Index by Category, Part 1

[house_what_if]

House "What-If" Rec List - Index by Category

This is Part 1 of the Index by Category. It covers the first half our twenty Fic Categories. View Part 2. Part 1

On the House "What-If" Rec List we share some of our favorite House, M.D. fics, 'verses, and authors that form a genre we call "What-If."

Here are our recs, indexed by fic category.


Notes:

• What-If: This rec list is focused on a genre we call "What-If." In our review of the literature, several categories presented themselves. Stories range from wildly fantastical to essentially realistic, but all depart significantly from canon reality.


• Recs: We've chosen our top few rec reasons for each work, and listed them alphabetically. Of course, these stories have additional facets that led us to share them with you.


• Data: Use the sidebar at right to view our recs by by title, by category, by rec reason, by word count, by date, or in the  author directory. The main rec list (by title) has the most detailed information per entry, but we deliberately left out pairings. Don't judge a fic by its pairing; jump in and savor the storytelling.


• Links: Why so many links per fic? Stuff disappears, and we like to be prepared. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to read and leave feedback where you feel most comfortable, no matter how long ago fics were written. We also encourage you to contact authors directly via their journals to let them know you read their work.


• Lost and Found: If you encounter any broken links or have trouble locating fics, please contact us by PM. Thanks.

After Death/Afterlife

Dead character can interact with a live one (as a ghost, in dreams/unconscious, etc.). Or, a character experiences life on another plane after (or near) his own death.

• Adagio e Dolce [ LJ] by barefootpuddles


• After Hours [ LJ] by nakannalee


• After the Fall [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• Blur [ LJ f-locked] [DW] by bookgodess15


• Crossing Night [ LJ] by alternatealto


• Deathwatch [FF] by Tidwell


• For Every Closed Door [ LJ: 1 2 3 First Interlude 4 Second Interlude 5 6 7 Third Interlude 8 9 10 11 12 Fourth Interlude 13 14 Epilogue] by starlingthefool
  • Commentary: For Every Closed Door, ch. 11 [annotated] [ LJ]
  • Commentary: The Massive Post-Mortem [ LJ]
  • Sequel: Welcome to the first day of the rest of your (after)life. [ LJ]


• Found [ LJ] [DW] by jezziejay


• Here's A Little Agit For The Never-Believer [ LJ f-locked] by hannahrorlove


• I Guess It Would Be Nice [ LJ] by nakannalee


• Ides of March [ LJ] [ LJ] [FF] by finding_jay


• In a Heartbeat [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW] by blackmare, with contributions from nightdog_barks


• It Don't Mean a Thing [ LJ] [DW] by karaokegal


• A Joy Forever [FF] [AO3] [mp3, m4b] by usomitai


• Levayah [ LJ] [DW] by jezziejay


• The Loss Adjuster [ LJ] [FF] by moose_mcmoose


• Missing Pieces [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• Nothing [ LJ] by daisylily


• Standoff [ LJ] [LJ: 1 2 3 4 5 6] [FF] [AO3] [DW: 1 2 3 4 5 6] by nightdog_barks


• This Place [ LJ] [FF] by downuptime


• Two Ghosts, Sitting Around Talking [ LJ] [AO3] by nightdog_barks


• Two Steps [ LJ] [DW] by alternatealto


• Wild, Wild Horses [ LJ] [DW] by yarroway

Allegory

"Hey! I do the metaphors." -House in 2x12 'Distractions'

• (if chase dreamed of fairytales) [no longer posted online] by ayalesca


• The Stump and the Butterfly [ LJ f-locked] by californiaquail


• Two Steps [ LJ] [DW] by alternatealto

Alternate Governance

Modern America has slaves, theocracy, totalitarian state, etc.

• An Opening Door [ LJ: 1-7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27] [FF] [AO3] by tailkinker_au (menolly_au)


• The Principles of Growth Dæmonverse [ masterpost] by lit_luminary

Alternate Personal History

Canon character with a different past (e.g., Wilson was Neil Perry from Dead Poets Society as a child). Or, character chose a different path or profession than in canon - and thus never became our canon character at all.

• As the Crow Flies [ LJ] [FF] by empath_eia


• The Cure for Boredom [ LJ] [FF] [DW] by mer_duff


• Detroit Ragtime [ LJ] [mp3] by triedunture


• Distress Call (WIP) [ LJ] [DW] by black_cigarette


• Doff Thy Name [ LJ] [FF] by vampmissedith


• Douglas [AO3] [DW] by sam_storyteller


• Images (WIP) [ LJ] by alternatealto


• Left of West 'verse [masterpost] by hannahrorlove
  • Companion piece: West of the Fields [ LJ f-locked] [DW] by hannahrorlove


• Looking Glass 'verse [ masterpost] [masterpost] by nightdog_barks & blackmare & menolly_au & hannahrorlove


• Man in the Mirror [ LJ] by yarroway


• The Man Who Wasn't There [ LJ] [FF] [DW] by srsly_yes


• Mind Over Matter [ LJ: 1-11 epilogue] [FF] [SQ] by npkedit


• Northern Light [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by nightdog_barks


• One and One and One is Three [ LJ] [AO3] by daasgrrl


• An Opening Door [ LJ: 1-7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27] [FF] [AO3] by tailkinker_au (menolly_au)


• Porcelain [ LJ] [AO3] by zulu


• Reboot [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW] by srsly_yes


• Rebuild the Bridges in Your Mind [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by st_aurafina
  • Companion piece: Doctor Robert Chase's Queen on the Money Playlist [ LJ] [DW] by st_aurafina


• Sunday Brunch [ LJ] [FF] by zeppomarx


• Template [ LJ] [ LJ] [AO3] by nightdog_barks


• There, and Back Again [ LJ] [AO3] by alternatealto


• This is Me [ LJ] by ze_toaster


• You and You Can See [ LJ f-locked] by hannahrorlove
  • Author's Commentary: You and You Can See [ LJ f-locked]

Alternate Time Period

Takes place in a different era/decade/century.

• The Annals 'verse [ masterpost] [masterpost] by nightdog_barks


• Bloodlines [ LJ: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10] [FF] by maddoggirl


• Carry Me Home [ LJ] [ LJ] [ LJ] [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] [DW] by nightdog_barks


• A Cure in the Country [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by nightdog_barks


• A First Class House [ LJ] [ LJ] [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] [DW] by nightdog_barks


• Goodnight, My Love [no longer posted online] by euclase


• Karma on the Mississippi [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW] by srsly_yes


• Moving Forward [ LJ] [FF] [DW] [AO3] by menolly_au


• Nor Any Voice of Mourning [ LJ] [ LJ] [ LJ] [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] [DW] by nightdog_barks


• Pirate's Booty [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW] by srsly_yes


• The Princess and the Peeved [LJ: 1-115 116] by cuddyclothes


• West of the Moon 'verse by srsly_yes
  • West of the Moon [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW]
  • Sequel: West of the Reichenbach Falls [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW]
  • Companion materials: West of the Moon Time Capsule [ LJ] and Video Gallery [ LJ]

Alternate World History

Things turned out a bit (or a lot) differently than we're used to - crops, foods, customs, exports/imports, costs, transportation, technology, population, country/colony, etc.

• Left of West 'verse [masterpost] by hannahrorlove
  • Companion piece: West of the Fields [ LJ f-locked] [DW] by hannahrorlove


• Letters of Transit [ LJ] [FF] by nightdog_barks


• Looking Glass 'verse [ masterpost] [masterpost] by nightdog_barks & blackmare & menolly_au & hannahrorlove


• Uniforming (Made to Seem) [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] [DW] by hannahrorlove, with fan art by leiascully & usomitai

Amnesiac Odyssey

Amnesia stories where a character must build a life for himself based on whatever he has to go on.

• Sleeping Man 'verse [ masterpost] by maineac, with companion pieces by zeppomarx, cindy_lou_who8, & deelaundry


• Regarding House [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] by flywoman


• Watermark [no longer posted online] by euclase

Apocalypse

How our heroes cope, post- (or during) apocalypse. Can be more realistic (epidemic, bomb) or horror (zombies, creature invasion).

• The Culmination [ LJ] [DW] by nowadventuring


• Fighter [ LJ] by tasha_elizabeth


• The Room at the End of the World [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl
  • In the Ruins [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl
  • til the sun breaks down [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• The Waiting (is unbearable) [ LJ] [ LJ] by wanttobeatree

Creatures/Mythical Beings

Story includes entities such as vampires, mermaids, werewolves, and so on.

• Asphyxiation [ LJ] [AO3] by _ares
  • Companion piece: Asphyxiation [ LJ] by lit_luminary
  • Sequel: In High Seas [ LJ] [AO3] by _ares


• Blood Letting 'verse [masterpost] by hannahrorlove & mer_duff, with playlists by letut & seimaisin


• Distress Call (WIP) [ LJ] [DW] by black_cigarette


• The Furies Breathing [ LJ f-locked] by hannahrorlove


• Gardening at Night [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl


• Half Life [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] by oldblue


• Minotaur [ LJ] [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by nightdog_barks

Crossover Elements

Crossover with, or draws concepts from, another fandom or fic 'verse - often one with supernatural/what-iffy elements in its canon.

• 5 Things that Never Happened at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] [other] by tptigger
  (Each stand-alone chapter has a different crossover fandom - some familiarity helpful. Hannah Montana; Highlander: The Series; Power Rangers Time Force; Sesame Street; Young Wizards)


• Are You There, God? It's Me, House: Or, The One Where They're Twelve Year Old Girls [ LJ] by ceruleanshipper
  (Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. - thematic elements only; no prior knowledge needed)


• As the Crow Flies [ LJ] [FF] by empath_eia
  (Doctor Who - some familiarity required)


• A Better You [ LJ] [AO3] by daasgrrl
  (Dollhouse - thematic elements only; no prior knowledge needed)


• Bytecode (You Are Still in the Matrix Remix) [ LJ] [AO3] & DVD commentary [ LJ] by thedeadparrot
  (Neuromancer - no prior knowledge needed)


• Clash of the Titans [ LJ] [ LJ] [FF] by ahedonia
  (some familiarity helpful: Doctor Who, The Mentalist, Sherlock)


• Cross Over [ LJ] by alternatealto
  (Stargate SG-1 - little to no familiarity required)


• Doctor House Takes a Vacation [ LJ] [FF] by Tidwell
  (The Prisoner - thematic elements only; no prior knowledge needed)


• Enchantment's Perils [ LJ] [DW] by pwcorgigirl
  (Supernatural - little to no familiarity required)


• For Every Closed Door [ LJ: 1 2 3 First Interlude 4 Second Interlude 5 6 7 Third Interlude 8 9 10 11 12 Fourth Interlude 13 14 Epilogue] by starlingthefool
  (Dead Like Me - no prior knowledge needed)
  • Commentary: For Every Closed Door, ch. 11 [annotated] [ LJ]
  • Commentary: The Massive Post-Mortem [ LJ]
  • Sequel: Welcome to the first day of the rest of your (after)life. [ LJ]


• It Don't Mean a Thing [ LJ] [DW] by karaokegal
  (Swing Kids - no prior knowledge needed)


• Kryptonite [ LJ] [DW] by yarroway
  (Superman - thematic elements only; no prior knowledge needed)


• A Long Slow Fade [FF] by Tidwell
  (Medium - no prior knowledge needed)


• Mind Over Matter [ LJ: 1-11 epilogue] [FF] [SQ] by npkedit
  (X-Men - no prior knowledge needed)


• Moving Forward [ LJ] [FF] [DW] [AO3] by menolly_au
  (Back to the Future - thematic elements only; no prior knowledge needed)


• Northern Light [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by nightdog_barks
  (Northern Exposure - thematic elements only; no prior knowledge needed)


• Of A Feather [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by yarroway
  (Harry Potter - very little familiarity required)


• Of Capes and Cod [AO3] by st_aurafina
  (X-Men - no prior knowledge needed)


• The Principles of Growth Dæmonverse [ masterpost] by lit_luminary
  (His Dark Materials - no prior knowledge needed; see Dæmonverse Intro)


• Rebuild the Bridges in Your Mind [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by st_aurafina
  (X-Men - no prior knowledge needed)
  • Companion piece: Doctor Robert Chase's Queen on the Money Playlist [ LJ] [DW] by st_aurafina


• A Song to Be Sung [ LJ] [ LJ] [AO3] [DW] by nightdog_barks
  (some familiarity helpful: I'll Tell Thee Everything I Can & My Fathers' Son 'verse)


• West of the Fields [ LJ f-locked] [DW] by hannahrorlove
  (Left of West 'verse & Looking Glass 'verse - familiarity with both 'verses required. See our main rec list for links and info.)


• The Whitney Street Mystery [ LJ: 1 2] [FF] [AO3] [DW: 1 2] [SQ] by t_eyla
  (Doctor Who - no prior knowledge needed)


• World of Weeping [ LJ] [FF] [AO3] [DW: 1 2 3 4] by mer_duff, with fan art by hllangel & aolian, & alexwhitewell
  (Torchwood - little to no familiarity required)
  • Prequel: Elemental Forces [ LJ] [FF] [DW] by mer_duff

Continue to Part 2 of the Index by Category.