Just like any other recs page. Multi-fandom, your mileage may vary, etc. Updated whenever the urge strikes instead of on a regular basis. Title inspired by the X-Files episode "Bad Blood", in which Mulder and Scully tell different versions of the same story.
Gotta kick it off with a bang, yes? I posted several of these recs to the Livejournal community Fanfic Recs. I've always been a bit of a slacker when it comes to posting my recs on my own site. But no time like the present!
Kitchen
by JennyO
(BtVS/AtS)
Ever read a fic and have the sense that the author knows what she's
doing, more so than the show's writers? That's usually how reading JennyO's
Angel fic makes me feel; this one was no exception. It stands out, though,
for a truly imaginative twist for Fred Burkle, and a Dawn Summers that
I can really see after watching "Potential". Apocalypse be
damned is the theme of the day, and it works. Wonder what Wes would
say about all this?
Pink
Triangle by Beth C.
(Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
I admit it, I'm a sappy Xander/Willow shipper. And this fic really brings
home all the things I've wondered if Xander was thinking. It's a short,
to-the-point read that raises more questions than it answers, and I
think that's a great way for fic to be sometimes. In this case, it works
very well.
The
Morning Like Thunder by not jenny
(X-Files)
The good thing about sticking around after the series ended? Finding
fic like this. Mulder and Scully rode off into the sunset, and not jenny
tackles their new life in a brilliant, sand-and-bright-blue-sky way.
I really enjoyed reading this.
Song
for the Forsaken by cgb
(X-Files)
Let's just say I like my Krycek/Marita fic. And I like season seven
fic that deals with all the loose ends. There wasn't a bigger loose
end in the series than the Krycek/Marita dynamic. cgb does the duo justice
with this vignette, and even delivers a couple killer lines. I'll spoil
one for you: "Funny how these things work out. You kill me, I kill
you." Funny, indeed.
A
Room of One's Own by Kel
(X-Files)
A quick laugh, and it plays with all kinds of conventional motel fic
without drawing it out unbearably. Clearly a plot bunny that wouldn't
go away, and I'm glad Kel didn't let it. Go, read!
Spectacle
by Shrift (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
My very good friend and Buffy-watching pal called me up after watching
"Showtime" and immediately wanted clarification on the ending.
I gave her my two cents, and now I'm gonna send her to read this, a
relatively short post-"Showtime" fic from Spike's POV. I love
the voices in this, and it seems like a very plausible "what next"
without drowning out the episode itself (just like a post-ep should).
Enjoy!
Rumours
and Riddles by Liz Barr (Harry Potter)
A rare and quite simply fascinating glimpse at 1945 Hogwarts, the year
Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald. Great characterizations all around
(Alastor Moody and Minerva McGonagall like you've *never* seen them,
really). The trick to this era, I think, is separating the Muggle realities
we all know from the wizarding parallels Rowling set up; Liz makes the
wizarding world exist in and of itself, and I love that. Go read it.
Undying
by Elanor G. (X-Files)
Quite possibly one of the most infamous characters of all time, Eugene
Victor Tooms has always had a cult following (oh come on, he's at least
second to Tribbles). "Undying" is one of the best treatments
of a MOTW I've read.
Disenchanted
by Arabella (Harry Potter)
A follow-up
for events in Chamber of Secrets, Dumbledore POV. Arabella writes one
of the best Ginny Weasleys in fanfiction, and this is one of the better
Dumbledores as well. Realistically characterized, tight, and true to
the story at hand.
with
the lights out it's less dangerous by Sophia Jirafe (Buffy the Vampire
Slayer)
Haven't read this brilliant story? You should. Willow and Giles in England.
Pitch-perfect characterization, and just a really good read. Sophia
will make you look again at those tapes of early season seven, since
Buffy is a repeat this week.
July 20, 2002 - Some old, some new. Just in a fic reccing mood.
A Girl With Kaleidoscope Eyes by Kyra - A post-"Grave" story that, as the summary says, is not about Tara. I really loved this fic, and stumbled across it on Silverlake.
Five Stages of Grief by Livia Balaban. I went looking for it after I read "Kaleidoscope". A post-Requiem fic based on Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's grief theory. The best post-Requiem Scully fic out there.
Concessions Made by Deslea R. Judd. Leave it to Deslea to break all the rules and make it look easy! Jeffrey/Samantha fic, and she's making a series out of it.
All Your Tomorrows by JennyO. Giles and Anya. Anya's past, pre-demon. Anya's story is haunting, and Giles (post-"Grave") is wonderful.
Summertime by s.a. Buffy's first summer in Sunnydale. s.a. writes a damn good Buffy.
July 15 , 2002- A bunch of fics I recced for the Harem's OT Tolerance Day. Thought I'd share them here, too.
Harry Potter:
Undone
by JennyO. Loverly Draco/Hermione, and I don't even like the *idea*
of Draco/Hermione. But I loved this.
Hinc
Illae Lacrimae by alphabet. alphabet is great because she's the
writer who hooked me on Fred/Angelina. This is one of those stories.
The
Other Kiss by B. Bennett. A little post-Goblet of Fire story that
features - duh - a kiss. Hermione/Ron.
The
Broom Shed Incident by PoppyP. Percy/Penelope, which totally changed
my Stance on Perfect Percy. Try it on for size.
I'm
Like A Bird by PoppyP. Percy/Penelope again, and this one made me
cry.
After the End by Arabella and Zsenya. Warning, this is a WIP. But it is so so so great. Harry/Ginny (the only time I can tolerate it), Ron/Hermione, featuring all your favorite characters and some excellent OCs (Lavender Brown's older sister Rose, Seamus Finnigan's older brother Mick). I'm addicted.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (probably mostly crossovers):
Blue
in Hogsmeade by Twinkledru J. Hurray for HP/BtVS crossovers! Willow
and Dru in Hogsmeade.
Honeymoon
Series by Twinkledru J. Tara and Willow take their honeymoon in....the
Star Wars universe! Complete with Tara/Han Solo. Gotta love it.
Shining Girl by Liz Barr. Lupin meets Tara in my favorite HP/BtVS crossover of all time.
Comfortador
by victoria p. Xander contemplates his place in the scheme of things.
Smallville:
A
Little on the Side by victoria p. ChLark (Chloe/Clark), and I loved
it. First Smallville fic I read.
Star Wars Episode II:
Childish
Things by victoria p. Just trust me.
Angel/Smallville/West Wing/X-Files crossover:
Them Mean Ol', Low-Down Lando Calrissian Blues by Yahtzee. This one you have to read to believe.
May 13, 2002- Today, I'll start off with a little Smallville goodness. Victoria P. wrote a little Clark/Chloe, Clark/Lana fic that some of us girls can relate to. As I told Victoria, I felt like I myself had said and thought many of the things in this story. And it's perfectly in-character, too! It's called A Little on the Side.
May 8, 2002 - Ok, so it's time to try a little something new. It's
been ages since I actually recced a story here. And I've started reading
in several different fandoms since then. So, without further ado.... Today's
first rec is a story I came across by accident (sort of) at Dead
Letters Home. Didn't
Leave Nobody But the Baby is by Jennifer-Oksana and it nails Scully's
voice and left me a little weepy. Handles Mulder's absence very well,
too. Next up is Twinkledru J.'s Wish
You Were, a Harry Potter fic about Cho Chang. Maybe it's just
me, but I find the secondary characters so much more interesting (in fic)
because they are so essential to the plot but also rarely given a real
voice. This is what fic is for. Twinkledru J. did a fabulous job here.
Then there's this author, Liz Barr. She writes blow-your-socks-off Harry
Potter fic, and my current favorite is actually a HP/BtVS crossover. Lupin
and Tara, two very different characters, meet and have a brilliant conversation.
Lupin is tempted, and Tara is the Shining
Girl.
Did everyone see the XF episode "Jump the Shark"? It left quite a wake,
and though the fanfic response wasn't nearly a post-"Gethsemane" or post-"Requiem"
deluge of stories, it was certainly fun while it lasted. Adding to the
fun was David Hearne, with his delightful Gunmen-and-Scully-watching-Farscape
story, Let's
Go. Count on David to turn a depressing episode into the season's
best humorfic. Elsewhere in XF fic, I haven't had a lot of time to explore
too deeply, so I'd like to rec a story from last summer that I'm still
in love with. Lara Means' Balance
of Power remains one of the best XF Other Woman stories out there
that isn't about Diana or Marita. Lara tackles none other than A.D. Maslin,
an oft-forgot character from "The Beginning" in season six. Well-written,
powerful, and proof that imagination does fuel the fic writer.