So here's that recs list I've been talking about for a month!
I think I'll post a few more soon (one about amnesia fics and maybe a couple of others--there were LOTS more fics that I wanted to rec than just 13!), but in the meantime, here they are.
A small note about warnings: To my knowledge, none of these fics contain anything of a terribly violent or triggery nature (in one case I have noted vague mentions of past childhood physical abuse; in another, slight embarrassment squick). I may have missed something, so please read at your own risk.
1
Fandom: LOTRIPS
Title: The E! True Hollywood Story
Author:
hikethekiltLink:
On livejournal.
Rating: PG (gen)
Warnings: Hilarity.
Status: The post references a forthcoming sequel, but the author didn't complete it. It isn't necessary, anyway. 1563 words.
Summary: What it says on the tin but a LOT funnier than any of the real True Hollywood Stories have been, I'd wager.
Why I fangirl this: LOTRIPS was the first fandom I ever participated in (the third I ever read in), and this fic still makes me roll on the floor laughing years after I first read it. Absolutely hysterical.
2
Fandom: Stargate: Atlantis
Title: Anonymous
Author:
toft-froggyLink:
On livejournal.
Rating: PG-13 (multiple pairings but I refuse to spoil the surprise!)
Warnings: Adorableness.
Status: Complete, 1516 words.
Summary: "At 06.43, Rodney got the email. He hadn't even known it was Valentine's Day."
Why I fangirl this: I have reread this about a billion times, because it is so charming and sweet without being schmaltzy--the author's touch is exactly right.
3
Fandom: Crossover: How I Met Your Mother/The Office
Title: The Funny Thing About Destiny
Author:
annakovskyLink:
On livejournal.
Rating: PG-13 (Jim/Ted)
Warnings: You may find yourself wanting to snuggle this fic.
Status: Complete, 6500 words.
Summary: "Jim and Ted get married and have babies? I'm not kidding."
Why I fangirl this:
annakovsky is the queen of unlikely crossovers that really work. This one is my favorite of all her fic, and believe me it had competition.
4
Fandom: Firefly
Title: Like Describing the Alphabet
Author:
moscaLink:
On livejournal starting here.
Rating: NC-17 (Jayne/Mal)
Warnings: Angst--it's got Mal and Jayne in it, you know.
Status: Complete, novel-length.
Summary: "In which Mal unbuilds some walls; Jayne learns to kiss on the mouth; and nobody gets left behind."
Why I fangirl this: I've never been very interested in reading Firefly fic. Some shows inspire fannishness in me and others don't--often when I love the show so much that fanfiction seems superfluous. But I was hooked when I saw this recced, and I doubt I could love any Firefly fic more. Before reading it I would never have guessed that my Firefly OTP was Mal/Jayne! Little did I know!
5
Fandom: Torchwood
Title: Get Loved, Make More, Try to Stay Alive
Author: Dira Sudis,
dsudisLink:
On the author's website.
Rating: R (Jack/Ianto)
Warnings: Heartbreak. (Mine and yours and just about everyone else's.)
Status: Complete, 68,550 words.
Summary: "When we don't die young and violently, we die weird. Well, or all three, case in point."
Why I fangirl this: This is the only Torchwood fic I'll ever need. It's achingly sad without being depressing and beautiful and heartfelt without being maudlin. So far as I'm concerned, it's canon.
6
Fandom: Calvin and Hobbes
Title: Theories About Nuclear Winter
Author:
hollycombLink: On livejournal,
Part 1 and
Part 2.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Angst. Shrimp farming.
Status: Complete.
Summary: "When Calvin finally sorts out his feelings for Susie his timing is not great."
Why I fangirl this: I feel so strongly about this fic that I can hardly talk about it. It's heartbreaking and wonderful and absolutely note perfect.
7
Fandom: Pirates of Penzance
Title: The Worthy Seaman or The Lowly Slave of Duty
Author: Pun
Link:
On Yuletide.
Rating: R
Warnings: Rhyming and extreme cleverness.
Status: Complete, 1600 words.
Summary: "Frederic, while still under his indentures, receives some instruction on how to be a proper seaman."
Why I fangirl this: Pirates of Penzance smut that is utterly in character and includes musical numbers. I am so delighted by this fic that all I can do is wheeze with laughter and flail in its general direction.
8
Fandom: Queer as Folk (US)
Title: Love of His Life
Author:
juladLink:
On the author's website.
Rating: NC-17 (Brian/Justin)
Warnings: Amnesia.
Status: Complete, 12,569 words.
Summary: Brian loses ten years of memories.
Why I fangirl this: I love amnesia stories so very, very much. I love this one especially because the author's ideas about how Brian changed in the last ten years--and how he didn't--are brilliant and insightful. The story is wonderful, but it's the characterization here that really viscerally works for me.
9
Fandom: Gordon Korman's Bruno and Boots books (Macdonald Hall series)
Title: Macdonald Hall is Fabulous
Author: Nimori
Link:
On Yuletide.
Rating: PG
Warnings: Hijinks, antics, and committees.
Status: Complete, 13,000 words.
Summary: "Boots comes back from summer vacation with a problem. Bruno's going to fix it. Even if it kills him. And Cathy. And everyone else in the universe."
Why I fangirl this: So perfectly in character that it's part of canon so far as I'm concerned--just like reading one of the books. I snickered all the way through it.
10
Fandom: RPS, Brendon Urie/Adam Lambert (from Panic at the Disco and American Idol Season 8)
Title: More
Author:
disarm_d Link:
Part 1 and
Part 2, on livejournal.
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: There's a prequel which you may skip (imho), and there are a few shorter stories that go after. Awkwardness (I have a serious embarrassment squick but it didn't bother me very much).
Status: Complete, 18,000 words.
Summary: "Don't you have experience with this kind of thing?" Adam asks.
"Dick?" Brendon asks, blinking.
Why I fangirl this: I was going to skip this fic because I'd never heard of Brendon Urie (you may want to search for him on Google Images like I did, just to get an image in your head--or for Adam Lambert, or both: I think this is the kind of story where you really don't need to know anything about either character going in), but a friend told me I'd be missing out...and oh my god was she right. This is the perfect characterization-driven romance.
11
Fandom: Merlin
Title: Three Tasks
Author:
syllicLink:
On livejournal, starting here.
Rating: PG-13 (Arthur/Merlin)
Warnings: You will sigh happily multiple times.
Status: Complete.
Summary: "Arthur is the Royal Arbiter for Suitable Suitors' Disputes. He (and his trusty companion, the golden-dragon-tasselled hat) alone can determine who is fit to woo royal servants and other assorted courtiers in Uther's court."
Why I fangirl this: Just thinking about this story makes me grin and squee--it's just the right mix of fun and clever and touching and silly.
BONUS: I am utterly charmed by this
adorable fanart by
cellophane_ria of Arthur in his official Arbiter outfit. Save it for after you've read the description of the outfit in the story.
12
Fandom: Sports Night
Title: Like Sailing and Home Runs
Author:
out_thereLink:
On livejournal starting here.
Rating: NC-17 (Dan/Casey)
Warnings: Psychology.
Status: Complete, 62,300 words.
Summary: "Let's see." Dan ran a hand through his hair. "One guy freaks about his father dying, seduces his--let's not forget, straight--best friend, and then freaks out during sex. It's not exactly the plot to The Best Romance Novel of All Time."
Why I fangirl this: My absolute favorite Sports Night fic. By this point you can tell that I love a long, plotty, characterization-driven fic, and this is such a perfect example of what fanfiction can accomplish in examining the inner life of a character the way an actual television show never could.
13
Fandom: The Breakfast Club (movie)
Title: Higher Education
Author:
resonant8Link:
On the author's website.
Rating: NC-17 (Bender/Brian)
Warnings: Growing up; mild angst; vague mentions of child physical abuse.
Status: Complete, 82K.
Summary: "John Bender gets a life."
Why I fangirl this: Oh man. I loved this movie and its characters, but Bender was my favorite, and finally somebody gave him a believable happy ending. Don't skip this story's coda, Bare (linked at the bottom).