All recommendations
Alternate by Kaydee Falls
I love fiction that explores the workings of chance. Give this unusual series of drabbles a chance even if you never read real person fiction (Lotrips)
[Added 12/02/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; Actor fiction]
Not Waving But Drowning by Toft Froggy
'Paul flirts shamelessly, almost compulsively, with any woman that crosses his path, but when he’s Avon and Gareth is Blake, all that fickle attention is focused on him, and he feels like the axis on which the world turns.' A perceptive exploration of the interplay between actors & roles (Blake's 7 RPF)
[Added 15/07/2008; Drama; 1000-2500; Actor fiction]
Coffee and Cognac by Gwenhwyvar
'The precise, finicking habits, the egg-shaped head, the mannerisms, even the accent were just window-dressing, they had faded from my memory after a while. But his smile was the real Poirot.' A delicate short piece, with a spot-on Hastings voice
[Added 03/01/2007; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Agatha Christie]
I Saw The Best Minds Of My Generation Destroyed By Sven Hjerson by Evelyn B
'Can there be such creatures as Sven Hjerson, Oliver's massive and amiable Scandinavian detective, who calculates square roots as a form of mental discipline and hums Socialist hymns as he breaks the ice in his morning bath?' Hilarious Edmund Wilson-style demolition descends into Lovecraftian horror in these reviews of Ariadne Oliver's novels
[Added 15/10/2015; Humour; 2500-6000; Agatha Christie]
The Spirit of St Mary Mead by Lost Spook
'"Oh, dear," she would say, watching her latest unwary worshipper with a gaze undimmed by her years. "I hardly think it fair to curse Coelius. After all, you have no proof that he was the one who spread those whispers against you. He dislikes you, it's true, I know, but I have seen such things before – a young man, of the Dumnonii, who detested a fellow craftsman, but he would take no underhand revenge, for instance. Oh, no, I think not Coelius. This Vitellius who told you of the rumours – now there, I think we have it. It is exactly like Cerdig and that envious brother of his all over again. Such malice."' Fabulous idea, which explains a lot about Miss Marple!
[Added 23/12/2017; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Agatha Christie]
Passings by ChokolatteJedi
'When he refuses again and again to kill, the man finally asks him to keep him hidden from all the eyes that watch him. The Genie obliges, but he does not know enough of this new world.' A fascinating take on the Aladdin universe, with some chilling moments along the way
[Added 27/05/2012; Drama; 1000-2500; Aladdin]
Extract From the Carrollian Catalog of J. Phildrop by Ellen Fremedon
Excellent Carrollian pastiche, plus an unforgettable rewriting of one of my least favourite poems
[Added 13/01/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Alice in Wonderland]
Ravens and Writing Desks by Meltha
'Darkness has fallen on Wonderland.' One of those stories that goes deeper than the source yet remains true to it. Highly recommended
[Added 13/01/2005; Drama; 1000-2500; Alice in Wonderland]
Killing Elvis by David Hines
'The Chair wants Elvis stuffed and mounted. Is that possible? He wants this done by next week.' Believable science meets hilarious office politics with a great slow-building tension as one waits for the inevitable climax. Epistolary Aliens humour really shouldn't work, but somehow this clever story pulls it off
[Added 21/01/2011; Humour; 6000-20,000; Alien films]
Le Mondain Futur d'Amelie Poulain by Kinetikatrue
'She likes to think it wasn't, that Nino tells his secrets to someone, even if it isn't her. And that his world also has corners which other people can't peer around.' A delicate take on what 'happily ever after' might mean in practice, which does a good job of capturing the film's whimsy
[Added 28/01/2011; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Amélie]
Do Zla Boga by Kangeiko
'So why, astute readers may wonder, do some older gods survive?...If I tell you it is good deeds and miracles, you will know that I am lying.' A dark Gaimanesque tale, with a wonderful narrative voice
[Added 01/02/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Neil Gaiman – American Gods]
the green, green grass of home by Apricot
'Shadow wondered if she'd come to Los Angeles to be an actress, or a dancer. ... The woman sitting next to him wasn't unattractive, but she had a face that ought to have been captured in marble, rather than in film.' Apricot creates a real feel of canon in miniature here, with a road trip, potent dreams & plenty of new gods to meet
[Added 23/12/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; Neil Gaiman – American Gods]
How Spider Came to America by Taz
'Spider... was thinking of a trick he could play on her. He would spin himself into a handsome man, seduce her and then when her mind was on the pleasure his penis was bringing her, he would steal the bag and the gourds in it.' Lovely rhythmical writing which could fit straight into the novel
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 1000-2500; Neil Gaiman – American Gods]
The Journey West by Oyce
'They forget Monkey was born of stone, not womb, they forget Monkey creates new monkeys from handfuls of fur, chewed up and spat out.' Original & beautifully crafted, 'The Journey West' packs a surprising amount into very few words
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; <1000; Neil Gaiman – American Gods]
The Man in the Gaberdine Suit by Merlin Missy
'He doesn't have a plan. Plans shatter regularly, teacups on a parquet floor. Instead of planning Shadow visualizes an image, not as sharp as snow, but simple like the smell of fresh pie.' Lovely tone with a real feel of the original, working inevitably towards the perfect ending. One of my favourites from Yuletide 2011
[Added 28/05/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Neil Gaiman – American Gods]
A Way Out by Empy
'Not even fair-metal hair, magically spun and crafted by dwarves could outlast the march of time and their slow fall out of memory and grace.' Empy expands a throwaway line in the novel, and gives us a much darker Loki than is found in most fanfiction
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Neil Gaiman – American Gods]
This is Not an Exit by Lizardbeth
'I try to calm myself, thinking about each breath, but nothing works until I picture Murray's head in a display case at Bloomingdale's, next to the Lalique.' A chilling portrait of insanity, as the police finally catch up with Patrick. The ending is unexpected yet perfect
[Added 28/01/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; American Psycho; Adult]
Ang Nuo by Corinna
One of the best original character-focused stories I've encountered in any fandom: Brother Xiao is unobtrusive, yet interesting in his own right, and he provides an interesting perspective at a turning point in Angel's long journey. Highly recommended
[Added 15/01/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; 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]
Blood & Water by Rheanna
'Since when do we run the Undead Red Cross?' Deftly executed adventure set after 'To Shanshu in LA', which feels just like a bonus episode
[Added 15/01/2004; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Angel]
Blood Types by tkp
'When she opens her vein for you, she opens up an atlas.' Unusual Angel character study which focuses on his vampiric nature, with rich poetic writing. Some vignettes are stronger than others, but there are novel insights to be had
[Added 10/02/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Angel; Adult]
Captive of the Soul by Yahtzee
Among my favourites of Yahtzee's prolific 'Angel' output, set after 'To Shanshu in LA'
[Added 08/07/2004; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Angel]
Cigarette Break by Christina Kamnikar
'But as most wage-slaves instinctively know, appearances and attitudes hardly matter after a few crises. In the place where the pair actually existed, crises were daily fare, while the trivial appearances were subject to change without any real notice.' A highly unusual conversation piece, set post-'Reunion'
[Added 15/01/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Angel]
Crave by Rheanna
'He felt hungry when he woke up. He always did.' Rheanna writes AtS as well as any of the series writers, and this novella is among her best
[Added 15/01/2004; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Angel]
Fault by Ins
'Buffy imagines, in slow and intricate procession, all the ways he can die now.' I've read a number of stories centering around this premise, but I think this was the first, and is the best (BtVS/AtS)
[Added 28/01/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; Angel]
Fitter Happier More Productive by Zara Hemla
Five things that might happen to Connor. Funny, clever & heart-rending by turns, and I didn't even like Connor!
[Added 28/01/2004; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; Angel]
The Girl in the High Castle by Mosca
'They're not here to win the war; they're here to hold the line, to gain the advantage, to put the right things in the wrong shells and fight the laws of thermodynamics.' This Season 5 AU picks an interesting point to diverge from canon, and develops a believable Fred voice
[Added 01/06/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Angel]
Gore-met by Jennifer-Oksana
'Sometimes I think that there should be strawberry-flavored blood.' Jenny-O really nails Harmony's voice in this funny, poignant character study
[Added 20/03/2006; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Angel]
Honour by Roz Kaveney
'Not making ancient demon godthings like they used to, clearly.' Set after 'Not Fade Away', 'Honour' is one of the best stories I've encountered that attempt to look into Illyria's head; Roz not only nails her attitude, but also pays attention to her nature, her history, her Fredness. All that plus a very cute bonus of an ending (AtS/BtVS)
[Added 02/11/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Angel]
I Really Don't Like Mondays by Booster
'New temporary mail guy turns up. Pros: Does not wear a mask and push me through windows. Cons: Really, really should wear a mask and attempts to stab me with Dagger of Yenal.' This laugh-out-loud tale of an ordinary day at Wolfram & Hart is chockfull of priceless little details
[Added 13/08/2004; Humour; 2500-6000; Angel]
In the Waiting by Rheanna
'I got junk mail, and sometimes I got parking tickets; I didn’t get kidnapped. I felt like a movie extra who has suddenly and unaccountably become part of the main plot.' Lovely example of a story seen through the eyes of an original character
[Added 15/01/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Angel]
Itsy-Bitsy Teeny-Weeny Purple-Puppet Angel Penii by Willa
'He's just not feeling...himself, today.' Completely plausible & utterly hilarious
[Added 09/08/2004; Humour; 2500-6000; Angel; Adult]
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]
Lost in the Supermarket by Lint
'"If you behave yourself," he offers, "I'll let you push the trolley." ' It's a bit rough around the edges, perhaps, but this quiet piece is well worth a try for its plausible characterisation of Illyria
[Added 09/08/2004; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Angel]
Noggin and the Vampire by Speaker-to-Customers
'I have told you how Thor Nogson, Captain of the Guard, found a stranger washed up on the beach and took the stranger to Noggin, King of the Nogs. You have heard how the stranger revealed that he was Spike, the Good Vampire, from Los Angeles in far Vinland, magically exiled to the Northlands by the evil Wolfram and Hart.' If you need any further encouragement to run to this charming crossover, Speaker-to-Customers milks the culture clash between Spike & his hosts expertly, and there are a few bonus crossovers at the end (AtS/Saga of Noggin the Nog)
[Added 25/08/2013; Humour; 6000-20,000; Angel; Crossover]
The Periodic Table of Wesley by Dana Woods
'Cadmium bars scream, too, when they're bent.' I've never been quite sure that this short captures Wesley's character, but it's worth a try for the Fred voice alone, one of the best I've encountered
[Added 25/05/2012; Character Piece; <1000; Angel]
Poppies are the Colour of Blood by Cas
An interesting window on Angel's history: plausible, beautifully detailed and completely heart-rending
[Added 15/01/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Angel]
Second Hand by Kita
'Spike the vampire bard, keeper of handed down tales no one else wants.' This insightful coda to 'Not Fade Away' draws parallels with 'The Gift'. Kita's work will be familiar to all AtS readers, but I think 'Second Hand' may be her best yet (AtS/BtVS)
[Added 13/06/2005; Drama; 6000-20,000; Angel; Adult]
Seven Virtues from a Broken Hill by Minim Calibre
Seven virtues, seven drabbles & one hell of a great summary of just how far Wesley's travelled
[Added 28/01/2004; Character Piece; <1000; Angel]
Shaken, Not Stirred by FayJay
An inebriated Wesley, perfect pacing, gorgeous details and great dialogue -- what more could a gal want?
[Added 28/01/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Angel]
Termination by Yahtzee
'They say that evil is only the absence of good, but they lie. I feel it now, settling back over me, and it warms me in a way I haven't felt in way too long.' Set during 'Calvary' in season 4, 'Termination' oozes round the episode, featuring pitch-perfect characterisations, a couple of neat plot twists and some white-hot sex
[Added 12/02/2004; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Angel; Adult]
These Reasonable Taboos by Glossolalia
Glossolalia has captured Connor's inner voice incredibly well, as he tries to remain true to himself in the moral maze that is LA. Highly recommended
[Added 12/02/2004; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; Angel]
Things Left Undone by Minnow
Twelve vignettes about things left undone after the Angel finale. The best piece I've seen to follow 'Not Fade Away' without taking away from the episode's impact. Some of the pieces are more interesting than others, but the whole is definitely worth a try
[Added 02/11/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Angel]
Vivere by Rheanna
One of the most interesting takes on Angel's shanshu that I've read. Rheanna's stories never fail to delight, and 'Vivere' is probably my favourite
[Added 15/01/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Angel]
William the Bloody Useless and the Beaker of Doom by Roseveare
A lovely early Wesley and a great pissed-off Spike voice combine to make this story compulsive reading (AtS/BtVS)
[Added 28/01/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Angel]
Six Sips of Strychnine by Cookinguptales
"You're going to do that to us, Father, aren't you?" she asked. / "No, my dear," he said, and pulled a very small spoon from his desk drawer. "I'm going to do this for you." Dark origin story for the Brewster sisters that explores the boundary between eccentricity & evil
[Added 26/12/2017; Drama; 6000-20,000; Arsenic and Old Lace]
A Disambiguation of Elaines by Raspberryhunter
'Elaine Garlot walks to the computer, ejects the code-chip with Elaine Astolat's algorithms stored on it, and grinds it underfoot.' Why are there so many Elaines in the Arthur myths? Raspberryhunter's answer reads as if Lois McMaster Bujold were setting the legend on a Jackson's Whole populated almost entirely by women, with all the complicated relationships you'd expect
[Added 12/08/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Arthurian legends]
Green the Holly by Martha
'The Yuletide bonfires were burning low when the ghost of Gawain the Good, who in life had been the first knight of King Arthur's Round Table, finally came home again.' A novel twist to the Green Knight story, with a strong sense of atmosphere and excellent characterisations for all the brothers
[Added 28/01/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; Arthurian legends]
The Green Year by Selden
'Morgause was staring at the little rim of sun around Gawain, considering. "We need to clean you up a little before the night comes, my son," she said. / Gawain knew that other boys' mothers - mothers who were not queens - would follow this up by spitting on a corner of their apron and scrubbing at a smut on his face, or tugging the neck of his jerkin closed. / Morgause took out an axe.' A rich & complex reworking of 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight', drawing on the Fisher King legend, densely packed with allusions & delicious details. There's a fascinating exchange between the author & the recipient in the comments. One of my very favourites from this year's Yuletide
[Added 31/10/2017; Drama; 6000-20,000; Arthurian legends]
The Handmaid's Veil by Alexandra Lynch
'She would die for Isolde.' I'm a sucker for minor character viewpoints, and this is a lovely example. A heart-breaking love story that can't end well
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Arthurian legends; Adult]
The Tale Of Ragnell by Ankaret
'Ragnell knew his sort. He'd talk as if swiving her was doing her a favour, and then he'd turn round and call her a harlot for being fool enough to give in to him, and probably accuse her of imperilling his immortal soul into the bargain.' This tautly structured vignette develops a strong voice for the Loathly Damosel to be, with lovely flashes of humour. Most enjoyable!
[Added 28/01/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Arthurian legends]
The Water-Horse by Thamiris
Thamiris creates a rich medieval atmosphere using modern colloquial language – a truly enchanting tale!
[Added 13/01/2005; Drama; 6000-20,000; Arthurian legends]
What Is And What Seems To Be by Lesserstorm
'She is a tool his king has provided for him, a weapon to his hand.' This original & clever tale completely reimagines Guinevere. The results are enthralling
[Added 21/07/2009; Drama; 2500-6000; Arthurian legends]
Wynter wakeneth by goosecathedral
"'I can't think what you mean, madam,' he reproved. 'Am I not still abed, naked as a worm in my shirt?' / 'My lord's pages keep worms in their shirts,' she mused, 'slowworms and grass-worms, and call them poison nadders to frighten serving-maids. A knight of your'’ she paused, 'standing should keep about him a mighty serpent.'" A clever AU of 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight', masquerading as PWP. Beautifully written, richly detailed, and with a lovely energy to it
[Added 02/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Arthurian legends; Adult]
The Duchess's Evening Party by Zdenka
'He saw not a violin or harp, but a glass tank full of water, in which swam a large silvery fish. One of the footmen rolled up his sleeve, reached in, and extracted the fish by the tail in what seemed to be a practiced gesture. He solemnly brought it to Bernard.' A charming, whimsical fishc based on Troubador Tuning His Tuna by Omar Rayyan, with some help from PDQ Bach. Who knew 'fish puns' was an AO3 tag?
[Added 26/12/2017; Humour; 2500-6000; Artworks]
Keris By The Sea by Quillori
'At last he cast his eyes still further away, away from the city and the land and the harbour and out across the sea itself: out there, on the rocky shoals where only the most desperate fishermen now ventured, was the wreck of some great merchant ship, come from a far-off land, through uncounted storms and dangers, only to beach itself at last by lonely Keris.' This unusual, intricate set of tales within a tale constructs a history of the city of Ys, woven around pictures by Donato Giancola. Quillori imbues the whole with a wonderfully wistful atmosphere
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; Artworks]
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Woman by Ghostie
'"The tea today is lemon zest," he finally said. He had a deep, sonorous voice that swelled to fill the room as if it were an oven filled with rising bread. He kept his gaze trained on the windows and the forsythia beyond as he spoke; Rayyana wondered if he even knew she was there. "With infusions of clover-honey, grapefruit rind, and tentative optimism in the face of new opportunities."' Ghostie draws on several artworks by Omar Rayyan to create an entirely believable world peopled with fabulous characters. Charming & original
[Added 15/04/2015; Drama; 6000-20,000; Artworks]
A Traveller's Guide to Venice by Quillori
'Nergüi listened to him impassively, her hands folded in the depths of her ruffled sleeves, and her posture as upright and still as an owl upon a branch. You would have thought she was accustomed to having her wisdom sought on a daily basis by kings and beggars alike.' A travelogue to a fantastic Venice, inspired by Travelling Hermit & other works by Colette Calascione, which unfurls slowly to reveal its secrets. Original & strange, with a wonderful narrative voice
[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; 6000-20,000; Artworks]
we played escapees while they hunted in the woods by drcalvin
'It was always harder to be an Escapee, because you had to remember to angle out your elbows, or keep your knees bent, or in some other way copy the imperfection of gyro-walk even the best balanced robots suffered back in those days.' Rich world-building & a strong narrative voice, inspired by Simon Stålenhag's Rymlingen Mecha
[Added 11/08/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; Artworks]
your shadow at evening, rising to meet you by Raven
'...they want the strapline spoken by a voice that speaks from history: the first commander of the first Martian colonisation expedition. Though with a calculated background of domesticity, Evan thinks: by the twinkling fibre-optic lights of a Landfall Night celebration and the faces of humanity's only extra-Terran children.' Beautifully written short based on a poster by NASA. The strong OCs flare into life despite the brevity
[Added 23/12/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; Artworks]
Seen and Unseen by Argyle
'In the half-light the folds seemed wrought from cobwebs and parched earth.' Beautiful descriptive writing in this brief vignette (Angels and Insects)
[Added 30/12/2005; Drama; 1000-2500; AS Byatt]
Vivien & Merlin by The Red Shoes
'"But -- it was cold. You -- you are my fire. My hearth. My element. A salamander," he said, with a short sharp laugh, but she did not smile. "You burn without being consumed."' A missing scene between Ash & Christabel that could slot straight into the novel. Erudite & passionate (Possession)
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; 1000-2500; AS Byatt]
Weaving Lesson by Baranduin
'She is sleeping now and I am scratching away in my journal. I love to watch my Princess sleep, her breathing so delicate and even. The ivory lace around her white throat barely moves.' A quiet piece which gives Blanche a voice (Possession)
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; 1000-2500; AS Byatt]
On Solitude by Toft
'It was undoubtedly the fish that caused the thing, an ill-looking, mumchance creature served to them at a roadside tavern on the way to Portsmouth.' I don't often recommend accidental telepathic bond fic, but in Toft's capable hands the story deftly skirts clichÉ, always remains true to character & period, and slips effortlessly between comedy & profundity. Simply wonderful!
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; Aubrey–Maturin series]
The Kid from the Narrows by Ro
'You're too old for teddybears but you cling to something nonetheless. ...You fall asleep clutching the metal casing and wake with his symbol pressed deep into your palm.' Excellent use of a minor character to illuminate Batman and especially the city he patrols. The second-person narration works very nicely here (Batman Begins/Batman comics)
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; 2500-6000; Batman films]
Lodestone by Eyebrow of Doom
'At the corner, a section of veneer the size of a silver dollar was missing, revealing chipboard beneath. Like Gordon's failings as a provider, this had a certain humble charm, but would become less charming over time.' Gritty portrait of Jim Gordon, full of well-chosen details (Batman Begins)
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; 1000-2500; Batman films]
Such Deliberate Disguises by LC
'Out in the field, the post hanging bare.' Creepy character dissection, language precise as a scalpel (Batman Begins)
[Added 30/12/2005; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Batman films]
Tandem by Irisbleu
'His faithful Lady Liberty never disagreed with him. Ever.' This clever Harvey character study has a beautiful rhythm to it (The Dark Knight)
[Added 13/01/2011; Character Piece; <1000; Batman films]
In a Dark Wood by Sheldrake
'She cannot absolutely say that he is finned, or winged, or hoofed. And yet, she cannot absolutely say that he isn't.' A lovely combination of the surreal & the matter of fact marks this dreamlike version of 'The Beauty and the Beast'
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Beauty and the Beast]
Rough Diamond by Lyrstzha
'Stories are sleek and round on the tongue and in the mind, perfect circles of meaning, but truth is mostly far more unsatisfying and messy.' A novel retelling of 'The Beauty and the Beast'. Clever & charming. Highly recommended
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Beauty and the Beast]
Invisible by Miss Lanyon
'I remember. I was engaged to the miller's son, but he had not been caught by the Change. He had married the blacksmith's daughter less than a week after we disappeared.' An unusual take on the story, which focuses on the plight of the invisible servants. The ending is a little too clearly signalled, perhaps, but getting there is satisfying
[Added 28/05/2012; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Beauty and the Beast (Disney)]
these long-prepared chains by Betony
'It took effect slowly. One morning the inhabitants of the little village that bordered the castle woke to find themselves every bit as hungry at they had been, as destitute and derelict, but possessed with a newfound buoyancy and a predilection for song.' Ingenious pre-story that turns details upside down to make sense of the film's set up and ties events more explicitly to the Revolution
[Added 26/12/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; Beauty and the Beast (Disney)]
In the Shadow of Her Wings by Sinope
'She clung to the fragments of tales she overheard while learning how to carry a full vessel of water without spilling a drop, or how to pound barley grains into flour as smooth as her mother's kiss.' A lyrical version of the Book of Ruth. Highly recommended
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 1000-2500; Bible]
Made the Lord God to Grow by Viola Coye
'He -- and I say he, of course, because even though the young god had both beard and breasts I have to call him something, and he had no name yet -- was compassionate and cruel, curious and practical.' An original take on the creation story, weaving in Babylonian mythology. Clever & memorable
[Added 28/01/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Bible]
Noah's Arkangel by Abluestocking
'Yaffy makes a face. "I interrupted him while he was..." He seems to notice Keziah for the first time, which is ridiculous considering he was just hiding behind her. But then Lia is quite used to her scientific brethren neglecting to notice the nose on their face. "...talking to God," he finishes awkwardly.' Imaginative recasting of the Noah's flood myth as space opera, with something of the feel of a TNG episode. Not all aspects of this novella worked equally well for me, but it's worth a try for the God jokes alone
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Bible]
The Road to Jerusalem by Lakester
'The fish sizzled behind her, gutted and chopped. The fish that hadn't spoken to her as she lay there, that she hadn't cut small enough that she could be sure it wouldn't do so again.' Wonderful gritty portrait of Mary Magdalene, before & after she meets Jesus
[Added 21/07/2009; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Bible]
She Will Place on Your Head a Graceful Garland; She Will Bestow on You a Beautiful Crown by Raspberryhunter
'The figure unwraps the shawl from her head, and Bathsheba gasps. It is Abigail, the king's third wife. The one who was said to be the most beautiful of his wives when she was young; the one who is said to be the wisest.' David & Bathsheba refocused as a tale of trust, and mistrust, between the king's wives. Strong characterisations make the story as relevant now as when it was first told, and Raspberryhunter weaves together several sources to add twists to the familiar events. Highly recommended
[Added 27/05/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Bible]
Blackadder's Fifth Column by Kerrypolka
'Bobbie's eyes widened. "Oh, wicked," she said. "Are you a suit here to subvert the dominant paradigm? That is immense. Why don't you sign up for the finance committee?"' This episode from the fifth season, set during Occupy London, is mysteriously missing from the BBC archives. Hilarious
[Added 28/05/2012; Humour; 1000-2500; Blackadder]
Field Marshal by Lakester
I don't think I've ever recommended script format before, but this could so easily be an episode from the Beeb. Worth reading just for the turnip joke
[Added 13/01/2005; Humour; 2500-6000; Blackadder]
Keep Breathing by Kittydesade
'...She liked the rain. It felt and smelled different here than it had on the colonies. You could chew the rain, it had a flavor, the whole city did.' Most of the tiny amount of fanfiction for this film focuses on Roy Batty, so this study of Zhora is a treat. The inevitable ending is beautifully written
[Added 18/01/2012; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Blade Runner]
Pride Goeth Before by Silk Knickers
'We should be their gods, not they ours.' A subtle tale of awakening, beautifully conveyed
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 1000-2500; Blade Runner]
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
11.50 PM by Emuna
'One point makes all the difference. You get a hundred, and you're an alpha. You get ninety nine, and you're a beta. For ever. No second chances.' A chilling reminder of what Blake's resistance movement means for ordinary Federation citizens
[Added 16/04/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Blake's 7]
After Long Silence by Taz
'As the ship slid across the spoke, it was possible to see squatters' hives, those strings of habitat cubes cobbled out of scavenged transalplex and nusteel, scattering into space like a cheap bead fringe coming unraveled.' Taz's vision is closer to sf than much B7 fiction. It's a bit rough around the edges, perhaps, but worth a try for the unusual premise, strong description & memorable details
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; 2500-6000; Blake's 7]
Asta Matrika by Andraste
'The trees and the people of Saurian Major are of the same flesh. It is she who is the alien.' An interesting portrait of pre-series Cally
[Added 05/12/2005; Character Piece; <1000; Blake's 7]
Awake and Find No by Ika
A portrait of Servalan at a turning point in her life. Heart-rending and beautifully written, 'Awake and Find No' should come with a warning label -- it interweaves canon and invention so cleverly, so plausibly, that it infects the original episode on rewatching! One of my very favourites among Ika's fiction
[Added 13/01/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Blake's 7]
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]
Church Going by KindKit
'Above ground, fragments of wall lift towards the empty sky where heaven used to be.' An unusual, evocative piece which packs a lot into a very few words
[Added 15/07/2008; Character Piece; <1000; Blake's 7]
Face in the Crowd by Manna
A Federation Everyman considers Blake's revolutionary movement in this well-written and realistic short
[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; <1000; Blake's 7]
Fetch by Hafren
Lovely liquid prose which resists being pinned down characterises this alternative view of season 4
[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; Blake's 7]
Four Years after the Revolution by Ika
A bittersweet AU in which the destruction of Star One went as planned, and everyone lives happily ever after. An unusual vignette which made me think about the nature of revolution
[Added 21/12/2003; Character Piece; <1000; Blake's 7]
Future Perfect by Ika
'I'm labour pool. This week my job is in Morsa. They're a mining corp with extensive interests in various planets, the names of which I forget as soon as I've copied them out.' Ika has a gift for finding new angles on the B7 universe via believable original characters. A standout piece from the excellent zine Sleer as Folk
[Added 15/12/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Blake's 7]
Gemini Rising by Suzan Lovett
A young rebel clashes with the authorities. This thoughtful story is my favourite among Suzan's B7 fiction
[Added 21/12/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; Blake's 7]
In My Hands by Hafren
'All I'd seen him in for ages was that funeral clobber with all the studs, and without it he looked - I was going to say, like he used to in the old days, but that's just it, he didn't.' PGP vignette imbued with the feel of a fairy tale. Bittersweet & memorable, with a perfect Vila voice
[Added 25/08/2013; Drama; 2500-6000; Blake's 7]
Information by Clocketpatch
'The worlds had been named after the colony ships which settled them. Freedom was the first of the three, but after the war its designation changed. Knowledge, with the creation of System, was the clear winner. History was rewritten.' A thoughtful history for the Liberator's makers, with a strong voice for Zen. There's a bonus of the best explanation for the wardrobe room I've yet encountered
[Added 07/08/2014; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Blake's 7]
The Killer of Dole Nu Lin by Penny Dreadful
A futuristic fairy story, 'The Killer of Dole Nu Lin' steps beyond the B7 frame to examine identity, consciousness and the nature of humanity. Skilful characterisation, gritty sf, scrupulous attention to canonical detail, moving prose... Penny is an incredibly gifted writer, and this is quite simply one of the best sf stories I've ever read
[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; Blake's 7]
The Last Days of Roj Blake by Una McCormack
The President has been deposed, the Administration lies in ruins, but the fighting isn't over yet... A chillingly plausible AU
[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; Blake's 7]
The Man I Mean & Cross-Reality by Sheenagh Pugh
Two moving poems from a collection whose theme is the boundary between fiction and reality. [The poems are no longer available on line, but the full 'Fanfic' sequence is published in The Beautiful Lie (Seren)]
[Added 16/04/2003; Poetry; <1000; Blake's 7]
A Marketable Commodity by Pat Jacquerie
The story that first got me into slash. Pat has turned an off-the-peg scenario into an outstanding example of what PWP should be, but often isn't: full of snappy dialogue & beautiful details, revealing of character, and, uh, hot…
[Added 16/04/2003; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Blake's 7]
Memory is an Encumbrance by Julia Stamford
Mutoids are one of the more interesting properties of the Blake's 7 universe. Julia Stamford's moral fable runs with the titular line of dialogue from the mutoid in 'Duel', presenting thoughts on identity, personality & memory that reach well beyond the B7 setting. This was another of my very favourites from Emma Peel's stand-out zine I, Mutoid
[Added 31/10/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Blake's 7]
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]
Not Our Kind, Darling by Executrix
An early chapter in the Executrix Avoniad, 'Not Our Kind, Darling' abounds with luscious visual details as it explores class and religious repression in the Terran Domes. Executrix's take on Blake's 7 is by no means the standard fannish one, yet she completely draws the reader into her unique universe
[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; Blake's 7]
A Price to Pay by Julia Stamford
After the events on Gauda Prime, Servalan makes Avon an unusual offer. Well-written verbal sparring and an interesting & original premise combine to make this another of my favourites from Julia Stamford's varied portfolio
[Added 31/10/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Blake's 7]
Privilege by Susan Cutter
A powerful and disturbing story that takes one of the most abused fanfic scenarios, rape, and uses it to give a thoughtful exploration of class and privilege under the Terran Federation. 'Privilege' is fleshed out with some great details of Dome life, and features a very plausible and sympathetic voice for the 16-year-old Tarrant
[Added 30/10/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Blake's 7; Adult]
Purple Haze by Executrix
Sexual politics meets revolutionary politics in this delicious series of interlinked shorts. This is one of my all-time favourites amongst Executrix's immensely varied and stylish output
[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; Blake's 7]
The Quibell Abduction by Lillian Shepherd (aka EPS)
Far too few B7 stories bother to take the crew off the Liberator, let alone take advantage of fanfiction's unlimited sfx budget to create a decent planet for them to land on or aliens for them to interact with -- so 'The Quibell Abduction' is a welcome break. With its excellent mix of adventure, sf & character interaction, this is a deserved fandom classic. If you like this, then I'd also recommend Lillian's The Haunting of Haderon, another much-reprinted novella that's newly available online
[Added 31/10/2004; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Blake's 7]
Radioheads by Alison Page
Alison's unique brand of meta-Blake's 7 fiction
[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; Blake's 7]
Relations by Penny Dreadful
One of my favourite stories in Emma Peel's excellent zine, I, Mutoid, Relations presents a hypothesis for the origin of mutoids that is as plausible as it is disturbing. There's also a wonderfully detailed picture of Dome life
[Added 21/12/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; Blake's 7]
The Seven Deadly Virtuals by Penny Dreadful
Written for the Seven Deadly Virtues challenge, Penny has produced a story that could easily be published as original sf, yet still reflects the heart of the show. Original, quirky, funny, memorable
[Added 21/12/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; Blake's 7]
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]
The Wit and Wisdom of the Dead by Neil Faulkner
A classic of B7 fanwriting, this extremely inventive story bends canon without ever breaking it. It's also one of the few in the fandom to run with the sf behind the series
[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; Blake's 7]
Born in the Purple by Bunn
'Anna's mother, the Empress Theophano, had screamed, at the end. Anna remembered it vividly. Sometimes it came back to her in dreams. Mother had screamed and ranted and sworn, like the tavern-keeper's daughter she was, at Patriarch Polyeuktos, at the Patriarchs solemn, ugly nuns, at the new Emperor, John Tzimiskes.' Rich world-building and a wonderful voice for Anna, tough, clever, yet ultimately realistic about the choices for a princess make this short story a real treat
[Added 26/08/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Blood Feud]
By Blood Undone by Carmarthen
'...Thormod's words had bitten, when Anders still remembered the sharp hot feel of the knife and the press of Thormod's wrist against his, and the way the scatter of blood had looked bright in the snow under the bare birches.' I don't know Blood Feud, but this powerful tale of love rejected, and birth brothers pitted against blood brothers, stands on its own merits
[Added 29/08/2013; Drama; 1000-2500; Rosemary Sutcliff – Blood Feud]
Once Given by Carmarthen
'I did not expect Thormod to blow into the sleeping-lodge, bringing with him the sharp bite of the wind off the frozen Dnieper and a gust of snow that melted at once in the warm woodsmoke dimness.' Beautifully characterised first-time vignette with a wonderful sense of place & time
[Added 04/10/2013; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Rosemary Sutcliff – Blood Feud]
Pilgrim by Jay Tryfanstone
'Constantinople's the stink of piss and dead fish down on the Kontoskalion on a winter evening, when the sleet comes rolling in off the plains and the gold ran out with the tide. Wine watered down to the rot-gut skins and whores too poor for the baths, dung-heap cockerels and mangy dogs and beggars that might have been soldiers, once.' Jay creates a believable OC and gives him a fantastic narrative voice, far from Sutcliff's yet somehow wholly in keeping with her world. There's a beautiful sense of place, too. Simply enthralling!
[Added 09/01/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Blood Feud]
Esther and the Egg by Sister Magpie
'Gladys pegged him for a Butter and Egg Man and predicted he'd blow a wad of cash at the club and then hightail it back to a wife in Ohio, wiser and poorer for his trip to the big city.' Amusing hardboiled version of 'Bluebeard', which never takes itself too seriously
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; Bluebeard]
Seeley Booth's Bones by Dira Sudis
'The phalanges are arranged in gentle curves, like a hand in a comfortable state of rest, like a casual wave hello or goodbye. She lowers her own smaller hand over them, not quite touching.' An unusual character study that succeeds, somehow, in sidestepping creepy and heading instead for bittersweet. (Beware the character death implied in the title)
[Added 03/01/2019; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Bones]
Most Likely To by Kaneko
'Around the ten-year-reunion mark there was a second, smaller spike during which complex sums were worked out (receding hairline −2; law school +1; appearance on Wheel of Fortune +3) to create a whole new map of failure and success.' A slow-building coming-of-age story for Brian, with a fluent style & an amusing structure
[Added 01/02/2011; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Breakfast Club]
A Man's God-Given Right by Trascendenza
'Their roots gave them stability and comfort, helped them weather the inevitable trouble, made the nights when one of them had to sit on the porch with the shotgun easier to bear.' I don't usually recommend fix-it AUs, but this feels absolutely right, with spot-on character voices and a decided lack of saccharine
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; <1000; Brokeback Mountain]
Campfire Tale for the End of Days by Stultiloquentia
'So. A very long time ago, Demons walked the earth. Stomped, also. Flew. Slithered, swam, percolated, oozed.' This clever take on the First Slayer legend packs a surprising amount into its brief span
[Added 27/07/2005; Drama; 1000-2500; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Dead Man Blues by Elsa Frohman
By no means your usual Spike history-fic, 'Dead Man Blues' gives a peek at a possible Spike in the 1920s, with resonances for the Spike of the 2000s. There's also a decent twisty plot, a host of interesting original characters and some rather out-of-the-ordinary settings
[Added 12/02/2004; Drama; >50,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Dig for Victory by Nostalgia
Surprisingly few Buffyverse authors care to explore the wealth of past slayers and their stories. Nostalgia's interesting vignette is a welcome exception, and Iris is a realistic past slayer whose plight is moving, despite the brevity of the piece. More past slayers can be unearthed at the History Lesson archive
[Added 15/01/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Five Things The Chip Was Never Marketed For by Josey
'"I understand," she said, "but would you hurt a poodle because a mastiff once savaged you?"' A disturbing look at the evil that humans might do in the Buffyverse. Not for the faint at heart (BtVS/AtS)
[Added 26/09/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Foreign Devils by Indri
'She is motion and she is fury: she is the warrior of the people.' The tale of the Chinese slayer from 'Fool for Love'. Indri's vision is so convincing it feels like canon
[Added 20/03/2006; Drama; 2500-6000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
The Giles and Spike Collection by Lori
An inventive novel-length AU series, spinning off after BtVS Entropy, set mainly in London. Starts with Giles & Spike, and spirals out from them to add other Buffyverse characters. It's rather 'shippier' than my usual reading, but the ships are more-than-usually plausible, the characterisations are invariably interesting, and Lori adds action to the mix in similar proportions to the later BtVS episodes. Highlights include that rare creature, a well-written Dawn, in 'Every Day I Write the Book', and a more-than-usually interesting Big Bad in 'Waiting on a Friend' (BtVS/AtS)
[Added 12/02/2004; Drama; >50,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
A Girl Made From Sky by Doyle
'She wasn't a person, then; the idea of her flickered and flared at the edges, and she sat quietly on a cloud as the monk made paper dolls. He had a pair of very shiny scissors, and he would snip the girls (for they were almost all girl-dolls) right from the sky and whisper secret words to them that gave them life.' It's hard to write key-Dawn, and Doyle does a good job of capturing the particular brand of Buffyverse weirdness in this dreamlike snippet (Sandman crossover)
[Added 13/12/2018; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Crossover]
A Good Man by Indri
One of the very best renderings of William I've encountered, and Indri has clearly done her research on 1880s London
[Added 09/08/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Into the Blue by Ascian
'Don't you know by now that running away never solved anything?' Interesting fragmentary structure & nice bleeding together of worlds in this 'Normal Again' AU
[Added 20/03/2006; Drama; 6000-20,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Jigsaw by Perri Smith
'History is linear, straight, arrowing from nowhere to infinity. It can't just start, wham, right in the middle.' A little piece in the puzzle that is Dawn Summers
[Added 20/03/2006; Character Piece; <1000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Just Full of Gifts by Karen
'I can give you a gift that you cannot refuse.' A thoughtful vignette that addresses a question that occurred to me as well after watching 'Chosen'. Written for the excellent 'When the Clock Strikes' Challenge
[Added 08/07/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Legend by Marcus L Rowland
I won't spoil the conceit for you; suffice to say 'Legend' is one of the most original pieces of fanfiction I've encountered. Highly recommended
[Added 30/07/2004; Humour; 2500-6000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Living Dangerously by Andraste
'He once thought a house full of attractive women would be really cool, too, but in his head it was more about the lingerie and pillow fights, and less about people barging in on him in the bathroom.' An accurate portrait of Andrew, but this piece's real strength is in capturing the feel of season 7
[Added 20/03/2006; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Mr Grieves and the Fallen Woman by Herself
Magic strands season 6 Buffy in the 1880s. One of the very few 'Buffy meets William' stories that pays any heed to the realities of Victorian life. The Watchers' Council scenes are a highlight
[Added 15/01/2004; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
My Baby Is A Centerfold by Barb C
'Anyway, I know all about The Sex in theory. I also know how sausages are made, in theory. That doesn't mean I'm panting for an up-close at the gooey details of either process.' Hilarious interlude in the Barbverse, Barb C's season 6 AU, with that rare creature, a likeable Dawn. The story should stand alone
[Added 25/05/2012; Humour; 6000-20,000; 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]
Orleans by Hth
'They serve the vampires, you've heard. They have it in their heads that this daddy vamp with the alligators is some kind of test, some scourge sent by God to test their faith, and they go way, way off the deep end with this What Would Jesus Do? business, to the point of making modern-day saints out of his human victims.' Fascinating world building & a strong voice for the narrator characterise this unusual story set in the Wishverse
[Added 15/04/2015; Drama; 6000-20,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Phoenix Burning by Yahtzee
An AU following 'The Gift' that's arguably better than much of what Joss & Co wrote in seasons 6/7. Yahtzee is one of the very few writers who can interest me in Buffy as a character, and this novel focuses on her, in a rather unexpected setting. Deservedly among the fandom classics
[Added 08/07/2004; Drama; >50,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Resurrection by Rowan
'Death is plastic-and-metal, circuitry-and-bone, a cyborg with the Council's logo engraved in its breast.' Highly unusual far-future AU from one of the more inventive writers in the Buffyverse
[Added 25/05/2012; Drama; 1000-2500; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
The Road to Byzantium by Barb C
'Vampires just didn't get this stuff, she reminded herself. She wished she could see Spike's eyes behind the insectile lenses of his goggles. "Look, if you do good things for people, they'll do good things for you." Honesty compelled her to add, "Sometimes."' A novelette prequel to the Barbverse that explores why the Knights of Byzantium didn't keep coming after Dawn. Like most other works in this series it contains a few annoying tropes, but it's well worth a read for the excellent descriptions and strong characterisations. Barb's competent Anya is particularly enjoyable
[Added 25/05/2012; Drama; 6000-20,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Serious Moonlight by RivkaT & MustangSally
Spuffy meets Indiana Jones: sex & plot wrapped into one neat novel-sized packet. Probably my favourite of the Bowiehabarata series, but the others are also worth a try
[Added 07/06/2005; Drama; >50,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Adult]
Seven Habits of Highly Effective Sex Poodles by Doyle
'While Ramon had a fleet of convertibles that were soaped down every day by a dedicated team of community-spirited cheerleaders (the book had said his fantasy persona should be as specific as possible), the best Xander could do was a grope in the back of a pizza delivery van. And those boxes had sharp corners.' A devastatingly accurate picture of Xander that manages to be deeply touching and absolutely hilarious at the same time
[Added 12/02/2004; Humour; 2500-6000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Silence, Sounds of by WhichWitch
'It's all connected, you see.' Beautifully written portrait of grief
[Added 07/06/2005; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Silent Upon a Peak in Darien by Doyle
Most fanfiction treats Ethan as a plot hook for magical mayhem or an excuse for a bit of Giles slash, so Doyle's nicely characterised piece makes a refreshing change. A plausible bit of fallout from 'Chosen'
[Added 13/08/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Something Old by Mikelesq
A well-thought-through AU where 'Something Blue' ended differently. The writing's a touch on the bland side, perhaps, but the idea's clever and novel
[Added 15/01/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
The Stranger's Portrait by Rowan
An unusual, haunting little vignette, as memorable as the portrait it commemorates
[Added 28/01/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Stumbling on the Fields of Praise by Dipenates
'In Sunnydale, no one went to church. Which was kind of ironic, because there was so little that was truly bad in Huxley, and yet he could count the people who hadn't gone to church on one hand.' There's so little sympathetic Riley fiction. This insightful study with the hook of his religious faith is a quiet gem
[Added 15/04/2015; Character Piece; <1000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Theses on a Philosophy of Power by Glossolalia
'There are bloodsuckers on every corner. The usual kind, with fangs and dead eyes and skin like paper, and they die as dust. And the new kind, desperate bourgeois selling silver teapots and lace throws and children's toys to pay for passage out of the country.' Set during the Russian Revolution, this is one of the most interesting historical slayer pieces I've seen
[Added 07/06/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
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]
Tucker's Brother by Jessica Walker
Andrew and Spike get drunk together. One of the best character studies of Andrew I've read, though I'm not quite so certain of Spike's characterisation. A bit overlong, perhaps, but well worth a try, especially if you're a fan of the supervillains
[Added 28/01/2004; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Adult]
The Waking by Mad Poetess
One of the more unusual BtVS stories I've ever read. Haunting, beautiful, strange yet somehow perfectly in tune with canon
[Added 12/02/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
While the Women Came and Went by Mosca
Another interesting response to the 'When the Clock Strikes' Challenge. I've no idea how authentic the portrayal of Afghanistan is, but I love it that someone remembered Buffy's war wasn't the only one going on at the time
[Added 08/07/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
With an Alien People Clutching their Gods by Mikelesq
A highly unusual take on the summer when Buffy's dead, 'With an Alien People Clutching their Gods' features excellent characterisations, snappy dialogue, plus a strong, plausible plot that you could almost imagine as an episode. The TS Eliot quotations are a bonus
[Added 28/01/2004; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Buffy the Vampire Slayer]
Not Strain'd by Seldear
'The mercy of man was inexplicable enough in this human coil of loss and love and jealousy and greed, how much more inexplicable the mercy of God upon his creation!' A solid if simple mystery for Cadfael, very much in the spirit of the original. This could easily be a short story by Ellis Peters
[Added 10/11/2008; Drama; 6000-20,000; Cadfael]
Hello Operator, Please Give Me Number Nine by Starlingthefool
'She's twenty-one, damn it. The world is big and she's seen only a little of it. She wants to finish her theses and graduate. She wants to travel outside the Midwest. She wants to see the weird stuff Calvin posts on Twitter this week. She wants to become an anthropologist, or a writer, or a lawyer, or a botanist/politician/social worker/cat lady. She wants to live.' Susie encounters Death in a delightful tale that deservedly Won Yuletide
[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Calvin & Hobbes]
Spaceman Spiff and the Alien Conspiracy by Froggimus Rex
'This was the worst summer. Calvin knew this to be a fact in much the same way that he knew that the sky was blue, that Susie Derkins was annoying and gross, and that Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs were part of a complete breakfast.' Neat idea & hilarious execution. This short deserved the storm of attention it received
[Added 27/05/2012; Humour; 1000-2500; Calvin & Hobbes]
This Kid I Once Knew by Minnow
'Susan clicks back through a couple of previous strips and laughs out loud at Spaceman Spiff's adventures on foreign planets that turn into bathtubs and swingsets and the bathrooms at elementary school.' Wonderful piece, simultaneously clever & poignant, that works both in frame & as meta for fannish engagement with the source
[Added 25/11/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Calvin & Hobbes]
all the words that ever were or ever will be by Tequila Mockingbird
'He had the makings of a saint, carved into the hollowness of him, and that was no mean thing. She had been precious low on saints, in the last century or so, and although his poetry was very bad, he had written some poetry.' A Daughter's eye view on Curse of Chalion which does a good job of pulling off the god's viewpoint, and uses deft touches of humour to lighten the melodrama. The ending is perfect
[Added 23/12/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; LM Bujold – Chalion series]
A clear glass window, at a sea dawn by Lionpyh
'It is a perpetual irritation to divines of the Bastard that it is not possible to blaspheme against him. He has already thought of all the rude things one might instruct him to do. He would cheerfully do them. He minces one's oaths before one has got to them. He reduces one to the depths of decency.' Luscious prose & deliciously detailed world-building characterise this satisfying Umegat-centric novelette. Lovely!
[Added 10/01/2014; Drama; 6000-20,000; LM Bujold – Chalion series]
Communion of Saints by Rthstewart
'There were the usual disdainful looks at her rustic table manners but Clara was too hungry to pretend to be ascetic and she wolfed down several hard biscuits softened with goat cheese and honey.' In this triptych, Rthstewart creates rounded & engaging characters from minors & OCs to illustrate the travails & joys of being a saint
[Added 13/08/2015; Drama; 6000-20,000; LM Bujold – Chalion series]
First Choices by Rsadelle
'Annual Pride parades heavily feature celebrants dressed in the Bastard's white and signs with slogans referencing the Bastard's favor. "The Bastard Loves You" is a favorite slogan of Pride t-shirts.' Clever fusion, pastiching a New Yorker article, that explores how Quintarian & Quadrene religions might play out in modern America -- complete with statistics from the Pew Research Center. Funny & moving by turns
[Added 23/12/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; LM Bujold – Chalion series]
Life, stripped of all luxuries by Keerawa
'Moved by some obscure impulse, Cazaril rummaged through his saddle bags and pulled out the volume of classic Brajarn verse he'd carried with him for the past two decades. Its well-thumbed pages held many fond memories. And the potential for scores of fire arrows.' The careful structure of this vignette counterpoints the increasing chaos of life during the siege of Gotorget, and Keerawa's affection for the characters helps to keep the grimness at bay
[Added 06/08/2015; Character Piece; 2500-6000; LM Bujold – Chalion series]
The Saint, the Scholar, and the Whale by Neotoma
'Learned Bavo was pacing in a side courtyard, with his Islander guards like lazy cats around him. They were enormously tall, as if tree trunks had decided to put on clothes and walk like men, and their bushy beards made them even more like moving shrubbery.' This enjoyable & inventive tale, set in Jokona, succeeds in melding not just Penric–Desdemona canon but also The Hallowed Hunt with the Chalion sequence. The thoughtful world-building is supported by strong OCs
[Added 23/12/2017; Drama; 6000-20,000; LM Bujold – Chalion series]
Diabolis in Musica by Sistermagpie
'"The music's meant to encourage the congregation to contemplate the things for which they ought to be grateful Mr. Jasper,” he said. "Not put them in mind of hell." / "I don't believe there is music in hell," Mr. Jasper had answered softly.' Slow-building Victorian horror, with a wonderful Lovecraftian feel. I suspect this was not the resolution to the mystery that Dickens envisaged (Edwin Drood)
[Added 29/10/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; Charles Dickens]
Star by A T Rain
'At the time when my story takes place, I had been a widow for two years, my husband, Bentley Drummle, having died after being kicked by one of his hunters (for horses have this advantage over wives: nobody blames them if they kill the man who beats them).' Wonderful novelette-length sequel to Great Expectations, with a good sense of period and a strong voice for Estella
[Added 13/12/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Charles Dickens]
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]
A Life Worth Living by Slow Mercury
'Andrew Young in third grade once used a pack of this very gum to blow a bubble big enough to land on when he jumped out a second storey window and escaped from Crunchem Hall.' Inventive character study which cleverly undermines the moral of the original
[Added 15/02/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]
Ordinary Chocolate by Minerva McTabby
'Wonka's hat flew off. His hair streamed upward in whirling Medusa-locks. He opened his eyes to see a hundred gleaming pipes grow to web the ceiling, announcing their birth in a grating whine.' Minerva does a wonderful job of realising the exuberant magic of the factory in this story set after the Burton film
[Added 21/01/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]
Green As It Grows by Significantowl
'"People who look out of windows into the blackness of night are not in search of innocence," he murmured. "They chase the lurid," his mouth slipped lower, "the fantastical," and lower still, "why should we not give it to them?"' This vignette features perfect voices, especially for Rochester, and manages the tricky task of remaining exquisitely in character, even as the content moves well beyond where Jane Eyre treads
[Added 04/10/2013; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Charlotte Brontë]
'I would not be you for a kingdom' by Jane Carnall
'...When I was eighteen I had men at my feet, dying for one glance from my eye. I was so lovely that even other women were fond of me. I was accustomed to indulgence and admiration. I tell you, my dear, that look of amusement from Lucy Snowe piqued me.' An acute portrait of Ginevra Fanshawe, sympathetic without diminishing her faults (Villette)
[Added 28/02/2014; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Charlotte Brontë]
Mission by Solvent90
'There were curious scarlet flowers in the trees, some of which fallen underfoot and lay vivid as red silk in the black mud.' Evocative, sensual writing characterises this brief peek at an alternative ending for Jane Eyre. I love the way the piece echoes the original despite the very different setting
[Added 10/11/2008; Drama; 1000-2500; Charlotte Brontë]
Are We There Yet? (or, Fear and Loathing in Kent) by angevin2
'"If you don't shut up right now we're going to turn this pilgrimage around and go home!"' The Canterbury Tales as a road trip: Angevin gives us the bits that never found their way into the final version. I'm sure I'm missing most of the allusions here, and it's still hilarious
[Added 07/08/2009; Humour; 1000-2500; Chaucer]
Borderlands by Dynamicsymmetry
'Being someone’s lover is in itself a process of unseeing. You learn where to look and where not to. You learn which transgressions will result in your exile.' Dynamicsymmetry stretches The City & the City's concept of breach beyond the novel in this clever & thoughtful vignette
[Added 04/10/2013; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; China Miéville]
Green by Lnhammer
'Upside is "officially" international and modern but like everything here run by Personnel, the site is built on images from the Middle Kingdom -- auspicious cranes flap around the screen with message scrolls in their beaks, wise turtles offer compatibility advice.' Some things change over the centuries, but the problems faced by lovers stay the same. This story worked for me as original sf, with the various translations of the source, 'Walls of Emerald' by Li Shang-Yin, giving extra layers of meaning. The prose has the feel of poetry
[Added 27/05/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Chinese poetry]
A Snowflake and a Holly Crown by Rosie Rues
'Cat Chant was easy, all curves and squiggles, and he could knot his seal into it like tangled vines. Chrestomanci-in-waiting, however, felt like barbed wire, and needed to be sealed with lightning and panache.' Marianne has to rescue Cat in a satisfying adventure that would slot easily into canon, despite the fairy tale borrowings. There's plenty of magic, sympathetic villains, & just enough twists to keep things interesting (crossover with 'The Snow Queen')
[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; 6000-20,000; Diana Wynne Jones – Chrestomanci; Crossover]
The Young Chants by Ryfkah
'He kept thinking of all the time he had spent as a child worrying over whether he would recognize his father if he happened to meet him in the park. True, Julia was not really old enough to recognize most anybody yet, let alone go walking in the park; still, it seemed better to start as one meant to go on.' The challenges of combining Chrestomanci-ing with parenthood. 'The Young Chants' has pitch-perfect characterisations for the whole family, and reads just like a missing chunk of canon. Charming
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; Diana Wynne Jones – Chrestomanci]
Clap, Damn You by Emily Shore
'It was not easy being an operatic muse when your natural vocal endowments meant that you were cut out for a life as a tenor--or possibly a baritone, who could be certain?--in the BBC Singers.' Britten, Pears & the genesis of Gloriana. Believable characterisations & a delightful wry humour
[Added 01/02/2011; Humour; 2500-6000; Classical music RPF]
Agave in Illyria by Selden
'And I will hold my tongue which as we know is hardest for a woman, / Jackal and hide, laughing in doorways if you'll let them, behind the rows of little pots / In various shades of red.' The relationship between Agave & Semele, mixing ancient & modern, mad & sly, prose & poetry, and always slippery & disturbing
[Added 12/08/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Classical mythology; Adult]
Bakcheios by Emilyenrose
'That kind of ghoulish nonsense is exactly the kind of thing guaranteed to please a boy of a certain age, and it certainly stuck with me. I had nightmares for months of being chased through the night by a disfigured woman-shape with gold-plated bone fingers.' Gorgeous retelling of The Bacchae, which renders the tragedy more profound by making Pentheus thoroughly human
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Classical mythology]
Dark and Bright by Morbane
'For generations - so long that the reasons behind it were scarcely discussed - a hood had been hung about the head of the statue, to hide the lady's face from the sun. It might be sailcloth or leather, woven rushes or fine silk, but as soon as one hood wore away, the people of the city made another, and replaced it in darkness.' A haunting take on the tale of Eros & Psyche, strange & sensuous
[Added 21/05/2015; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Classical mythology]
Easy the Descent by Zdenka
'Bones are so heavy. She had forgotten. They seem to drag her down to the earth.' A thought-provoking vignette, which gives Eurydice agency and draws parallels with Persephone's fate (Orpheus & Eurydice)
[Added 09/08/2014; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Classical mythology]
My Father's House by Selden
'I knew what I was then, before I had a stone or arch or shady room, before the bull-boy ran down through me crying for his mother. I curled around my brother's fingertip, around my father's mind. I knew I was a place for loss, for keeping secrets, for forgetting, folding up and swallowing down.' A suitably dark & twisty story for the sentient Labyrinth. Original & creepy, with an ending that caught me by surprise
[Added 19/10/2017; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Classical mythology]
Patron of the Guard by Fresne
'While on patrol, they came upon Eualia, a down on her luck Heteara, who'd fallen a few ranks, and now liked to dip her sandals in red paint and mark the stones with the words, "Follow me," which at least meant she was looking for clientele who could read.' Enjoyable noirish casefic novelette, with an endearing Vimes-like OC. It's a bit uneven – I skipped all the dream sex on reread – but worth a try
[Added 31/10/2017; Drama; 6000-20,000; Classical mythology]
Persephone Lied by Spuffyduds
'Do you know what swineherds talk about? / Swine.' An amusing take on the Persephone myth. Helen Saito's expressive reading really brings out Persephone's emotions and the poem's humour
[Added 29/08/2013; Poetry; <1000; Classical mythology]
Persephone: Redux by Nightengale
'Do not tell me that you've been off gallivanting again with that Hades figure, Persephone, do not tell it me!' Neat revisioning of the Persephone story
[Added 03/01/2007; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Classical mythology]
Small Step For Man by Toft
'She has a different name, here, but she is still the same.' Artemis & Apollo through the ages. A reflection on the pitfalls of immortality, anchored in sharp details
[Added 07/08/2009; Drama; 2500-6000; Classical mythology; Adult]
Escape Artistry by David Hines
'"When a man binds an Amazon...she loses her strength."' The author deftly mixes plot, action & humour in this novella, as Batman & Wonder Woman each attempt to teach the other something. The dash of romance feels surprisingly believable
[Added 13/01/2011; Romance/Erotica; 20,000-50,000; Comics]
The Middle Way by Mithrigil
'His gangly and underfed body, beneath the wreck of his kimono, is covered in ofuda, holy seals that cling to him with paste. She doesn't know whether to remove them or not. Nobu was always so spiritual, so committed to the Way. There must be a purpose for them that she couldn't know.' A retelling of the Hulk's tragedy set in Sengoku era Japan, based on Genesischant's Sengoku Avengers. The fusion works amazingly well, & the Sengoku period is vividly conjured in well-chosen details
[Added 13/08/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Comics; Crossover]
Sleight by Llassah
'He is not a clever man. Not as other men are. He had an uncle, growing up, who could produce a dove from the sleeve of his robe. That is clever.' It's a bit of a clichÉ perhaps, but this harsh, gritty vignette does an excellent job of conveying all the horror & confusion of war in the complex relationship that binds the two enemies together
[Added 29/10/2014; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Coriolanus]
A Gentleman of Taste by athousandwinds
'"I don't like to say it," said Meg, not looking too sorry, "but this might be the only wedding of the year where the bridegroom outshone the bride."' Nothing profound here, but it's a lovely whimsical continuation of the novel, and the characters are spot on
[Added 07/08/2009; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Georgette Heyer – Cotillion]
Grown Men Do Things Together by Katta
'Real life does not resemble porn. That's why it's porn.' Dialogue at its best: delicious fun
[Added 30/12/2005; Humour; 1000-2500; Coupling]
love like mountains by Betony
'I know how our story is meant to end, with the lad who met the fair maiden as a child winning her hand at last, despite insurmountable obstacles. I have loved her as deep as mountains' roots go into the ground, as unchanging as their course.' A fascinating take on the Manaliabrid/Adon tale, which does a good job of fleshing out the characters
[Added 26/05/2015; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Diana Wynne Jones – Dalemark]
The Paths of the Undying by rosemaryandrue
'When she stopped to catch her breath, the old lady laid a hand on her arm, eyes bright with merriment, and whispered, "Love him and laugh with him and it won't matter how old he is."' A delicate take on Maewen's wait for Mitt, with a strong feel of the original
[Added 02/01/2009; Drama; 1000-2500; Diana Wynne Jones – Dalemark]
that same singing island voice by Betony
'Libby’s "scarlet locks" gleam in the sun, her "peridot eyes" flash with anger at least once a chapter; Ammet is suitably blond, mysterious, and elusive, and six hundred pages later, the two are finally wed. A wafer-thin plot to fuel such devotion from fans.' A diverse set of origin stories for Libby Beer: powerful & humorous by turns
[Added 28/10/2014; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Diana Wynne Jones – Dalemark]
The Ascent by Annakovsky
'He touches Daedalus Ascending again, the elongated, stylized features of Daedalus, his angular wings, his beaky nose. Barney's always pictured Daedalus as looking something like his Great-Uncle Merry, for some reason, and the figure resembles him a little. If Gumerry had ever flown with an Icarus beside him.' A sense of looming menace grips the reader right from the opening of this story, and Annakovsky deftly interweaves the mythic & the prosaic to capture the feel of the original books
[Added 10/11/2008; Drama; 2500-6000; Dark is Rising]
Folk Art of the Ocean by Merriman
'On one side of the door is a case full of scrimshaw. The items range from piano keys to drinking horns and magnifying lenses have been provided so people can inspect the details.' A subtle look at a possible future for Jane, which sidesteps the usual DiR tropes. Atmospheric & memorable
[Added 28/05/2012; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Dark is Rising]
The Land of Lost Content by Rochefort
'These paintings did not allow for any reflection. They pulled a response from the viewer, whether it was given freely it or not.' An unusual post-series adventure, featuring wonderful descriptions of dark magic
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 6000-20,000; Dark is Rising]
Only Revolutions by Cherry Ice
"Sometimes," Jane murmurs, Jana, Jano, "when I wake I can't quite remember my own name." A particularly strong take on the lost memories theme, lyrical & atmospheric
[Added 10/11/2008; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Dark is Rising]
Protection by Sheldrake
'At home in Bucks there was an old saying: it's not spring unless you can set foot on twelve daisies at once.' Good use of detail, believable dialogue and a poignant, plausible characterisation of Bran combine to make this short piece stand out
[Added 15/12/2004; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Dark is Rising]
Two Sides by Genarti
'There are two sides to her life, and both are real.' This brief study of light and dark offers an intriguing insight into one of the most neglected characters of the novels
[Added 15/12/2004; Character Piece; <1000; Dark is Rising]
Watch for the Greenwitch by Selden
'In the light from the bonfire the Greenwitch rose up, tall and ragged against the sky, like something from long ago. Not the fine past of the grail, of long spears and iron, thorny, intricate poetry and patterns. Not even the past, thought Jane, of neat sharp flints laid out on red velvet under museum lights, axes and arrowheads. Something older, like rough rock, the rings of yellow lichen spreading out through the years like ripples from a stone thrown into still water.' The luscious description really makes this unusual slow-building horror story, which spins off Greenwitch
[Added 20/01/2012; Drama; 1000-2500; Dark is Rising]
Operation Reunification by Blueteak
'He could understand why she had not cast him as a rescuer. After all, when people thought about the uses of Deus ex Machina they almost certainly never thought of Stasi captains.' Blueteak really gets into Weisler's head after the film, as he – & Dreyman – slowly come to terms with the tragedy. Weisler's report-like viewpoint is leavened with a deep tenderness & flashes of sly humour
[Added 29/10/2014; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Das Leben der Anderen]
The Brain Thief by Hollimichele
'Policemen have their own walk. It's called "proceeding," and it is the gentle, rolling gait of every law enforcement officer in the history of the multiverse. It is a constant, like the deliberate dimness of sergeants or the missing three dollars in the tea kitty.' A meaty casefile for Sam Vimes, Jr. The style slips a bit in places, but there's plenty of world-building detail to hold the interest
[Added 15/07/2012; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Discworld]
The Case of the Vanishing Vampire by Adaptation Decay
'Visit shot a sideways look at Reg Shoe which said "Yeah? Well look at the evidence. The children of Om ascend to heaven when they die and you're still here."' A novella-length casefile in which Reg Shoe & Visit-The-Ungodly-With-Explanatory-Pamphlets form an unlikely investigative duo. A little rough around the edges, perhaps, but well worth a try for the solid mystery laced with a broad streak of humour
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Discworld]
Certainties by Nomad
'It's common knowledge that to summon Death, you need skulls, rams' horns, dribbly candles, an octogram and a great deal of chanting. It's slightly less common knowledge that all you actually need are a few sticks and four cc of mouse blood, or possibly a fresh egg.' Nomad's got Pratchett's style down, and this reads just like a missing fragment of canon, with a pitch-perfect voice for Vetinari
[Added 29/10/2014; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Discworld]
Going It Alone by Nomad
'You couldn't feed a goat in a dress with ribboned sleeves, or walk a mile through the woods in shoes with pointed toes. But a good bit of lace would strain tea, and beads would fill a tin can noise-maker to scare the birds, and there was never any shortage of uses for unravelled wool and scraps of cloth.' Nomad laces the wicked humour with pathos in this portrait of the young Esme Weatherwax, as sharp as the witch herself
[Added 04/10/2013; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Discworld]
Harmless by Kanna Ophelia
'"Nevertheless," said Vetinari, "you have to admit that the hole in the wall was distinctly Golem shaped."' A bit rough around the edges, but catches Pratchett's broad humour better than much fanfiction. There's a cute stealth crossover to look out for, too
[Added 21/09/2012; Humour; 2500-6000; Discworld]
The Importance of Being Mostly Human by Gogollescent
'Time stopped. Not in the literal and unromantic sense common to Susan's life, which if mapped chronologically would have looked like one of those graphs that tells you absolutely nothing about anything except the psychology of the grapher, and had none of the organizational advantages of people who really did have to live in the moment. Rather, Susan looked at Sam and felt the world slow.' Gogollescent weaves together threads from various novels to create a satisfying story that could easily have been written by Pratchett. Superb
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; Discworld]
Like Clockwork by Halotolerant
'They move on like mechanical figures in an ornamental clock: set on their tracks, ever repeating, ever smooth and ordered, ever prevented from collision.' Vetinari isn't one of the Discworld characters that I know, but this precise & subtle study makes me want to. Highly recommended
[Added 28/01/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Discworld]
Mister Vimes'd Go Spare! by Lunik
'The bad news that was travelling tonight damn near outstripped the people carrying it. It felt to Lance-Constable Mangas as though everyone knew this news before it was spoken. By the time it came through the door of the Peristeri Street Watch House, it was already olds.' An interesting idea for a possible future for the Disc. One of those stories that just sets straight into canon
[Added 21/09/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Discworld]
Modern Love by Penknife
'"Nobody's she in the mines, Sergeant. No one wears heels on their boots or paints their faces or wears breastplates that curve in interesting ways."' Penknife uses a series of vivid OCs to bring to life the complexities of dwarven sexuality, in this clever, funny set of linked vignettes
[Added 20/05/2009; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Discworld]
On Being Female by Nomad
'Carrot's personal slant on reality had a way of tilting everything in the immediate vicinity, leaving you wondering if you were the one who'd been standing at a funny angle all along.' A perfect little slice of canon, with a slightly different [cough] slant on the dwarf gender debate
[Added 04/10/2013; Humour; 1000-2500; Discworld]
One Sister Have I in Our House by Astro Knight
'The Weatherwaxes had always been highly attuned to magic. It was in the blood. / Lily took to it not so much like a fish to water but more like a match would to a fireworks factory.' A lovely braided story, focusing on Esme's differences from – and similarities to – her sister. The slight twist in the tail is a bonus
[Added 16/01/2014; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Discworld]
The Physician of Miracles and Death by Minutia R
'It's traditional when introducing a new student to a class in the middle of the year to stand him up in front of the first row of desks, right in the center. This allows the other students to size up his weak spots at their leisure, while all the new student can make out is a sea of nameless, scrutinizing eyes, and also the taste of whatever he had for breakfast at the back of his throat.' A wonderful blend of humour & melancholy, like the best of canon, marks this loose retelling of Godfather Death in the Discworld
[Added 14/04/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Discworld; Crossover]
The Rules by Gileonnen
'There aren't very many rules, when one is a wizard. Or rather, there are very few rules that one might conceivably break twice.' Clever coming-of-age tale with a wonderful Pratchettesque style
[Added 20/05/2009; Humour; 2500-6000; Discworld]
A Shot In The Dark Aimed Right At My Throat by gyzym
'Lady Sybil Ramkin is seventeen and unmarried the day she meets Havelock Vetinari. This is, unfortunately, the way Sybil is defined by most of the people she knows and wishes she didn't; it's always Lady Ramkin: unmarried, as opposed to Lady Ramkin: friendly or Lady Ramkin: kind to animals or Lady Ramkin: actually considerably more intelligent than you, Lord Rust, but thank you for your attention.' Strong characterisations all round in this tale of Lady Sybil & her two favourite men
[Added 25/01/2019; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Discworld]
'Tis Impossible To Be Sure Of Any Thing by Karanguni
'There was almost a sense that he'd cheated somehow; as though seeing Death around the corner during some of his assignments was some kind of unfair advantage that the gods had extended a scholarship boy.' Winds neatly around canon to a perfect ending that could easily have been written by Pratchett
[Added 15/04/2015; Drama; 6000-20,000; Discworld]
See You Real Soon by Bossy Marmalade
'Minnie doesn't ask how his nephews are. Minnie minds her own business and doesn't meet his rolling, translucent eyes.' A strange, memorable short that paints horror movie red & black over Disney pastels
[Added 06/12/2011; Drama; <1000; Disney cartoons]
Almost all recommendations are from the new series
18 Seconds by Kate Bolin
'He starts off by going north. Even though 'north' is a somewhat moot point when travelling in the five dimensions, it's still a place to start.' A neat character study of the Ninth Doctor. My favourite of the many stories that tell where/when the Doctor went in the titular 18 seconds
[Added 29/03/2007; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Doctor Who]
A Change in the Wind by Beatrice Otter
'Domaripopexnal—currently calling herself 'Marie Babineaux,' and before that 'Mary Poppins,' and before that 'Maria Pabst'—studied the list of errands the housekeeper had given her when she and her charges had left the house that morning.' My favourite of several stories from Yuletide 2011 exploring this delightful premise. Domaripopexnal underlines how different the Doctor is from other Gallifreyans (Doctor Who/Mary Poppins)
[Added 27/05/2012; Drama; 1000-2500; Doctor Who; Crossover]
Entangled by Doyle
'You’ve always liked the thought of non-locality.' A clever & surprisingly sympathetic portrait of Adam, with a generous side helping of physics
[Added 13/06/2005; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Doctor Who]
Errant by Novembersmith
'The money has blood on it, but gas stations attendants and truck stop waitresses don't seem to mind. It spends like it was clean, and he doesn't have to drive for anyone but himself, now.' Atmospheric vignette with a neat crossover idea. I haven't seen Drive, but this caught me in the first paragraph and didn't let me go (Doctor Who/Drive)
[Added 27/05/2012; Drama; 1000-2500; Doctor Who; Crossover]
Experimental Science by Corona
'Donna pushes the phone under her chin, talking into the mouth piece with both hands full and it's a bit fiddly but it's not like she isn't used to all that plastic and metal and shiny parts. She's barely concentrating because Melanie's telling her about how woman past a certain age shouldn't wear hot pants and tights without expecting to be mercilessly ribbed for all eternity.' Corona captures Donna's voice perfectly in this bittersweet but ultimately optimistic take on her fate. I wish this were canon
[Added 10/01/2014; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Doctor Who]
An Inordinate Fondness by Dame Ruth
'"It's like being stuck inside a New Age relaxation video!"' This extended vignette meanders a bit, but with excellent character voices & interesting world building, I'm happy to go along for the ride
[Added 05/08/2008; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Doctor Who]
Looked Up in Perfect Silence at the Stars by Doyle
'If she concentrated with every ounce of herself she could see wisps of colour against the sky, a shadow of the Northern Lights.' A clever, disturbing short, set on Gallifrey, which centres around the Time War
[Added 29/03/2007; Drama; 1000-2500; Doctor Who]
No Man's Land by Ellen Fremedon
'"This whole landscape is wrong. It's not just a matter of a few lost days--this isn't the war I remember."' Captain Harkness meets Major Wimsey in the trenches in this plotty crossover novella. Wimsey's voice is particularly well realised (Doctor Who/Dorothy L Sayers)
[Added 01/02/2011; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Doctor Who; Crossover]
No Sleepers Must Sleep by Fahye
'"Queen Lucy the Valiant," he says, and she can't work out if he's teasing her or not. "Do you have valour, do you think?"' A portrait of Lucy Cole as she becomes Lucy Saxon. Mesmerising and disturbing in equal parts
[Added 11/07/2008; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Doctor Who]
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]
Paleolinguistics, Paleolinguistics (The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Remix) by Astrogirl & KindKit
'A language with one speaker is a dead tongue. A language with two is alive.' Intriguing pair of shorts which highlight the differences & similarities between the Doctor & the Master
[Added 15/07/2008; Character Piece; <1000; Doctor Who]
Planned Obsolescence by Miggy
'Should an agent find himself/herself/itself stranded, he/she/it should immediately place an approved distress beacon model at a location that will hold a prominent place in the upcoming timeline of the area.' A clever story set after 'The Parting of the Ways', very much in the spirit of the series
[Added 05/12/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Doctor Who]
The Polar Bears' Golf Club by Doyle
'Travelling with the Doctor, she'd sometimes thought about dying, but she'd never imagined it like this ... while she was posing as a schoolboy and wearing a really big false moustache.' Longer adventures are relatively rare in this fandom and this is a real treat, with just the right blend of slapstick humour, wacky action & clever plotting
[Added 05/08/2008; Drama; 2500-6000; Doctor Who]
The Ragged Edge by Jonquil
'On Gallifrey, each baby falls down only once.' Memorable short which captures both the alienness and the uniqueness of the Doctor
[Added 11/07/2008; Character Piece; <1000; Doctor Who]
The Red Maw and the Blue Box by Lindenharp
'You would have laughed to see him. He belonged to one of those nearly-bald species that have no proper pelt, just a patch of fur on top of the head. His face was as pale as wet sand, and his hair mud-coloured. His eyes were brown, though no one who looked into them would dare call them mud-coloured.' Lindenharp expands a throwaway line from canon and gives a chilling outsider's perspective on the Doctor
[Added 04/08/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; Doctor Who]
So Let the Bells Ring Out by Doyle
'The flat hadn't burnt down and the Doctor hadn't disappeared; the microwave was in a hundred bits across the living room floor, but since it had fallen off the back of a Dixon's lorry in the first place he didn't think Jackie could complain too much.' Mickey, after 'The Christmas Invasion'. Doyle has an eye for dialogue, and the characters are all absolutely spot on
[Added 12/07/2008; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Doctor Who]
Spring Cleaning by infiniteviking
'He had changed; the equations had not.' Well-written portrait of regeneration from the inside
[Added 01/06/2005; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Doctor Who]
To Make In Hell For Us A Heaven by LJC
'Her blonde hair was twisted into a simple chignon that made him want to introduce entropy into her carefully maintained existence.' LJC draws parallels with Nine & Rose in this character study of the Master in relation to Lucy
[Added 05/08/2008; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Doctor Who]
A Triumph of Necessity by mswyrr
'The human body wasn't quite up to snuff.' Clever, funny & poignant, all at the same time. The shipper fic to end all shipper fic!
[Added 01/06/2005; Humour; <1000; Doctor Who]
Ulysses by Rheanna
'It's like a fingerprint on his soul, the one remaining touch of the fantastic on a life which has been in every other respect absolutely and perfectly unremarkable.' Insightful AU in which 'Human Nature'/'Family of Blood' ended differently
[Added 11/07/2008; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Doctor Who]
The War to End All Wars by Snowballjane
A precisely characterised short story, with more of the feel of an episode than much Ninth Doctor fiction. While the WW1 setting is a common one, here it's used to good effect in drawing parallels with the Doctor
[Added 22/07/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Doctor Who]
Godma, or, The Seven Stages of Grace by Merlin Missy
'Her friends are starting families, yet all they have to worry about are what colleges to save up for, and the hundred little darker worries every parent has about car accidents and child predators. Bethany has to consider the near-surety that her child is destined to wind up murdered for the sake of the rest of the world.' This long loosely knit sequel loops in all the film's players, and successfully balances a suitably offbeat humour with flashes of serious insight
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 2500-6000; Dogma]
The Priest that Tastes the World by Proserpina
'Being the Voice of God could be a confusing experience. He was never quite sure which thoughts were his own and which were the speech of God.' Sweet & funny, with some perfect observations on the deity
[Added 30/12/2005; Humour; 1000-2500; Dogma]
The Long Dance by Temaris
'When the first dog died, because dogs burn faster than humans, he brought a pup at midwinter, a scant three months old, full blooded, and said, "There and the return also," and she bowed her head stiffly, burning with the need to ride.' Wonderful mythic envisioning of Katherine's life, with a final line that's just perfect
[Added 10/11/2008; Drama; <1000; Diana Wynne Jones – Dogsbody]
The Last Days of Dr Seward by Hedge Witch
'...I walk distractedly from the Prinsengracht to Dam square shuddering every time I catch sight of my reflection, twisted and elongated by the canals. What seeps through into them from the surrounding mud? All that lies in the earth is fixed, but if it reaches the water, might it not bob up?' Hedge Witch builds a powerful sense of dread in this dark, ambiguous coda to the novel
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 2500-6000; Dracula]
Shattered Mirrors by Assimbya
'Jonathan wants to tell her something in response, some sort of comfort or reassurance, but he sees, as though inevitably, that the white clips in her dark hair are made from human teeth, and the image silences him.' Intense imagery as Jonathan loses his mind. The blend of surreal & prosaic is particularly unsettling
[Added 01/02/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Dracula]
Sympathy of Wolves by GreenSpine
'I wondered, admiring, at the great care He had taken to drive the wooden stake through her body without touching her heart or stealing her voice, for that was the touch of His true love, just as the tendernesses of my past were His violence.' An original viewpoint renews the age-old tale
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Dracula]
Great Piece of Turf by Selden
'In hell, time runs like molten glass, often exceeding slow, and losing none of its weight or bulk along the way. And Bosola, it may be said, runs with it. When he is called upon for business, he is blown out as it were, like glass again, into his old shape, albeit a spirit in nature and essence.' Selden has an amazing way with words that suits the macabre subject matter perfectly. Not for the faint of heart
[Added 15/10/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; Duchess of Malfi; Adult]
A Child's Apogee in the Black by Kass
'Sleek and long as coiled cables, mincing and pouncing, they would glide and goosestep over the heating ducts, and the cyberenhanced hunters, Jane and I, imagining ourselves in spacesuits barely-tethered to the ship's pockmarked exterior, would proffer our leftover protein shreds as though to alien lifeforms on an uncharted planet.' Re-envisioning of 'A Child's Christmas in Wales' which clings tight to the original, underlining surprising parallels between the worlds, but leaves room for some wonderful inventive flourishes
[Added 12/08/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; Dylan Thomas]
A Broken Spear by Isis
'A year, Liathan thought, should have been sufficient. An entire year to wash away his shame in the turning of the wheel of the seasons, to make him new and whole again.' A thoughtful study of the aftermath of The Eagle of the Ninth from the loser's point of view. The drumbeat motif binds the vignette together
[Added 19/07/2012; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Eagle of the Ninth]
Fastened Down by Sineala
'His fate and that damned Aquila's were as weights on the opposite ends of a scale. And now, as Aquila's fortunes rose, his own were sinking. Aquila must have done something to him. There could be no other explanation.' A delicious little humorous take on post-canon Placidus. Sineala really knows her history
[Added 15/01/2019; Humour; 1000-2500; Rosemary Sutcliff – Eagle of the Ninth]
Like a Lioness by Tanaqui
'"A Red Crest?" Shula snorted. "We should knife him and throw him on the dung-heap for the dogs!" / Murna had been about to kneel again, but she swung her head up, sudden fury surging within her. "Has he not claimed the guest-right?" True, the man was more outside than in, but he had crossed the threshold.' The herstory of Murna & Guern. A brilliant example of canonically plausible minor character building, which, in the words of the recipient, is 'practically Jane Austen in Roman Britain'. Simply adorable!
[Added 14/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Eagle of the Ninth]
To Suffer Brave Things by Carmarthen
'Placidus knew he was handsome, and he had the connections and wealth to do much for a man who pleased him. ... And no one had ever been any less than pleased with him, he was sure of it, except perhaps Claudia, and that was only because she was a chaste woman who did not feel such desires.' A meaty novelette, mixing book & film canon, that tells of how Placidus grows up. Book-Placidus seems to exist to be Marcus's opposite, and I love stories like this that develop a more-balanced picture. I suspect his portrayal here could be classified on the autism spectrum, and his fumblings towards a meaningful relationship with his wife feel raw & authentic. There's bags of fascinating historical details to enjoy along the way, too [archive locked]
[Added 15/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Eagle of the Ninth; Adult]
Calling to the Wind by Leaf Litter
'"My mother named me Tenar after all, and I am still Tenar, I have returned to being Tenar. But she is Apple now, and then she won't be Apple later. Not, ha, not right at her core."' Thoughtful piece about mothers & daughters, with interesting insights into how the meaning of names might change after the events of The Other Wind
[Added 27/05/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
Calving by Melannen
'The visitor was lordly, handsome, and young, more or less.' Beautifully captures the style of 'On the High Marsh', and the characterisations are just perfect
[Added 30/12/2005; Drama; 1000-2500; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
The Dark of the Moon by Daegaer
'"You danced so fast at the Dark of the Moon that no one could see how you would not be cut," Thar said. "You should practice more, you are not yet as fast as Arha-that-was."' A short but powerful piece that encompasses Arha's past, present & future
[Added 25/04/2009; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
Dark Sands by Penintime
'The women of the island Sort are known in all the Reaches for their craft. They collect the lumps of black volcanic glass that wash up on the dark sands which gave the island its name, and use arcane methods to shape them into ethereal vessels.' An unusual, unpredictable story with the feel of a fairy tale set in Earthsea. The ending is perfect
[Added 28/05/2012; Drama; 1000-2500; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
The Eaten One by Daegaer
'In years to come, Tenar will look back on her days here at the Place, will see the years of her youth with a certain longing.' There isn't a lot of Earthsea fanfiction, and this unusual little vignette is among the best I've encountered
[Added 15/12/2004; Character Piece; <1000; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
The Ending From the Beginning by Northland
'Even before she fled the Place of the Tombs, Penthe had never been a very good priestess. She had not been one of the novices who could read omens in the flight of birds or the spattered blood of a sacrifice. Still, she knew that the messengers must have something to do with the Place. Who else would ride such fine beasts to seek out an old farmwife in the hill country of Atuan?' A thoughtful take on a future Penthe, which answers a question I'd also pondered. Northland does a good job of fusing Tombs of Atuan with later canon, almost (dare I say it) better than Le Guin herself
[Added 27/12/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
Epithalamium by Wild Iris
'"But water is always different," Therru says. "My father told me that. Every wave that rolls in to Gont Port once broke upon the rocks of SolÉa when it was new."' Wild Iris achieves a delicate balance here between Therru & Tehanu, the girl firmly rooted in the prosaic Gontish life & the embodiment of the mysterious Other. The writing has a lovely sense of mystery and poetry
[Added 25/04/2009; Drama; 1000-2500; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
The Eye and the Storm by Pene
'The cliffs there are a honeycomb of rock faces and tiny caves. Seppel set his treasure there. He rested curved sticks in hollows, placed shells carefully on ledges and glued shiny stones to rock walls in an instinctive and increasing pattern.' An unusual story with a strong sense of place, which feels like a lost chapter from Tales from Earthsea
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 2500-6000; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
The Fitting by Kainosite
'Everyone wore their best clothes, and the ladies looked like a giant field of desert poppies in their red veils and their round, wide-brimmed hats.' A perceptive coming-of-age story for Seserakh, which does a good job of fleshing out The Other Wind's Muslim re-envisioning of the Kargish Empire
[Added 28/10/2014; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
The Ghost of Orrimy by Rosie Rues
'Now, it came about that, in the days when there was still an Archmage on Roke, a restless spirit arose in the hills above Orrimy, and came down into the town with the winter.' A lovely fable with a great dash of wry humour
[Added 19/01/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
in silence, and in splendor by mjules
'She thinks it was neater the first time, the way she grew inside her grave-clothes, inside the rituals of the Nameless Ones.' A beautifully written study of Tenar after Tombs that retreads some old ground, but emerges somewhere fresh by the end
[Added 29/10/2014; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
The Inner Dark by Altariel
A quiet, beautifully-written piece, which weaves perfectly into canon and gives an intriguing take on Thar's motivations
[Added 19/08/2005; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
Lighting the Lamps by Solvent90
'After the desert and the dark, the bright complexity of village life had been a strange new pattern to learn, a maze she stumbled in, feeling young and awkward and foreign.' A quiet, unsentimental vignette, with excellent characterisations, which slots seamlessly into Tehanu
[Added 03/01/2007; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
The Minnow and the Dragon by Raspberryhunter
'Yarrow had been rather hoping that they might go to Orret's shop to see if new silks had come from Lorbanery. Since Fennel's birth her beloved loom had sat mostly idle in the corner of their house. Yet still she loved to run the fine threads through her fingers, deep sapphire and flaming crimson flowing like water through her hands.' Lovely short, very much in the spirit of the early trilogy, in which Yarrow & Vetch share a brief adventure. Sweet but never cloying, with an ending that brought tears to my eyes
[Added 23/12/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
Mother Tongue by Elle Dritch
''He is my brother and I love him, and after all you only get one family. But oh! if he doesn't go and be my brother elsewhere very soon, I shall fetch him a clout on the ear he'll not forget!'' This quiet coda to Tehanu reads like a missing chapter from the novel, and brings its narrator, Apple, to life as she tries to understand her family's choices
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
The Naming of Names by Victoria P.
'His eyes widen. "Orglath," he whispers, naming them in the Speech of the Making. She shivers involuntarily -- to name a thing is to call it, and the orglath are far too close for such casual mention.' Victoria does a surprisingly convincing job of melding Earthsea and Buffy canon in this short piece. I only wish it were longer!
[Added 15/12/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea; Crossover]
The Song of the Silent by Werecat
'When the candles have burned down, when the people lie in deep, leaden sleep and silence fills the halls, another feast commences.' This tale of otaks at the Sunreturn literally gives a voice to the silent. An unusual & moving short
[Added 25/04/2009; Drama; <1000; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
Sparkweed by Minerva McTabby
A new twist to Jasper & Ged's rivalry. Great tense dialogue & dead-accurate characterisations make this encounter slide surprisingly easily into canon
[Added 19/08/2005; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
Thistledown by Edo no Hana
'"I want to speak to dragons, and sail to the end of the world, and never eat another rutabaga."' This slow-burning vignette does an excellent job of melding the prosaic & the magical
[Added 19/01/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
To Market by Antosha
'Betimes, when he woke in their bed in the morning, he thought that he could smell her. But all that came to his mind when he tried to remember the sound of her voice was a dry land. Mountains like cut glass.' A subtle, well-shaped vignette which turns the ghost that is Flint in canon into a living breathing character
[Added 25/04/2009; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
Unbinding by Lila Futuransky
'The line of eaten girls, the line she broke, stretches behind her.' This tiny ficlet packs a great deal of thought into its short space
[Added 19/01/2011; Character Piece; <1000; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
Uneaten by Avanti 90
'"The little woman’s got a stick to walk with, and she tries to hold it like a wizard’s staff!" He came closer, unsheathing the long knife from his belt. "Give us all your money, white lady, and no one hurts you."' A set of plausible alternative futures for Tenar, each of which represents a more feminist choice than the path she embraces in Tehanu. Thoughtful & unusual
[Added 16/07/2012; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
The Veins of the Forest by Ellen Fremedon
'Metteir wore the crimson standard as her cloak all winter and spring. And when in summer she bore a son, she swaddled him in it, and she called him Azver, which is 'war-banner' in the Kargish tongue.' Luscious prose studded with precise details characterises this backstory, which could come straight from Tales of Earthsea
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
White Hallows by Melannen
'"I did it," her mother said, through heavy-lidded eyes, her words feathered from her childhood on Osskill, "I did it because you needed to be taught a lesson about reaching beyond your place. And because I could."' A complex & highly plausible look at the dysfunctional family of the Lord of Re Albi, set during A Wizard of Earthsea but drawing on Tehanu. A memorable story with some gorgeous word pictures, which repays rereading
[Added 25/04/2009; Drama; <1000; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
Whole by Northland
'Alder...hadn't known that bone was alive, like chambered sea coral or the heart of a great tree, until he learned it from Lily.' A beautiful vignette, full of vivid details
[Added 14/01/2011; Romance/Erotica; <1000; Ursula Le Guin – Earthsea]
East of the Sun, West of the Moon
The Troll Princess by Shannon
'I went after him with a girl's hot passion, I melted for him, I scrubbed my heart raw against him. I got over him with a woman's cold and careful anger, chipping, chipping at the love until none of it was left.' Cute re-envisaging of 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon', with a lovely dry humour
[Added 11/11/2008; Humour; <1000; East of the Sun, West of the Moon]
Will End in Fire by Ghost Lingering
'It was the laughter in the wind and the sound of a boy's pranking and it tasted like the burnt out match at the end of summer.' A bittersweet treasure that fits with the original yet dares to move beyond it. Strongly recommended
[Added 13/01/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Diana Wynne Jones – Eight Days of Luke]
And Have Their Chance of Joy by Penguin
'The city was empty as only a city can be – filled with people, but not the ones you want.' A lush portrayal of George & Lucy's happy ending, with a final scene that's just perfect (A Room with a View)
[Added 28/01/2011; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; EM Forster]
The Home Front by Kindkit
'The war hasn't changed the way rich men get their pennies from poor men's pockets. Just speeded it up, maybe.' Sharp characterisation of an older Scudder. His perspectives on class & patriotism are particularly interesting (Maurice)
[Added 28/01/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; EM Forster]
A Mirror Distorted by Shirasade
'Clive had almost resolved to feel nothing but pity for the man.' A sad but plausible glimpse at one path Clive might take after the end of the novel (Maurice)
[Added 07/08/2009; Drama; <1000; EM Forster]
Stamp'd On These Lifeless Things by Halotolerant
'Alone, Cecil could be Cecil. When she broke their engagement, Lucy had said to him that when he came into contact with other people he destroyed them. What she had not seen was that the reverse was true - around others, Cecil was never how he wanted to be.' A subtle vignette, which offers a wonderful portrait of Cecil in all his complexity (A Room with a View)
[Added 07/08/2009; Drama; 1000-2500; EM Forster]
Poignant Sting by Ione
'Emma found it difficult to smother a sigh as Miss Bates rattled the cups, lost the jam spoon and found it again in the beaufet, then trod upon her own hem, commenting and questioning and marveling the while on these and other tiresome minutiae.' Emma seems the most difficult Austen for a writer to penetrate, and some aspects of Ione's sequel weren't entirely successful for me. It's well worth a try, however, for its unexpected insight into Miss Bates, which has gone straight into my personal canon
[Added 07/08/2009; Drama; 6000-20,000; Jane Austen – Emma]
saga hwæt ic hatte by Selden
'I saw him once, standing among them, watching me pick rushes. The mist lay heavy that morning and we were both casting shadows through it, longer and greater than ourselves. But his was muddled among the spines and flowers of the blackthorn, so that the mist and the blossom and the black branches hung at his back like a wave about to break.' Luscious, dense, layered writing that repays rereading, circling round to a perfect ending. I don't know the source (mainly the Wife's Lament) but this stands alone. Simply lovely!
[Added 25/12/2017; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Exeter Book]
All the Old Knives by Selden
'Bind me with red thread, she said to the woods. / Bind my eyes with goat-gut and my mouth with bone splinters. / Bind between my legs with copper, copper teeth and bright red berries.' A fantastic alternative ending for Kyllikki, told in gorgeous harsh colours. Wonderful!
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 1000-2500; Finnish mythology]
Love-Rejecting Aino by Assimbya
'This was her home, and she would not leave it, ever, not even if it meant she had to leave hidden in the woods and surviving on mushrooms and berries, she didn’t care, she wouldn’t, couldn’t leave.' Moving take on Aino's tale, with a perfect ending
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Finnish mythology]
Plum Blossom Song by Unovis
'In a small scarlet book, in neatly inked numbers, Inara tracked her year according to Sihnon.' A delicious little peek into the Companion's way of life. Delicately written, with a deft mix of humour & sadness
[Added 19/08/2005; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Firefly]
Something in Leather by Mosca
'Kaylee...was lost in the imaginary world where she was a magical cowgirl princess. Wash understood imaginary worlds and was cautious of interfering in them.' A clever ensemble character piece, cunningly masquerading as kinkfic
[Added 19/08/2005; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Firefly]
Dear Friends and Ruin by Minerva McTabby
'This must be what it's like to find a diamond.' Very believable expansion of a few lines in the source that made me long to revisit the original (A Little Princess)
[Added 30/12/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Frances Hodgson Burnett]
A Garden in the Punjab by Rosemaryandrue
'Amarjeet pushed aside a curtain of flowers, and stepped into the heart of the garden. In here, she could barely see the walls of the house. It was a secret garden, a Punjabi garden in the midst of the British Raj.' Sympathetic original characters inhabit this vivid story of three women and another secret garden (The Secret Garden)
[Added 01/02/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Frances Hodgson Burnett]
Wick by Orichalxos
'The war has passed through the Sowerbys like a scythe through dry grass.' A delicate, moving story on the power of nature to heal. Simply wonderful (The Secret Garden)
[Added 01/02/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Frances Hodgson Burnett]
Letter to Mrs Salville, England by Cefyr
'I hesitate, dear sister, to write what I know I have to; many times now have I laid down my pen, as if the very act of setting down on paper the latest course of events would somehow make them less real.' A thoughtful piece which takes an unusual look at the moral questions of the novel
[Added 15/04/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Frankenstein]
The Disciple by Riventhorn
'A colony of bees, Lucius thought. They would make such a sweetness of honeycomb, golden as the amber necklace his mother used to wear. He must have bees. And a little pond by the orchard to keep stocked with fish.' A delicate meditation on Lucius: his faith, his hopes, and his unlikely friendship with Hilarion
[Added 09/01/2014; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Frontier Wolf]
Not the Emperor's Bodyguard by Bunn
'Julius Gavros did not know whether to laugh or cry, seeing his new command for the first time: a tumble-down fort in the furthest corner of the world, with the gulls crying over it in the grey drizzle, a thin mewing that sounded utterly remote from the world of men.' How did a man like Gavros end up in command of the Frontier Wolves? Bunn's plausible answer conjures a wonderful picture of the abandoned Castellum
[Added 09/01/2014; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Rosemary Sutcliff – Frontier Wolf]
This Last Thing by Isis
'"You – you gave me this wound." / "I did," agreed Cunorix. His smile broadened as he turned on his side, looking at Alexios; the corners of his mouth turned cruel, and his eyes darkened. "And I shall give you many more."' The tragedy of Alexios & Cunorix is central to the novel, and this eerie story continues their relationship after Cunorix's death, to a poignant conclusion. Superb
[Added 24/08/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Frontier Wolf]
The Alien Lover by Peet4paint
'They looked so different from Laliari's people, with only two tentacles and such terribly long mandibles.' Interesting alien point of view, with serious insight into body dysphoria interlaced with broad humour
[Added 28/05/2012; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Galaxy Quest]
Episode Thirty-Three: 'The Dark Reflection' by Lizardbeth
'"Don. I'm not saying Evil Tawny needs to dress like a nun, okay? You want a little T and A, I'm okay with that. I don't eat lettuce and oranges because I like them, after all; I have to avoid the craft table so I don't look like a hippo on camera."' Galaxy Quest fanfiction, like the show, has a tendency to short-change Gwen, so it's nice to see her getting a chance to be awesome for once
[Added 28/05/2012; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Galaxy Quest]
The Headaches, the Heartaches, the Backaches, the Flops by Maidenjedi
'All Gwen heard was that they thought she could be like Farrah Fawcett, and wasn't that enough for a girl whose biggest role in Hollywood to date had been as a serial killer's victim in a made-for-tv movie, only the scene had been cut?' Gwen's story, season by season. This is exactly how it went
[Added 29/08/2013; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Galaxy Quest]
The Rebirth of Brandon Wheeger by Janice Chess
'He's always chosen fantasy over reality. But that's not stupid, that's smart, because reality sucks.' A wonderful coming-of-age tale, which will make geek hearts happy all over the galaxy. Sweet & funny
[Added 17/07/2009; Drama; 6000-20,000; Galaxy Quest]
SMOF by Hollimichele
'I’m a n00b, by Quest standards--started watching with the New Adventures, right as LJ was taking off.' An exploration of what GQ fandom might be like, which turns into an affectionate portrait of fandom itself. Great fun!
[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Galaxy Quest]
The Illusionist by Stultiloquentia
'In daylight, he was both fox and not-fox; eyes too large and paws too dexterous, and a coat that seemed to shift as she watched, now a red summer pelt, now a man's quilted jacket, now a weaving of leaves and bark.' A thoughtful, slow-building prequel to the poem, which puts a clever twist on Jeanie's story and brings the goblins to life
[Added 01/02/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; Goblin Market]
Nectar of the Honeymen by Borusa
'The honeymen do not sell their drug. You cannot buy it in a little pouch; you cannot take it home in a vial. They guard its secret jealously, because they could not stand competition.' An inventive re-envisioning of the poem in a dystopic future, featuring a wonderful Lizzie, grimly practical in her love for her sister
[Added 29/10/2014; Drama; 1000-2500; Goblin Market]
Queer Fruits by Mayhap
'She peeped from beneath the lowered golden fringe of modest maiden lashes and she peered around fingers and handkerchiefs and fans and she darted glances as swift as arrows, as mild as doves, as knowing as serpents.' Lush overblown language & a profusion of striking images mark this subversive prequel to the poem
[Added 01/02/2011; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Goblin Market]
Too Much, Too Little by Cheapmetaphor
'She has her own pursuits. Music, pottery, an upstairs bathroom in major need of redecorating.' A delicate character study that feels much longer than its thousand words
[Added 30/12/2005; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Good Life]
All Better by Shati
'Good was like Evil, only different.' A particularly dark coda to the book: all too believable
[Added 21/03/2006; Drama; 1000-2500; Good Omens]
City of Angels by afrai
'Ironic, you know, that Change will be one of the things that do not change. Brilliant work. Brilliant.' A unique view of creation, featuring lovely portraits of our favourite angel & demon before all that Sauntering-Vaguely-Downwards stuff
[Added 21/03/2006; Drama; 2500-6000; Good Omens]
Compromising Positions by Vulgarweed
'Hail Gaius Caesar, son of Germanicus. There’s just no competing with him, so I intend to enjoy my redundancy.' A little Saturnalia pre-Arrangement arrangement results in delicious geek porn: literate, funny & hot in equal measures
[Added 21/03/2006; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Good Omens; Adult]
Da Capo Aria by Lady Oneiros
'I like the stars the best. They are always ready to die, and they never say a word.' An unusual story with a deft mixture of humour & pathos, plus a host of delightful cameos, as Aziraphale becomes Death for the day
[Added 26/04/2007; Drama; 6000-20,000; Good Omens]
East of Eden by Shati
'"Our mum said no talking to serpents," said Cain. "She said serpents was evil liars."' Some passages in the Bible just seem to cry out for GO treatment. Shati's version of events is ever so plausible
[Added 27/07/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Good Omens]
Heavenly Visitation by Daegaer
'He’d been praying for a sign, yes, that was true but he’d never actually expected to get one.' Thou-Shalt-Not-Commit-Adultery Pulsifer encounters an angel; black humour ensues
[Added 21/03/2006; Humour; 1000-2500; Good Omens]
Intent by Honey
'Paul (formerly Saul, Rome's favorite persecutor of Christians, women, homosexuals, and people they just didn't like) was now a full time Christian missionary, as well as a part time sidewalk preacher, miracle worker, and, if he'd had enough wine, interpretive dancer.' One of the neatest things about GO fanfiction is the liberty to re-envisage tricky parts of the Bible, and Honey's picked a winner here. Highly amusing
[Added 27/07/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Good Omens]
Iron Horses by Jill Palmer
'If I thought the Plan was to flood out the planet again, I’d suggest motorboats…' Lots of GO fic explores the historical possibilities of the (ex-)angels, but they aren't the only immortal beings around. 'Iron Horses' accompanies the Horsepersons through a particularly successful century
[Added 21/03/2006; Drama; 1000-2500; Good Omens]
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear by Daegaer
'What bit of "Fear not" was unclear?' Aziraphale & Crowley team up over the birth of an earlier supernatural being. Nicely in tune with canon, with precise details & some hilarious touches. Probably my favourite amongst Daegaer's prolific & varied GO output
[Added 22/07/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Good Omens]
Like Angels in Heaven by Daegaer
A disturbing story set in 1930s Singapore which reveals a darker side to the Arrangement. Little humour, but the subtle characterisations & strong dialogue make up for it
[Added 26/07/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Good Omens]
Managing Trouble by Sarahsan
'Manual labor, Crawly quickly discovered, was not really his speed.' A lovely character study of Crowley, as he oversees a key moment in early human history
[Added 03/09/2009; Drama; 2500-6000; 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]
Revisited and Riding Out by Patrick Phelan
A rare Pepper-centric coda. A bit light on plot, but closer to the style of the original than much GO fanfiction, and with a scattering of fantastic lines
[Added 26/07/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Good Omens]
The Sacred and the Profane by afrai
I won't spoil the premise, but this well-written AU novella examines a very dark possibility for another way that events might have panned out. The alternative Crowley is a particular delight. Highly recommended
[Added 26/07/2005; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Good Omens]
Slouching, Forever by Torch
'"He chose, well, this." Aziraphale gestured airily around the field, leading with the wrist and somehow managing to include all of Tadfield.' Torch specialises in shorts that seem to be going one way and then take a left; this is one of them
[Added 03/09/2009; Drama; <1000; Good Omens]
Until the End that is to Come by Magicicada
'Newt wondered if it might be just a bit too early and not at all the right place for declarations of undying love, and he would have thanked his lucky stars if they weren’t currently landing around his feet.' Long, inventive, nicely (cough) detailed future fic, closer to the feel of the original than much GO fanfiction. Unusually, Newt & Anathema take centre stage, but there's room for cute cameos from almost all original players
[Added 21/03/2006; Drama; 6000-20,000; Good Omens]
This Chill Intimacy by Mercurie
'She feels weak. The flood has sapped the fire out of her and the walls have caught the coals that remain in a narrow stone cradle.' Delicate portrait of Fuchsia, linked to the four elements
[Added 15/02/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Gormenghast]
Sometimes On The Rarest Nights by Clionaeilis
Clionaeilis constructs an entire era through Ivor Novello's letters to Mabel Nesbitt in this clever epistolary story, with its seamless blend of fact & fiction. The glimpses of other characters' futures are a bonus
[Added 18/07/2009; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; Gosford Park]
What Henry Wants by Clionaeilis
'"Ivor was right about this being the wrong place to play master and servant -- it's not a game to these people, Henry."' Clionaeilis fleshes out the cipher of Morris Weissman, one of the film's most opaque characters. The piece also explores the realities of being queer in the Hollywood of the time
[Added 28/01/2011; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Gosford Park]
Most Valued and Distinguished by Argyle
'In that time, he drank two cups of milky Darjeeling; filed a hangnail from his left index finger; inspected his hairline for greys, and finding four, pinched them free; and listened to Sketches of Spain, side two, on the hand crank gramophone his grandfather gave him for his twelfth birthday, and which he had, quite obstinately really, gone to great lengths and expense to keep in working order.' A perfect origin story for M. Gustave, just as whimsical & digressive as it should be. Fabulous!
[Added 12/08/2015; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Grand Budapest Hotel]
The Honor Guard by Spiderfire
'There is another sort of darkness, a darkness that is velvet soft and thick, a darkness that encases, wraps, surrounds. In such darkness, there is nothing to see, nothing to hear. It is complete, seeping into the hearts of anyone who dares venture into it.' Spiderfire invents an interesting mythological underpinning to the novel's Honour Guard in this atmospheric short
[Added 12/08/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Neil Gaiman – Graveyard Book]
We Don't Forget by Chibideath
'"Hullo?" he called. He tried not to feel foolish. He had grown up speaking to people who weren’t there, strictly speaking, but he was a bit out of practice.' Lovely bittersweet coda to the book, with a voice that's very true to the original
[Added 04/10/2013; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Neil Gaiman – Graveyard Book]
sing it again by Scribe
'Lachesis settled into the rocking chair, shuffling her feet as close to the fire as she dared and taking her knitting needles from her pocket. The wool Clotho had given her was the vibrant red of new blood. She cast on, her old fingers nimble in the familiar pattern, the way that thread passed and passed and passed through her hands. She thought she might make a jacket.' Scribe focuses on the Fates' unique perspective, fleshing out the musical's world with well-chosen details
[Added 23/12/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; Hadestown]
The Color of Shadow by Ellen Fremedon
'"Your friend there," Arguyry said after a long interval of breadapple, just loud enough that Oppong could have overheard if she were listening, "when hopes for?" And before Kushud could try on other shades of meaning—await, anticipate, expect—the question neatly rearranged itself in her head: "When is your friend due?"' A richly detailed tale of complex cultural misunderstandings as an ill-assorted pair of first visitors bumble around Gethen. The delicately sketched Annaresti OC flares into life to make this piece
[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Ursula Le Guin – Hainish Cycle]
The End and the Way by Luzula
'On Posthe Tuwa of the Year One in the reign of Argaven XII, Harny Sord of Gernahan gave birth to a pervert.' This quietly moving coming-of-age tale explores Gethen via an engaging OC who is a 'female pervert', but it encompasses so much more than just a queer slant on the universe's gender norms. Simply wonderful!
[Added 04/02/2012; Drama; 6000-20,000; Ursula Le Guin – Hainish Cycle]
The First Train to Brotherhood by Arrogantemu
'The first train to Brotherhood arrived in the middle of the night, with the moon high and mottled overhead. Brotherhood did not, technically, exist yet, except as the terminus of the line...' Insightful story about the earliest settlers of Anarres, and the way that language shapes thought
[Added 05/07/2016; Drama; 1000-2500; Ursula Le Guin – Hainish Cycle]
Living the revolution by Leaf Litter
'"They'd be stupid then," Laia told him. "They ought to lock it away for preservation. When we're safely dead, and the revolution with us, it will probably be worth a fortune to the collectors, in their fine libraries of revolutionary books, and their fine counter-revolutionary minds."' This thoughtful view of Laia Odo's philosophies & the problems of running a revolutionary movement, was made for me by a gem of an original character ('The Day Before the Revolution')
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 2500-6000; Ursula Le Guin – Hainish Cycle]
A Piece of the Continent by Epigone
'Then there are the questions. Or rather, there aren't the questions. But it isn't immediately apparent, because at first they seem to speak like anyone on any other world.' Long sequel to The Left Hand of Darkness, with excellent characterisation, beautifully measured pacing & a superb evocation of an alien culture. An amazing achievement -- I wouldn't blink at seeing this in a Le Guin collection
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Ursula Le Guin – Hainish Cycle]
Before the End of All Things by CJ Marlowe
'"You're mad," says Ophelia, sipping her latte and looking at Hamlet overtop four-hundred-dollar sunglasses, a gift from a man she does not love.' A particularly clever take on the eternal tragedy -- to say more would spoil the premise
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; 1000-2500; Hamlet]
Chiaroscuro by Acrossthefloors
'When Hamlet comes back to Elsinore, his eyes glitter and gleam and Ophelia can all too easily imagine that if he would only cast a glance toward her, it would leave her bleeding.' The Lovecraftian fusion is such a powerful window into the play, and Acrossthefloors skilfully builds the creepiness to the inevitable end
[Added 28/05/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Hamlet; Crossover; Adult]
Dagon's Bargain, [unlocked] by Gehayi
'It has a certain stark beauty—even now, I can see that—but it is no spun-sugar castle from the dreams of maidens and southern poets. It is also strangely situated, hunched over a minor seaport and far from any city of military or strategic value. Yet everything about it, even the shape of the walls and the placement of the towers, says that it was built and fortified for wars beyond imagining.' Hamlet lends itself to Lovecraftian horror. This retelling, seen through the eyes of a Claudius who might be innocent after all, is an enthralling example
[Added 08/08/2015; Drama; 6000-20,000; Hamlet; Crossover]
Fine Revolution by Gileonnen
'He'd blinked once when he'd woken and then screamed, screamed all three point eight minutes that he survived rehabilitation.' A strange dark sf version of Hamlet's eternal tragedy. Haunting
[Added 15/02/2011; Drama; <1000; Hamlet]
Storyteller by Likeadeuce
'"The rest is silence," Hamlet said as the breath slipped out of him. But since his bloodied head fell back in your lap, your life has been a continual torrent of words.' Thoughtful short on the nature of fiction and the role of the author
[Added 29/05/2012; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Hamlet]
Testament by Shayheyred
'All he'd like is the time to tell the new king Hamlet's story. An afternoon will do. Two hours, or even one. A quarter hour might suffice.' A powerful & melancholy take on the theme that history is written by the victors
[Added 28/01/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Hamlet]
Here is What I'd Like to Tell by Oxymoron
'What sets Jezebel’s apart is the subtlety of its cruelty. (Everything that seems to be a blessing at first sight turns out to be another form of control, violation, appropriation, or insult.)' Oxymoron unpacks a couple of sentences in the novel to give a powerful version of Moira's future. The speculation as to what life as a prostitute might be like in Gilead feels spot on
[Added 28/01/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Handmaid's Tale]
Sisters of Bilhah by Kel
'...I always, always get the greenest of greenies. I should have known. Can't touch a pen, afraid to sit in a chair, not even a proper haircut yet. I'm lucky she didn't write her prisoner's patronymic for her name.' A disturbing look at what the future might hold outside Gilead through the eyes of a realistic original character. Kel's take on the book is novel enough to feel like original sf, yet firmly linked to Atwood's universe. Wonderful
[Added 01/02/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Handmaid's Tale]
Vessel of Hope by Miss M
'I always use my gentlest voice when I teach.' Complex portrait of Aunt Lydia, which adds depth to the character without softening her
[Added 15/02/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Handmaid's Tale]
After the Earth by Torch
'She'd already cleaned everything off the mantelpiece -- the photographs, the display case, the flowers.' This tiny vignette really makes you think -- to say any more would spoil it
[Added 18/03/2006; Drama; <1000; Harry Potter]
Alone and Palely Loitering by Squibstress
'For the first hundred years or so, he'd loved her. Or as much as one could love a wife he'd only met for the first time when she was six and for the second time on their wedding day.' The Flamels' marriage, over the centuries. An unusual & surprising story, laced with a delicious dark humour. Brilliant!
[Added 14/01/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Apothecary and Auror by Pasi
'The lab was lit even during the day with torches to ward off the smoky darkness that crept in through every narrow window, every crack and crevice of the ancient fortress.' This intelligent first war novella eschews black and white for smudgy grey shades, as Snape takes his first steps towards Voldemort. It also features a chilling evocation of Azkaban
[Added 12/12/2006; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
As Beeswax in Summer by Rinsbane
'Sometimes, if it’s an especially long meeting, he makes lines of stars down the edges of his parchment. Not the kind where they’re lines crossed like Xs, but the kind that are drawn without ever lifting the pen, from corner to corner.' An intriguing blend of the poetic and the mundane characterises this haunting war-time piece, set deep in the bowels of Hogwarts [locked to AO3 members]
[Added 12/12/2006; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
The Bloody Stare of Mars by Yahtzee
Voldemort's won, the heart of London's a concentration camp & muggle-born witches must take employment where they can... The Potter fandom isn't exactly short of 'Voldemort won' dystopias, but few combine Yahtzee's solid grasp of plot, keen eye for telling detail & light touch with the angst
[Added 01/12/2005; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Harry Potter]
The Blue Flower by Tree and Leaf
'Power harnessed in exactly the right way; steam forced through pistons and driving inert matter swiftly on; passion used with entire precision. That was what magic should be, and what it so rarely was.' An interesting historical casefic, which develops an excellent voice for Phineas Nigellus, the detective. The origin story for one of the most interesting magical objects in the HP-verse is a bonus
[Added 05/07/2016; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be by Jane St Clair
Draco copes with the absence of his father; Crabbe & Goyle cope with the absence of Draco. Precise characterisations that don't stray too far from canon, but it's the details that really make this short piece
[Added 13/02/2006; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Harry Potter; Adult]
Changeling by Lydia Bennet
'Fred's first dog was a bit of a mess.' A creepy, clever short which slots seamlessly into Rowling's world
[Added 11/12/2006; Drama; 1000-2500; Harry Potter]
Cocktail Time by The Real Snape
'Opening lines are hell./"Just start at the beginning and go on till the end," is the advice one often gets. Usually from people who can’t even write a decent shopping list.' This deliciously written double portrait develops a perfect voice for Rita Skeeter, as she dishes the dirt on her time with Gilderoy Lockhart
[Added 20/09/2012; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
Cost of Living by Sansa
'After the first week, he stopped putting a second cup out with the tea. A month later, he made Potter's wrought iron chair the centerpiece of a lush potted garden.' This post-War story revolves around an unusual premise which I won't spoil here, but it's the details that really make it shine
[Added 07/08/2008; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
The Courtship of Benjamin Jink by Delphi
'So another sharp-tongued young Briton happened to wear the same unfashionable twenty-year-old boots as a man who had died two years, seven months, and four days ago. So he had also had cause to replace the original buckles with bronze. Funny old world.' Delphi's work is always beautifully written, but this novelette is particularly enjoyable for its subtle, sympathetic yet believable characterisation of Slughorn
[Added 18/01/2012; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
Cursed Artefacts For Sale by Icarus
'…collecting Cursed Artefacts is a registered form of madness in the Compendium of Wizarding Mental Disorders and Other Things That Make You Twitch.' A richly detailed & inventive future fic, with a broad streak of dry humour
[Added 13/02/2006; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
The Death of a Soul, A Blowjob Beneath a Table, and the Rain of Toads That Followed by Phaballa
'As reported by the Southampton Soothsayer in March of 1879, the account of the kidnapping of one Alexandra Glass, age eight, daughter to the famous Astrologist Augustus Glass, who invented the Glass-Hayburn arithmantical equation used to calculate the aural patterns of stars.' A hilarious post-war happily-ever-after romp, with asides on coincidence and fate
[Added 12/12/2006; Humour; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
Dim Sympathies by Creascendo
'Severus had taken pains to keep no personal effect beyond the functional and impersonal. The dummy frame had been left starved of memories, of letters, of childhood mementos, of any trace of his existence. At his death, Hogwarts would not be able to generate a portrait.' An interesting short on the ethics of magical portraiture. Suffers a bit from short-paragraph syndrome
[Added 26/10/2017; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Dissipate by Pogrebin
'A wand is a sign of strength in England, whereas in India it is a crutch, betraying their phoren origins more obviously than their English accents. "Not here," not in India, where all magic is a call.' Parvati & Padma in India, with a rich & unexpected portrayal of quite how different Indian magic might be from European
[Added 25/01/2019; Drama; 1000-2500; Harry Potter]
Dreams by Lefaym
'Monica didn’t know how long she’d been running; everything seemed to be melting around her, nothing was real anymore, nothing but the girl chasing her, her long bushy hair streaming behind her.' A dark, thought-provoking take on the fallout from Hermione's memory charm
[Added 13/06/2014; Drama; 1000-2500; Harry Potter]
Dudley Dursley and the Hogwarts Letter by KindKit
'Right up until he turned eleven a couple of months ago, Dudley used to hope that he'd got magic too.' A brief AU that is both thought provoking and surprisingly touching
[Added 09/07/2008; Drama; 1000-2500; Harry Potter]
Dumbledore, or The Magical Prometheus by Marginaliana
'Mandrake grown in blood and sperm, picked before dawn, bathed in milk and honey in the cauldron.' A dark & powerful look at Dumbledore & his relationships through the lens of the premise promised by the title. Marginaliana deftly reinterprets canon events as they unfold to their inevitable end
[Added 13/06/2014; Drama; <1000; Harry Potter; Crossover]
The Eleventh Birthdays by Livesandlies
'When he had turned eleven, it had been Aunt Muriel who'd taken him in, because she was a Prewett and had a cousin by marriage who'd been a Black, and they took those things into account down at the registry office. It had not been so bad for him.' Trio-centric triptych, set in a dystopia where Voldemort won the first war. Livesandlies creates a wonderfully detailed world where Dudley gets to shine and even Percy is sympathetic
[Added 15/01/2014; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
Empty Vessels by Lazy Neutrino
'An iced biscuit, perhaps? Not yet, she told herself. It was so easy for a witch alone to let herself go and slip into indiscipline.' Precise portrait of Umbridge, and her particular brand of prosaic evil. 'Chilling' is an overused descriptor, but this vignette made me shudder
[Added 15/02/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; 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]
Every Day This Week by Predatrix
'Severus, surprisingly enough, hated Quidditch.' In an unexpectedly plausible move, Predatrix makes the young Snape borderline autistic; the result is heartrending, as the eleven-year-old tries to conform to Hogwarts' expectations
[Added 01/12/2005; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
'The birth of a defective child is always a matter of great sadness, and it is only natural to wonder if you might have done anything to prevent it, but you must not reproach yourself. You have not caused this fault in your child by drinking farpleweed for morning sickness, by apparating soon after conception, or through excessive exposure to Electricity.' Nineveh deftly captures the true darkness of the Potterverse in this parody
[Added 09/05/2015; Humour; 1000-2500; Harry Potter]
Faces in Stone by Ignipes
'A snake, fat, twisting, and endless, wrapped around their legs. ... Its charmed stone skin crawled slowly, lazily, so slight a motion she wouldn't have noticed if she didn't know to look for it.' An exploration of wizarding sculpture, and the after effects of war, as Hermione goes on a road trip across Italy. Thoughtful & atmospheric
[Added 02/03/2014; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Fair Is Fair, and Life Is Not by Anguis
'"Contrary to the dearest fantasies of teenage witches, unicorn dung doesn't taste like fairy floss and moonbeams."' Enchantingly detailed picture of life at Hogwarts through Flitwick's rather unusual point of view
[Added 20/09/2012; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Fool by Kass
'I've always enjoyed the first of April. Only the most moronic of students dare try to play tricks on me, and the day offers tantalizing opportunities for embarrassing my charges.' It's a bit of a clichÉ fic, perhaps, but the Snape voice is spot on
[Added 18/03/2006; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Harry Potter; Adult]
For To Preserve This Day by Sinope
Snapshots of uneasy relationships during the first war. A delicate, precisely observed piece
[Added 13/02/2006; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Get There Faster by Jintian
A dark coda to Order of the Phoenix that deals with Harry's responses to Sirius's death. Breathtakingly plausible
[Added 13/02/2006; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter; Adult]
Goat Song by Delphi
'Albus never was careful with his things. If nothing else, it had made Aberforth a fair hand at mending.' Delphi takes an unlikely pairing and makes it utterly real in this clever and moving story
[Added 27/11/2008; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
A Gramarye of Folk Magic by Delphi
'In what would prove to be the final days of the war, Aberforth's brother entrusted to his keeping a hide-bound book, a stoppered silver phial the size of a finger bone, and a 21-year-old boy of uncertain provenance.' Delicate & insightful joint character study, picked out in vivid details as it slowly unwinds through the seasons. Aberforth's unshowy style of magic is a treat
[Added 28/04/2015; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Healer by Fahye
'Of the twelve pairs of ribs that comprise the thoracic cage, ten are attached to the sternum and two are floating, which makes Padma imagine pressing her wand to the bruised skin of someone's back and whispering Wingardium Leviosa until their bones slot into place.' A beautifully written meditation on grief & healing after the war, with interesting speculation on magical healing versus medicine
[Added 02/03/2014; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
How the Dementors Came to Being by Cats in the Attic
'On her thirteenth birthday, puberty did change her. But not into the beauty her mother had hoped for. It merely served to highlight the birdlike features an ordinary Veela would only let slip in real anger.' A dark fable which has that rare thing in HP fanfiction these days, a truly original idea. Well worth a try despite a few slips; English is not the author's first language
[Added 15/12/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Imperfect by Anne Line
'...it was easier to trust an enemy than a stranger, that's how turned around everything was.' An unusual setting, awkward dialogue & a gritty sense of place set this apart from the Snape/Lupin hordes
[Added 04/01/2006; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter; Adult]
The Journey of a Thousand Miles by Igrockspock
'She could tell it had been printed on their press; the B's were all slightly askance, and the letter Q turned mauve if you looked at it for long. It was unfortunate that Voldemort had seized their printing press; her father must be quite bored without it.' A delicate, thoughtful story of Luna coming to terms with her father's part in the War, which features a far more nuanced portrayal of the character than in much fanfiction
[Added 13/08/2012; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
The Ladies of Godric's Hollow by Tetley
'Putting her arm around the frail shoulders, she placed a kiss on the wisps of hair, just as she'd done when they still were dark brown and sprang from a bun that always held pencils or quills to jot down a thought or a question, an idea or an hypothesis.' A poignant novelette, thoughtful & rich in detail, which moves effortlessly between the 19th & 20th centuries to tell Bathilda Bagshot's story
[Added 02/10/2012; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
Lamp in the Cooling Room by Sansa
'She only wanted some flowers. He has an entire garden of them, after all. Full, bright blooms with stalks so thick they braid together in places.' An unusual take on more than one old trope, with a creepy child narrator, lovely symbolic weather & an ending that's just perfect. Deservedly a Harry/Draco classic, but so much more than that
[Added 13/02/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
Lies in the Rookery by Thamiris
'...it's entirely possible that, hidden beneath them, his body's no more than the bones of dead birds.' Dark, luscious, twisted picture of a convoluted relationship
[Added 04/01/2006; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Harry Potter; Adult]
A Life in Obscurity by Rosemaryandrue
'They had killed his brother's wife, and burnt their farmstead, despite every spell rooted in the land. They had brought wild wizards on their long ships, birch carrying, battle-scarred wielders of unknown curses.' A cunning meld of Ignotus Peverell's story with Arthurian myth, with a lovely folk-tale feel
[Added 25/08/2012; Drama; 1000-2500; Harry Potter; Crossover]
The Loathly Worm by Selden
'The blowjob in question took place back in the Death Eater headquarters, an ancient castle which grew, like a black and broken tooth, out of a bleak promontory on a particularly wind-bitten stretch of Scottish coast.' An atmospheric & magically inventive novelette, with Selden's usual amazing descriptive prose plus just enough plot to support the H/D romance
[Added 25/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
Lust over Pendle by AJ Hall
'Various far-fetched theories were spun as to what exactly had happened the night Draco Malfoy went out to murder Hermione Granger, and returned some hours later, to tell his father that, actually, he thought becoming a Death Eater was a rotten idea, and he'd rather be excused.' Deservedly a fandom classic: AJ Hall has had a ball with Rowling's universe. The characters are developed far beyond the two-dimensional ciphers of canon (the author's vision of Narcissa Malfoy is particularly memorable). Although the pacing occasionally flags, the light humorous tone works well and the Bond-style finale is a romp. The sequel, Dissipation and Despair, is also recommended
[Added 09/07/2008; Drama; >50,000; Harry Potter]
Möbius by Mandy
'Over time, Severus wondered if a wizard could draw out enough memories to leave him an empty shell, with only the most mundane of memories in his head and the ghosts of the past.' This clever novella contains one of the more inventive HBP fixes I've encountered, and also features a believable voice for Snape
[Added 11/12/2006; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
Marginalia (A Story about Stories) by Magnetic Pole
'No one knows exactly how old the Library is, but legend has it that its oldest books once belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw herself. The Library’s gargoyles jeered at Nicholas Flamel when he first visited; its dragon genealogies are the lengthiest and most complete in the world.' Lovely clever story which works on multiple levels. The unusual narrator is a particular treat
[Added 15/12/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Mors Mortis by KindKit
'It is death, and death is always seeking.' An original idea, powerfully executed. Highly recommended
[Added 07/08/2008; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Much As She Had Lived by Ignipes
HP has a multitude of minor characters. Ignipes takes Dorcas ('Voldemort killed her personally') Meadowes and gives her a death, and a life. Subtle characterisation of the nascent Voldemort, and evocative descriptive choices
[Added 18/03/2006; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
The Muggles Have a Word for Them by Kelly Chambliss
'It's not easy to plump a two-dimensional cushion that's made of canvas and stiffened with paint, as Violet is well aware.' This charming & unusual piece explores the Hogwarts portraits' two-dimensional world. It's made by a fabulous voice for its Fat Voluptuous Lady narrator
[Added 26/04/2014; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
Nettle Soup and Gooseberries by Jay Tryfanstone
'On the television, they looked smaller, and rather further away.' The integration of the wizarding and muggle worlds was never going to be straightforward. An unusual future-fic, packed with sumptuous details
[Added 11/12/2006; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
Night-blooming Heartsease by Julad
'His Gran used to say that Voldemort was a silly boy in need of a very sound spanking, but that was before she Disappeared.' Among my favourites of the HP classics, this bittersweet novella is known for pulling off an unlikely pairing with grace, but at heart it's a coming-of-age story. The magical details are a real treat. A standalone prequel to Resonant's Transfigurations, it diverges from canon after PoA
[Added 09/07/2008; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Harry Potter]
No Charity by Fluffyllama
'From a beetle viewpoint, the walls and fences surrounding the Dursley property looked even more formidable. The barbed wire was new, as were the 'No Wizards' signs tacked beneath the list of all the other potential visitors and miscreants Marjorie had no truck with, but neither presented her with much of a problem as far as gaining access was concerned.' Fluffyllama uses sharp details to humanise two of the least-likable women of canon, Rita Skeeter & Marge Dursley. Memorable & thought-provoking
[Added 28/04/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
On the Naming of Names by Jay Tryfanstone
'Severus Snape, on a bridge, in Prague.' An unusual post-War piece, densely written & evocative. Jay's better known for some of her other Potterverse stories, but I think this may be my favourite
[Added 04/01/2006; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Once Upon a Time, in Egypt by Josan
In this unusual post-War novel, Snape is employed by goblins to investigate potions discovered in an ancient Egyptian tomb. Though a few of the plot elements failed to convince, it's worth a try for its wealth of fascinating details about goblin society & Egyptian magic
[Added 18/03/2006; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Harry Potter]
Orbital by Ineke
'Sirius ... walks with the consciousness of himself as an object of desire: slower than you'd expect, as though the lingering glances are catching him with soft hands, tugging and yearning against the direction of his motion.' Ineke achieves a delicate balance here, giving Sirius a much darker edge than is found in most R/S, without making Remus appear out of character. Wonderful sensual writing
[Added 06/08/2008; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Harry Potter; Adult]
Picture Perfect by Selden
'He and Potter had had to clear the room by levitating out rack upon rack of cheap port, only to spend almost an entire day dealing with the enormous wheel of cheese that had once been a diplomatic gift from the Dutch wizarding community but which had, by the time they unearthed it, become a kind of Doxy village, practically ready to claim municipal status.' This plotty casefic novella, with a side of H/D, marries Selden's usual lush descriptive prose with excellent worldbuilding & fascinating thoughts on the ramifications of portrait magic. Highly recommended
[Added 26/10/2017; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Harry Potter]
Playing For Keeps by Vissy
'...She hid the two new boxes towards the back of cupboard with the worst of the best-before tinned apricots and canned soups. Her wand was somewhere back there too, tucked behind a set of cracked glass phials and her old brass scales.' It's a rather darker interpretation of the Snape family dynamics than I usually enjoy, but this twisted tale gives a strong picture of Eileen's life at Spinner's End, and highlights the sheer nastiness of parts of Rowling's creation
[Added 18/01/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter; Adult]
Professor C. Binns: A Personal History by PurpleFluffyCat
'...History can be learned through rhythm and chronology and rises and falls – intricate patterns. People, however, have no patterns. That is one reason why they are so difficult.' This novelette develops an interesting voice for Binns, with a poignant explanation for why he clings to teaching as a ghost
[Added 13/08/2012; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
PUSH by Tree and Leaf
'"It's the word of God, so if it says magic is bad, then it must be bad" said Amy firmly. "I mean, being a witch probably isn't a sin, because being bad-tempered isn't either. But it is if you do it. It's just a temptation I've got to live with. I don't mind if I get chucked out of Hogwarts, it wasn't my idea to come. But hopefully I'll be able to, um, witness for Christ before I do. Have you, um, you know, thought about asking Jesus into your life?"' Thoughtful & nuanced story that integrates Christianity into the Potterverse via a series of OCs. There's a lovely cameo by Minerva, too
[Added 14/01/2014; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
Reclamation by Copperbadge
'I was wondering what you knew about horcruxes...' From the initial premise to the plausible consequences, one of the most interesting AUs I've read in the Potterverse
[Added 04/01/2006; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
The Return by Kulfold
'It's from Ollivander. He's inviting you to return your wand.' This original depiction of a wizarding tradition is a little more sentimental than my usual picks, and a touch rough around the edges, but the ending is worth the wait
[Added 11/12/2006; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
The River Child by Ignipes
'It was, without a doubt, the ugliest creature Remus had ever seen.' A simple, moving short in which the parallels between the dark creature of the story and the werewolf are ever present, but never too obvious. A favourite from Ignipes' 'Remus Lupin's Lost Years' series (accessible via this page); all are worth reading
[Added 21/03/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Romance of the Age by Livesandlies
'The wizard ... was not by any means a small man. He had, however, a collection of very miniscule attributes – small eyes, a small nose, thin little lips, and a thin little chin – that seemed to suggest he had been sketched out on parchment by a child only just learning to use a quill, who'd had very grand ideas to begin with, and who, discovering for the first time the very disagreeable runniness of ink, had splashed on a few dots for the features and then given up.' The first war, à la Vile Bodies. The Waugh pastiche provides the perfect lens to view the terrible events as they inexorably unfold, and the novella overflows with sparkling wit at the expense of almost all of its enormous cast. A wonderful achievement
[Added 15/01/2014; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Harry Potter; Crossover]
Round Bottom, Twelve Inches by Penumbra
'Death Eater orgies, my knee. All we got were stale canapÉs and harangues.' Comedy à la Wodehouse, packed with delicious detail
[Added 04/01/2006; Humour; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
The Sacrifice of Right by SnorkackCatcher
'There was once a goblin smith of renown, Eretek by name, who was greatly skilled in the working of metal and unusually strong in his magic. In this he was esteemed among the goblins of his age, for none other could match the fineness and delicacy of his craftsmanship, nor the subtlety and power of the enchantments worked into the articles that he made.' The Indiana Jones-style romp of a frame story is a little pedestrian, perhaps, despite starring a most unlikely pair of investigators. Well worth a try, though, for the story-within-a-story, plus some interesting world-building about goblins
[Added 15/01/2014; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
The Seven Transgressions by Chicxulub
Seven different takes on Snape/Hermione, without a hint of romance. Teeters on the margins of badfic in places, but emerges dark, dreamy, disturbing. My favourite was 'Formalin'
[Added 02/12/2005; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
slaughter-dew by Andromeda311
'If he does it right - twenty-five steps from the door of the Great Hall to his seat, right in front of the window, closest to the wall; room for fifteen people between his and the end of the table either way; his plate arranged into a perfect pentagon, because fives are safe numbers - if he does it right, then the images don't come.' An unusual take on Peter's long slide into betrayal, via an obsessive–compulsive disorder that never quite manages to justify his actions
[Added 09/05/2015; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Harry Potter]
Spiritus, Sanguis et Aqua by Heretical Vision
'And then her sister screamed and when Petunia turned around all she saw was blue glass in the light, a strange wooden stick, and Lily's face covered in Mrs. Snape's blood...' A very dark AU, which escalates from the original premise outwards to encompass the entire wizarding world. Heretical Vision sometimes sacrifices the characters to the idea, but when the idea is as novel & interesting as this one, I'm happy to go along for the ride
[Added 13/08/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter; Adult]
Still Life by Amalin
'When you're dead and one-dimensional, Harry has found, it is easier to walk away from things. Even if you're walking sideways.' Clever concept and elegant execution
[Added 02/12/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
The Stolen Child by Delphi
'He had not spent the night out in the weather; his skin was dry and his feet clean, though there were fresh leaves caught in his hair.' A haunting, ambiguous tale where the stolen child of the title is never quite pinned down. Eileen's cameo is particularly memorable
[Added 13/06/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Subversive by Kelly Chambliss
'"Griselda" is not what all goblins call her, of course. To many of my people, she is, as we say in Gobbledygook, a haga-maga -- a witch-bitch. Or a wand-stealer. A greens-eater. A short-finger.' This unusual love story creates an interesting original goblin to explore their society and goblin–human relations
[Added 04/08/2015; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
The Sword of Slytherin by Vissy
'Over the years he had come to realise that the Dark Lord's limited ability to see beyond what he expected was a blessedly exploitable blind spot, whereas Severus' streak of perfectionism was relentless and unforgiving.' Vissy weaves in & out of HBP so neatly that you're sure this was exactly what was going on while Rowling's back was turned. Worth reading for the sympathetic characterisation of Slughorn alone
[Added 27/11/2008; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
The Thin Man by Duniazade
'It reminded Severus of the suspicious landlady of that seedy pub in Spinner's End. Unlike the landlady, the Harpyria fed exclusively on raspberries, and the byproducts were precious.' Snape/Luna is a difficult pairing to pull off, and Snape feels a touch out of character to me. It's well worth a try, though, for the magical background alone, among the most inventive I've seen
[Added 13/02/2011; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
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]
To Sever the Lining from a Cloud by Textualsphinx
'He would never leave the earth and reach the stars. He was mud, he was slugs, he was worms, he was maggots: worse than maggots, in fact.' A highly original piece, mixing fairy tale with modernity to (cough) magical effect
[Added 18/03/2006; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Tower of Air by ClueGirl
'Albus has never been one to seek the murky depths, after all, hiding his heart in the castle's stony bowels as old Salazar did his vengeance.' A perceptive character study, which wields the angst brush effectively
[Added 11/12/2006; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Harry Potter]
Triptych on the Sword of Ragnuk by Pauraque
'Filius hesitates — Griphook has spoken Gobbledegook, and it takes a moment to shift his mind into processing it, like cracking open a book that has lain closed on the shelf for many years.' This just gets stronger & stronger as the story unfolds to its deeply satisfying conclusion. Not one for Neville fans, perhaps, as his character gets pushed out of shape by the plot, but well worth a try for the exploration of goblin culture & the thoughtful take on Flitwick
[Added 13/06/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
'Twas Brillig, and the Slithy Toves by Kaydee Falls
'Carroll was actually a wizard, you know. Taught at Hogwarts for a year or two, I think. Care of Magical Creatures.' Neat characterisations of all four Marauders as they pass on the torch, and the dialogue just bounces along
[Added 13/02/2006; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Two Lockets by Sinick & Acid
'The candles ... waddled after Harry in a row like ducklings, short and fluffy and dripping wax all over in their excitement at being alight and having company at last.' Worth a try for the world-building alone, with a fantastic evocation of Grimmauld Place and its secrets
[Added 10/07/2008; Drama; >50,000; Harry Potter]
Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree by Duniazade
'It didn't smell of anything. Not of wood, not of dyed fabric, not of greased metal, not of red paint, not of the hot steam billowing out of the engine's stack.' A complex, interesting window into a teenaged Snape's home life, anchored in unsentimental detail. In the same universe as A Rowan in Winter, also worth a try
[Added 25/08/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Unseen by Astolat
'He kept it with him all the time, after that, and started wearing it more often than not—he'd forget he had it on, and if he was doing a shift at one of the desks, people would come by and then go away again without asking him to do anything and he'd belatedly realize they hadn't been able to see him.' Strong worldbuilding & superb characterisation of a traumatised post-War Harry who handles celebrity abysmally. The story suffers a bit from St Draco syndrome but don't let that put you off
[Added 25/10/2017; Drama; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
Unsticking the Shadow by Pogrebin
'"How easily he has torn us to pieces, my dear."' Pogrebin is one of the many fan authors who seem to understand the implications of the Potterverse far better than its creator. I sometimes find her style a little off-putting, but this clever, thought-provoking piece is well worth a try
[Added 07/08/2008; Drama; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
The Unusual, Exceptional, and Statistically Remarkable Hermione Granger, Age 21 by Maggie
'Every year on her birthday Hermione made a note of the single most important thing she had accomplished in the previous year and the single most important thing she wanted to do in the next.' Insightful and subtle character study, stuffed with gorgeous details
[Added 06/08/2008; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Harry Potter]
Wholly to Be a Fool by Bluestocking
'Eileen thinks that Spinner's End has a way of draining all colour and light from the world, leaving nothing behind but the dried husks and hollowed-out remnants of dreams.' Quietly optimistic DH coda which paints a more nuanced portrait of the dysfunctional Snape family than much fanfiction
[Added 13/02/2011; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Harry Potter]
Imaginary Planes by Cyphomandra
'And then a patchwork of buildings that ran out abruptly, leaving nothing but the railway line and the wrinkled white surface of the salt flats, the unmade bedsheets of some absent giant.' I don't know the original, but this deliciously written vignette stands on its own. The sideturn ending is superb, and surprisingly moving (crossover with historical RPF)
[Added 29/10/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; Hav; Crossover]
Ar Haner Nos yn Glir y Daeth (Upon the Midnight Clear) by Lost Spook
'The rough waves that eat away at the town and sweep over the edge of the Prom on a bad night have been the end of unwary drinkers before now.' An all-too-brief casefic, very much in tune with canon, that really brings Aber in winter alive
[Added 12/08/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; Hinterland]
Amongst the Black-Haired People by Daegaer
'It was beneath Pu-abi's dignity to notice either the kindness or the disrespect of one who had been her slave for so long, so she kept her silence as Gurun carefully wiped her mouth and helped her to stand ready to wear the gold and lapis that an eresh should wear in the sight of all but their closest servants.' Daegaer has conjured a fascinating tale of political intrigue and peopled it with a cast of strong women, determined to make their lives -- and deaths -- serve their cause
[Added 06/06/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Historical RPF]
Descent by Emilyenrose
'"Marcus Tullius Cicero," said Marcus. / The secretary looked as startled as if he'd claimed to be Mithras risen. After a moment of awkward silence one of the freedmen – Marcus didn't see which – hissed, "The younger."' The characters really come alive in this timeless tale of fathers and sons who don't live up to them
[Added 27/05/2012; Drama; 6000-20,000; Historical RPF]
The Queen and the Soldier by Hafren
'She has never seen why being what the world calls old should change the way she looks at handsome young bodies.' This clever weaving together of legends brings the 10th century Queen Gunnhild to life
[Added 04/08/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; Historical RPF]
Surpassingly by Skazka
'Perhaps he's inventing something out of whole cloth to pretend he had a life before being loved.' Antinous, beautiful & beloved of an emperor, contemplates his fate. A thoughtful study of power imbalance, chilling yet plausible
[Added 28/10/2014; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Historical RPF; Adult]
The epistemology of the closet by Naraht
'Wasn't that the very argument that Nabokov put on the lips of Humbert Humbert in Lolita? Irwin wasn't sure. He had never, truth be told, read Lolita, though he had more than once lectured on its themes... yes, glibly, admittedly so.' An incisive portrait of Irwin, before & after, melancholy & all-too-believable
[Added 29/10/2014; Character Piece; 1000-2500; History Boys]
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Does the Doctor Know Where His Towel Is? by AstroGirl
'Indeed, the Guide's entry on the Doctor is no less than eleven times longer than its entry on the entire Universe.' An amusing crossover with Doctor Who, which takes on the eternal Towels vs Sonic Screwdrivers Question. No definitive answers arise, but the reader is rewarded with some note-perfect pastiche
[Added 25/08/2013; Humour; <1000; Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; Crossover]
The Galactic Miscellany by Rheanna
'Arthur got out of bed, put on his slippers, pulled open the curtains of his bedroom and checked the front of the house for bulldozers. He did this every morning, without fail.' Very few writers dare to attempt DNA's style, but Rheanna does it so well here that you'd be forgiven for thinking he'd risen from the grave to write 'The Galactic Miscellany'
[Added 29/07/2004; Humour; 2500-6000; Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]
In This Galaxy, Nothing Can Be Said To Be Certain by Makesmewannadie
'Under no circumstances should the wise hitchhiker ever make itself known to the GRS. They are more tenacious than the Tracking Hrunds of Bixastow, nastier than the Snarling Grattafiends of Trog, and even your towel will not save you if you come to their attention.' Guide entries, snappy dialogue and a healthy dollop of plot, as Arthur gets to save the day for once
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]
Long Gone Soon by Eruthiel
'Alleyways, backstreets and narrow spaces of all kinds feature heavily in a typical 'mean and seedy' environment. Kontropolis, nerve centre of the Mean and Seedy Republic of Kontron, is famous for being composed almost entirely of such areas, and for the badly-lit brothels, reclamation dives and kebab houses that line them.' This unusual one-shot suggests an intriguing possibility for Zaphod's past. Not the best pastiche, perhaps, but the atmospheric world-building makes up for it. Strange & dark
[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]
That Tongue Thing by Makesmewannadie
I don't often recommend body swap stories, but hilarious doesn't even begin to cover this one. Adams' style is perfectly emulated, even if (especially if?) the result isn't something he'd have published
[Added 13/01/2005; Humour; 2500-6000; Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; Adult]
Model Village by Basingstoke
'There's a camera in the school lunch room, and one on every exit, and one in the lavatory. All the boys wash their hands carefully now.' An Orwellian AU, bleak & spare
[Added 28/01/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Hot Fuzz]
Beggarman, Thief by Secondary Author
'There was one thing the counselor had gotten right, kind of: his stealing had nothing to do with immediate need. Only son of solidly middle-class parents: House had never lacked for anything--or, rather, the things he lacked were not the sort you could steal.' A well-shaped piece that takes a perceptive look at House's kleptomania
[Added 13/05/2009; Character Piece; 2500-6000; House, MD]
The Cat That Walked By Himself by Secondary Author
'Counting out loud, he came up with the names of at least seven dogs he'd owned as a kid. Well, not so much owned as inherited: usually they came with the military housing, left behind by previous occupants along with dying houseplants and mismatched crockery.' An unusual & memorable character exploration that wanders around a bit, but always rings true
[Added 13/05/2009; Character Piece; 2500-6000; House, MD]
Lies, damn lies and statistics by nigeltde
'Patient's symptoms: eight straight hours working with dying people, no lunch break, one coffee break only; three subsequent days avoiding all work, hiding out in the cafeteria (although not at lunchtime, more's the pity), his office, Cuddy's office, even the clinic, without once showing his face in House's own department; a devil-may-care attitude towards clothing, resulting in the foregoing of a doctor's coat and, horror of horrors, an argyle-patterned tie; and a renewal of the kind of behaviour that would get a less charming and attractive man a lawsuit from every woman in the place.' A well-written story featuring one of the best House voices I've encountered
[Added 14/05/2009; Drama; 6000-20,000; House, MD]
Maryland by Shalott
'"New project, kids," he announced, coming in. "I want to know everything there is to know about the oncology department." ' Shalott's take on House boasts strong characterisations all round, and despite the lack of patient of the week, there's more of the feel of an episode than much fanfiction for this series
[Added 14/05/2009; Drama; 2500-6000; 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]
Things To Do Before You Die by The Dead Parrot
'"Well, seeing as it's your thirty-eight and a half birthday, I thought you might want to go through your list. Get started on your midlife crisis."' Believable dialogue & precise details make this sweetly amusing vignette stand out from the House/Wilson hordes
[Added 14/05/2009; Humour; 1000-2500; House, MD]
blinded by the sun by Akamine Chan
'WheatWyrms are found almost exclusively in grain silos, slithering among the grains of wheat, building up a slight electrical charge that they use to shock their rodent prey.' AU in which Hiccup & Toothless go on the flying equivalent of a road trip & explore how other cultures interact with dragons. At its best in the whimsical excerpts from Hiccup's Revised Dragon Manual
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 1000-2500; How to Train Your Dragon]
Howl and Calcifer by JM Torres
'...Even though his heart was three feet away from his chest, cradled with Calcifer in his palm, its valves still opened on his veins, and his blood still flowed through its chambers.' An insightful short that highlights the differences between our world & Ingary. Sweet but not saccharine
[Added 07/12/2011; Character Piece; <1000; Diana Wynne Jones – Howl's Moving Castle]
starfall by Betony
'The star spluttered with rage, but then quieted, just as Lily was about to drop it and run. "I suppose," it said silkily, "that you can't help it. Quite all right. It's not your fault that you're not clever enough."' An interesting origin story for the Witch of the Waste that weaves together many threads from the source, and succeeds, in the end, in making her sympathetic
[Added 11/08/2015; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Diana Wynne Jones – Howl's Moving Castle]
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]
Mater Patriae by Yahtzee
'Their goodness made them wonderfully pliable, like the softest, fresh-spun wool. Livia had been spinning for very many years.' Livia is among my very favourite villains, and this is a sharp look inside her head
[Added 22/07/2009; Character Piece; 2500-6000; I, Claudius]
Indiana Jones and the Chinatown Ghosts by Lemuel Cork
'If Sallah could hear him now. Mr. Tough Guy, used to be able to take a bullet in the arm and keep going full-steam, save the girl and get the gold and the hell with the pain, and now he was griping because his eye patch dug into his cheek.' A peek at the hero, after the story ends. Melancholy & atmospheric
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Indiana Jones]
Un Vampire se dÉplace dans l'espace et le temps (A Vampire Moves In Space and Time) by Cephalopod
'...The freshwater oceans and silicate soil of La Jeunesse failed to match the oceans of Earth which all humans still contained some small part of. There were supplements, for citizens. New arrivals tasted better, Lestat said, but the whole planet had the taste of a boiled trout.' A novel setting & an unexpected twist mark this original take on the mythos. Memorable & strange, with a surprisingly moving ending
[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Interview with the Vampire]
the rope you began with (was never that straight) by Fahye
'Family, in Cinderella's opinion, is a lot like the colour green. You can throw the word around and even build perfectly reasonable conversations around it, but in the end you can never be sure that any two people using it mean the same thing.' I don't know the musical, but this tale of what happens to the heroine after the story's over works beautifully anyway. Charming & engaging, with amusing cameos & thoughtful asides on fairy tale logic
[Added 04/10/2013; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Into the Woods]
The Three Sorrows of the Deer-Folk of Ireland by Daegaer
'Like a doe without her fawn she returned to the far off home she had made for herself. So much then for Muirne, who had no joy from her association with the clan of her son but rather only pains and sorrow. The deer of Ireland have no quarrel with her, but only pity.' A clever, unusual tale with the feel of The Silmarillion. Wonderful!
[Added 15/04/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Irish mythology]
C/Fe by Dorinda
'There are all kinds of programming.' An unusual coming-of-age piece, with a plot to boot! Made me homesick for the original (Caves of Steel series)
[Added 30/12/2005; Drama; 6000-20,000; Isaac Asimov]
The Conscientious Objectors by Grey
Susan Calvin investigates a malfunction at a robotic assembly line. A simple but thought-provoking story, which could easily have been written by Asimov himself
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Isaac Asimov]
Hostage Negotiation by Marcelo
'It's not logical, and, unlike humans, I have yet to see a robot do an illogical thing.' Excellent characterisation in this clever short. Another one that could be a lost story from canon
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 1000-2500; Isaac Asimov]
Nice Work If You Can Get It by Astolat
'SU-3, a sleeker model, predictably became Sue.' Powell and Donovan's first field assignment proves anything but straightforward. It's a bit of a clichÉ-fic, perhaps, but the author brilliantly combines canonical plausibility with absolute hilarity
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 6000-20,000; Isaac Asimov]
Perigee by Radondoran
'"For Pete's sake, Mike, it's a maid. It's not exactly programmed with the Gricean maxims. Be specific." Powell walked up and addressed the maid himself. "Annie," he read from her nametag, while mentally noting that she was not, in fact, a member of the AN-series, "we're looking for a robot."' Radondoran absolutely nails Asimov's style in this lighthearted casefic, which features a charming original robot. Great fun!
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; Isaac Asimov]
A Woman's Touch by Sath
'"If you'd asked me what I thought the impact of pseudo-female 'companion robots' would be before going ahead with the MR project, I would've told you it'd end exactly like this."' A short case for Susan Calvin that forms a loose sequel to 'Lenny'. Sath successfully retains a strong feel of canon despite distancing the story a little from Asimov's gender prejudices. Believable & poignant
[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; 1000-2500; Isaac Asimov]
The Mysterious Vanishing Mr Bore by Triskellian
Inventive rewriting of 'Jack and the Beanstalk', with some cute details
[Added 30/12/2005; Humour; 1000-2500; Jack and the Beanstalk]
Iterations by Rheanna
'It would be easy to dismiss what he hears as merely an echo of his own steps, but Bond knows better. When he looks over his shoulder, no one is there.' Clever short which slides between metafic & horror
[Added 25/05/2012; Drama; 1000-2500; James Bond]
The Greek Origins of Certain Words by Scioscribe
'"...And I eat vanilla wafers and hand-knit my own sweaters, but it must be conceded that by and large people have found more intriguing flavors and more contemporary gratification." / "So you enjoy me ironically. Like I'm camp. Or like you'd make your own jam if you could do fuck-all in the kitchen."' Clever & inventive sf, with a thoughtful look at the themes of And I Awoke And Found Me Here on the Cold Hill's Side, to which it forms a loose sequel
[Added 23/12/2017; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; James Tiptree Jr; Adult]
Armistice by Adina
'"If I might suggest, sir, I believe this would be more appropriate." This was a species of red vegetation that appeared in his hand as if by magic. It was rather larger and redder than was the Wooster wont, but I have never known Jeeves to err in matters sartorial.' The J&W world notoriously omits WWI; here Adina comes up with an ingenious solution that doesn't negate Wodehouse's choice. This vignette stands independently but is in the same universe as her better-known Green Ice, also worth a try. (Crossover with Dorothy L Sayers)
[Added 10/01/2014; Drama; 1000-2500; Jeeves & Wooster; Crossover]
The Aunt and the Ankh by Curtana
'It had often made me wish I'd had the foresight to cultivate some obscure and socially unacceptable hobby in my youth, something I could pull out at necessary intervals to extricate myself from unwanted matches. Competitive blancmange eating, say, or, collecting potatoes that resemble famous politicians.' A thoroughly jolly romp with a strong Wodehouse voice and a scattering of hilarious lines
[Added 04/08/2009; Humour; 2500-6000; Jeeves & Wooster]
Deus Ex by innocentsmith
'The Author would like nothing better than to stretch out for a few paragraphs of tangy salt air, cheeky seabirds, and tourists looking dubiously at their white boating shoes and the baskets of shrimp on the pier.' Neat execution of a highly original concept: clever & unusual. Definitely worth a try despite a plethora of typos
[Added 04/08/2009; Drama; 2500-6000; Jeeves & Wooster; Crossover]
Jeeves and the Blessed Indiscretion by Shalott
'The rest proved remarkably straightforward, at least when one discounts the cat, the housemaid, and the fire…' Unusually for this fandom, Bertie is the prime mover in this deftly written piece, and the inevitable denouement is also accompanied by more than the usual dollop of plot
[Added 27/04/2006; Humour; 2500-6000; Jeeves & Wooster]
The Woosteriad by Silverr
'I noticed a very faint tremor go through Jeeves' manufactured frame at the sight of Melon, and he irised down his visual receptors in a way that made me a tad envious: still, one must stand by one's friends, no matter how radioactive they may appear to be.' Bertie has a more-than-usually off-the-wall adventure, courtesy of some figures from Greek mythology. Not the best Wodehouse pastiche, perhaps, but worth a try for the robotic Jeeves alone (Jeeves & Wooster/Greek myth)
[Added 27/05/2012; Humour; 6000-20,000; Jeeves & Wooster; Crossover]
Yes, Sir, Jeeves by Skyblue Reverie
'He was actually grasping and pulling at his hair as if he were trying to tear it out by the roots, which I had always thought was just something that novelists said to get across the idea that their protago-whatsit was in dire straits -- I'd never actually seen it done before.' Flawless pastiche & convincing OCs mark this tale of role reversal leading to self-discovery
[Added 03/01/2007; Humour; 6000-20,000; Jeeves & Wooster; Adult]
I, Jehudah by Jay Tryfanstone
An original twist on an age-old story. Strongly recommended
[Added 13/01/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Jesus Christ Superstar]
First know the truth by Philipa Moss
'Control had invented the job for her, after all, and it was hers to define as she saw fit. Usually this meant that she did as she pleased and relegated dull or mundane tasks to the sharper secretaries.' Insightful portrait of Connie in her prime, at its best in her pitiless assessments of everyone she meets
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; John le Carré]
mirk mirk night, nae stern light by Indigostohelit
'...Childermass ... could still not make out whether they were a man or a woman, or their age, or indeed any feature of their face; but he could see, now, that they were wearing a long, long coat the color of moss. (Too like moss; he thought he saw insects crawling within the fabric.)' An atmospheric story set after the novel, with a strong pastiche style, an interesting depiction of Faerie & a suitably creepy OC
[Added 31/10/2017; Drama; 6000-20,000; Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell]
A Congregation of Nightingales by Quillori
'Did fabled lands become real when you visited them, she wondered? Did they too have rats and sewers and endless work, or was it only her city that was really real?' Thoughtful multi-faceted tale that weaves Jorinde's story into those of other women, and touches on the role of choice & fate for women. The neat structure is shot through with gorgeous descriptive passages. (Crossover with the myth of Procne & Philomytha)
[Added 26/12/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; Jorinde and Joringel; Crossover]
Acted Over by Pauraque
'The sun gleams overhead and shadows flicker through the trees along the avenue, growing longer and shorter by turns, as though days pass in minutes. It often seems that others live in a world of slow time, while Cassius flies from night to night and month to month, pulled forward, onward.' Pauraque plays with the nature of theatre and the anachronisms in the source in this clever & original story
[Added 04/10/2013; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Julius Caesar]
How the Rock Python Made Three Meals Out of One Monkey by Minutia R
'The law of the porcupines is twofold: It is better to go hungry than to eat a yam with a spot on it, and it is better to keep silence than to tell the plain, unadorned truth.' A deft tale-within-a-tale that could fit perfectly into canon. Sweet & funny
[Added 21/05/2015; Humour; 2500-6000; Rudyard Kipling – Jungle Book]
Jungle Favour Go With Thee by Sullen Siren
'The seasons drift on and on, and Mowgli slips from windows and into jungles less often. When he catches his own scent, it is of smoke and men-villages.' A perceptive look into Mowgli's future, with an ending no less heart wrenching for its inevitability. Lovely use of language. Highly recommended
[Added 01/02/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; Rudyard Kipling – Jungle Book]
Something That Feels Right by Starfishofelves
'It's kind of hard to ditch somebody after you've officiated their guinea pig's funeral and shit.' This vignette absolutely nails Juno's voice, and provides another dose of the film's irreverent humour over teenage rites of passage
[Added 28/01/2011; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Juno]
Places by Thimblerig
'"Last month," the Woman said, "this field was Unpromising Ground. Today it is the Breaker of my Back."' The First Woman invents agriculture. A delightful short in the spirit of the original
[Added 26/05/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; Rudyard Kipling – Just So stories]
A Little Wind Through the Bramble Bushes by Isis
'Around him the fields waxed ripe with bursting grain and the trees grew heavy with fruit, as his boots turned to spreading roots and his body became the trunk of a sturdy tree.' Ancret's perspective on the novel's events. A neatly structured vignette displaying Isis' usual flair for embedding the numinous into Sutcliff's world
[Added 15/10/2015; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Knight's Fee]
A Forfeit of Dreams by KL Morgan
A thoughtful view of the universe, above-average characterisations & a believable ending go to make 'A Forfeit of Dreams' the best take on the 'adult Sarah returns to the Labyrinth' genre I've read. (The epilogue & abandoned sequel, What Dreams Must Come, don't work quite as well for me, but you might disagree)
[Added 22/07/2004; Drama; >50,000; Labyrinth]
Galatea by KL Morgan
'Days later when everything was itself again, when the moon and sun were found and put back where they belonged...' Like all good Labyrinth fanfiction should be, but almost invariably isn't
[Added 22/07/2004; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Labyrinth; Adult]
Invited by Astolat
'...black leather glove taking substance under her fingers, the knife-sharp points of his long glittering jeweled coat drawing themselves out of the night.' This vignette series gives an interesting take on the complex relationship between Jareth & Sarah, fairy tale & real life, with appropriately magical descriptions of the Goblin King. The final piece is the strongest
[Added 19/07/2011; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Labyrinth]
Rock Legends by Danse Macabre
'Once, a long time past, he summoned the stones from their beds of earth. Now they called to him, a constant murmuring only he could hear.' An unusual short, beautifully bittersweet
[Added 31/08/2011; Character Piece; <1000; Labyrinth]
Seasons Change, and the Scenery by Kernezelda
'Goblins short and tall flooded the market, squirming between stalls, popping up under tables, clanking and creaking and generally making a nuisance of themselves.' This unusual & inventive piece explores Hoggle's past. A remix of the ficlet Seasonal Work, by the late Mistral Amara, also recommended
[Added 19/07/2011; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Labyrinth]
Something Has to Give by AKA Jay
'Magic leaves traces on you, tiny shimmering beacons that call to the source, nagging it to come take back its missing fragments. Sarah was now bearing the occult equivalent of "If found, please return to..." tags. Of course, at this point she was trying earnestly to forget the name that was written on the flyleaf of her soul.' A Pratchettesque sequel to Labyrinth. Incomplete, & unfortunately likely to remain that way, but still well worth a try
[Added 22/07/2004; Humour; 20,000-50,000; Labyrinth; WiP]
Ladies' Guide to Collecting Mermaid Love Songs
An Argument For The Preservation Of The Self In Cases of Mermaid Transformation by Bakcheia
'I wonder if the sea tastes to mermaids as the air tastes to us? It would be dreadful to have salt in one's mouth all the time, I do not think I could bear it.' A possible future for Miss Holst, from a wistful short story by Aimee Picchi, one of Yuletide 2016's surprise gem fandoms. Thoughtful & very moving
[Added 25/12/2017; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Ladies' Guide to Collecting Mermaid Love Songs]
A Ladies' Guide to Recording Dances of Elves by Elektra121
'Imagine their feathery fronds, filtering the sunrays like green combs running through a maiden's hair. The earthy odors of mosses and mushrooms mixing with the fresh scent of young fiddleheads sprouting into the green twilight. Cheekily, they beckon you on, deeper and deeper into the woods, urging you to gather their untamed elegance into your botanist's container – but beware! Many ladies get lost when they blindly follow the impulse to further explore the unknown.' This deliciously detailed pre-story abandons the wistful tone of the original short story by Aimee Picchi in favour of clever tongue-in-cheek humour. Great fun!
[Added 25/12/2017; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Ladies' Guide to Collecting Mermaid Love Songs]
Bearing Gifts by Ursula Kohl
'"You have a long walk before you," he told her, "and I have a long rowing. Will you come quietly?"' Perhaps my favourite of several takes on how Flavia came to be married to a Saxon in the 2012 Sutcliff Swap. The sharp & spare style fits the subject matter, and the crisp little details are well chosen
[Added 29/08/2013; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Rosemary Sutcliff – Lantern Bearers]
Declining by Northland
'Beside the terrace steps, the scorched skeleton of an old fruit tree still stood; a damson, by the seedlings its disregarded rotting fruit had thrown up.' Five moments missing from the novel. Sparse & evocative
[Added 05/09/2012; Drama; <1000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Lantern Bearers]
A Singing Magic by Bunn
'Flavia had been waiting for the end of the world all her life. ... She had never thought about what she would do after that.' An unusual look at Flavia's story, also from the 2012 Sutcliff Swap, which grabbed me straight from the wonderful opening. Rich & thoughtful, with strong characterisations
[Added 29/08/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Lantern Bearers]
Another Chance by Cnoocy
'So recently, when I found myself making a crash landing in the Mediterranean Sea, as a child I thought, "how disappointing to be ending my flight so soon," and as a grown-up thought, "I will not be returning to my squadron at the expected time."' Saint-ExupÉry's disappearance in 1944 is the basis for this poignant future story. The ending is perfect
[Added 26/05/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; Le Petit Prince]
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]
An Hour in Heaven by Quillori
'Venice is always a city of light. It is built of stone, heavy stone that sinks by creeping inches into the mud, but by some alchemy of architecture that stone is so perfectly proportioned, so pierced about with windows and arches, so delicately formed into balconies and curving stairs, that it seems to float, almost to rise up, and the light floods in everywhere, banishing the gloom and dank that should be inevitable in a crowded city being swallowed slowly by a swampy lagoon.' Beautifully written & atmospheric short centering on Giulietta, with a provocative notion implied in the summary
[Added 27/12/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; Les Contes d'Hoffmann]
Each to Each by Jenwryn
'Robbie runs water over his face, avoids his reflection, leaves Lyn a voicemail saying he probably won’t be calling her at breakfast like planned, but that he trusts she’ll still be emailing him the ultrasound photos, and finds himself some trousers. He needs to do the laundry. He needs another hour’s worth of sleep.' Jenwryn takes on one of the oldest slash clichÉs in this satisfying casefile, and shows just why the trope got written in the first place. More of a feel of the show than much fanfiction
[Added 11/08/2012; Drama; 6000-20,000; Lewis]
Even Now We Are by Jenwryn
'The waves are impatient to eat the land, James thinks; impatient to lick wet tongues beneath the fundamentals of earth and dust and dry-boned roots.' Gorgeous contrast between Lewis's earth-bound practicality & Hathaway's flights of philosophy in this future for the couple. Hathaway's point of view is hard to pull off, but this succeeded for me
[Added 10/08/2012; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Lewis]
Oranges and Lemons by Toft
'He's been in love before. He's thirty-three years old. It shouldn't feel the way it does, dizzying, leaving him lightheaded and ashamed and wanting, wanting, wanting.' Toft cleverly plays with the reader's expectations in this unusual vignette. To say more would spoil it
[Added 11/08/2012; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Lewis]
La Adelita by Eruthros
'Her song mixed with the bean powder, her tears mixed with the onion, and she stirred a soup that made every man brave.' An original & powerful folk tale, steeped in the magical realism of the source. One of my favourites from Yuletide 2009
[Added 01/02/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Like Water For Chocolate]
A Change of Season by Lnhammer
'But then as if the Empress's words were power, her own returned. Wan-er knew what she must do. If the flood was so bad that groveling would not save her, and it wouldn't, she'd go out riding bravely. / She straightened up. "One might, but one would be wrong." / The Empress's eyes narrowed. "Would one," she said dryly.' A spare, tightly structured piece set in Tang dynasty China, centered on the evolving relationship of two strong women, a poet & an empress, with sprinklings of Chinese poetry & lashings of palace intrigue
[Added 25/12/2017; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Literary RPF]
For Him I Sing by Disenchanted
'Owen, for his part, was editing a hospital literary magazine comprised largely of interminable serialised stories and advertisments for Hardy Bros. fishing rods (in one issue there was a poem which rhymed ‘laugh’ with ‘quaff’). Siegfried observed that the work seemed fascinating to Owen, whose experience with the literary world had up until now consisted solely of a friendship with a flatulent country cousin who wrote in the manner of Tennyson.' A moving joint portrait of Sassoon & Owen at Craiglockhart, anchored in sharp details. Disenchanted does a good job of portraying the two very different men as both poets & soldiers, and Sassoon's perspective on the young Owen is particularly interesting
[Added 30/10/2017; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Literary RPF]
Like fruit, my soul by Breathedout
'For once it is easy. One could make any space needed, one feels; anything needed; with one's fingers gliding fireglow-warm over the smooth glass. So simple, it appears now, to be generous. Why is one not always generous? Why does one keep oneself back so, from one's fellows, twenty-nine days out of the month?' Thoughtful & suitably erudite stream of consciousness from a tipsy Virginia Woolf, while she's revising Mrs Dalloway & contemplating Vita Sackville-West. Reads like a censored extract from her letters
[Added 25/12/2017; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Literary RPF]
Quod Me Nutrit Me Destruit by Rexluscus
'At the sight of her new husband's handiwork, the sweet-faced boy playing Zenocrate wore a bloodthirsty smile of frank erotic promise far beyond what a child of his age ought to have been able to imagine, let alone perform. It left Will feeling lightheaded.' This take on Marlowe through Shakespeare's eyes runs with the William Hughes theory for the sonnets' dedicatee. Gleefully anachronistic & enormous fun
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; Literary RPF]
Saving Mrs. Fleming by Selena
'Truth to tell, Mary had struggled with her ending. She always did. She had also struggled with what the secret would be. Her first idea had been for Julian's father to have been a man loving other men, a Greek hero lost in the wrong era, who'd tried to live the horrible married life and failed.' Intriguing take on what might have happened had Hitchcock tried to make a film out of Renault's Return to Night. Selena knows her Hollywood & the creative differences that inevitably follow are a hoot, but the meat of the piece is Hitchcock's unexpected empathy for Renault's situation
[Added 12/08/2015; Drama; 6000-20,000; Literary RPF]
Still Climbing After Knowledge Infinite by Aquila
'The rhythm of each line drives the play forward as much as Alleyn's performance does, serves as a heartbeat underneath the action. Will's veins throb to its time; indeed, his very bones seem to pulse with it.' It's hard to capture Shakespeare the writer, but Aquila pulls it off here at the beginning of his career. But it's the snappy dialogue that really makes this piece, balancing modern & archaic, realistic & performed
[Added 29/05/2012; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Literary RPF]
Little House After the End by Fera Festiva
'In the afternoons, once the dishes were done, Laura and Mary could do as they liked, so long as they did not go outside the fence. Mary would stay in the house and mend her padded armour, or sew on the nine-patch quilt she was making. But Laura liked to help Pa with the planting.' The tone of the Little House series is strangely perfect for the zombie apocalypse, and the details of this post-apocalyptic yet charming world are well chosen
[Added 28/02/2014; Humour; 2500-6000; Little House on the Prairie]
Little Settlement on the Moon by Rina
'Pa...had been learning about the new-fangled idea of hydroponic farming. Imagine - all that good food, no worries about weather or grasshoppers!' Rina uses prosaic little details to make the impossible premise surprisingly believable. The upcoming titles list at the end is a hoot
[Added 06/08/2009; Humour; 1000-2500; Little House on the Prairie]
The Winter of Wolf by Thankyouturtle
'"Did you know that the stars you were born under were the stars that tell us that Winter-Grandmother is approaching?"' Unusual & inventive re-envisioning of 'Little Red Riding Hood', which does so much more than just invert the text so that Wolf becomes the heroine
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; Little Red Riding Hood]
Beth Finds the Palace Beautiful by Snacky
'I was very sick. So sick that even Marmee didn’t think I’d get well. And when the time came to board the spaceship with all the others, I was still alive, but just barely, and no one would allow anyone so sick on board the space ship.' Snacky takes a crackfic premise, and makes of it a moving, thoughtful, memorable story, which is surprisingly faithful to the original. One of my favourites from Yuletide 2011
[Added 26/05/2012; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Little Women]
Across the Waters by Oselle
Frodo remembers his life as he sails into the West, in a series of themed vignettes. Bittersweet but not overly sentimental
[Added 18/10/2002; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
All's Well by Cara J. Loup
'But there wasn't any worse than this, was there...' Strong, believable characterisations make this post-Quest conversation piece particularly memorable
[Added 28/01/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Alterations by Eledhwen
Eledhwen tackles the fascinating subject of the characters' adjustments to the different demands of post-War Middle-earth. The piece is elegantly structured as a sequence of interweaving conversations covering a single day in Minas Tirith
[Added 09/09/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Another Way of Leaving by Jodancingtree
What if Frodo were not granted leave to sail to Valinor? This moving story presents an alternative path for the Ringbearer to find healing. If you enjoyed 'Another Way of Leaving', there is now a novel-length sequel, Following the Other Wizard: Journey Into Healing
[Added 09/09/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
As the Storm and the Lightning by Elizabeth Culmer
'She ends the war.' A masterclass in what can be done with an age-old premise & three sentences
[Added 16/04/2015; Drama; <1000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Back to the Beginning by Adina
'He searched but could not find. For twice the lifespan of a man in these diminished days he searched for the one he had lost. Never had it taken so long; always before he had found his love within a hundred years.' This Fourth Age Legolas/Gimli story runs with a highly unusual premise to its poignant ending, and features an interesting version of the much older Elf. Well worth a read despite a scattering of typos
[Added 20/01/2012; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Box of Rain by Alon
Faramir finishes some business for his brother. Delicate and believable characterisations, both of those present and those absent. Sequel to Closer to Fine and To Look at You, but works equally well read independently
[Added 09/09/2003; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Breathe & Peace Like a River by Fileg
Three loosely linked, bittersweet vignettes reflect on two brothers and the river that joins and divides them. Stylish writing and subtle characterisations
[Added 09/09/2003; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
The Burial of the Dead by Altariel
Bleak, beautifully-written picture of Denethor's descent into madness, mingling present and past, and steeped in the imagery of TS Eliot
[Added 18/10/2002; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Discretion, Discovery by Isabeau of Greenlea
All Isabeau's works showcase her great gift for detail, dialogue and characterisation; 'Discretion' & 'Discovery' also feature hot sex and an unusual & deftly drawn OC. The saga of Boromir's love life continues in the 'Best-loved Son' series by Isabeau, Dwimordene & Altariel, while Andrahar's background is more fully expored in Isabeau's unfinished 'Kin-strife'; both can be accessed via the author's website
[Added 24/06/2004; Romance/Erotica; 20,000-50,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings; Adult]
Emblematic by Cruise Director
Piercing observations in this account of a day in the life of the Fellowship
[Added 28/01/2004; Character Piece; <1000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
The Face of the Enemy by Soledad
The very thoughtful & detailed evocation of the Haradric culture distinguishes this retelling of the Battle of Pelennor Fields. Cameo by Andrahar from Isabeau's Discretion & Discovery
[Added 25/06/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Father and Sons by Dwimordene
Division and despair among the Steward's family, as the Shadow over Gondor grows deeper. A thoughtful novel, with precisely observed characters and rich details of Minas Tirith life. That Which Remains Us forms a moving short sequel, inspired by a challenge to write Denethor's poetry
[Added 18/10/2002; Drama; >50,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Five Elements: Earth by Cara Loup
This beautifully-written vignette paints a complex picture of Sam, Frodo and homecomings, avoiding the oversentimentality common to many post-Ring War Sam--Frodo stories
[Added 18/10/2002; Character Piece; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Gift Horses by Jedishampoo
An unsentimental look at Eowyn & Faramir's courtship, well written with an unexpected but plausible characterisation for Eowyn
[Added 24/06/2004; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Gift of Life by Fileg
Fileg's delightful characterisations sum up the differences and similarities between the two races depicted in this nicely symmetrical vignette
[Added 16/12/2003; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Giving Gifts by Dwimordene
An outstanding evocation of the Haradric culture, featuring an original character who flickers into life in this all-too-brief tale
[Added 25/06/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Goes a Courtin' by Chris
A dwarven love story. A vignette as clever as it is brief
[Added 16/12/2003; Drama; <1000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Hope for the Uruk by Grond
This thoughtful and unusual story explores whether the Uruk-hai might have the potential for redemption. It's a little rough around the edges in places, but nonetheless well worth trying
[Added 16/12/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings; Adult]
The Hour of Splendor by HF
Elrond reflects on the past as the Fellowship leaves Rivendell. A thoughtful and evocative take on this oft-written moment
[Added 16/12/2003; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
How Quickbeam Got His Name by Teasel
Gorgeous drabble that answers the question of the title in a rather unexpected fashion
[Added 28/01/2004; Drama; <1000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
If I Were Queen of the Forest by Halrloprillalar
'"But you are not in the Shire," Galadriel said. She smiled again and it was more dangerous than Sam's glare. "You would do well not to refuse my requests."' Halrloprillalar treads gaily (cough) through a whole raft of fanfic clichÉs in this delightful humorous short
[Added 20/02/2003; Humour; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
In the Hands of the Enemy by Meckinock
Set around Bree before the events of LotR, this rollicking adventure never takes itself too seriously. Believable characterisations, with some well-drawn original characters that won't have anyone calling in the Mary-Sue Exterminators
[Added 16/12/2003; Drama; >50,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
The Jewel in the Crown by Alawa
'I don't hold with embalming much myself.' In-frame humour seems rather rare in JRRT fan-writing, so this was a welcome giggle. Nicely characterised OC in no danger of Mary-Suedom
[Added 18/10/2002; Humour; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Keepers of the Hearth by Alawa
A quiet piece that reclaims Middle-earth for the ordinary woman, and celebrates the things that the War of the Ring was fought to preserve
[Added 25/06/2004; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
A Kind of Valediction by Altariel
Faramir is haunted by the past. Literally. Tolkien, Dickens, TS Eliot and an excellent read
[Added 20/02/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
The King is Dead by Altariel
Denethor teaches his younger son to play chess. A well-characterised and beautifully written vignette that made me smile. Illustrated by Kasiopea
[Added 09/09/2003; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Legacy by Anglachel
Shire society brought to life: prejudice, intrafamilial politics and all. This thoughtful story is one of the very few to treat hobbits as the complex and not entirely benign adults that Tolkien wrote. If you enjoyed 'Legacy', the author has completed a novel-length sequel, On Merry Yule
[Added 18/10/2002; Drama; >50,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings; Adult]
Lomendánar (Little Love for the Things of My Love) by Vulgarweed
'He wore soft green moss, and small black snakes about his branches and darting silver fish between his toes. He bent his long locks to trail in the cool water, and all the spirits of the moist places were with him.' An unusual & thoughtful vignette, imbued with a strong sense of melancholy. Beautiful
[Added 20/05/2009; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Lost in the Translation by Tyellas
Ever thought there was something missing from Tolkien's account of Middle-earth? Tyellas explains why in this humorous vignette
[Added 18/10/2002; Humour; <1000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Magda's Tale by Meg Thornton
Multi-cultural society in Bree through the eyes of a plausible and interesting OC (technically a WiP, but the chapters stand alone as a vignette series)
[Added 18/10/2002; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Magnetic Force by Marnie
A reporter on the Fortean Times finds more than she expects when she travels to Cornwall on an investigation. Before I read this story, I didn't believe this premise could ever be made to work, but I'm very glad to have been proved wrong!
[Added 16/12/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Nine Lives by Werecat
This stylish vignette is an excellent example of the 'history is written by the victors' maxim. In Umbar, at the Docks forms a loose sequel
[Added 25/06/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Nor Iron Bars a Cage by FayJay
FayJay offers some surprising insights into the deep places of Gríma's heart in this well-written character study. As far as I'm aware, 'Nor Iron Bars a Cage' is the author's first foray into the Tolkien fandom, and one can only hope that she writes more!
[Added 28/01/2004; Character Piece; <1000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Not From Mountain Nor From Sea by Gil Shalos
A subtle look at different aspects of Boromir's character in this skilfully written piece
[Added 09/09/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
O Spring-time and Summer-time, and Spring Again After by Dreamiflame
'She woke hungry. The River slept while winter ruled, but she slept empty, with dreams of food and blood her companion during the long, dark months.' A deliciously creepy glimpse of Goldberry, with a haunting ending
[Added 26/10/2017; Character Piece; <1000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Observation and dissection of the Common Wood-elf (Telerius galadh) by Bryn
Humour and tragedy as modern earth meets Middle-earth. There are also a couple of sequels, Notes from the Field and Regeneration and Immortality
[Added 16/04/2003; Humour; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
The Old Dwarf and the Sea by Isabeau of Greenlea
I don't usually recommend unfinished stories, but 'The Old Dwarf and the Sea' is well worth reading for the first chapter alone. A simply hilarious antidote to the usual run of stories about LotR characters in the West, with some priceless characterisations
[Added 25/06/2004; Humour; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings; WiP]
Old Man Willow by Nath
'It reminded him of the treeless hills towards the sunrise, only much, much stronger.' An unusual, atmospheric take on the One Ring challenge, with a perfect chiller of an ending
[Added 05/09/2012; Drama; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
On Gorgoroth Plain by Teasel
Many authors have tackled the subject of Frodo and Sam's journey through Mordor, but Teasel breathes fresh life into the subject. This gem of a story works beautifully on so many levels -- I cannot recommend it as highly as it deserves
[Added 09/09/2003; Drama; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
One Dark Night by Enros
Sympathetic look at the nature of the Uruk-hai. An extremely unusual premise
[Added 18/10/2002; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Paths for the Dead by James Walkswithwind
A rather unusual look at how the events of the Ring War have affected Pippin. Give this short story a try even if you don't normally enjoy hobbit fiction
[Added 24/06/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Possessions, The King's Shilling by Altariel
Two very different meetings between Gandalf and Faramir. Excellent characterisations in this pair of vignettes
[Added 09/09/2003; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Repairs by Isabeau of Greenlea
Every word counts in this vignette set after the battle at Helm's Deep. Sharp portrait of a warrior and a friendship
[Added 18/10/2002; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
River of Fallen Stars by Fileg
'Life as a city, for Osgiliath, was over. ... the citadel of the stars was gone forever.' Two war veterans come to terms with all that's been lost in this quietly moving vignette
[Added 25/06/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
River-Mother and River-Daughter by Zdenka
'For the most part, the rivers were content to sing, to reflect the world around them, and to seek the great sea in a slow winding course. But in a shadowy glade green with moss and great ferns – though there were no flowers yet – a young streamlet more curious than the others splashed out of her bed and tried to follow her.' An origin story for Goldberry. Unusual & memorable, with a perfect ending
[Added 16/04/2015; Character Piece; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
The Rooster Man of Gondor by Chelsea Nolen
A highly unusual view of a key moment in the siege of Minas Tirith
[Added 20/02/2003; Drama; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Rose Riddle by Stultiloquentia
A multilayered vignette with almost the density of poetry, set in the Fourth Age but with its roots in history. Repays re-reading
[Added 16/12/2003; Drama; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Sára-lissë by Erin's Daughter
Arwen's reflections at two points in her life. Luscious sensuous writing characterises this nicely shaped piece
[Added 16/12/2003; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Shards of Time by AL Milton
Was Eowyn a heroine or deserter? This nicely structured story features interesting original characters, as Eowyn's grandson weighs the evidence
[Added 20/02/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
The Sickle of the Valar by Altariel
Wordsmithing at its best marks this vignette on the burden of grief and the possibility for renewal. Written for the Stargazers challenge
[Added 16/12/2003; Character Piece; <1000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
A Silence Covered in Stone by Zimraphel
Dol Guldur gives up its darkest secret. An idea to send chills down the spine
[Added 16/12/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
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; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings; Crossover]
Stardust by RiikiTikiTavi
The pitfalls of being a war widow. Well worth reading for its exploration of Gondor high society, though the Legomance plot didn't entirely work for me
[Added 18/10/2002; Romance/Erotica; 20,000-50,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
The Still Point by Stultiloquentia
What does it mean to be mortal? Stultiloquentia's thoughtful take is well characterised and beautifully written, with a good balance between light & dark
[Added 15/07/2005; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
The Strange Case of the House at Hollinport by Russ
'There are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the world.' A highly unusual Fourth Age tale, in the style of Lovecraft or Poe. Strongly recommended
[Added 24/06/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Tell this Mortal by Chathol-linn
'He needs to make this sea voyage, and to not make it.' An engaging narrative voice & a memorable OC draw the reader into this Fourth Age tale. The backstory is a little weak, perhaps, but the frame story makes up for it
[Added 11/12/2006; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Tempus Edax Rerum by Mirrordance
One of the more inventive premises I've ever seen in this fandom, thoughtfully executed, with a good mix of angst and humour. Give 'Tempus Edax Rerum' a try if you want something well off the beaten track and are prepared to put up with the occasional grammatical slip
[Added 26/06/2004; Drama; 20,000-50,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
They Say of the Elves by Brancher
The Legolas--Gimli relationship has spawned quite a bit of 'first-time' fanfiction, not all of it great. Brancher uses the genre intelligently to examine the preconceptions and fears of the two races in this engaging piece
[Added 18/10/2002; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
This Too Shall Pass by Isabeau of Greenlea
A tongue-in-cheek AU that solves a frequent gripe with Peter Jackson's vision of The Two Towers. There's only one word for this vignette: evil!
[Added 16/12/2003; Humour; <1000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Thread of Fate by Forodwaith
In the best tradition of fanfiction, Forodwaith takes a few meagre sentences from canon and unpacks them to cast fresh light on the enigma that is Arwen -- her strengths, her loves, and her sacrifices. Magical
[Added 09/09/2003; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Undersun by Cara J. Loup
A character vignette that feels chillingly plausible
[Added 16/04/2003; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Warm Beds are Good by Tyellas
I'll let this well constructed and very interesting essay sell itself: '"Sex" and "Tolkien" may seem like a contradiction in terms. It is often believed that Tolkien's works as a whole are sexless, boyish and innocent, based on the lack of sexual content in his novel The Lord of the Rings. This is not true. Sex and libido are present in Tolkien’s vision of Middle-Earth; indeed, it's inevitable in such a complete portrait of an imaginary world. Sex is marginalized in Lord of the Rings, is a destructive undercurrent in The Silmarillion, and is given rare, yet frank mentions in Tolkien’s extensive backstory of Middle-Earth. Passionate love, transgressive desire, denied sexual fulfilment, and rape are plot points in several stories. Libido and sexual love are even portrayed positively, when they take place within the proper moral bounds.'
[Added 18/10/2002; Essay; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Webs by Roz Kaveney
'She moved in her webs, slow as a mountain.' A dark AU in which Frodo's quest failed; well written and chilling
[Added 18/10/2002; Drama; <1000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Where the Stars Are Strange by Marta
'She prays for a quick death. She prays for the beasts to come before nightfall, to rip at her throat so she will never feel the pangs of thirst.' Thoughtful drabble series exploring Haradric beliefs. There's also a prequel, Turtles All the Way Down, though I felt it was stronger alone
[Added 05/09/2012; Drama; <1000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings]
Who Knackered Aragorn's Catamite? by Earthspot
Tolkien meets Raymond Chandler meets James Bond in this witty and inventive romp through Fourth Age Middle-earth. WKAC features a large cast of engaging original characters, plus delightful cameos from many of the major players. The author assures us that no canon was injured in the production of this fanfiction
[Added 09/09/2003; Drama; >50,000; JRR Tolkien – Lord of the Rings; Adult]
A Brief History of the Patronage of Beatie Wilson by AlexElizabeth
'Beatie found death interesting. Men and women and children across the country, across the world, were dead and burned, gassed and shelled, their towns and possessions and lives reduced to rubble along with their souls. Beatie felt a kind of vague, unfocused sympathy for humanity in the summer of 1945.' A refreshing absence of saccharine marks this thoughtful postscript to Gaudy Night, which details the fate of Annie Wilson's eldest daughter. Peter & Harriet's voices are perfect, and I particularly enjoyed the depiction of their relationship. (Crossover with Agatha Christie's Cat Among the Pigeons)
[Added 23/12/2017; Drama; 6000-20,000; Lord Peter Wimsey; Crossover]
Death in the Tuileries by Dafna Greer
'He was less clear on whether that meant they assumed he would find nothing, or that there was indeed nothing to find.' Crisp and spare account of Wimsey's first case, set during WW1
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Lord Peter Wimsey]
The Frivolous Fable of a Spinster's Suspicions by Nineveh
'"May I enquire, Lord Peter," said Miss Climpson, proffering his refurbished tea-cup, "as to your opinions of White Slavery?"' Sparkling humour & excellent characterisations, including a gem of an OC, mark this gentle mystery for Miss Climpson & the Cattery. Nineveh also skilfully intertwines the rocky beginnings of Peter & Harriet's relationship into the tale
[Added 18/07/2009; Drama; 2500-6000; Lord Peter Wimsey]
The Healing Fountain, or, The English Aristocrat’s Gentleman’s Gentleman’s Gymslip Lover by Nineveh
'It was true that Wimsey’s preferred reading material did not usually feature young schoolgirls chafing under the restrictive guardianship of a cold, man-hunting mother and a socialite aunt, but it held to the promised standard of English and a surprising lightness of touch considering the title.' Wimsey's dry viewpoint provides the perfect counterpoint to the purple prose of Hilary Thorpe's first novel. Enormous fun!
[Added 05/09/2012; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Lord Peter Wimsey]
In The Beginning by Sonetka
'The back of the book displayed a more welcome sight; his own face, or rather, his own face as it had been eight years ago, when Philip Boyes was the handsome young author of the much-discussed if poorly-selling Abhasa. Dark curls artfully rumpled, the younger, optimistic Philip stared out at the current version, and looked distinctly unimpressed.' A thoughtful novella that attempts to elucidate why Harriet agreed to live with Boyes. Sonetka fleshes the man out, giving him believable motivations without whitewashing him
[Added 18/10/2017; Romance/Erotica; 20,000-50,000; Lord Peter Wimsey]
Kitty by Mrsredboots
'She also learnt – slowly and painfully, and not without some embarrassing mistakes – to notice other things; to know that if Mrs X was not in church, it was probably because her husband had come home drunk again and slapped her around, whereupon a tactful visit next day might be appreciated, but if Mrs Y was absent, it was probably because she herself had been in the pub all night.' An interesting possible backstory for Kitty Climpson, with the perfect vehicle for her coming to Peter's attention
[Added 30/10/2017; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Lord Peter Wimsey]
London, November 1917 by Atropos
'He listened as he sat for them, drank with them, fucked on rumbled beds and lumpy sofas, sucking up the words, and images scattered across their crumb-strewn floors, pinned to plaster walls, pasted onto fading wallpaper.' This unusual war-time story gives Bunter a completely non-fanonical background. Dark & atmospheric
[Added 15/07/2012; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Lord Peter Wimsey]
Scarce Any Man by Atalan
'Harriet privately thought that possession of a tea tray said less about one's bourgeois leanings than about the impracticality of juggling two mugs, a glass tumbler, and a bottle of not-terribly expensive champagne...' Delicate study of Harriet's life before Strong Poison, beautifully characterised & full of telling details
[Added 18/07/2009; Drama; 1000-2500; Lord Peter Wimsey]
Solitary as an Oyster by Flourish
'"Oh, let's sing Silent Night and eat our pudding and forget about men," Eiluned shouted. / "Let's!" Harriet agreed, "except the Baby Jesus is a man, isn't he?"' This delicate conversation piece features perfect character voices & meanders slowly towards a strong ending
[Added 30/10/2017; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Lord Peter Wimsey]
Tell Beauty How She Blasteth by Tree and Leaf
'There were white roses on the bench, and in the dim light of the Old Bailey they looked almost ashen.' This AU to Strong Poison relentlessly explores its grim premise. The persevering reader is rewarded with perfect characterisations throughout
[Added 15/07/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Lord Peter Wimsey]
The Unlikely Story of a Nobleman's Daughter by Dafna Greer
An unusual case for the great detective. Beautifully written and hilarious from line 1
[Added 13/01/2005; Humour; 2500-6000; Lord Peter Wimsey]
Where All Past Years Are by Atalan
'Charles is not an imaginative man.' This tightly structured vignette offers abundant character insights as it poses an interesting question
[Added 11/11/2008; Character Piece; <1000; Lord Peter Wimsey]
Late by Memorycharm
'Sometimes, Charlotte thought she'd imagined meeting him in Tokyo.' A delicate coda that somehow remains perfectly in the spirit of the film, despite the film ending perfectly
[Added 13/01/2005; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Lost in Translation]
Down At Your Door by Bluestalking
'Billy would have to be tumbling off the edge of a cliff before he’d ever notice it was there, and Joe had doubts about whether he’d ever stop laughing before he hit the ground.' Pitch-perfect voice for Billy Mack in this futurefic, which fixes the cop-out ending of the film for this couple
[Added 04/10/2013; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Love Actually]
Impropriety by Miggy
'HINDE'S HIND, blared the front cover of that day's Sun. Pink cotton bikini briefs covered in cartoon strawberries took up much of the lead graphic.' Miggy is a dab hand at writing comedy, and this take on how Natalie might adapt to dating the PM is sweet, funny & in character
[Added 21/01/2011; Humour; 1000-2500; Love Actually]
Because the War is Endless by Nemo the Everbeing
'The Father isn’t a half-bad nurse. If he took off the crucifix and flashed a little leg I just might be in love.' A pitch-perfect Hawkeye voice carries this piece through the rather unlikely pairing
[Added 25/11/2011; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; M*A*S*H]
Love Me Because Nothing Happens by Alestar
'"Where's Pierce?" he asked gruffly. / BJ shrugged. "You were right, Frank, the whole time." He caught Radar's eye. "He was a Communist. He defected."' A post-Korea piece packed with sharply observed setting details & infused throughout with a lovely bittersweet melancholy
[Added 12/08/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; M*A*S*H]
The Captain of the Caledonia by Zdenka
'The monitor beside the door flickered to life, displaying words. MACBETH MACBETH MACBETH. Only his name, three times.' Given the spaceship setting, this is a surprisingly faithful retelling of the play, highlighting the differences in the way the tragedy plays out in this environment
[Added 04/02/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Macbeth]
The Frame of Things by Killer Quean
'Lady was as full and empty as a playscript: a pure surface of rage and passion with no reason or history or feeling to explain it. The same and never the same.' Intriguing sf story, as much about the play as a computer program as it is about Lady Macbeth, ambition & betrayal
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 2500-6000; Macbeth]
Wyrd by Applegnat
'We are no women. We do not belong to the night, and we do not long for the day. We have no realm, no lord-and-lady-ship.' Thoughtful short with a feel of poetry
[Added 15/02/2011; Character Piece; <1000; Macbeth]
Brown-Eyed Girl by LJC
'Her hair was the shade of dark blonde that gets called brown until you saw her out in the sun, and the streaks of gold made her look like she was born and raised in California. She hadn't been, but she did her best to fit in.' Plausible fleshing out of Effie, the original Girl Friday. Teeters on the brink of romance in the wonderful banter with Spade, without ever quite falling in
[Added 28/05/2012; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Maltese Falcon]
As the Starling Said by Minerva McTabby
'Mary soon developed the habit of speaking a sufficiency of words while telling nothing at all. Indeed, there was nothing to tell; she had not seen Henry since it all began, though not for any lack of wishing or striving on her part.' Well-written pastiche, with a particularly strong insight into the incurably optimistic Mary Crawford. For those unwilling to be convinced by Austen slash, there's also a shorter, slash-free version
[Added 06/08/2009; Drama; 6000-20,000; Jane Austen – Mansfield Park]
The Dancing Monkeys by Ione
'William's brows lifted, reminding Crawford that, despite his younger age, Lieutenant Price had seen far more of the world, and a rougher world, than had Henry Crawford. "He's old in sin. Old in sin." Then William said diffidently, "I don't quite understand what happened—that is, I am conscious of how much I owe you, sir, for your—yes, I can see you do not want to be reminded, but hang it all, what I'm trying to say is, if you wish, I can take you by one ten times better, and for half the cost."' By the magic of plot devicium, Henry winds up aboard the Laconia for his sins. Observing that 'Henry had always matched his tone to his company', Ione makes this unlikely crossover work beautifully, and the novelette is packed with delicious historical details as well as cameos from both sources. And the penultimate line really packs a punch
[Added 16/01/2019; Drama; 6000-20,000; Jane Austen – Mansfield Park; Crossover]
Everingham by Katharine T
'Thus Mr. Crawford won his way with a little art, which Fanny would have been ashamed to practice. His end was good, and his means had no real bad in them. He mostly spoke with sincerity, and if he exaggerated just a little, who could blame him?' Long satisfying AU in which, rather than meet Maria Rushworth at a dinner party, Crawford returns to Everingham and courts Fanny in earnest. The pastiche isn't quite as accomplished as some Austenfics I've recommended, but solid characterisations make up for any flaws. Perfect comfort reading if you like to be convinced that rakes are capable of reform
[Added 25/08/2013; Romance/Erotica; 20,000-50,000; Jane Austen – Mansfield Park]
Love and Marriage by Solvent90
'Henry Crawford found that such of his wife's rusticities as he least adored – and, as the time passed, grew most to deplore – were the ones most resistant to all that town acquaintance and town entertainments could do.' A thoughtful look at how it might have turned out if the novel had ended differently, with characterisations that feel very true to the original. Highly recommended
[Added 17/07/2009; Drama; 2500-6000; Jane Austen – Mansfield Park]
Marriage Vows by Silvestria
'Julia's first thought on Mr. Yates being announced was annoyance. She had only liked him as someone to whom she could freely complain about the cast of Lovers Vows.' A satisfying gapfiller that fleshes out the cipher that is Julia in canon & explores her choices
[Added 07/08/2014; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; Jane Austen – Mansfield Park]
Regrets and Reminiscences by afrai
I don't think I've ever seen Austen pastiche done better. Mansfield Park fanfiction is thin on the ground, and Afrai rewards the reader with interesting insights into Crawford through Edmund's eyes. I'm rather conflicted over the slash element, though
[Added 13/01/2005; Drama; 6000-20,000; Jane Austen – Mansfield Park]
Symmetry by Ankaret
'"Then why, pray, are you become a bore, my love? Is your digestion plaguing you, or have you become an Evangelical?"' Delicate conversation piece, which reviews the events of the novel through the Crawfords' eyes
[Added 25/11/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Jane Austen – Mansfield Park]
Cobbler's Tales by Zopyrus
'"When I have 'learned how to be virtuous,' I want to go downstairs and meet your friends," said Mikka. "Especially the ugly man who worries about cows."' Simon the cobbler's new interest in philosophical discussions has repercussions for his family. An enjoyable quiet piece that doesn't take the easy route of embracing anachronistic class/gender roles (The Last of the Wine)
[Added 29/10/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Mary Renault]
Encounter at Reichenbach by An Oxford Punter
'This was not a site to have visited on mere whim. Far above my head water that still held the chill of the ice and snow it had lately been surged between serrated outcroppings of rock which looked for all the world like the teeth of a carnivore growing out of the softer tissue of the earth itself.' Setting is a powerful tool rarely used well in fanfiction. This vignette is an exception
[Added 20/02/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; Mary Russell series]
I See With My Eyes by Suaine
'Here though, here her body had all the wrong parts.' The Matrix gives such an interesting perspective on being trans, I'm surprised this hasn't been explored before. A lean, sparse vignette where every word counts
[Added 29/05/2012; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Matrix trilogy]
Contagious fogs by Naraht
'The Pondeian libraries and their bookstore neighbor had together done so much tunneling under Wide Street that it was no longer entirely safe. Occasionally fissures would open up and swallow bicyclists with a flurry of loose pages (if they were lucky) or an ominous splash (if they were not).' A long languid meander through a wonderfully realised fantasy Oxford, which both parallels & inverts the play. Worth a try for the worldbuilding alone
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; Midsummer Night's Dream]
Love and Languish for His Sake by Alchemine
'For while all faeries are creatures of earth, the King's domain is verdant grass, is cool mist, is the quick living deer in the glade and the bursting fullness of ripe berries; and he, Puck, is for the crackling dead leaf, the rotting carcass, the strange fungus that sprouts up overnight.' An interesting glimpse of the fairy side of the play, with language as beautiful as its subject is not
[Added 29/05/2012; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Midsummer Night's Dream]
Seasons Turn, Fae Turn the Wheel by Fresne
'Oberon's horns grew into a mighty rack upon his head and his flesh fuller with each passing day. Titania also grew round and heavy with the heat of the blooming world and turning flowers into rich fruit.' The fairy couple revise the plots of half of Shakespearean canon in this gleefully irreverent romp, bursting with genderswitching, shapeshifting & universal forests
[Added 09/08/2015; Humour; 2500-6000; Midsummer Night's Dream; Crossover]
Event Horizon by Norah
'It's a solemn thing, to go out into the dark. Disc mining's not an occupation for those who like comfort or the familiar. The dark looks back at you in a way you can't explain.' Space AU short, with fascinating world-building bubbling beneath the Queequeg/Ishmael foreground
[Added 24/12/2017; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Moby Dick; Adult]
The Hen Frigate by The Alchemist
'Had she ever been pressed sufficiently hard, the long-suffering Mrs Ahab would have been forced to own that there was an extent to which persons who think it wise to use a six inch long knife to stab a creature with 14 inch thick skin, had, in the vernacular of the common folk, it coming to them.' An enjoyable fix-it AU, which invents a worthy wife for Ahab. The delicious dark humour that pervades the piece is a bonus
[Added 14/04/2015; Drama; 6000-20,000; Moby Dick]
No more than reason by Jamjar
'"'Tis a shame neither of us can be widowed while the other lives," Benedick said. "We could have such entertainment in it, and then at the end of each day, we could make our way back to each other and report our adventures."' Jamjar tackles some of the darker aspects of the play without straying too far from the original tone, and there's plenty of exquisite banter from the newly wed Beatrice & Benedick
[Added 29/10/2014; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Much Ado About Nothing]
One of Your Father's Getting by Valderys
'She would have presided at the White House with gusto, charm and all the diplomacy she had just shown in her rejection of his offer, one that made him feel a hundred feet tall - too costly to wear every day indeed.' Using the Whedon film as canon, Valderys cunningly embeds the characters in US politics to make sense of the play's anachronistic attitude to sex
[Added 29/10/2014; Drama; 1000-2500; Much Ado About Nothing]
L A U D S by Minyan
'...the forge the labyrinth had become devoured first principals and the crucibles of alchemists and the lives of horned whales, the rules of scansion and of physics and the circumference of the earth, the stars the Arabic astronomers recorded at the knee and the breast of the swan, and a hundred faces of the virgin.' An amazing achievement, true to the voice of the original, yet moving beyond it
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Name of the Rose]
And Bide the Danger by MiraMira
'"She buys other things. A carving of a stag. A knife. Couple of pieces of furniture. A busted green ring that looked like something out of Zonko's, 'cept I couldn't figure out what kind of metal it was. After the price she paid for that last one, I'd keep an eye out for rubies from Mars if she asked.' A future for Susan as a dark witch in the Potterverse. The best kind of crossover, that elucidates both sources, with an ambiguous Aslan & double heart-wrencher of an ending
[Added 23/12/2018; Drama; 6000-20,000; Narnian Chronicles; Crossover]
Another Country by Jay Tryfanstone
'She had blue eyes, Susan, a blue so dark it was almost black, and skin as white as the flesh of a snowberry...' An ambiguous, dangerous tale
[Added 30/12/2005; Drama; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
Between by Genarti
'She had a vague idea that she would go home to Mother and Father, and everything would be just as it always had been. Even at the train station, when it took her a full minute to recognize her mother, and when she only realized that the anxious, hollow-cheeked, limping man in the brown jacket was Father because he was standing next to Mother, she still thought it would turn out all right.' Problem-of-Susan stories tend to either demonise Aslan or canonise Susan. Genarti falls into neither extreme; this fix could have written by Lewis, if he'd grown out of his fear of women
[Added 28/02/2014; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
Carpetbaggers by Cofax
'Rhea blinked at him, and her ears relaxed a little, swiveling outwards. She turned that dark gaze on Edmund, Susan, and Lucy, before looking back at Peter. "You appear somewhat short of courtiers, good king."' A long satisfying novel exploring how the Pevensies established their reign after Aslan left, with many & varied adventures along the way for each of the sibs. There is thoughtful worldbuilding, and a large supporting cast of OCs & minors. Cofax treads a delicate balance in adding depth & complexity to canon, including some very dark themes, while remaining very close to its spirit. Deservedly a classic. The Cave in Deerfield, also recommended, forms a brief prequel that explores one of the novel's darker ideas
[Added 20/10/2017; Drama; >50,000; Narnian Chronicles]
Clipsie the Mariner by Transposable Element
'He was very stubborn and wouldn't listen if anybody told him to look on the bright side, so Clipsie didn't tell him that she much preferred boing-boing-boing to toddle-toddle-toddle. It was a lot faster and a lot more fun.' A manifesto for the DufflepudsMonopods, that gives a voice to one of Lewis's many names
[Added 05/07/2016; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
A Dragon's Desire by Miss M
'It was, of course, the same gold treasure you have heard about elsewhere, and it was, of course, a dragon's treasure. But like Eustace many years later, Octesian had no idea what it was. Telmarines are not interested in dragon lore.' Miss M captures the tone of canon beautifully, breathing life into one of Lewis's names
[Added 22/05/2015; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
Elegant and Fine by Ursula Vernon
'He was nearly as broad as he was tall, and his head barely came up past her waist. He had gnarled hands from working metal and he was as ugly as she was beautiful.' An unusual take on the problem of Susan, with a brief but vivid portrait of her Narnian lover
[Added 29/08/2013; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
The foreigner by nasimwrites
'There is hardly any protocol here, and what little there is, is absolutely unintelligible, as it varies upon the number of limbs and amount of fur on each member of its population and the particular whims of its much-too-young rulers, which leaves experienced Tarkaans like Belazir in the most uncomfortable position of walking into Cair Paravel with as much diplomatic ceremony as a common stable-boy.' A thoughtful conversation piece presenting an outsider's perspective on the events of The Horse and his Boy. Nasimwrites gives us a strong characterisation of Peter, that most difficult of Pevensies to capture, as well as clever foreshadowing of future events
[Added 23/12/2018; Drama; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
From the grove of cypress and yellow rose by Redsnake05
'Tumnus was brought forth at midsummer, from under a tangle of yellow roses nestled in the bend of a small, sweet stream. His father was scratched and his arms ran with blood from a multitude of little cuts as he drew Tumnus out of the undergrowth and into the world.' A fascinating origin story for Tumnus, which does a good job of melding high & cosy Narnia
[Added 05/07/2016; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
Further Down And Deeper In by amyfortuna
'Yes, they leave a mark. I'm sorry it hurts. The pain will pass soon. You cannot go to the end of anything without being changed in some way, and this is a small price to pay for the beauties you will see.' Tourist guide to Bism which fleshes out how the realm might actually work, with a wonderfully creepy narrator and a bonus sneak crossover that I won't spoil
[Added 23/12/2018; Drama; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
Further Up and Further In by Hedda62
'Britta's consciousness had hurtled through tunnels of fire, spread like a net of twanging sensory receptors across the stars, exploded in blue-green ecstasy of cinnamon and fireflies, heard symphonies played by gods.' This surprisingly successful fusion with the Vorkosigan series (no canon knowledge required) assumes Betan survey ships that enter wormholes & never reappear end up in Narnia. The interaction of the incomers with Narnian history is fascinating, and Hedda uses a cast of OCs to provide interesting outsider perspectives
[Added 09/01/2014; Drama; 6000-20,000; Narnian Chronicles; Crossover]
Further Up and Further In by Kyra Cullinan
'It's funny...how he always gives us journeys.' The new Narnia, in ripples outwards from Tirian & Jewel. Lovely details and a very canonical feel
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
Green as Poison by Ncfan
'She has seen no scales on her skin, and neither is her tongue forked.' An origin story for the Lady of the Green Kirtle that weaves together hints from canon to end with an intriguing possibility
[Added 23/05/2015; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
Heart-fire by Genarti
'Her father eats a berry of the sun, each morning, and grows slowly young again.' Portrait of the Star's Daughter, brief but magical
[Added 05/09/2012; Character Piece; <1000; Narnian Chronicles]
A High and Lonely Destiny by Elizabeth Culmer
'This is the story Jadis learned when she was three years old, told by an under-nurse with salt-pale skin and a missing left thumb, as she braided Jadis's hair into a crown: / "Long and long ago, in another world, the god El grew bored and lonely. So he made Lilith from salt and sun and Adam from earth and shadow..."' Elizabeth deftly entwines multiple tales within a tale with a suitably nasty history for Jadis. Beautifully written & inventive
[Added 11/12/2018; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
I'll Squeeze You a Cup Full of Diamond Juice by Edonohana
'"I caught a single glimpse of the land at the heart of the world, all heat and color, and it captured my soul. Perhaps it would have killed me if I had tried to descend into the land of flame. But I think it would have been worth it."' An adorable account of how Rilian returns to Bism, with descriptions that make one want to follow him. The ending is perfect
[Added 05/07/2016; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
The Lady Running by Tea Roses
'Lucy...wasn't entirely innocent; she knew the ways of fauns and the things they desired.' Narnia was always more sensual than Lewis allowed, and Tea Roses' tale captures this aspect, without losing any of the delicacy & humour of the original
[Added 11/11/2008; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
The Last Defense of Cair Paravel by Cofax
'In those days, the Earl of Lantern Waste was a Human named Shandon, who was descended through many mothers from King Frank himself, although several of her fathers were river-gods rather than Human.' This unusual short puts forward some interesting hypotheses about the peculiar relationship between Narnia & humans, and features an excellent OC
[Added 20/10/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
North and South by Flourish
'For Archenland and Narnia [Anvard] was a great fortress, with enough cottages clustering around the curtain wall that it might almost be called a town; but it did not support a community of poets, or musicians, or painters, or sculptors, because in the North nearly every artisan is actually a very ordinary sort of person who pursues their art in their free time. This means that more people get to enjoy Culture, but the overall quality of the Culture produced might seem cut-rate to a Tarkheena.' Flourish does a good job of balancing Lewis's vision with a more-neutral view of Calormen (& f/f relationships) in this possible future for Aravis. I particularly enjoyed the delicate ending
[Added 23/12/2018; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
Not Gods, But Demons by Kastaka
'They had come to her in the night, three shadows in her room, winged and clawed and fanged.' The villain's point of view is always interesting, and this vignette, set before The Magician's Nephew, strikes the right balance between humanising Jadis & portraying her utter ruthlessness
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
Oathkeeper by WingedFlight
'Aravis had heard of Edmund Wandbreaker before — everyone in Calormen had heard the stories. This was the boy who, upon witnessing the death of his brother at the hands of the White Witch, had shattered her wand and escaped into the winter wilds with naught but his life.' A clever, vivid AU in which another witch takes the place of Jadis. Unrelentingly dark, but wholly believable
[Added 05/07/2016; Drama; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
Out of Season by Elizabeth Culmer
'She didn't remember being that foolish. But then, she had grown up in the palace as milk-sister to Prince Rabadash and granddaughter to Axartha Tarkaan, the Grand Vizier. She had danced with snakes since before she could speak. That made a difference.' Elizabeth creates a vivid, detailed picture of Calormene society based on Mughal India from Lewis's blank canvas, complete with religious complexity & plenty of political infighting. The central OC is well drawn, with a believable worldview very different from Narnian & human characters
[Added 05/08/2015; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Narnian Chronicles]
Scents on the Wind by Miss M
'Horses' noses are very finely tuned, much sharper than the noses of humans, and Hwin normally registered the smells around her quite without thinking, the same way you and I may look at a bland landscape without remembering much about it afterwards.' A heroine's homecoming isn't always easy. Perfectly in tune with canon, in both style & theme. Lovely!
[Added 11/08/2012; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
Stick In the Mud by Transposable Element
'"The Tree is down," she said. / Even Mudbank wasn't prepared for that. For the first time, Pikebeak saw what a Wiggle looked like when his normally glum expression turned to shock and horror.' The beginning of the long winter from the unique perspective of the Marsh-wiggles, with interesting worldbuilding and a suitably understated humour. If, like me, you're a fan of this most underficced of Narnian races, TE has written a few other stories, including Catch, a charming tale of Puddleglum's courtship
[Added 11/12/2018; Drama; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
Stillwater Feast by Edonohana
'"We were all preparing for the Stillwater Feast when that naughty child slipped away," said the Sea King. "We hold it every year in a place where there are no currents, and all the world is still and quiet. You would honor us with your presence."' An all-too-brief vignette that feels just like an episode from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, with fascinating tidbits on underwater cuisine & some great Lewis asides
[Added 23/12/2018; Drama; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
those who keep silence by templemarker
'It had taken several days before their confused minds began to remember Mother and Father at all, having lived so long without parents that it was more of a shock to recall them than having forgotten.' A moving & psychologically plausible portrait of grief -- and recovery -- that differentiates between Susan & Lucy without demonising either
[Added 11/12/2018; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Narnian Chronicles]
To hold back the night by Heliopause
'"The... the laying bare of the land—Sire, you see the terrible deaths of your people, but we two... we've both grown up with tales and pictures of a war close to our country, from before our time, and this looks to us like," she paused, uncertain of how the phrase would sound in Narnia. "like the creation of a no-man's-land."' A clever AU of The Last Battle in which Jill & Eustace's knowledge of both our world & Narnia helps to change everything. I'd love to read more in this universe
[Added 23/05/2015; Drama; 6000-20,000; Narnian Chronicles]
The Traitor, the Witch, and the Lovers by Katie Vieceli
'He knew she liked it when he took control. It gave her hope that he might still embrace the cruel serpentine nature she had awakened in him oh so long ago with an innocent gift of hot chocolate and Turkish Delight.' Everyone and their pet iguana has rec'd this, years ago, but I couldn't resist. A dark & twisted AU for the Narnia series that would have CS Lewis turning in his grave. Not for the faint at heart
[Added 08/07/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles; Adult]
Triptych by redsnake05
'She struggled against the sweet red loam, pulling a heavy dark stone from her chest as she coalesced from the earth of her shaping.' A strange, powerful story of Jadis, Lilith & Aslan that reads like a cross between Narnia and the Old Testament, and raises fascinating questions about free will vs the bonds of love
[Added 11/12/2018; Drama; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles]
What Is This, A Joke? by Moriwen
'Susan took out a pamphlet from her jacket pocket, folded it open to a page in the middle, and handed it to Spike. Potential side effects of prolonged contact, it read, in print so small he had to strain to read it. Dizziness, vomiting, ennui, lucid dreaming, existential angst, pregnancy, death.' This fusion with the Buffyverse allows for a more ambiguous presentation of Aslan than usually convinces me. Slow to start but worth a try for its original take on Susan, who appears at the halfway point (Narnia/BtVS/AtS)
[Added 07/08/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Narnian Chronicles; Crossover]
Mercury Scatters by Northland
'Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, and a razorgirl's gotta cut.' A moving short that returns a hint of humanity to Gibson's creation
[Added 07/08/2009; Character Piece; <1000; Neuromancer]
The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning by Sophia Prester
'Unlike other dignitaries he had met in London Below, the Ringmistress was not given to layers of velvet and lace. Rather, she could have stepped straight out of Swinging London, right down to the yellow-and-black checkered shift dress and white patent go go boots.' The various strands in this novella-length sequel don't always bind together, but the individual pieces are engaging, and the inventive OC alone is worth the price of admission
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; Neil Gaiman – Neverwhere]
Headstone by Oneiriad
'It rises impossible huge, the sloth, dwarfing the mountain and the statue at its top, the whole city in its shadow -- at least, that's one way of interpreting the twisting lines and wavy patterns of the panel. It might simply be that the artist had a unique take on the concept of perspective.' Hunter's life in glimpses, fabulous & disorienting as all good Neverwhere tales should be. The frame story is particularly enjoyable
[Added 28/01/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Neil Gaiman – Neverwhere]
The Invisible City; or, Dick Mayhew and his Marvellous Cat by Calliope85
'In the spaces below and above and between and through London, rivers became ditches became sewers became streets, and history flowed into fable.' This Gaimanesque sequel is packed with richly researched detail as it slowly builds to a climax that's both surprising & inevitable. Simply wonderful
[Added 10/11/2008; Drama; 6000-20,000; Neil Gaiman – Neverwhere]
The Never-Green Tree by Sophia Prester
'"We here at the Three Crowns only guarantee the veracity and quality of our information. We do not guarantee that our clients will like what they hear."' Sophia Prester neatly meshes two common sequel plots. The result is worth a try for its inventive take on London Below alone
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Neil Gaiman – Neverwhere]
Utterly Professional by Kumquat Weekend
'Another corner. And another, down into the bowels of the palace that the emperor knew better than any person alive. Yet the voices drew nearer, one flat as mud and one oily as a pig carcass.' An original look at Croup & Vandemar through the ages, always changing but always the same
[Added 10/11/2008; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Neil Gaiman – Neverwhere]
The Examination by TeaRoses
'The Thought Police didn't take recruits, and they didn't take refusals. Either she went through with this or she lost everything.' This powerful short gives a grimly realistic glimpse of life under Big Brother
[Added 04/02/2012; Drama; <1000; Nineteen Eighty-Four]
(Some Say the World Will) End in Fire by Gloria Mundi
The adaptable Gloria Mundi turns her attention to the Norse legends. I'm not sure the result will be for everyone, but I felt it fit well into canon and was surprisingly hot
[Added 16/12/2004; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Norse mythology]
Balance to the Flame by Tristesses
'Loki gives her a thoughtful, intense look, and Sigyn feels her cheeks warm; even after all this time, all this pain, he still has this effect on her. "Do you know, I'm sure that if we tried very hard, we could find a position that allows you to hold the bowl and still lets us enjoy ourselves—"' This lighter than usual take on Sigyn & Loki's story gives plenty of insights into this oddest of couples, and grants Sigyn more power over her fate than the original
[Added 04/10/2013; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Norse mythology]
The Big Sleep by Fresne
'Loki's bed was wide as the sea and covered in fire proof satin.' A noir retelling of the trickster's story
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 6000-20,000; Norse mythology; Adult]
A Game of Shapes by Bagheera
'It was a very good changeling, in all outward aspects exactly like Baldr. ...But Frigg, who’d never had to lose an eye to see far, took one look at it and knew the changeling for what it was.' This tale of Loki & Thor's quest to recover Baldur cleverly weaves together many different legends into a seamless & original whole
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Norse mythology]
Just a Trick of the Light by Barrowjane
'...the other is -- ordinary. Except he's not. He's too big for the seat, for the table, for the room.' A spare take on the modern-day gods, with a wonderfully creepy atmosphere
[Added 01/02/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Norse mythology]
The Tale of Hljod the Giant's Daughter by Zdenka
'"If the Norns have decreed it," Hljod replied, "then no one can prevent it; but I do not think that any man will take me to wife against my will. King Rerir’s son will surely be a great warrior -- so the raven-god has told me."' An original take on the Volsung saga that weaves so deftly into the source it's hard to tell where the seams lie
[Added 08/08/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Norse mythology]
Trickster's Game by Alchemine
'If you've slain one three-headed fire-breathing monster, you've slain them all.' Beautifully characterised & hilarious
[Added 30/12/2005; Humour; 2500-6000; Norse mythology]
Who Gathers All Things Mortal by Raspberryhunter
'Before her is a bleak plain of stone and ice, withered stumps of trees and piles of bones. But she can also see dry grass, drooping but whole trees, huddled masses of skin and fur, overlaid on the ice and bones.' An intriguing, unsettling view of Hel coming to terms with her fate
[Added 09/08/2014; Drama; 1000-2500; Norse mythology]
Hors de Combat, Hors de Commerce by Tofty
'The transience of the railway-station setting, the thick steamy air, and the tightening of his supplicating fingers around her wrist combined to make her dizzy, and they made her reckless, as well; and so she offered no objections as he bumped and buffeted her like a balloon, lighter than air, up the stairs and into the passenger car.' A welcome fix for the ending of the television series that does a good job of integrating it into book canon
[Added 28/02/2014; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; North and South]
Sick of Shadows by Lettered
'"Then you have a better opinion of me?" Mr Thornton seemed sceptical. "You do not think I have attempted to buy you, and only managed to succeed now because the price of your refusal became too high?"' Lettered takes the forced marriage clichÉ & spins it into pure gold: the thoughtful novel that results is as much preoccupied with the meeting of minds as of bodies. The characters are all well rounded, with Fanny a particular treat. Sadly incomplete
[Added 28/02/2014; Romance/Erotica; >50,000; North and South; WiP]
When The Goods Get Together by Killer Quean
'Isabella, who had never understood the attractions of a Charles Grandison, read the sort of novels that were rather more instructive for her current situation, the sort that taught young ladies to bolt their doors, beware the counsel of monks, and always remember a way out of the castle.' Isabella is let down by Northanger Abbey, but gets to shine in this adventure of her own. The author develops an excellent voice for her, and there's an amusing bonus of a sneak crossover to watch out for, too. Great fun!
[Added 10/08/2012; Drama; 6000-20,000; Jane Austen – Northanger Abbey; Crossover]
The Parrot Dupatta by The Alchemist
'"I've never danced the woman's role before. It was most educational."' Gripping retelling, set in the Raj, which is at its best as it fleshes out the relationship between Othello & Desdemona
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Othello]
Liminality by Jay Tryfanstone
'Inland, the fringed reeds hanging over the drainage ditches and the stubborn, salt-stiff grasses of the sea wall could have been the painted, sepia foliage of a dining room frieze. Even the tide was slow and sullen, unbreaking, as if some great beast rose through the sea towards the shore.' A shuddery little story for Samhain. The author's usual tight grasp on Sutcliff's descriptive prose brings the autumnal landscape to life
[Added 14/01/2019; Drama; 1000-2500; Rosemary Sutcliff – Outcast]
Sons From the Sea by Isis
'One afternoon on the beach he found a stone that was a deep and lustrous orange-red, the color of the anemones that had carpeted the hillsides near his father's house. It had been polished by the waves to a smooth round shape that fit just inside his palm, comforting in its weight.' An enjoyable happy-ending AU in which Jason survives, with a strong structure enlivened by colourful details
[Added 17/04/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Outcast]
A Straight Road by Isis
'...he imagined the road as being all of the world, and the stones laid for its bed all the peoples of the world, and the road that was to be, that would carry travelers from one place to another, something to connect them all.' A thoroughly appropriate character study of Justinius the engineer, cleverly structured around a Roman road (complete with diagram!). Thoughtful & moving
[Added 14/01/2019; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Rosemary Sutcliff – Outcast]
Returning to the Deep by Tristesses
'Mercedes' dreams are redolent of loam and damp earth, ripe with drops of water splashing on old stone like the clicking of insect's feet, wet like Ofelia's blood on her hands, sinking into her skirt.' I was rather worried about Pan's Labyrinth fanfiction, because the film is so perfect, but this futurefic is poignant & ambiguous, just as it should be
[Added 29/05/2012; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Pan's Labyrinth]
Sea Change by Lynndyre
'That night, the sea was utter calm. It spread about them like a dark and clouded glass, reflecting nothing.' Events seen through the lens of magical realism, with a perceptive narrator in Captain Harville. I wish this were longer!
[Added 29/10/2017; Drama; <1000; Jane Austen – Persuasion]
A Dream of Wind by Culumacilinte
'But there is another sort of boy as well; those who feel that they ought to grow up, that being a man is a far more interesting and reputable thing to be than a boy, and that the world, besides, is made for men, not those still in short trousers and buckled shoes.' Subtle character study of George Darling, which deftly mingles magic & prosaic
[Added 29/05/2012; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Peter Pan]
Never by Ursula Vernon
'There was no cheese in Neverland, as there were no cows. There was plenty of blood, but nobody ever thought to make pudding out of it. Possibly no one knew how.' A chilling vignette that makes Neverland's dark underpinning explicit
[Added 06/12/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Peter Pan]
No Unworthy Aim by Sinope
'No matter how restless the patient, however so much he shuddered with waking nightmares or groaned with incurable pains, Wendy could always find the directest path from their heart to the Neverland. To one lad, she told tales of knights jousting for the honor of fine ladies; to another, she recounted travelers summiting Oriental peaks to discover lost cities of silk and gold.' It's a bit of a wish-fulfilment story for Wendy/Hook shippers, perhaps, but there are some interesting insights to be gained along the way to a genuinely moving end
[Added 15/04/2015; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Peter Pan]
Songs of Innocence and Experience by The Alchemist
'Peter's laugh is the youngest thing you've ever heard. If babies came out laughing rather than crying, this is what they would sound like.' Thought-provoking metafic that starts out light but twists to deliver insights into the relationship between Peter & Hook, and the nature of all fictional characters
[Added 13/08/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; Peter Pan]
Apples by Catslash
'Barbossa himself had hated apples as a child.' A surprisingly moving study of an often-overlooked character
[Added 17/12/2003; Character Piece; <1000; Pirates of the Caribbean]
Bull in a China Shop by Gileonnen
'Cravats, as it turned out, got stuffed into a man's shirt.' One of the discoveries along the way as Pintel & Ragetti try to go straight
[Added 17/12/2003; Humour; <1000; Pirates of the Caribbean]
Debauchery by Ladybee
An AU set around a Boston fetish club, 'Debauchery' is surprisingly successful in recreating the characters, particularly Jack Sparrow, in the modern setting. Luscious descriptions, snappy dialogue and cheeky film references make this one hell of a read. (A sequel is now in progress, linked from the author's page)
[Added 17/12/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; Pirates of the Caribbean]
First Night in Tortuga by Kapunua
'It mattered not that he was on land just then; the stars always moved like that, as did everything else in his sight. Always in time with the sea, no matter how far from her he ever was.' This vignette rambles around a bit for my taste, but Kapunua rewards the patient reader with an intriguing take on Jack Sparrow's particular brand of madness
[Added 17/12/2003; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Pirates of the Caribbean]
First Warning by Rave
'...then came the Smell: rum, seaweed, sweat and fish in a horrible salt-sweet miasma...' A peek at what might have happened aboard the Interceptor that, refreshingly, doesn't simply ignore the fact that Will and Jack are anything but friends at the outset. Gorgeous details and some great bickering dialogue
[Added 17/12/2003; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Pirates of the Caribbean]
Fortune and Favor by Firesignwriter
The Pearl is no more; Sparrow & Anamaria fall into Norrington's hands: what will he do with them? Jack's internal monologue is very believable, and Firesignwriter ably captures the complexities of Norrington's character. I'm not sure that the sequels quite match the power of the original, but they're also worth a look: Shorn continues Jack's story, while Days of Firsts & Nights of Lasts by Ladybee follow Anamaria
[Added 17/12/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; Pirates of the Caribbean]
Harlots and Bones by Cavalorn
An unusual and extremely creepy vignette, worth reading for one simply superb phrase
[Added 17/12/2003; Drama; <1000; Pirates of the Caribbean]
Hubris by Daft
'Your pride will be the death of you.' One of the very few stories to focus on the realities beneath the Disney sugar-coating
[Added 17/12/2003; Drama; 1000-2500; Pirates of the Caribbean]
Letter of Marque by Dee
Sharp dialogue, plausible characterisations and some lovely touches of detail place this little adventure a cut above the rest. Stands well alone, but a slashy continuation can be found in the Caribbean Cartography series
[Added 29/07/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Pirates of the Caribbean]
Mermaid Kiss by Zara Hemla
'...it happened, and I know, for I was there.' Another tale to embellish the legend of Captain Jack Sparrow. Good command of detail and a quirky narrative voice make this vignette stand out from the crowd
[Added 17/12/2003; Drama; 1000-2500; Pirates of the Caribbean]
Mysticism by Gileonnen
'Jack had no god, but he had his beliefs...' A thoughtful study of Jack Sparrow, and his relationships with two generations of Turners, which stretches the characterisation beyond the film without breaking it
[Added 17/12/2003; Character Piece; <1000; Pirates of the Caribbean]
Negotiations by Marnie
'Hell tossed like a ship in a quartering sea.' Marnie's gift for description is harnessed here to a plot with a twist or two, and there are nicely written cameos from assorted minor characters. This is the author's first turn at the helm of the Pearl and I think it shows in a slightly wobbly voice for Jack, but still well worth a try
[Added 15/06/2005; Drama; 20,000-50,000; 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]
A Pirate's Life by Elspeth
In a fandom dominated by shorts, it's great to find a novel-length adventure that's a bit closer to the style of the movie. Set shortly after the film, 'A Pirate's Life' contains a nice blend of action and romance, and doesn't slip into the common mistake of over-sentimentalising Jack Sparrow. The style lurches around a bit in places, and the ending was weaker than I'd hoped, but on the whole, a good read
[Added 17/12/2003; Drama; >50,000; Pirates of the Caribbean]
A Sea Change by Ladybee
'...a sea can change a man, they say.' Ladybee gives us a unique version of Jack's backstory, rich in detail and invention. If you enjoyed 'A Sea Change', then you might like to sample some of the other stylish & unusual vignettes linked from the author's page, especially Salt, the Content of my Heart & Eye of the Needle
[Added 17/12/2003; Drama; 1000-2500; Pirates of the Caribbean]
'The Swordsmith and the Pirate: A Romance of the Spanish Main', by Elizabeth Turner by Gloria Mundi
'So... my wife has been writing carnal romances with ne'er a woman in sight.' With a premise like this, what's not to like? Best of all, Brancher has written a beautifully characterised and very witty sequel, Happy Endings
[Added 17/12/2003; Humour; 1000-2500; Pirates of the Caribbean]
Three Bells and Cockleshells by Rex Luscus
'His face was the color of bone. A black boat cloak billowed from his shoulders like smoke from a pyre, and his body seemed to waver and ripple, like the air over a volcanic vent.' Unusual AU coda to At World's End, with gorgeous description and a real fairy story feel. Magical
[Added 09/06/2011; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Pirates of the Caribbean]
The Lay of Homecoming by Rosie Rues
'"The Moor is changing again," he said, "as the Moon changes, and I am not sure you and I are moving with it, old friend. Not as fast as our children, at least."' Adorable coda to the novel, in which the children begin to grow up. Delicate characterisations all round, and very much in the spirit of the original
[Added 27/05/2012; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Diana Wynne Jones – Power of Three]
The Wooing of Adara by Thimblerig
'She was wondering aloud whether she'd catch any rabbits the next time she went on the Hunt (because they made the best gloves) when Adara, her brows still furrowed, asked Selni why she wasn't a Hunter.' This enjoyable backstory-cum-romance captures Adara's character, and Thimblerig supplies flashes of sly humour plus plenty of precise details to expand on DWJ's world
[Added 28/10/2014; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Diana Wynne Jones – Power of Three]
Lydia, still by Tree
'I do not wish to ever repeat that first night on my own when it was so horrid dark and cold. I thought I should die from it! Papa always said that Lizzy was the only clever one of us but I am certain that I am just as clever as she and maybe even more too.' It's hard to recommend this oddest of crossovers without spoiling it. Strangely moving (P&P/ST:TNG)
[Added 15/10/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Jane Austen – Pride & Prejudice; Crossover]
The Part of Her Hair by scioscribe
'"It is an unbearable temptation for you, this shaping of conversation into a series of aphorisms." / "It is true, sir, that the prudence necessary to resist scarcely runs in my family, and it is fortunate for us, else my sisters and I would not have been, had you not indulged."' A more mature, but still recognisable Mary embarks on her first romance. It's interesting to view the rest of the extended family through her eyes, with Mr Bennet & Lydia shining particularly brightly. I also enjoyed the way that each of Mary's sisters helps in her own way
[Added 13/12/2018; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Jane Austen – Pride & Prejudice]
The Pine-Apple of Discord by A T Rain
'There are certain married couples who are in the habit of speaking without words, whose mutual sympathy is so deep that every glance carries a world of meaning. Mr. and Mrs. Collins were not, ordinarily, one of those couples.' An unusually sympathetic look at the Collins' marriage, with spot-on characterisations of both Charlotte & her husband
[Added 06/08/2015; Humour; 1000-2500; Jane Austen – Pride & Prejudice]
Profanation of Our Joys by Malini
'I can say what I will of him without fear of contradiction, as a nobody in a sea of nobodies, and I am absurdly injured to be beneath contempt. Have I ever sought anything other than his contempt? His friendship got me nowhere.' Pride & Prejudice slash is hard to pull off, but Malini weaves Darcy/Wickham into canon so thoroughly that it underlies all Wickham's actions
[Added 25/08/2013; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Jane Austen – Pride & Prejudice]
The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Westley and Buttercup by Atra
'"This is True Love. It ends happily. We must believe that."' Perfect characterisations as the world spirals out of control in this anything-but-happily-ever-after ending for Westley & Buttercup. It's the frame story, though, that really makes this heartbreaking
[Added 17/08/2009; Drama; 2500-6000; Princess Bride]
Unemployed in Greenland by Miss Pryss
'It began with a mermaid, which in Inigo’s experience was true of about 85% of all stories worth telling.' Miss Pryss catches the whimsical tone of canon in this tale of Inigo & Fezzik's first meeting. The sweetness is counteracted by some precise, & often amusing, details
[Added 09/08/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Princess Bride]
By Design by Dreamiflame
'And Puss could think, as well. August considered him his masterpiece, the exquisitely rendered form and the marvelous whirring brain. Only a few artificers ever managed to give their creations thought. After Puss, August had never done it again, instead creating the fine, obedient servants which were what most people used.' A neat steampunk retelling that sticks close to the original, yet manages to give the princess character more of a say. Sweet & memorable
[Added 29/10/2014; Drama; 6000-20,000; Puss in Boots]
When She Woke at Dawn by kalirush
'Alone, mute, and impotent, the house dreams. Memories crawl like termites along the wreckage of its cybernetic brain.' A cleverly structured vignette with a poignant future for the not-quite-dead house of 'There Will Come Soft Rains'
[Added 30/10/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; Ray Bradbury]
Gimlet, No Bitters by Martha
'I paid him when he handed it to me because I wasn't planning to have another, and I wished him merry Christmas because somebody ought to have one.' Long Goodbye fix-its aren't hard to find, but this vignette has a surprisingly successful stab at the style while making explicit text of Chandler's subtext
[Added 09/06/2011; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Raymond Chandler]
Leveling by Pearbean
' "I don't shoot people on Thursdays," I said. "It spoils the weekend." ' Marlowe feels very much in character in this slow seduction. The luscious Chandler pastiche is particularly strong in the dialogue (Farewell, My Lovely)
[Added 09/06/2011; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Raymond Chandler]
The Shadow Line by Lemuel Cork
'I’d seen Tijuana zebras before. Every American who ventures south is offered the opportunity. They’re the result of an enterprising program of cross-breeding between a donkey and a bucket of paint.' This Long Goodbye epilogue is a bit uneven, but it's worth a try for the excellent world-building
[Added 09/06/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; Raymond Chandler]
The Woman in the Picture by Vehemently
'The window frame was black and looked like steel and the smooth machined glass curtly turned away my gaze. The morning sun's reflection was so severe I couldn't see more than a few feet into the foyer. Unfortunately, that was enough for me to find the body.' A wonderful understated casefile, with believable OCs & almost perfect Chandler pastiche. More in the spirit of the original than most Marlowe fanfiction
[Added 09/06/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; Raymond Chandler]
Look and Listen by Yahtzee
'It was her own fault, her mother said. If she’d pushed more, or played a little harder to get, then Ted would have married her.' Yahtzee cleverly turns the camera to tease out Miss Lonelyhearts' story
[Added 28/05/2012; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Rear Window]
Danny by Tiffany Rawlins
'Once even Mrs. Danvers must have been young...' An excellent handle on Rebecca's slippery narrator
[Added 30/12/2005; Drama; 1000-2500; Rebecca]
Making Up The Numbers by Kahvi
'The planet was probably Earth, though these things were often hard to tell. Interdimensional differences between planets could mean anything from variations in continental shift to kumquats being a different color.' A dark take on the series, with flashes of leavening humour
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Red Dwarf]
Gruesome that someone so handsome should care by Aja
'But Brummell looked, as always, as if radiant spring winds had crept into his room and slowly nursed him awake to the dewy glow of the sun only moments before. Still, upon entering the immaculate drawing room, Worth saw that his friend was tireder than he had first thought.' Aja injects a note of reality into the Heyer bubble in this moving tale of the Beau teetering on the brink
[Added 31/10/2017; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Georgette Heyer – Regency Buck]
Cum Mortuis in Lingua Mortua by Gileonnen
'The taper smacked of pretence, either the high-church ceremonial sort or the pentagram tomfoolery of a Bennett or a Crowley. / These things had a form to them, though, and a military man knew that forms had to be followed.' Precisely observed details anchor this quiet tale of the supernatural and add to its power. Bittersweet & beautifully written
[Added 04/10/2013; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Regeneration trilogy]
And Still More Tomorrow by Medie
'Murphy...tells himself he's a detective, some days he even believes it. Most days he punches the clock and waits for the weekend.' Bittersweet backstory for a character that canon short-changed & most fanfiction overlooks
[Added 11/11/2008; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Remington Steele]
Put the Blame on Steele by Yahtzee
'In Steele's opinion, reality is grievously overrated.' A top-notch character study, done just as it should be, through the movies. I smiled all the way through this one
[Added 03/11/2004; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Remington Steele]
Six Ans de Mer by Dirty Diana
'Maybe she's not a falling kind of girl.' Subtle picture of a shifting relationship
[Added 30/12/2005; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Remington Steele]
Steele to be Discovered by Xenon
Excellent characterisations & good dialogue, married with a twisty plot with the same madcap feel as the series, make this a gem amongst Remington Steele fanfiction. Xenon's other adventures listed on the author's site are also worth a look; I'd particularly recommend 'Edge of Steele', 'Steele and Old Lace' & 'Steele Stolen'
[Added 29/10/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Remington Steele]
Stories Untold by Russian Blue
'Changing his tone of voice, the pace of his delivery, his word choice, his body language. Building Mr. Orange.' Russian Blue uses structure & repetition to counterpoint the film's random violence in this clever vignette
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 1000-2500; Reservoir Dogs]
Birdcage by Philomytha
'Any police service takes the disappearance of an officer extremely seriously, and I'd studied all the proper procedures. The trouble was, they all started with notifying the missing officer's line manager. And I had no idea who Nightingale's line manager was, or if he even had any superior officers apart from the Home Secretary and the Commissioner. And it wasn't as if I had either of them on my speed-dial.' Peter takes centre stage in this satisfying, close-to-canon adventure novella, set during the London Olympics. Philomytha, like Aaronovitch, excels at creating odd corners of the capital, and unlike him, spares a thought for the ethical issues arising from Moon over Soho
[Added 18/10/2017; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Rivers of London series]
Folly To Be Wise by Philomytha
'London is constantly being destroyed and recreated, old buildings improved, extended, knocked down, blown up and redeveloped into something new.' Atmospheric ghost story that builds on the fallout from Ettersberg and feels just like a missing case from canon. Philomytha gives us some interesting insights into Nightingale's youth & the history of magical practice in this universe, too. I'm still avoiding spoilers in this fandom but I also enjoyed her earlier casefic, Pest Control
[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; 6000-20,000; Rivers of London series]
J'attendrai by Quasar
'His suit jacket was of good quality but altered rather than bespoke, and the style was unfamiliar - not Continental, perhaps American? He hadn't bothered with a tie or hat or waistcoat. As he dodged out from behind the anxious mother I realised he was a Negro or mixed race, which seemed to strengthen the American hypothesis.' An intricately plotted time-travel novel, which never confuses as it slowly unfurls, despite the frequent time jumps. The device neatly bypasses the mentor/student taboo, and offers a series of intriguing glimpses into Nightingale's long life
[Added 18/10/2017; Drama; >50,000; Rivers of London series]
Know Your Enemy by Unsentimental Fool
'He hadn't been sure that her absolute confidence was entirely flattering. He was after all a man, and a formidable one. Would it hurt her to tremble a little?' Enjoyable identity porn that mirrors the show's playfulness in a world where Robin Hood aired after the watershed (if only)
[Added 29/08/2013; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Robin Hood (BBC); Adult]
The Wolf's Head by Corrielle
'"Well met, Sir Guy," she said. "I would say that you are welcome in my house, but I would not have my first words to you be a lie."' A thought-provoking AU novella in which a small divergence, Robin's mother being alive, spirals out to change everything. The repercussions for Robin, and for Guy, are unexpected, but always remain believably within character. I'd love to see a sequel continue this universe
[Added 25/08/2013; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Robin Hood (BBC)]
Wiles by Rosedark
'Magenta couldn't say that she particularly mourned the sudden death of their delivery boy, but the whole affair was distasteful.' Most Rocky Horror fanfiction focuses on the human outsiders' perspective. Rosedark instead looks at the castle from the inside, in this convincingly alien portrait centering around Magenta
[Added 07/08/2009; Drama; 2500-6000; Rocky Horror Picture Show]
Nothing But One of Your Nine Lives by Russian Blue
'Tybalt had died. Now he walked again, and he knew not what it meant.' When pulled off, the crack premise taken straight is among the most delicious of fanfiction flavours. This one forms an interesting lens on the Prince of Cat's character, and Russian Blue also paints a vivid picture of Verona before & during the play
[Added 14/04/2015; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Romeo and Juliet]
Starling by Loathlylady
'Black, white, black, white inside, still unlimited shades and nuances without. She had been ground between the nuances, caught in some space between maid and bawd.' Luscious prose draws one into this intriguing take on the events of the play, as Rosaline looks back in her old age
[Added 04/10/2013; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Romeo and Juliet]
Waste Our Lights in Vain by Nifra Idril
'There is a door inside Mercutio, in the shape of Romeo. It blows with the wind; open and shut, open and shut.' Sensuous descriptive prose and refreshing characterisations
[Added 13/01/2005; Drama; 1000-2500; Romeo and Juliet]
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Exeunt by BonesOfBirdWings
'"Everyone will be born, everyone has died," Rosencrantz murmurs to himself. There's something... something he's forgotten. / There must have been a moment – / "I think it's the other way around," Guildenstern says, at the same time Rosencrantz blurts out, "Let's not go."' Dark meditation on the nature of fiction, the role of the audience and the inevitability of fate
[Added 12/01/2019; Drama; 1000-2500; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead]
Proof by Sonya
It's easy to write meta-fic for R&G, but this struck me as particularly clever
[Added 30/12/2005; Drama; 1000-2500; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead]
Steal My Breath by Luna
'He wakes before sunrise, his heart pounding. Something has touched his face in the dark. A cat, he guesses, walking over his pillow.' Clever brief prequel to the play, with a perfect ending
[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; <1000; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead]
All the Worlds by RecessiveJean
'The wondrous thing boasted carvings of an extraordinary nature all around its basin, figures of mighty lions and sly, wicked gods and many manners of like wonder, all of which travelled the circumference of the great pool in postures of play and war.' I don't know Scarlet Pimpernel well, but this dark tale of dissolution into madness works perfectly as a crossover, warning of the dangers of setting foot in other worlds (Scarlet Pimpernel/The Magician's Nephew)
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 1000-2500; Scarlet Pimpernel; Crossover]
The Ordinary Operations of Nature by Sharksdontsleep
'My mother ... fears the dangers of a turned Ankle or my being lost to the Waves of the Sea. But I feel as though I must - the Divine has blessed me with some sense of these things, and I must do my part to reveal what the Creator has given us, that through hammer and chisel we might search for the evidence of Things not yet seen.' Mary Anning's correspondence with Charles Lyell starts by charting Anning's journey from sycophancy to anger, and then takes an entirely unexpected direction, which I won't spoil here. Unusual & atmospheric
[Added 25/12/2017; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Science RPF; Crossover]
The Saga of Hearthruler Whitebeard and Snowsgrace Dreamfinder by Melannen
'All knew it was a place of great power, for the Old Ones had built a massive earthen rampart around it, in the shape of the storm's lightning, and in the center of the ramparts were many great standing stones with inscriptions of wisdom on them, and more hidden knowledge as well, in places known only to the most powerful of the priests.' A hugely enjoyable fusion which places 19th C London cholera outbreak figures into an original future based on the nuclear waste disposal report -- the kind of story that's one of Yuletide's joys. The saga voice is charming, the characters shine in their odd setting, and I particularly loved the investigation. My favourite of several interesting takes on the report for Yuletide 2016
[Added 24/12/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; Science RPF]
So Highly Do I Value and Esteem Him by abluestocking
'"He does not tire me," Elinor said, quietly. She was afraid it might rain; Willoughby and Marianne, who had met in a rainstorm, were inclined to think the rain romantic, and would run laughing for the house, but she thought of the dresses that would need drying, and prayed the rain would not come today.' Beautifully characterised & suitably restrained Elinor/Brandon AU, with a solid pastiche style. The pairing is one of the few contra-canonical ones in Austen to make sense to me, and this piece is my favourite example. (It's sufficiently restrained, I think, to be enjoyable even if this pairing is not quite to your taste)
[Added 16/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Jane Austen – Sense & Sensibility]
Exclusive Content by Ellen Fremedon
'They all good shows, but truthfully Cookie proudest of early UK coproductions. Me, Claudius first time on television monsters do period drama in monster dialect. No one outside monster community notice, but it big deal.' An entire piece in Monster speak, which milks a great deal of humour from the dissonance between content & mode of expression. The monster versions of Hamilton &c are worth the price of admission alone
[Added 30/10/2017; Humour; 2500-6000; Sesame Street]
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
oh it's fun to hunt and shoot a gun, or to catch a rabbit on the run by Magpie Mountains
'"- stood right there by the flannels and eyed Sarah and Dorcas and the other girls up when they came in, like they was trussed hams. Said they were pretty enough but he was gonna look you all over 'fore he decided. Why, Mr. Schmidt told me the fellow hung about outside his store and eyed up his draper's dummy before he realised she weren't real-"' Satisfying AU that applies a fix-it plaster to a very problematic film, without making Milly too unrealistically feminist. The story develops a strong narrative voice for her, and brings her frontier town world to life
[Added 24/12/2017; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers]
The Good That Won't Come Out by Cheapmetaphor
'Samantha thinks that this is the worst part of getting older, you have to smile more.' Excellent not-so-happily-ever-after tale. One of those stories that's more profound than the show that inspired it
[Added 13/01/2005; Character Piece; <1000; Sex and the City]
Eff-em-ell, and Other Quotes for the Official Biography by Fahye
'...Tim has vivid memories from the post-post-election-party party of the newly-elected leader of Her Majesty's Government drinking far more vodka than her size would suggest she could handle, eating eggplant dip out of a bowl with her bare fingers, and then racing around the room on her husband's back.' Pitch-perfect voices make this short feel like a DVD extra (The Taming of the Shrew)
[Added 27/05/2012; Humour; 1000-2500; Shakespeare Retold]
Honey and roses by The Alchemist
'It was something like how he felt at the end of the Easter vigil, when after a long night of prayer and liturgy the sun rises and the new fire is lit. And it was something like that perfect stage of drunkenness when care has departed and sickness not arrived, when the heart is filled with love and fellowship with all. / He licked his lips and tasted honey.' An inspired fusion of Henry IV Part 1 & Richard II with Euripides' Bacchae. Clever, with a particularly intriguing sting in the tail
[Added 24/12/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; Shakespeare's histories; Crossover]
The sky above us shoots to kill by La Reine Noire
'My brothers were out on the claim and I was in Warwick's saloon when Black Meg and Clifford her mad dog took off Father's head with a Bowie knife in the middle of the street.' The Deadwood universe makes a wonderful alternate setting for Richard's malevolence (Henry VI, Part 3)
[Added 20/01/2012; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Shakespeare's histories]
Terminus by Castiron
'To eyes, though, the Accretion was strangely beautiful, almost as beautiful as Aruvem had been when she hoisted a shimmersail and rode laughing across the lake.' I've always found the barely there history the most intriguing aspect of the Wide Green World. Castiron weaves together the little that Bujold provides to give us a key scene in the First Malice War, deepened by hints of all the Lakewalker civilisation has lost. The ending is perfectly judged
[Added 13/08/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; LM Bujold – Sharing Knife series]
Breakfast at 221B by AJ Hall
'He could not, if asked, have defined how "a Sherlock conversation" differed from "a conversation with Sherlock", but he knew the difference between the two was as wide as the gap which supposedly yawned between genius and madness.' A sparkling conversation piece, featuring a hilarious shout-out to Conan Doyle canon
[Added 31/08/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; Sherlock]
Double cross purposes by Mary Sutherland
'Unfortunately, the Minister was neither an adulterer, nor corrupt, which eliminated some possible moves. Since he was simply a sanctimonious prick, it was time to fall back to plan B.' Mycroft's point of view is hard to pull off but this complex portrait of him in action during 'A Study in Pink' balances Machiavellian machine & human softie. The novelette is fleshed out with a diverse cast of overlooked canon characters & OCs
[Added 04/03/2014; Drama; 6000-20,000; Sherlock]
The Four Paw Problem by AJ Hall
'Fond as he was of cats, he couldn't help feeling the niche in the Baker Street ecosystem for a predatory, self-absorbed, semi-nocturnal creature who classified every living being in its vicinity as 'prey', 'minion' or 'total irrelevance' had already been filled.' This delightful short takes the inspired idea of introducing Saki's talking cat to 221b, and manages to fix the original's unfortunate ending
[Added 05/03/2014; Humour; 2500-6000; Sherlock; Crossover]
The Green Blade by Verity Burns
'"One more body should do it," he announced, fingers now drumming against the armrests. "The media are already in a frenzy after three and the police are fobbing them off. One more should tip the scales." He leaned forward again, resting his elbows on his knees. "Is that too much to ask?"' Casefiles are surprisingly scarce in this fandom. This solid novel-length example has the feel of an unaired episode, with strong roles for underutilised characters, believable OCs & enough twists to hold the interest. The 'bromance' is a little unsubtle for my taste but don't let that put you off
[Added 06/03/2014; Drama; >50,000; Sherlock]
I Used to Live Alone Before I Knew You by Etothepii
'The best thing humans have ever done on their own was trick themselves into thinking that science and religion were mutually exclusive.' This well-executed fusion with Good Omens forms a satisfying casefile, with a few delicious little details
[Added 31/08/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Sherlock; Crossover]
The Perils of Urban Warfare by Phantomjam
'What Sherlock considers conversation is more akin to a staccato burst of machinegun fire strafing over John’s head in a spray of logic-based shrapnel and deadly hand-grenades of intuition.' Three-way piece including John's therapist, which develops a particularly interesting voice for John
[Added 18/10/2011; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Sherlock]
Space Travel by Candle Beck
'The night the aliens came was the first time John understood the extent of his predicament.' Sherlock/John abounds in this fandom but Candle Beck's bizarre details capture Sherlock's nature better than most
[Added 18/10/2011; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Sherlock]
they tell me their secrets (will you tell me yours too) by Etothepii
'In Afghanistan, the supplies tell him when they're running low, and the cars always, always tell him when strangers have touched them, and John gets known as having a knack (paranoia, his men call it, but he's never missed a single car bomb) for keeping his men safe.' Etothepii is the master of mixing magic with the Sherlockverse. This short is one of my favourites for the way John's gift neatly parallels Sherlock's skills
[Added 05/03/2014; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Sherlock]
Whispers in Corners by Esama
'"Relax, Mr. Potter," the man says, amused and, yes indeed, smarmy in the way he pronounces the words, the way he smiles. "You are not the first person with… supernatural abilities I have encountered. Granted, your ability is something new, genuine and powerful as far as my research can tell, but not exactly unheard of."' This meandering crossover novel, in which Harry Potter works as a consulting medium for both Mycroft & Lestrade while Sherlock is 'dead', is at its best in the series of cases & the gradual reveal of how Harry ended up in the Sherlockverse. There's a bonus cameo from ACD Holmes. It's a bit shippier than my usual recs, but it's one I return to again & again
[Added 26/10/2017; Drama; >50,000; Sherlock; Crossover]
Absurdly Simple by Irene Adler
Irene Adler has managed that rare mixture of intricate detective-story plotting, character development and black humour in this classic tale of blackmail. She also writes an excellent simulcrum of the good doctor's style
[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; Sherlock Holmes]
The Adventure of the Expert Cracksman by Mary Crawford
'"My dear Hopkins," said Holmes, "if a troupe of performing elephants had paraded through this house, the damage could not have been greater."' This plausible short adventure could easily be a missing story from canon, but it's really made by the intriguing glimpse it offers into Holmes' past
[Added 21/07/2009; Drama; 6000-20,000; Sherlock Holmes]
Commonplaces by Astolat
'He was, she thought, very much like Godfrey:...The sort of man who would trust in what a friend told him, unquestioningly, because even to puzzle would be faintly disloyal. Easy to fool such a man, and more than a little cruel to do so.' A perceptive look at Irene Adler, after her story is supposed to be over, which fits a great deal into its short length. Simply beautiful
[Added 21/07/2009; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Sherlock Holmes]
For England, Home and Beauty by Cimorene
An awful lot of H/W first-time stories exist, and mostly they've rather a generic feel. Cimorene, however, manages to manoeuvre Holmes into bed whilst keeping him believably in character in this short piece set around 'The Bruce-Partington Plans'
[Added 29/10/2004; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Sherlock Holmes]
The Maiden Voyage of the Tiresias by Shalott
'Faithful readers of these accounts of my adventures with Holmes will not be surprised, I dare say, to learn that it was not often that I was able to gain the better of my friend. His intellect and skills were of so rarefied a nature that indeed, there were few men who could lay claim to such a triumph.' Few writers pull off Watson's prose as well as Shalott, and this is a real treat
[Added 29/07/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Sherlock Holmes]
Requiem at Reichenbach by Alixtii
'A single fleck of dust can so alter the path of an asteroid so as to crash it into a planet or to drive it into the star around which it orbited.' The author creates an interesting voice from the bland evil overlord of canon as Moriarty teaches Holmes more than mathematics
[Added 03/01/2007; Drama; 2500-6000; Sherlock Holmes]
A Siren Call by Riventhorn
'The Aquila family has a proud heritage of British and Roman blood, as many of our families do. Certainly I should like to see the fortunes of our land raised and suitable honor accorded to us—honor that cannot come when one is treated as the backwater of the empire, a dull and barbarous place that must accept the dregs of the senate chambers and barracks.' Three excellent Honoria stories were written in the 2014 Sutcliff Swap. 'A Siren Call' is perhaps my favourite for its proud, brusque Honoria, its friendships between women, and its window into a part of Romano-British history that Sutcliff never gave us
[Added 17/04/2015; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Silver Branch]
To The Stars by Beatrice Otter
'Twelve times twelve always equaled 144; baking soda always reacted with vinegar. All you had to do was memorize the steps and follow them correctly, and you'd get the right answer. They never said you were a wonderful actress with a stunning personality in one moment and a hack and a harpy the next.' Lina takes up rocket science after the film. A wonderful example of how the crackiest of premises can be made to work (and the example of Hedy Lamarr suggests it's not as cracky as all that!)
[Added 29/10/2014; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Singin' in the Rain]
Building the Castle of Roses by Luzula
'"You could keep her for now, but at the age of five, you'd have to give her up to the space program. She'd be trained from an early age, and when she's grown up, she'd leave on one of the interstellar exploration flights. You'd never see her again."' A loose re-envisioning of 'Sleeping Beauty' in a near-future dystopia. Luzula isn't afraid to prune aspects of the base story that don't fit her concept, and the result is an original piece with strong world-building. I'd love to read more of this scenario
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; Sleeping Beauty]
The Tin Man by Ro
'As for Ichabod Crane: the bullet did not miss, not in this world, for the Lady shot true and shattered his heart to pieces.' Nicely written little AU, a blend of horror & whimsy very much in character with the film
[Added 13/01/2005; Drama; 1000-2500; Sleepy Hollow]
All recommendations are from Season 1
Cotton by Vera
A very believable view into Martha's head. Nice concrete detailing and some lovely phrases
[Added 13/01/2004; Character Piece; <1000; Smallville]
A Good Year for the Corn by Beth
Simple idea, but it's the details that make this story for me. The author contrasts style and content very effectively
[Added 13/01/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; Smallville]
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]
Memento Mori by Jayne Leitch
'L is for Lana; two parents she lacked.' Not many stories make me feel for Lana and this one did; she's excellently characterised, simultaneously interesting and believable
[Added 13/01/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Smallville]
Precipice by Hope
A moment in Whitney's life that unfolds to tell you more about his character than seemed possible. This writing just hums with energy
[Added 13/01/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Smallville]
Quid Quo Pro by Smitty
This well-crafted short story deals with Lillian's death without over-sentimentality, and includes a childhood Lex I can believe in
[Added 13/01/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Smallville; Crossover]
Shrine by DarkEmerald
Every word counts in this subtle vignette. You get excellent characterisation, fabulous images, and flashes of humour to leaven the angst
[Added 13/01/2004; Character Piece; <1000; Smallville]
Undone by Hope
I like stories that jump out of their mould to bite me. A fluent stylish read, coupled with a well-constructed plot and great characterisation, especially perhaps of Lex
[Added 13/01/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Smallville]
Queen of Berries by Edonohana
'...others sold bows of ice and arrows of fire, or rainbow-furred mice and winged salamanders in silver cages, or shafts of sunlight that could be wrapped up and carried away.' Descriptive writing good enough to eat, with a wonderful evocation of fairy. Simply magical!
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – Smith of Wootton Major]
Carte Blanche by Paraphilia
'My Blanche is no white rose. She is, instead, an evening orchid -- wild and dark-scented, drawing many a collector's eye.' A modern retelling of 'Snow White', clever & disturbing
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; 1000-2500; Snow White]
Abraham's Daughter by Evelyn b
'That night old Abraham was shaking the toff like it was full of spiders, and toothless Sarah tolling off the set of all things that could fit around her waist back east in Ur, where she was young, and Abraham's daughter held Isaac's skinny arms still around his narrow chest so we could dot-dot-dot his face with sap.' Yuletide 2012 had several interesting stories based on the song, 'Abraham's Daughter', itself a revisionist reading of the Abraham & Isaac story. My favourite is a bit rough, but gains power from linking Canaan with another promised land. Clever & moving
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 2500-6000; Songs; Crossover]
bears the crown by Bloodbright
'She had been long inured to the sight of death, of gore, and at any rate had never much troubled herself with the pain of others; and yet something in her heart stirred uneasily when at last he fell, and the rats burst from his belly; and the young queen had felt the first gnawing behind her own navel.' A weird, dreamy, ambiguous sequel to Suzanne Vega's 'Queen & the Soldier', reminiscent in tone & theme of Wilfred Owen's 'Strange Meeting'. Bleak but with a thread of hope
[Added 27/12/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; Songs]
The Coffin Builder by Calvinahobbes
'The sign was not so much a sign as a miniature coffin, lid disconcertingly ajar.' Calvinahobbes has crafted a rich & original fairy tale from the song 'My Boy Builds Coffins', with echoes of 'Bluebeard' building tension to a lovely slippery ending
[Added 15/04/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Songs]
Nothing borne by HotUtilitarian
'Their mutual favourite, though, was a salver with a cashew tree modelled in silver sprouting from the middle of it, by all accounts a very fine piece of work. ... Mrs Harris claimed it was wrought upon the occasion of the marriage of Mariana Victoria to Prince José of Portugal, and God knows, that might even have been the truth.' This clever ghost story, based on the nursery rhyme, 'I had a little nut tree', is made by the strong, if wince-inducingly misogynistic, narrative voice
[Added 13/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Songs]
Rose in June by RecessiveJean
'First time I ever saw her, I'd no inkling that she might become my friend. She was a grown lady, and I was just gone thirteen, and that sort of disparity in ages didn't seem what you might call conducive to friendship. But that was back when things were ordinary, before everybody gave up the habit of staying dead when they died, so the rules were different then.' A darkly comic tale, based on 'Darling Cora' & 'Down in the Willow Garden', with a wonderfully pragmatic narrator. Unusual & engaging
[Added 15/04/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Songs]
Fourteen and Impossible by Halotolerant
'The boy is blinking back at her; such blue eyes, he is like a propaganda poster come to life, one sees them everywhere now, such blue-eyed boys, with slogans that end in exclamation marks.' This peek at the Baroness succeeds in making her sympathetic without softening her sharp edges too much. Halotolerant also sets the film firmly in history
[Added 28/05/2012; Drama; 1000-2500; Sound of Music]
The Age of Not-Believing by Mithrigil
'Talking with the spirits doesn't mean the same thing it did when Chihiro was a little girl. It's more of a general sense, which she might have had to begin with--that eye for statues and houses and the peculiar turns of the wind.' An unusual older-Chihiro story that doesn't restrict itself to the usual suspects. Mithrigil melds the film's brand of magic and modern technology perfectly
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 2500-6000; Spirited Away]
Along the Way by Ariana
'In the end, you discovered that you had lost three days along the way, exchanged for a shiny purple hairband and the knowledge that moving to a new place was perhaps not the worst thing in the world.' A moving conclusion to Chihiro's story, with a lovely smooth style & a spot-on ending
[Added 13/01/2012; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Spirited Away]
Becoming by Springgreen
'But long before that, the river once was not, once was a swirl of gas slowly coalescing, then a molten core of lava, then earth and rock and veins of metal. Then came the rains and the run off from snow-capped mountains, and time, so much time, carved a course. That was the river.' This lyrical telling of the river-god's legend is stronger, perhaps, in the beginning than the end, but well worth a try
[Added 13/01/2012; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Spirited Away]
By the World Forgot by Erin C
'The halls that led to the boiler room were a forest of pipes and dials and steel, and this was where the magic happened, because this was why everything worked.' A charming piece of backstory which melds perfectly into canon. Simply delightful!
[Added 27/05/2012; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Spirited Away]
The Emissary by Beth Winter
'"The deaths at that time were unfortunate," the inspector said. "This time, it is my task to find out what happened and find a way for the mountain to accept this power line."' An intriguing take on the role of spirits in 21st century Japan, with the perfect choice of career for Chihiro. The young OC narrator is well drawn, and she bridges nicely back to the film
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 2500-6000; Spirited Away]
Tales of the Bathhouse by Littlerhymes
'Like most of her kind, the weasel was very bold and very clever, and in a more prosperous year she would have been far too clever to even think of trying to steal from a sorceress. However in times of hunger, daring was in much greater demand than wit.' A charming set of tales within a tale which fleshes out the bathhouse universe & its inhabitants completely believably
[Added 13/01/2012; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Spirited Away]
White Wedding by canis_m
'He would give his own scales to her, not the ones shed and fallen to the riverbed like old leaves, but bright ones prised fresh from his belly, his throat, his bared neck.' Lushly written, with an alien Haku as fascinating & dangerous as a river, this ambiguous AU balances on the knife-edge between horror & romance
[Added 03/01/2019; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Spirited Away]
Abraham's Son by Selena
'"You wanted to live," Winn stated in her calm, placid voice that made her sound deceptively grandmotherly, and Jake reminded himself that she was a dangerous woman who would undoubtedly file this conversation in her mind somewhere where she might use it against his father, if necessary.' Canon largely brushed the fascinating topic of the Prophets/Pagh Wraiths' ethics under the rug but luckily fanwriters have picked it up. This missing scene explores the aftermath of 'The Reckoning', with a perceptive look at what Jake & Winn might have in common
[Added 28/10/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Absinthe Heart by Seema
' "Consider it part of my Hemingway phase," she says as you hand her the drink. / You don't know who Hemingway is nor do you care -- unless he walks into the bar and orders a round of the foul smelling green stuff for everyone.' Lovely precise characterisations as Quark and Ezri almost connect
[Added 15/12/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Acts Of Kindness by JA Chapman
' "Doctor, are you telling me that you missed the entire point of the story?" Garak tutted, "What a shame, I was under the impression that you were more intelligent than that." ' A clever tale within a tale which sheds light on Cardassian values via exploration of their literature. Worth a try despite one or two jarring mistakes
[Added 15/07/2009; Drama; 2500-6000; 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]
and i have told you this to make you grieve by Kangeiko
'"A man may survive on crumbs for a long time, it is true; but sooner or later a full meal is needed to replenish him." / An actual meal may prove more useful to the populace than a spiritual one, Jaro thought, but if a spiritual meal was all you had to offer, there was no point dreaming of hasperat.' Kangeiko explores the complexities of living under the Bajoran Occupation through the eyes of Jaro Essa (from 'The Homecoming'/'The Circle'/'The Siege'). Precise details make the setting come alive
[Added 04/10/2013; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Big Kid by Paranoid Kitten
Mix Keiko, Miles, Julian, Garak. Stir. A clever and surprisingly plausible vignette
[Added 13/01/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
The Botantist by thinlizzy2
'She meticulously fluffs leaves and takes soil samples, remembering all the while an offhand comment that her husband had made as they were packing up to leave Deep Space Nine. / "I swear Keiko, you spend more time and energy on those plants than most people do on their families."' A subtle, slow-building character study that takes an unusual notion of Keiko and makes it bear fruit
[Added 10/12/2018; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Chosen by Selena
"Undoubtedly, the Prophets would allow her to show him the error of his ways, in time." A tantalisingly brief glimpse at an early chapter in Winn's life
[Added 15/12/2004; Drama; <1000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
A Clear Conscience by Una McCormack
Post-war politics, devious plotting and a sympathetic original character
[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
A Clever Plan by Gabrielle Lawson
An intricate plot that leaves the reader guessing right to the end, plus a Bashir who remains true to the complex and fascinating character of the series. Set after the series finale
[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
A Discreet Private Inquiry by Henrietta Wotton
'When you work for an organization that catalogues the most private desires and behaviors of every citizen of Cardassia, you’ve run into about every perversion imaginable.' An interesting case for Garak pre-exile, as well as one of the most complete pictures of Cardassian society I've encountered. A brief Postscript is set during the show
[Added 09/12/2005; Drama; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Dislocation, Condemnation, Revelation, In Temptation by Sabine
Lovely idiosyncratic details in the dream sections make this piece stand out from the crowd
[Added 15/12/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Eureka! by Henrietta Wotton
Henrietta really gets under Odo's 'skin' here. The Bajoran and Cardassian original characters are also convincingly drawn
[Added 16/04/2003; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Exile by The Hoyden
'Exile was certainly dark, but in Julian Bashir's case, it was warm and humid instead of numbingly cold.' An intriguing AU which turns the G/B dynamics upside down
[Added 18/10/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
F is for Ferengi (The Tongo Remix) by Cosmic llin
'It was going to make a terrific story. She could only dine out on Curzon's exploits for so long.' Cosmic llin captures Jadzia's playfulness and unquenchable curiosity, as she has a ball on Ferenginar in this unusual vignette. Great fun!
[Added 25/05/2012; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
The Fabric of our Lives by Una McCormack
'I had not expected to be thinking again so soon of marriage.' A moving character piece, which nails not only the author's speciality, Garak, but also Kira & Jadzia. A real personal favourite
[Added 16/04/2003; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Fire Bringer by Deborah
"Blue-eyed children are lucky, they used to say, children of the Spirits." Worth a try for Dukat's take on Cardassian religion alone
[Added 15/12/2004; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Five Things Which Never Happened by Selena
Five different AUs focusing on the relationship between Kira & Dukat, each one a completely believable story in its own right, with some delicious sideturns from canon. One of the most interesting responses to the 'Five Things...' meme I can recall, in any fandom. Simply wonderful! Selena has repeated the exercise for Garak & Bashir, in Paths Not Taken, also highly recommended
[Added 08/07/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
A Five-Point Tour of the Alpha Quadrant by Mosca
O'Brien's character development often got sacrificed to his dual Everyman & plot exposition roles on the DS9 roster. These tiny vignettes give him space to breathe
[Added 13/01/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Flowering by Henrietta Wotton
An intelligent look at the physiology and psychology of an alien race
[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9; Adult]
In Due Season by Beatrice Otter
'She sighs in relief as she slips the tightest of the shackles of linear time that have bound her, however imperfectly.' Sarah Sisko's story was never fully explored in canon, and hasn't inspired as much fanfiction as it should. This vignette takes an appropriately non-linear look at the Prophet's side of the story. The author's What You Know gives an important viewpoint that was never voiced on the show
[Added 11/01/2014; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
In the Fire Caves by Deborah
'Sometimes the Prophets speak to us in flame.' A powerful & thought-provoking portrait of Winn Adami which fits neatly into the spaces in canon
[Added 30/12/2005; Drama; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Incarnations by Mosca
'Time passes differently in the Great Link than it does in the humanoid realm, so I could not say how long I'd spent there. I only knew that it was time I left.' Strays a little off the beaten track, but Mosca's firm grasp of characterisation sweeps the reader along
[Added 08/07/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Lead, Kindly Light by Tree and Leaf
'Horran's prophecies reminded them that the Prophets could be sought and found in the ordinary and every day, in spring wine shared with a friend, in sowing seeds and bringing in the harvest, in birth and in death.' A thoughtful short which explores Bajoran beliefs, as Opaka ponders her fate
[Added 18/01/2014; Character Piece; <1000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
The Life That Is Waiting by Lunabee
'She spends most of her free time on the Promenade with Jake, one arm around his shoulders and the other cradling the curve of her belly, watching the cosmos fracture again and again through a viewport. But Ben never comes.' Delicate portrait of Kasidy, and Bajor, after the finale. Sweet but not sentimental
[Added 24/08/2013; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
The Long Haul by Yahtzee
"It's not as though the Starfleet people will be here very long. They'll blow in, full of themselves and proud of their wealth, pretending to be the saviors of the Bajoran people." This quiet character piece, set immediately before the series starts, just matures with each rereading
[Added 15/12/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Marketing by Miggy
' "Your honor," he said in his most obsequious tones. "It is hardly a new business model to involve existing personalities in the pleasurable storylines of holosuites…' Comedy is so hard to write well, but I think Miggy really pulls it off here
[Added 15/12/2004; Humour; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Nerys and the Emissary by Beatrice Otter
'"Thank you for trusting me," Sisko said, with what she suspected was irony. / Nerys snorted. "I don't trust you. I trust the Kai." Who, apparently, trusted this smooth-nosed foreigner.' A thoughtful deconstruction of the colonialist underpinnings of the DS9 pilot, together with a welcome reminder of Kira's character early in the series
[Added 10/12/2018; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Nom de Plume, Roman a Clef by Arcady
An inventive premise, clever characterisation and a broad streak of humour place these two short stories among the very best I've encountered in this fandom. Folie a Deux forms a longer sequel to both
[Added 16/04/2003; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Obsidian Gothic by Una McCormack
Una's Garak voice is always a treat, and this atmospheric story is one of my favourites
[Added 16/04/2003; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Once Upon A Time by JA Chapman
' "You aren't going to tell me some cock and bull story about how you worked as a waiter for some Klingon restaurant and got shorted a tip by a diplomat who later died choking on gagh or something equally bizarre, are you?" ' A bit rough around the edges, perhaps, but this tale within a tale shows Garak at his manipulative best during his time as a gardener on Romulus
[Added 15/07/2009; Drama; 2500-6000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Orfeo by Macedon
'It was the voice of God calling the world into creation, the primeval dawn, and Jake could not listen hard enough.' Macedon cleverly uses an unusual OC to probe the prejudices of the denizens of DS9 in this fandom classic. The two sequels in the Jeu-Parti series worked less well for me
[Added 14/07/2009; Drama; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Our Bodies, Our Selves by Ryfkah
'Still, she understood the weight of a corpse. A corpse weighed about the same when you killed it as it was going to weigh for as long as you had to carry it. New life, on the other hand, was an unknown quantity which – it turned out – continued to accumulate unexpected bulk on both the physical and the metaphorical level.' Insightful double character study that draws parallels between Kira's alien pregnancy & Odo's solidity
[Added 15/10/2015; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
The Price of Prophecy by Heretical Vision
'You're no one special. You're just an ordinary girl with a few ordinary ambitions. Your name is Sarah Dillard. You are training to be a photographer, and you are in New Orleans when it happens.' The series glossed over what happened to Sarah Sisko. This is her story. Dark but with a ray of hope at the end
[Added 25/05/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9; Adult]
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]
The Roads Must Roll by Alara J Rogers
'People glare at Kirayoshi all the time, even though it's obvious from his age that he was born when humanity was still free, when the population codes weren't in effect and it was absolutely normal for humans to have two or even three, four, five children.' A day in the life of our Everyman Engineer in an extremely dark AU. Part of the Judgement Day series
[Added 18/10/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9; Adult]
Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth by Cardie-ologist
This realistic look at Resistance and Counter-Resistance measures on Bajor during the Occupation features subtle characterisations and a plausible plot
[Added 16/04/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Strongest Star by Sophia Gratia
'"You'll have us all dragged in front of HUAC and jailed for this, Kay, you know that," he'd growled, but there had been warmth in his voice and he hadn't hesitated even one moment to sit himself down and start typing. She'd wanted to kiss him, for that.' Moving 'Far Beyond the Stars' sequel that can be read as a meditation on the power of fanfiction. (Crossover with various Trek)
[Added 18/01/2014; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9; Crossover]
Symbiosis by Nostalgia
'We are, we were, we will be.' Thoughtful and rather unusual Dax piece
[Added 08/07/2004; Character Piece; <1000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
T'naehm series by Sixbeforelunch
'T'Nirin's office was not decorated in a Vulcan style. It was first of all colored in shades of blue and gray, like everything that Starfleet Medical designed. It was also soft, with chairs that offered no proper support. The art work on the wall was what was called watercolor. Many species appeared to find it soothing. Veral found the indistinct shapes and blurred lines difficult to look at for very long.' Sixbeforelunch employs richly textured OCs to explore the effects of the Dominion War on Vulcan. The world building in both parts is impeccable, and the second forms a moving meditation on the costs of war even to non-combatants
[Added 04/08/2016; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
A Treatise on the Principles of Relativity by Mosca
'This is me, traveling faster than light.' Another excellent character vignette from Mosca's pen: she's encapsulated that strange feeling familiar to anyone who's ever travelled long distance beautifully here
[Added 08/07/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
Two Worlds by Deborah Judge
'She remained in that cave for two weeks, this strange cave that glittered of glass and metal. It had been a spaceship, an ancient spaceship from before science was lost on this world.' An unusual possibility for how Opaka might have been selected Kai. Deborah is adept at stretching canon until it almost snaps to let fresh air blow around familiar situations
[Added 18/01/2014; Romance/Erotica; <1000; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
The War Report by Mosca
'I have grown to hate Fridays.' A quiet, subtle vignette that counts the cost of war through Odo's eyes. Repays rereading
[Added 31/12/2005; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
War Songs by Raven
'"The Festival of Alignment," Sisko says, impatiently. "Is it a fast, a party, a military commemoration, or what?"' A quiet, sweet but not cloying ensemble piece that explores found family. Very much in the spirit of the lighter parts of the show
[Added 28/10/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
What Ails You, An Apple a Day by Nostalgia
A possible future for Bashir. Well written, with an excellent characterisation for Garak -- I wish Nostalgia would write him more often, she's very good at it! Pity the biology rivals Trek itself in suckitudinousness. There's also a sequel, Medicinal Purposes, though actually I felt the first two works stood well alone
[Added 08/07/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Deep Space 9]
A 62-Day Study of the Human Grieving Process by Sloane
A subtle study of Data's thought processes after the death of Tasha Yar, which spirals out to encompass the entire Enterprise crew. One of the few pieces of TNG fanfiction to capture what I love about the show
[Added 05/12/2005; Character Piece; <1000; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
Accidental by Shalott
"Don't you realize that I'm completely beyond your comprehension?" The adaptable Shalott captures Q's voice beautifully in this snippet
[Added 29/07/2004; Romance/Erotica; <1000; 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]
A Daughter of the Fifth House by Beatrice Otter
'She wouldn't even be able to get a job in a shop, because who would want to buy from someone who couldn't look into your mind, see exactly what you wanted, and take you to it?' Deanna viewed as disabled, with some intriguing titbits about how Betazoid culture might differ from that of non-telepaths
[Added 28/10/2017; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
Everybody Else's Girl by Mosca
'Will's mind was so quiet. He was so simple. An inside-out person, all of his emotions prickling from his skin. When I touched him, they stuck in my hand like sea urchin spines.' An unusual character study that remembers there's more to Deanna than a romantic partner
[Added 18/10/2011; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
From Me to Q by Julia Houston
Interesting alien species, plausible crew characterisations, plus a plot, to boot! An oldie but a goodie
[Added 21/01/2005; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
Hope of Thee (the Zombie Remix) by Beatrice Otter
'''Oh, don’t look at me like that, Lwaxana, I know you don’t like to talk about her, but she’s been dead over twenty years!"' Wonderfully creepy take on the S7 episode 'Dark Page'. One of the few stories to explore Betazoids as an alien race
[Added 18/10/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
The Institute by Ventura33
'The groundskeeper, looking up from her petunias, almost smiled, but not quite. That was one of the last human attributes to return...' A quiet vignette which uses believable details to make one imagine the unimaginable. Sequel to The Relevance of Hope & Imperfection, but I think it stands well alone
[Added 08/07/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
Laid Bare by sixbeforelunch
'A Vulcan patient with an emotional disorder was always a challenge. The problem, aside from the risk that their condition would be exacerbated by shame, was that all of the first line treatments for mood disorders--cognitive behavioral therapies, awareness and mindfulness, biofeedback-guided meditation--were things that Vulcans practiced from childhood.' A novella-length medical casefic that feels just like a lost Deanna-centric episode. As ever, Sixbeforelunch's Vulcan worldbuilding is fascinating, and her OCs soon come to feel like previously unencountered crew members. The ensemble cast delineates Deanna's relationships with most of the crew but there's a particular joy to seeing her work with Beverley, a relationship ignored by most fanfiction
[Added 10/12/2018; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
Let Me Entertain You by Alara J Rogers
'I have discovered that achieving your greatest lifelong dream is not necessarily all it's cracked up to be.' Insightful character study that explores Data's real strengths in an AU where he's made human. Part of the Judgement Day series
[Added 18/10/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
Metadata by Winged Mammal
'Data was pleased -- it had been 439 days since the installation of the emotion chip, but he was still not completely confident in his ability to determine the appropriateness of humor at the expense of someone else.' Post-chip Data is a common subject for TNG fiction, but this piece stands out for its precise ensemble characterisation
[Added 18/10/2011; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
Naming of Parts (the Strange Charm Remix) by Naraht
'Snow's starkness bore some similarities to the desert sands of Vulcan. It was only upon close inspection that it resolved itself into the exotic form of water ice, biting and changeable.' A beautifully characterised Vulcan OC struggles with human culture in this crossover with ST:XI. Remix of Seekingferret's Rhapsody in Red, which gives Geordi's perspective
[Added 18/10/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
Quantum Entanglement by Killer Quean
'But being a child with Ro, even for just a day, had shown her something else: sometimes, despite her insistence to the contrary, she likes to remember the past. She holds onto the memory of small pleasures she was able to eke out of nothing.' An unusual tripartite story that uses repetition to explore Guinan's alien perception of the universe. The final piece is particularly strong
[Added 07/05/2015; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
The Queen of Air and Darkness by Raspberryhunter
'The woman said, gesturing at the tiny specks below, "Are they not beautiful? Is the complexity of this life not wonderful?"' Pieces that depict Deanna as alien are all too rare, and here Raspberryhunter weaves in strands of her character most writers forget. The fascinating speculation about Guinan is a bonus
[Added 18/01/2014; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
The Speed of Sound by Kyra Cullinan
'...it had seemed so unfathomable that everything which passed between them was filtered through electrons and biogel packs, carefully selecting the best way to translate idioms, convey emotion.' A delicate study of character & relationship via language
[Added 14/07/2009; Romance/Erotica; <1000; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
The Things that Juliana Didn't Say by Pensnest
'Of course, if he made this android look just like a human being, then people might not notice how clever he has been.' An interesting account of Data's origins, which successfully explains some of the peculiar features of canon
[Added 18/10/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
Vacation by Pensnest
'He had attended nine concerts, seven theatre matinÉes, a dynamo racing event, a game of football, and a Tudor-style banquet of dubious authenticity, and had even lain in the sun for five minutes and seventeen seconds while he read twenty-four escapist novels.' It's easy to poke fun at Data's naiveté, but Pensnest succeeds in pinning down the android's essential naturees, a dynamo racing event, a game of football, and a Tudor-style banquet of dubious authenticity, and had even lain in the sun for five minutes and seventeen seconds while he read twenty-four escapist novels.' It's easy to poke fun at Data's naivetÉ, but Pensnest succeeds in pinning down the android's essential nature
[Added 18/10/2011; Humour; 2500-6000; Star Trek: The Next Generation]
The Dance by LJC
'Orion Prime had the Syndicate the way Old Chicago had Capone. That was the thing about infamy.' LJC paints a much more complex picture of Orion society than most fanfiction
[Added 22/02/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: TOS/AOS]
The Desert Between by Beatrice Otter
'Across the room, seated on the only chair, was the oldest Vulcan woman Nyota had ever seen in person. Her face was seamed with age, and her eyes held the tranquility younger Vulcans only aspired to.' A plausible premise, strong world-building & an interesting range of OCs characterise this novelette
[Added 18/10/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: TOS/AOS]
from the greek "xenos" which means "stranger", but also "guest" by Pogrebin
'This is why Nyota Uhura picks xenolinguistics: the ways in which different cultures communicate might differ, but the ways in which they fail to communicate do not.' An interesting study of Uhura & her relationship with Spock. Powerful precise language
[Added 16/07/2009; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: TOS/AOS]
The Loudest Noise (affannato, affettuoso, agitato) by zvi
'There was difficulty, always, in translating the gestures of a species with wings, prehensile foot claws, and double eyelids to a human's body.' This vignette really nails the frustrations & complexities of communication between alien species
[Added 22/02/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: TOS/AOS]
Lunch and Other Obscenities by Rheanna
' "Look, the only reason we're rooming together is because someone decided that the best phonetic rendering of her name in Standard is almost the same as mine. Can't you just decide to spell Uhu with two O's instead?" Nyota asked, desperate. "Listen: Oo-hoo. That works." ' This starts out as a humorous look at intercultural differences and ends as a sweet affirmation of all that the Federation stands for. Persuasive writing that feels just like canon
[Added 15/07/2009; Drama; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: TOS/AOS]
Need To Know by Ellen Fremedon
'Taste, he'd said; and the first analogy he'd leapt to had been one of criticism—of appreciation. This wasn't just a metallurgical sample to the kid; it was a gourmet meal, or a box of truffles.' Ellen explores what it means for Jack Harkness to be pansexual, with some really unusual food porn (ST:TOS/Whoniverse)
[Added 16/10/2015; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: TOS/AOS; Crossover]
No Roses on Vulcan by Igrockspock
'Vulcans did not grow flowers for ornamental purposes. It was illogical.' The dry humour saves this sweet vignette from sickliness, as Sarek & his mother attempt to understand human customs
[Added 25/05/2012; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Star Trek: TOS/AOS]
Speech by Raven
'Much much later, long after the Eridani petition to join the Federation had been received and granted, Nyota could still read the Federation Charter in scratch 'n' sniff lavender, pepper, citrus and soap.' Sequence of shorts, some stronger than others, the whole piece forms a joyous exploration of what xenolinguistics might mean in practice -- one of the real pleasures of post-film fanfiction
[Added 18/10/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: TOS/AOS]
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: TOS/AOS; Crossover]
What We Don't Talk About by Ellen Fremedon
'Closer to the city, the first crop of grain on this planet is ripe. In that field, Vulcans walk behind the robot combine; it only leaves a handful of seed for gleaning, but there'll be a ceremony over that handful later.' An intelligent look at the repercussions of the rebuilding of Vulcan. The warm background details highlight the bleakness of Spock's position
[Added 15/07/2009; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: TOS/AOS]
Wherein Gaila is molting by kayliemalinza
'Starfleet gave assurances years ago that Medbay can accommodate an Orion's physiological needs, but their idea of a burial bed is a hard-edged box filled with silica beads and powdered nutrients. It is nothing like the petite sleeping gardens of the Orion embassy on Earth, and even those were a poverty compared to the luxurious loam of her homefield.' A clever, lushly written take on the idea that Gaila is a plant, which never ceases to surprise. One of the few stories I've read in any fandom to capture a truly alien point of view. Superb!
[Added 10/12/2018; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: TOS/AOS]
With All My Crooked Heart by Igrockspock
"Why is it always the men who are doing and the women who are feeling?" she snaps. "When I explore space, I'm going to smile and tread." Delicate & sweet exploration of Gaila's past via language
[Added 09/07/2012; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: TOS/AOS]
The Word for World Is— by Laura JV
' "We are the people of the mountain, and the desert, and the well. I build on the mountain, the highest mountain of Vik, where Laktra meets the sea. Perhaps one day we will be a people of the sea, as well, but we will always need the mountain." ' This interwoven short is at its best in the bittersweet depiction of Vulcan culture. Beautiful
[Added 16/07/2009; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: TOS/AOS]
Cultural Nuances by Sixbeforelunch
'Vulcans eat no meat, he is told indignantly when, at a banquet, he piles his plate with roasted insects. / In the north of Han-shir, where he was born, insects make up the majority of dietary protein.' A short exploring the diversity of Vulcan culture via Vorik, the ship's other Vulcan
[Added 31/10/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Voyager]
Penelope by Alara J Rogers
'The choice she had made, the only choice, had been in who she chose.' Thoughtful vignette that explores how a strong woman might negotiate Vulcan society. Linking Vulcan biology into human myth is neat, too
[Added 18/10/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Star Trek: Voyager]
Wearing Shrapnel In Our Skin by Raven
'That's a comfort, Kathryn decides; a relief, that Seven's world has begun to differ from her own, so they intersect like Venn diagrams rather than concentric circles.' A subtle, multilayered piece that explores what choice & consent mean for Seven & Data (Voyager/TNG)
[Added 28/10/2017; Drama; 6000-20,000; Star Trek: Voyager; Crossover]
Bird and Bear and Hare and Fish by Scioscribe
'Roland said, "There was a woman who had a wall in her home painted to look like a city. When she looked closely—and she spent many hours looking closely—she could even see the eyelets in the clasps of the purses carried by its citizens, could even see the freckles on a boy and the ribbon in a girl's hair. She fell into the study of it. And, as such things often do, her study turned into her occupation turned into her obsession. Not that that is something I would understand," he said with a smile so beautiful in its ruefulness that all three of his companions separately felt that they should memorize it.' I don't know Dark Tower, but the fantastic story-within-a-story draws the reader into this ensemble adventure. Deservedly widely recommended
[Added 27/12/2017; Drama; 6000-20,000; Stephen King]
My Soul to Keep by Maidenjedi
'Everyone is a little bit corrupt, he’s found, a little bit naughty inside. And secrets lie behind doors of all kinds, mahogany or framed screen doors, whitewashed doors and barely-hanging-on-the-hinges doors.' Randall Flagg makes a suitably disturbing narrator in this brief prequel to The Stand
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 1000-2500; Stephen King]
West by Edonohana & Kore
'Fran figured that even if the dark man won and the earth crumbled, a couple bags of Fritos would float around in space, unchanged and indestructible, as crunchy and salty as the day they were made.' An inspired feminist re-envisioning of the final act of The Stand, clever & moving
[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; 6000-20,000; Stephen King]
Works of Mercy by Scioscribe
'So that was how Jenny Engstrom left Vegas just ahead of Randall Flagg's tantrum. She rode a motorcycle and slept during the day because it seemed to her that nighttime was his time, when the gaps between the stars each looked like his face, and she couldn't sleep with him looking at her a million times over.' Thoughtful female-centric AU of The Stand in which one change leads to insidious escalation and a different outcome. I love Jenny's characterisation, and how it explains her choices in the original
[Added 24/12/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; Stephen King]
Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio
A Roll of the Dice by Lnhammer
'The snow was deep enough, there was no sign which way the road lay, and the brothers disagreed which way to turn -- Liu pointing one way, Wang another. Liu grinned and, following their usual method for settling their disagreements, pulled out his dice cup.' A slow-burning tale that builds to a conclusion both surprising & inevitable. It works well for those, like me, who don't know the canon
[Added 14/04/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio]
Songs for the Jingwei Bird by Salifiable
'When she ran out of paper, she tore off panels of cloth from her clothes, and when modesty cut short that tactic, she plucked leaves from trees she passed. When she ran out of ink, she burned twigs and used the ashes.' Three delightful tales within a tale explore themes such as reality & unreality drawn from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, and the whole is neatly framed within the story of the Jingwei Bird. An absolute gem!
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 2500-6000; Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio; Crossover]
Black Shuck by Aquila
'The colour had fled from his hair and skin, and he died of starvation a month later, for he refused all food. Before he died, however, he told his story in fragments, punctuated by screams in a language that made his mouth bleed.' Atmospheric retelling of The Hound of the Baskervilles, imbued with a real sense of horror
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; Neil Gaiman – Study in Emerald]
The Restorer: Vol 2 No 13 by Smilebackwards
'The Church of the Ancient had a sign out front where I have often seen them place passages from the Deep Wonders. Exult! Salvation is risen from the dark and the Depths, and the like. It said, then, Why?' Watson recounts his side of the story. Perfect pastiche, with a few telling details
[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; <1000; Neil Gaiman – Study in Emerald]
Lebenswerk by Selena
'Max never asks Norma whether the man was actually her father, or at least could have been. She never asked him about his lengthy tales of life as an officer in the Austrian Empire, either. Neither of them truly existed before they came here, after all.' Max & Norma's relationship, and the rise & fall of silent film, charted in eight films. There's a gem of a Chinatown crossover, too. Clever & moving
[Added 04/10/2013; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; Sunset Boulevard; Crossover]
Hunting the Boar by Makioka
'She can tell them stories that will make their blood sing, will make their heads pound with the longing to be doing the deeds that she speaks of; then she can cool the fires with a song of the harvest, and the land each man calls his own.' Lovely rich writing in these tales of Artos and of Gault & Levin, but it's the gem of an OC narrator that really makes this piece for me
[Added 15/01/2019; Drama; 2500-6000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Sword at Sunset]
Notes towards the antecedents of wicked counts by Betony
'It has often been said that those having been cursed with the burden of an infamous and illustrious name are doomed to live up to the expectations that accompany such a title; Ugolino, of a house drenched in sorrow and guilt, was no exception to this rule.' Clever & amusing short in which The Lost Heir is continued by Other Pens
[Added 09/08/2014; Humour; <1000; Georgette Heyer – Sylvester]
Clayheart by Miss M
'His hands shake a little, the bridle clinks and rattles. Blue veins stand out on the backs of his hands, turned bony and claw-like with time.' A chill look at an oh-so-plausible future for Tam. Atmospheric & beautifully written
[Added 11/08/2015; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Tam Lin]
Devil-may-care by Belmanoir
'He reflected that black and silver show to advantage in a candle-lit room, but black rarely looks well at dawn. The dye is never quite even.' A coda to The Black Moth that textualises all that Tracy/Frank subtext. The characters are all well drawn, but I particularly enjoyed the newly confident Dick
[Added 04/10/2013; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Georgette Heyer – The Black Moth; Crossover]
The Wise Woman of the Marshes by Zdenka
'The Moon ate and drank while she listened, and perhaps the plain beer and cakes were as unusual to her as drinking starlight would be to you or me.' A charming peek behind the scenes, fully in the spirit of the original tale
[Added 19/10/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; The Buried Moon]
Inconvenience by Astolat
'The Earl's face did not change even now. He answered gently, “No, dear Robert; you only seem to have imagined me a fool.” Lethbridge paused, and drew back a little. There was still scarcely a handsbreath between them, but Rule drew out a snuffbox and took a pinch, delicately, without scattering so much as a grain upon either man's sleeve.' Well-characterised, psychologically insightful Drelincourt/Lethbridge, with a delightful Horry. If Heyer had written slash, it might have come out like this
[Added 05/07/2016; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Georgette Heyer – The Convenient Marriage]
though hell should bar the way by Betony
'She did this to me, mind. Bess the landlord's daughter, and that blasted love-knot in her black hair.' A subtle & atmospheric short, with a clever twist on the original poem
[Added 30/10/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; The Highwayman]
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; JRR Tolkien – The Hobbit]
Clarity of Purpose by Mithen
'"Seek for the shield which is oaken; in Khazad-dûm it dwells."' A rich, complex AU novel that fuses The Hobbit with LotR, in which the quest to destroy the Ring sets out 50 years earlier, & with a rather different Fellowship. Events start out mirroring LotR closely, but spiral further away as the novel unfolds; perhaps because of the time shift, things often turn out less tragically than in the original. Mithen explores novel regions of Middle-earth & provides a supporting cast of thousands, including Entwives & Blue Wizards. A real treat!
[Added 27/10/2017; Drama; >50,000; JRR Tolkien – The Hobbit; Crossover]
Der Erlkonig by San Antonio Rose
Neat melding of disparate legends in this future fic with a rather unusual premise
[Added 20/02/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – The Hobbit]
King under the Mountain by Zara Hemla
A dark tale of obsession and race conflict, with an unusual AU premise that unravels slowly as protagonist and reader penetrate deeper
[Added 20/02/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – The Hobbit]
The Thrush Who Saved Laketown by Jen Littlebottom
An engaging addition to the woefully small canon of The Hobbit fanfiction
[Added 09/09/2003; Drama; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Hobbit]
Impatient Both of Delays and Rivals by Disenchanted
'Adam was one of those bad actors who compensate for their lack of talent by clinging to the common wisdom that all members of the profession are bound by nature to be false.' Most The Hour fanfiction is a bit syrupy for my taste, but this edgy piece bucks the trend, succeeding in making Angus sympathetic without making him out to be any nicer than he is
[Added 12/08/2015; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; The Hour]
the greatest good by Dudski
'God must have one hell of a sense of humor, her mother says, to give the gift of elasticity to someone so stubborn.' An insightful portrait of Helen before the film, which explores how difficult it must be for her to be the careful one of the family
[Added 04/10/2013; Character Piece; 1000-2500; The Incredibles]
Into Something Rich and Strange by Lyrstzha
'Nia's kind darted through these tides, silver scales sliding lithely, quickly. They were ever vigilant and tireless, fighting in endless battles against wave after wave of invaders. They moved as one.' An sf reworking of 'The Little Mermaid', but that's just the beginning of this creative tale of awakening consciousness, which twists & turns towards an entirely unanticipated ending. Rich & strange indeed!
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; The Little Mermaid]
Knives Beneath Her Feet by Miss Lanyon
'The sea-witch seized her head with one of those strong hands and turned her face to kiss her mouth deeply, drinking her voice.' An unusual & insightful take on the 'you will walk on knives' concept from 'The Little Mermaid'. I'd warn for darkness, but if you take that part of canon literally, dark is inevitable
[Added 28/05/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; The Little Mermaid; Adult]
The Sea Witch Sets The Record Straight by Ursula Vernon
'The story got around a bit differently. Stories always do. Turning your back on a story is like turning your back on the ocean.' This clever retelling does just what it says on the tin. There's a rich voice for the witch and plenty of dashes of humour
[Added 09/08/2014; Character Piece; 1000-2500; The Little Mermaid]
Five Ways Patrick Jane Hasn't Died Yet (And One Way He Never Will) by Dira Sudis
'A good performer knows that how he gets off the stage is as important as everything he does on it. This isn't depression. It's professionalism.' An unusual take at group characterisation, as dark & twisted as the inside of Jane's head ought to be, but rarely is. Heed the warnings on this one
[Added 07/08/2014; Character Piece; 2500-6000; The Mentalist; Adult]
What You See Is What You Get (If You're Looking Hard Enough) by Sixthlight
'...it's not the settled East, where the land is laced with iron and running water. Things are wilder out here, for all the cities and the regular dirigible service across the Pacific and the electrick lights you can see at night, if you're brave or stupid and out in the hills above Sacramento.' The premise is neat, but it's the well-developed fantasy AU background that really makes this casefic. It works just fine with only the barest knowledge of the source, as I can attest
[Added 29/08/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; The Mentalist]
Across Dark Waters by Zimraphel
Maeglin meets his match in this unique take on the Halls of Mandos, with a decided Greek flavour. Highly recommended
[Added 24/06/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Aglarrâma by Zimraphel
This engaging vignette gives a rare glimpse of the last days of some of the ordinary inhabitants of Numenor, blithely going about their business as history prepares to overtake them
[Added 13/06/2005; Drama; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Ailurophobia by Werecat
An amusing vignette starring the Character That Tolkien Forgot: Tevildo, Prince of Cats from The Book of Lost Tales
[Added 25/06/2004; Humour; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Alqualonde by Joan Milligan
What might a poet make of the aftermath of a massacre? A thought-provoking vignette
[Added 13/01/2005; Drama; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
As Little Might be Thought by Deborah
Deborah's interpretation of the aside from The Silmarillion which contributes the title. Strong characterisations make this story compulsively readable. The tale is continued in When I am Wise, Naming the Stones & In the Seventh Age, also all well worth a look
[Added 16/12/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
At Losgar by Wild Iris
I don't often recommend fan poetry; in the Tolkien fandom, especially, it's hard to find the line between rhyming doggerel & free verse that feels rather disconnected from the source. Wild Iris writes some of the best Tolkien-inspired poetry I've encountered, and this understated lament on the Kinslaying (part of a sequence which can be found at Speak Again) is among my favourites
[Added 27/10/2005; Poetry; <1000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Bargaining for Beginners by Honesty
Tolkien provided a wealth of names in footnotes, and here one of them is brought to life. Along the way, the reader is treated to details of everyday life for elves and dwarves, thoughts on the nature of craftsbeingship, and glimpses into the very different philosophies of the two races. While the slash subplot doesn't quite work with the rest of the piece, in my opinion, the story is well worth reading anyway
[Added 18/10/2002; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
A Boy, A Girl & A Dog: The Leithian Script Project. Act I: An Appointment in Menegroth, Act II: The Sojourn in Nargothrond, or Houseguests from Hell, Act III: Tinuviel at Bay: A Caccia of Beleriand by Philosopher at Large
A unique blend of humour & drama, cast in Shakespearean form with modern informal English and priceless anti-fanon characterisations -- P@L's take on Luthien & Beren's tale has simply got to be read to be believed. Acts I-III are complete and stand alone; Act IV languishes incomplete
[Added 21/03/2006; Drama; >50,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Bringing Gifts by Deborah
A wise man follows a star and finds what he least expects in this moving vignette
[Added 16/12/2003; Character Piece; <1000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Captain Tinkerbell by Lipstick
Believable and almost unbearably poignant. Set in the First World War, but I won't spoil this lovely story by revealing any more of the premise -- suffice to say, it comes highly recommended
[Added 09/09/2003; Drama; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Carving a Bond by Finch
A meeting of races during the construction of Nargothrond. A great laconic narrative voice together with well-drawn minor characters make this a highly engaging read
[Added 16/12/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Chance's Strange Arithmetic by Ithilwen
Strange meetings in the trenches of the Somme. Thoughtful and profoundly moving
[Added 09/09/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Choices by Vorondis
Elrond and Elros debate their destinies. Of the many variations I've seen on this premise, this struck me as one of the most profound
[Added 18/10/2002; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Confessions of a Queen Downfallen by Jen Littlebottom
The regrets of Tar-Miriel, last Queen of Numenor. Bleak, beautifully written and very believable
[Added 25/01/2004; Character Piece; <1000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Confessions of a Sharp Glance by Maura Mellon
An excellent version of Maeglin's voice, and some very plausible insights into his character
[Added 06/07/2004; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
The Difference Between a Seagull and a Phoenix by Lipstick
This clever vignette consigns a whole load of fanon to the bin. Strongly recommended
[Added 09/09/2003; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
The Dying Stone by Soledad
The anguish of the Kinslaying afflicts the very rocks of Alqualondë. A poetic vignette that approaches the style of The Silmarillion more closely than most fanfiction
[Added 18/10/2002; Drama; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Eleventh Hour by Zimraphel
Zimraphel's answer to why Tar-Miriel remained behind when Numenor fell. Eleventh Hour successfully lends flesh to the bare bones of Tolkien's narrative, and creates a sympathetic character for the doomed Queen
[Added 09/09/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Falling by Maureen Lycaon
A novel viewpoint on an oft-told tale, with some interesting speculation about the origins of Tolkien's werewolves
[Added 24/06/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Felagund and the Noegyth Nibin by Soledad
The first fanfiction featuring a Petty Dwarf I've encountered, 'Felagund and the Noegyth Nibin' manages to give a sympathetic yet plausible view of the race. Also features a wonderful peek at Finrod Felagund. Highly recommended
[Added 24/06/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Firimar by Ithilwen
A bittersweet future fic with an ending that surprised me
[Added 18/10/2002; Drama; <1000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Gathering the Pieces by Tehta
A tough view of Maedhros, the undefeated player. Nice understated character study
[Added 24/06/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Ghost Fires by Earmire
It's an overdone genre, perhaps, but this reflective vignette gives a strong sense of the aftermath of war
[Added 24/06/2004; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
The Gift by Ithilwen
Maedhros learns lessons about glass-blowing and other matters. Delicate characterisation of the young elf makes this a poignant and memorable story. First part in the author's Maedhros Saga, but can be read independently
[Added 16/12/2003; Character Piece; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
The Glitter of Metal by Ithilwen
An insightful look at Maedhros, as he struggles to regain his sense of self after his escape from Morgoth. Part in the author's Maedhros Saga, but can be read independently
[Added 16/12/2003; Character Piece; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
If We Fall Anew by Le Chat Noir
Complex relationships in the aftermath of war. Convincing characterisation and very moving
[Added 18/10/2002; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
In the Halls of Nienna by Artaxastra
'"I need something made which has never been crafted since the beginning of the world," she said firmly. "I need an impossible Thing."' This conversation piece, set in Valinor, has an intriguing take on the problem of orcs (crossover with LotR)
[Added 16/10/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion; Crossover]
Lasciate Ogne Speranza? by Finch
A believable and very moving view of Maglor in not-quite-modern times. The 'Maglor in History' challenge has been extraordinarily productive, and this story is among my favourites
[Added 24/06/2004; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Leaving Bliss by Penknife
'Grandpa Finny (and if you're confusing him already with Uncle Fenny and his brothers Fin and Little Finny, you aren't from Bliss yourself) was always keen on having sons. Definitely sons plural; he had his heart set on populating our little corner of Bliss all by himself.' Southern Gothic retelling of The Silmarillion, with Galadriel as a small-town Southern girl. It works amazingly well
[Added 05/08/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Leavings by Honesty
The One Ring and the sundering of bonds between elves and men. A compelling story with solid characterisations
[Added 18/10/2002; Drama; 20,000-50,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Light and Dark by Avanti 90
'She is the maker of the stars; let none forget that the stars are fire.' Unusual AU, brief but powerful
[Added 05/09/2012; Drama; <1000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
A New Song by Mithen
'Beleg Cúthalion heard the airlock decompress behind him with a hiss like an arrow's strike.' A host of unexpected details mark this inventive Elves-in-Space futurefic. It's a bit of a shame the ending goes back to a more Tolkienian mode, but getting there is enormous fun
[Added 15/10/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Oak and Willow by Marnie
Detailed scene setting and solid characterisations make this tale of Galadriel & Celeborn's courtship a winner. But it's more than just a romance -- Marnie sets the budding relationship against the interracial tensions seeded by the Noldor's arrival in Beleriand. The sequel, Seeds of Old Trees, tells the other end of their story
[Added 13/01/2005; Romance/Erotica; >50,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Of Bombadil and Peredhel by Meir Brin
Not many authors dare to attempt Tom Bombadil's voice, but Meir Brin succeeds amazingly well here, and the reader is treated to Entwives as well. A real hoot!
[Added 06/07/2004; Humour; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Of Durin and Kibil-nâla by Mantida
'When Durin awoke from the sleep the Maker laid him, the world was still young, and the light unsullied.' A beautiful little vignette with an unexpected answer to one of the fandom's more commonly asked questions
[Added 26/06/2004; Drama; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – 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; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion; Crossover]
Oh Lift Me as a Wave by Zdenka
'Elwing breathed deeply, taking in the scent of salt, the sense of joyous flight and untrammeled freedom. She almost thought the wind spoke to her sometimes, saying her name in a voice full of affection.' A novel take on Elwing's motivations when she casts herself out of the window
[Added 26/10/2017; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
One Ring to Bind Them by Tyellas
An unusual and well-thought-out take on a strangely underwritten corner of canon, the making of the Rings. Consistently strong characterisation and gorgeous details make this a classic
[Added 09/09/2003; Drama; 20,000-50,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion; Adult]
One Word by Joan Milligan
A moving vignette bringing home the effects of Thingol's ban on Quenya on the exiled Noldor
[Added 13/01/2005; Drama; <1000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Opening Doors by Adina
Like Honesty's Bargaining for Beginners, this story breathes life into Narvi, co-creator of the Doors of Moria. Like Bargaining, it contains a thoughtful exploration of the complex relationships between different races. Strong characterisations, great details and a dash of humour enrich this story, though I confess to being a little conflicted over the romance plot
[Added 16/12/2003; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
The Prince by Tyellas
'There were moments, Maeglin reflected, when it was mightily annoying to be the prince of Gondolin.' One of the most convincing views of Gondolin I've encountered, as Tyellas deftly creates an entire city, with politics & gossip, romance & rivalry, to surround her Machiavellian Prince
[Added 06/07/2004; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
The Ring and the Crown by Vulgarweed
Stylish writing that can't fail to send a shiver down your spine, in this tale of dark desires and even darker fulfilment
[Added 09/09/2003; Drama; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion; Adult]
Sand and Flame by Tehta
A clever & funny retelling of a classic fairy tale, in which Fëanor meets his match
[Added 21/01/2005; Humour; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Slouching toward Gondolin by Fileg
'We know where we stand -- squarely on the ground. We have no promises of time or of the West. We have to take what we want now.' A unique insight into the thoughts of a First Age orc in this beautifully written vignette. (Based in the Book of Lost Tales II)
[Added 06/07/2004; Drama; <1000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
A Spirit Of Fire by Genarti
'But you learn, in searching after light, that there is a beauty too in utter darkness.' Morgoth is perhaps the hardest of Tolkien's characters to bring to life, but this well-written vignette has some interesting & unusual insights into why he might have chosen the path he did
[Added 06/08/2009; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Starlight by Tyellas
An interesting peek at life in Maedhros & Maglor's camp through the eyes of a youthful Elrond. Tyellas has a gift for creating rich and plausible details which make this story memorable
[Added 16/12/2003; Drama; 2500-6000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
The Unforgettable Fire by Ithilwen
'Unforgettable Fire' takes an unflinching look at the many hazards of love between different races and cultures. The refreshing choice of characters outside the 'usual suspects' of Silmarillion fanfiction is another bonus. One of my favourite Tolkien-based romances
[Added 09/09/2003; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
Unless it Be by Deborah
One elf's love for the sea. A well-structured and elegantly-written vignette
[Added 18/10/2002; Character Piece; 1000-2500; JRR Tolkien – The Silmarillion]
After She Wakes by Fresne
'...It wasn't that she wasn't allowed to run. It was that she couldn't. The weight of her clothes were too heavy.' A little different from the run of Tempest stories, 'After She Wakes' focuses on a Miranda trying to make the best of her happily ever after. It's a bit of an issuefic but I adore Fresne's solution to Milan's rigid gender roles
[Added 11/08/2015; Character Piece; 1000-2500; The Tempest]
And His Innocent Child by Fadeaccompli
'...Ariel sees Miranda as a double-image: infant and adult, and all the stages of childhood between. Her father is a single fixed point. There is no change to Prospero, whatever he says, that reaches to his core; he is a man of magic and books, even when the books are gone.' Unusual portrait of Ariel that catches its nature, alien & out of time
[Added 15/10/2015; Character Piece; 1000-2500; The Tempest]
Anemophilia by Anonymous
'They had a half-starved bull on one of the crafts and they led it out and it watched with its chin in its palm as the poor bony thing stumbled in the sand. It huffed and snorted and yes, led them up the beach, onto the plain, where there was the stream, cool and free from brine.' A fascinating, original take on Ariel's history through the ages. In need of a thorough edit but worth a try nonetheless
[Added 04/10/2013; Character Piece; 1000-2500; The Tempest]
The Blue-Eyed Witch by Selden
'The queen leans forwards with a creak of stays, watching her son as he nods and turns, and tosses back a jest to his half-seen companions. He moves within the glass like a small flickering fish caught in a child's cupped hands, unknowing as the water drains away.' Rich writing in this tale of two witches
[Added 19/10/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; The Tempest]
Whom Stripes May Move, Not Kindness by Airgiodslv
'He charmed Caliban with his own magic, with books and pictures, tricks of physics, and he forgot longing for women.' A dark prequel to the play, packed with rich details
[Added 07/12/2011; Drama; <1000; The Tempest]
The Bugger's Opera by The Alchemist
'"Silly Milly, Tawdry Audrey. Hercules and Hylas. Dolly and Edna." The finger lands on a gaunt face, coyly hidden behind a huge fan. "We called him the Memsaab. Would have dressed like that all day every fucking day if they'd let him." 'Like that' was in something resembling the costume of an Afghan Begum.' Clever, multi-layered origin story for Mack the Knife during the Siege of Kandahar that makes matchwood of the fourth wall & even features a cameo from a young John Watson
[Added 26/12/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; The Threepenny Opera]
Ajax Renown'd by Grond
Heyer fic is unusual enough, Heyer fic that avoids the usual suspects even more so. Grond manages to keep the character voices intact whilst taking their bodies in directions Ms Heyer wouldn't dream of
[Added 26/04/2006; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Georgette Heyer – The Unknown Ajax]
Swan's Wing by Penknife
'Every now and then I wonder if she wishes she'd never started that last shirt.' Subtle reworking of 'The Wild Swans', with a wonderful narrator's voice
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; 1000-2500; The Wild Swans]
Swansong by Lassarina Aoibhell
'My brothers say they remember little of their time as swans. I remember a great deal. I wonder if they lie, if they have deliberately forgotten, or if the memories have stayed a part of me, anchored by the feathers and hollow bones that took the place of hand and arm.' Melancholy & haunting tale of one caught between two worlds
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; 1000-2500; The Wild Swans]
Blind Man's Bluff by Bluestalking
'"I do not play there," Justin answered. "The proprietor could once have been of use to me, and is no longer. Let that queen bee buzz about its business with honey untapped."' LÉon gets to stay Léon in this enjoyable futurefic, and Bluestalking pulls off an improbable pairing for him very neatly. I particularly enjoyed the characterisation of the defeated Avon, who gets to be more waspish than he ever is in the novelon gets to stay LÉon in this enjoyable futurefic, and Bluestalking pulls off an improbable pairing for him very neatly. I particularly enjoyed the characterisation of the defeated Avon, who gets to be more waspish than he ever is in the novel
[Added 28/05/2012; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Georgette Heyer – These Old Shades]
Rome by Ishafel
'It was not Hugh's battle, but he could not stop himself from fighting.' Nicely written, with beautifully realised characters
[Added 26/04/2006; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Georgette Heyer – These Old Shades]
To Begin With by Aubry
'Usually, when protests kick off in Dickens's social commentaries it's in Hard Times, or the back-story of the first volume of David Copperfield. Carol was a different fettle of kitsch.' This enjoyable casefic set in A Christmas Carol has a ball with the best bits from both canons. There are amusing sidelines on the nature of fiction & Dickens lit crit on the way to the requisite treacly ending
[Added 28/10/2014; Drama; 2500-6000; Thursday Next series; Crossover]
The Beggar's Wish by Doyle
A very believable continuation of the novel, with a lovely tone & excellent detailing
[Added 30/12/2005; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Tipping the Velvet]
The Face of God (or, Ianto Hears a Who) by Alex
'To the naked eye, the jar looked like it held nothing more than a light coating of dust, concentrated on the bottom of the jar, but also clinging to the lower reaches of the sides. But under high magnification, the “dust” resolved into fantastic structures--office buildings and blocks of flats, shops, even a bridge, thin as a strand of spider silk, spanning the diameter of the jar.' An unusual Torchwood story, with a feel of Star Trek. Sweet & heartwarming
[Added 04/08/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Torchwood]
Deep with the First Dead by Moemachina
'She had been raised to sit up straight, play the harp, make her letters, and do a little embroidery. Her brother had learned Latin, Greek, how to hold a sword, how to do his sums, how to look over the estate. She had never envied him.' A delicate piece which makes sense of Olivia, both her grief & her inevitable recovery. The members of her household are also well drawn, as each tries to help her in their own way
[Added 04/10/2013; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Twelfth Night]
movements of the mind by Lost Spook
'Feste smiles and gives a bow of his head in acknowledgement, running his fingers over the lute. "Strange, is it not? For when it lived, it was dumb as that post and yet now, dead, it sings sweet harmony."' Quiet vignette series which develops a plausible take on Feste through the years, and his relationships with Olivia & her father. Lost Spook has a good line in 16th-century wordplay too
[Added 25/12/2017; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Twelfth Night]
The Pirate and the Puritan by Shayheyred
'Antonio spat into the murky water, glowering at the ripples he caused. Fucking Illyrians and their fucking pompous airs, like their fucking Duke Orsino and Orsino's new fucking brother-in-law, the faithless Sebas-- He spat again.' Twelfth Night lends itself to slash sequels, but this isn't a pairing I'd ever envisaged. Shayheyred renders it surprisingly believable in this noir take on the play. Great fun
[Added 19/07/2011; Romance/Erotica; 2500-6000; Twelfth Night]
With A Cunning Hand by Gehayi
'The kid glances at the Little Caesar's pizza box next to my elbow and, without even pausing, says that his name is Cesario. No last name. Just...Cesario.' Gehayi develops a strong voice for narrator Curio in this romp through the events of the play, recasting Orsino as a mafia boss. Great fun!
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Twelfth Night]
Fire, Measured By What Doesn't Burn by Luna
'There was sand in your sheets at night, every night, needling your skin, but it didn't keep you from falling asleep and dreaming. The war had traveled west with you, riding in the whorls of your ears and the treads of your boots.' A smooth amalgamation of gritty realism & fantasy characterises this modern re-envisioning of 'Twelve Dancing Princesses'. An amazing achievement
[Added 07/08/2009; Drama; 6000-20,000; Twelve Dancing Princesses]
The Hinge of the Hour, the Spark of Eternity by Psiten
'See, I told you you wouldn't believe it. He did exactly that, on purpose, I give you my word. Would it make a difference if I told you he was a kaikyaku? You know how desperate they always are to get home.' A lovely strong OC narrator's voice draws the reader into this tale of bureaucracy & the birth of an unlikely cross-generational friendship. Absolutely charming!
[Added 13/08/2015; Drama; 6000-20,000; Twelve Kingdoms; Crossover]
Always Music in the Air by Bossy Marmalade
'Thinking is something he has to struggle to do here; it doesn't slide easily along the patterns of black and white, it doesn't adhere easily to curtains and sheets of red.' A surreal interlude that captures Lynch's brand of weirdness in a way that most fanfiction for this series just misses
[Added 04/08/2009; Drama; 1000-2500; Twin Peaks]
And the Devil Makes Three by Nemo the Everbeing
'If Albert allowed himself to be fascinated by the living they would inevitably turn out to be shallower and less interesting than he had hoped. He knew exactly what to expect from the dead.' Pitch-perfect Albert, struggling to come to terms with the supernatural as he investigates his first case with Coop. Case fiction doesn't grow on trees in this fandom, so this novella is a rare treat. The post-series sequel, If It had to Perish Twice, is also recommended
[Added 28/01/2011; Drama; 6000-20,000; Twin Peaks]
Blue Velvet to Moon River by Gabihime
'Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity were the words he'd steel-belted his life with.' An exquisitely Lynchian short, sensuous & disturbing
[Added 30/12/2005; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Twin Peaks]
Closing Doors by Amand r
'There was something in there. In the lights. On. Off. On. Off. They couldn't go on without going off, and they couldn't go off unless they were on. Off. On. On. Off. Off.' Darker than much Twin Peaks fanfiction – the fragments making up this piece have the feel of shards of glass. It wanders around a bit, with some of the viewpoints more enlightening than others, but the kick of an ending is worth the wait
[Added 28/05/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Twin Peaks; Adult]
Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Amatara
'...Cooper's skin is still new on him. Like a good coat, it'll need some wear before it stops chafing at the seams.' Possessed Cooper is hard to get right, and Amatara does a good job in this creepy sequel. She's a prolific author and her work just keeps getting better; other stories I enjoyed include Wake Up and Face the Music & Flashes of Light, both also sequels
[Added 09/01/2014; Drama; 6000-20,000; Twin Peaks]
Dweller on the Threshold by Nemo the Everbeing
'His smile was sharper than she remembered. "I don't know if that's something you get to decide, Audrey. Good days, bad days ... it's a crapshoot, and the table just might be rigged."' This braided ensemble novella unfolds slowly but surely to reveal the best fix to the series finale I've encountered
[Added 14/04/2015; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Twin Peaks]
The Magician Longs To See by St Aurafina
'He identified Agent Horne by her age: she was the only female agent under thirty in the room. Neat and slender, she perched on an office chair as if it were a velvet covered throne, legs neatly crossed and a distant expression on her face.' This inventive novella-length case file, an X-Files crossover set ten years after the end of Twin Peaks, starts out slowly but soon accelerates to deliver just enough twists to satisfy. The Lynchian weirdness is dialled down a bit for my taste, but some unexpected insights into the characters' futures make up for any lack. There's also a prequel, Say Goodbye (To the World You Thought You Lived In), set immediately after the series (mind the warnings on this one)
[Added 10/01/2014; Drama; 20,000-50,000; Twin Peaks; Crossover]
Pinion by Amand r
'John spent hours out in the leaves and owls, sawing, welding, wiring, creating their new life with his bare hands, every log, every curl of plaster a testament of his love, and she made curtains and tablecloths and re-upholstered furniture scavenged from the junkyard.' The Log Lady's backstory, dark as old engine oil
[Added 09/01/2014; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Twin Peaks; Adult]
The Tender Boughs of Innocence by Amatara
'This corpse was in worse shape than the first, but the connection was unmistakable: those same tight, intricate shapes, chiseled in bloody streaks across the torso. Albert was reminded, suddenly and vividly, of the spirograph he'd owned as a kid.' A suitably spooky casefic, with perfect characterisation for the younger Albert as he investigates his first Blue Rose case. The cameos from Fire Walk With Me & the series are a bonus
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 2500-6000; Twin Peaks]
Bellflower and Hellebore by Gileonnen
'Even after nearly a decade of desolation, the wolf can smell that the place had a mistress, and that she used to make soap with rosemary from the rendered fat of infants.' Luscious descriptions mark this disquietening, slippery story, with tales melding into each other in unexpected ways as the wolf adapts to the changes time brings
[Added 27/05/2012; Drama; 1000-2500; Fairy tales – Various]
The Bruise Around the Wound by Rana Eros
'She is the usual shape, her visible skin the normal texture, even if the color is lurid. Her hair, though, her brows and lashes make people doubt. It only takes a little deformity and their imaginations run wild.' A dark reworking of 'Rapunzel' & other tales. Strange, lush & vivid, with overtones of Angela Carter
[Added 18/07/2009; Drama; 1000-2500; Fairy tales – Various]
The Killing Choice by Dizzy Fire
'Jack had always been trouble, ever since he was just a lad. People used to call him Jack the Giant Killer, and I privately suspected that there was some truth to it, although I hadn't been able to make the charges stick.' Goldilocks & Baby Bear [cough] Constable Bruin investigate the death of Jack, of Beanstalk fame, in this fairy tale noir casefile. Nothing too profound, but sweet & charming
[Added 28/05/2012; Humour; 6000-20,000; Fairy tales – Various]
The Silver Ship, or, The Wolf's Quest by Ermigoa
'Once upon a time, when the Earth was still solid beneath our feet and the stars were distant and strange, there was a king whose lands were rich and lush, and whose citadel comprised many gardens.' A really unusual fairy tale, subverting elements from traditional tales in a fresh setting. The frame story just makes this
[Added 27/05/2012; Drama; 2500-6000; Fairy tales – Various]
Under the Skin by Fresne
'His smile made her think of the teeth of ice off the eave of a house. His gray eyes made her feel the bark of the winter wind off an icy mountain. His laughter made her think of the retort of rifles in hunting season.' A rich & atmospheric tale, loosely based on Melusine & other archetypes. A bit rough around the edges, perhaps, but worth a try for the wonderfully realised setting, a faded spa town after WWI
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 6000-20,000; Fairy tales – Various; Adult]
Five Years by SJ Kasabi
'Xenophon was an old friend, and his strictures on horseflesh and horsemanship were a considerable consolation in a city where the primary mode of transport was aquatic.' Written as a series of short scenes spanning the titular five years, this character study of Aubrey unfolds slowly & delicately. There's a welcome peek at Venetia & Damerel's happy ever after, too. Delightful
[Added 05/11/2008; Character Piece; 2500-6000; Georgette Heyer – Venetia]
Aletheia by Elvaron
'Glass, Illyan thought, and his chip helpfully pulled up a list of fifty-six ways in which a glass building could be compromised using tools that you could obtain from your nearest D.I.Y. store.' Simon encounters another person with a memory chip. A beautifully characterised story with a well-drawn OC that feels like a missing prequel to Memory
[Added 09/01/2014; Drama; 6000-20,000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Captain Vorpatril's Plotbunnies (I) by Bracketyjack
'It was serendipity that her garden abutted an area of sulphides and oxides whose dull but determined colours she found pleasing, and chance that a cowbane spore could blow so far west and take root just where its lustrous ochre should so complement the oxide. But it was also beautiful, a conjunction only South Continent could produce...' Bracketyjack creates a strong voice for the unnamed mosaic maker in this tale of how Miles 'practically kidnapped' her. The strongest of four missing scenes from Captain Vorpatril's Alliance
[Added 04/08/2016; Drama; 2500-6000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
The Councils of Despair by Parhelion
'Real leaders don't stop being leaders just because they've resigned, just because they're now drunks.' Despite the extracanonical pairing, this piece feels like a missing chapter from Shards of Honor, with believable characterisations and a strong portrayal of the darker, seamier side of Barrayar
[Added 06/08/2008; Character Piece; 6000-20,000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Cynthia's Choice by Sglottalk
'Cynthia had to admit that the idea of foisting 'women's work' on a bunch of misogynists had a certain appeal.' A sadly rare piece of backstory for Ethan of Athos, which examines Cynthia Baruch's decision to facilitate the Athosian's rejection of women by constructing their ovarian cultures
[Added 15/10/2017; Character Piece; 1000-2500; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Do You Remember The Last Time? by Gair
'Forty years of pure data, processed by a man with forty years' experience. Gone. Eaten by a little bug. And he was what was left on the edge of its plate, a man who couldn't beat Alys Vorpatril in six rounds of Star-tarot One-up.' Stylish writing with a spot-on voice for Illyan, but Gair's insights into the differences between eidetic & somatic memory are what really make this piece
[Added 21/05/2009; Character Piece; 1000-2500; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Finding Absolution by Lia
'He looked in the mirror at the orange and mahagony zig zag across his face and frowned. It was time for the pearl, which tomorrow would be red.' Interesting Cetagandan worldbuilding in this unusual Benin vignette
[Added 08/02/2011; Character Piece; 1000-2500; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Frequently Suggested Sexual Practices: An Aid to Communication by Dira Sudis
'Each night Aral changed out of his uniform in the knowledge the gesture was futile. He could as soon set aside his own skin for the night.' A wonderful blend of melancholy & humour marks this surprisingly delicate study of Aral & Cordelia, and Barrayar, masquerading as kink
[Added 15/07/2012; Romance/Erotica; 6000-20,000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series; Adult]
From the Old to the New by Avanti 90
'A thousand things set you apart: the pallor of your skin, the inflection of your voice, the principle ingrained in your mind that all men and women are born free and equal; these things and many more will forever distinguish you, and so you can never and will never be one of them.' An intelligent AU that casts Galen(i) as Gandhi and goes on to unpick many of Bujold's – and her readers' – assumptions about the Barrayaran Empire. The documentfic approach works perfectly, and a surprising array of characters, from Fletchir Giaja to Enrique Borgos, get to play their parts
[Added 21/05/2015; Drama; 6000-20,000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Guerrilla by Glishara
'Galeni started to speak, then caught himself. He took a long moment, examining Ivan. "No," he said at last, his voice even. "I want an Emperor. I will accept a figurehead, if that's all you will offer."' This slow-building novel follows the resistance movement in an AU to Diplomatic Immunity where Miles fails & Cetaganda invades Barrayar. It's a wonderful premise, and Glishara successfully juggles a large cast including believable OCs
[Added 14/02/2011; Drama; >50,000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
The Honour of House Vorkosigan by Philomytha
'After Yuri and the Cetagandans, Vorbarr Sultana politics had been supremely dull for Piotr.' Wonderful dissection of politics & family loyalties in this piece of Shards backstory. One of those works that goes straight into my personal canon
[Added 07/02/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Kindred Instruments by Ollipop
'They know just as much about Lotus as she knows about herself. They know her aptitudes, her weaknesses. They have tweaked the neurochemical bath on her copies, for maximum effect. They are her, improved. She is them, unedited. She hates them.' A chilling piece that unpacks Lotus's defection to House Bharaputra, and broadens to explore the ethics of Jackson's Whole in a more nuanced fashion than canon
[Added 09/01/2014; Character Piece; 2500-6000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
King of the Mutants by Elfwreck
'He rode out of the blighted lands of Vorkosigan Vashnoi, surrounded by warrior guardians. He was tiny and bent and crippled, with a large head that wobbled on his misshapen body, and he wore the robes of a king so that everyone knew that to challenge him was death.' A creepy vignette based on 'Mountains of Mourning' that rehearses Ma Mattulich's side of the story
[Added 15/10/2017; Character Piece; <1000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Lilies of the Field by Raven
'"What sort of scale of problem did you have in mind? The problem of why three of the Residence wait staff have taken their annual holiday at the same time, causing, I am informed, no end of trouble for the kitchens? Or the problem of why the Komarran soletta array has possibly, we're not sure, been sabotaged?"' A quiet piece in which Cordelia does women's work, with a little help from Alys. Reads like a missing fragment from the lighter parts of canon, with believable OCs. Delightful
[Added 04/08/2016; Drama; 6000-20,000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Loyalty by A T Rain
'Rish is four when the loyalty treatments begin. Her sisters say it won't hurt, and it doesn't.' Suitably Jacksonian coming-of-age story for Rish
[Added 15/10/2015; Character Piece; 1000-2500; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
The Offer by Beatrice Otter
'If Ezar had spared her life a decade ago, he would not kill her now for anything short of outright treason. She could say what she liked. That was the greatest freedom she could never have imagined, twelve years ago when she made her vows in the circle of groats.' A fascinating AU premise – it's Aral's sister who survives the massacre not Aral – thoughtfully carried through. I'd love to read more of this scenario
[Added 15/10/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
On a Cold Planet by A T Rain
'Byerly Vorrutyer was heartily sick of lichen. / It grew on the south sides of buildings on Jackson’s Whole. It crept in at the window frames, coated the door hinges, covered the roofs and choked the gutters. It became slick and slimy at the slightest touch, smearing clothing, ruining paint jobs.' A satisfying novella that unpacks the meagre information the CVA epilogue provides on House Cordonah's re-establishment, with strong world building about Jackson Whole and its denizens' values
[Added 04/08/2016; Drama; 20,000-50,000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
One Thing by Sineala
'His honor was at stake. He was Marcus Voraquila, and if he did not watch this everyone would know that he hadn't, and they would never, never stop.' This is the kind of story that makes fandom such a joy: not only is Sineala responding to Philomytha's powerful Vorkosigan's Day, but it's also a fusion with Eagle of the Ninth, casting Marcus as the son of Aral's political officer. I think the piece would stand with the narrator as an OC, but it gains extra resonances from the parallels between Rome & Barrayar. And, on its own terms, it's perfectly characterised & profoundly moving
[Added 15/01/2019; Drama; 2500-6000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series; Crossover]
Passing by Ollipop
'Thornton Isobel is not looking for a good time. It is not a conduit of galactic peace. It does not represent the harmony or enlightenment of our modern age. It is merely a kid with acne in its stubble and a raging case of PMS.' Bel's a fascinating character who gets all too little fannish attention. This perceptive origin story really gets into its head, and presents a plausible reason for its devotion to Miles
[Added 21/05/2015; Character Piece; 1000-2500; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Playing Yenaro in Vorbarr Sultana by Minutia R
'RenÉ was a pleasure to watch as well as to hear, length of arm and finger, movements of the wrist that seemed almost accidental, as if he were being moved by the current of the music instead of producing it.' An unusual & powerful vignette, which gives insight into both Cetagandan & Barrayaran cultures
[Added 09/01/2014; Drama; 1000-2500; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Riva; Yuell. 'Energy generation via five-space oscillation: Evidence and implications'. New Journal of Five-Space Physics. by Hollimichele
'She watched a small boy of no more than three run in wobbling elliptical loops around his patient older sister, who had tied a length of ribbon to his overall strap as a preventative measure, and considered orbital mechanics.' Dr Riva on Sergyar. A delicate sequel to Komarr, focusing on one of my favourite minor characters, with bonus speculation on Sergyar's future
[Added 30/10/2017; Character Piece; 2500-6000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Service by Minutia R
'When they played Escobar War, Yegor wanted to be Prince Serg. But Georgos had the dark good looks, familiar from all the vids.' Well-structured OCs story that wraps neatly around canon to reflect how far the Barrayaran empire has come
[Added 15/10/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Tour Guide by Philomytha
'Her accent was the highest of high Vor, a level sharper and crisper even than Ivan's. The immediate resonance for Duv was with the cruel Vor ladies from the subversive holodramas his father had given him to watch as a boy, the wicked witches of his childhood...' Duv gets a history lesson from Aral in this thoughtful one off. Like many of Philomytha's stories, it feels like a missing corner from canon
[Added 15/10/2017; Drama; 2500-6000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Twenty-Year Man by Ellen Fremedon
'He ran his gloved fingers under Ivan's collar, very slowly and lightly--Ivan shivered--and came up with a tiny slip of clear plastic, all that was left of a pharmaceutical patch. "Punch," By said. He slipped it into a sealed pouch and secreted it in a pocket. "Or to you and me--fast-penta."' This future novella starts out with a bit of a clichÉ, but matures into a complex & twisty plot resembling the political machinations thread of A Civil Campaign. Ivan takes centre stage, but there's a large cast including a well-drawn OC
[Added 20/01/2012; Drama; 20,000-50,000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Vorkosigan's Day by Philomytha
'"My father...had all the pictures from the Massacre, flat, holo and vid footage, up on display in his study. So that he would never forget, so that we all would never forget. I saw them every day since I was four."' An intense gapfiller, both intelligent & moving, displaying Philomytha's excellent understanding of what makes the Vorkosiganverse characters tick
[Added 07/02/2011; Drama; 2500-6000; LM Bujold – Vorkosigan series]
Firebound by Dussek
'The image of fire in her mind flickers, first twisting into a serpent, then into the outline of a wolf, then into the rough shape of a man.' Beautifully written, atmospheric AU, which melds the base myth with the opera plot perfectly. I only wish it were longer!
[Added 23/12/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; Wagner Ring Cycle]
Wayfarer's Daughter by Meyerlemon
'When the world was young, they sang songs about my sisters.' Powerful short where every word counts
[Added 03/01/2007; Romance/Erotica; 1000-2500; Wagner Ring Cycle]
The Moonlit Door by Zdenka
'He could see an open grassy slope below him, unmarked by any sign of habitation; but as he went on he could feel a gathering in the air around him, as if many unseen folk stood watching and listening, waiting for what he might do.' Zdenka uses & subverts several fairy story tropes in this haunting prequel to 'The Listeners'. Simply lovely!
[Added 11/08/2015; Drama; 6000-20,000; Walter de la Mare]
In Kind by Resolute
'And then, Diary, I lied. In front of this woman, this lady, and this sharp, handsome man, I didn't want to be Mathilde Ruby Ingeson, recently of Hibbing, Minnesota. I wanted to be new. I wanted to be something fresh and neat and worthy of the city. Worthy of the lady's attention and the man's smile.' Resolute builds a wonderful sense of gathering darkness in this prequel, which brings the 1920s to life in all its vigour and cruelty
[Added 04/10/2013; Drama; 2500-6000; War for the Oaks]
But One Wolf Slaying by Tanaqui
'But he had always been unhandy with such things: treading in Midir's shadow; or interrupting his mother as she spoke the necessary charms over the salves she was mixing, so that she must begin again; or spilling the mead from the guest-cup set at the empty place at the Samhain feast as he reached for his own food.' A canonically plausible portrait of Vortrix, stifling under the weight of expectations heaped upon him, and his long friendship with Drem. The end is very moving. I also enjoyed her Kindling, Blai's perspective on the novel
[Added 14/01/2019; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Rosemary Sutcliff – Warrior Scarlet]
Bright Moon, Who Goes Farther Still by Hossgal
'Little Moon had lost children to foxes and owls and the traps of men; to White Blindness, to weasels, and to suffocation in over-crowded warrens, to the claws of hawks and to her own bitter heart. And when Little Moon discovered that El-ahrairah had been addressed by Lord Frith, and turned away, her anger was deep.' Hossgal's ambitious story gives us the does' perspective not only on the events of Watership Down, but also on rabbit mythology. The novella's two strands weave together perfectly as the tale builds to its moving climax. A real treasure
[Added 10/11/2008; Drama; 6000-20,000; Watership Down]
Captain Holly's Last Command by Edonohana
'Darnel smelled like primroses and oak-roots and moist black earth. In this land of tall spindly weeds and crumbling brown dirt, he still smelled like Sandleford. He was at once as familiar and alien to Holly as the words of a native tongue long since abandoned by its speaker for the language of some foreign shore.' A slow-moving piece, perfectly in tune with the original, with a well-realised OC. To say more would spoil it
[Added 06/08/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Watership Down]
El-ahrairah and the Litter of Kittens by Luzula
'Then Hyzenthlay, on a sly impulse, said: 'I was just about to tell the story of El-ahrairah and the litter of kittens.' / Thethuthinnang made a strangled little noise beside her. / 'I don't think I've heard that one,' Foxglove said.' Luzula's feminist slant is a welcome addition to Adams' world, and this tale-within-a-tale remains remarkably canonical in tone, despite the mpreg
[Added 09/08/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; Watership Down]
Far Far Away by Redgear
'He has never seen a fox, but he knows it is one; he had once dreamed he was a man with a loud metal stick, and he had pointed it at a quicksilver flash of red in a bush, and it had smelled very strongly of smoke and rot and very faintly of blood and fox.' A dark, unusual vignette, in which a beautifully characterised Silverweed has a strange meeting. I love the edge of ambiguity to the ending
[Added 29/10/2017; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Watership Down]
Mixed Blessings by Astrokath
'The warrens of rabbits, the cities of man: they both rise and fall, and the soil always swallows them back into the ground again, as a doe spares her unborn kits from the trials and suffering of an unkind world.' A dark futurefic that plays with the notion that El-Ahrairah & the Black Rabbit are different aspects of the same deity. Unusual & memorable
[Added 11/08/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; Watership Down]
Run Fast and Dig Deep by Qwerty
'You'd never had need to dig new tunnels before coming here, but when the earth yielded beneath your claws, you understood immediately which way to dig, how to clear away the loosened earth, the tricks for shoring up the sides so the run would not fall in.' Adapting to freedom isn't always easy. A gorgeous, poignant story melding visions and tales, future and past
[Added 03/01/2007; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Watership Down]
The Story of El-ahrairah and the Stranger in the Field by Tanaqui
'El-ahrairah waved a paw unconcernedly. "What is that to me? If the Queen of the bees is not as clever as I am in arranging things to suit her people, why should that be my concern?"' A clever El-ahrairah tale that was somehow omitted from Adams' canon. To say more would spoil it
[Added 21/05/2015; Drama; 2500-6000; Watership Down]
The Story of Hrayatha and the Rabbit Who Left No Tracks by Luzula
'The Honeycomb was full of the small sounds of rabbits shifting, breathing, chewing pellets, and into that comforting atmosphere of rabbitry, Hrayatha spoke.' Poignant story of the rabbits we know & love passing into myth. Hrayatha is a believable original character who suggests that the warren's next generation will have adventures to tell their kittens about too
[Added 25/11/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Watership Down]
The Story of Marli-hrair and the Black Rabbit of Inle by Edonohana
'We call her Marli-hrair [mother of a thousand] because she gave birth to so many large and healthy litters. What her real name was, nobody knows, nor does anyone now remember the name of her warren.' A beautiful & moving tale within a tale, which captures the feel of the original perfectly
[Added 04/08/2011; Drama; 1000-2500; Watership Down]
The Story Of The Doe Who Hid Her Kittens by Edonohana
'The listening rabbits scuffled in annoyance. Kittens learned not to interrupt stories by the time they were weaned. And this was Efrafa, where only the powerful and the foolhardy spoke so loud.' A tale within a tale told by Hyzenthlay. The frame story gives a moving glimpse of life in Efrafa, and the ending is particularly powerful
[Added 29/10/2017; Drama; 1000-2500; Watership Down]
Strong Yet Weak by KaptainSarcasm
'"The Black Rabbit will challenge you, and you must win. Just know that you will keep running, my son, and you will become the thing of legends."' Excellent mingling of myth with present as a new adventure begins for Blackavar
[Added 30/12/2005; Drama; 2500-6000; Watership Down]
all that's best of dark and bright by Betony
'You are my son, that is true; your hair yellow as your great-uncle's gold and your belt heavy with the very blade I gave you and your hand caught in matrimony with the woman my brother created for you.' Neat reworking of the Mabinogion from Arianrhod's side, with a lovely narrative voice
[Added 30/10/2017; Character Piece; 1000-2500; Welsh mythology]
Three fillings of Prydwen by CenozoicSynapsid
'You're not supposed to think of the rest of the men, the ones who died on the way. They don't have names. They're not who the story is about.' CenozoicSynapsid uses a brilliant female viewpoint to draw parallels between Y Gododdin & The Spoils of Annwn, and by extension other acts of male heroism, in this clever & moving tale-within-a-tale
[Added 09/08/2015; Drama; 1000-2500; Welsh mythology]
The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down by Merlin Missy
Someone's deleting toons, and this time it's Jessica who's the prime suspect. This inventive murder mystery works on several different levels, and never fails to amuse
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; 6000-20,000; Who Framed Roger Rabbit]
Lydia Gwilt in the American Melodrama Novel, or The Bride And Some Other People In The Tomb by Blueinkedfrost
'One of these American millionaires who seem to spring up like mushrooms after rain... They make their fortunes in hog bellies, piecing together railroad sidings for all of Maine, crowning themselves the king of ladies' hairpins, or some such concept. Ageing, dyspeptic, inattentive, and caring only for his next million and a safe digestive biscuit.' Lydia Gwilt travels to the New World to find herself in a terrible sensation novel. Lovely voice & a hectic romp through the genre tropes (Armadale)
[Added 25/10/2017; Drama; 6000-20,000; Wilkie Collins]
In Which a New Child Comes to the Forest by Loligo
Loligo cleverly uses the setting to voice insights into growing up and the responsibilities of parenthood, as well as the nature of storytelling
[Added 30/12/2005; Drama; 1000-2500; Winnie the Pooh]
Erotophonophilia by Loz
'Sex. It has to be sex. It's always sex in cases like this. Repression. Expression. Shut it in, let it out. Murder is always about lust, isn't it.' An intense vignette that nails the character voices, particularly Tony's
[Added 11/11/2008; Drama; 1000-2500; Wire in the Blood; Adult]
The Pottery Lamp by Jay Tryfanstone
'Lovel had the image of it as clear as the painting in a book, all miniature jewel-bright leaves and flowers, as he dug and hoed and forked over the heavy clods.' A quietly beautiful short in a medieval-setting Sutcliff that one doesn't in the least need to have encountered to enjoy. Simply lovely!
[Added 14/01/2019; Drama; 2500-6000; Rosemary Sutcliff – Witch's Brat]
A Completely Authorised Biography by Lakester
'Sir Humphrey found Jim Hacker to be -- not only an open book -- but one with large colourful illustrations.' Amusing sketch that captures Sir Humphrey's voice remarkably well
[Added 22/04/2006; Humour; 1000-2500; Yes, Minister]