Top Ten All-Time Favorite Fics
I loved the idea of Arcadian Maggie and Tuesdaymighnight of trying to make a list of 10 favorite fics ever. There are so many amazing writers and great fics in the fandoms I love, that it is a very difficult task, as was for everyone who already shared theirs.
Thanks to all the authors for sharing their work of love with the fandom. All these stories are so very good, and they have a meaning for me. Thanks to my fellow fans for being there.
I will cheat a little and take advantage of the fact that some of my favs were already on several lists... like The Chakra of Merlin, Good News, Check/Mate series, What We Choose, Needs Must, Blackbird, and Rheged. Any and all of them could be on my list. For this reason, I picked 8 other stories to make my list.
So, in no especial order, this is my list:
Title: World Enough and Time
Author: alicephantomwise
Fandom: Merlin
Rating: Explicit, modern AU
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Word count: 19K
Summary: Arthur had had it all figured out. And then Merlin shot him in Beijing.
Notes: This was just beautiful. Exquisite writing, the atmosphere and emotions. Truly magic.
Links: https://archiveofourown.org/works/182248 , https://archiveofourown.org/users/alicephantomwise/pseuds/alicephantomwise
Title: Fundamental Imperfection
Author: Starlingthefool
Fandom: Merlin
Rating: Mature, AU-modern setting
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Word count: 12,175
Summary: In which an argument about Dickens leads to a Twitter scandal, broken bones, midnight conversations, and transatlantic longing.
(Or, an AU with Arthur and Merlin as moderately famous authors.)
Notes: This is a perfect, charming, lyrical story. The sequel Like a Lonely House is not finished and it may never be, but it’s beautiful and heartbreaking and brilliant. Please read it anyway!
Links: https://archiveofourown.org/works/387876 , https://archiveofourown.org/users/Starlingthefool/pseuds/Starlingthefool
Title: There Are Not Gays in Football
Author: Malu_3 (Grainne)
Fandom: Merlin
Rating: Explicit, AU-modern setting
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Word count: 213K
Summary: When a deeply-closeted Arthur Pendragon finally earns a spot in Camelot's first XI, he's dead set on breaking records, not one of sport's last taboos. But life, like football, is a funny old game, and sometimes the only way up is out. Especially once he realises he's arse over tit for the new physio.
A queer Arthurian tale of courage, love, and football.
Notes: What can I say? This story is epic and brilliant, hot, funny, brave like this Arthur, charming as Merlin, wonderful on all accounts.
Links: https://archiveofourown.org/works/730238 , https://archiveofourown.org/users/Grainne/pseuds/Malu_3
Title: Children, Wake Up series
Author: Hollycomb
Fandom: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Rating: Explicit, Canon AU
Pairing: Hux/Kylo Ren
Word count: 608K
Summary: Hux follows orders and loses his way.
Notes: This was the first fic I read in this fandom, and I fell in love with these terribly flawed characters. The writing is brilliant, the plot is so clever. I was overwhelmed by the intensity of this story, the terrible, heartbreaking, funny, endearing, horrific, emotional things that happen. The character building and the theme of redemption and healing are so important here. This is one of the best love stories I've ever read. I wish it was canon!
Links: https://archiveofourown.org/series/386986 ; https://archiveofourown.org/users/hollycomb/pseuds/hollycomb
Title: Climbing the Curved Earth
Author: Harlanhardway (Target44)
Fandom: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Rating: Explicit, AU - Historical
Pairing: Armitage Hux/Ben Solo|Kylo Ren
Word count: 51,472
Summary: It's the 1980s, in Poland, and they're all mountaineers. Ben just got back from an expedition up Everest when he meets a red-haired climber that he doesn't quite know what to make of.
Notes: Wonderful story, so interesting, painful and difficult in parts, absolutely brilliant.
Links: https://archiveofourown.org/works/10911579 ; https://archiveofourown.org/users/Target44/pseuds/Harlanhardway
Title: Freedom is Just Another Word series
Author: synecdochic
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Rating: Not rated, canon AU
Pairing: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard
Word count: 23,665
Summary: Because the meaning of life is "do the next thing", and we all carry the seeds of the past into our future. Futurefic, Rodney-centric.
The series for "freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose" and its sequel, "and the band's playing hail to the chief", future-fics that were written in the hiatus between S2 and S3. They've now been thoroughly Jossed, of course.
Notes: This is a beautiful fic about grieving and going on. Beautifuly written, poignant and hopeful too. Maybe not an easy reading if you don’t know SGA, but give it a try. The sequel is a must read too.
Links: https://archiveofourown.org/series/429586, https://archiveofourown.org/users/synecdochic/pseuds/synecdochic
Title: OK Computer
Author: Speranza
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Rating: Explicit, canon AU
Pairing: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard
Word count: 35K
Summary: Don't shoot!" Rodney yelled, leaping up, onto his knees, and waving his hands, afraid that Sheppard was going to blow his alter-ego to blazes. "He's me! I think!"
Notes: I love love love this story. It’s bittersweet, clever, painful. It’s about grieving and friendship and love, with a happy ending. And while is about grieving, I’d say is the opposite to Freedom. But I digress.
Links: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15, https://archiveofourown.org/users/Speranza/pseuds/Speranza
Title: A Farm in Iowa series
Author: sheafrotherdon
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Rating: Mature, AU
Pairing: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard
Word count: 167K
Summary: John inherits a farm, Rodney ends up entirely out of his element, and there is much ado about baseball. Completely AU
Notes: I adore this series. It is poetic and evocative, full of feelings, funny and clever. It’s one of my comfort fics. There are some main parts of the story, and a lot of ficlets in between. The author is still posting from time to time, and it is always a pleasure. You can read just the first one as a stand alone (corresponds to summary), but it is worth the full story. There is much more after that.
Links: https://archiveofourown.org/series/4775, https://archiveofourown.org/users/sheafrotherdon/pseuds/sheafrotherdon