Rec Post #9: Remakes
I haven't put together a rec list in a long time mostly because I figure it's redundant given my regularly updated delicious rec list. However, there are fics that deserve more than being recced via tagging alone and so here are some of those which fall into the category of fics based on a movie, novel, or TV show. Some are remakes, others are set in the universe, and none are of the kind where the author merely plugs in the names of show characters and presto, it's original fiction!
WINCEST
Title: The Hunter Games
Author:
afattribble
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 93,000
Author’s Summary: When the infamous Winchester bad luck strikes twice in quick succession, Sam and Dean are forced to compete in the most brutal reality TV show ever created. After ten days of glamorous interviews and flammable costumes, they will be among twenty-four Tributes or ‘hunters’ forced to fight to the death. It’s impossible to escape the battlefield, hiding can only be temporary, and alliances within those dark, bloodstained woods last about as long as it takes for the other hunter to figure out how to use your weapons. And then kill you with them. All in all, rather terrible timing to realize you're developing inappropriate feelings for your brother. A Sam/Dean AU based on the Hunger Games.
Reason: Other than it's based on the much-hyped Hunger Games? Ok. Thing is, I know next to nothing about the series other than the very basic premise and yet this story managed to capture my interest and draw me in from the very beginning. The suspense, be it about the scorching ust between the brothers, or that of the game itself and the race to the finish, never lets up and familiar characters though cast in different roles are still recognizable as their canonical counterparts. If one is seeking an exciting and suspenseful read from this year's
spn_j2_bigbang, this fic certainly delivers.
Title: The Time-Traveler's Brother ( Podfic by
applegeuse and
fishpatrol)
Author:
gretazreta
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 44,000
Author’s Summary: His whole life, Dean Winchester travels through time, forwards and backwards, but he always comes back to Sam. Dean doesn't believe in destiny, but if it does exist, his is Sam. This story is inspired by Audrey Niffenegger's The Time-Traveler's Wife.
Reason: Again, I am not familiar with anything except the basic premise of the book/movie, so I can't speak to the similarities. However, I suspect the fic diverges substantially given that it's about two brothers and sticks to major Supernatural canon. It's a love story about Sam and Dean at the end of the day, and yet, it's so much more than that. The various versions of Dean and their interactions with Sam are interwoven almost seamlessly with canonical events and are very cleverly tied together as the story draws to its conclusion. I am so impressed with the execution of this concept with the Supernatural framework. Hands down, one of the best time-travel Sam/Dean stories I've read. I particularly appreciate how the switch in pov gives insight into both Dean's and Sam's headspace at various stages along the way. This is a fic tailor-made for podficcing and fortunately,
applegeuse and
fishpatrol have done just that, delivering a podfic with flawless pacing and distinct character voices for Sam and Dean.
Title: The Devil Really Does Wear Prada ( Podfic by
sadcypress)
Author:
balefully
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 36,806
Author’s Summary: An AU crossover with The Devil Wears Prada. What if Sam were a little more…fabulous? Jess never died, John goes missing much later, and Dean. Well. He's in for quite a surprise.
Reason: I confess that I probably would not have given this story a chance were it not available in audio format given its premise (I will read anything non-kinky if it's available as podfic!). It's pretty far outside the realm of the kind of fic I usually enjoy and what's more, has a flamboyant Sam who is so far removed from canon Sam that he reads like a different person.....and yet, I would recommend this fic for its sheer creativity and guts. Oh, and for the simple reason that it has one of the hottest first kisses between the brothers I've come across to date.
sadcypress does a 'fabulous' Sam voice in particular and I recommend giving the audio version a shot for an even richer reading experience.
J2 AU
Title: The Winchester Identity ( Podfic by
weimar27)
Author:
zuben_eschamali
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: ~136,780
Author’s Summary: A tall and handsome doctor is kidnapped by a mysterious green-eyed man who has no memory-but who definitely has a past. The J2 AU version of The Bourne Identity.
Reason: The premise of the story borrows from that of The Bourne Identity in that Jensen is a man on the run from a past he doesn't remember, with Jared unwittingly pulled along for the ride when he's kidnapped by Jensen. What follows is a transcontinental escapade laden with suspense, action, mystery, and of course, romance. If one's familiar with the novel, perhaps, the plot will be less suspenseful, but I think it will prove an engaging read irrespective. The portrayal of Jensen as a man so desparate to believe he's not a bad guy coupled with the determination of Jared to believe the absolute best of Jensen is heartachingly realistic but still stays, thankfully, faithful to the fairytale-ish true-love-conquers-all trope. Again, this story is available in audio, read by
weimar27, and is definitely the way to go unless one is averse to podfics.
Title: Starstruck (Podfic by fayjay)
Author:
fayjay
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 41,380
Author’s Summary: A J2 movie AU based on Notting Hill, featuring misunderstandings, secrets, lies, twists, turns, comic books, Japanese-Ethiopian fusion cuisine, a lesbian wedding, several fabulous movies that really should exist, heartache, tequila, some exceptionally awful blind dates, hot boy-on-boy sex, and true love.
Reason: I am not sure I can do full justice to explaining the reasons this story appeals to me like it does. Yes, I already like the movie it's based on, but honestly, the fic is way better. It might have something to do with the fact that it features my favourite type of fictional Jensen - shy, funny, hot (always, hee!), charming, and ridiculously endearing. Then there's the fact that it is, after all, written and read by
fayjay. It doesn't get much better than that!
Title: Who Watches Over Me?
Author:
nyxocity
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 96,700
Author’s Summary: Jensen Ackles is an ex-Navy SEAL turned civilian bodyguard with a mysterious past. Jared Padalecki is a flamboyant Hollywood star known for his action movies who's been receiving death threats. The case sounds like Jensen's idea of a nightmare, and he takes it on against his better judgment. Jared drags him to clubs and parties and award ceremonies without any care for how difficult he's making Jensen's job, and to his complete lack of surprise, they hate each other. But when hate changes into passion, it begins to reveal something deeper between them, and Jensen realizes he's in over his head. Can he still do his job and keep Jared safe? Or will he fall prey to his greatest fear and fail someone... again? (The Bodyguard)
Reason: Sexual tension like only
thenyxie can deliver time and time again without being repetitive. Also, suspense and angst of the best kind with bamf!Jensen! Now if only some kind soul would podfic this.....
Title: Can’t Point the Way to Your Heart (Podfic by
juice817)
Author:
belyste
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: ~33,000
Author’s Summary: AU in the vein of movies like Hitch - Jensen's an unofficial advice guru, and Jared's his latest project. Except while Jensen's supposed to be helping Jared end up with the woman of his dreams, he falls for him instead.
Reason: A delightful blend of angst, fluff, ust, and humor characteristic of a romantic comedy, but so much better if only because it features Jensen in the role of the rational, always-in-control chap who ends up falling for the lovable chap vying for someone else's attention. The podfic is read by none other than
juice817 whose Jensen voice is probably the best one will ever come across.
Title: Lingering in the Golden Gleam (Podfic by
luvplatinumbaby)
Author:
causeways
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 21,000
Author’s Summary: On New Year's Eve ten years after the end of Supernatural, Jared goes to sleep in Los Angeles and wakes up in Vancouver, in bed with Jensen Ackles. And they've got kids. (The Family Man)
Reason: Jared is terrified of ass sex. No, not reason enough? Kid!fic. No, don't run away. It's not that kind of kid!fic. Well, yes, it is, in that it features them married and with two adopted kids, but it doesn't fall prey to most of the cliches of the genre. What really appealed to me was the evolution of Jared's character as he realizes what could have been, much like the movie, if I recall correctly. The kids are tolerable and actually kind of sweet and Jensen, is well, fictional Jensen of the sweetest kind and makes one fall in love with him just like Jared.
Title: My Man Ackles (Podfic by
sadcypress)
Author:
poor_choices
Rating: R
Word Count: 8,300
Author’s Summary: Being a story about Jared Padalecki, his new valet, his school chums Mishmash Collins and Bonzo Ventimiglia, and all that followed when they went into the country.
Reason: Um, based on Jeeves & Wooster and written by
poor_choices? Also, read with funny character impressions by
sadcypress.
Title: Something Borrowed, Something Blue (Podfic by
maryaminx)
Author:
belyste
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 38,000
Author’s Summary: When Jared desperately needs a date for his brother's wedding, he hires an escort. Jensen's the perfect fake boyfriend, except pretty soon things get a little too real. Based on The Wedding Date.
Reason: Another remake that's far better than the original, in my opinion, featuring, you got it, my favourite type of fictional Jensen. Gah, he's so much classier (and more believable as an escort) than Dermot Mulroney's character, not to mention Jared is nowhere as flaky and annoying as Debra Messing's character.
WINCEST
Title: The Hunter Games
Author:
afattribble
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 93,000
Author’s Summary: When the infamous Winchester bad luck strikes twice in quick succession, Sam and Dean are forced to compete in the most brutal reality TV show ever created. After ten days of glamorous interviews and flammable costumes, they will be among twenty-four Tributes or ‘hunters’ forced to fight to the death. It’s impossible to escape the battlefield, hiding can only be temporary, and alliances within those dark, bloodstained woods last about as long as it takes for the other hunter to figure out how to use your weapons. And then kill you with them. All in all, rather terrible timing to realize you're developing inappropriate feelings for your brother. A Sam/Dean AU based on the Hunger Games.
Reason: Other than it's based on the much-hyped Hunger Games? Ok. Thing is, I know next to nothing about the series other than the very basic premise and yet this story managed to capture my interest and draw me in from the very beginning. The suspense, be it about the scorching ust between the brothers, or that of the game itself and the race to the finish, never lets up and familiar characters though cast in different roles are still recognizable as their canonical counterparts. If one is seeking an exciting and suspenseful read from this year's
spn_j2_bigbang, this fic certainly delivers.
Title: The Time-Traveler's Brother ( Podfic by
applegeuse and
fishpatrol)
Author:
gretazreta
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 44,000
Author’s Summary: His whole life, Dean Winchester travels through time, forwards and backwards, but he always comes back to Sam. Dean doesn't believe in destiny, but if it does exist, his is Sam. This story is inspired by Audrey Niffenegger's The Time-Traveler's Wife.
Reason: Again, I am not familiar with anything except the basic premise of the book/movie, so I can't speak to the similarities. However, I suspect the fic diverges substantially given that it's about two brothers and sticks to major Supernatural canon. It's a love story about Sam and Dean at the end of the day, and yet, it's so much more than that. The various versions of Dean and their interactions with Sam are interwoven almost seamlessly with canonical events and are very cleverly tied together as the story draws to its conclusion. I am so impressed with the execution of this concept with the Supernatural framework. Hands down, one of the best time-travel Sam/Dean stories I've read. I particularly appreciate how the switch in pov gives insight into both Dean's and Sam's headspace at various stages along the way. This is a fic tailor-made for podficcing and fortunately,
applegeuse and
fishpatrol have done just that, delivering a podfic with flawless pacing and distinct character voices for Sam and Dean.
Title: The Devil Really Does Wear Prada ( Podfic by
sadcypress)
Author:
balefully
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 36,806
Author’s Summary: An AU crossover with The Devil Wears Prada. What if Sam were a little more…fabulous? Jess never died, John goes missing much later, and Dean. Well. He's in for quite a surprise.
Reason: I confess that I probably would not have given this story a chance were it not available in audio format given its premise (I will read anything non-kinky if it's available as podfic!). It's pretty far outside the realm of the kind of fic I usually enjoy and what's more, has a flamboyant Sam who is so far removed from canon Sam that he reads like a different person.....and yet, I would recommend this fic for its sheer creativity and guts. Oh, and for the simple reason that it has one of the hottest first kisses between the brothers I've come across to date.
sadcypress does a 'fabulous' Sam voice in particular and I recommend giving the audio version a shot for an even richer reading experience.
J2 AU
Title: The Winchester Identity ( Podfic by
weimar27)
Author:
zuben_eschamali
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: ~136,780
Author’s Summary: A tall and handsome doctor is kidnapped by a mysterious green-eyed man who has no memory-but who definitely has a past. The J2 AU version of The Bourne Identity.
Reason: The premise of the story borrows from that of The Bourne Identity in that Jensen is a man on the run from a past he doesn't remember, with Jared unwittingly pulled along for the ride when he's kidnapped by Jensen. What follows is a transcontinental escapade laden with suspense, action, mystery, and of course, romance. If one's familiar with the novel, perhaps, the plot will be less suspenseful, but I think it will prove an engaging read irrespective. The portrayal of Jensen as a man so desparate to believe he's not a bad guy coupled with the determination of Jared to believe the absolute best of Jensen is heartachingly realistic but still stays, thankfully, faithful to the fairytale-ish true-love-conquers-all trope. Again, this story is available in audio, read by
weimar27, and is definitely the way to go unless one is averse to podfics.
Title: Starstruck (Podfic by fayjay)
Author:
fayjay
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 41,380
Author’s Summary: A J2 movie AU based on Notting Hill, featuring misunderstandings, secrets, lies, twists, turns, comic books, Japanese-Ethiopian fusion cuisine, a lesbian wedding, several fabulous movies that really should exist, heartache, tequila, some exceptionally awful blind dates, hot boy-on-boy sex, and true love.
Reason: I am not sure I can do full justice to explaining the reasons this story appeals to me like it does. Yes, I already like the movie it's based on, but honestly, the fic is way better. It might have something to do with the fact that it features my favourite type of fictional Jensen - shy, funny, hot (always, hee!), charming, and ridiculously endearing. Then there's the fact that it is, after all, written and read by
fayjay. It doesn't get much better than that!
Title: Who Watches Over Me?
Author:
nyxocity
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 96,700
Author’s Summary: Jensen Ackles is an ex-Navy SEAL turned civilian bodyguard with a mysterious past. Jared Padalecki is a flamboyant Hollywood star known for his action movies who's been receiving death threats. The case sounds like Jensen's idea of a nightmare, and he takes it on against his better judgment. Jared drags him to clubs and parties and award ceremonies without any care for how difficult he's making Jensen's job, and to his complete lack of surprise, they hate each other. But when hate changes into passion, it begins to reveal something deeper between them, and Jensen realizes he's in over his head. Can he still do his job and keep Jared safe? Or will he fall prey to his greatest fear and fail someone... again? (The Bodyguard)
Reason: Sexual tension like only
thenyxie can deliver time and time again without being repetitive. Also, suspense and angst of the best kind with bamf!Jensen! Now if only some kind soul would podfic this.....
Title: Can’t Point the Way to Your Heart (Podfic by
juice817)
Author:
belyste
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: ~33,000
Author’s Summary: AU in the vein of movies like Hitch - Jensen's an unofficial advice guru, and Jared's his latest project. Except while Jensen's supposed to be helping Jared end up with the woman of his dreams, he falls for him instead.
Reason: A delightful blend of angst, fluff, ust, and humor characteristic of a romantic comedy, but so much better if only because it features Jensen in the role of the rational, always-in-control chap who ends up falling for the lovable chap vying for someone else's attention. The podfic is read by none other than
juice817 whose Jensen voice is probably the best one will ever come across.
Title: Lingering in the Golden Gleam (Podfic by
luvplatinumbaby)
Author:
causeways
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 21,000
Author’s Summary: On New Year's Eve ten years after the end of Supernatural, Jared goes to sleep in Los Angeles and wakes up in Vancouver, in bed with Jensen Ackles. And they've got kids. (The Family Man)
Reason: Jared is terrified of ass sex. No, not reason enough? Kid!fic. No, don't run away. It's not that kind of kid!fic. Well, yes, it is, in that it features them married and with two adopted kids, but it doesn't fall prey to most of the cliches of the genre. What really appealed to me was the evolution of Jared's character as he realizes what could have been, much like the movie, if I recall correctly. The kids are tolerable and actually kind of sweet and Jensen, is well, fictional Jensen of the sweetest kind and makes one fall in love with him just like Jared.
Title: My Man Ackles (Podfic by
sadcypress)
Author:
poor_choices
Rating: R
Word Count: 8,300
Author’s Summary: Being a story about Jared Padalecki, his new valet, his school chums Mishmash Collins and Bonzo Ventimiglia, and all that followed when they went into the country.
Reason: Um, based on Jeeves & Wooster and written by
poor_choices? Also, read with funny character impressions by
sadcypress.
Title: Something Borrowed, Something Blue (Podfic by
maryaminx)
Author:
belyste
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 38,000
Author’s Summary: When Jared desperately needs a date for his brother's wedding, he hires an escort. Jensen's the perfect fake boyfriend, except pretty soon things get a little too real. Based on The Wedding Date.
Reason: Another remake that's far better than the original, in my opinion, featuring, you got it, my favourite type of fictional Jensen. Gah, he's so much classier (and more believable as an escort) than Dermot Mulroney's character, not to mention Jared is nowhere as flaky and annoying as Debra Messing's character.