Fandoms
Addams Family | Alien Nation | Anne books | Avatar: The Last Airbender | The Avengers | Batman | Batman Begins | Battlestar Galactica (original) | Belgariad & Mallorean | Beowulf | Bible | Blackadder | Bloom County | Boston Legal | Boy Meets World | Brimstone | Bull Durham | Burn Notice | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid | Cagney and Lacey | Calvin and Hobbes | Callahan's books | Casablanca | Chanur | The Chronicles of Amber | Coldfire Trilogy | Commercials | Criminal Minds | Dangermouse | The Dark Is Rising | The Dead Zone | Dexter | Doctor Who | Dogma | The Dresden Files | Due South
updated April 21, 2008
Cleopatra's Needle, by Fuschia
(het - Morticia/Gomez)
2,830 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
At fifteen, Morticia Frump is as interested in her graveyard gardening as her older sister is in her suitors. But gardens and suitors do not always stay in their separate worlds.
Why you should read this
The recipient of this story described it as Gothic, rather than goth, and I'm blatantly stealing that here because -- yes, that's it exactly. This is lushly atmospheric, every word carefully chosen to build the world Morticia lives in. Read this one slowly, so you don't miss any of that, because Fuschia does an amazing job of making you feel how beautiful, how sensual Morticia's world is to her.
The voices are also perfect, which becomes especially clear when Gomez comes into the picture, exuberant and happily charmed by Morticia in her still, quiet serenity. Just amazing, all around.
(het - Wednesday/Joel)
1,033 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
She warned him.
Why you should read this
This one comes at the Addamses from the lighter side of things, to great effect. It tells the story of Wednesday and Joel's relationship in short flashes, starting as children and up through and beyond the wedding (*points to title*). Vyola's got a deft, dry, charmingly wry touch here, and each little flash is its own gem.
Star Light, Star Bright, by Amy
(gen)
1,194 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
George and Emily do some stargazing together while camping.
Why you should read this
A quiet, warm piece that manages to get straight to the heart of the close relationships among Newcomer families, and the strain that living on Earth has been for at least some of them.
The Blythe Men Are Forgiven, by Scroll
(gen)
1,436 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
"John Blythe was a nice boy. We used to be real good friends, he and I. People called him my beau."
Why you should read this
There isn't a lot of fanfic I need for the Anne books, but this -- this was one of them. <happy sigh> Short, sweet, quiet.
A Thousand Miles, by Therienne
(gen)
3,965 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
The first step is the hardest.
Why you should read this
Oh. Oh, this is how it happened. This is exactly what happened, between the Agni Kai when Zuko lost to his father, and his search for the Avatar with Iroh at his side. This is how the journey began.
Iroh and Zuko both break my heart here, in the best possible way, and in ways that are so right for them it's breathtaking. The story is short but wonderfully layered, seamlessly painting backstory that is so right it's now canon in my head. And not just 'what happened' backstory, but 'why it happened the way it did'.
Just -- Iroh. And Zuko. Oh, my heart.
Day of rest and gladness, by torch
(gen)
1,004 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
Day of joy and light.
Why you should read this
*myfavoritething*
I adore this story to a degree I can't even express. It's pure delight, with frolicking and warmth and affection and one of the sweetest buddy relationships ever. Momo + Appa = ♥.
(gen)
4,361 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
Steed is threatened with extinction. Mrs. Gale ruffles some feathers. Mrs. Peel takes up bird watching.
Why you should read this
The dialogue, the humor, the offbeat details, are all just perfect. I could see it all happening; it was like reading an episode. Great fun, all around.
Express and Admirable, by the Jack
(slash - Bruce/Clark)
3,441 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
Clark has needs only Bruce can meet.
Why you should read this
This is really, really hot. It's also a very well-done character study of both Clark and Bruce, showing how self-control is is a huge factor in both their lives, for different reasons. But mostly? Really hot.
I'm not sure which specific (part of) canon this is set in, but if you know the modern versions of the characters, especially Batman, at all, you'll appreciate this.
One Life From Many Deaths, by Destina
(slash. sorta. - Bruce/Ducard)
5,000 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
Although I listed this as slash because there definitely is an erotic, highly charged relationship involved, it actually reads more as gen to me. The story isn't about that relationship per se, but about Bruce's lifelong journey to becoming Batman, of which that relationship is only a part.
The writing is clean and wonderfully suited to Batman -- evocative and with just a hint of formality, both in the language itself and in the cadence. The story itself travels the same path as the movie, but getting deeper into Bruce's head as he hones himself -- and is honed by Ducard -- into Batman, adding a perfect layer to what was on screen.
(slash - Alfred/Lucius)
1,795 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
Old men once were young.
Why you should read this
This is a quiet, subtle piece that made me sigh happily over the pair of them. I have a weakness for slash stories that involve restrained yearning, and while the yearning was softened by time here, it clearly never really went away. The flashbacks build the emotional backstory with delicate touches, while the main story hits all my competence kinks, with Alfred and Lucius just doing what needs to be done, and doing it damned well. Watching them rediscover a bond they thought they'd broken decades earlier is a quiet joy.
(slash - Apollo/Starbuck)
3,461 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
Apollo/Starbuck, first-time angst. Sheba alert, but poor thing, she doesn't get to play. Finally, please forgive the massive cliche in the set-up, as there are only so many ways to get three people into bed without intent. :)
Why you should read this
The setup here is as cliche as it gets -- as the author admits upfront <g> -- but I didn't care. There's a reason some cliches keep working. This was warm and sweet and hot, with a bit of angsty bittersweet as leavening. Starbuck/Apollo has been an OTP for me since before I understood why, though, so I admit I could be biased here. (But go read it anyway.)
(het - Hettar/Adara)
1,544 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
After Hettar returns from Mishrak ac Thull, he and Adara finally talk. Set during Enchanters' End Game.
Why you should read this
Hettar and Adara! I love fanfic so much. This is the missing scene we should have gotten in the book, with these two immensely pragmatic people dealing with the emotion and connection between them, after Adara's thought-she-was-dying confession. Leaper 182 captures both of them perfectly here.
Freawaru's Lament, by Ellen Fremedon
(gen)
1,098 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
Elegaic poem riffing off the Ingeld episode. Apply to the author for notes on the OE version. (No, there isn't a complete OE version. But there are notes *g*)
Why you should read this
This is the most fucking brilliant piece of fanfic I think I have ever seen. It makes me incredibly happy, just knowing it exists.
The words are modern English, but it evokes Beowulf as though it actually is a skilled translation of a lost text, right down to kennings and archaic grammatical structure. If you liked reading Beowulf, if you preferred the translations that kept it in verse rather than turning it into prose, you not only should read this story, you MUST read this. Go now, then heap praise upon the author.
(gen)
2,175 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
On a hot day in the village of Kerioth, one of the most famous friendships of all time begins.
Why you should read this
This is beautiful, and heartbreaking in its hopefulness and joy. The story stands on its own, I think, but the layers, and the heartbreak, come from knowing at least a little bit about how Christianity began.
Pimp and Pomposity, by Castiron
(er. mature - various)
2,599 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
Just when Blackadder thought his day couldn't get any worse, Lord Flashheart knocked on the door.
Why you should read this
Hee! Blackadder the Third is my favorite series of the four, and Castiron did a note-perfect job of capturing it here. Everything is exactly what it should be -- the dialogue, the asides, the descriptions (oh my lord, the similes!), and best of all, the characters, in all their lunatic glory. The plot is absurd, as it should be; the solution is ludicrous and wonderful and just perfect. The result that comes of the solution is is the candied cherry atop the buttercream frosting of the chocolate cake of this story. And poor Edmund, too smart for his own good once again. Just... hee! Blackadder, huzzah!
(gen)
2,205 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
Lord Edmund Blackadder was concerned about the state of his tights.
Why you should read this
This? Is Black Adder. heeheeheeHEE. It's wacky and surreal and full of bad puns and innuendo that you don't really want to think about, and basically is just wonderful. If you like Black Adder, you must read this. Simply must.
Wag the Duck, by Malograntum Vitiorum
(gen)
2,904 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
A Christmas-ish story of life in newsprint, featuring a young boy's adventures with scandal, snow, and scheming waterfowl.
Why you should read this
Bloom County fanfic. I love Yuletide so much.
If you loved Bloom County, you should read this story. Malograntum managed to get not only the voices right, but the narrative -- not easy, for a source where there was next to no narrative, because the images did so much of the work. But she pulled it off beautifully, in a Milo POV that had just the right amount and kind of description.
I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling the plot, which is just a blast. Suffice to say that when I finished this story, I was aglow with nostalgic delight, and had a strong yen to dig out some of my Bloom County collections and settle in for some reading.
(vid recs)
(gen, at the same level as the show)
words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
Denny/Alan/balcony through the passing of the seasons.
Why you should read this
The summary says it all, really: this is a series of balcony scenes, capturing Denny and Alan wonderfully, if not always comfortably -- they're not always easy characters to like, no matter how much I love them, and Lyrastar doesn't shy away from those less-likable aspects.Or the love. If you watch the show for the lawyer stuff, this may not work for you, but if you watch for Denny and Alan, and you love the balcony scenes, you'll love this one.
Three Dreams, Five Women, by Greensilver
(gen)
1,396 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
Fabulous Alan story, with some great Denny stuff as well, with spot-on voices and characterization.
"Maybe tonight I'll dream about the burial," Alan said, "and someone will have sex in a Pinto."
(gen)
2,410 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
Brad Chase really doesn't like Alan Shore. Too bad everyone else does.
Why you should read this
The voices in this were perfect -- I could hear every word coming from the characters, matched by the narrative. It made me incredibly happy. And also -- aww, poor Brad! So earnest, so freaked... so screwed. Hee.
My own personal summary line/quote for this would be: "He is the most disturbing man Brad has ever met."
(slash - Cory/Shawn)
5,987 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
Sometimes, finding the world just means opening your eyes.
Why you should read this
This is the Boy Meets World story I've been waiting years for. Merry's voices are dead-on and her characterizations are deep and layered, with emotional weight that makes my heart ache. The angst here is real, drawn straight from canon and character -- as is the warmth and affection, and the unwavering connection between Cory and Shawn no matter what they're going through. The resolution was so perfectly in character all I could do was beam. I love this one so much.
(slash - Cory/Shawn)
5,081 words
added November 22, 2006
Author's summary
Topanga goes to Yale. Shawn stays around to pick up the pieces.
Why you should read this
I loved the sweet, slow, slide of this, the way Shawn, as always, makes everything all right just by being there, and how nothing was fast -- they have no personal space between them, and it takes them a while to rea ize that now they really have no personal space between them. It's just lovely and warm and makes me happy.
Break My Heart, Sometimes, by Fabella
(slash - Cory/Shawn )
6,678 words
added November 22, 2006
Author's summary
Shawn never expected anything, but he wanted it.
Why you should read this
This is a different look at Cory and Shawn grown up than I'm used to, a little darker and more depressed, but Fabella weaves it tightly together and I buy it, especially as it's set immediately after Topanga and Cory finalize a divorce. I really liked Shawn's concern for Cory here, mixed with love and exasperation and a resigned, endless yearning. Cory is the real surprise here, reminding me of all the reasons Shawn loves him. Nicely done.
New York Makes You Gay, by Prosperina
(slash)
1,990 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
New York makes you gay. Or Pittsburgh. Or.something.
Why you should read this
It's an everyone-is-gay story that actually works for me, because strangely, everyone is in character and believable, and all the relationships make sense. Go figure!
Knowing Is the Easy Part, by lonelywalker
(gen)
2,869 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
Sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and squint into the sunshine and make sure you know where your gun is.
Why you should read this
I have a real thing for strong outsider-POV stories, which this is. It's so outsider-based, in fact, that Zeke never actually appears in it, except in memory. But his existence drives every word of the story, in how he's affected the detective who first met him in the series pilot. I buy this completely, and it deepens the Brimstone universe wonderfully.
How Not To Disappear, by sidewinder
(slash - Zeke/Satan)
2,792 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
Sometimes he wondered if he really felt anything, any longer.
Why you should read this
I've always wondered how Zeke would handle having to spend years at his demon-hunting job, and sidewinder does a lovely job of answering that question. Her Zeke has an air of weariness and disconnect from the world, a numbness, that feels very real. Lucifer is still fascinated by him, still drawn to him, still willing to tell him things that you wouldn't think Lucifer would admit to. The themes of nature's cold and demonic heat carry though the whole thing beautifully, making it starkly clear just how much Zeke doesn't fit into the world the way he used to, no matter how much he wants to. She's captured a lot of what I loved about Brimstone here.
Nativity, by Milkshake Butterfly
Brimstone/Dogma
(gen)
7,863 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
Eight and a half months after the end of Dogma, and there's no room at the Inn
Why you should read this
This was brilliant and snarky and fun -- the sequel to Dogma that should have happened, meshed perfectly with Brimstone. Not only does it have Satan and the Metatron snarking away in the corners again (one of my new favorite things ever), it has the Three Wise Nuns. How can you resist a story like that?
Brimstone/Dogma
(gen)
5,916 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
When Zeke Stone tracks a demon to a strip club in the middle of nowhere, he finds more than he could imagine.
Why you should read his
I wouldn't have thought these two universes could cross, but I was wrong. This works very nicely, including some lovely snarking that I read three times just for the joy of it. Really, you have to read it just to see Satan and the Metatron snarking it out.
(het - Crash/Annie)
4,836 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
Another season, another rookie, and Crash is getting older.
Why you should read this
I have a weakness for baseball movies that almost never translates to print stories, but Flora won me over here right from the start. Her voices are spot-on, and the pacing and tone are just perfect, mixing character and baseball exactly right and capturing the movie wonderfully. I came away from this one all warm and happy, and wanting to watch the movie again.
(vid recs)
Dollars for Sense, by elishavah
(gen)
4,094 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
Love and money -- they're more reliably unreliable than death and taxes.
Why you should read this
This is a blast -- great pacing, bang-on characterizations, and a case that makes the whole thing feel just like an episode. No, really, just like an episode. I can feel the history between them all as they work on the case, and I can hear every word each of them says in my head. It even has little asides that give tidbits of neat information, which I can hear Michael voice-over-ing. It's all just fun.
Live to Tell, by romanticalgirl
(gen)
3,385 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
Sometimes who you are is in spite of everything, not because of it.
Why you should read this
Oh, Michael. This is a fabulous story, but it is not so much fun. It's a painful look at Michael's childhood, all the more so because romanticalgirl has brilliantly captured his matter-of-fact attitude/approach to life, and shows us exactly where it came from, and why. As someone else said in the comments: "Ouch. And yet, yay! And yet, ouch." That sums it up pretty much exactly. Read this -- but not on a day when you need a pick-me-up.
(poly - Butch/Sundance/Etta)
2,294 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
From Wyoming to Bolivia: The loves and worries of that long journey.
Why you should read this
Aaah. I could never quite believe that these three kept their relationships separated on that journey, and I'm very happy to see that here, at least, they didn't. Etta's POV was the perfect choice, and made the ending quietly heartbreaking, knowing what was coming next.
Women are from Mars, and Venus, by Sandy Herrold
(gen, hints of femslash - Cagney/Lacey)
3,331 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
Isbecki and Petrie hated having to go undercover at the bathhouse on 75th. How do Cagney and Lacey feel about going undercover at the women's spa in K-town?
Why you should read this
For years now, I've wondered why there isn't more Cagney and Lacey fanfic; if the show had aired even ten years later, it could have been a huge fandom. When I saw it on the Yuletide request list, I really hoped someone would write it, and this is the perfect answer to that wish. Everything about this brings me right back to the show; the voices and characterization are pitch-perfect, the case is engaging (and the way they handle it even more so), the hints of femslash potential are exactly the right level of dawning awareness and cluelessness.
The whole thing makes me intensely nostalgic for the show, in the best possible way.
Transmogrification, by Hyperfocused
(slash - Calvin/Hobbes, Calvin/otherHobbes)
1,594 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
It's all very real.
Why you should read this
There are bits of this I had to squint through, but overall this is a lovely piece, as Calvin grows up and gets a bit more focused, but never forgets who he really is. The author completely nailed 6-year-old Calvin in the opening, and made his growing-up changes believable.
Many Hands Make Light Work, by Rose Fox
(gen)
2,838 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
A newcomer to Callahan's Place leaves a little more lighthearted than she came.
Why you should read this
This captures the feel of the early books -- fresh and hopeful and full of truly dreadful puns. The meta was a bit too meta for me, but not enough to throw me out of the story, and if ever a fandom could support a little fannish meta, it's Callahan's.
(slash - Rick/Louis)
12,646 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
This looks like the beg nning of a beautiful friendship -- but beginnings are only seeds, and it's a long way to Brazzaville.
Why you should read this
A long, damn near perfect story following the ending of the movie, as Rick and Louis head off to start their new life and their new, beautiful friendship. Subtle and well-written, and left me all warm and happy and melty by the end. As an added bonus, she managed dialogue that sounded like it came straight out of the movie.
This is no surprise to me -- Dorinda never fails to blow me away with subtle, perfectly in-character stories that take canon and quietly, almost matter-of-factly (in the best possible sense of that phrase) show new depths of emotion and relationship.
The Beautiful Dawn, by Lyrastar
(slash - Rick/Louis)
6,850 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
This is a bit of derivative fan fiction extrapolated from and set during the film. To better integrate the ongoings, some action and dialogue is taken directly from the film. Since it is one of the best known movies ever made, and attempting to plagiarize it would be about equivalent to trying to pawn the Mona Lisa, I didn't see any reason to offset quotes in any special way.
Why you should read this
Usually when I think of slash for Casablanca, I think of something like Nom de Coeur, above -- something that happens after the movie, when they walk off together into the night. This story goes the other direction, with Louis steadily faced with quiet regret over how they began, wishing that things had been different between them.
She did a great job capturing Louis's voice and personailty, and with weaving her story in and around the movie itself. Both Louis and Rick stayed the cynical, pragmatic romantics they were in the movie, and it all meshed wonderfully.
(gen)
2,272 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
Beyond the bounds of government, society, and perhaps the space-time continuum itself - wherever you go, there you are.
Why you should read this
Oh. This is Chur, back home aboard the Pride after recovering planetside, reconnecting with Geran and trying to readjust. The voices here are bang-on, and the entire story is quietly lovely, with Chur focused on Geran and ignoring her own (very real) PTSD, while Geran is... Geran, who's been without her sister for too long.
Worse, He's Boring, by sevenall
(gen)
2,458 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
"Two sisters homeless and self-exiled from the far hills. Chur doing the thinking and Geran with the knife." -- CJ Cherryh
Why you should read this
A "missing scene", about how Geran and Chur went from the mountains to space. I was very worried going in, because I adore the Chanur books, and Chur and Geran, and didn't think I could face a story that mangled the writing, characterization, or relationship. But sevenall did a fabulous job of maintaining the flavor of the original, so good it felt like Cherryh herself had written it.
(gen)
6,652 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
A thorny tale of 1 missing prince, 2 princesses, 2 cats, 3 witches, and a silver bird. Some overlap possible among categories; partridge in a pear tree not included. Drinking while reading not recommended.
Why you should read this
Corwin is missing, and his brothers have looked and looked for him. What you may not have heard is that his sisters did, too. This is their tale. Brilliantly whacked, and it was lovely seeing the girls get some screen time for once.
Rhi also manages t work in many, many references to other fandoms throughout -- which works perfectly, in the Shadows.
(slash - Vryce/Tarrant)
3,508 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
One of the places where his world changed.
Why you should read this
This is... so incredibly hot. If you know the books, it will mean a great deal more (this made me happy on *many* levels); if you don't know the books, the storyline won't make a lot of sense, but I'm betting you'll like it anyway.
(slash - Vryce/Tarrant)
7,028 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
"I believe this day past may have been the most peaceful I've ever spend in your company, Vryce," Gerald said lightly into the quiet. "It's been pleasant, if somewhat unnerving."
Why you should read this
There's hurt, and comfort, and a cave, and snarking, and more comfort, and touching, and warmth, and revelations, and fighting, and more warmth, and trust and loyalty and affection all winding around each other into deep, strong bonds. Okay, a soul bond. But it works here, fantastically well, because of who Damien and Gerald are, and it makes me incredibly happy.
As if that weren't enough, Merry managed to capture the mix of purple and scientific writing that makes the original stand out so clearly.
(er. het, slash, you name it...)
1,289 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
This is what your favorite advertising characters are doing when they're not trying to sell you stuff. Yes, I'm very ashamed that my mind went there.
Why you should read this
Oh, so very, very wrong. So perfectly, wonderfully, terribly wrong.
This will work best for you if you're familiar with US tv commercials, both recent and classic. Beyond that, I have no idea what to say that won't spoil it, and you should read this unspoiled for the true, marvelous effect.
Since I've specifically said I won't ever rec any RPF I feel like I should disclaim this: There is a bit of RPF in the story, but it's minor and extremely cracky (enough that I could speedbump it pretty easily). The lion's share of the story is about the advertising characters.
(gen)
2,700 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
JJ wonders sometimes if every member of their team has nightmares, but most of the time she knows they do.
Why you should read this
JJ's been growing on me over the years, from a fairly bland background character to someone I like a lot. This is a look at her I wasn't expecting, going deeper into her and the way her job breaks (and recreates) her, and how she has to cope with that alone, all in the context of how she sees the rest of the team (and how the rest of the team don't see her). There's a weariness and a sense of almost disconnect here that really works for me, in the context.
Missed Connection, by swtalmnd
(gen)
4,588 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
An alternate ending to "Sex, Birth, Death": what if Reid had spent the evening with Nathan Harris instead of letting him leave alone?
Why you should read this
The Reid voice in this is amazingly on target. While I was reading, I could hear everything he was saying and thinking, and see everything he did. On a par with that, Reid's interactions with various people were brilliantly done, exactly what they should be. This is already taking over from the canonical ending in my head.
Obviously this will work better for you if you know the episode, but I think there's enough background woven into the story that it isn't necessary to have seen it.
Professionals/Dangermouse crossover series, by Debra Hicks
(slash - Bodie/Doyle )
multiple stories
added November 22, 2006
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
Seriously, do you need anything more than the fact that this is a series of Pros/Dangermouse stories? I mean. Dangermouse! If that's not enough, there's also the fact that these are well-written, funny, and in-character, and some of my favorite Pros crossovers ever. And they're case stories.
The link above goes to Debra's story listing on The Hatstand, to make it easier to read them in order. Each one on the Hatstand has a link to the next in the series at the bottom, as well. There are eight total:
Mouseketeers (3,988 words)
Short Tails (2,298 words)
Of Mice and Monsters (5,165 words)
Werehamster of London (3,546 words)
Darts to You (3,943 words)
Lions and Tigers and Mice, Oh My! (3,347 words)
Kingdom of the Frog (3,851 words)
Humerus (2,700 words)
I'm not going to relink each of them again, but if the Hatstand is down or you prefer a different format, here's Debra's author listing on The Circuit Archive.
(gen)
5,364 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
Wonderful, plotty story that feels like a missing scene from canon, as Will travels with Mary and James to the Isle of Man. Pene has a deft touch with matching Cooper's descriptive tone and her feel for magic, and did a fantastic job of using Manx geography and legends in a very Dark Is Rising way. She's got everything here: atmosphere, magic, wonderful OCs, even backstory on Merriman. This made me really happy.
(gen)
4,770 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
"I'd like to commission a sculpture," Mr. Mitothin says, standing in Barney's studio.
Why you should read this
Oh. Oh, yes, this. This starts out creepily, as Mr. Mitothin commissions a sculpture from Barney, and it builds from there exactly as it should. I don't want to spoil this at all, so just -- if you liked the books, read this story. Seriously. It's chilling and scary and hopeful and sad and stubborn and subtle and wonderful, and is the perfect answer to what happens to them all after they've grown up.
(gen, mostly)
2,793 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
Jane/Bran, Will. Bran's memories are beginning to return, making him doubt his sanity. Will watches.
Why you should read this
While this is Jane/Bran in that Bran is married to a pregnant Jane, that's not the point of the story. To me, this is very much a gen story about Bran grown up, with dreams haunted by memories until Will comes to visit. I like the maturity of this -- both the theme of the story and the characters themselves, all of whom behave like adults throughout, and all of whom have their own memories and experiences that shaped them. It's also wonderfully atmospheric from the very first. There are some hints of Will/Bran, but very mild and subtle, and is altogether lovely.
(slash - Will/Bran)
2,573 words
added March 15, 2006
Author's summary
The pub was smoky, dark and crowded but Bran glimmered at the bar like the moon on dark water.
Why you should read this
I seem to have developed a weakness for "Will and Bran meet up again in their early 20s", and this does a wonderful job of that. I love how the connection is still there, but their edges don't mesh perfectly yet because they've grown up separately, and have to find their way back to each other. And as always, Pares's writing is just lovely.
(slash - Will/Bran)
11,023 words
added October 20, 2005
Author's summary
Loneliness, friendship, love and High Magic--a match even for the power of the Light. And if Bran remembers, Will won't have to be alone anymore.
Why you should read this
The voice in this caught me first; Ashura has Bran's cadences down perfectly. She also captured their relationship for me -- trust and affection and joy, but with underlying deep loss and sorrow on both sides that they have to live with.
The link above goes to Ashura's page, which is in frames -- navigate to fanfic, then Dark Is Rising, then Awakenings in three parts. If you'd rather read it on an archive, go here. (In this case, the archive is probably a better bet. The author's page is harder to read [smallish teal text on a dark teal background]).
To Remember for Always, by Genarti
(slash - Will/Bran)
5,670 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
Bran visits Will, and discovers that memory is an uncertain thing. Mild slash.
Why you should read this
This is wonderfully evocative of the books in every way, from language to theme. Even if you're not sure you want to read Will/Bran slash because you think of them as children -- give this a shot. You won't regret it. Genarti holds true to the books' characterization, and you'll believe that this is who Will and Bran are, when they've grown up a bit.
(vid recs)
Family Portrait, by Dira Sudis
(threesome - Johnny/Walt/Sarah)
9,135 words
added November 22, 2006
Author's summary
It was nothing like the way you actually felt when you watched home movies.
Why you should read this
The pairing/threesome here is almost incidental for me; what I focus on is the case, which is the lens through which the relationship develops here in any event. I really liked the way this built, from something fairly light and fluffy to something increasingly complex, until it feels like drowning. She does some cool -- and freaky -- things with how Johnny's visions work, too.
Sympathy for the Devil, by Dira Sudis
(slash - Johnny/Bruce)
2,690 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
"If the devil repented, could he be saved?"
Why you should read this
This is simply wonderful. It has it all: solid mechanics, great voices (and perfect Bruce POV voice), visions that matter -- both on a global scale and just between Johnny and Bruce -- just everything. The style is very straightforward and pulled me right in, and I could hear every word as though it were an ep.
This is the Bruce, and the Bruce/Johnny, I've wanted to see on screen since Zion. I wish this really had been an episode.
The Definition of Stupid, by Tangerine
(slash - Johnny/Walt)
4,957 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
Johnny knows one thing: the definition of stupid just never seems to change.
Why you should read this
This is fantastic. Perfectly in character, perfectly paced, wonderfully gruff and funny and cranky and hot. The author never forgets that Bruce matters tremendously to Johnny and Sarah matters tremendously to both of them, but keeps this entirely about Johnny and Walt in a way I can totally believe. If you're at all a fan of this pairing, you have to read this story.
(slash - Johnny/Walt)
28,266 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
His visions always gave him just enough information to act on, but they were never really great on giving him the big picture.
Why you should read this
Dead Zone slash is rare, and Johnny/Walt is rarer still, so this is a real treat. Better yet, it's long and extremely well-written, with a gripping plot that's liberally salted with humor, warmth, and hurt/comfort on all sides. Johnny and Walt's relationship develops naturally and gradually, in a way I can believe, which delights me -- much though I can see the seeds of a relationship between them onscreen, it's tough to get past the fact that they both love Sarah and would never hurt her. But trust me: this story manages to get them there while keeping everyone in character.
Conspiracy Theory, by Therienne
(slash - Johnny/Bruce)
6,379 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
This is wonderfully funny, and warm, and sweet. It's the missing scene of what happens when Johnny goes home after his stint in the underground government psychic think-tank -- to friends who were less than thrilled at the way he vanished with no explanation. She nails all the voices, and most especially the relationship between Johnny and Bruce. And did I mention the funny?
(vid recs)
(gen)
4,733 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
Funny the way that the past tense only works in one direction: you can be brother to a corpse, but it can't be brother to you.
Why you should read this
Fahye nails Dexter's voice and POV here, as she bridges the first and second seasons. This is pitch-perfect from start to end, laying the groundwork for the opening episodes of second season in a completely believable way. Just... go read this, if you're a Dexter fan.
(gen)
1,820 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
Deb just wants her brother to meet her boyfriend. (Set during Season One's Father Knows Best)
Why you should read this
Oh, Deb. This is so hopeful, and so heartbreaking, and so perfect. Deb's voice is bang-on all the way through this, and there's a sense in this that she's almost aware of the truths surrounding her -- but she can't quite get there. This is really well done.
Women Are Wicked When They're Unwanted, by Troll Princess
(gen)
869 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
AU, in which someone else turned out to be the Ice Truck Killer.
Why you should read this
This is a short, sharp, creepily plausible AU, if the Dexter universe were twisted just a titch. Just... yeah. I can see this. (eep.)
Use Your Illusion, Too, by Troll Princess
(gen)
1,027 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
Deb copes (or something kind of like it) following the events of the season finale.
Why you should read this
Deb drove me absolutely nuts during most of the series, but Troll Princess managed to make me really feel for her here. She gets into Deb's head in a way I can believe, in a series of small snapshots of Deb's coping strategies after the finale, and wrapping it up with the absolutely perfect line.
(vid recs)
(gen - Ten, Sarah Jane)
3,246 words
added May 29, 2007
Author's summary
Of all the flowerbeds in all the gardens in all of South-East England, you had to end up in mine.
Why you should read this
Sarah Jane is one of my favorite companions, and this story does her lovely justice. It's a quiet slice-of-life piece, as the TARDIS appears one day in her back garden and she and the Doctor spend the day together, swapping stories and catching up. This could have been maudlin or soppy, but instead is sweet and charming and real.
(gen)
artwork
added May 29, 2007
Author's summary
none, but there are fairly complete author notes on the page.
Why you should read this
I'm not going to make a habit of reccing art, but I couldn't resist adding this, because it's so perfect -- from the coloring to the fonts to the poses to the expressions, this is utterly brilliant. It'll work better for you if you know at least some of the older eps; it's a montage that goes back to the very beginning of things. Fantastic.
(Click the thumbnail for the full-size image.)
Planned Obsolescence, by miggy
(gen)
4,441 words
added May 29, 2007
Author's summary
Jack takes any means necessary to save himself. Slap him on the ass and call him a Slytherin.
Why you should read this
This was written after first season, before anything else had aired, so it's now a post-first-season AU. But it's a really, really good post-first-season AU, with a Jack who's a survivor at all costs, and who knows what he needs to surive on his own terms. I don't want to spoil the story here by giving any details, so suffice to say that this manages to be both kinda horrifying and heartwarming -- don't let miggy's summary fool you, this isn't fluff. It's also not a story you'll forget, after you're done reading.
Hello Major Tom, by themonkeycabal
Dr. Who/Farscape
(gen)
11,076 words
added November 22, 2006
Author's summary
It's seldom a good idea to meet your heroes. A Doctor Who/Farscape crossover.
Why you should read this
This isn't a crossover I would ever have considered, or believed possible, but I really like the way she handled it. She captured both Jack and Crichton for me, giving me a backstory on Jack I could buy and a glimpse into Crichton mid-Farscape, and I was happy to susped my disbelief to go along with her premise. I hesitate to say more for fear of spoiling the story, but if you like Jack Harkness and John Crichton, give this one a shot.
The link goes to the story on the Whofic archive. If you'd rather read it on the author's LJ, go here.
Terms of Employment, by Aeshna
(gen)
7,151 words
added November 22, 2006
Author's summary
"We'll survive. History's not done with you yet, and me... well, I always have before Don't see why this time should be any different."
Why you should read this
As I expected, this was jossed as soon as Torchwood aired, but I don't care -- I love the thought of this being Jack and Harriet's first meeting, both a little battered, even broken, but stronger than they know. (Technically this is a Torchwood story, but it was written before Torchwood ever aired, and... it's a Dr. Who story.)
The link goes to the story on the whofic archive. If you'd rather read it on LJ, go here for Aeshna's LJ or here for the galactic_conman community.
Stargate Atlantis/Dr. Who
(slash - Sheppard/Ten)
8,167 words
added November 22, 2006
Author's summary
A visitor to Atlantis takes John out and shows him a good time.
Why you should read this
Okay, yes, it's completely implausible, but Janne comes up with a very Dr. Who-ish reason for Ten to show up on Atlantis, one that makes perfect sense canonically if you're willing to just go with it, and I was right there with her.
The whole thing is a happy romp, warm and sweet and fun, with wooing, yet, and with just enough bittersweetness to balance things out - because nothing involving the Doctor is ever pure sweetness and light, given all his centuries of baggage. I was really taken with the way she wrote him, both lonely and charmingly manic, and with the way John reacted to both (and the wooing).
(There's also a very fun, short, stream-of-consciousness SGA-only sequel to this: what happened next.)
(threesome - Nine/Jack/Rose)
3,554 words
added March 15, 2006
Author's summary
Both at once or not at all. Poor Jack.
Why you should read this
I'm a hard sell for threesomes, but I liked the balance she drew here, and the characters' comfort levels. There's an awareness here that made it all very natural and smooth.
The People/Doctor Who
(gen, hints of femslash - Karen/Melodye)
6,384 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
Karen learned a lot from her year Outside. Crossover with implied Karen/Melodye.
Why you should read this
I would never, ever, have believed that Zenna Henderson's People books could have been crossed with Doctor Who -- but this pulls it off and makes me believe it.
On the People side, the language and attitude matches Henderson's, making this feel like a People story. On the Dr. Who side -- well, you should read it to see, but I will say that she manages to get in more than one incarnation of the Doctor, and will surprise you where she goes with it.
(slash - Ninth Doctor/Jack)
2,859 words
added September 10, 2005
Author's summary
Kataclysmic wished for fic. Jack wished for a hot shower. And the Doctor?
Why you should read this
The tone in this could have been self-pitying or maudlin done badly, but Boji pulled off a nice interior Jack voice, one I could believe. And then she added a ninth Doctor I could believe -- one hungry for companionship but not easy enough in himself for it to come easily. I loved the way Jack took that into account.
The link goes to the story on the Flexible archive, which has a layout that's a bit difficult to read. If you'd rather read it on Boji's Livejournal, go here.
(gen, mostly -- hints of Jack/Ninth Doctor, Jack/Rose)
4,517 words
added September 10, 2005
Author's summary
Jack has team spirit. Rose has alcohol. The Doctor has issues.
Why you should read this
The level of flirtiness and sexuality in this is only slightly higher than in the aired episodes. Mostly, this is a look at the three of them as a team, learning a little more about each other, as Jack and Rose try gently to get the Doctor to open up a little. Doyle manages to work in a solid thread of Dr Who continuity here, which made me happy, in a bittersweet way.
Forgetting the Nightmare, by Casira
(slash - Ninth Doctor/Jack)
2,238 words
added September 10, 2005
Author's summary
Wherein neither Jack nor the Doctor can get any sleep, but for very different reasons...
Why you should read this
What could have been a simple PWP has some subtle layers instead, for both the Doctor and Jack. I really liked the easy comfort between them, and the almost matter of fact slide into eroticism, all emphasizing the trust they share without quite knowing why.
The Priest That Tastes The Word, by Prosperina
(er - deific?)
2,127 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
Being the Voice of God could be a confusing experience. He was never quite sure which thoughts were his own and which were the speech of God. Usually the distinction was clear, but stillwhenever he found himself waxing poetic on the graces of the Almighty, he always found it a bit suspect.
Why you should read this
This is fabulous, with a perfect Metatron voice snarking away irreverently reverent, and wonderfully playful God. I could hear every word (and see every God look *g*) in my head. This made me incredibly happy.
(gen. ish. femslash hints, Bethany/OC)
4,245 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
Set nearly eleven years after the events of the movie, Bethany figures she has most things figured out all right, but sometimes, humans are just thick.
Why you should read this
It's not easy being the single-mom-of-God, but Bethany does a pretty good job of it, with a little help from her friends. This is charming and warm, with enough snark and exasperation to hold true to the movie. And the ending is just perfect.
Nativity, by Milkshake Butterfly
Brimstone/Dogma
(gen)
7,863 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
Eight and a half months after the end of Dogma, and there's no room at the Inn
Why you should read this
This was brilliant and snarky and fun -- the sequel to Dogma that should have happened, meshed perfectly with Brimstone. Not only does it have Satan and the Metatron snarking away in the corners again (one of my new favorite things ever), it has the Three Wise Nuns. How can you resist a story like that?
Brimstone/Dogma
(gen)
5,916 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
When Zeke Stone tracks a demon to a strip club in the middle of nowhere, he finds more than he could imagine.
Why you should read this
I wouldn't have thought these two universes could cross, but I was wrong. This works very nicely, including some lovely snarking that I read three times just for the joy of it. Really, you have to read it just to see Satan and the Metatron snarking it out.
(gen)
2,771 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
Pre-series. Gen. Harry in transition.
Why you should read this
One thing the Dresden Files left me itching for was more backstory on Harry, especially how he wound up with living with Bob in a warehouse, and how he handled being judged by the High Council. This is that story, and it's wonderful. DebetEsse has managed to capture Harry's voice, but a younger, less cynical (but getting more cynical by the day) Harry. Bob is so very Bob, and her OC is sorta wonderful -- practical, straightforward, and just a little kind, exactly the person Harry should have been dealing with so soon after Justin's death. This slotted itself right into canon in my head, as how it actually happened.
(gen)
8,151 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
A series of haunting phone calls just before the holidays means trouble for both Harry and Murphy.
Why you should read this
This is a fab case story, with bang-on voices and Murphy in danger (but never a victim, because? She's Murphy.). It does things I really, really wish the show had done, and does them really well. The setup and the case are both well-done, with a bad guy I wasn't expecting (but who makes perfect sense); the whole thing just made me happy.
(vid recs)
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