I would rather read fanfiction than vacuum my house
Okay, not all fanfiction is slash, and not all slash is porn, but still, I start getting twitchy when the subject of internet censorship comes up. Before I get to the recs, a couple of interesting and relevant links:
Free broadband proposal comes with censorship strings attached - story about an FCC plan by Helen A.S. Popkin at MSNBC.
Australian government plans two-tiered internet censorship plan - jeddy83 has some links and discussion.
The (im)moral of the story: better read this fic while you still can! Which is what I have been doing, since I shall be leaving in two days and will not have the luxury of endless internet time to wallow in fic. But I am looking forward to all the lovely stuff (DSSS! Yuletide!) that will be waiting when I return. In the meantime, I have particularly enjoyed the following stories:
Time by Cimorene (cimness) | LotR: Legolas/Gimli, short story, NC17. Faced with possible death, Gimli considers mortality. Movie canon, written with the elegance and beauty of the books. The sensuality of the language enhances the sensuality of the story.
Promise by Cimorene (cimness) | LotR: Legolas/Gimli, novelette, NC17. Legolas comes to terms with his desire. Book canon, so we have dark-haired Legolas, and the Fellowship's visit to Lothlorien in exquisite, luminous detail. I think it's always a challenge for an author to convincingly show a character's growing desire for a character who is not conventionally attractive; it's easier to imagine the dwarf falling for the elf than the other way around. This story, with its subtle and gentle tension, makes a believer of me.
Touching by shrinetolust | LotR RPF: Sean/Viggo, serial novella, NC17. [The link goes to her fic list in lj memories; alternatively, you can get to all the parts from links at the top of the currently-last part (12).] I guess this is a slow WIP, but I would consider it complete at part 11, with everything after that lagniappe or sequel - at least, in its current form. During the filming, the whole cast is touchy-feely except for Sean, who here is borderline homophobic and uncomfortable with the flying innuendo; gradually he realizes that Viggo is coming on to him, and even more gradually he realizes that he's wanted that all along. I am a big fan of the slow build of sexual tension, and this story delivers. Sean's slow transformation from denial to open desire is delicious and very, very sexy. A few missteps grated on me, but they were overwhelmed by the consistent, entertaining ensemble characterization (I love Ian in particular), the men that never failed to be manly (except for Orlando, who makes an adorable 14-year-old girl), and the exceptional HOT.
Begin and Never Cease by Alex (splix) | Sharpe: Sharpe/Harper, short story, PG. On watch at Christmastime; and you know, there were two similar stories in last year's Yuletide, and I didn't like either of them half as much as this gentle and understated story. The character voices are perfect and the language is so very evocative.
Satellites by cruisedirector | Master & Commander (bookverse): Jack/Stephen, ficlet, PG. This is my favorite type of story in this fandom: a missing scene which expands on the innuendo of the text (in this case, a discussion about the Sultan and his "Ganymede" in The Thirteen Gun Salute) but never takes it too far. Excellent character voices.
Free broadband proposal comes with censorship strings attached - story about an FCC plan by Helen A.S. Popkin at MSNBC.
Australian government plans two-tiered internet censorship plan - jeddy83 has some links and discussion.
The (im)moral of the story: better read this fic while you still can! Which is what I have been doing, since I shall be leaving in two days and will not have the luxury of endless internet time to wallow in fic. But I am looking forward to all the lovely stuff (DSSS! Yuletide!) that will be waiting when I return. In the meantime, I have particularly enjoyed the following stories:
Time by Cimorene (cimness) | LotR: Legolas/Gimli, short story, NC17. Faced with possible death, Gimli considers mortality. Movie canon, written with the elegance and beauty of the books. The sensuality of the language enhances the sensuality of the story.
Promise by Cimorene (cimness) | LotR: Legolas/Gimli, novelette, NC17. Legolas comes to terms with his desire. Book canon, so we have dark-haired Legolas, and the Fellowship's visit to Lothlorien in exquisite, luminous detail. I think it's always a challenge for an author to convincingly show a character's growing desire for a character who is not conventionally attractive; it's easier to imagine the dwarf falling for the elf than the other way around. This story, with its subtle and gentle tension, makes a believer of me.
Touching by shrinetolust | LotR RPF: Sean/Viggo, serial novella, NC17. [The link goes to her fic list in lj memories; alternatively, you can get to all the parts from links at the top of the currently-last part (12).] I guess this is a slow WIP, but I would consider it complete at part 11, with everything after that lagniappe or sequel - at least, in its current form. During the filming, the whole cast is touchy-feely except for Sean, who here is borderline homophobic and uncomfortable with the flying innuendo; gradually he realizes that Viggo is coming on to him, and even more gradually he realizes that he's wanted that all along. I am a big fan of the slow build of sexual tension, and this story delivers. Sean's slow transformation from denial to open desire is delicious and very, very sexy. A few missteps grated on me, but they were overwhelmed by the consistent, entertaining ensemble characterization (I love Ian in particular), the men that never failed to be manly (except for Orlando, who makes an adorable 14-year-old girl), and the exceptional HOT.
Begin and Never Cease by Alex (splix) | Sharpe: Sharpe/Harper, short story, PG. On watch at Christmastime; and you know, there were two similar stories in last year's Yuletide, and I didn't like either of them half as much as this gentle and understated story. The character voices are perfect and the language is so very evocative.
Satellites by cruisedirector | Master & Commander (bookverse): Jack/Stephen, ficlet, PG. This is my favorite type of story in this fandom: a missing scene which expands on the innuendo of the text (in this case, a discussion about the Sultan and his "Ganymede" in The Thirteen Gun Salute) but never takes it too far. Excellent character voices.