Compiled by the Espresso Addict

Espresso Recommendations

Innovative and stylish fanfiction, 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

Contents: 1010 recs in 235 fandoms; 65 links

HP Lovecraft

The Blood From the Sea by Lispeth

'Though they never died afloat, the Pabodie dead were always buried at sea, a tradition which had given the name an unholy savor in New England lore.' A wonderful slow-building sense of dread characterises this old-fashioned tale

[Added 29/05/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; HP Lovecraft]

For Mind and Memory is the Soul of Man by Quillori

'I first caught sight of him on the train, all muffled up in hat and scarf and coat with upturned collar. It was a cold day, to be sure, but something about him seemed off: the stiffness of his movements, perhaps, or the immobility of his face, nor was his voice when he spoke briefly with the conductor quite what one would expect...' Creepy & original horror story, inspired by Lovecraft's ideas notebook, which builds slowly but relentlessly to an inevitable end that invites parallels with dementia

[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; 1000-2500; HP Lovecraft]

The Long Summoning by Marcelo

'My father waited until I was seven years old before he sacrificed my mother to Nyarlathotep. Later, he would tell me he had wanted to make sure I was old enough to remember.' Original, disturbing darkfic that eschews Lovecraftian prose for a relatively restrained style that sets the horror in sharp relief. The final line made me shudder: not one for the faint of heart

[Added 25/12/2017; Character Piece; 1000-2500; HP Lovecraft; Adult]

The Strange Confessions Of Ambrose Blake by Sweetcarolanne

'He paid his bills on time, and made regular orders for paints of high quality. If he favoured certain colours over others, or tended to purchase darker shades of paint rather than lighter, this was barely noticed by anyone. It was none of our business, after all. As I said before, Pickman was a very good customer.' Traditional slow-building horror based on Pickman's Model, that starts off light, even humorous, but reveals a nasty sting in the tail

[Added 25/12/2017; Character Piece; 2500-6000; HP Lovecraft]