Doctor Who Recs from Crack_Van
So, I recced Doctor Who in crack_van in April. Ever since then I've been meaning to duplicate those recs here, for posterity or something. I did the same for my Highlander recs in March. If you read crack_van, there's nothing new here. Move along. Yes, I realize that April was several months ago.
From This Day to The Ending of the World by icebluenothing
Pairing: None
Rating: G
Why this must be read: I'm starting with an older story, something that should rightly be considered a classic of the fandom. This story is set directly after (and during) the Time War. It deals with Nine's awakening and coming to terms with the aftermath of the Time War. So this is a story about grief. About finding the will and the strength to move on. As far as the writing, I can't say much more than that it is stunning. This is a story that feels right, that feels true, and that is reason enough to read it.
But Broken Lights by rosa_acicularis
Pairing: Ten/Rose
Rating PG-13
Why this must be read: It seems that if you ask D/R shippers to rec a story, they all pick this one. And they have good reason. This is a fairly long story, 11 parts, but you'll barely notice the time pass. What the author manages to do is write a really engrossing plot, setting, and story, and interweave the romance gracefully. In other words, this feels very close to what it would be like if S2 had happened a little differently and the show had shown the beginnings of a romantic relationship between Ten and Rose. I also like that things are not too easy for these two. This isn't fluff. It is both heartbreaking and hilarious. As Ten/Rose should be.
Just One Day by the_sandwalker
Pairing: Eight/Rose, Nine/Rose, Ten/Rose
Rating: NC-17
Why this must be read: Because there is not enough multi-Doctor/Rose fic. Because this is so complex and utterly delightful. Because this story has marriage and babies, and so many things that I normally would run away from, but it works. Because it made me grin from ear to ear. And because I don't think enough people have read it.
Asexual by tencrush
Pairing: Ten/Rose
Rating: NC-17
Why this must be read: This fic stands alone. It proposes a unique view of the Doctor and his sexuality. This Doctor is truly alien. He is asexual, enjoys sex, but he approaches it scientifically. I can't say that this is my Doctor, or even the show's Doctor, but, even so, I can believe in this Doctor. Plus, there is some very nice smut, with mild BDSM, and something very close to dubious consent. And since Doctor/Rose dubious consent fics could easily be counted on one hand, this is a fic that people talk about.
Practically Perfect In Every Way by randomdent
Pairing: None: Ten, Rose
Rating: G
Why this must be read: Look at the title! It's perfect! Not a crossover exactly, but a story that makes a lot of references. What happens? The Doctor empties his pockets and Rose wants to know where in the universe all this stuff came from. This one is short, but cute, funny, and delightful.
Moments of Revelation by handful_of_sky
Pairing: Tiny bit of Doctor/Rose, mostly gen
Rating: G
Why this must be read: This was one of the first crossovers I read when I first got into Doctor Who. Maybe that's the reason that it has seared itself into my mind as personal canon. But I'm more inclined to think that's due to how incredible it is. The story is told from River Tam's point of view, and the author does a great job of capturing River's thoughts. It's set in Firefly after the BDM, and also conveys (quite quickly) a great tone for that period. In the Doctor Who timeline, it is set immediately after the Time War. Of all the Time War aftermath stories I have read, the one that sticks with me is this crossover. It's painful, and touching, and healing, and true. Perfect, for both canons.
I love a good crossover, and Doctor Who gets a lot of them. But I didn't have to think for longer than a second about what crossover I was reccing this month. For the love of the 'Verse, read this fic!
Precious Little Space Dumplings of Love by shaggydogstail
Pairing: Doctor/Master
Rating: NC-17
Why this must be read: I mentioned before that I am a Doctor/Rose shipper, but I do enjoy slash and after Series 3 I saw all the possibilities of the Doctor/Master pairing. The first fic I found at that time was this one. I'm not 100% sure, but the reason I never really sought out much more Doctor/Master fic may have been my belief that nothing could top this one. It's exactly what I wanted and needed to read after S3. Firstly, it's hilarious. Really, really funny. The Master voice is utterly perfect and beyond delightful. Plus, shaggydogstail manages to balance silly and funny material with sexy and hot material effortlessly, which is really not as easy as it looks.
The story is AU from the end of S3, with the Master as the Doctor's prisoner, bored out of his mind and looking for ways to entertain himself and (preferably) torture the Doctor at the same time. He succeeds admirably. And that's another thing. How the author manages to take the twisted and downright wrong impulses of the Master and make them into something approaching sweet is a feat.
Light Bending Backwards by trolllogicfics
Pairing: None: Doctor, Jack
Rating: PG
Why this must be read: Because it is one of those rare pieces of fanfiction that totally changes everything you thought you knew about canon, without actually changing a thing. And that is rare. In fact, I can't really say anything else about this story without ruining the reveal. Read it for wonderful characterization, beautifully sparse writing, and brain-breaking plot.
Miserable With You by dettiot
Pairing: Ten/Rose
Rating: PG-13
Why this must be read: I wouldn't be a Doctor/Rose shipper if I didn't include at least one reunion fic. But reunion fic is not actually one of my favorite types of story. Every D/R writer eventually writes a Doctor/Rose reunion and too often the resulting fic is too simple, too happy, too much wish-fulfillment. For me, anyway. I like my stories with a little complication. And this one has it. The Doctor finds his way back to Rose, ready for her to return with him. But what if she wasn't sure? What if she said no? The plot twists throughout this story surprised me and kept me guessing. I guess that makes it the opposite of cliched.
VID REC: Electioneering by humansrsuperior
Musical artist: Radiohead
Pairing: The Master/world domination (or, umm, none...)
Why this vid kicks ass: There's something very viddable about John Simm's incarnation of the Master. (No, it's not just because he's pretty. Really.) Is it all the times he appears on screens? Is it the singing and the dancing? For whatever reason, all my favorite Doctor Who vids seem to involve the Master. And this is the best I've seen. The song choice is perfect and the images work with the rhythm of the music amazingly. Not to mention the way this song evokes the Master's signature drumbeat. There are probably a million little things in this vid I could point out that are brilliant, but I'll rely on the words of my husband after I made him watch it, "That's... really, really, really good."
From This Day to The Ending of the World by icebluenothing
Pairing: None
Rating: G
Why this must be read: I'm starting with an older story, something that should rightly be considered a classic of the fandom. This story is set directly after (and during) the Time War. It deals with Nine's awakening and coming to terms with the aftermath of the Time War. So this is a story about grief. About finding the will and the strength to move on. As far as the writing, I can't say much more than that it is stunning. This is a story that feels right, that feels true, and that is reason enough to read it.
But Broken Lights by rosa_acicularis
Pairing: Ten/Rose
Rating PG-13
Why this must be read: It seems that if you ask D/R shippers to rec a story, they all pick this one. And they have good reason. This is a fairly long story, 11 parts, but you'll barely notice the time pass. What the author manages to do is write a really engrossing plot, setting, and story, and interweave the romance gracefully. In other words, this feels very close to what it would be like if S2 had happened a little differently and the show had shown the beginnings of a romantic relationship between Ten and Rose. I also like that things are not too easy for these two. This isn't fluff. It is both heartbreaking and hilarious. As Ten/Rose should be.
Just One Day by the_sandwalker
Pairing: Eight/Rose, Nine/Rose, Ten/Rose
Rating: NC-17
Why this must be read: Because there is not enough multi-Doctor/Rose fic. Because this is so complex and utterly delightful. Because this story has marriage and babies, and so many things that I normally would run away from, but it works. Because it made me grin from ear to ear. And because I don't think enough people have read it.
Asexual by tencrush
Pairing: Ten/Rose
Rating: NC-17
Why this must be read: This fic stands alone. It proposes a unique view of the Doctor and his sexuality. This Doctor is truly alien. He is asexual, enjoys sex, but he approaches it scientifically. I can't say that this is my Doctor, or even the show's Doctor, but, even so, I can believe in this Doctor. Plus, there is some very nice smut, with mild BDSM, and something very close to dubious consent. And since Doctor/Rose dubious consent fics could easily be counted on one hand, this is a fic that people talk about.
Practically Perfect In Every Way by randomdent
Pairing: None: Ten, Rose
Rating: G
Why this must be read: Look at the title! It's perfect! Not a crossover exactly, but a story that makes a lot of references. What happens? The Doctor empties his pockets and Rose wants to know where in the universe all this stuff came from. This one is short, but cute, funny, and delightful.
Moments of Revelation by handful_of_sky
Pairing: Tiny bit of Doctor/Rose, mostly gen
Rating: G
Why this must be read: This was one of the first crossovers I read when I first got into Doctor Who. Maybe that's the reason that it has seared itself into my mind as personal canon. But I'm more inclined to think that's due to how incredible it is. The story is told from River Tam's point of view, and the author does a great job of capturing River's thoughts. It's set in Firefly after the BDM, and also conveys (quite quickly) a great tone for that period. In the Doctor Who timeline, it is set immediately after the Time War. Of all the Time War aftermath stories I have read, the one that sticks with me is this crossover. It's painful, and touching, and healing, and true. Perfect, for both canons.
I love a good crossover, and Doctor Who gets a lot of them. But I didn't have to think for longer than a second about what crossover I was reccing this month. For the love of the 'Verse, read this fic!
Precious Little Space Dumplings of Love by shaggydogstail
Pairing: Doctor/Master
Rating: NC-17
Why this must be read: I mentioned before that I am a Doctor/Rose shipper, but I do enjoy slash and after Series 3 I saw all the possibilities of the Doctor/Master pairing. The first fic I found at that time was this one. I'm not 100% sure, but the reason I never really sought out much more Doctor/Master fic may have been my belief that nothing could top this one. It's exactly what I wanted and needed to read after S3. Firstly, it's hilarious. Really, really funny. The Master voice is utterly perfect and beyond delightful. Plus, shaggydogstail manages to balance silly and funny material with sexy and hot material effortlessly, which is really not as easy as it looks.
The story is AU from the end of S3, with the Master as the Doctor's prisoner, bored out of his mind and looking for ways to entertain himself and (preferably) torture the Doctor at the same time. He succeeds admirably. And that's another thing. How the author manages to take the twisted and downright wrong impulses of the Master and make them into something approaching sweet is a feat.
Light Bending Backwards by trolllogicfics
Pairing: None: Doctor, Jack
Rating: PG
Why this must be read: Because it is one of those rare pieces of fanfiction that totally changes everything you thought you knew about canon, without actually changing a thing. And that is rare. In fact, I can't really say anything else about this story without ruining the reveal. Read it for wonderful characterization, beautifully sparse writing, and brain-breaking plot.
Miserable With You by dettiot
Pairing: Ten/Rose
Rating: PG-13
Why this must be read: I wouldn't be a Doctor/Rose shipper if I didn't include at least one reunion fic. But reunion fic is not actually one of my favorite types of story. Every D/R writer eventually writes a Doctor/Rose reunion and too often the resulting fic is too simple, too happy, too much wish-fulfillment. For me, anyway. I like my stories with a little complication. And this one has it. The Doctor finds his way back to Rose, ready for her to return with him. But what if she wasn't sure? What if she said no? The plot twists throughout this story surprised me and kept me guessing. I guess that makes it the opposite of cliched.
VID REC: Electioneering by humansrsuperior
Musical artist: Radiohead
Pairing: The Master/world domination (or, umm, none...)
Why this vid kicks ass: There's something very viddable about John Simm's incarnation of the Master. (No, it's not just because he's pretty. Really.) Is it all the times he appears on screens? Is it the singing and the dancing? For whatever reason, all my favorite Doctor Who vids seem to involve the Master. And this is the best I've seen. The song choice is perfect and the images work with the rhythm of the music amazingly. Not to mention the way this song evokes the Master's signature drumbeat. There are probably a million little things in this vid I could point out that are brilliant, but I'll rely on the words of my husband after I made him watch it, "That's... really, really, really good."