Buffy the Vampire Slayer
(Metem)psychosis, by mabus101 (gen, Buffybot)
"I think Willow's been altering my memory again." Buffybot POV -- eerie and awesome, just like the bot herself. This is one that I won't forget for a long time.

Star Trek
Welcome Interruptus, by celebros (gen, Pike and Winona Kirk)
Pike, as a Cadet at the Academy, writing his thesis on the Kelvin -- he's going to be the first person in seven years to interview Winona Kirk. The idea of these two characters interacting at all is awesome, but add in that Pike is a young man, Winona is a grieving widow, and Kirk is on the sidelines as a boy makes it especially fabulous.

By Any Other Name, by moogsthewriter (gen, Kirk)
Cultural miscommunications are annoying for everyone, but they’re almost always painful for Jim Kirk. AKA, Five times aliens mistook Kirk for someone (or something) else, and one time they didn’t.

Officer Material, by Pat Foley (gen, Pike and Spock, TOS)
Pike discovers an unlikely new candidate for Command Training. I loved the dynamic here, the way the other crewmembers see Spock, and the insight into both their characters.

A Compass Wouldn't Help at All by rawles (Spock gen with Spock/Uhura)
An AU for the movie's epilogue, in which Spock chooses differently. Very thought-provoking.

The Orion-on-Vulcan Method by anodyna (Spock Prime/Gaila)
Gaila needs somewhere to recuperate after being injured in the Battle of Vulcan. What better place than with Spock Prime on the Vulcan colony world? Hijinx, cultural misunderstandings, and unlikely romance ensue.
Definitely an unlikely romance, but I think that makes this one all the sweeter. There's a lot of nice Gaila character moments here, as well.

DC Comics
Stop This Day and Night With Me, by thete1 (Connor Hawke/Tim Drake.)
Families, road trips, bad food, and the surprisingly pleasant side effects to being a real boy. I loved this story because it shows Tim, who's normally so focused on fighting crime, wrestling with the other aspects of his life. Connor is a great choice to reconcile to the two. Also, hot.


Harry Potter
Ourobouros, by miggy (AU, gen.)
A Slytherin!Harry AU, this has a really intriguing friendship/rivalry between Harry and Draco with a fabulously dark and twisty undercurrent to it. Not shippy at all, though.


High School Musical
Gemini, by liadan14 (Chad/Ryan with Troy POV)
Troy tries to grow up, and understand his best friend. He also goes to the theatre. I love the idea of a Troy POV on Chad/Ryan, and the author's portrayal of Troy himself feels just right to me, in addition to a great take on Chad and Ryan.
There's also a sequel.


Stargate SG-1
More Kissing and Telling, by thassalia (Vala gen with Vala/Daniel, Vala/Cam and Vala/others)
Five kisses along the way, for Vala -- childhood, teenage, Quetesh, SG-1. Despite the fact that it's framed through kisses, this is much more a character study on Vala than anything shippy. Which is basically the perfect way to portray her, IMO.

Harry Potter
Perpendicular, by akissinacrisis (Harry/Ginny, AU)
Harry Potter, member of Stonewall High’s sixth form, meets a pretty redhead at a party. I absolutely love this fic -- it starts off with a teenage Harry, who has no magical powers, and goes from there. The non-magic AU is an old cliche in HP fandom, but I absolutely love the twists and turns in this story which take it far beyond "hey, what if they weren't wizards?" and into the consequences.

(additional Harry/Ginny recs on my personal journal here)


Batman
Five Ways Gothamites Saved Themselves (and Others), by miarrow (Gen)
Gotham is a city of heroes, and not all of them wear capes. A great portrait of Gotham's everyday heroes, the ones who don't necessarily fly around in kevlar.

Squandered My Resistance, by petronelle (Gen, Jim Gordon)
Fighting crime in Gotham requires many ethical compromises. Jim Gordon, unofficial Bat liason. I love everything about this portrait of Gordon, doing what he can to help his troubled city, even if it's not always the "good" choice.

Q & A, by medie (Gen, or mostly. Vicki Vale.)
"The Manor burns, there's a break out at Arkham, and terrorists let loose some kind of toxin in the Narrows, but we're supposed to believe the fire's just an accident?" Vicki Vale, in the Batman Begins movieverse, playing girl detective and trying to get to the bottom of a story. Awesome and perfect merging of the movie and comicsverse.

Two of These Things I Did Not Want, by sloanesomething (Bruce/Selina)
Selina, in the movieverse. The blonde he ordered crosses her legs; the dress is almost sheer, but not really. He likes it. “I lead a double life,” he tells her, leaning over, straining his broken rib. “I come alive in the shadows.” She looks over, champagne glass nearly to her lips. “Yeah, that’s two of us. What can you do?” Another fantastic merger of the comics and the movie. How much would I love to see Selina in the new movie series? A LOT.

Jason and Me, by hradzka (Gen. Stephanie Brown, Jason Todd, Batfamily.)
Stephanie Brown investigates some old history. I haven't read many of the comics from Jason's run as Robin, but this was a perfect way to acquaint myself with him, through the eyes of Stephanie, who doesn't know much about him either.

Heart, Humble, by brown_betty (Gen. Tim Drake and his father.)
Back then, all the boys his age had hero-worshipped costumed vigilantes. Jack supposes they still do.
Great portrait of the father-son relationship, and how Jack comes to terms with having a son who wears a mask and fights crime.


Crossover
Vertigo, by mahoni (Batman/Bandom Xover)
My Chemical Romance has a crazy stalker fan -- the kind of crazy only someplace like Gotham City could spawn -- who targets Bob. There is danger, rescue, and eventually group hugs. I'm not in Bandom at all, but this was a hilarious and wonderful crossover. Because public events like concerts are doomed to attract violence in Gotham.

We Are Air, by _seven_crows (gen, ensemble)
Five anniversaries and birthdays of the Enterprise crew. Nice team gen with slice-of-life team moments on board ship.

Shooting the Moon, by miss_porcupine (gen, Kirk)
Because of Jim's late matriculation, there are no open berths in Fourth Year housing. miss_porcupine writes thoughtful, detail-oriented genfic that always draws me into her universe and makes me think about canon -- I've loved her SGA fic for years and am thrilled to see her writing in this fandom as well.

a dream unthreatened by the morning light, by framlingem (gen, Gaila)
"An Introduction to Practical Astronautics" is a mandatory courseset for Starfleet cadets. For Gaila, it's like learning how to dance again. Wonderful juxtaposition of Gaila's history and her education at the Academy, the ways that they compliment each other. I absolutely love this fic.

tushah nash-veh k'du, by medie (gen, Gaila)
The Farragut finally crumbles, breaking apart with an imagined groan. From her position at the shuttle's helm, Gaila has a first class view of the ship's slow decay. In the moments after Vulcan's destruction, Gaila goes on. Very nice simple moment in the aftermath of tragedy.

Of Two Worlds, by yahtzee63 (Spock/Uhura)
Spock has the opportunity to choose between the Prime universe and his own. Awesome use of the TOS universe here (although the fic should be understandable if you're not familiar with TOS canon), with a great exploration of the path not taken.

Jim Kirk's Limp Dick and Other Obstacles on the Path to Love, by anonynonymous (McCoy/Chapel)
"I live six doors down from you," she tells him dryly. "And yesterday? That was *my* hand you shoved into a chest cavity to staunch a bleed in that Bolian you were operating on." Fun, absorbing shippy fic, with a great portrayal of Chapel. If you like this, check out the accompanying story from McCoy's POV.

After this, I'm hoping I can force myself to read fic in another fandom. It's been almost 2 months! but for now... more of the same. :)


Linguistics 101, or Thirteen Ways to Say I Love You, by loneraven (Spock/Uhura with many other pairings and characters)
"Show them cross-cultural commonality, show them how we're all different and the same, show them how linguistic groups express themselves, in short: tell them how to proposition the galaxy. Ways To Say I Love You, 101." Sweet and thoughtful, this fic made me smile and think about all the different cultures in the universe at the same time.

Mind Bullets, by karanguni (gen, Kirk)
'Cute,' Jim says. 'What does it do?' 'Measures brain waves and monitors neurological activity,' Bones shrugs. Kirk helps McCoy with a scientific experiment, and ends up surprised at his own results. I lovelovelove this fic for what it says about Kirk's personality and intelligence.

I'm All Right and I'm Just Fine, by acetamide (Kirk/McCoy)
It’s nearly a full year before he finds out that Pike’s dissertation is available to be read, and even then it’s only in passing. This is a shippy story, but what I love about it is the character stuff here about Kirk.

The Hard Sell, by exiled_mind (Kirk/McCoy)
“Give me one reason why we shouldn’t just go for it, Bones?” “One, Jim? I’ve got dozens. I think it’d be easier to write a list of the reasons why we should do something so damned stupid. Of which there are none.” James Kirk can be very convincing. This is fluffy and sweet and left me with a big smile -- Jim makes a list of reasons they should get together.

The Sum of Us, by the_dala (Kirk/McCoy)
A series of vignettes tracing the evolution of Kirk and McCoy's relationship over the years. Or, five people are let in on the worst-kept secret in the Federation. Five outside points of view on Kirk/McCoy -- Uhura, Winona Kirk, Pike, Chekov, Joanna McCoy.

Lunch and Other Obscenities, by rheanna27 (Uhura and Gaila)
Nyota liked her roommate just fine until she met her.
This is a fantastic story about two girls forming an unlikely friendship -- but more than that, it's a really intriguing portrait of someone who's totally alien learning to live life on earth. *highly recommended*

And In the Bottom of the Box, by edenfalling (Spock)
This world is an error: a slow-motion catastrophe, building inevitably from an initial tragedy.
Spock compares his timeline to its original. I love the concepts of alternate realities that are at play here, and the way that Spock copes with the theory and the reality of Vulcan's destruction.

Family, by schweinsty (Kirk)
James Tiberius Kirk does not need a family. He's got everything else.
Wonderful genfic contrasting Kirk's relationship to his biological family with his relationships to the Enterprise and her crew.

Those Old Walkin' Blues, by ignipes (McCoy)
He's a doctor. He's only doing his job. (Five unrelated scenes.)
A "five things" story that digs into McCoy's background and his experiences on board the Enterprise -- very nice character piece.

Ten Sessions, by dira (McCoy and Kirk)
Jim could be fantastically thoughtless except when being thoughtful would embarrass McCoy more.
In which McCoy undergoes therapy for his aviaphobia, and Kirk is supportive. Friendship/gen fic, but could be read as pre-romance. I love the idea of McCoy undergoing therapy, and his reactions to the entire situation felt totally natural to me here.

Stranger than Particles, by hawkmoth (Scotty)
There's more to Delta Vega than meets the eye.
A spooky portrait of Delta Vega, and of Scotty in exile there. I love Scotty, and I firmly believe that there needs to be more fic like this out there. :)

In Service, by loneraven (McCoy and Scotty)
It turns out, when they said joining Starfleet was a life in service, that was exactly what they meant. Scotty and McCoy, hard at work.
This is the type of fic that I've been wanting to read since the movie came out -- a story where the characters sail off into the unknown and have adventures. I love the different alien worlds here, and the way we see them through Scotty and McCoy's eyes.

Sealed by a Fragile Touch, by classics_geek
“He’s not leaving Bones behind on some godforsaken desert planet with nothing but the dead for company.” Time moves on, wherever you are, but the question is, how fast? McCoy is stuck inside a time dilation field and while the crew races to get him out, he starts to wonder if they've forgotten about him. It's a great story, both the rescue operation and the recovery written with patience and a beautiful, drawn-out tension that kept me glued to the screen. Highly recommended.

The Serendipity Effect, by green
Kirk's consciousness gets stuck in McCoy's brain. Trek is the canon that invented all these silly sci-fi cliches, so is it any wonder that they work so well here? This is a perfect example. It's an old scenario, but the slow discovery and path to finding a solution feels fresh and original here.

In Truth, by mint_amaretto
It takes Kirk some time to notice that Bones is a little too good to be true. An eerie and twisted story -- this fandom seems to tend a little more toward comedy than darkfic, but this is a great example. To keep from spoiling you, I will say no more (also, don't click on the prompt link if you want to stay fresh).

Healing Touch, by florahart
I really liked this story and the next as examples of McCoy and Kirk interacting as doctor and patient -- here, Kirk fades in and out of consciousness as McCoy operates on him. (Actually, all of Flora's Kirk/McCoy is worth checking out, ranging from the ridiculous crack to the thoughtful and serious.)

A Failure of Make-Outs, by mekosuchinae
Jim leaned heavily against the doorframe and set his hips to maximum fuck me. "Hey, doc," he drawled. "Is it too late to schedule a physical?" Another great example of the doctor/patient dynamic, this one with a comedic spin. This is very much in the vein of the slapstick hypospray sequence in the movie.

Five Times Kirk Woke Up Alone In McCoy’s Bed (And One Time He Didn’t), by the_dala
Like the title says. Great fic with UST and pining and eventual payoff. So basically, everything I love.

5 Times Leonard McCoy Actually Said No to Jim Kirk, by cathybites
A month into the semester, and McCoy still isn't sure how he ended up with Jim Kirk following him around. Not that he's complaining - although he makes sure to do so, and loudly, whenever Jim barges into his room unannounced, which is often. I love this portrait of the two of them at the Academy -- it's short but sweet.

Usually I like to include a comment with each of my recs, where I talk about why I like that particular story and why it's of note. Given that this list is insanely long, let's just say that they're all well worth reading and move on, hmm?


GEN
Faites Vos Jeux // Rien Ne Va Plus, by chaletian (Team gen)
There’s always someone willing to take a bet. Funny and IC team gen, starring Chekov and Sulu. I actually recommend the whole "village" series, of which this is a part. It also stands alone, though.

Two Sides, by circadienne (Uhura, TOS and XI)
Across two universes, things change. And things don't change at all. Uhura serving on the Enterprise, in TOS and the XI verses -- very nice compare & contrast between the two versions of the character.

A Brief History of Lt (j.g.) Gaila Aboard the USS Enterprise (NCC 1701), by taraljc (Gaila)
Her first month aboard Enterprise, Gaila is put on Gamma Shift in Engineering.

Unlikely Hero, by igrockspock (Gaila, Spock)
Gaila hates the word 'whore.' Luckily, so does someone else.

A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing by hjpatience (Kirk gen with Kirk/Gaila)
As on any starship there are things the captain knows because he’s told them, things he knows despite the fact no one’s told him and things that he decidedly does not know despite being presented with evidence to the contrary.

How Seven Members of the Enterprise Crew Lost Their Virginity, by i_luvs_gcfa (Kirk, McCoy, Scotty, Sulu, Uhura, Spock, Chekov)
Obviously, he got a lot better at sex after that first time. It just took some practice. Which was totally worth it, by the way.

The First Time, by bravecows (two OFCs)
Two OFCs discuss Kirk's promotion from the Academy to the Captaincy. Nice commentary on the nature of success within Starfleet.


SPOCK/UHURA
Break, by yahtzee63 (3 parts, complete. Skip forward for parts 2 and 3)
During their final semester at Starfleet Academy, two people who have no intention of ever changing transform each other. **highly recommended**

A Thousand Words for Snow, by taraljc
Vulcans have no word for "lover". **highly recommended**

Putting on Civvies, by tree_and_leaf
She wasn’t sure what she was to him: a talented pupil, yes, who was becoming a valued colleague. But while she would have liked to call him a friend, she wasn’t entirely sure if Vulcans even thought in those categories.

In Her Aspect and In Her Eyes, by liviapenn
Spock and Uhura, in a bookstore. Elementary logic leads to an obvious conclusion.

At A Window, by magglenagall
When she is finally released from her station, the events of the past two days catch up to Uhura with a vengeance. Set after the destruction of the Narada but before Enterprise makes it back to Earth.

The Cheat, by mrstater
A captain cannot cheat death. The words spoken to James Kirk play in a loop in Spock’s mind as his eyes follow the scrolling names projected on either side of the convocation hall.


KIRK/MCCOY
Leonard McCoy, Cheater of Destinies, by ayalesca
"No. This is enough. Many dimensions, many lives. Time, space." It shudders. "Your kind cannot see through these walls." **highly recommended**

His Keeper, by mekosuchinae
If Jim Kirk wants to go around throwing up in cars, then that's just something he has to do without Leonard McCoy there to hold his hair out of his face.

A Point of Vulnerability, by green
In which Kirk is captured, there are sex drugs, and then it all gets complicated.

It's What Good Friends Do by fringedweller (Kirk/McCoy)
The friendship stayed, but the sex went. There were times when McCoy missed it, felt the need all the way down to his bones, times when he could have sworn that Jim felt the same way, but there was a line drawn that they didn’t cross. It was easier, that way, or so they told themselves.
I don't know if I can explain my love for this fic, but it is great and large. There's nothing really that special about it except it's PERFECT. The characterizations mesh perfectly with the movie for me, and the scenario is just exactly the way I imagine them. My new ideal for the pairing. <333.

What He Wants by jaye_voy (Kirk/McCoy)
Jim Kirk always gets what he wants. But he can wait for it, if he has to.
Achy, unfulfilled Kirk/McCoy (and yeah, that's already becoming a favorite type), with absolutely pinpoint-perfect characterization, like her other K/Mc.

Second Impressions by jain (Kirk/Uhura, Spock/McCoy, Spock/Uhura)
Four perspectives on three relationships.
This fic isn't for everyone -- I normally don't like stories where it seems like the author's main goal is to break up a canon couple... but I don't feel like that's exactly the case here. Instead, it's a thoughtful portrayal of four separate people and the ways that they interact. Like I said, not for everyone, but if you're looking to read something a little different, it's worth a look.

Battle Drill by syredronning (McCoy gen)
Sometimes McCoy feels as if Star Fleet is the wrong place for him. Maybe sometimes it is. Nice gen portrait that explores the contradictions of a military doctor.

Parts of a Whole by schweinsty (team gen)
Great fic that highlights each team member's role on the ship.


...and because I'm really loving her right now, a few Gaila recs:
Academic Discourse by seriousfic
Professor Cornelius arrived, late as usual. “Today,” he intoned with a verbal wink, “you will familiarize yourselves with the Orion culture.”
Poignant and thoughtful portrait of Gaila struggling to be the only one of her race at the Academy.

Paradise Found by skywaterblue (Gaila gen)
There were a dizzying number of Federation ships and stations she was passed through, one human hand guiding her shoulder to her next caretaker.
Very nice character portrait of Gaila as she arrives in the Federation as a refugee.

First Time by moryssa (Gaila and Uhura friendship fic)
"She had always assumed that it was just random chance that landed her with Gaila as a roommate. Surely there wasn't any sane being anywhere who actually placed the two of them together on purpose."
The title makes this sound like... something it's not. I don't even know. What it IS is a nice gen portrait of two very different cadets forging a close friendship.

To Have and To Feel Up by misfit_fandoms (Kirk/Gaila)
Fun, sexy fluff. Just what this pairing deserves. :D

Sweet Little Lies by taraljc (Kirk/Gaila)
Everyone knows about Orion girls. heeee. See above. :)

The Word for World Is-- by laurajv (Spock gen)
Humans would've named the planet New Earth and the places things like New Africa or New Russia. Vulcans did no such thing; they named the planet Vik: the well in the desert. They named the continents Ashv'cezh, Laktra, and Vrekasht: Revenge, Grief, and Outcast. Thoughtful and intriguing fic, focusing on Spock and the rebuilding of Vulcan.

The Press of Duty (Pike gen) and sequel Pressing the Point (Pike and Kirk gen) by jedibuttercup
One thing I love about missing moment fics is that they force me to *think* about those quiet times in between the blockbuster scenes, make me ponder the hows and whys of things that I might otherwise miss. These two stories show Captain Pike as he recovers and learns about what went on while he was held prisoner on the Narada and show a conversation between him and Kirk that had to happen.

It Takes a Village by chaletian (McCoy gen)
There are times (when being attacked by Klingons, for example) when life on the Enterprise is a million miles away from McCoy’s country practice. There are other times when it’s exactly the same. How much do I love Leonard McCoy? SO, so much.

A New Day by kodiak_bear (team gen)
After Jim tells Bones to 'Buckle Up', where'd they go first? This is that mission. Great team gen that shows Kirk learning the ins and outs of command, but not without some bumps along the way.

Notes on Captaining a Starship by calapine (Kirk gen)
In which a captain wishes to develop a more intimate relationship with a ship he has a habit of anthropomorphising. Another story in the new subgenre of "Kirk learns the job," this one is a little bit silly and a little bit sweet, all about Kirk exploring his ship and getting to know her.

Yes, as you all know I've been reading a ton of Kirk/McCoy. And loving it. :D But there has also been a lot of great genfic to spring out of the new movie. And we lovesss the gen, precious. :D

A Formal Dance in a Bowling Alley by loneraven (Kirk, ensemble)
Here are some things that James Tiberius Kirk, Captain, does not understand about the USS Enterprise and her crew. I loved these little vignettes of the crew, from Kirk's POV. They're not so much things Kirk doesn't understand as things he's learning as he goes along.

Learning to Fly by penknife (Kirk gen, new movie and TOS)
James Kirk, growing up in two very different universes. I don't know a lot of the details of Kirk's TOS background, but this does a great job of telling that story and contrasting to his childhood in the reboot, without leaving me lost in my canon-ignorance.

Flashback by rocknload (Kirk gen with McCoy POV)
Jim has a lot less fun when he tries the Kobayashi Maru for the first time. A great missing scene that speculates what Kirk's first attempt at the test was like -- this felt very in character to me.

How to Win Friends and Influence Vulcans by green (Kirk and Spock friendship, ridiculous)
Deep and insightful, this is not. It is, however, hilarious. (and ok, it's not entirely without insight. But mostly, the funny.)
The thing with Kirk was... well, if he did say so himself, there was nothing he couldn't do, and do well, if he didn't put his mind to it. He was great at everything. Another thing was that he loved a challenge. Kirk's on a mission to make Spock his friend, and he won't let anything stand in his way.

The Helmsman by imadra_blue (Sulu gen)
Moments of Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the USS Enterprise. Thoughtful, intriguing vignettes that trace Sulu's background and show him as he starts to feel at home on the Enterprise.

Oh Two Hundred by mekosuchinae (Uhura gen with background Spock/Uhura)
"I'm working on it," she said, already thinking of how to explain transporter technology to someone who might not know what it was in a language she had thought dead not two hours ago. Very nice mission-centric fic which shows Uhura in a moment of strength as the Enterprise intercepts a transmission only she can interpret.

A few recs from takingitinturns. All H/G (hobviously), and all previously posted on ze old lj.

Falling Slowly, by irislock (5 parts, complete)
Amnesia!fic!! Ginny is hit by 2 bludgers to the head during a Harpies match, and she wakes up in a hospital room surrounded by a bunch of redheaded freaks who say she's related to them. The story takes off from there. I love the way that Ginny copes with her memory loss, and the way that she's different without her recollections -- and her interactions with Harry are fresh and interesting.


Fear of Flying, by paukenfrau (3 parts, complete)
This story, in which Harry becomes convinced that Ginny is cheating on him and rushes to the scene, just really grabbed me. It's a very intriguing beginning, a scenario that feels very natural to Harry and Ginny, and a good mix of plot and romance. Thumbs up.

The Knowing, by ladywhizbee
The air blankets Ginny even more warmly here--musty and still with sleep. If she listens hard, she can hear the sounds of sleep-even breathing just on the other side of the walls. It must be two in the morning, at least. Involuntarily, her eyes gaze at the stairwell leading up to Ron’s room and she wonders…dares…should she?
Gorgeous, poetic story with memorable imagery. I'm really not doing the story justice here -- trust me, and read this one.

This Space is a Gallery of You and Me, by pocketfullof
The summary is "Harry gets a hobby." It's about Harry trying to capture the moments that are most important in his life at the same time as he's trying to figure out just what it is that's most important. And in the end... well, I won't spoil the end for you. But read it, it's a really lovely story that's well-balanced, perfectly in-character and will leave you with a smile on your face.

The Leg Man, by iluvfanfics (Adult)
a great sexy, fluffy story with a spot-on Harry POV and a fabulous dynamic between Harry and Ginny.

How to Avoid Kicking Puppies and Other Valuable Lessons in Leadership by sparky77 (Kirk gen)
Very, very funny Kirk gen, in which he attempts to be an authority figure. Features the rest of the cast in great supporting roles.

What We Don't Talk About by ellen_fremedon (Spock/Uhura)
Thoughtful and thought-provoking, this is a great fic that examines Spock and Uhura's relationship in the aftermath of Vulcan's destruction. Sad and bittersweet, and a wonderful read.

Observe by svilleficrecs (Kirk, Spock/Uhura, with Kirk/Spock/Uhura overtones)
Originally posted on the kink meme, but definitely worth reading. Kirk imagines what Spock and Uhura get up to behind closed doors. GAH.

These Bones by caelumi (Kirk and McCoy, gen)
A gen friendship story that could also be read as slashy -- but it's worth reading either way, because it's got some great banter.

I'm Just a Jealous Guy by londondrowning (Kirk/McCoy)
Leonard McCoy is thirty-one and he's too fucking old to be anybody's jealous boyfriend. I seriously loved this. I'm still feeling my way through these characters, but this felt just right to me.

Falling Off the Face of the Earth by affectingly (Kirk/McCoy)
McCoy had concerns. Concerns about Jim, about this crew's readiness for a real mission, and about his own ability to accept this fate.
Opens with a conversation between McCoy and his daughter and segues into a nice shippy story.

All posts from this journal will also be crossposted to my DW journal. Read in either place -- they're the same.

How I Met Your Mother
Five Things Robin Scherbatsky Doesn't Do, by fearlessfan (Barney/Robin)
Robin doesn’t fall in love with Barney (except for how she totally does). Sweet, snarky, and awesome, just the way they are on the show. I've never read any fic for this show before but this was just perfect.

Stargate SG-1
The Pegasus Connection, by nomadicwriter (gen, AU for S8, crossover with SGA*)
Conspiracy surrounds Jack's clone, Baal is on the trail of Ancient technology, and all roads seem to lead to Atlantis. An awesome adventure/mystery fic that brings all the threads of the show (the core team, independent players on Earth, the Goa'uld, and the Atlantis expedition) together into one character-centric story that had me glued to the computer for days.

Echoes, by holdouttrout (Sam/Jack-from-the-Continuum-AU-timeline)
He's not the same person she knew, but it's not an easy thing to remember. I'm totally in love with the Continuum AU, and this is a fantastic exploration of Sam during that period -- cast adrift from the world she knows, and stuck in one that looks the same but isn't, not where it counts.

untitled (yet another SG-1 adventure) by minnow1212 (team gen. silliness.)
In which the team is turned into zombies and Jack has to rescue them. Yes, that's right. Zombies. It just warms my little fangirl heart.

Crossover
The Trio Beneath the Temple, by tielan (Bones/SG-1 Crossover, Brennan and Carter, gen.)
When a trio of anomalies are found beneath an ancient Egyptian temple, Dr. Temperance Brennan is called in to examine the evidence. But what she finds will challenge her dedication to the truth and her understanding of the universe. The point of overlap here -- archaeology and scientific exploration -- is so natural that I'm shocked there aren't a hundred of these crossovers already.

* I don't consider SG-1/SGA crossovers to be true crossovers, since canonically they exist in the same universe. Same for BtVS/AtS. Still deciding on Spiderman/X-Men, though.

My 100th entry! *throws confetti on lj*

Harry Potter
Glass Half Full by pir8fancier (Ron/Pansy)
Twenty years after the battle at Hogwarts, it's not happily ever after. Ron struggles with alcoholism, and Pansy is his sponsor. A really excellent in-depth look at Ron's inner issues and a sensitive portrayal of the slow climb up from the depths of alcoholism. Also features a failing Ron/Hermione relationship (done with respect, but might not be the best fic for someone who loves R/Hr).

Healer by mercurial_wit (Padma gen with Padma/George)
Padma Patil, studying Muggle medicine and Wizard healing, and mourning the death of her twin. Beautifully poetic, and I loved the dichotomy between the Muggle and Wizard worlds portrayed here.

Supernatural
More than Fiction, Less than Truth by gigglingkat (Ellen Harvelle, gen.)
An AU for Ellen Harvelle where her husband never dies. Twisty and intriguing -- nothing is what it seems in this story, and you'll be thinking about it for a while afterward.

Burn Your Life Down, by zooey_glass04 (gen, AU)
AU where Mary lives. "You realize if you do alter the future," Castiel said, "your father, you, Sam - you'll never become hunters." Dean makes the decision to save his mother... and changes the future irreparably. Another one that will really have you thinking about the sacrifices of the Winchester family.

California Dreaming by rivers_bend (gen, pre-show)
John leaves Dean to pay rent with a hammer and a paint brush one spring. A sweet, nice character piece that takes place one summer while Sam's still in high school. Love Dean's character development here.

Crossover
Sherlock Holmes and the Ravenclaw Codex by dolorous_ett (HP/Holmes. Gen/Mystery, long.)
A valuable artefact has been stolen from Hogwarts, and the only suspect - a Muggleborn pupil - has disappeared. Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black summons Holmes to Hogwarts to retrieve the Ravenclaw Codex, but things are not as simple as they seem, and Holmes and Watson soon find themselves in the middle of a most perplexing case. Come on, Holmes and Watson solving wizard crime in the HPverse! Need I say more?

In Which Snape Befriends an Old Gray Donkey, and Life is Gloomy, As Usual by gm_weasley (HP/Pooh Crossover. gen.)
Severus, the old yellowish Potions master, stood at the edge of the Hundred Acre Wood and frowned. It was a very particular sort of frown, the type of frown only frowned by people who have Apparated and know that they have Apparated to the wrong place. Snape meets Eeyore, and they find they have a lot in common. hee!

A batch of Logan/Veronica recs, some of which also feature other pairings. Enjoy!

Vent, by kantayra (alternate ending for S2, Logan/Veronica)
Vent, n. - 1. An opening, as in a wall, serving as an outlet for air, smoke, fumes, or the like. 2. A means of exit or escape; an outlet, as from confinement. Great adventure fic, in which Logan and Veronica are trapped in the Sheriff's office and have to help each other escape.

Seven Times Logan Echolls Went to Jail, by sowell (Post-S3, Logan/Veronica)
Logan, Veronica, and the Drunk Tank. Epic. An exploration of Logan and Veronica's relationship through repeated arrests. A fabulous idea and very well-done.

I Wish I was in Tijuana, and sequel I'm on a Wavelength Far From Home by lise (Logan/Veronica)
They never find Logan's body, either. So, this is your life now, Veronica. An intriguing mystery story that suits these two characters perfectly.

The Seven Loves and Otherwise of Logan Echolls, by dangermousie (Logan/women)
A look at women in Logan's life: Lynn, Lilly, Caitlin, Kendall, Hannah. Veronica. I loved this as an exploration of Logan's character as well as his relationship with Veronica, Lilly, and the other women in his life. The section on Lynn is especially powerful.

Home Soon, by svilleficrecs (Tag for "Not Pictured.")
The first time you have sex with Logan, it's not sad sex. It could have been. You wanted to. You knew he wanted to. Sweet and sexy.

Optical Illusion in Black and White, by oxoniensis (S2, Logan/Veronica, Duncan/Veronica. Tag for 2x06.)
There's a fraction of a second when Veronica thinks it's Duncan on his sofa, dozing under the latest issue of Surf Life. So what if he's never read Surf Life in his life; she expects to see him, so that's whom she sees. A perfect optical illusion in black and white diamonds. This scene was so great in the episode, and Veronica's POV on it is even better in this story.

Rewind, by embellished_me (S2, Logan POV on Duncan/Veronica)
It’s November, and the girl he still loves has given herself to his one-time best friend. She won’t be his solace, his salvation, his anything. He’s starting to think she never was. I love Logan when he pines, and this is sad and bittersweet.

As promised, the first batch of Veronica Mars fic recs. I thought I'd start with some AUs of a few different kinds. This fandom is especially suited to alternate history stories, and there are a TON of great ones out there. This is really just a small handful of what's out there. I've tried to group the stories by type, and to define my terms a little.


ALTERNATE EVENTS - Same Neptune, different history.
Too Soon Too Strong, by obv_hot_mess (Weevil/Veronica)
Keith died young and Veronica grew up a PCHer. A story about first loves told in 17 drabbles.

Broken Toys, by theohara (AU where Lilly lives)
"Veronica Mars!" Lilly gasps in delight. "Have you been terribly naughty?" "Just observant," you laugh, and point across the street. Lilly lives, but it's still Neptune, and things are still fucked up. An excellent imagining of this world -- highly recommended.

Violet World, by marylane23 (AU where Veronica dies instead of Lilly)
After the death of her best friend, it's Lilly who is left to search for justice. Nice role-reversal.

Choose Life, by boyfriendincoma (Pre-Pilot AU, Logan/Veronica)
The ready availability of suicide, like sex and alcohol, is one of life's basic consolations. A really fascinating story that shows Logan and Veronica choosing to react to Lilly's death in a totally different way.

Rich Dirt, by theohara (AU for Shelley's Party. Logan, Veronica)
And Logan wouldn't let you have anything. He'd danced over to you and smirked in your face and twirled your plastic cup right out of your hand... Another night when Veronica's fate hung in the balance. But what if things had happened just a little bit differently?

Written Out, by always_winter (AU version of Aaron's trial)
Duncan and Logan, and Aaron's trial. He hadn’t really bet on Logan in the first place. No one had. No one had ever expected Logan to even finish the race. Spooky, and thought-provoking, and very cool. I had to read this one twice to get it, but it was so worth it.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE - Another Neptune, in another world.
Dark Places where Monsters Dwell, by apocalypsos (Mac, Dick, and the Zombie apocalypse)
For lack of other options, Mac and Dick try to survive together in a post-apocalyptic world. Kind of completely awesome.

Like a Rolling Stone, by annie_oakley (Logan/Veronica/time travel)
An AU based on the book "The Time Traveler's Wife," in which Logan travels backward in time and visits Veronica throughout her life. A little sweeter and more fatalistic than the show, but still a nice read if you like shippy fics.

CROSSOVER - Same girl, new friends.
New Kids on the Block, by dafnap (VMars/DC Comics Crossover)
There's a new kid at Neptune High, but Veronica Mars doesn’t take to usurpers too kindly. Veronica Mars meets Tim Drake. I may have a new OTP.

Three Hours to Sunrise, by hjcallipygian (BtVS/Veronica Mars crossover. Wallace, Faith)
Over the past year, Wallace has actually gotten somewhat used to following the directions of a hot white girl with an attitude problem who won't tell him what the hell is going on. At least this Faith has on tight leather pants. It's still no Nelly video, but it's a step in the right direction. Veronica's disappeared and it's up to Wallace to help this mysterious girl in leather pants save her.

Black Tongue, by everything_inme (SPN/VMars Crossover. Dean/Veronica)
She smiles cockily and tilts her head to the side, stirring something in his blood that is usually only bothered in the presence of something big and bad. I liked the way this fic merged Veronica seamlessly right into the SPN universe, and Dean's character was just right. That said, I'm not totally sold on this pairing, though a lot of other people seem to like it.

The Better Angels of Our Nature by kajikia (SPN/VMars Crossover. Sam/Veronica)
We're going to play a game now, you'll like it. It's called 'Tell me where your brother took my dad and you won't find out what a taser to the balls feels like.' And the reason I'm not totally sold on Dean/Veronica? Because she'd totally go for Sam.

You Do What You Have to Do, by valancy_s (SPN/VMars Crossover.)
FBI!Veronica teams up with the Winchesters to catch a serial killer. Stakeouts, suspicion and snark ensue. What's not to love?

I've been reading a lot of Veronica Mars fic lately, and will have a bunch of recs soon, but I wanted to clear out my folder of other stuff before I got to that.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Alambic Brandy, by antennapedia (Faith/Giles)
The Watchers and Slayers Society is about to hold their annual holiday party. Giles and Faith are half a world away. A definitely good fic whether you've read the comics or not, but this also ties into some of the intriguing stuff with Faith and Giles in S8.

Harry Potter
To Follow Your Heart, by florahart (Percy/Pansy)
In which Pansy's pureblooded status carries with it some cumbersome requirements, Percy is definitely not gay, Arthur plays pimp, and sometimes a compulsion isn't unwelcome after all. Just a fun, sweet and angsty Weasley romance fic. Nice for a snowy afternoon. :)

Supernatural
Stitches and Smiles, by brin_bailey (AU, Dean/Jo)
Canon-based AU, in which Jo's in high school. I love the idea of the Winchesters and Harvelles staying in touch, of Jo knowing the boys earlier. This is not much more than a cute moment between a younger Jo and younger Dean, but it's a nice slice of that other life.

Crossover
The Stargate Files by enigel (Dresden Files/SGA, gen)
Out of the frying pan and right into the fire. It wasn't actual fire, the flames and ashes kind, it was the "Fire at will" kind, except they all seemed to be firing at Harry. Harry Dresden on Atlantis, interacting with the team. Because that's bound to go well.

She Ain't Cautious, by pocketfullof (BtVS/SPN, Faith/Jo)
Jo hunts a werewolf. It doesn't go as planned. I love Supernatural the show's exploration of myth and legend, but one thing I've never liked is their take on werewolves -- here, Jo runs up against Faith and a very different attitude toward the species.

Anne of Green Gables
Still He Offers the Sea Shell, by poor_choices (AU, Gilbert/Anne)
Gilbert Blythe is back from his semester abroad, and he wants to meet this Anne Shirley he's heard so much about. This is an Anne of Green Gables college AU... sounds bizarre, but it's fabulous. Just trust me on this one.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
She Would be Thirteen, by ozma914 (Xander, gen)
While standing vigil in a funeral parlor, Xander begin to question his new job as Watcher. I so love fics that feature Xander as a watcher, and this one features him tackling the toughest part of the job.

Harry Potter
Welcome Home, by interrobanging (Harry/Ginny)
"They may have won the war, but there’s still evil in the world, and every time he comes home – unshaven, bedraggled, weary – she says a silent prayer of unspeakable thanks." Poetic and haunting, a great portrayal of Harry and Ginny in later years, though not in sunshine and peace.

Stargate SG-1
Walkabout, by cofax7 (gen, Jack. Post-apocalypse)
It's like fishing, Jack decides. You can't tell whether the fish is there, you can only cast the line out and hope to get a strike. After Earth falls to the Ori, Jack heads out into the galaxy on his own. Fabulous Jack voice, with a more hopeful, upbeat tone than most apocafic.

Crossover
People in Stone Houses, by krisomniac (BtVS/SPN, Faith/Dean, unfinished.)
They'd been buried in a cemetery behind the house, and the survivors come back every year to hold a candlelight vigil. Fifty years later, he thinks, it's time for them to rest. But he isn't the only person here. This was written as part 1 of 2, but never finished. Just read it as a one-shot with a very open ending and you'll be happy.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Variations on a Five Paragraph Theme, by mirielle719 (Xander/Oz)
If at first you don't succeed... Set in an AU in which Willow/Oz never happened. I am a big fan of this pairing, but what I really love about this story is the perfectly bumbling, nervous, but going-ahead-anyway Xander voice.

Harry Potter
Some Days, by opalish (Harry/Ginny)
Ginny's not like Harry. She doesn't get to talk to the dead. A short fic with a spot-on Ginny viewpoint on being with the Chosen One.

A Little More Time, by jesspallas (Teddy Lupin gen with supporting Remus/Tonks and other canon pairings, novel-length)
Was it possible to save two lives in the past without altering history? Was it possible to give his parents a future twenty years after they had supposedly died? Teddy Lupin thought so...
An intriguing story where Teddy attempts to use time travel to change the future, and must deal with the consequences. Long and absorbing.

Stargate SG-1
Five Ways Mitchell Found Out about O'Neill and Jackson, by paian (Jack/Daniel with Mitchell POV)
Much more than just snippets -- each of these is long enough to nearly be a fic in its own right, with a very nice outsider POV.

The Only Winning Move, by synecdochic (team gen, action/comedy)
At 0955, after reading the instructions in their second envelopes, the two SFs guarding the door to Isolation Room 2 looked at each other. "We're gonna get shot," Brooks said. This is hilarious -- both because of its own greatness, and also because it is something that I could see happening in an episode, and that's just funny by itself.

Training Exercises, by redbyrd (gen, Daniel)
After their premature return from the Prometheus, SG-3 and Daniel Jackson are assigned to help train some new recruits. synecdochic credits this fic as the inspiration for "The Only Winning Move," but instead of being wacky-hijinks-funny, it's insightfully funny. This version of training makes a lot of sense to me, and Daniel's reactions are perfect.

Supernatural
B-Reel, by big_pink (Gen, casefile. R rating, but no wincest. S1-era)
Sam and Dean ease into the hunting routine with a case at a haunted movie theater. Very nice action/mystery, with a creatively written spirit.

An Early Afterlife of Ordinary Days (the Joy Luck Remix), by poisontaster (gen, Jo and Ellen)
...she's not slinking home this time. She's coming on her own terms, as her own person and her mom's just gonna have to respect that. Yeah, right. Great portrait of Jo, and her relationship with her mom.