Fandom: Xena: Warrior Princess
Artists: various artists for each video, attributed
Vidder: Tinka1482
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder's Website: on YouTube
Why is must be watched:
I'm continually amazed by vidders who can reinterpret the source material, but vidders that can tell a whole new story with the source material blow my mind. Tinka (who has been recommended here before) is just that sort of mind-blowing vidder.

The Conqueror Series of vids tells a whole new story (in-line with a fanfic of the same name, btw) where Xena is a despotic ruler of nations and Gabrielle is the slave she's taken a fancy to. They change each other and the world hangs in the balance. REALLY awesome (and really dark) storytelling. Uhhh, warning for violence and themes of rape and torture.

The Conqueror: The Beginning
The Conqueror: The Beaten and the Broken
The Conqueror: To Tame A Slave
The Conqueror: The Cry of the Broken
The Conqueror: The Rise and the Fall
The Conqueror: Into the Darkness (part 1)
The Conqueror: Into the Darkness (part 2)

Fandom: Xena: Warrior Princess
Artist: Metisse - "Boom Boom Ba"
Vidder: Charmax
Vidder on LJ: charmax
Vidder's Website: on YouTube
Why this must be watched:
I've recommended Charmax here before for a reason. This is fantastic. I almost feel like I should be labeling it NSFW, but it really isn't... it just feels like porn. Charmax's choices of material married to the editing and song make this an incredibly lush vid. And hot.

Boom Boom Ba by Charmax

Fandom: Xena: Warrior Princess
Vidder: Rudesby
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder's Website: on YouTube
Why this must be watched:
Because you maybe don't have time to go re-watch all of Xena (although it is conveniently available on Netflix, or, ahem, other places I can tell you about if you ask nicely) and just want a refresher course on the show. An AWESOMELY FUNNY refresher course!

Rudesby recaps episodes of the show in a truly hilarious manner, full of funny voices and emphatic hand gestures. I've watched several different recappers on YouTube for a variety of different shows, and Rudesby is, hands down, the best of them all, even though she doesn't use clips of the actual show. Her sheer glee and energy talking about the episodes is awesome.

Check them out, you won't regret it!

An Introduction, by Way of Explanation
A Primer
Episode 1.08 - Prometheus
Episode 1.09 - Hooves and Harlots
Episode 1.12 - Greeks Bearing Gifts
Episode 1.13 - Athens City Academy of Performing Bards
Episode 1.15 - Warrior... Princess
Episode 1.16 - Mortal Beloved
Episode 1.17 - The Royal Couple of Thieves
Episode 1.18 - The Prodigal
Episode 1.20 - Ties that Bind
Episode 1.21 - The Greater Good
Episode 1.22 - Callisto
Episode 1.23 - Death Mask
Episode 1.24 - Is There a Doctor in the House?
Episode 2.01 - Orphan of War
Episode 2.02 - Remember Nothing
Episode 2.03 - The Giant Killer
Episode 2.04 - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Episode 2.05 - The Return of Callisto
Episode 2.06 - Warrior... Princess... Tramp
Episode 2.07 - Intimate Stranger
Episode 2.08 - Ten Little Warlords
Episode 2.10 - The Xena Scrolls
Episode 2.11 - Here She Comes, Miss Amphipolis
..and more in the future!

Fandom: Xena: Warrior Princess
Artist: Celine Dion - "Eyes on Me"
Vidder: AmazonBettyGR
Vidder on LJ: unknown
Vidder's website: on YouTube
Why is must be watched:
Because you only THINK you remember how much lesbian subtext was in Xena... and how much "exotic" dancing in skimpy outfits the show had. Because Lucy Lawless and Renée O'Connor are both gorgeous. AmazonBetty uses clips from all the seasons to showcase how awesome (and sexy) the show was. Watch it, even if you are not a fan of the show... heck, even if you've never seen the show! You won't regret it, I promise.

Xena and Gabrielle - Sexy Dance (Eyes on Me) by AmazonBettyGR

Fandom: XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (UBER)
Pairing: uber!Xena/uber!Gabrielle (Maddie/Syd)
Length: 192,700ish words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Ann McMan.com, at The Athenaeum, at The Royal Academy of Bards
Why this must be read:
This story is uberfic, which means that it is an Alternate Universe of the show. Or rather, this is Xena and Gabrielle in modern times with no reference to warlords, Greek gods, and monsters of the supernatural variety.

This story is, quite simply, STUNNING. It is a beautiful romance between Dr. Maddie Stevenson (uber!Xena) and librarian Syd Murphy (uber!Gabrielle). It's a lushly described story with fully fleshed-out details. Syd, the new librarian of the town of Jericho, meets and starts falling for Maddie, the tall, attractive local physician. Slowly, their friendship blossoms into something more. The dialogue and flirting between the two main characters is witty and fun. I love the characters in this -- even the supporting cast is well-written. This author is amazing -- I highly recommend giving this story a try.

Jericho by Ann McMan

Title: Shadows of Angmar by Mike Taurguss
Pairing: various and sundry, but heavily inclined to Gabrielle/OC
Length: 315,223 words
Author on LJ: no idea
Author Website: Mike Taurguss on FF.net
Why this must be read:
Have you ever gotten stuck in a fandom rut? Think you've read it all and can predict the endings? And then suddenly a story comes along and it blows you away because it is like nothing you've ever read before and you keep thinking that it shouldn't work so well and that it really isn't the kind of fanfic you like to read and then three hundred thousand words later you emerge from reading it in a daze... yeah. That's this story.

Gabrielle and Xena are mysteriously transported to Middle-Earth (about 20 years after the War of the Ring). There are also some other travelers that literally crash land there, too, and it seems Gabby and Xena have a history with these characters (the prequel to Shadows of Angmar, Xena and the Flight of the Phoenix details those adventures in only 40,821 words). It's really hard to describe this story... for the first several chapters I was all "WTF!??! Space ships? I don't! Guns? What!?!" but eventually I got past that and started enjoying the incredible characterization, dialogue, and detailed world building (both original and Tolkien). You should know that it takes a skilled writer to keep me off-balance and intrigued. If you are a fan of military and/or space operas, like Xena: Warrior Princess AND The Lord of the Rings, don't mind a whole gaggle of well-developed original characters, and enjoy good writing, this story is for you!

Warning: The story is not, technically, complete, but it has been in progress for 6 years and the last update was yesterday. Since it'll probably be awhile before this fandom is driven here again, I couldn't resist recommending it, but I don't want you to get through 300k words without knowing that it's not over yet. On the other hand, Chapter 17 ends at a good stopping place, and hopefully the author will update in a few months...

Shadows of Angmar by Mike Taurguss

Fandom: XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle
Length: 4,891 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: fanfic archived at The Royal Academy of Bards, profic website
Why this must be read:
This is one of those lovely gems of a story that I return to for the warm and fuzzies... and the hilarity. The premise just tickles me, but I don't want to give it away so I won't say much. Xena and Gabrielle celebrate the holidays in the modern world and get a new/old addition to their household. ^_^

Solstice Memories by Mickey Minner

Fandom: XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS
Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle
Length: 81,781 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: archived at The Royal Academy of Bards
Why this must be read:
In time of ancient Gods, Warlords and Kings, a land in turmoil cried for a hero. She was Aquila, a mighty chicken forged in the heat of battle. The power, the passion, the danger -- her courage will change the world.

Wait, what? OK, the premise of these stories is Gabrielle writing a series of fables based on her life with Xena. And as we all know, fables must have animals for main characters... yes, Gabrielle casts herself and Xena as chickens, Aquila and Billie, who, along with their friend Ergo the horse, travel the world righting wrongs. Each story is framed by scenes of Gabrielle and Xena interacting (well, flirting) before we launch into the story of the warrior fowl.

No, this is no more cracktacular than the show (considering that in the ACTUAL CANON, various characters were turned into barnyard animals MORE THAN ONCE), really, and it's actually rather sweet. As well as extremely silly -- full of more puns than you can shake your tailfeathers at!

New Friends
Sometimes You Get the Bear
Ergo's Tale
A Dazed Tale
The Rabbit and the Hawk
Revenge of the Hawk
A Day at the Fair... and what it leads to
Pecking Order, or, Hoist on Her Own Petard
Interlude
Pei Back, or, Two Chickens in a Basket
Life is a Prairie

Hello, my name is cloudtrader and I'll be driving two vans again this month (really, people, go sign up for a chance to drive the van -- Doctor Who drivers are particularly needed!). I will be recommending stories for a nice little fandom you may have heard of called Xena: Warrior Princess (and Hercules, too, don't worry). This was my first online fandom, starting back in 1995 and wow, it's been awhile! The van is old and a bit decrepit, so help me out, please, and point me towards any stories you think must be recommended. And enjoy!

(PS: ALL of Xena: Warrior Princess and MOST of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys are available Watch-It-Now on Netflix, FYI!)

Fandom: XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS & HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS
Pairing: none (mind the goat)
Length: 690 words
Author on LJ: mythdefied
Author Website: Story Guide, Paradox
Why this must be read:
Let's start out the Herc & Xena recs RIGHT, with some hardcore crack and wacky godly hijinks! :D

This little gem of a story makes me giggle, because it could have been taken straight from either show, with a pissy Ares, a pissed-off Aphrodite, a bitchy Discord, and Strife there to stir the pot. Just a little something from one of the fandom's best authors to whet your appetite.

A Hairy Situation by Mythdefied

Fandom: Xena Warrior Princess
Pairing: Gabrielle/Xena
Length: 2,929 words
Author LJ: n/a
Author Website: n/a (thus far... am still searching)

Why This Must Be Read:

What pleases me most about this fic (and I feel will please all of you as well) is the fact that this little tale is from an outside perspective - from the viewpoint of a man (not a god or a warrior) - but a simple man with a lot of pain, caught up in the devastation that a volcano caused and a wounded son.
And this character gives us all a wonderful vision of Gabrielle, of her selflessness and of her unwavering connection to one warrior princess.
All things are revealed at just the right pace in this story.
Very lovely.


( an excerpt of the story )


After the Volcano by Mary Morgan

Fandom: Xena Warrior Princess
Pairing: Gabrielle/Xena
Length: 5,076 words
Author LJ: n/a
Author Website: http://www.academyofbards.org/authors/julia_goldman.html

Why This Must Be Read:


Every one of this author's fics are amazing, but this one stood out to me for several reasons.

1) Exquisite use of language and imagery. So full of descriptiveness and poetic-ness, it almost causes me to swoon.
2) It is set during and post 'Return Of the Valkyrie' (which is the last installment of one of the best and most romantic trilogies in the series).
3)It is a first time story that isn't too sappy or too cheesy, set during the last season (which is also a rarity). It is two mature women, who happen to love each other beyond the love of friendship.

Every single line of this story is amazing. It is philosophical and has depth. It is loving and tender. Just a perfect story and honestly one of the best this entire fandom has to offer.


( a bit of the fic )


Constancy by Xena's Little Bitch, aka Julia Noel Goldman

Fandom: Xena Warrior Princess
Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle
Length: 2,300 words
Author LJ: n/a
Author Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/860245/modernbard

Why This Must Be Read:


The author presents such a small snippet of time for Xena and Gabrielle, yet it is full of longing and lies. Post-Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, the two women take a moment to reflect (together and separately) about the effect of Bacchus on their lives.
And from Xena's perspective, we get an insight into how that single bite on her neck led the warrior princess to a shocking fact.
Very well written and so much emotion for such a short piece.
And that last line just kills it.


( super tiny bit of the fic )


With Vision Cleared by modernbard

Fandom: Xena Warrior Princess
Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle, super-light Xena/Ares and super light Gabrielle/OC
Length: 6,525 words
Author LJ: n/a
Author Website: http://www.academyorbards.org/fanfic/t/temora

Why This Must Be Read:

Because it is the funniest thing ever written for the Xena-verse. Seriously.
The author does their own take of a regular day for Xena and Gabrielle, the warlord they encounter, the village they must save and every other cliched/repetitive thing that occurred on the show itself.
And it is so accurate in its snark, that you know this author absolutely loves Xena Warrior Princess like no other.


( a bit of the story )


Fighting the Good Fight by Temora

Fandom: Xena Warrior Princess
Pairing: Gabrielle/Xena
Length: 3,404 words
Author On LJ: n/a
Author Website: http://www.academyofbards.org/fanfic/a/acidburn

Why This Must Be Read:

One of the earliest XWP stories I ever read and it convinced me that fanfic could be art.
The language is what sells this story, which is an AU based on the episode 'The Reckoning'.
The words are crisp and sharp and descriptive, like nothing I've read before or since.
It is, all at the same time, poetic and realistic.
And I love that is is from Gabrielle's point-of-view, where you can witness her own transformation in the early years of travel in the same moment that Xena is transformed before Gabrielle's eyes.

Just simply gorgeous.

( a bit of the fic )


Alpha And Omega by Acid

Fandom: Xena: Warrior Princess
Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle
Length: Well over 70,000 words
Author On LJ: n/a
Author Website: http://www.academyofbards.org/authors/annemaart.html

Why This Must Be Read:

Okay, let me take you back to last year, when I first found this story and couldn't shut up about it...

"The Edge of Nowhere is a Conqueror timeline fic. I've read a lot of fics where Xena is still a big bad killer and Gabrielle is a slave - and this isn't one of them. And thank god for that.
What you have here is a story of that seems simple at first - Xena the Conqueror is bored with life and seeks a reason to keep fighting (perhaps to even keep living...). Gabrielle is an emotionally and physically scarred woman, all by Xena's hand. And they begin a game with each other, both for different reasons.
You get to see the world as it might have been if Xena continued on with this particular destiny... and how fate has a funny way of getting you back on track with your true path.
Plus, unlike many other Conqueror fanfics, this one is not quick with the forgiveness or the love.
And I am a sucker for a tale that makes Gabrielle capable, in battle as well as in her judgment."

And my opinion of the fic has not changed at all. It is wonderfully written - the author doesn't force romance or forgiveness or understanding. They let it flow out organically and it is absolutely wonderful.
Great cast of secondary characters, some very familiar and some new.

But be prepared to sit down for a long read or to do this thing in bite-sized pieces. It is long and you won't want to stop! ;D


The Edge Of Nowhere by Annemaart

Hello there! I'll be delivering Xena:Warrior Princess recs for this month. And you'll get to read some of my absolute favorite stories in this fandom.
So, battle on! :D


Fandom: Xena: Warrior Princess
Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle
Length: A little over 14,000 words
Author On LJ: n/a
Author Website: http://www.academyofbards.org/authors/fialka.html

Why This Must Be Read:

This fic is such a wonderful subtext-to-maintext view of Season One, where Xena is still raw and Gabrielle is still so innocent. It plays on the themes that the show set up early in the first season (Xena's lack of self-worth; Gabrielle's naivete), diving underneath each pivotal moment and giving the reader more to chew on.
Plus, it doesn't sugarcoat their involvement - as many fics love to do. They are drawn to one another and, yet, cannot get completely beyond the walls of the past and of youth within each other.
It is a fic with depth and it is so simply written - it is as if the author did this in their sleep, for it comes off so effortlessly.
This story is loving and sweet and revealing - and in all the best ways.
Ooh, and it is from Xena's perspective and it is pitch perfect.


( a bit of the story )



A Waltz 'Round My Subtext by Fialka

Fandom: XENA
Pairing: primarily Xena/Gabrielle, but some Xena/Callisto and Hercules/Iolaus too
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Power Plays
Why this must be read:
This story is dark, but compelling. It explores the relationship between Callisto and Xena, which was one of the most interesting parts of the show. What responsibility should Xena take for creating Callisto (during her warlord days, Xena sacked Callisto's village and killed her family, turning Callisto to the dark side)? Are forgiveness and redemption truly ever possible?

The story begins with Xena held captive by Callisto the goddess. The "hurt" in hurt/comfort is quite severe, and please take the author's warnings on the index page linked below seriously. If the first part of the story is too much for you, consider skimming it and continuing with part 2.

The story is part of a larger slightly-AU series by the author, linked from the story below. The story can stand alone just fine, but the AU series explores the evolving relationships between Xena and Gabrielle, and also Hercules and Iolaus, both before and after this story. In fact, "Dark side of my soul" has about as much Hercules / Xena interaction as it does Gabrielle / Xena interaction, and Hercules is shown in a caring way that's quite compelling. Hercules and Xena have some nice moments, as do Gabrielle and Iolaus.

Follow Xena on an emotional and physical journey in this story, which reaches an ultimately satisfying conclusion.

The Dark Side of my Soul

Vidder: tinka1482
Musical artist: Disney (various)
Pairing: Xena / Ares; Xena / Gabrielle
Vidder on LJ: Unknown
Vidder's website: Tinka1482's YouTube Channel
Why this vid kicks ass:
I watched a whole bunch of Xena/Gabrielle vids, and even some Xena/Ares vids, while trying to find something to recommend, but they all started to blend together after a while. If you want video proof of Xena and Gabrielle's neverending love and devotion to each other, just poke around on YouTube for a bit and you'll find plenty of fodder. Heck, just watch the show and you'll find plenty of subtext that's less and less hidden as the series goes on!

So I decided to recommend something a little different. This video, "Xena Screws up Disney", is hilarious. It casts Xena as the princess, cast out of her house by a stepmother "Because if she does not, there would be no story". She encounters the beast, Gabrielle as a baccae, and is saved by Ares, the handsome prince. But not all is right in this fairy-tale world, and soon Xena realizes that it is the beast, truly, who has stolen her heart...

This video is well-edited and is set to an array of your favorite Disney melodies, which are often surprisingly appropriate. The subtitles are just hilarious, and the whole thing is disturbingly funny, down to the note at the very end about a beast's hair-length. Give it a try and I think you'll be amused.

Xena Screws up Disney

Fandom: XENA
Pairing: Xena / Gabrielle (and AU versions)
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Pink Rabbit Consortium Xena Fanfic Archive (scroll down to Anima)

Why this must be read:
An interesting story, that's actually three short stories on a related theme - one in the "classic" Xena universe, and two in alternate universes (AU, which is known as "uber" in the Xena fandom, and is actually canon since there were a couple episodes of the show with the "characters" of Xena and Gabrielle brought into different time periods). The first places places a Xena-like character and a Gabrielle-like character on a train in WWII-era Europe. The second explores the dynamic between Xena and Gabrielle on one of their many rides through the countryside on their way to save the day, and the third bring the two characters into the modern day. The theme tying together the three stories is sex, and so each of the three is basically a sex scene with enough backstory to make it interesting.

One of the hardest parts of an AU / uber story is keeping the characters in character - it can be difficult to keep the core essentials of a personality intact while placing the character in completely different surroundings. Anima does this quite well in this story, especially in the WWII-era piece.

There is also an excellent sequel, "Triptych Home", which revisits the characters in each of the three universes as they go home.

Triptych Sex and Triptych Home

Title: Xena; or, The Warrior Princess, by Kevin Wald
Pairing: none
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Kevin Wald
Why this must be read:

There's really no way to describe this. It's one of the main reasons I wanted to recommend
Xena stories this month (and why I waited in line for a year!), only to miss cross-over day. Can I get credit by saying that yesterday was also my birthday? Anyway, this is one of the most amazing, and funniest, pieces of fan fiction I've ever read. Technically it's a filk, which is a song whose lyrics have been redone by a fan. For anyone who likes Gilbert & Sullivan Operettas, or even who's seen one once, you'll find this hilarious. It's to the tune of a famous song from "Pirates of Penzance", and not only does it scan perfectly (i.e. the words line up EXACTLY to the music, which is a feat in and of itself), but it's completely in keeping with the style of Xena, right down to the sly asides (subtext!) and stage directions. It even has footnotes, and is amazingly erudite! The rhymes are just amazing, too.

A brief quote:
"But though the kinked chronology, confusing and chimerical
(It's often unhistorical, but rarely unhysterical),
Would give a massive heart attack to any antiquarian,
I am the very model of a heroine barbarian!"

Any fan of Xena, or G&S, or both, who hasn't seen this is in for a treat. I dare you to try to read this without at least singing it in your head, if not out loud. Enjoy!

Plain Version: Xena; or, The Warrior Princess or Heroine Barbarian which has a sound file link in case you can't remember the tune.

Fandom: XENA
Pairing: Xena / Gabrielle
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Novel Expectations, but her Xena stories aren't there. You can see her 2 other Xena stories at the Bard's Corner (scroll down to Dartt).
Why this must be read:
This story and its sequel (Enemy Ours) are by one of my favorite Star Trek fanfic authors, who fortunately has also written a few Xena stories. Enemy Mine takes place during the series, after the story arc in which Xena's nemesis Callisto becomes an immortal, helps defeat the crazed Amazon queen Valasqua, brings Xena back to life, kills Gabrielle's husband(!), and eventually is trapped in quicksand. (This illustrates a typically crazy episode arc on Xena, but don't worry - the important bits are summarized in the story).

In Enemy Mine, Callisto has been brought back to Earth by the Goddess Artemis as a protector for Gabrielle. However, she's not quite the crazed nemesis that we're used to from previous appearances, and Xena makes an uneasy truce with Callisto as she must rely on the immortal's help to save Gabrielle. Callisto's character growth in this story is well-done, and there's a great payoff at the end for Xena and Gabrielle as well who finally admit their true feelings for each other. The sequel, Enemy Ours, continues the story of a redeemed Callisto who finally finds love (after helping Xena and Gabrielle on an interesting quest to once again defeat Valasqua, and dying a couple times along the way).

Enemy Mine and Enemy Ours

Hi everyone - I'm taking the reins this month to take you back to a time of ancient legends and heroes, otherwise known as the fabulous world of Xena: Warrior Princess. I'll be focusing mainly on "alternative fiction" (as femslash is known in this fandom), with my favorite pairing, of course, being Xena / Gabrielle. I'll try to shake up the recs with some other types of stories as well, though. Fortunately, I recently finished re-watching the whole series on DVD, and am enjoying rediscovering my favorite stories.

Fandom: XENA
Pairing: Xena / Gabrielle
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: D's Fiction Page at the Bard's Corner
Why this must be read:
This long, detailed epic is a great way to get back into the Xena spirit, for any of you who might need a little refresher. It takes place after the final episode of the series, in which Xena dies, apparently for good. Like any good fanfiction writer, D takes that starting point and makes things all better. Of course, given the length of this story, it takes quite a while to reach the desired conclusion, as Xena and Gabrielle, who have become immortal, must separately live through centuries of human history before they can finally be reunited. D has imagined a fantastic story for the two women as they literally live through and influence many of the important events of history as we know it. D's writing is imaginative and well-researched, and the character growth and interesting plotting bring about a very satisfying conclusion. Eventually. Set aside a couple long nights to read through this story!

Blood Bond

Fandom: XENA
Pairing: Kennedy Nocona/Carson Garret (X/G uber-fic)
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Texbard's Xena: Warrior Princess and Uber Fan Fiction Page
Why this must be read:

Yet another classic Uber-fic brought to fandom by Texbard. This was another of the first uber stories I ever read, and it firmly cemented my love of that particular genre of Xena fic. Linda's Kennedy is a magnificent example of Xena in the modern world, and Carson embodies all of Gabrielle's wonderful qualities. The two meet at a seminar one hot summer afternoon - Carson as an attendee and Kennedy as the speaker. Immediately drawn to one another, the two meet by chance later that evening at a club, and embark on a relationship that changes both their lives forever.

Their journey from friends to soulmates and lovers makes for a fantastic read, set against the background of a mystery and a hidden danger that could cost Carson her very life.

Take a deep breath and set aside some time to lose yourself in The Bluest Eyes in Texas.

Fandom: XENA
Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: (unknown)
Why this must be read:

Aside from the fact that I can't stop singing the song that's the source of the altered title, this is a classic Xena/Gabrielle madcap adventure. DJWP creates an engaging character in Sappho, the Tenth Muse on a tour of the known world, and ties canon elements seamlessly and easily into this wonderful story.

Set aside a goodly amount of time to read this story. Like all of my recs, this is a long read, but it's worth it. Sappho, as interpreted here, is hysterically funny - she'll touch your heart even as your fingers are itching to wring her neck. Xena and Gabrielle's budding relationship is so incredibly obvious to everyone but the two in question, and the little ways they show each other they care are endearing.

DJWP's fic can be found at The Bard's Corner author listing, but go check out the rockin' good times in A Bard Day's Night!

Fandom: XENA
Pairing: Devlyn Marlowe/Lauren Strayer (X/G uber-fic)
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Advocate's Briefs
Why this must be read:

I've been out of the Xenaverse for a while now, but I was so delighted to find a sequel to Madam President while searching for recs that I had to post both these stories.

Devlyn Marlowe is the first female President of the United States. Like most Presidents, she needs a biographer. Lauren Strayer didn't even vote for the woman, but she's been tapped to chronicle the four years in office of the first female President. As a side note, I wish we lived in a world where we could not only elect a woman as President, but we'd get her into office as a GAY woman.

The stories take some surprising twists and turns as it draws the reader into a world that's vaguely recognizable as Xena, and a whole lot like something you'd read in The West Wing. It's smart, funny, heartwrenching and terribly satisfying by turns. I stayed up way too late re-reading "Madam President", just so I could greet the dawn with "First Lady".

While these stories may not be terribly new to the seasoned Xenaverse veteran, I was surprised and delighted to discover a sequel to one of my favorite fandom uber-fics. I hope you'll enjoy these stories as well.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Madam President and First Lady.

Fandom: XENA
Pairing: Dar/Kerry, uber-fic
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Merwolf's Cave
Why this must be read:

I'm reccing Merwolf's other major series of stories because I feel that Dar and Kerry are an excellent place for new readers to begin exploring the subcatetory of Xena fanfic known as "uber". For those who may not have seen the show, it's canon that Xena and Gabrielle are soulmates, forever and ever and ever. Their future incarnations will occasionally meet in a linear time-stream, and will, in all likelihood, recognize one another for who they once were and truly are.

Yeah, I know. Sounds horribly smarmy, but it works. They did this on the show in a few episodes, and fanfic writers took what is normally known as an "alternate universe" and made it their own. And Merwolf makes it work really, really well. As a computer professional, I can empathize with Dar and Kerry's lives even as I appreciate just how well the core traits of Xena and Gabrielle can be placed in the 'right now'. This (incredibly long and fantastic) series parallel's much of the television characters development even as it adapts and changes some of those circumstances to modern day challenges.

Dar is a tall, goregous, dark haired, hard as nails corporate executive who is excellent at her job, but has an empty life outside of it. Kerry is the daughter of a US Senator who has been fed the party line since she was born, and longs to find her own way in the world. They meet the day Dar comes to take over the business Kerry works for, and their lives take some interesting twists from there. I've grown to love Dar and Kerry just as much (if not more) as Xena and Gabrielle, and hope some of you looking for a fulfilling, satisfying, 'make you laugh and move you to tears' storyline will read this series.

It may be frowned upon to rec the same author twice in a row, but I absolutely love the entire Dar/Kerry series, and hope you'll dive into the heart of the uber-fic maelstrom with Tropical Storm.

Fandom: XENA
Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle, alt-fic
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Merwolf's Cave
Why this must be read:

Easily one of my favorite series in this particular fandom, Merwolf's Xena and Gabrielle series brings the characters to life in a way I have rarely seen off the screen. She truly brings out the best in both characters, delving deeper and deeper into their motivations, their lives and their love. The title of the series is appropriate, as the series begins at a time in which the women are just two friends and follows their adventures and their lives as they learn and grow closer together. Much of the series parallels events in the show, but takes an "alt" twist where Xena and Gabrielle become partners, lovers and soulmates.

Merwolf's original characters are fascinating, extraordinarly well written and truly integrate into the established characters lives. The secondary characters familiar to viewers are included here as well, and are detailed to a remarkable extent. The author is incredibly skilled at taking the various character and episode threads and weaving them into a richly detailed tapestry where each thread seamlessly blends with the others to provide an amazing body of work.

All in all, if I had to pick one single Xena alt series to read forever more, this would be it. Like a favorite book, you will find yourself coming back to it over and over again for a comfortable, warm and wonderful read.

Incidentally, Melissa Good is one of the few, the proud, the incredibly lucky. She is a bona fide fanfic author who also happened to pen two episodes of Xena that actually made it to the screen. If you'd like to read more about that particular feat, you can read a nice interview over here.

If you've never read Xena fic, I invite you to begin here, with the Journey of Soulmates series.

Please excuse the tardiness of this overview. The Xena driver got run over by the flu bus, which has delayed this posting.

Welcome to the crack_van overview of Xena, Warrior Princess. My goal, in this short amount of time, is to familiarize you with the basics of the Xenaverse, and hopefully spark enough interest in the show in this community to make it a regular fandom. Aphrodite knows there's enough material on the 'net to make it both easy and rewarding.

( Argo says follow the cut tag to learn more, or she'll plant a horseshoe where the sun don't shine.... )

Title: When Hellmouths Collide by Martha Wilson and Kimberley Rector
Pairing: Iolaus/Buffy, Giles/Xena
Author on LJ:ltlj
Author Website:The Less Than Legendary Journeys
Why this must be read: I'm one of the co-authors, but there aren't many Hercules crossovers to choose from, so here goes: Buffy, Xander, Giles and Willow are accidentally sent through a dimensional doorway to a strange new world, where they run into Hercules and Iolaus. Together, they uncover Ethan Rayne's terrible plot against this world. Jason, Autolycus, Xena and Gabrielle are also major characters.

When Hellmouths Collide