Compiled by the Espresso Addict

Espresso Recommendations

Innovative and stylish fanfiction, showcasing the very best across multiple sf, fantasy & literature fandoms. Good writing in all its forms can be found here, including gen, het, slash, OCs, AUs, crossovers, future fics, humour & pastiche

Contents: 1010 recs in 235 fandoms; 65 links

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy Summers

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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; Characters: Buffy Summers, Spike, Joyce Summers, Willow Rosenberg]

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; Characters: Buffy Summers, Spike, William, Minor, OCs]

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; Characters: Buffy Summers, Faith, Kakistos, Wesley Wyndham-Price]

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; Characters: Buffy, Angel, Slayers]

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; Characters: Buffy Summers, Warren Mears, Spike]

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; Characters: Buffy Summers, Spike, Willow, Slayer, OCs; Adult]

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; Characters: Buffy Summers, Galadriel; Crossover]