Rare Fandoms And Characters In Podfic + Bonus Rec
For me podfics are a form of recommendation. The idea, that the podfic artist loves a story so much and invests such an amount of time and effort, intrigues me and I often listen to recordings outside my normal reading habits. Needless to say, time and again the results are eye-opening and mind-blowing.
Therefore the following recs are just some examples of outstanding gems in rare fandoms, which need little to no canon knowledge to enjoy, and podfics about underrepresented characters, which changed my perception of them.
Rare Fandoms and characters
Das Komma, das auszog, den Punkt zu finden [Deutsch] written by dragonaph, read by lian_li (Anthropomorphic; Comma/Period; 38:30 min)
Funnily enough I generally don't read or listen to fanfic in German, even though it's my mother tongue. In my head fanfiction equalises English. Maybe it's due to the regularly cringe-worthy translations during dubbing *shrugs*. So I was initially a little hesitant to listen to this podfic. But I couldn't have been more wrong: dragonaph wrote a delightful and sexy love story between the Comma number 6 and the period of a sentence, which proofs that everything can be slashed convincingly. lian_li's dramatized reading adds to the characterisation of the various protagonists.
Run, Anna, Run written & read by altariel (Blake's 7; Kerr Avon/Anna Grant; 16:32 min)
Inspired by the film Run, Lola, Run the story works on so many leves, you're going to listen to it several times in a row, always discovering there's even more to it. You feel and hear the speed and panic, but also determination of Anna, when she tries to out run destiny.
Fibonacci written by rageprufrock, read by 2naonh3_cl2 (CSI; Greg Sanders/Nick Stokes; 47:08 min)
A hooker/junkie AU that plays with your expectations. It's at the same time heartbreaking and uplifting. I dare you to not sniffle at least a little at the end!
Goodnight Room written by Julia Rios/Skogkatt, read by luzula (Goodnight Moon; gen; 19:59 min)
Based on a children's picture book where a bunny says goodnight to everything in the room and with the author's summary being "Bunnies ... in ... SPAAAAAAAACE!", you never would expect a post-apocalyptic scifi meta-fic. It's creepy, thought-inducing and will definitively change your way of perception. luzula's lyrical, though unobtrusive reading let's you concentrate on the complexity of the world building.
Turnip Bones: The Legend of Whisper Hollow written by Tray, read by celli (Highlander; Duncan MacLeod/Methos, Duncan MacLeod/OMC; 1:32:17 h)
If folk tales/gost stories are your cup of tea, then don't miss celli's recording of Turnip Bones. It has an otherworldly feeling to it.
Cold Hard Cash written by j. brooks, read by nikojen (Magnificent 7; gen; 1:42:40 h)
A thrilling case fic full of humor, friendship, singing and a southern drawl to die for! One of my comfort podfics.
The Spring Bride written by waldorph, read by reena_jenkins (Retelling of Snow White; femslash; 21:17 min)
Don't let yourself be lured into false safty by the storyteller reading style of reena_jenkins, this story breaks with all the fairy tale cliches until you're cheering the step mother on.
Turn the Page written & read by fresne (Supernatural; Lisa Braedon/Dean Winchester; 15:25 min)
A self-ironic, though feisty look on Lisa's wild child moments and the adjective-guys. I love how fresne get's her attitude across.
Another Day At The Office written by friendshipper, read by juniperphoenix (Stargate Atlantis & Stargate SG1; Gen: Jeannie Miller, Vala Mal Doran; 11:46 min)
Snarking under stress is a trait running in the McKay family which juniperphoenix' voices just right.
Cardassian Courtship written & read by lady_drace (Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Julian Bashir/Elim Garak; 1:06:08 h)
If you love screwball comedies with witty dialogues and underlying sexual tension, you should listen to lady_drace's reading. Her timing and intonation are perfect. And did I mention the hot, passionate sex?
Bonus Rec:
The Meg Thatcher Chronicles, Chapter 47: The Sultry Super-Spy of Canada meets Bond, James Bond written by mizface, read by luzula (Due South & James Bond crossover; Meg Thatcher/James Bond, Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski; 21:19 min)
As this story was written for a Badfic challenge I can only recomment to not drink, eat or be in public while listening to the podfic. I was alternating between groaning and roaring with laughter the whole time, because luzula reads it like the self-absorbed 12-year-old, who would write something so awful like this.
Therefore the following recs are just some examples of outstanding gems in rare fandoms, which need little to no canon knowledge to enjoy, and podfics about underrepresented characters, which changed my perception of them.
Rare Fandoms and characters
Das Komma, das auszog, den Punkt zu finden [Deutsch] written by dragonaph, read by lian_li (Anthropomorphic; Comma/Period; 38:30 min)
Funnily enough I generally don't read or listen to fanfic in German, even though it's my mother tongue. In my head fanfiction equalises English. Maybe it's due to the regularly cringe-worthy translations during dubbing *shrugs*. So I was initially a little hesitant to listen to this podfic. But I couldn't have been more wrong: dragonaph wrote a delightful and sexy love story between the Comma number 6 and the period of a sentence, which proofs that everything can be slashed convincingly. lian_li's dramatized reading adds to the characterisation of the various protagonists.
Run, Anna, Run written & read by altariel (Blake's 7; Kerr Avon/Anna Grant; 16:32 min)
Inspired by the film Run, Lola, Run the story works on so many leves, you're going to listen to it several times in a row, always discovering there's even more to it. You feel and hear the speed and panic, but also determination of Anna, when she tries to out run destiny.
Fibonacci written by rageprufrock, read by 2naonh3_cl2 (CSI; Greg Sanders/Nick Stokes; 47:08 min)
A hooker/junkie AU that plays with your expectations. It's at the same time heartbreaking and uplifting. I dare you to not sniffle at least a little at the end!
Goodnight Room written by Julia Rios/Skogkatt, read by luzula (Goodnight Moon; gen; 19:59 min)
Based on a children's picture book where a bunny says goodnight to everything in the room and with the author's summary being "Bunnies ... in ... SPAAAAAAAACE!", you never would expect a post-apocalyptic scifi meta-fic. It's creepy, thought-inducing and will definitively change your way of perception. luzula's lyrical, though unobtrusive reading let's you concentrate on the complexity of the world building.
Turnip Bones: The Legend of Whisper Hollow written by Tray, read by celli (Highlander; Duncan MacLeod/Methos, Duncan MacLeod/OMC; 1:32:17 h)
If folk tales/gost stories are your cup of tea, then don't miss celli's recording of Turnip Bones. It has an otherworldly feeling to it.
Cold Hard Cash written by j. brooks, read by nikojen (Magnificent 7; gen; 1:42:40 h)
A thrilling case fic full of humor, friendship, singing and a southern drawl to die for! One of my comfort podfics.
The Spring Bride written by waldorph, read by reena_jenkins (Retelling of Snow White; femslash; 21:17 min)
Don't let yourself be lured into false safty by the storyteller reading style of reena_jenkins, this story breaks with all the fairy tale cliches until you're cheering the step mother on.
Turn the Page written & read by fresne (Supernatural; Lisa Braedon/Dean Winchester; 15:25 min)
A self-ironic, though feisty look on Lisa's wild child moments and the adjective-guys. I love how fresne get's her attitude across.
Another Day At The Office written by friendshipper, read by juniperphoenix (Stargate Atlantis & Stargate SG1; Gen: Jeannie Miller, Vala Mal Doran; 11:46 min)
Snarking under stress is a trait running in the McKay family which juniperphoenix' voices just right.
Cardassian Courtship written & read by lady_drace (Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Julian Bashir/Elim Garak; 1:06:08 h)
If you love screwball comedies with witty dialogues and underlying sexual tension, you should listen to lady_drace's reading. Her timing and intonation are perfect. And did I mention the hot, passionate sex?
Bonus Rec:
The Meg Thatcher Chronicles, Chapter 47: The Sultry Super-Spy of Canada meets Bond, James Bond written by mizface, read by luzula (Due South & James Bond crossover; Meg Thatcher/James Bond, Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski; 21:19 min)
As this story was written for a Badfic challenge I can only recomment to not drink, eat or be in public while listening to the podfic. I was alternating between groaning and roaring with laughter the whole time, because luzula reads it like the self-absorbed 12-year-old, who would write something so awful like this.