recs
Sometimes I read fic. I mean--you probably know that. And I've decided to put together a rec list, here, which--it's pretty much tuned to my own taste, but I've focused on fandoms outside of Inception, because I kind of figure if you're on my friends' list you read a lot of Inception fic. Also, there are so many great rec lists and reccers in this fandom I'm not sure what I would contribute, but I'm not sure if people always hit upon the interesting things that are getting written in other fandoms (or maybe you do). But here's an eclectic little lot. There are a lot of AUs because it's easy to read AUs in fandoms where you don't know the canon, and also I like AUs, but more generally the fics here are ones where the writing makes me weak in the knees, or the emotions get me in the gut, or they make me outrageously happy, or they impress themselves on me deeply, or some combination thereof.
Some of these I've recced before, but in a f-locked post--as it is, I'll be editing this list to add, rather than making new posts.
Oh, uh, and some I list as r might actually be nc17, proceed with caution if that's a problem.
He Still Offers the Sea Shell, by longsufferingly (Anne of Green Gables, Anne/Gilbert, pg13, 5k): Anne of Green Gables college AU. Just: so good. Really matches the tone of the books and characters while telling an enjoyable new story.
Conferencing, by anon (The Eagle, Marcus/Esca, pg13): I've never seen 'The Eagle.' I had no idea who any of the characters were. But this is a fun romp of an academia AU set in the field of Celtic Studies, with a good healthy dose of intellectual infatuation, conferences, and misunderstandings.
Walk Like Rain, by summerstorm (Glee, Rachel Berry/Quinn Fabray, pg13/r, 51k): This is a Sky High AU, and I would probably say it was OOC if the Glee writers didn't seem unsure about their own characters, anyway. But maybe I shouldn't say that because this is a rec? Regardless of OOC-ness or lack thereof, it's really good at drawing a strong, interesting relationship while simultaneously carrying a superhero plot.
Are You There, God? It's Me, Draco, by floweringjudas (Harry Potter, Harry/Draco, r or whatever, 23k): A pretend!relationship that handles it very well and: IS FUNNY. IS FUNNY is big with me, but it's also nice to see a fic where Harry is ostensibly straight and yet his relationship with Draco is only a minor adjustment, instead of a full scale crisis.
A Life So Very Much Less Than Ordinary, by snegurochka (Harry Potter, Harry/Luna, r or whatever, 33k): The burgeoning relationship between Harry and Luna is well-drawn, but I especially appreciate how the author handled Ginny--yes, she cheats on Harry, and I am really not a fan of infidelity fic, but the author is generous with all the characters, and Ginny's new relationship was eventually validated and her relationship with her family resolved without discounting the impact Ginny and Harry's divorce might have.
Cornbread and Sweet Tea, by sor_bet (Harry Potter, Harry/Draco, r, 20k): This is a still-magicked AU set in New Orleans and Georgia, and I'm reccing this primarily because place is so present on the surface of this fic, and that's something I really, really admire. The author does a really remarkable job transposing everything into the setting, and the whole fic is beautiful. I read it on a hot summer afternoon, which was just about perfect.
Extra Curricular, by riadsala & shoemaster (Hockey RPF, Duncan Keith/Brent Seabrook, R, 31k): Apparently I like Hockey RPF. I don't follow hockey, so these fics read more like OCs for me--albeit OCs with ridiculous nicknames. This high school AU is the beginning of a four-fic arc that spans from high school to NHL and includes two primary pairings, although each fic is complete within itself (I just found myself wanting more whenever I finished one). All three are wonderful, and full of feelings. As for plot: basically it's a high school AU, with all the associated tropes (confused sexualities, misunderstandings, house parties) and it's great.
Summerboys, by stlkrchck (Hockey RPF, Duncan Keith/Brent Seabrook, R, 36k): Summer camp AU where Duncs and Seabs are co-counselors for one cabin or another. This has a nice slow burn, with a gentle blurring around the edges between becoming best friends and falling in love, and plenty of summer camp shenanigans.
Fundamental Imperfection, by starlingthefool (Merlin, Arthur/Merlin, R, 12k): Those of you from the Inception fandom probably know starling's fics, and if you don't you really should, so consider that my Inception rec here or something. But this isn't an Inception fic, it's a Merlin one, and it's an AU where Merlin and Arthur are authors and meet by arguing about Dickens. It's funny, but also emotionally real and resonant, and their romance is a little epistolary and a little combative and a lot lovely.
The Fourth Estate, by catharsis (Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam Darcy, pg13/r, 60k): In the same vein as the Anne of Green Gables rec, this is a modern Pride & Prejudice Hollywood AU that in some ways functions more as a retelling. Through a mysterious twist of fate, Elizabeth Bennet, professor, is photographed with Fitzwilliam Darcy, actor, not once but twice and of course it's assumed that they're dating. It goes from there, and the author retains a certain Austen-ness to the tone of the writing so you never quite forget the original.
Wide Open Ocean, by setissma (SGA, John Sheppard/Rodney McKay, pg13/r, mid-length): I know a lot of people like my scientist AUs, and this sort of reminds me of them--if that doesn't make me sound full of myself, like I'm reccing my own fic. It's actually a good deal better than mine, but it's similarly enmeshed in a very specific milieu--in this case, the Shedd Aquarium. Um. Do you really need any other information? The aquarium!
Equilibrium, by augustbird (Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, r, 12k): This is a 'Flowers for Algernon' fusion where John is infected by a virus that sends his intelligence skyrocketing. But there is, of course, a price. If you've read 'Flowers for Algernon' (which I had to in my 8th grade lit class)--this retains the bittersweet tension of the original and shapes it around these two characters in a wonderful way. If you haven't read 'Flowers for Algernon', give it a go anyway.
The Republic of Heaven, by blind_author (Sherlock, Sherlock/John, r, long WIP): I'm not even done with this, and I know insta-recs are frowned upon and at this point this list is really Sherlock-heavy...I just don't care. His Dark Materials fusion. Marvelous--not just a really good story (a cracking good tale!), but a perfectly calibrated fusion. Also pairs well with the Peter Mulvey album I'm currently listening to on loop, though that may just be me. It is a WIP, so be forewarned--but it feels ongoing in the same way the show itself does: serialized, rather than incomplete.
Touchstone, by machshefa (Sherlock, Sherlock/John, pg13, 9k): This is charmed, and charming. I don't want to say too much about it, lest it breaks. But I will say that this is a little AU and a lot not, with a good dose of lovely magical realism. It feels, like all the best fics do, like a new thing.
Best Practices in Workplace Relationships, by BlackEyedGirl (The Social Network, Mark/Eduardo, r, 20k): an AU where Eduardo is hired as Mark's secretary/personal assistant. This is probably one of my favorite TSN fanfics, or one of my favorites from when I first started reading in that fandom. One I go back to, because of feelings.
5U175, by Closer (Suits, Mike Ross/Harvey Specter, r, 26k): A meta fic where the characters are involved in fandom. There's another very good and well-recced meta fic in the Merlin fandom. I like fics with secret identities and fraught meetings, the only reason I'm reccing this one instead of the other is because I read it more recently, and also because I've seen the Merlin one is recced all over the place. Anyway, about this fic: it's set in canon, so the characters already know each other in real life even as they're coming to know one another online, which makes it that much more for me--really charming, really fun. (Oh, and if you love fannish AUs and identity porn as much as I do, which is a lot, here's a bonus one from the Sherlock fandom, hurrah.)
All This Has Happened, by 1001cranes (Teen Wolf, Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski, r, 10k): This is a really interesting dystopian AU about a...revenge-based reality series? Yeah. I'm going to do a lousy job of describing it, but suffice to say it is very, very good.
A Strange New Story Every Time, by gyzym (Veronica Mars, Veronica/Logan, r, 19k): A Veronica/Logan futurefic that I believe, that makes me believe in these characters and that is, frankly, fun to read.
Broken Toys, by theohara (Veronica Mars, assorted pairings, r, 9k): The other side of the coin when it comes to VM fanfic. An AU where Lily doesn't die. Once again, this is a fic I can believe; at one point I had it saved in my e-mail as 'VM fanfic, best.' 'Best', in this case, does not exactly mean 'happy.'
A Curious Carriage of Crystal and Cold, by Etharei (XMen:FC, Charles/Erik, r, 114k): The summary describes this as an AU sci-fi fairytale, which is precisely what it is, and it's plotty and amazing and seriously, I would read this book. Also, there are pretty pictures in the first part.
If You Liked the Book, You'll Hate the Movie, by paperclipbitch (XMen:FC, Hank/Alex, Charles/Erik, Raven/Sean, Darwin/Angel, r, 57k): This fic, this fic. paperclipbitch writes wonderfully, all of the time, with characters and stories that always feel very real and are hard about the edges. This one struck me, though. It's a high school AU and by the end of it you get perspectives from 5 characters, and all of them twine together into a sort of wonderful community story, sad and happy and hard and soft all at once.
Whatever, by skoosiepants (Original Fiction, OMC/OMC, r, 58k): This author has also written a lot of pretty charming RPF and Teen Wolf fic, but I'm reccing this because it's so long and fully-realized--it's really a story you can immerse yourself in. It's a high school story, with coming-of-age and coming out commingled, and lots of feelings, but also humor and well drawn characters who have real relationships. Albeit, you know, high school ones.
Some of these I've recced before, but in a f-locked post--as it is, I'll be editing this list to add, rather than making new posts.
Oh, uh, and some I list as r might actually be nc17, proceed with caution if that's a problem.
He Still Offers the Sea Shell, by longsufferingly (Anne of Green Gables, Anne/Gilbert, pg13, 5k): Anne of Green Gables college AU. Just: so good. Really matches the tone of the books and characters while telling an enjoyable new story.
Conferencing, by anon (The Eagle, Marcus/Esca, pg13): I've never seen 'The Eagle.' I had no idea who any of the characters were. But this is a fun romp of an academia AU set in the field of Celtic Studies, with a good healthy dose of intellectual infatuation, conferences, and misunderstandings.
Walk Like Rain, by summerstorm (Glee, Rachel Berry/Quinn Fabray, pg13/r, 51k): This is a Sky High AU, and I would probably say it was OOC if the Glee writers didn't seem unsure about their own characters, anyway. But maybe I shouldn't say that because this is a rec? Regardless of OOC-ness or lack thereof, it's really good at drawing a strong, interesting relationship while simultaneously carrying a superhero plot.
Are You There, God? It's Me, Draco, by floweringjudas (Harry Potter, Harry/Draco, r or whatever, 23k): A pretend!relationship that handles it very well and: IS FUNNY. IS FUNNY is big with me, but it's also nice to see a fic where Harry is ostensibly straight and yet his relationship with Draco is only a minor adjustment, instead of a full scale crisis.
A Life So Very Much Less Than Ordinary, by snegurochka (Harry Potter, Harry/Luna, r or whatever, 33k): The burgeoning relationship between Harry and Luna is well-drawn, but I especially appreciate how the author handled Ginny--yes, she cheats on Harry, and I am really not a fan of infidelity fic, but the author is generous with all the characters, and Ginny's new relationship was eventually validated and her relationship with her family resolved without discounting the impact Ginny and Harry's divorce might have.
Cornbread and Sweet Tea, by sor_bet (Harry Potter, Harry/Draco, r, 20k): This is a still-magicked AU set in New Orleans and Georgia, and I'm reccing this primarily because place is so present on the surface of this fic, and that's something I really, really admire. The author does a really remarkable job transposing everything into the setting, and the whole fic is beautiful. I read it on a hot summer afternoon, which was just about perfect.
Extra Curricular, by riadsala & shoemaster (Hockey RPF, Duncan Keith/Brent Seabrook, R, 31k): Apparently I like Hockey RPF. I don't follow hockey, so these fics read more like OCs for me--albeit OCs with ridiculous nicknames. This high school AU is the beginning of a four-fic arc that spans from high school to NHL and includes two primary pairings, although each fic is complete within itself (I just found myself wanting more whenever I finished one). All three are wonderful, and full of feelings. As for plot: basically it's a high school AU, with all the associated tropes (confused sexualities, misunderstandings, house parties) and it's great.
Summerboys, by stlkrchck (Hockey RPF, Duncan Keith/Brent Seabrook, R, 36k): Summer camp AU where Duncs and Seabs are co-counselors for one cabin or another. This has a nice slow burn, with a gentle blurring around the edges between becoming best friends and falling in love, and plenty of summer camp shenanigans.
Fundamental Imperfection, by starlingthefool (Merlin, Arthur/Merlin, R, 12k): Those of you from the Inception fandom probably know starling's fics, and if you don't you really should, so consider that my Inception rec here or something. But this isn't an Inception fic, it's a Merlin one, and it's an AU where Merlin and Arthur are authors and meet by arguing about Dickens. It's funny, but also emotionally real and resonant, and their romance is a little epistolary and a little combative and a lot lovely.
The Fourth Estate, by catharsis (Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam Darcy, pg13/r, 60k): In the same vein as the Anne of Green Gables rec, this is a modern Pride & Prejudice Hollywood AU that in some ways functions more as a retelling. Through a mysterious twist of fate, Elizabeth Bennet, professor, is photographed with Fitzwilliam Darcy, actor, not once but twice and of course it's assumed that they're dating. It goes from there, and the author retains a certain Austen-ness to the tone of the writing so you never quite forget the original.
Wide Open Ocean, by setissma (SGA, John Sheppard/Rodney McKay, pg13/r, mid-length): I know a lot of people like my scientist AUs, and this sort of reminds me of them--if that doesn't make me sound full of myself, like I'm reccing my own fic. It's actually a good deal better than mine, but it's similarly enmeshed in a very specific milieu--in this case, the Shedd Aquarium. Um. Do you really need any other information? The aquarium!
Equilibrium, by augustbird (Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, r, 12k): This is a 'Flowers for Algernon' fusion where John is infected by a virus that sends his intelligence skyrocketing. But there is, of course, a price. If you've read 'Flowers for Algernon' (which I had to in my 8th grade lit class)--this retains the bittersweet tension of the original and shapes it around these two characters in a wonderful way. If you haven't read 'Flowers for Algernon', give it a go anyway.
The Republic of Heaven, by blind_author (Sherlock, Sherlock/John, r, long WIP): I'm not even done with this, and I know insta-recs are frowned upon and at this point this list is really Sherlock-heavy...I just don't care. His Dark Materials fusion. Marvelous--not just a really good story (a cracking good tale!), but a perfectly calibrated fusion. Also pairs well with the Peter Mulvey album I'm currently listening to on loop, though that may just be me. It is a WIP, so be forewarned--but it feels ongoing in the same way the show itself does: serialized, rather than incomplete.
Touchstone, by machshefa (Sherlock, Sherlock/John, pg13, 9k): This is charmed, and charming. I don't want to say too much about it, lest it breaks. But I will say that this is a little AU and a lot not, with a good dose of lovely magical realism. It feels, like all the best fics do, like a new thing.
Best Practices in Workplace Relationships, by BlackEyedGirl (The Social Network, Mark/Eduardo, r, 20k): an AU where Eduardo is hired as Mark's secretary/personal assistant. This is probably one of my favorite TSN fanfics, or one of my favorites from when I first started reading in that fandom. One I go back to, because of feelings.
5U175, by Closer (Suits, Mike Ross/Harvey Specter, r, 26k): A meta fic where the characters are involved in fandom. There's another very good and well-recced meta fic in the Merlin fandom. I like fics with secret identities and fraught meetings, the only reason I'm reccing this one instead of the other is because I read it more recently, and also because I've seen the Merlin one is recced all over the place. Anyway, about this fic: it's set in canon, so the characters already know each other in real life even as they're coming to know one another online, which makes it that much more for me--really charming, really fun. (Oh, and if you love fannish AUs and identity porn as much as I do, which is a lot, here's a bonus one from the Sherlock fandom, hurrah.)
All This Has Happened, by 1001cranes (Teen Wolf, Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski, r, 10k): This is a really interesting dystopian AU about a...revenge-based reality series? Yeah. I'm going to do a lousy job of describing it, but suffice to say it is very, very good.
A Strange New Story Every Time, by gyzym (Veronica Mars, Veronica/Logan, r, 19k): A Veronica/Logan futurefic that I believe, that makes me believe in these characters and that is, frankly, fun to read.
Broken Toys, by theohara (Veronica Mars, assorted pairings, r, 9k): The other side of the coin when it comes to VM fanfic. An AU where Lily doesn't die. Once again, this is a fic I can believe; at one point I had it saved in my e-mail as 'VM fanfic, best.' 'Best', in this case, does not exactly mean 'happy.'
A Curious Carriage of Crystal and Cold, by Etharei (XMen:FC, Charles/Erik, r, 114k): The summary describes this as an AU sci-fi fairytale, which is precisely what it is, and it's plotty and amazing and seriously, I would read this book. Also, there are pretty pictures in the first part.
If You Liked the Book, You'll Hate the Movie, by paperclipbitch (XMen:FC, Hank/Alex, Charles/Erik, Raven/Sean, Darwin/Angel, r, 57k): This fic, this fic. paperclipbitch writes wonderfully, all of the time, with characters and stories that always feel very real and are hard about the edges. This one struck me, though. It's a high school AU and by the end of it you get perspectives from 5 characters, and all of them twine together into a sort of wonderful community story, sad and happy and hard and soft all at once.
Whatever, by skoosiepants (Original Fiction, OMC/OMC, r, 58k): This author has also written a lot of pretty charming RPF and Teen Wolf fic, but I'm reccing this because it's so long and fully-realized--it's really a story you can immerse yourself in. It's a high school story, with coming-of-age and coming out commingled, and lots of feelings, but also humor and well drawn characters who have real relationships. Albeit, you know, high school ones.