Fandoms
Quantum Leap | Randall & Hopkirk (deceased) | Real Ghostbusters | Remington Steele | Riddlemaster of Hed | Robin Hood legend | Robin of Sherwood | Robot books | Romeo & Juliet | The Sentinel | Sherlock Holmes | Singin' in the Rain | Song of Naga Teot | The Sound of Music | Sports Night | Star Wars: Phantom Menace | Starman | Stargate Atlantis | Stargate SG-1 | The Sting | Tale of the Five | Temeraire | Thursday Next | The Tick (cartoon) | Torchwood | Tortall series | Touching Evil
updated April 21, 2008
Thinking Inside the Box, by Sandy Herrold
(gen)
4,212 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
Sam's between a solution and the deep blue sea. Al is Al.
Why you should read this
Oh, this is fabulous. Plotty and tense, with Sam leaping into one of the most dangerous situations I can think of -- this kept me on the edge of my seat. And on top of that, this is the best kind of emotional h/c, as Al (yay Al!) is there for Sam as only Al can be. Trust me: if you liked the show, you'll love this story.
(slash - Sam/Al)
4,206 words
added November 22, 2006
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
I love leap-home stories -- you get to start with a happy ending and see what happens from there. This one's about the immediate after-effects of leaping home, with Sam trying to find a way to fit back into his own skin. Aerye does some very cool stuff with voice and tense to highlight what's going on as she shifts POV back and forth, making Al's narrative warm and immediate, and Sam's coolly distant and disconnected. Seriously effective writing, here.
Note: The first few paragraphs may or may not be to your taste - they're deliberately different from the rest of the story, so keep going into the body to make up your mind.
The Witness, by Michele Martin
Forever Knight/Highlander/Quantum Leap/Starman/X-Files
(gen)
69,271 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
It's brilliantly funny, crossing shows and universes that should never have been crossed and pulling it off with wonderful flair. Keep an eye on the trenchcoats, in particular!
She also manages to work in more fandoms than the main five listed. It's a wild, fun romp, and even though she could have used a beta to help with some technical stuff, the story is a must-read for anyone who likes any of those main fandoms.
Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, by Doyle
(gen)
3,669 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
Christmas, two years after Marty's death: Jeff's in a mood. Marty wants the last word.
Why you should read this
I was so hoping for Randall and Hopkirk fic this year, and this one was an absolute delight. Doyle has pitch-perfect voices all the way through this, affectionate and snarky and cranky and warm, in a charmer of a Christmas story. It's all about Marty and Jeff, as it should be, but she doesn't shortchange Jeannie -- or Wyvern, for that matter. I adored this.
(slash - Egon/Peter)
16,880 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
It was just another day on the job, until Evil got cranky.
Why you should read this
This is sheer joy to read -- it's long and snarky and sweet and wonderful, and Therienne not only brings the funny but manages to maintain it through the entire thing. I don't know the RGB cartoon at all, but knowing the movie characters was enough to enjoy the heck out of this.
and still more tomorrow, by medie
(gen)
1,260 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
Laura Holt sweeps into his life with the subtlety of a hurricane. Murphy's always loved a good storm.
Why you should read this
This is the sort of thing I really love Yuletide for -- not just a rare fandom, but an even rarer character within that fandom. I always loved Murphy, and felt for him, since it was so clear that he loved Laura so very unrequitedly. This is backstory for him -- and them -- that I can really buy, and that makes me happy.
Put the Blame on Steele, by Yahtzee
(het - Steele/Laura)
3,891 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
Mr. Steele considers the leading lady in his life, and tries to figure out how their story will end.
Why you should read this
This is brilliant -- perfectly in character, and a delightful twist on the show's core question of "who is Mr. Steele", as Steele tries to figure out who Laura is in terms that make sense to him. This isn't a show I ever needed fanfic for, but I wouldn't have missed this story for anything.
(gen)
12,626 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
This is a sequel that McKillip never got around to writing, or accidentally cut out of the books, or something. It's that good. Language, imagery, pacing, characters -- everything is dead-on and gorgeous. Her focus is Lyra (the Morgol's daughter), not Morgon or Raederle, and she paints as deep a picture of Lyra as you could want, perfectly in tune with the books. If you like the Riddle-Master books, you must read this.
(slash Astrin/Morgon)
1,791 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
Author's Notes: Much of this story takes place while Astrin has taken an amnesiac stranger into his home-in-exile. This stranger is Morgon, Prince of Hed, but neither of them are aware of his identity.
Why you should read this
This filled a hole in the books I hadn't even realized was there, and made me really, really happy. It's well-written and beautifully characterized, layering Astrin's emotional responses into a very believable whole.
The Tale of Marian's Wedding, by Gray Cardinal
(gen, mostly)
7,133 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
The legends of Robin Hood, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Maid Marian and their sundry merry men, deputies, ladies in waiting, and other hangers-on have been told, sung, and reshaped for centuries. One thing remains constant through nearly all the variations, however except, perhaps, in this particular tale.
Why you should read this
I don't want to say too much about this one, because the half the joy is in the discovery on the first read. So suffice to say that this is a completely new treatment of the legend, fun and fabulous, and lord help me, he made me believe it. Just wonderful.
(vid recs)
On the Razor's Edge, by smithereen
(gen)
1,782 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
Angst? You're soaking in it. Marion during Herne's Son.
Why you should read this
I came out of this feeling like a raw November breeze had blown through me -- it's not a *pleasant* feeling, but it's strangely bracing in its own way.Don't read this if you're looking for something lighthearted to cheer you up, but if you're a Robin of Sherwood fan -- read this.
Nice Work if You Can Get It, by shalott
(slash - Powell/Donovan)
3,669 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
It was the only the beginning of a relentless campaign of terror and romance. (Powell/Donovan)
Why you should read this
The summary line says it all. This is fabulous -- totally Asimov, full of science and technology and robots and Robotic Laws, but at the same time wonderfully fun and funny and slashy in all the best ways. By which I mean, shalott manages to take some of my all-time favorite slash fanfic cliches (and a couple I don't usually like, to boot), and make them fresh and new, woven seamlessly into the plot of the wider robot story.
You don't need to be specifically familiar with Powell and Donovan to enjoy this. It had been years since I'd read any of their stories and I'd forgotten them when I read this story, and I still felt nothing but glee over it. Just. Hee!
Hostage Negotiation, by Marcelo
(gen)
1,093 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
Dr. Calvin prefers robots to people, and this is one of the many reasons why.
Why you should read this
This is Susan Calvin to a T -- spot-on voice and characterization. The plot suits her character perfectly, and is one I can see Asimov coming up with. Just lovely, all around, and the last line is a killer.
(slash - Elijah/Daneel)
15,154 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
After the events on Aurora, Elijah Baley anticipates an uneventful trip back to Earth with R. Daneel Olivaw. But the trip is anything but uneventful, and soon Baley is faced with more mysteries--both professional, and personal.
Why you should read this
If Asimov wrote Robot slash, this is what he would have written. The case is properly twisty, with clues laid out that reason can solve -- and Baley's solution is highly satisfying, both a personal and professional victory. But overshadowing that is his more personal journey, as he realizes just what Daneel means to him.
As always, Dorinda's writing is subtle and warm, evoking reactions in me that are bone-deep satisfying.
(slash - Mercutio/Romeo)
3,603 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
Romeo! humours! madman! passion! lover!
Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh:
Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied.
Why you should read this
Wow. Just wow. This is amazing and brilliant -- it's the play before the play, seen through Mercutio's eyes. In blank verse. Which scans perfectly. Just -- *wow*.
(vid recs)
Actualize This, by Helena Handbasket
Invisible Man / The Sentinel / Stargate SG-1
(gen)
36,304 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
A crossover with Stargate SG-1 and The Sentinel. Darien and Bobby are forced to endure a weekend teamwork-building retreat.
Why you should read this
This is brilliant. The premise is a bit of a stretch, but just go with it, because the story itself is a freaking blast. Heeee. I would say more, but -- they're at a teamwork-building retreat. What more needs to be said, really?
The Sentinel/Due South
(slash - Jim/Blair, RayV/Benny)
8,309 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
To the best of my knowledge, this is the first DS/TS crossover ever written, which would make it worth reading just for that. Happily, there are more reasons as well.
Katrina has a deft touch with all of the characters here, including the secondary characters from Due South that appear (the story takes place in Chicago), and has both a plausible reason for Jim and Blair to be in Chicago, and a suitably wacky (yet genuine) case for the four of them to be caught up in. It's just fun, watching Jim be grouchily agreeable, Fraser be politely manipulative, Ray be snarkily abrasive and yet totally supportive, and Blair be focused and enthused. She really pulled off having these characters meet and be a bit taken aback by each other, but mesh into a solid working group.
(vid recs)
The Unexpected Affair of the Injured Detective, by Mary Crawford
(slash - Holmes/Watson)
1,934 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
Holmes comes home from work.
Why you should read this
If Arthur Conan Doyle wrote slash, this is the sort of slash he would write. The tone here is wonderfully Victorian, emotional but restrained, giving glimpses under the surface. The result is an understated, subtle look at Holmes and Watson's relationship, with a little perfectly balanced hurt/comfort to open the door to a new understanding. This is just lovely.
Lina Lamont's Big Revenge, by zhiverny6
(gen)
1,399 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
Oh. My. God. This is a work of sheer genius: brilliant, and sharp, and biting, and layered, and just fabulously evil, darling. Lina FTW!
Istanbul (Not Constantinople) by Widget
(slash - Don/Cosmo)
6,064 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
It wasn't exactly a glamorous life, but at least he didn't have to go it alone.
Why you should read this
This is a lovely bit of backstory for Cosmo and Don, and the author nailed their voices and rhythm. The connection and affection between them is just there, regardless of who Don's charming or how grim their surroundings are; it really captures their onscreen relationship for me.
The slash in this is a very subtle thing -- for most of it, it reads as warm gen. If you're a gen-only fan, you should still give this a shot. You won't be disappointed.
(gen. ish.)
1,691 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
Caladrunan's thoughts on the eve of war.
Why you should read this
This is gen, and will read as gen to gen fans, but will read as slash(y) to a lot of slash fans because of the depth of the relationship.
It's worth reading even if you've never read the books; Darthneko puts in enough background to understand what's going on, and it's beautifully written. It's quietly heartwrenching, as a king rides out to war without his right hand at his side.
Innocent as a Rose, by Annabelle Wrights
(gen)
2,131 words
added January 1, 2006
Author's summary
Liesl, far from the eidelweiss.
Why you should read this
This is lovely -- bittersweet both on the larger level of a refugee family struggling in a new land (seen through the filter of Liesl's life) and the more intimate level of Liesl struggling to find an adult identity. It's perfectly balanced on that knife-edge of adolescent tension, as Liesl wavers between feeling, wanting, adult things, and running back to Maria to be babied, wanting the Children to still be the Children, to not lose what they had despite all the changes in their lives. Subtly, wonderfully done.
Prologue (Thirty-Eight Maps), by Celli
(slash - Danny/Casey)
430 words
added May 29, 2007
Author's summary
This book isn't a love story in the traditional sense.
Why you should read this
Short-shorts that tell big stories are some of my favorite things, and the story this one tells is plenty big. This is futurefic for Danny and Casey, in the best, most perfect way, and now I badly want to read everything that comes after this prologue. This is just fabulous.
Diversionary Tactics, by Shrift
(slash - Danny/Casey)
5,600 words
added May 29, 2007
Author's summary
Wherein Danny gets trapped in smelly musical theater, Dana goes slightly mad, and Casey alienates entire galaxies in the space of a single show.
Why you should read this
This is everything I love about Sports Night. The banter sounds like it's straight out of an episode, and the characters and situations ring absolutely true to canon. Everything is just wacked out and warm and funny and sarcastic and caring. I love how Shrift shows Casey's feelings about Danny by the way people react to Casey, and the effortless, natural slide into a deeper relationship.
(gen)
7,682 words
added May 29, 2007
Author's summary
In which Dan and Casey meet and have quite a few fairly serious discussions.
Why you should read this
The discussions are serious, but since this is Merry channeling Danny and Casey, they're also funny and sharp and sweet and warm. She lays the groundwork for their relationship with each other, and their respective relationships with both Lisa and Dana, just gorgeously. I totally buy this as their beginning place.
(slash - Danny/Casey)
7,743 words
added May 29, 2007
Author's summary
In which Dan and Casey come to a greater understanding of the true value of quality accessories.
Why you should read this
This is very much a Danny/Casey story, and moves them from friends to more than friends in true Sports Night fashion, with a lot of dead-on banter and circumlocution and a computer that has been suborned by the forces of darkness. But there's also another plot running through this, one that makes it all even more real, about how much everyone at Sports Night cares about everyone else as Sports Night. It's warm and worrying and cheering, all at the same time, and Merry pulls it all off in the style of the show. It's wonderful.
(vid recs)
Stargate Atlantis recs have been moved to their own page, here.
(vid recs)
Stargate SG-1 recs have been moved to their own page, here.
The Sith Academy, by various (created and edited by Siubhan)
(slash, mostly)
many, many words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
First, a disclaimer: I didn't like Phantom Menace, and never had any interest in reading any fanfic for it. But while I was busy avoiding it all several years ago someone pointed me toward the Sith Academy and insisted I give it a try, and I couldn't be more grateful.
This is, hands down, one of the most brilliantly funny things I've ever seen in fanfic. I go back to it every year or two and reread big chunks, and it never fails to leave me in giggles.
It's also one of the most amazing examples of group creativity I've ever seen (thanks to Siubhan's hard work in maintaining standards for submissions, and editing everything that came in). This isn't just a shared universe; it's a round-robin that went on for two years and 181 stories, each complete unto itself and yet building the larger canon. Stories that use the Sith Academy universe but don't fit into the canon have their own, non-canon section.
The first 30 or so stories are gen, suitable for any audience. After that, it starts shifting into slash, which is where it stays for the rest of the series. Eventually the more standalone nature of the stories turns into a more complex arc and things get a bit more serious, but the humor never goes away.
Whether you loved Phantom Menace or hated it, if you haven't read the Sith Academy yet, click that link and settle in for hours of happy reading. And read chronologically, so you don't miss anything.
Right on Your Table, by jadelennox
(gen)
7,131 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
"Don't worry, Scott. I'm sure with you safely tucked away there's no fear of losing track of your progenitor for long. We'll have him soon."
Why you should read this
Wow -- plotty, Scott-focused Starman fic! This does a fantastic job of capturing the show, right down to Fox's creepy, creepy vibe, and with a Scott POV that rang completely true. This felt very much like an episode to me. If you liked the show, you will definitely like this story.
The Witness, by Michele Martin
Forever Knight/Highlander/Quantum Leap/Starman/X-Files
(gen)
69,271 words
added June 15, 2005
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
It's brilliantly funny, crossing shows and universes that should never have been crossed and pulling it off with wonderful flair. Keep an eye on the trenchcoats, in particular!
She also manages to work in more fandoms than the main five listed. It's a wild, fun romp, and even though she could have used a beta to help with some technical stuff, the story is a must-read for anyone who likes any of those main fandoms.
The Buried Treasure Racket, by Dorinda
(slash - Henry/Johnny)
26,612 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
After the events of the movie, Henry and Johnny take it on the lam, and run smack into a few complications and a few revelations.
Why you should read this
OMG. *flails* How to do this justice?
Honestly, I don't think you need to know the movie to enjoy this tremendously. Dorinda does a fabulous job of world-building, and this should stand quite well on its own.
But if you *do* know The Sting, you'll sink right into this and never want to come out. It picks up flawlessly from the end of the movie, carrying through with pitch-perfect voices and characterization and universe, expanding and improving on everything. She adds layers to the background that never made it into the movie, and should have, building everything up naturally and easily until grifter society lives and breathes on the page, right along with the grifters themselves. And there's a con, of course -- a twisty, detailed, clever con that delighted me so much I can't even say, because Henry and Johnny are so good at this. The slash is an ever-present undercurrent that gets resolved so perfectly I'm still sighing happily over it, weeks later.
The whole thing feels like the second half of the movie that we never got to see before, because it got cut because of time constraints.
Just. Seriously. If you like The Sting, you have to read this story. And give Dorinda lots of cookies, because we need more stories like this. This is perfect.
If you never saw The Sting, read this anyway, and revel in the characters and the storytelling. And give Dorinda cookies.
(slash - Freelorn/Herewiss)
427 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
"You have - dust. On your nose." Freelorn/Herewiss. Just a tiny stocking stuffer!
Why you should read this
Warm, sweet Freelorn/Herewiss vignette, in a library. There's nothing but good here.
When the Wing is a Sail, by grit kitty
(het - Catherine/Riley)
7,934 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
Catherine, Lily, and Tom Riley come to an understanding.
Why you should read this
Oh, this is lovely. All of these relationships feel very real and complex, and I love how the complications of their lives both bring them together and help to keep them apart. I don't want to go into too much detail for fear of spoiling the story, but trust me: give this one a try.
Note: This takes place post-Empire of Ivory, and has spoilers for the book, if you haven't read it yet.
All True-Hearted Souls, by mardia
(slash - Laurence/Granby)
7,664 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
"For God's sake, if someone doesn't talk Laurence out of these constant heroics, I wouldn't bet a farthing on his chances; no, and not ours either. Four times that John Granby helped save William Laurence's life. Laurence/Granby. Spoilers up to Empire of Ivory.
Why you should read this
Wow. Laurence/Granby slash is not an easy sell for me, given Laurence's canonical character, but mardia really makes it work for me here, partly by using Granby's POV. I completely buy that this is what was going on in Granby's life while we were finding out about Laurence's in the books. This is wonderful.
Afternoon's Liberty, by Penknife
(gen)
1,442 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
Jane and Emily Roland spend the afternoon in town and consider things they might want. Set during the first book.
Why you should read this
Jane and Emily have such a cool relationship -- clearly deeply affectionate, but not soppy, and pragmatic about the long separations between them. Here, Penknife fills in a missing scene from canon, when they head off for an afternoon to do some shopping in town as a treat for Emily and a chance to spend some time together. This is warm and subtle, showing an Emily making a natural transition from child to young woman, and Jane watching it happening, seeing her daughter following in her footsteps. Their relationship is warm, easy, and real, and is a joy to read. Really nicely done.
(gen)
1,233 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
After the end of Black Powder War, the Grand Army winters in Warsaw, and Lien watches and learns.
Why you should read this
I didn't expect to see any Lien fic, so this was a surprise that really grabbed me. Artaxastra captured her beautifully -- her isolation and loneliness in this strange new world she's joined, her refusal to admit her loneliness, her innate sense of superiority to those around her. The combination of vulnerability and arrogance here is wonderful.
(gen)
3,053 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
In 1798, Jane Roland and Excidium fight in the Battle of the Nile.
Why you should read this
I was incredibly pleased to see not one, but two Jane stories in this year's Yuletide. This one fills in some backstory, both fleshing out references in the books and tying some things together, and fleshing out her relationships with both Excidium and Emily (and the relationship between Excidium and Emily, for that matter). Melina's Jane feels utterly right to me: confident, competent, facing challenges head-on, deeply attached to her dragon and her child but putting duty first without a blink because that's what an aviator does, no matter what anyone else thinks of a woman raised to do a man's duty in a man's world. Fabulous work.
The Importance of Bearing Cocoa, by Rachael Sabotini
(slash - Tick/Arthur)
1,057 words
added January 21, 2007
Author's summary
"I feared that fishface had taken you from me forever! But like Geppetto, you survived the belly of the whale."
Why you should read this
Hee! This is just adorably marvelous. The voices are spot-on all the way through, and I could see and hear everything happening in my head. Tick is so very Tick, and Arthur is so very Arthur -- a little despondent over being kidnapped yet again, a little despairing at the predictability of his life, but at heart, it's Tick who matters most. And there's pretty much nothing Tick wouldn't do for his little buddy.
They belong together, those two. *hearts*
The Eagle Conspiracy, by kezya
(gen)
5,588 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
There are whispers of a conspiracy to make "The Lord of the Rings" a lot shorter. Thursday Next investigates. Warning: story contains badgers.
Why you should read this
Oh, this is brilliant. It's everything I could ever have wanted from Thursday Next fanfic -- a plot that answers a burning literary-related question or two, guest characters that fill me with glee, solutions that make perfect sense. Also, badgers. *loves*
(vid recs)
A Soft Spot for Apocalyptic Fuck-Ups, by Julad
(gen. ish.)
2,529 words
added May 29, 2007
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
Jack and Ianto are a very hard sell for me, in large part because of Cyberwoman and the emotional repercussions I expect from that. Julad goes to the heart of that here, picking up in the basement when everyone's still in shock at what's happened, while Jack does what Jack does best -- survives, and copes, and makes sure everyone lives to fight another day. This is gorgeous and painful and comforting and real, with a stunning Jack voice.
(slash - George/Liam)
2,334 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
Set before Alanna: The First Adventure. George/Liam Ironarm. Newly King of the Rogues, George starts to sense that things are changing all over again.
Why you should read this
This isn't a pairing I'd ever even considered, but llasah makes it work, with a George POV that rings marvelously true -- honest, insightful, smart, daring, brave, practical. I love the instant connection between them, and how it's balanced between tension and camaraderie before they pick a direction to go in, each drawn to the other's power and competence, admiring each other's deeds and abilities. (Um. It's possible I have a kink for seriously competent people.) This is just an interlude in their lives, but it's one I'm really happy to believe in.
(slash - George/Jonathan)
887 words
added April 21, 2008
Author's summary
George is a good friend.
Why you should read this
Another pairing I'd never considered, and rosemaryandrue did a great job with it. I love how Alanna is so present in the story because she's so present in both George and Jon's lives, even when she's not there. Even more, I love how this touches on how much George and Jon have in common besides her, and how much Jon needs someone as level-headed, impartial, and patient as George in his life, to balance out the growing stresses of being the heir. This is just lovely.
From the Inside, by Julie Fortune
(gen)
3,922 words
added September 10, 2005
Author's summary
none
Why you should read this
This is a somewhat disturbing read for me, because she tells it from Creegan's POV, and Creegan's POV is not exactly sane. But she pulls it off brilliantly, and disturbing as it is, this is worth reading. Technically it's a case story, but mostly, it's a Creegan character study.
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