Fangirl Tour Wednesday
I have always loved the Fangirl Tour and I'm so happy to be a part of it! My fic recs are a bit heavy on h/c and angst. Hope you have time to check them out!
Fandom: Mummy
Title: The Downside
Author: Arwen Lune
Link: at fanfiction.net
Rating: T (PG-13)
Status: Completed (55,000 words); sequel, The Upside (32,000 words), is completed as well
Summary: On a routine parol, Ardeth Bay encounters a stranded traveller in the desert. She's wounded, and not too clear on what her name is. Medjai backstory, takes place after the events of the first film. Ardeth is still finding his feet as the new leader of the Medjai when an obstacle comes onto his path.
Genre: Het (Ardeth Bay/OFC), Drama
Why I fangirl this: This is one of the first stories I ever read online, and I fell in love with it completely. It features a wonderful main character who is not a Mary Sue, and Ardeth Bay, who is much as I imagined him outside of the movies; very much bowing under the weight of responsibility, a good warrior and leader, smart but also a man of honor and yet, with a core of vulnerability. I really love this fic and how it isn't unpredictable. The sequel is much the same; she moves through culture and tradition in a very interesting way, and I never knew exactly where she was going. I love the heroine, which is rare for me.
Excerpt: [Ardeth] motioned for his men to step back, and looked down on the woman. She looked directly at him for a brief moment, and then glanced away behind him again, nervously keeping an eye on the warriors surrounding her. With a wince, she pulled her veil more closely around her hair and shoulders.
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Title: By the Light of Earendil's Star
Author: lady_branwyn
Link: at fanfiction.net
Rating: T (PG-13)
Status: Completed (68,000 words)
Summary: After an ambush in Ithilien, young Faramir has little hope of rescue from his captors or from his own despair. Unless help unlooked-for should arrive...
Genre: Gen, Action/Adventure, Drama
Why I fangirl this: All of lady_branwyn's work is fantastic, but this is one of my favorite pieces. The writing is excellent, and the book!canon is rock solid. It is very well-plotted, which to me is very important. The supporting characters are vivid. Very vivid! There is a bit of gore, but it isn't much, and shouldn't dissuade you from reading this gem. It's a terrific piece and Boromir, Faramir, and Denethor shine beautifully within it.
Excerpt: Later, the full moon rose above the clouds and turned the trees to silver. The night sounds of Ithilien, the call of owl and heron, were strangely missing. The orcs were traveling in haste and made no attempt at silence or secrecy.
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Title: Eating for Two
Author: lady_branwyn
Link: on LJ
Rating: G
Status: Completed (100 words)
Summary: Written for the Tolkien_Weekly Teatime Challenge.
Genre: Humor
Why I fangirl this: This drabble is hilarious and made me laugh so hard I snorted.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: I Do Not Like Remus Lupin
Author: imadra_blue
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG-13
Status: Completed (600 words)
Summary: I just took "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss and redid it for my own wicked purposes. You see, Severus Snape doesn't like Remus Lupin. Really, he doesn't.
Genre: Slashy Humor (SS/RL) , Parody, Mild Profanity
Why I fangirl this: It's hysterical. It's slashy. It's from Severus's point of view. I love this.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: Three Little Words
Author: rickfan37
Link: on Digital Quill
Rating: Mature (adults only)
Status: Completed (11,000 words)
Summary: When not at Hogwarts, Severus Snape spends his time at Spinner's End, in his childhood home. One day he meets a Muggle woman and has to decide whether he can allow himself to fall in love…
Genre: Het (SS/OFC), Drama, Angst
Why I fangirl this: This story follows Snape at Spinner's End during the events of OotP and HBP, and the city itself that harbors Spinner's End is so real and vividly painted that you think you're walking its streets. It is a character in its own right, and Rickfan captures the mood so well that you can feel the claustrophobia of being stuck there. It's a quick, satisfying read. Snape is sharp and mannered and quite well-drawn.
Excerpt: The first time he saw her he had been peering through a small gap in the faded velveteen curtains that were permanently drawn across the small, dusty window that looked onto the cobbled street. She had been nothing but a blur of auburn hair and bottle green overcoat, striding past the window with sharp, steady footfalls.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: in places where nobody was meant to see
Author: girl_tarte
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG
Status: Completed (3000 words)
Summary: This is a short, simple fic, just RL/SS at an advanced age.
Genre: Slash (SS/RL), Slice-of-Life
Why I fangirl this: Girl is an astonishing writer, and this fic is absolutely haunting and bittersweet, full of beautiful details. Every line resonates and builds into a lyrical portrait of two old men, living another day together. I can't recommend it enough. No graphic anything, just a heartfelt moment in their lives, with well-drawn characterization.
Excerpt: Socks are by far the worst of it. His back won’t bend quite far enough to grasp a foot with both hands, and he has to toe his way in awkwardly, wheezing and rocking on the edge of the bed. It’s early spring, still too chilly and damp to make staggering about half-dressed at all advisable, but Lupin regards it as a test of mettle - not to mention his independent living skills - this struggle with the socks.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: Conduits of Sorcery
Author: pen_and_umbra
Link: on LJ
Rating: NC-17
Status: Completed (70,000 words)
Summary: It's a Triwizard Tournament year and Harry returns to Hogwarts as one of the Tournament organisers. What he had hoped would be a quiet year with old friends turns to something quite different when Lucius Malfoy shows sudden interest in wizarding sports.
Genre: Slash (SS/Adult!HP), Drama, Action/Adventure
Why I fangirl this: This fic is really fantastic. I can't say enough about it. Penumbra is an absolutely amazing writer, and in her hands this story glows. It is all about the little things, you see, the little details that draw us together and weave us into a relationship. Her loom is beautifully arranged. The plot isn't overpowering; it's the background that establishes a place for the two to connect, and they do so by degrees. Her Snape is a wonderful creation, sly and cruelly intelligent and still risking his neck with little hope of reward. He's extremely well-spoken, moreso than canon, I'd hazard, but it makes this a better piece, because it's really interesting to follow his machinations. Her Harry is a bit thick, just like the real thing, but he does catch on when it's required, and he pursues Snape without even understanding why. He's wondering and awestruck and forthright. Their verbal sparring is terrific.
Also, the adult content is very well-done. It's developed in a delicious slow-burn arc. Their relations are very nearly a duel. And it's definitely NC-17, I'm warning you.
I think one of the reasons it always draws me is the feeling of a palpably malevolent, adult HP world. It's as if we're in JKR's universe, but the few rose-colored glasses we've been spying through have been removed. I mean, her world is already pretty violent and frightening, but in this, there is a real sense of danger and alarm, and there are Very Bad Wizards involved, and it's absolutely thrilling.
The ending segment is extremely gripping, and I think about it at least once a month. I'm serious. If you have a bit of time to devote to this marvelous, understated piece, I believe it would be time well-spent.
Excerpt: In the twilight, the Hogwarts castle glowed in shades of stone and bronze, imposing yet inviting. According to Harry's calculations, it had been almost four years since he had last been on Hogwarts grounds, yet it was as if he'd never left: the full feeling in his heart was the same he had had on the last day of school. Warm, yellow candlelight glinted from the windows, the numerous towers and spires reached to the sky like delicate fingers, and the air was thick with magic and the whispers of the trees as they swayed in the wind.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: Modern Love
Author: immortalautumn
Link: at the Snupin Santa holiday fest archive
Rating: PG-13
Status: Completed (11,000 words)
Summary: Set several years after DH, Remus and Severus are in a relationship and raising Teddy together (their timely survival of DH is not heavily featured, so let's assume the Resurrection Fest answered all those issues). On the surface things seem wonderful, until you take in insecurity and miscommunication.
Genre: Slash (SS/RL), Drama, Angst
Why I fangirl this: This is one of those fics where you are literally immersed in their world, where everything is written so realistically and meaningfully that each paragraph just rolls off the page and into your mind. The characterizations are terrific. I generally avoid any fics with children in them because most I've read have featured some sort of pod-child who bears little or no resemblence to real children--but Teddy, in this fic, is so incredibly well-written that he actually elevates the story instead of hindering it.
Writing a characterization of Severus as father sounds like a challenge--but this story proves that it can be done, and with style. The incredible touches in this story are the things I always long for in wizarding stories--not only does Teddy spout off about potions and magical creatures, but the adults even talk about magical affairs.
There is no graphic content at all. The PG-13 rating says it all--this is a nuanced, lovely piece of work, a story that makes one feel right at home in the wizarding world. I felt like I had slipped into the family and was sitting on the hearth, surrounded by magic and yet still human, full of emotion, feeling, and especially the regret--or sometimes pride--we feel from the choices we make.
Excerpt: Severus had forgotten to buy brownie mix at Sainsbury's. Normally Remus did the grocery shopping, but he had been kept late at work by a new patient - a little girl not much older than Teddy, with terrified parents and one arm mangled - and they had been out of peanut butter and chocolate biscuits, so Severus had put Teddy under a mild glamour and walked to the nearest supermarket. Now they had both peanut butter and biscuits, not to mention chocolate milk, and Teddy should have been running madly about the house with peanut butter stains on his shirt.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: Flora and Fauna
Author: swtalmnd
Link: Independent site
Rating: NC-17 (warnings at bottom of fic)
Status: Completed (74,000 words)
Summary: Neville rode the Hogwarts Express home one last time, staring out the window and trying to figure out his future in a world that barely made sense to him anymore.
Genre: Slash (RL/NL, SS/HP), Drama
Why I fangirl this: This is a simple, heartfelt, and absolutely wonderful fic. The pairing is Neville/Remus, with a side of Snape/Harry. Don't let the rare pairing put you off. It's a nice long story, and it's told from Neville's POV. The language is simple and straightforward, very Rowlingesque, but the concepts and patterns behind it are anything but. I was transfixed by this story, completely. It is absolutely wonderful.
The magical details that fill the margins are absolutely superb. I loved the plants that surround Neville, from the large to the small. They are all quixotic and marvelous beyond belief. The author has developed a truly amazing array of plantlife to complement her amazing story, and it's just exactly what I love most about the HPverse. I adore authors who spend time to create realistic additions. Oh, how I am taken with this story.
Not only does it delight with the magical details, it even goes into wizarding business details. If there's anything I am fascinated with, it's business.
This has to be the best "comfort food" fic I've found. No, I don't just mean hurt/comfort, though there is well done h/c within it. I mean, this fic is like reading a sweet, simple tale of a home you've always wanted. Just absolutely sweet.
Excerpt: Perhaps the hardest thing for Neville was that, for the first time in seven years, he wouldn't have school to look forward to, the train ride back and the transition from his lonely summer days to the crowded nights spent in a room full of friends. Even when Neville wasn't the favourite person in the Gryffindor Common Room, he had always known he had friends he could go and sit with and feel like he was a part of something. Neville felt that security slip away from him for the last time as he exited the station with his grandmother to head for home, and tried not to feel like he was leaving the most important things behind him instead.
My current fandom obsession is with Riptide, an eighties detective/adventure show that featured Perry King and Joe Penny. If you're interested new to the show, or just want a quick brushup on the characters, this is a good link with images and background about them.
Fandom: Riptide
Title: Grey. Safelike.
Author: oddmonster
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG
Status: Completed (16,000 words)
Summary: Scuba-diving angst.
Genre: Preslash, Slash (Nick/Cody), Drama, Action/Adventure, Hurt/Comfort
Why I fangirl this: There are very few stories that I reread over and over again, but "Gray. Safelike." is one of them. This story is not only one of the best in the Riptide fandom, but it holds its own with many of the best fics I've read in any fandom. The author's style is fantastic. Simple, pared-down, yet incredibly effective in conveying so many layers. In fact, the more I reread this, the more I discover.
This story is told from Nick's POV. The Riptide Detective Agency (run by Cody Allen, Nick Ryder, and Murray Bozinsky) takes on a case, with a few misgivings on Nick's part. As the case unfolds and complications ensue, Nick tries to come to grips with his feelings for Cody, which he's kept secret for a long time. Nick's characterization is spot-on; he's bullheaded and smart, yet has no idea what to do with this desire for his partner.
Even better is the beautifully understated way the author handles Cody, revealing his own feelings to Nick but not in a way that Nick can understand yet. Their rich, nuanced interplay is the backbone of the fic.
The third detective in the agency, Murray, is helpful and understanding, and knows more than he lets on, and the vivid, amusing original characters help flesh out the rest of the fic.
The writing is terrific, and there are wonderful flashes of wit, as well as an excellent scuba diving action scene. I love how she nails the characterization; Nick is quick to protect the ones he loves and has a bit of a temper, Murray is funny and very clever, and Cody is competitive and a little high maintenance. The hurt/comfort is well-written and a great part of the plot. This fic is one of my favorites, and I hope that you'll give it a try.
Excerpt: Button Beach Bay was not where they usually dove, but for the money their client was offering, Nick was fairly sure Cody'd try to talk him into diving in a live volcano if he had to. And he'd probably do it, too, because it was Cody doing the asking.
Fandom: Riptide
Title: Steeper than it Looks
Author: tinx_r
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG
Status: Completed (4,000 words)
Summary: Testing Murray's new invention in the Santa Monica mountains could be more difficult than it looks...
Genre: Preslash (Nick/Cody), Drama, Action/Adventure, Hurt/Comfort
Why I fangirl this: Some time ago I joined a comm called 10_hurt_comfort, and I saw this fic was posted, and I was intrigued. I hadn't seen Riptide in years. It had been one of my favorite shows as a teenager, and I went and looked up the Wiki entry so I could remember which character was which. After I figured that out, I went back to the fic, and was absolutely captivated by the wonderful hurt/comfort, and it brought back so many memories of watching the show. Without this fic, I would have never checked out pier56, nor investigated the fandom. I'm still so incredibly happy that I found this fic!
And it's also a terrific fic. The boys head to Sycamore Canyon to do a little testing for one of Murray's devices, and Cody, who was injured during a case, is left to watch the car. He's not entirely delighted by this, and then everything proceeds in typical Cody fashion. Tinx's writing seems effortless and is a real joy to read.
Excerpt: Big Sycamore Canyon, deceptively green and gentle-looking, was laid out below us. It was plenty steep and rough enough to provide the terrain Murray needed to test his latest invention, a communication device that was supposed to work even when there was a mountain in the way. "Is that enough mountain for you, Boz?" I asked, pointing at the bare peak of Boney Mountain, stark and improbable above the gently waving treetops.
Fandom: Riptide
Title: Midnight Confession
Author: seraphina_snape
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG-13
Status: Completed (1,000 words)
Summary: Nick has a secret. Cody finds out.
Genre: Slash (Nick/Cody), Drama
Why I fangirl this: This is such a yummy little fic. Short but so very sweet, and I love to reread it. I adore this kind of plot, where one person has a secret crush and accidentally spills it. This is a great, quick read, one of those fantastic little stories you can return to again and again. Yum!
Excerpt: Nick was tucked away at the far end of the bar, staring at the dark TV screen in front of him as if it held all the answers to his questions. He didn't seem to realize that it was switched off.
It was late; Straightaways was almost empty. Straightaway unnecessarily pointed towards Nick when he caught Cody's eye and Cody nodded, heading over to his friend.
Fandom: Riptide
Title: Power to the Catbread People
Author: little_tristan
Link: on LJ
Rating: NC-17
Status: Completed (4,000 words)
Summary: I don’t even know where to start. There are cats. And bread.
Genre: Slash (Murray/Quinlan), Drama, Angst, Hurt/Comfort
Why I fangirl this: Murray. Quinlan. But Murray/Quinlan? I never would have thought so, but >Little Tristan's epic Catbread series changed that forever. Tristan illuminates Quinlan's lonely life, bringing light into the interior of his home and his heart, and she does it so deftly that before you know it, you are shipping Murray/Quinlan and thinking how it all makes so much sense. What I love about her writing are all of the little epiphanies, the wonderful dark humor and the slices of angst tempered with wry realism.
Excerpt: Murray took a moment to think that over, considering the almost unthinkable idea of Quinlan actually being sick, combined with the pathos of not having anyone to drive him home.
Fandom: Riptide
Title: The Wall
Author: sara_merry99
Link: on LJ
Rating: NC-17
Status: Completed (2,000 words)
Summary: Nick and Cody have sex against the wall. Murray watches and wants.
Genre: Slash (Nick/Cody, Voyeur!Murray), PWP
Why I fangirl this: This is a steamy hot delicious voyeuristic!Murray fic, and the descriptions are superb and have I mentioned that it is hawt? Probably one of my favorite PWPs ever. In any fandom.
Excerpt: Listening to them talk about the movie was fun. Watching them replay the fight scenes for his benefit was beauty in motion and he wouldn't deprive himself of that pleasure, even though he should. He tidied up his desk, stacking his notes neatly.
Fandom: Riptide
Title: Swimmer
Author: oddmonster
Link: on LJ
Rating: R
Status: Completed (2,000 words)
Summary: Some recurring nightmares are worse than others.
Genre: Slash (Nick/Cody), Established Relationship, Angst
Why I fangirl this: I think about this fic often. The images are amazing. The characterizations are perfect. The dialogue has that delicious creamy ring of truth that all writers long for. I adore this fic and how it dives directly for the heart. Inspired and such a perfect Nick narrative.
Excerpt: For the past week, Nick's been having the same dream, over and over, and it's not a good one. Normally, that's not a big deal, hell, he doesn't know any vets who don't have nightmares like other people have cornflakes, but this one's different. In this dream, he's leaning over the side of the Ebb Tide, and it's night. Cody's in the water, and Nick's trying to get him out, but it's just not working: he's got his arms around Cody's chest and he's pulling with everything he's got, but Cody's not responding, and the water's full of snakes and blood and a bunch of random hands, grabbing at--
Fandom: Riptide/Magnificent 7 crossover
Title: Tides
Author: sara_merry99
Link: on LJ
Rating: NC-17
Status: Completed (27,000 words)
Summary: Team Seven tackles a case that takes them from Denver to a boat off the coast of Los Angeles where they're assisted by the Riptide Detective Agency. Both teams have to overcome their reluctance to work with others to save a hostage, solve a crime and bring some gun runners to justice. During the course of the case, Chris and Vin find that there's a deeper level of connection between them than they thought.
Genre: Slash (Riptide: OT3, M7: Chris/Vin), Action/Adventure, Drama
Why I fangirl this: This story is great. I read it without knowing a thing about M7, and yet somehow had a great time and only got confused here and there. It's a terrific fic, very detailed, and it's also a nice slice of future!fic. I love the way the story progresses, and the relationships, and the wonderful way that Sara_merry99 keeps track of everyone and also puts together wonderful interactions. There's a terrific part toward the end where the Riptide characters mingle with the M7 characters, and the way she puts the groups of characters together is so logical and so fascinating that I love to reread just that section sometimes. The writing is taut and the action is well-done, and the emotional lives of the characters are lovingly revealed. I love Sara's writing so very much, and I love the way she fits her style around each story according to the story's needs.
Excerpt: "Three more people coming in, from the north," Vin said, watching them carefully. The three men were dressed all in black and wore watch caps and sunglasses. They kept to the shadows and had a watchful eye in all directions as they crept slowly forward. "Don't look like they were invited to the party."
Fandom: Riptide
Title: The First Thing You Want Never Comes
Author: hardboiledbaby
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG-13
Status: Completed (8,000 words)
Summary: In the ep Smiles We Left Behind, Nick tells Murray, "About eight years ago, we ran into her [Janet] in Washington while we were on furlough." What happened?
Genre: Pre-slash (Nick/Cody), Angst, Drama
Why I fangirl this: Guh. This is one of those fics that just stays with you long after you're done reading. I read this in a rapture--it's so amazing, so well-told; the voices are so perfect. HBB's writing flows so elegantly and concisely, and there are lovely layers, and it really is a joy to read her well-crafted prose.
This story engaged me deeply and fully, and I could see it all happening exactly as written, and the characterizations are just perfect. I love how HBB fleshes out a part of pre-canon and brings it to amazing life. Cody is exactly as broken and as earnest as I always imagine, and Nick is wonderful, all care and concern, and yet willing to back away if need be.
Excerpt: I glanced at the slip of paper in my hand again, even though I'd memorized the address long ago, a lifetime ago. It matched the brass numbers above the entry on the brownstone. This was the right place.
I suddenly had an attack of cold feet that had nothing to do with the chilly March breeze.
Fandom: Hawaii 5-0 (2010 show)
Title: Sometimes a Blue Macaw
Author: Ariadnes_String
Link: on AO3
Rating: PG
Status: Completed (5,000 words)
Summary: “Okay. Okay: Stop,” Danny held up both hands. “I cannot believe we’re arguing about this. I cannot believe that you are still forming sentences. Tell you what: I’m gonna give you 105. But I’m gonna stay. And if you start seizing I’m making the decisions-end of story.”
Genre: Gen, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Drama
Why I fangirl this: This is one of the best H/C stories I've ever read. Absolutely vivid, truly unusual, and completely rooted in the characters. I have already reread this fic a half-dozen times and I will probably keep right on rereading it. Steve is almost unable to let go of his control, but must, and Danny is competent and smart and just a little scared, and it's all so well-written it's unbelievable.
Excerpt: As usual, Danny revved the AC in the Chevy the minute they pulled away from the crime scene. Mostly, this was a minor annoyance, but today a wave of chills hit Steve like a twenty-foot breaker with the first touch of cold air.
Fandom: Hawaii 5-0 (2010 show)
Title: In the Dark
Author: ratherastory
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG-13
Status: Completed (,000 words)
Summary: Steve gets a migraine, and Danny turns out to be kind of awesome about it.
Genre: Gen, Hurt/Comfort, Drama
Why I fangirl this: I love this fic. This is another fantastic hurt/comfort story, with the added bonus of terrific Danny dialogue. I adored how Danny took charge of things and helped Steve recover from a migraine. Realistic, smart h/c with inspired dialogue--what's not to like?
Excerpt: There are coloured spots dancing in Steve’s peripheral vision. He blinks a little, trying to clear them away, while simultaneously ignoring Danny’s latest rant and pretending to listen by nodding at what he hopes are appropriate intervals.
“... crazed chittering rhesus monkeys with more sense of responsibility than... are you even listening to me, McGarrett?”
Fandom: Hawaii 5-0 (2010 show)
Title: Weight of Days Lost Holding You Down
Author: gyzym
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG
Status: Completed (7,000 words)
Summary: Steve jumps off buildings; Danny hits the wall.
Genre: Slash (Steve/Danny), Drama
Why I fangirl this: The characters' voices are spectacular. The relationships, the dialogue, everything in this fic is fantastic, and the writing is exceptional. There aren't enough words for me to convince you of how awesome this fic is.
“Is that why you’re covered in coffee?” Steve says, handing him a box of pizza that doesn’t smell like it has fruit on it, thank god.
“No,” Danny says, “I went for a coffee swim, I thought it would be--yes, Steven, of course that’s why I’m covered in coffee, that machine is an evil beast from hell, why else would I be covered in coffee?”
See what I mean about the voices? Spectacular.
Fandom: Hawaii 5-0 (2010 show)
Title: Sleepwalking
Author: janedavitt
Link: on LJ
Rating: R
Status: Completed (4,000 words)
Summary: Danny woke from a sleep profound enough to make him feel as if waking required an effort similar to climbing a mountain or surfacing from a deep, deep dive.
Genre: Slash (Steve/Danny), Drama, Action/Adventure
Why I fangirl this: Jane's writing is awesome. Way awesome. Her characterizations are perfectly detailed; her dialogue is perfect and dovetails in such an amazingly realistic way. She's unafraid to have pauses and real affectations that people have and the voices are so perfectly realized. I love her writing to bits and I think she's one of the best writers I've seen. This story is hot, sexy, fun, and a terrific, quick read. I love the tension, the delicious edge of sexy between the characters, how she captures the raw energy between them. A wonderful talent.
Excerpt: The thud of a fist against the door was hard enough, impatient enough that he didn't need to hear his name called out to know that it was Steve on the other side. Now that he thought about it, that hammering and that deep voice had invaded his dream, disrupting it with an uncompromising finality.
Fandom: Starsky and Hutch
Title: Crackers
Author: Paula Wilshe
Link: on Me & Thee Archive
Rating: PG
Status: Completed (2,000 words)
Summary: Starsky cooks an unusual dish for a sick Hutch
Genre: Slash (Starsky/Hutch), Hurt/Comfort
Why I fangirl this: This is one of those sweet wonderful comfort fics, the kind you can reread over and over again. Starsky is all heart, Hutch is not feeling well, and so Starsky does what comes naturally.
Excerpt: Dave Starsky consulted the tattered page which he had spread open on the counter, several inches from the work area in front of him. He brushed a bit of excess flour from his hands, and reverently smoothed the crinkled edges of the paper for better readability.
Fandom: Starsky and Hutch
Title: Fatal Flaw
Author: K Hanna Korossy
Link: on Korossy's site
Rating: PG-13
Status: Completed (5,000 words)
Summary: Starsky could hear her screams from outside the building, screams of rage and…frustration? Then maybe Hutch was still okay, maybe he had seen and stopped Diana in time...
Genre: Gen, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Drama
Why I fangirl this: This is a great follow up to the episode "Fatal Charm," probably one of my favorite S&H eps ever. This fic really explores the aftereffects of Diana's attack, and Starsky is terrific in this fic, caring for Hutch and worried about him. I love this fic. Korossy is a very good writer and the fic is a good example of the difficult nights that Hutch would most likely have after the ordeal he went through.
Excerpt: Hutch's eyes re-opened for a moment, finding and fixing on Starsky's face. Starsky held the agitated eyes, and for a moment they were alone as he soothed his partner into relaxing. Calmed, the other's eyes finally shut again, and Starsky let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
Fandom: Starsky and Hutch
Title: Jenni
Author: Charlotte Frost
Link: on Me & Thee archive
Rating: NC-17
Status: Completed (37,000 words)
Summary: Starsky and Hutch expand their relationship while involved in a case centering around the possible murder attempt on a rock star; meanwhile Hutch is having mysterious nightmares.
Genre: Slash (Starsky/Hutch), Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Why I fangirl this: This fic packs a huge emotional and physical wallop. On the surface, this is about S&H following a rock star around, but underneath, Hutch is having difficulties with his emotions and his love for Starsky. There is a lot of great writing in this story, and a lot of great h/c. Not to be missed! This is a story that comes up in fic searches a lot; it's memorable, definitely, and that's why people always want to read it again.
Excerpt: Just as the Torino skidded to a partial halt, the suspect ducked into a thicket of trees outlining the park. Hutch jumped out at a run and headed in the same direction. He couldn't see his prey until he had woven his way through the clump of trees, but when he emerged into a clearing, he spotted Monroe's tall form moving along the edge of Webster Lake.
Fandom: Starsky and Hutch
Title: Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Author: Morgan Logan
Link: on author's site
Rating: NC-17
Status: Completed (9,000 words)
Summary: This story is a shameless indulgence in my desire to see Hutch sweaty and feverish. As such, it possibly contains some inaccuracies pertaining to how quickly the onset of the jaw-muscle spasms might occur. (Medical sites say 1-3 days). But tough noogies.
Genre: Slash (Starsky/Hutch), Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Why I fangirl this: Morgan Logan is a truly awesome writer and this is an amazing story, full of dreamy, lyrical touches. It's beautiful and haunting and hot and full of hurt/comfort. How could I not love it?
Excerpt: Hutch kept his eyes closed and breathed quietly and evenly, feigning sleep as he felt Starsky roll out of bed and sneak out toward the living room. The heat of Indian summer hung heavy in the room, and Hutch could feel the sweat of their recent exertion lingering on his skin.
Fandom: Magnificent 7
Title: Midnight Ride
Author: romankate
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG/R
Status: Completed (1,000 words)
Summary: The way Buck had it figured, every man who'd rode the trails had felt that way, one time or another.
Genre: Slash (Chris/Buck), Angst
Why I fangirl this: Delicious. Kate gets to the heart of Buck, gives him an easy, loping narrative, yet with a fire underneath. Her stories always have a beautiful lyricism at heart. Her writing is evocative and her details are outstanding. She takes the reader on amazing journeys. This story is exceptional; Buck is wanting something and decides to ride off into the night. Lovely.
Excerpt: So when his hand strayed south of a night, it didn't surprise him that instead of the girls from the cathouse in the last town but one (wine and flirting, but a fast kiss on the stairs was more than he'd wanted, and a long ride into the desert night cooled his fever and stopped his friends wondering why he'd come home so early) the image in his mind was a lean hard cowboy, squinting off into the horizon.
Fandom: Original, based on the legends of King Arthur
Title: The Gawain Project
Author: sigune
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG-13
Status: Part I: The Darkest Hour is complete. Part II: Sunrise is a WIP.
Summary:One woman and two men. This is where our story starts.
Genre: Gen, Action/Adventure, Drama, Angst
Why I fangirl this: If you're in the HP fandom and you like Snape, you have probably seen Sigune's artwork. It's amazing, particularly her graphic novel of the Prank (watch me sneak in another rec! hee!). Her artwork is reminiscent of Aubrey Beardsley, but she's got her own style as well, and it's marvelous.
She's been working on a draft of a set of graphic novels about King Arthur, Gawain, and some of Arthur's backstory. It's absolutely amazing. Even though this isn't the final artwork, it's beautiful and masterfully drawn. She pencils, inks, and scans in three pages per week, and I've been following it avidly.
I highly recommend all of the works in these series. These are insightful, beautifully drawn comics. They move slowly at first, but then they draw you in, and the storytelling unfolds like a mystical flower. Sigune has a great ear for dialogue and a talented eye, and the story is engrossing and well-told. There is heartbreak, there is magic, both dark and light, there is love and war and the land beyond the mists. Sigune's drawings are spare and yet convey so much. Her beautiful lines captivate the eye.
Fandom: Mummy
Title: The Downside
Author: Arwen Lune
Link: at fanfiction.net
Rating: T (PG-13)
Status: Completed (55,000 words); sequel, The Upside (32,000 words), is completed as well
Summary: On a routine parol, Ardeth Bay encounters a stranded traveller in the desert. She's wounded, and not too clear on what her name is. Medjai backstory, takes place after the events of the first film. Ardeth is still finding his feet as the new leader of the Medjai when an obstacle comes onto his path.
Genre: Het (Ardeth Bay/OFC), Drama
Why I fangirl this: This is one of the first stories I ever read online, and I fell in love with it completely. It features a wonderful main character who is not a Mary Sue, and Ardeth Bay, who is much as I imagined him outside of the movies; very much bowing under the weight of responsibility, a good warrior and leader, smart but also a man of honor and yet, with a core of vulnerability. I really love this fic and how it isn't unpredictable. The sequel is much the same; she moves through culture and tradition in a very interesting way, and I never knew exactly where she was going. I love the heroine, which is rare for me.
Excerpt: [Ardeth] motioned for his men to step back, and looked down on the woman. She looked directly at him for a brief moment, and then glanced away behind him again, nervously keeping an eye on the warriors surrounding her. With a wince, she pulled her veil more closely around her hair and shoulders.
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Title: By the Light of Earendil's Star
Author: lady_branwyn
Link: at fanfiction.net
Rating: T (PG-13)
Status: Completed (68,000 words)
Summary: After an ambush in Ithilien, young Faramir has little hope of rescue from his captors or from his own despair. Unless help unlooked-for should arrive...
Genre: Gen, Action/Adventure, Drama
Why I fangirl this: All of lady_branwyn's work is fantastic, but this is one of my favorite pieces. The writing is excellent, and the book!canon is rock solid. It is very well-plotted, which to me is very important. The supporting characters are vivid. Very vivid! There is a bit of gore, but it isn't much, and shouldn't dissuade you from reading this gem. It's a terrific piece and Boromir, Faramir, and Denethor shine beautifully within it.
Excerpt: Later, the full moon rose above the clouds and turned the trees to silver. The night sounds of Ithilien, the call of owl and heron, were strangely missing. The orcs were traveling in haste and made no attempt at silence or secrecy.
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Title: Eating for Two
Author: lady_branwyn
Link: on LJ
Rating: G
Status: Completed (100 words)
Summary: Written for the Tolkien_Weekly Teatime Challenge.
Genre: Humor
Why I fangirl this: This drabble is hilarious and made me laugh so hard I snorted.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: I Do Not Like Remus Lupin
Author: imadra_blue
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG-13
Status: Completed (600 words)
Summary: I just took "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss and redid it for my own wicked purposes. You see, Severus Snape doesn't like Remus Lupin. Really, he doesn't.
Genre: Slashy Humor (SS/RL) , Parody, Mild Profanity
Why I fangirl this: It's hysterical. It's slashy. It's from Severus's point of view. I love this.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: Three Little Words
Author: rickfan37
Link: on Digital Quill
Rating: Mature (adults only)
Status: Completed (11,000 words)
Summary: When not at Hogwarts, Severus Snape spends his time at Spinner's End, in his childhood home. One day he meets a Muggle woman and has to decide whether he can allow himself to fall in love…
Genre: Het (SS/OFC), Drama, Angst
Why I fangirl this: This story follows Snape at Spinner's End during the events of OotP and HBP, and the city itself that harbors Spinner's End is so real and vividly painted that you think you're walking its streets. It is a character in its own right, and Rickfan captures the mood so well that you can feel the claustrophobia of being stuck there. It's a quick, satisfying read. Snape is sharp and mannered and quite well-drawn.
Excerpt: The first time he saw her he had been peering through a small gap in the faded velveteen curtains that were permanently drawn across the small, dusty window that looked onto the cobbled street. She had been nothing but a blur of auburn hair and bottle green overcoat, striding past the window with sharp, steady footfalls.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: in places where nobody was meant to see
Author: girl_tarte
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG
Status: Completed (3000 words)
Summary: This is a short, simple fic, just RL/SS at an advanced age.
Genre: Slash (SS/RL), Slice-of-Life
Why I fangirl this: Girl is an astonishing writer, and this fic is absolutely haunting and bittersweet, full of beautiful details. Every line resonates and builds into a lyrical portrait of two old men, living another day together. I can't recommend it enough. No graphic anything, just a heartfelt moment in their lives, with well-drawn characterization.
Excerpt: Socks are by far the worst of it. His back won’t bend quite far enough to grasp a foot with both hands, and he has to toe his way in awkwardly, wheezing and rocking on the edge of the bed. It’s early spring, still too chilly and damp to make staggering about half-dressed at all advisable, but Lupin regards it as a test of mettle - not to mention his independent living skills - this struggle with the socks.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: Conduits of Sorcery
Author: pen_and_umbra
Link: on LJ
Rating: NC-17
Status: Completed (70,000 words)
Summary: It's a Triwizard Tournament year and Harry returns to Hogwarts as one of the Tournament organisers. What he had hoped would be a quiet year with old friends turns to something quite different when Lucius Malfoy shows sudden interest in wizarding sports.
Genre: Slash (SS/Adult!HP), Drama, Action/Adventure
Why I fangirl this: This fic is really fantastic. I can't say enough about it. Penumbra is an absolutely amazing writer, and in her hands this story glows. It is all about the little things, you see, the little details that draw us together and weave us into a relationship. Her loom is beautifully arranged. The plot isn't overpowering; it's the background that establishes a place for the two to connect, and they do so by degrees. Her Snape is a wonderful creation, sly and cruelly intelligent and still risking his neck with little hope of reward. He's extremely well-spoken, moreso than canon, I'd hazard, but it makes this a better piece, because it's really interesting to follow his machinations. Her Harry is a bit thick, just like the real thing, but he does catch on when it's required, and he pursues Snape without even understanding why. He's wondering and awestruck and forthright. Their verbal sparring is terrific.
Also, the adult content is very well-done. It's developed in a delicious slow-burn arc. Their relations are very nearly a duel. And it's definitely NC-17, I'm warning you.
I think one of the reasons it always draws me is the feeling of a palpably malevolent, adult HP world. It's as if we're in JKR's universe, but the few rose-colored glasses we've been spying through have been removed. I mean, her world is already pretty violent and frightening, but in this, there is a real sense of danger and alarm, and there are Very Bad Wizards involved, and it's absolutely thrilling.
The ending segment is extremely gripping, and I think about it at least once a month. I'm serious. If you have a bit of time to devote to this marvelous, understated piece, I believe it would be time well-spent.
Excerpt: In the twilight, the Hogwarts castle glowed in shades of stone and bronze, imposing yet inviting. According to Harry's calculations, it had been almost four years since he had last been on Hogwarts grounds, yet it was as if he'd never left: the full feeling in his heart was the same he had had on the last day of school. Warm, yellow candlelight glinted from the windows, the numerous towers and spires reached to the sky like delicate fingers, and the air was thick with magic and the whispers of the trees as they swayed in the wind.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: Modern Love
Author: immortalautumn
Link: at the Snupin Santa holiday fest archive
Rating: PG-13
Status: Completed (11,000 words)
Summary: Set several years after DH, Remus and Severus are in a relationship and raising Teddy together (their timely survival of DH is not heavily featured, so let's assume the Resurrection Fest answered all those issues). On the surface things seem wonderful, until you take in insecurity and miscommunication.
Genre: Slash (SS/RL), Drama, Angst
Why I fangirl this: This is one of those fics where you are literally immersed in their world, where everything is written so realistically and meaningfully that each paragraph just rolls off the page and into your mind. The characterizations are terrific. I generally avoid any fics with children in them because most I've read have featured some sort of pod-child who bears little or no resemblence to real children--but Teddy, in this fic, is so incredibly well-written that he actually elevates the story instead of hindering it.
Writing a characterization of Severus as father sounds like a challenge--but this story proves that it can be done, and with style. The incredible touches in this story are the things I always long for in wizarding stories--not only does Teddy spout off about potions and magical creatures, but the adults even talk about magical affairs.
There is no graphic content at all. The PG-13 rating says it all--this is a nuanced, lovely piece of work, a story that makes one feel right at home in the wizarding world. I felt like I had slipped into the family and was sitting on the hearth, surrounded by magic and yet still human, full of emotion, feeling, and especially the regret--or sometimes pride--we feel from the choices we make.
Excerpt: Severus had forgotten to buy brownie mix at Sainsbury's. Normally Remus did the grocery shopping, but he had been kept late at work by a new patient - a little girl not much older than Teddy, with terrified parents and one arm mangled - and they had been out of peanut butter and chocolate biscuits, so Severus had put Teddy under a mild glamour and walked to the nearest supermarket. Now they had both peanut butter and biscuits, not to mention chocolate milk, and Teddy should have been running madly about the house with peanut butter stains on his shirt.
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: Flora and Fauna
Author: swtalmnd
Link: Independent site
Rating: NC-17 (warnings at bottom of fic)
Status: Completed (74,000 words)
Summary: Neville rode the Hogwarts Express home one last time, staring out the window and trying to figure out his future in a world that barely made sense to him anymore.
Genre: Slash (RL/NL, SS/HP), Drama
Why I fangirl this: This is a simple, heartfelt, and absolutely wonderful fic. The pairing is Neville/Remus, with a side of Snape/Harry. Don't let the rare pairing put you off. It's a nice long story, and it's told from Neville's POV. The language is simple and straightforward, very Rowlingesque, but the concepts and patterns behind it are anything but. I was transfixed by this story, completely. It is absolutely wonderful.
The magical details that fill the margins are absolutely superb. I loved the plants that surround Neville, from the large to the small. They are all quixotic and marvelous beyond belief. The author has developed a truly amazing array of plantlife to complement her amazing story, and it's just exactly what I love most about the HPverse. I adore authors who spend time to create realistic additions. Oh, how I am taken with this story.
Not only does it delight with the magical details, it even goes into wizarding business details. If there's anything I am fascinated with, it's business.
This has to be the best "comfort food" fic I've found. No, I don't just mean hurt/comfort, though there is well done h/c within it. I mean, this fic is like reading a sweet, simple tale of a home you've always wanted. Just absolutely sweet.
Excerpt: Perhaps the hardest thing for Neville was that, for the first time in seven years, he wouldn't have school to look forward to, the train ride back and the transition from his lonely summer days to the crowded nights spent in a room full of friends. Even when Neville wasn't the favourite person in the Gryffindor Common Room, he had always known he had friends he could go and sit with and feel like he was a part of something. Neville felt that security slip away from him for the last time as he exited the station with his grandmother to head for home, and tried not to feel like he was leaving the most important things behind him instead.
My current fandom obsession is with Riptide, an eighties detective/adventure show that featured Perry King and Joe Penny. If you're interested new to the show, or just want a quick brushup on the characters, this is a good link with images and background about them.
Fandom: Riptide
Title: Grey. Safelike.
Author: oddmonster
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG
Status: Completed (16,000 words)
Summary: Scuba-diving angst.
Genre: Preslash, Slash (Nick/Cody), Drama, Action/Adventure, Hurt/Comfort
Why I fangirl this: There are very few stories that I reread over and over again, but "Gray. Safelike." is one of them. This story is not only one of the best in the Riptide fandom, but it holds its own with many of the best fics I've read in any fandom. The author's style is fantastic. Simple, pared-down, yet incredibly effective in conveying so many layers. In fact, the more I reread this, the more I discover.
This story is told from Nick's POV. The Riptide Detective Agency (run by Cody Allen, Nick Ryder, and Murray Bozinsky) takes on a case, with a few misgivings on Nick's part. As the case unfolds and complications ensue, Nick tries to come to grips with his feelings for Cody, which he's kept secret for a long time. Nick's characterization is spot-on; he's bullheaded and smart, yet has no idea what to do with this desire for his partner.
Even better is the beautifully understated way the author handles Cody, revealing his own feelings to Nick but not in a way that Nick can understand yet. Their rich, nuanced interplay is the backbone of the fic.
The third detective in the agency, Murray, is helpful and understanding, and knows more than he lets on, and the vivid, amusing original characters help flesh out the rest of the fic.
The writing is terrific, and there are wonderful flashes of wit, as well as an excellent scuba diving action scene. I love how she nails the characterization; Nick is quick to protect the ones he loves and has a bit of a temper, Murray is funny and very clever, and Cody is competitive and a little high maintenance. The hurt/comfort is well-written and a great part of the plot. This fic is one of my favorites, and I hope that you'll give it a try.
Excerpt: Button Beach Bay was not where they usually dove, but for the money their client was offering, Nick was fairly sure Cody'd try to talk him into diving in a live volcano if he had to. And he'd probably do it, too, because it was Cody doing the asking.
Fandom: Riptide
Title: Steeper than it Looks
Author: tinx_r
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG
Status: Completed (4,000 words)
Summary: Testing Murray's new invention in the Santa Monica mountains could be more difficult than it looks...
Genre: Preslash (Nick/Cody), Drama, Action/Adventure, Hurt/Comfort
Why I fangirl this: Some time ago I joined a comm called 10_hurt_comfort, and I saw this fic was posted, and I was intrigued. I hadn't seen Riptide in years. It had been one of my favorite shows as a teenager, and I went and looked up the Wiki entry so I could remember which character was which. After I figured that out, I went back to the fic, and was absolutely captivated by the wonderful hurt/comfort, and it brought back so many memories of watching the show. Without this fic, I would have never checked out pier56, nor investigated the fandom. I'm still so incredibly happy that I found this fic!
And it's also a terrific fic. The boys head to Sycamore Canyon to do a little testing for one of Murray's devices, and Cody, who was injured during a case, is left to watch the car. He's not entirely delighted by this, and then everything proceeds in typical Cody fashion. Tinx's writing seems effortless and is a real joy to read.
Excerpt: Big Sycamore Canyon, deceptively green and gentle-looking, was laid out below us. It was plenty steep and rough enough to provide the terrain Murray needed to test his latest invention, a communication device that was supposed to work even when there was a mountain in the way. "Is that enough mountain for you, Boz?" I asked, pointing at the bare peak of Boney Mountain, stark and improbable above the gently waving treetops.
Fandom: Riptide
Title: Midnight Confession
Author: seraphina_snape
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG-13
Status: Completed (1,000 words)
Summary: Nick has a secret. Cody finds out.
Genre: Slash (Nick/Cody), Drama
Why I fangirl this: This is such a yummy little fic. Short but so very sweet, and I love to reread it. I adore this kind of plot, where one person has a secret crush and accidentally spills it. This is a great, quick read, one of those fantastic little stories you can return to again and again. Yum!
Excerpt: Nick was tucked away at the far end of the bar, staring at the dark TV screen in front of him as if it held all the answers to his questions. He didn't seem to realize that it was switched off.
It was late; Straightaways was almost empty. Straightaway unnecessarily pointed towards Nick when he caught Cody's eye and Cody nodded, heading over to his friend.
Fandom: Riptide
Title: Power to the Catbread People
Author: little_tristan
Link: on LJ
Rating: NC-17
Status: Completed (4,000 words)
Summary: I don’t even know where to start. There are cats. And bread.
Genre: Slash (Murray/Quinlan), Drama, Angst, Hurt/Comfort
Why I fangirl this: Murray. Quinlan. But Murray/Quinlan? I never would have thought so, but >Little Tristan's epic Catbread series changed that forever. Tristan illuminates Quinlan's lonely life, bringing light into the interior of his home and his heart, and she does it so deftly that before you know it, you are shipping Murray/Quinlan and thinking how it all makes so much sense. What I love about her writing are all of the little epiphanies, the wonderful dark humor and the slices of angst tempered with wry realism.
Excerpt: Murray took a moment to think that over, considering the almost unthinkable idea of Quinlan actually being sick, combined with the pathos of not having anyone to drive him home.
Fandom: Riptide
Title: The Wall
Author: sara_merry99
Link: on LJ
Rating: NC-17
Status: Completed (2,000 words)
Summary: Nick and Cody have sex against the wall. Murray watches and wants.
Genre: Slash (Nick/Cody, Voyeur!Murray), PWP
Why I fangirl this: This is a steamy hot delicious voyeuristic!Murray fic, and the descriptions are superb and have I mentioned that it is hawt? Probably one of my favorite PWPs ever. In any fandom.
Excerpt: Listening to them talk about the movie was fun. Watching them replay the fight scenes for his benefit was beauty in motion and he wouldn't deprive himself of that pleasure, even though he should. He tidied up his desk, stacking his notes neatly.
Fandom: Riptide
Title: Swimmer
Author: oddmonster
Link: on LJ
Rating: R
Status: Completed (2,000 words)
Summary: Some recurring nightmares are worse than others.
Genre: Slash (Nick/Cody), Established Relationship, Angst
Why I fangirl this: I think about this fic often. The images are amazing. The characterizations are perfect. The dialogue has that delicious creamy ring of truth that all writers long for. I adore this fic and how it dives directly for the heart. Inspired and such a perfect Nick narrative.
Excerpt: For the past week, Nick's been having the same dream, over and over, and it's not a good one. Normally, that's not a big deal, hell, he doesn't know any vets who don't have nightmares like other people have cornflakes, but this one's different. In this dream, he's leaning over the side of the Ebb Tide, and it's night. Cody's in the water, and Nick's trying to get him out, but it's just not working: he's got his arms around Cody's chest and he's pulling with everything he's got, but Cody's not responding, and the water's full of snakes and blood and a bunch of random hands, grabbing at--
Fandom: Riptide/Magnificent 7 crossover
Title: Tides
Author: sara_merry99
Link: on LJ
Rating: NC-17
Status: Completed (27,000 words)
Summary: Team Seven tackles a case that takes them from Denver to a boat off the coast of Los Angeles where they're assisted by the Riptide Detective Agency. Both teams have to overcome their reluctance to work with others to save a hostage, solve a crime and bring some gun runners to justice. During the course of the case, Chris and Vin find that there's a deeper level of connection between them than they thought.
Genre: Slash (Riptide: OT3, M7: Chris/Vin), Action/Adventure, Drama
Why I fangirl this: This story is great. I read it without knowing a thing about M7, and yet somehow had a great time and only got confused here and there. It's a terrific fic, very detailed, and it's also a nice slice of future!fic. I love the way the story progresses, and the relationships, and the wonderful way that Sara_merry99 keeps track of everyone and also puts together wonderful interactions. There's a terrific part toward the end where the Riptide characters mingle with the M7 characters, and the way she puts the groups of characters together is so logical and so fascinating that I love to reread just that section sometimes. The writing is taut and the action is well-done, and the emotional lives of the characters are lovingly revealed. I love Sara's writing so very much, and I love the way she fits her style around each story according to the story's needs.
Excerpt: "Three more people coming in, from the north," Vin said, watching them carefully. The three men were dressed all in black and wore watch caps and sunglasses. They kept to the shadows and had a watchful eye in all directions as they crept slowly forward. "Don't look like they were invited to the party."
Fandom: Riptide
Title: The First Thing You Want Never Comes
Author: hardboiledbaby
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG-13
Status: Completed (8,000 words)
Summary: In the ep Smiles We Left Behind, Nick tells Murray, "About eight years ago, we ran into her [Janet] in Washington while we were on furlough." What happened?
Genre: Pre-slash (Nick/Cody), Angst, Drama
Why I fangirl this: Guh. This is one of those fics that just stays with you long after you're done reading. I read this in a rapture--it's so amazing, so well-told; the voices are so perfect. HBB's writing flows so elegantly and concisely, and there are lovely layers, and it really is a joy to read her well-crafted prose.
This story engaged me deeply and fully, and I could see it all happening exactly as written, and the characterizations are just perfect. I love how HBB fleshes out a part of pre-canon and brings it to amazing life. Cody is exactly as broken and as earnest as I always imagine, and Nick is wonderful, all care and concern, and yet willing to back away if need be.
Excerpt: I glanced at the slip of paper in my hand again, even though I'd memorized the address long ago, a lifetime ago. It matched the brass numbers above the entry on the brownstone. This was the right place.
I suddenly had an attack of cold feet that had nothing to do with the chilly March breeze.
Fandom: Hawaii 5-0 (2010 show)
Title: Sometimes a Blue Macaw
Author: Ariadnes_String
Link: on AO3
Rating: PG
Status: Completed (5,000 words)
Summary: “Okay. Okay: Stop,” Danny held up both hands. “I cannot believe we’re arguing about this. I cannot believe that you are still forming sentences. Tell you what: I’m gonna give you 105. But I’m gonna stay. And if you start seizing I’m making the decisions-end of story.”
Genre: Gen, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Drama
Why I fangirl this: This is one of the best H/C stories I've ever read. Absolutely vivid, truly unusual, and completely rooted in the characters. I have already reread this fic a half-dozen times and I will probably keep right on rereading it. Steve is almost unable to let go of his control, but must, and Danny is competent and smart and just a little scared, and it's all so well-written it's unbelievable.
Excerpt: As usual, Danny revved the AC in the Chevy the minute they pulled away from the crime scene. Mostly, this was a minor annoyance, but today a wave of chills hit Steve like a twenty-foot breaker with the first touch of cold air.
Fandom: Hawaii 5-0 (2010 show)
Title: In the Dark
Author: ratherastory
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG-13
Status: Completed (,000 words)
Summary: Steve gets a migraine, and Danny turns out to be kind of awesome about it.
Genre: Gen, Hurt/Comfort, Drama
Why I fangirl this: I love this fic. This is another fantastic hurt/comfort story, with the added bonus of terrific Danny dialogue. I adored how Danny took charge of things and helped Steve recover from a migraine. Realistic, smart h/c with inspired dialogue--what's not to like?
Excerpt: There are coloured spots dancing in Steve’s peripheral vision. He blinks a little, trying to clear them away, while simultaneously ignoring Danny’s latest rant and pretending to listen by nodding at what he hopes are appropriate intervals.
“... crazed chittering rhesus monkeys with more sense of responsibility than... are you even listening to me, McGarrett?”
Fandom: Hawaii 5-0 (2010 show)
Title: Weight of Days Lost Holding You Down
Author: gyzym
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG
Status: Completed (7,000 words)
Summary: Steve jumps off buildings; Danny hits the wall.
Genre: Slash (Steve/Danny), Drama
Why I fangirl this: The characters' voices are spectacular. The relationships, the dialogue, everything in this fic is fantastic, and the writing is exceptional. There aren't enough words for me to convince you of how awesome this fic is.
“Is that why you’re covered in coffee?” Steve says, handing him a box of pizza that doesn’t smell like it has fruit on it, thank god.
“No,” Danny says, “I went for a coffee swim, I thought it would be--yes, Steven, of course that’s why I’m covered in coffee, that machine is an evil beast from hell, why else would I be covered in coffee?”
See what I mean about the voices? Spectacular.
Fandom: Hawaii 5-0 (2010 show)
Title: Sleepwalking
Author: janedavitt
Link: on LJ
Rating: R
Status: Completed (4,000 words)
Summary: Danny woke from a sleep profound enough to make him feel as if waking required an effort similar to climbing a mountain or surfacing from a deep, deep dive.
Genre: Slash (Steve/Danny), Drama, Action/Adventure
Why I fangirl this: Jane's writing is awesome. Way awesome. Her characterizations are perfectly detailed; her dialogue is perfect and dovetails in such an amazingly realistic way. She's unafraid to have pauses and real affectations that people have and the voices are so perfectly realized. I love her writing to bits and I think she's one of the best writers I've seen. This story is hot, sexy, fun, and a terrific, quick read. I love the tension, the delicious edge of sexy between the characters, how she captures the raw energy between them. A wonderful talent.
Excerpt: The thud of a fist against the door was hard enough, impatient enough that he didn't need to hear his name called out to know that it was Steve on the other side. Now that he thought about it, that hammering and that deep voice had invaded his dream, disrupting it with an uncompromising finality.
Fandom: Starsky and Hutch
Title: Crackers
Author: Paula Wilshe
Link: on Me & Thee Archive
Rating: PG
Status: Completed (2,000 words)
Summary: Starsky cooks an unusual dish for a sick Hutch
Genre: Slash (Starsky/Hutch), Hurt/Comfort
Why I fangirl this: This is one of those sweet wonderful comfort fics, the kind you can reread over and over again. Starsky is all heart, Hutch is not feeling well, and so Starsky does what comes naturally.
Excerpt: Dave Starsky consulted the tattered page which he had spread open on the counter, several inches from the work area in front of him. He brushed a bit of excess flour from his hands, and reverently smoothed the crinkled edges of the paper for better readability.
Fandom: Starsky and Hutch
Title: Fatal Flaw
Author: K Hanna Korossy
Link: on Korossy's site
Rating: PG-13
Status: Completed (5,000 words)
Summary: Starsky could hear her screams from outside the building, screams of rage and…frustration? Then maybe Hutch was still okay, maybe he had seen and stopped Diana in time...
Genre: Gen, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Drama
Why I fangirl this: This is a great follow up to the episode "Fatal Charm," probably one of my favorite S&H eps ever. This fic really explores the aftereffects of Diana's attack, and Starsky is terrific in this fic, caring for Hutch and worried about him. I love this fic. Korossy is a very good writer and the fic is a good example of the difficult nights that Hutch would most likely have after the ordeal he went through.
Excerpt: Hutch's eyes re-opened for a moment, finding and fixing on Starsky's face. Starsky held the agitated eyes, and for a moment they were alone as he soothed his partner into relaxing. Calmed, the other's eyes finally shut again, and Starsky let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
Fandom: Starsky and Hutch
Title: Jenni
Author: Charlotte Frost
Link: on Me & Thee archive
Rating: NC-17
Status: Completed (37,000 words)
Summary: Starsky and Hutch expand their relationship while involved in a case centering around the possible murder attempt on a rock star; meanwhile Hutch is having mysterious nightmares.
Genre: Slash (Starsky/Hutch), Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Why I fangirl this: This fic packs a huge emotional and physical wallop. On the surface, this is about S&H following a rock star around, but underneath, Hutch is having difficulties with his emotions and his love for Starsky. There is a lot of great writing in this story, and a lot of great h/c. Not to be missed! This is a story that comes up in fic searches a lot; it's memorable, definitely, and that's why people always want to read it again.
Excerpt: Just as the Torino skidded to a partial halt, the suspect ducked into a thicket of trees outlining the park. Hutch jumped out at a run and headed in the same direction. He couldn't see his prey until he had woven his way through the clump of trees, but when he emerged into a clearing, he spotted Monroe's tall form moving along the edge of Webster Lake.
Fandom: Starsky and Hutch
Title: Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Author: Morgan Logan
Link: on author's site
Rating: NC-17
Status: Completed (9,000 words)
Summary: This story is a shameless indulgence in my desire to see Hutch sweaty and feverish. As such, it possibly contains some inaccuracies pertaining to how quickly the onset of the jaw-muscle spasms might occur. (Medical sites say 1-3 days). But tough noogies.
Genre: Slash (Starsky/Hutch), Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Why I fangirl this: Morgan Logan is a truly awesome writer and this is an amazing story, full of dreamy, lyrical touches. It's beautiful and haunting and hot and full of hurt/comfort. How could I not love it?
Excerpt: Hutch kept his eyes closed and breathed quietly and evenly, feigning sleep as he felt Starsky roll out of bed and sneak out toward the living room. The heat of Indian summer hung heavy in the room, and Hutch could feel the sweat of their recent exertion lingering on his skin.
Fandom: Magnificent 7
Title: Midnight Ride
Author: romankate
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG/R
Status: Completed (1,000 words)
Summary: The way Buck had it figured, every man who'd rode the trails had felt that way, one time or another.
Genre: Slash (Chris/Buck), Angst
Why I fangirl this: Delicious. Kate gets to the heart of Buck, gives him an easy, loping narrative, yet with a fire underneath. Her stories always have a beautiful lyricism at heart. Her writing is evocative and her details are outstanding. She takes the reader on amazing journeys. This story is exceptional; Buck is wanting something and decides to ride off into the night. Lovely.
Excerpt: So when his hand strayed south of a night, it didn't surprise him that instead of the girls from the cathouse in the last town but one (wine and flirting, but a fast kiss on the stairs was more than he'd wanted, and a long ride into the desert night cooled his fever and stopped his friends wondering why he'd come home so early) the image in his mind was a lean hard cowboy, squinting off into the horizon.
Fandom: Original, based on the legends of King Arthur
Title: The Gawain Project
Author: sigune
Link: on LJ
Rating: PG-13
Status: Part I: The Darkest Hour is complete. Part II: Sunrise is a WIP.
Summary:One woman and two men. This is where our story starts.
Genre: Gen, Action/Adventure, Drama, Angst
Why I fangirl this: If you're in the HP fandom and you like Snape, you have probably seen Sigune's artwork. It's amazing, particularly her graphic novel of the Prank (watch me sneak in another rec! hee!). Her artwork is reminiscent of Aubrey Beardsley, but she's got her own style as well, and it's marvelous.
She's been working on a draft of a set of graphic novels about King Arthur, Gawain, and some of Arthur's backstory. It's absolutely amazing. Even though this isn't the final artwork, it's beautiful and masterfully drawn. She pencils, inks, and scans in three pages per week, and I've been following it avidly.
I highly recommend all of the works in these series. These are insightful, beautifully drawn comics. They move slowly at first, but then they draw you in, and the storytelling unfolds like a mystical flower. Sigune has a great ear for dialogue and a talented eye, and the story is engrossing and well-told. There is heartbreak, there is magic, both dark and light, there is love and war and the land beyond the mists. Sigune's drawings are spare and yet convey so much. Her beautiful lines captivate the eye.