Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing/Characters: Fox Mulder | Dana Scully
Length: 1800 words
Author on LJ: maybe_amanda
Author Website: Gossamer
Why this must be read:

I found the perfect little fic to end my final drive at crack_van. It's another story written for the year's xf_santa exchange. MaybeAmanda is a great talent, a wonderful woman, and a fabulous asset to whatever fandom she's in. She has a reocities website, too, but my bookmarks are mia. I'll have to edit it in later. What she's written for us is a Christmas story, but it's not a sappy one, and it's not a sad one. She takes an O'Henry story, and gives us a delightful little commentary on it from first Scully's and then Mulder's POV. The writing is smooth as silk, her characterizations are as always spot-on.

Read The Gifts of the Magi (On a Kaiser Roll).

Thanks to the mods for giving me this last opportunity to drive the van. Good night, everyone.

Vidder: Akachankami
Musical artist: Fiona Apple's cover of The Beatles' song.
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Vidder on LJ: akachankami
Vidder's website: No, but her vids are up at Youtube.
Why this vid kicks ass:

I'm jumping on the one last vid rec for the road bandwagon. Mixed metaphors aside, this vid is fantastic. It was made for the xf_santa gift exchange and posted here not a week ago on LiveJournal. The song was a perfect fit for the series and the pairing. The clips are wonderful and her editing is skillful and smooth. I was blown away.

Watch Across the Universe.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing/Characters: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: short story
Author on LJ: that_khyber
Author Website: Khyber's Stories, waybacked | Gossamer
Why this must be read:

I consider Khyber to be one of the best writers (no longer) in our fandom. He wrote complicated plots, complex characters, both canon and original, witty dialogue, and well, um, really hot sex. Though he ships Mulder and Scully, and some of his stories are humorous, his version of them is kind of messed up, psychologically speaking.

This is not MSR, and it's not exactly femslash either. What it is, is a scorching hot, twisted, sexual fantasy threesome.

Read one equals one equals zero

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing/Characters: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: novella
Author on LJ: onemillionnine
Author Website: OMaN at reocities | Gossamer
Why this must be read:

This is still and forever my favorite season seven fanfic. I know what the rest of the fandom's favorite is, and don't get me wrong, I love "Parabiosis," too, but OMaN's Mulder and Scully are a lot more fun and entertaining. They also seem much more like the characters we see on the series, at least the versions I have running around in my head.

The conflict between Mulder and Scully provides all of the comedy and the bulk of the plot, as with with Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." Like Benedict and Beatrice, OMaN's Mulder and Scully come together by the end, and their true love for one another is revealed to all in the story's climax.

Her summary: An explanation of Mulder's sudden belief in 'miracles.' Arthur C. Clarke's second law in action. A bit of Mytharc in the guise of a case file. But in the end it's all about sex. Then again, what isn't?

The only reason I've not recced this more often is that I was afraid of losing my noromo cred.

Read El Quinto Sol.

Because the original overview was done in 2004, I thought I'd take this opportunity to post a brief update for the series, along with some new, working links, and suggestions on where to find fanfiction in a fandom that just celebrated its 20th anniversary. Do I need to warn for spoilers?

The X-Files gets a second movie.



( We wanted to believe )

Ready or not here it comes.

No third movie on the horizon. But we did get a new comic book series: The X-Files Season Ten. Chris Carter says it's canon. Of course, right from get-go, it also contradicts canon. Sigh. I've only read one comic, and I didn't like it enough to buy more. But I thought you should know it's out there, in both print and digital editions.

( Some of the covers are pretty )

But a Shadow of Her Former Self

Although the fandom contracted even before the series ended, and has continued to shrink, there is still a contingent of devotees, still discussing the episodes, still writing fanfic, creating art, graphics and fanvids, and still maintaining the archives. In 2008-2009 when many fandoms lost entire websites, The X-Files fandom successfully saved and resurrected many of ours. I so wish I could get the person who wrote the Fanlore article about The X-Files to update it and include the newest links. I will assume everyone here knows about FF.net and AO3. Tumblr.

( Get your fanfic here )

Other resources, especially for fanfic writers:
( I have more links and will add as I locate them )

I'm also going to list the still "active" communities here on LiveJournal, which isagel didn't do, I'm assuming because back in day there weren't any.

( We are going to have a good time )
If you believe I have inadvertently left something off, please let me know. But do check the archive links first, as they are exhaustive.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing/Characters: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: novel + a sequel
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: prufrock's love at reocities | Gossamer
Why this must be read:

I assumed I'd already posted this here but apparently not. Certainly I've recced it everywhere else. It's long and kind of angsty. Okay, it's very angsty. On the Prufrock Reader Torture Scale, with zero being angst-free (though there is no angst-free prufrock story as far as I know) and 10 being "Negative Utopia" or maybe "The Wasteland," this rates at least a seven. It is not season eight fic nor is it season nine, but William is there and so is Mulder so I am classifying it as season nine, AU.

You might wonder why I like this story as much as I do, given that I dislike babyfic and haven't seen most of season nine. But prufrock's love writes a lovely Mulder, as he negotiates his way through fatherhood under the worst possible circumstances. There's a good chunk of her version of Mulder/Scully romance, an x-file, and a little some mytharc thrown in for good measure.

My only complaint about this story was the ending, which left a couple of Big Things unresolved. In 2011, to my delight, prufrock's love returned and posted a terrific sequel, "7 Days in May," which you can read at Gossamer, along with the revised version of "The 13th Sign."

Read The 13th Sign.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: Novel
Author on LJ: syntax6
Author Website: The Fanfiction of Syntax6
Why this must be read:

Syntax6 is acknowledged to be one of the best, if not the best casefile writer in our fandom. Her stores are complicated mysteries that always take Mulder and Scully on an equally complex emotional journey. She had this story offline for a number of years, so I was pleased to see it back up when she revamped her website. I consider it one of her very best.

Read Scavenger.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing/Characters: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: short story
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: Kipler's Fanfiction Index or at Gossamer
Why this must be read:

This story is perfect. It's on my ten best short fics for The X-Files, maybe for fanfiction, period. I really like stories that are told from an outside POV. The opening to this piece still gives me the shivers, the ending still astounds me.

Read Strangers and the Strange Dead.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing/Characters: Fox Mulder | Dana Scully
Length: novella
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: Gossamer
Why this must be read:

Years ago, when I first began reading XF fanfic, I had heard of Nascent via this site, actually, and this story, which was recced by Punk back in 2004. But the links were broken. Eventually, I found a copy of "Pillar of Salt" archived--somewhere else--and got to read it. I loved it. Her Scully sounded just like the one on screen, and her Mulder did, too. Their relationship as portrayed by Nascent was just as codependent as the canon version. She wasn't trying to rewrite canon, she was enlarging it and adding to it! I had to have more. Because she'd taken down her website, it was a tough search.

But in 2011, Nascent archived some of her fanfic at Gossamer. This is particularly significant for "Pillar of Salt" because she rewrote an important section.

In this story, Mulder invites Scully away for a weekend under false pretenses. What can I say--it's Mulder being Mulder. I don't want to give anything away but let's just say the vacation does not go as expected--for either of them. Nascent is particularly good at integrating the relationship story into a well-plotted X-File. From the prologue:

Between the chess game and the argument, I'd asked him again: "So you brought me up here just to talk to this paranormal scientist?"

"Yeah," he'd said, staring into the fire, again unable to meet my eyes.

I knew he was lying; I just didn't know how big a lie it was.

Thank you, Nascent.

Read "Pillar of Salt" at Nascent's Page at Gossamer by scrolling to the story.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing/Characters: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: novella
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: Gossamer but under several different names: Jess, Jess M, and Jess Mabe
Why this must be read:

There are not many stories that made me look at canon, and wonder--what if it were true? Reading "The Other Man" changed how I viewed 1x2 "Deep Throat," and changed how I looked at the myth-arc. You know how some stories are so powerful they stay with you forever? Trust me, this one will. It's about Mulder and Scully and cloning; since this is The X-Files, you know that can't be good.

Reaching over, she stroked his hair back from his forehead in a gesture that seemed familiar despite the fact that she rarely did it. He closed his eyes, leaning into her touch. She hesitated only a moment before letting her fingers stray slowly down the rough edges of his jaw and back up to run the sensitive pad of her thumb across his mouth. When he didn't protest, she scooted a bit closer and cupped his cheek, her fingertips tickling his ear, her thumb flat against the soft skin of his cheekbone.

"Do you like my face?" he asked, his voice low.

"You know I do," she replied, her fingers tracing his eyebrows, the soft black curve of his eyelashes against his skin. "I always have."

Read "The Other Man".

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing/Characters: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: short story
Author on LJ: amalnahurriyeh
Author Website: her lj fic tag
Why this must be read:

I detest most hurt/comfort stories, so naturally this one doesn't really follow the conventions as there is a lot of hurt but very little comfort. There is also a lot of very unromantic, scorching hot sex, tangled up with intense emotional pain. Guilt. Grief. Anger.

( Read an excerpt )

Even if this isn't exactly your Mulder and Scully, you will be captivated by this compelling post-ep to "Emily," written by one of the best writers in the fandom, circa 2007-2012. Then go read everything else she's written.

Read Sweet Nothings for the Numb.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing/Characters: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: novella
Author on LJ: penumbra23
Author Website: Three stories at her journal, the rest are at Gossamer.
Why this must be read:

This is a major work by a major writer, and not only is it the best work she's ever done, I think it's one of the best stories written for the fandom. It is also one of the most disturbing stories I have ever read. I think I went into a fugue state after reading the first section. Seriously. "Fathoms Five" is a dark treatment of the possibility raised by the climax of "Tithonus": what if Scully was immortal?

( Read an excerpt )

The author chose not to warn, and I am honoring that here. If you need to know before you read this, PLEASE private message me. This story is dark.

Read Fathoms Five.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing/Characters: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: novella
Author on LJ: aslownight
Author Website: her page at Gossamer
Why this must be read:

I can't believe how fast the time has gone. For these final days I am going to focus on fanfiction for The X-Files which I consider essential reading. Regardless of whether it's been recced here before, unless it was during the past couple of years, I consider it fair game.

I recced this story myself when it was first posted in 2007, and at het_reccers a few years ago. Both sets of links are broken. It's an old fandom. In any case, this is one of my favorite stories of all time from one of our most accomplished and under-appreciated writers--by the general readership, though not by her fellow authors--the one and only Kel.

Kel has set her tale in a post-Requiem universe where seasons eight and nine never happened. "Mulder and Scully have a son named William, but he wasn't born in a ghost town or adopted by farmers or anything stupid like that." It's told from the POV of her original character Jerry Luskin, making his fourth or fifth appearance in a Kel fic. It has that trademark Kel wit, edge of your seat suspense, smooth prose, terrific characterizations, an irresistible mix of humor and poignancy, and a far more satisfying ending to the series than the stupid one we got from 1013.

( Read an excerpt )

Read "A Beginner's Guide to Tightrope Walking" and then head to Gossamer and read everything else. You will not be sorry.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: 12,700
Author on LJ: denynothing1
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read:

I've been looking everywhere for this story, which is funny considering it's famous enough that I'm pretty sure someone must have recced here already. Or should have. The author as it turns out wrote under a different name back in the day, changed it at Gossamer, then changed it again--as one does--on LiveJournal. Fortunately, she archived it at AO3, where I ran into it accidentally looking for something else entirely.

Oh yes. I am supposed to be telling you why you should read this. It's a funny, character-driven fic set between Triangle and Dreamland. Mulder and Scully deal with the fallout from his bedside confession of love. He's caught between two realities and two women: the woman from his fantasy world in 1939 and his partner, Dana Scully. Her character voices are perfect wherever Mulder's imagination takes him.

Read Sixty Degrees of Separation.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing/Characters: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully, the Lone Gunmen, and an OCat named Jasper.
Length: vignette
Author on LJ: estella_c
Author Website: n/a
Why this must be read:

Written for xf_santa 2013, "The Next Level" is a post-ep for "The Truth." It's told from Frohike's POV, but all of the Gunmen get their turn, and Mulder and Scully make an appearance too. I love this little story. She nails Frohike's voice, but all of the Gunmen are excellent. The only place I can find this writer's work (so far) is at the community where she has a second story posted. If estella_c has another account somewhere, I'll edit the entry later and add it.

This story is funny and poignant and a perfect coda for the Lonegunmen. Every sentence crackles with wit.

What a fandom. Twenty years after the pilot was aired and people are still writing gems like this.

Read The Next Level. NOW.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: 1587
Author on LJ: tree
Author Website: AO3 | Gossamer

Why this must be read:

For my gift for xf_santa, I just received a podfic of this terrific story. I had read it a long time ago, and while I hadn't exactly forgotten it (tree is one of my favorite writers), hearing idella's sensitive recording for the first time, and rereading it was a revelation.

"The Arrival and the Departure" is a post-ep for FTF, but unlike any I've read. She gives us a modern retelling of "Sleeping Beauty," a "fever-dream fairytale," of Scully while she is suffering from the alien virus. The story begins in the hallway, and takes us all the way to Antarctica where she is rescued from her captivity in the alien ship by Fox Mulder. Written in 2006, it was a stunning debut story from a remarkable writer.


Read The Arrival and the Departure.

My apologies for my recent absence. There were reasons. I will make it up to you in these closing days, I promise.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: novella
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: Oracle's Fanfic | Her Gossamer page
Why this must be read:

This is a casefile, with Mulder and Scully at work investigating an X-File. It comes with a fairy tale ending that I found charming, and innocently romantic. All of the original characters are well-drawn, and her small town setting is magical.

Read Energy and Light

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Monica Reyes/John Doggett
Length: 1437
Author on LJ: anr
Author Website: AO3 | ashes-ashes
Why this must be read:

This is the story of what happens to Monica and John after "The Truth," as foretold by Monica via an apocalyptic vision, and related to John as they're leaving New Mexico. This author pulls it off, too. There's beautiful, lyrical writing, but it's too short for me to quote here. This is my favorite story for this pairing.

Read A Spanish Fairytale

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder & Dana Scully
Length: 23307
Author on LJ: runpunkrun
Author Website: AO3 | Gossamer

Why this must be read:

Way back in the beginning of season two, to deal with Gillian Anderson's pregnancy, her character was written out of the series for an episode. We know about Scully's resulting physical issues, but I've only read a handful of stories that deal effectively with her memory loss and PTSD. This myth-arc, Scully POV story is refreshing, really, especially when I compare it to the "they're soulmates forever and want to get married and have lots of babies" stuff so many fans write (and want to read) now.

In a recent post on Dreamwidth, Punk wrote this about "Ingénue."

In 1999, I decided to try some heavy angst, and thanks to TXF canon, I didn't have to look very hard to find an appropriate source. I wanted this story to be as cold and unrelentingly grim as possible, so I set it during season three's infamous "rift" between Mulder and Scully, threw in some unmarked train cars, a vulnerable teenage girl, and a creepy dude named Millicent. I really struggled with writing this, but I pushed through because I loved the title I picked and wanted to post before someone else used it. This, of course, was back in the days where part of choosing a title was searching Gossamer to see if it'd already been used.

This terrific story is well-written, emotionally affecting and truly memorable.

Read Ingénue.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: novella
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Zuffy's X-Files Homepage

Why this must be read:

Let's face it: The X-Files ended badly. Given how many loose ends there were to tie up, maybe it was impossible to end it well. One of the things that loose canon gave us was plenty of material for fanfiction fix-its. Zuffy does a great job providing us with an alternative to the problematic season eight (and Mulder-less season nine), with a story that balances reason and mysticism like the very best of the series itself. Her Scully characterization is perfect. I cried at the ending. No, really, I did.

Synopsis: Mulder didn't forget his sister, Scully knows whose baby it is, Maggie still cares about her daughter, and the brain disease makes sense after all. This story is for anyone who has gnashed their teeth at the inexplicable holes in Season 8.

Read Hieroglyphs of Meaning.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder&Dana Scully
Length: 2155
Author on LJ: emily_shore
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read:

This was given to me for Christmas five years by Naraht, who founded xf_book_club, and ran it with my help for several years. Since it was gen fic, it didn't get the attention from the fandom it deserved, though a wonderful artist, Skuuri, created this illustration for it: One is Silver. Briefly, it's New Year's Eve, they're on duty, patrolling the festivities trying to look like ordinary folk out for a good time. Naraht's writing is always subtle and nuanced, and she stays close to canon for characterization and plot. This is a small gem of holiday fanfic.

Read One is Silver

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: 4946
Author on LJ: yahtzee63
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read:

After that last rec, I'm sure you're all in the mood for a happy ending for our dynamic duo. Yahtzee tells her story through a tarot card reading. It's Scully's birthday and she is at home getting a reading from a fortune teller, a gift from her partner. There is also a tiny little casefile, but really this story is about Scully and Mulder's relationship. It's charming and delightful, and that's all I'm going to tell you.

Read Celtic Cross

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: 26,000
Author on LJ: rivkat
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read:

I really don't want to spoil this story. Reading it deeply affected me and "Fugue" is one of my favorite stories in this or any fandom. It attempts to answer this question: Who would you be if you weren't who you were?

I have this theory that this story was written as a response to the complaint that the show is a deeply sexist text, with Mulder being the one who drives the plot, and Scully as his sidekick. Well, it is just a theory. But there does seem to be a subtext to this fable, one that hinges on female identity, and how easily women still can submerge themselves in deference to their mates' ambition and passions.

Read Fugue.

Vidder: freyatlast
Musical artist: vocal artist, Emmy Lou Harris; song by Steve Earle.
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Vidder on LJ: frey_at_last
Vidder's website: No, but her vids are up at Youtube.
Why this vid kicks ass:

This vid portrays what the show was all about for me. It wasn't about the shippy moments. To me, it was about all of the doors they opened together, and the cars they rode in, together, and the fields they walked through together. All of the cases they solved and the ones that they didn't. So much emotion expressed through glances and shy half-smiles. Everything unspoken but still somehow understood. And my favorite Emmylou Harris song!

Watch Goodbye.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: short story
Author on LJ: elapses
Author Website: halfbysea
Why this must be read:

Because it's funny. Because it's crackfic for one of the funniest episodes of the series. She really nails the tone of their interaction from Mulder's POV. And I love how perfectly this fits in with that hilarious bit where Scully straightens Mulder's tie while they're waiting outside Skinner's office.

Read Meanwhile, Back at the Sam Houston Motor Lodge.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: 20 vignettes, so long novella, maybe?
Author on LJ: syntax6
Author Website: Fanfiction by Syntax6
Why this must be read:

This is a love letter to The X-Files, to Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, and to the fandom itself, written in honor of the series' 20th Anniversary celebration at xf_is_love. One story for each year of their fictional relationship, posted daily, for twenty days. "Mulder/Scully, extended flash fic; WTF was I thinking this fic is going to kill me." That's quoted verbatim from her website. This is truly one-of-a-kind because no one but syntax6 could've pull this off.

Read 20.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: ~ 4300 words
Author on LJ: leiascully
Author Website: AO3
Why this must be read:

Far from being the soulmates other fans imagined, Mulder and Scully seemed like very different people to me. And while I loved watching their UST on the show, frankly, the RST in fanfic often bores me. In this retelling of the sixth season, leiascully captures Mulder's feelings of ambivalence toward Scully: wanting her, being annoyed by her, being annoyed by wanting her. He takes her away for the week-end, ostensibly to chase ghosts, sits with her in a hot tub—and does nothing!

He worries that he loves her by association. He worries that she tolerates him simply because she's used to him. In the daylight, in the office, their lives feel so ordinary. Two hired guns for the FBI, overeducated, underpaid, no scope at all for the kind of epic love he wants to believe they could share someday when they get around to saying it. When they find a safe space. "Son," says the bottom of the whiskey bottle some nights, "you're delusional."

He wants to believe.

Yes, indeed. That is the Moose and Squirrel I know and love.

Read Endeavours Too Short of Desires at her Livejournal | her AO3 account.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: 8,000 words
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: Author's Page at Gossamer
Why this must be read: Since "Flightless" was already recced here, I decided I should give Geb's "A World to Save" a try. I am so glad that I did. This is one of the best post-col stories I have ever read in this fandom. Her Scully is strong, brave and pragmatic, fighting to save her son, fighting to save her world. Geb's world-building makes sense of the wacky TXF canon, the brief glimpses of Mulder and Scully's relationship feel right and true, the ending is not without hope. The version posted at Gossamer has formatting issues so I've archived it at Fugues.

If you must have Mulder and Scully's son carry the name of William, be warned--he doesn't. This story was written in 1998. It's amazing how much Geb anticipated canon. And improved on it.

Read A World to Save.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: novella
Author on LJ: n/a
Author Website: Increasing Workplace Productivity | Author's Page at Gossamer
Why this must be read: Though prufrock's love is perhaps best known for her historical AUs, I actually prefer her post-col and myth-arc stories. This myth-arc heavy fic is not canon compliant, so if you are the sort of reader who gets freaked out because Scully has a baby girl and it's not Mulder's kid, you may not enjoy this. But if you like a well-constructed, exciting, fast-moving drama, with an emotionally satisfying resolution, snappy dialogue, and a great first person Mulder POV, I would at least give it a try. I think her summary gives a good idea of what you can expect without giving too much away.

Mulder is returned: to Scully, to a new baby, and to vivid nightmares of his role in the future. A love story of Elvis' revenge, baseball, babies' toes, hitchhiking the galaxy, aliens, hard science, and a little faith. Star Trek, Tigger baggage, old shirts, new beginnings, and the end of the world as we know it. And Jack Nicholson.

Yep. That pretty much covers it.

The revised stories she's posted to Gossamer should be read there, since they're the most current versions, plus there's an email address now. The geocities (now reocities) website is no longer being updated, but the fic is still (mostly) available.

Read Pascal's Wager.

Fandom: THE X-FILES
Pairing: Fox Mulder/Dana Scully
Length: 84 K
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Livia's Inkspot
Why this must be read:

This story is one of my favorites, a fanfic I can read again and again with pleasure. Livia Balaban's metafic is an unusual blend of humor, laced with sorrow and loss. It's sweet, slyly funny, and wise to the ways of fandom. It fills me with longing for what I never got to experience firsthand: being a Phile, back during the heyday of The X-Files.

Read M. Luder, King of 'SETI Troopers' Fanfic