Yuletide Recs 2008 N-Z
First, one I missed on the first go round, from the letter C.
Chaucer-Canterbury Tales
Are We There Yet? (or, Fear and Loathing in Kent) by angevin2 - I can't even describe this. Outtakes from the Tales, if you will, in (mostly) modern English. Lit students, prepare to laugh your asses off.
Newsies
Tell It To The World, Why Don't You by utensilestrength - Race ends up in a tricky situation with Spot Conlan. I love this for Spot's presence. What? I had a big thing for him when I was 12.
Not Your Kind of Business by ali_wildgoose - Sort of Jack/David, implied Jack/Spot. I love Jack's characterization in this. I usually avoid Newsies slash, but this works.
Once
Still Got Time by thassalia - A lovely continuation of the film that feels completely real.
P.G. Wodehouse- Jeeves and Wooster
Merry Christmas, Jeeves by leaper182 - A very sweet romance in which Bertie is not quite as much of a buffoon as he sometimes appears. Longish and charming.
The Aunt and the Ankh by shadow-truths - Classic Wodehousian story, hilarious, hints of slash. There's a lot of other J&W stories posted, but I absolutely couldn't choose amoung them. So browse around if you're interested.
The Prestige
Only one of us by scribblinlenore -NC-17- Dark and slightly twisted, this is fascinating and hot. It had a couple of things that annoyed me, but overall the story is so good I have to rec it. (Note warnings.)
The Princess Bride
A Storybook Story by thelastgoodname - Just because you stop reading, doesn't mean the story ends. Funny and cute.
Paradise by curia_regis - A Fezzik-centric story! Too sweet!
The Prophecy
Once by l_syllabub - Gabriel and Lucifer, in Hell. This really captures the characters well. Very evocative.
Pushing Daisies
One Minute, Counting by kaneko - Emerson Cod wakes up and only has a minute to talk. Brilliant, hilarious, fantastic lines. Must read!
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Wiles by __rosedark - Magenta, being manipulative and callous and awesome!
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Metamorphosis by gileonnen - Could easily be scenes from the play. It's exactly right.
RPF- 20th-21st c Politics (And now we have an aside. This section shall be known as the Rahm Emmanuel section. Yes, some of this RPF squicks me, but it's also brilliant and fun and you're just going to have to decide if you're brave enough to click or not. Do not judge me, is what I'm saying.)
Ten Sephirot, Nine and a Half Fingers, Eight Nights, 44 Presidents by vulgarweed - NC-17, Rahm Emanuel/Barack Obama - This fic wins the award of reducing me to speechlessness. It's very, very good. Amazing and breathtaking. Wow. Even if the sex thing scares you, I beg you to read the first few sections of this. Wow. Seriously. Just perfect and WOW.
Five Time Rahm Emanuel Didn't Sleep with President-Elect Barack Obama by missstewart - So, this is not a very serious rec. Much of the story is flawed. It's cracktastic. But there's one scene with Bill O'Reilly that KILLED ME and I laughed and laughed and laughed, so for that, read, oh twisted denizens of the interwebs.
Witches Can Be Right, Giants Can Be Good by bronze_ribbons - Ok, but everyone HAS to read this. It's Harry Potter with a guest appearance by Rahm Emanuel. So, so funny. And there's no sex in it, I promise.
RPF- Pundits
Breaking News by propaganda - Rahm Emanuel/Anderson Cooper, NC-17 - This is really good and extremely hot. I might have a thing for Anderson Cooper and I think I've hereby developed a thing for Rahm Emanuel, obviously.
RPF-Doctor Who
Irrational Acts by rm - David Tennant/John Barrowman, PG. Normally I avoid Doctor Who RPF like the plague because it just creeps me out and I already know more than I need to about these people's personal lives just from being in the fandom. But I was curious and I was very pleasantly surprised. In this story David tells John he's leaving the show. The characters are realistic, as are the relationships both fictional and real. A stand-out piece.
Secretary
Warmth Within and Without by xof1013 - NC-17- Hot, hot like a burning thing. Absolutely perfect. Warnings for lite BDSM, as you would expect from the fandom.
Singin' In The Rain
Sunbeams Will Soon Shine Through by mardia - Don/Kathy/Cosmo - I love this threesome pairing and this piece brings them together in a really natural way.
You're the Cream in My Coffee by cimness - More threesome loveliness, this time with a longer build-up. The really awesome thing about this story is the genius use of period song lyrics that feels so true to the movie.
Stardust (movie)
Names, Navigation, and Other Issues Arising on the Caspartine by Marie - A fantastic look at Captain Shakespeare from a young age, as seen by his eventual first mate. Also a very sexy PG romance.
Terry Pratchett- Discworld
A Patrician's Best Friend by googlebrat - A very short piece in which Vetinari walks Mr. Fusspot. It made me sniffle.
The Uninvited Guest by akamarykate - Granny Weatherwax attends Susan's christening at the request of Death. Susan as a baby is perfect. A very well executed story.
Watchmen (comic)
Small Monsters by rexluscus - Dan gets a glimpse into why Rorschach does what he does. Feels utterly true to the original.
Nothing Beside Remains by airspaniel - Adrian Veidt, after the end of the book. This is chilling and resonates in an uncomfortable way with real world events. Very effective.
xkcd
OMG VELOCIRAPTORS! by antumbral
AND, I'm done! (Well, except for all the stories I skipped that I still might want to read one day. But not today...) A little late, but not by much. There's a lot of awesome above and beyond what I've highlighted here, so don't forget to check out the whole archive.
Chaucer-Canterbury Tales
Are We There Yet? (or, Fear and Loathing in Kent) by angevin2 - I can't even describe this. Outtakes from the Tales, if you will, in (mostly) modern English. Lit students, prepare to laugh your asses off.
Newsies
Tell It To The World, Why Don't You by utensilestrength - Race ends up in a tricky situation with Spot Conlan. I love this for Spot's presence. What? I had a big thing for him when I was 12.
Not Your Kind of Business by ali_wildgoose - Sort of Jack/David, implied Jack/Spot. I love Jack's characterization in this. I usually avoid Newsies slash, but this works.
Once
Still Got Time by thassalia - A lovely continuation of the film that feels completely real.
P.G. Wodehouse- Jeeves and Wooster
Merry Christmas, Jeeves by leaper182 - A very sweet romance in which Bertie is not quite as much of a buffoon as he sometimes appears. Longish and charming.
The Aunt and the Ankh by shadow-truths - Classic Wodehousian story, hilarious, hints of slash. There's a lot of other J&W stories posted, but I absolutely couldn't choose amoung them. So browse around if you're interested.
The Prestige
Only one of us by scribblinlenore -NC-17- Dark and slightly twisted, this is fascinating and hot. It had a couple of things that annoyed me, but overall the story is so good I have to rec it. (Note warnings.)
The Princess Bride
A Storybook Story by thelastgoodname - Just because you stop reading, doesn't mean the story ends. Funny and cute.
Paradise by curia_regis - A Fezzik-centric story! Too sweet!
The Prophecy
Once by l_syllabub - Gabriel and Lucifer, in Hell. This really captures the characters well. Very evocative.
Pushing Daisies
One Minute, Counting by kaneko - Emerson Cod wakes up and only has a minute to talk. Brilliant, hilarious, fantastic lines. Must read!
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Wiles by __rosedark - Magenta, being manipulative and callous and awesome!
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Metamorphosis by gileonnen - Could easily be scenes from the play. It's exactly right.
RPF- 20th-21st c Politics (And now we have an aside. This section shall be known as the Rahm Emmanuel section. Yes, some of this RPF squicks me, but it's also brilliant and fun and you're just going to have to decide if you're brave enough to click or not. Do not judge me, is what I'm saying.)
Ten Sephirot, Nine and a Half Fingers, Eight Nights, 44 Presidents by vulgarweed - NC-17, Rahm Emanuel/Barack Obama - This fic wins the award of reducing me to speechlessness. It's very, very good. Amazing and breathtaking. Wow. Even if the sex thing scares you, I beg you to read the first few sections of this. Wow. Seriously. Just perfect and WOW.
Five Time Rahm Emanuel Didn't Sleep with President-Elect Barack Obama by missstewart - So, this is not a very serious rec. Much of the story is flawed. It's cracktastic. But there's one scene with Bill O'Reilly that KILLED ME and I laughed and laughed and laughed, so for that, read, oh twisted denizens of the interwebs.
Witches Can Be Right, Giants Can Be Good by bronze_ribbons - Ok, but everyone HAS to read this. It's Harry Potter with a guest appearance by Rahm Emanuel. So, so funny. And there's no sex in it, I promise.
RPF- Pundits
Breaking News by propaganda - Rahm Emanuel/Anderson Cooper, NC-17 - This is really good and extremely hot. I might have a thing for Anderson Cooper and I think I've hereby developed a thing for Rahm Emanuel, obviously.
RPF-Doctor Who
Irrational Acts by rm - David Tennant/John Barrowman, PG. Normally I avoid Doctor Who RPF like the plague because it just creeps me out and I already know more than I need to about these people's personal lives just from being in the fandom. But I was curious and I was very pleasantly surprised. In this story David tells John he's leaving the show. The characters are realistic, as are the relationships both fictional and real. A stand-out piece.
Secretary
Warmth Within and Without by xof1013 - NC-17- Hot, hot like a burning thing. Absolutely perfect. Warnings for lite BDSM, as you would expect from the fandom.
Singin' In The Rain
Sunbeams Will Soon Shine Through by mardia - Don/Kathy/Cosmo - I love this threesome pairing and this piece brings them together in a really natural way.
You're the Cream in My Coffee by cimness - More threesome loveliness, this time with a longer build-up. The really awesome thing about this story is the genius use of period song lyrics that feels so true to the movie.
Stardust (movie)
Names, Navigation, and Other Issues Arising on the Caspartine by Marie - A fantastic look at Captain Shakespeare from a young age, as seen by his eventual first mate. Also a very sexy PG romance.
Terry Pratchett- Discworld
A Patrician's Best Friend by googlebrat - A very short piece in which Vetinari walks Mr. Fusspot. It made me sniffle.
The Uninvited Guest by akamarykate - Granny Weatherwax attends Susan's christening at the request of Death. Susan as a baby is perfect. A very well executed story.
Watchmen (comic)
Small Monsters by rexluscus - Dan gets a glimpse into why Rorschach does what he does. Feels utterly true to the original.
Nothing Beside Remains by airspaniel - Adrian Veidt, after the end of the book. This is chilling and resonates in an uncomfortable way with real world events. Very effective.
xkcd
OMG VELOCIRAPTORS! by antumbral
AND, I'm done! (Well, except for all the stories I skipped that I still might want to read one day. But not today...) A little late, but not by much. There's a lot of awesome above and beyond what I've highlighted here, so don't forget to check out the whole archive.