Multifandom fanfiction recommendations

Innovative and stylish fiction, showcasing the very best across multiple sf, fantasy & literature fandoms. Good writing in all its forms can be found here, including gen, het, slash, OCs, AUs, crossovers, future fics, humour & pastiche. Linked stories may not be suitable for children

Contents: 475 recs in 81 fandoms; 67 links
Latest update: 03/09/2009: Good Omens (2), Star Trek: The Original Series (1), The Princess Bride (1) & 1 new link

Angel

As Time Goes By by Yahtzee

Take two great series, cross with one of the all-time classic films (Casablanca), add a seasoned writer and a bleak but believable background -- what's not to love? The characterization stays true to the series, even though the plot follows the film surprisingly closely. Yahtzee writes the AtS ensemble at least as well as the series writers do, and this is my very favourite of her output (AtS/BtVS/Casablanca)

[Added 15/01/2004; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Angel; Crossover]

A Letter from Screwtape to Mr. Holland Manners by HonorH

A peek at Angel's destiny, from the other side. It's a straightforward crossover, but HonorH rewards the reader with abundant black humour & bags of insight into issues that were often ducked on the show. A real classic (AtS/CS Lewis)

[Added 08/06/2005; Humour; 1000-2500; Angel; Crossover]

Blake's 7

Several of the stories recommended previously appeared in the printzine ttba, which I edited. I was honoured to publish these stories, and I make no apologies for recommending them again here

Between Life and Death by Loulou Harris

An amazing piece of fanfiction, modelled on Calvino's If On A Winter's Night A Traveller, which explores fandom itself as much as the source material

[Added 09/06/2005; Drama; >50,000; Blake's 7; Crossover]

Morgan by Judith Proctor

A teleport malfunction dumps an amnesiac Avon in 20th Century Wales, where he's met by a suspiciously familiar figure. 'Morgan' blends B7 Plot Devices #5 & #7 with a crossover with a series virtually no-one's seen -- yet the result is genuinely moving, as Avon struggles to adjust to his new life, and Judith resists providing any easy fixes (Crossover with Morgan's Boy, starring Gareth Thomas. Illustrated by Val Westall)

[Added 31/10/2004; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Blake's 7; Crossover]

Wholesale by Una McCormack

"'Some sort of temporal or spatial anomaly?' I hazarded./Blake frowned. 'Doesn't sound very likely,' he said./'Where I come from,' I replied, 'It happens all the time.'" I realise I'm in danger of recommending every word Una's ever written, but this crossover is a real treasure. As I can attest, it's well worth a try if you know either of the fandoms, but it's an absolute treat for the (rather rare) cognoscenti of both (B7/DS9)

[Added 08/07/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Blake's 7; Crossover]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Omphalos by Marcus L Rowland

Dawn visits DS9, seeking her origins. 'Omphalos' is not only an interesting & plausible crossover, but also that rare beast -- an ideas-centric BtVS story. Perhaps a little thin on some of the characterisations, but well worth reading if you enjoy Trek-style sf (BtVS/DS9)

[Added 30/07/2004; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Crossover]

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream by Calle Dybedahl

One of the very few Tolkien/modern media crossovers that I've ever seen made to actually work. The characters are beautifully in character, the scenario feels plausible, and the whole piece adds depth to both sources. (BtVS/Tolkien crossover)

[Added 28/01/2004; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Crossover]

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The Chocolate Factory by Ignipes

'He was standing at the edge of a tremendous cavern, a sweeping valley -- there was no better word for it -- bigger than a dozen Quidditch pitches, sloping down toward a dark, dry riverbed at the bottom. A skeletal forest of charred, spindly trees lined the riverbanks, with not a single leaf among them.' Evocative descriptive writing and a most intriguing premise mark this memorable crossover (HP/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)

[Added 26/04/2007; Drama; 6000-20,000; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Crossover]

Doctor Who

All recommendations are from the new series

Nowhere Man by Selena

'"Being an undercover agent isn't glamorous heroism, children. Not if you want to survive and be effective. It usually involves fawning around people you despise, selling out people you like and doing absolutely anything to reach your goal."' An intelligent adventure plot which features the Torchwood team during the Year That Never Was. Garak, as always, is a bonus (Doctor Who/Torchwood/DS9)

[Added 05/08/2008; Drama; 6000-20,000; Doctor Who; Crossover]

Earthsea

The Naming of Names by Victoria P.

Victoria does a surprisingly convincing job of melding Earthsea and Buffy canon in this short piece. I only wish it were longer! (Earthsea/BtVS)

[Added 15/12/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; Earthsea; Crossover]

Good Omens

Once More With Feeling by Xylodemon

'Once again, it wasn't a dark and stormy night. In fact, dark and stormy nights had been rather far and few between in the last six years. They seemed to be saved for special occasions, such as Halloween, horror film premieres, and winter solstice celebrations at Stonehenge.' A futurefic novella, crammed with delicious details. The Potterverse crossover elements are perhaps less successful (GO/HP)

[Added 26/04/2007; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Good Omens; Crossover]

Harry Potter

The End of the Beginning by Mariner

A page-turner of a crossover novel, featuring an interesting external view of the Marauders in adulthood plus a surprisingly persuasive mixture of the Joss- & Potterverse magics (BtVS/HP)

[Added 09/10/2005; Drama; >50,000; Harry Potter; Crossover]

Time Turner by Kate Bolin

'It was a bleak, colourless day when Hermione Granger discovered they were out of time.' An intriguing crossover exploring the mechanics of time travel in the HP-verse (HP/Doctor Who)

[Added 29/03/2007; Drama; 1000-2500; Harry Potter; Crossover]

House, MD

Pain and Magic by Violet Quill

'"This is possibly the most boring case you have ever brought before me. A cranky old man with problems controlling his bladder and arthritis. Call in the frickin' cavalry." / "And he thinks he's a wizard."' A jewel of a premise, with spot-on characterisations all round (House/HP)

[Added 07/08/2008; Drama; 2500-6000; House, MD; Crossover]

Lemony Snicket

The Gargantuan Garden by Yahtzee

'You will notice at once that this story has no warnings. Many readers prefer such warnings before their stories, because they will be mournful if anyone is said to die, or get angry if a character they dislike is treated nicely, or burst into flames if two imaginary people other than those they prefer are shown to be in love. Therefore such warnings are helpful things indeed.' I don't know Lemony Snicket, but Yahtzee's engaging crossover makes me wish I did (Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events/Edward Scissorhands)

[Added 29/07/2004; Humour; 2500-6000; Lemony Snicket; Crossover]

Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit

Clarity by Wild Iris

Calm vignette set during the Fellowship's stay in Rivendell, but focusing on Bilbo's earlier adventures in Mirkwood. Precise, unsentimental characterisations, plus a final line to die for

[Added 28/01/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit; Crossover]

Spirits of the House by Altariel

'A Christmas Carol' has probably spawned more fanfic than any other Victorian novel, but this ingenious story is my favourite version so far

[Added 06/07/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit; Crossover]

Pirates of the Caribbean

Parrot by Penknife

'"This is my parrot." He holds up what looks like an egg. It might be a parrot's egg. It might, for that matter, be a rock.' An inspired backstory for Sparrow, who remains perfectly in character in the Potterverse (PotC/HP)

[Added 07/08/2008; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Pirates of the Caribbean; Crossover]

Remington Steele

Steele and Old Lace by Xenon

Delightfully zany! This retake on 'Arsenic and Old Lace' could easily be an episode of the series

[Added 29/10/2004; Humour; >50,000; Remington Steele; Crossover]

Smallville

All recommendations are from Season 1

Hell Money by FayJay

'Hell Money' is the story that first made me realise that crossovers can be made to work. It crosses Smallville with Angel S2, and knowledge of both is required, but for those who love both series, it packs a resounding punch into fewer than a thousand words. Strongly recommended. If you enjoyed 'Hell Money', then give No Fury a try -- another very clever Smallville crossover

[Added 13/01/2004; Humour; <1000; Smallville; Crossover]

Star Trek: Deep Space 9

Agent Provocateur by Arcady

"To Elim Garak, she was always that woman." A clever reworking of 'A Scandal in Bohemia' that's well worth a read

[Added 08/07/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9; Crossover]

Quark's Day by Selena

Lovely subtle group characterisation, which highlights just how the war has changed the denizens of DS9. Also features a cute cameo courtesy of a crossover, but I won't spoil the surprise by revealing the fandom

[Added 07/07/2004; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9; Crossover]

The Riding Hound of the House of Tain by Arcady

Arcady combines luscious descriptive prose with a deft touch in characterisation in this unlikely rewriting of The Hound of the Baskervilles

[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9; Crossover]

Star Trek: The Next Generation

And Justice For Q by John Berger

'"Q, you are charged with precipitating an invasion of the Federation by putting the U.S.S. Enterprise, NCC-1707-D, into contact with the Borg before such contact would have occurred through natural means."' A particularly thoughtful take on this oft-written idea. Q's choice of defence council is inspired (TNG/TOS)

[Added 14/07/2009; Drama; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: The Next Generation; Crossover]

Star Trek: The Original Series

Three Fates, Watching by Kangeiko

'He is six years old, and there is a fat, squirming batch of new memories deposited into his cortex, crawling blinding through his thoughts to find room to grow and fester in the night.' The idea that the Blake's 7 & Trek Federations are mirrors of each other is widespread, but this clever & unsettling story is the first I've seen to run with the notion (TOS Mirrorverse/B7)

[Added 03/09/2009; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: The Original Series; Crossover]

The Silmarillion

Of Leaves of Gold and Petals Red by Ithilwen

A deft mixture of Silmarillion canon, Scottish myth and modern practicalities provides an occasionally tongue-in-cheek but always engaging story. Not one for the Mary-Sue police

[Added 20/02/2003; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; The Silmarillion; Crossover]

Compiled by the Espresso Addict