyx_tP
Author Website: Unknown, but here are some other stories by the same author
Why this must be read:
I'm sure there are other due South/Dresden Files crossovers out there (that have, you know, some Dresden Files in them) but this one is so sweet and warm, that it's got to be my pick for today. Because you know that six-year-old Fraser would be just like this...

( The sound of a door opening interrupted any response Vecchio would have made. )

Little Boy Lost

Fandom: DRESDEN FILES (TV)
Pairing: Harry/Murphy (that is not the focus of this story, just a part of it)
Author on LJ: joonscribble
Author Website: Author's stories at fanfiction.net
Why this must be read:

This is my last rec for this small fandom, and I hope that you have enjoyed all the recs I have made this month. Saved one of the best for last.

With a wish, Harry finds himself in an alternate universe where he never had any magical powers. He very much has a life he wants: his father is alive, he has a successful career, his relationship with Murphy can be more than in the world where he is a wizard. But despite the good things in his life, he becomes aware of the ways in which these things come at a cost.

I love that the new world Harry finds himself in is a good place for him, but that there is something fishy going on that makes it wrong for him to stay there. As ever, this author nails the canon character voices and creates fascinating original characters. It's a beautiful and emotionally complex story with magic and mystery, which are the things I love about the Dresden Files.

( An excerpt )

The New World

Fandom: DRESDEN FILES (TV)
Pairing: Harry/Murphy-ish
Author on LJ: awanderingbard
Author Website: Dresden Files tagged items at author's LJ
Why this must be read:

I've recced this author before on Harry and Murphy fic, and that is because this author really just *gets* these two characters and their chemistry. This is a great little snapshot of their relationship taken as Harry provides Murphy some information for her police report. The banter is wonderful and the ending is laugh out loud hilarious.

Sleight of Hand

Fandom: DRESDEN FILES (TV)
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: verseblack
Author Website: Unknown
Why this must be read:

This short fic provides a nice illustration of Bob's pain and his fears. The dialog rings true between Harry and Bob as does Harry's attempt to provide a solution even if it can only be ephemeral.

"Bob, what did you do with my keys?" Harry shouted while scattering papers off the desk. The ghost raised an eyebrow at the chaos the wizard was inflicting on his workspace.

"I can quite safely assure you that I had nothing to do with your present inconvenience."

"That has to be one good thing about being a ghost," Harry grumbled. "I mean, you never have to worry about misplacing something. That's the one thing you can always blame on someone else."

"Yes," the spirit drawled, "there are indeed benefits to having nothing left to lose."

Loss Prevention

Fandom: DRESDEN FILES (TV)
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: cyloran
Author Website: Dresden fic tagged items at author's LJ
Why this must be read:

Cyloran has written numerous Bob-centric fics and this is one of my favorites. It's Father's Day, a tough day for Harry, who has lingering feelings of sadness and guilt about his father's death. Bob reasons with Harry in an attempt assuage those feelings. The rapport between Harry and Bob is great, and the fic will leave you with a smile in the end.

Simple Gifts

Vidder: Weslyn
Musical artist: 65daysofstatic
Pairing: None (though I suppose one could view it with shippy goggles)
Vidder on LJ: weslyn
Vidder's website: Vidder's profile on YouTube
Why this vid kicks ass:

This is a beautiful vid that provides a great overview of Harry and his relationships. I love how the music is done with Harry as a child, it's a little sad but still innocent. As an adult, things are much darker and more complex, and the music reflects that. He uses black magic to save a friend, complicating their relationship. He works with Morgan while still being somewhat at odds with him. He's haunted by his father's and uncle's deaths. He discovers the depth of Bob's loyalty.

The whole vid is fantastic, but there are some particularly well done moments with the music and the imagery. I love that the only dialog we hear is Malcolm's warning to Harry about doing things he isn't going to want to do, and then going from that to Harry performing black magic. There is a brief moment when the vid flashes on Harry's father while Murphy is trying to save her own father, and that struck me in particular. This is my favorite Dresden Files vid and I hope you will enjoy it.

Aren't We All Running

Vidder: starphoenix79
Musical artist: Dane Cook (this is spoken word comedy, not music)
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: Unknown
Vidder's website: Vidder's profile on YouTube
Why this vid kicks ass:

I haven't seen many vids that use spoken word instead of music. This one is done very well and is HILARIOUS. The premise? Bob is the creepy guy at work. He's that weirdo who is at every job you go to, and poor Harry is stuck with him! There are several places where the comedy track and the clips from the series align just perfectly, especially with the characters' facial expressions. It gives me a laugh every time I see it.

Creepy Guy at Work

Fandom: DRESDEN FILES (TV)
Pairing: Harry/Murphy-ish (friendship, but could be read as more)
Author on LJ: guardian_chaos
Author Website: None
Why this must be read:

Fact: Harry Dresden gets his ass kicked in the series. A lot. It's one of the hazards of fighting monsters and other such villainous beings. In this story, Harry has such a day, and it only goes from bad to worse when he gets home to find his fridge has finally kicked it. But then Murphy comes by and things look up. The author has Bob's voice nailed and the rapport between Harry and Murphy is perfect. It's a heartwarming story that definitely delivers on holiday spirit and friendship.

Harry raised an eyebrow, but chuckled anyway. “You’re an odd thing, lady.”

“Says the wizard known to talk to the decorated, life-sized skull he carries around in his bag.”

Thursdays

Title: London Calling by joonscribble
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: joonscribble
Author Website: Author's stories at fanfiction.net
Why this must be read:

"London Calling" is the first of a series of short fics featuring Crowley and Aziraphale trying to acquire Bob's skull and deal with the conundrum his soul represents, while Harry is caught in the middle. In this story, poor Harry finds himself kidnapped to London with two strangers bickering over him. Is it a dream of is it real? Harry can't be sure.

Throughout the series, the author totally nails the character voices. Absolutely delightful to read. Funny and touching at the same time.

( An excerpt )

London Calling

( Links the the rest of the series... )

Title: The Seventh Law by awanderingbard
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: awanderingbard
Author Website: Dresden Files tagged items at t author's LJ
Why this must be read:

This story is a joy to read! It's just another day for Harry until a 1950s police box materializes inside his shop and out steps Rose and the Ninth Doctor. It's a sort of situation where the characters are surpised, but they are all so used to surprising things in their lives that they can take it in stride. The characters are all spot on and the author really gets the humor of both series and meshes them perfectly.

( An excerpt )

The Seventh Law

Fandom: DRESDEN FILES (TV)
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: lmd_84
Author Website: Author's stories at fanfiction.net
Why this must be read:

Note: This is AU in that Bob is corporeal.

There's nothing cheery or warm about this fic. It is a bleak, ruthless look at what might happen, but it is very well done. What I like about it is that it isn't just about a single tragic event, but is about the fallout of that event, a tragedy unto itself. What I love is that it shows that Bob's loyalty and affection for Harry run deep, but then has Bob take his feelings and turn them into something dark, becoming something that Harry never would have wanted.

Only the Dead

Fandom: DRESDEN FILES (TV)
Pairing: None
Author on LJ: joonscribble
Author Website: Author's stories at fanfiction.net
Why this must be read:

This is a short, but powerful fic. It's an upsetting story that leaves you thinking about it long after you have finished reading. And the more you think about what it means, the more it will disturb you. So... dark, but *excellent*.

Harry is in mortal peril, and Bob, having no physical presence, cannot come to his friend's aid. In desperation, he summons a "trickster" to make a deal.

Bob bargains with the only thing he has and the end result is absolutely chilling.

The Best of Me

Fandom: DRESDEN FILES (TV)
Pairing: Harry/Murphy-ish
Author on LJ: awanderingbard
Author Website: Dresden Files tagged items at author's LJ
Why this must be read:

The author absolutely nails the character voices and the great rapport that Harry and Murphy share. Murphy stops by Harry's place on her way home from the Policeman's Ball to drop off his paycheck, and she's feeling a little glum so he does some cheering. I love how their friendship is captured here with warmth, good-natured teasing, and a bit of flirtation. This one will leave you smiling from start to finish.

"Listen, it is entirely against the laws of nature that you put on that dress and don't get to dance," I insisted, dragging her to the living room. "Seriously. We're talking hurricanes, earthquakes, maybe even zombies. Do you want to start a zombie uprising, Murphy?"

She laughed again. "No. I guess not."

Pas de Deux

This will cover the TV-verse for the Dresden Files, not the book-verse. The show was based on the series of books by Jim Butcher, but the canon of the TV series is not exactly the same as the book canon.

BASIC PREMISE

Harry Dresden is a wizard, who works as a sort of supernatural PI in Chicago, helping his clients resolve problems related to the magical world

( This way to the rest... )