Five Outstanding Fics in Their Genre

[shapinglight]

The fandom continued to attract new, talented writers in 2007, which is great. It also continued to inspire established writers in various fanfic sub-genres. The following are five fics which I thought were outstanding in their respective genres. Some may have been recced before but IMO they can't be recced too often.



First, there's an all-human AU story, which I consider not only very well-written but absolutely the best use I've ever seen made of one of the underlying themes of AtS (addiction and the recovery from it).

Street Hassle by madame_meretrix Angel/Spike, Spike/Xander NC17

Next, there's one of the best gen fics I've ever read. The prose is beautifully spare and understated, the subject matter (Giles laying out Buffy's body after her death in The Gift) gut-wrenching.

Mission Accomplished by beer_good_foamy, Buffy and Giles and the Watcher/Slayer relationship PG13

Next we have a Spike/Buffy piece written by one of the most talented young writers in the fandom. She's a natural, and her skill leaves me pretty awestruck. Here, she tackles a pairing she has no particular liking for and yet it's one of the best season 6 Spike/Buffy pieces I've ever read. I defy anyone to read it and not feel pity for both protagonists. And as for the melted ice cream...

Salvaged by girlpire Spike/Buffy R

lyrstzha writes in many fandoms and I think we're very lucky ours is one of them. This year, she wrote Five Things Angel Never Says to Spike Spike/Angel NC17, a wonderful, uplifting Spangel fic with one of the most believable outcomes of the alley fight from NFA that I've ever come across.

Finally, there's new fic from a writer who established her niche in a particular corner of the Buffyverse, that of historical Fanged Four fics, long ago and has never been bettered. A new story from peasant_ is always welcome, but when it's long and plotty and you learn something new from it, so much the better.

Butterfly Catchers by peasant_, Fanged Four, R-NC17.

Comments

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

An excellent list! And you're right about Salvaged, it's an amazing piece of work.

[shapinglight]

It is, isn't it?

[elisi]

And she wrote it for meeeeee! *is still ridiculously happy*

Seriously though, a great selection. BGF's fic is wonderful, as is Lyrstzha's! (Haven't read the other two, although if I by some strange miracle suddenly find myself with some spare time I'll try to check them out.)

[shapinglight]

You'll enjoy them if you do - promise.

[goodbyebird]

I've only read two of these, but the others sound excellent so I'm sure to check them out. Thanks for the recs :)

[shapinglight]

I hope you like them. I thought they were great.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Zipped through the two new ones (to me) short enough to read this morning. Excellent recs, thank you! I'll come back for the others.

[shapinglight]

Glad to hear it. I thought they were all excellent.

[lyr]

Aww, hey, thanks! You say such sweet, wonderful things. I really am terribly pleased I could make you something you like so much.

[shapinglight]

I loved it to pieces. Thank you again.

[lynnenne]

Thanks for this list. I don't think I've read "Street Hassle" before, so I'll have to check it out. MM is a great writer.

I loved "Butterfly Catchers."

[shapinglight]

I'm sure you'll enjoy Street Hassle. It's excellent.

[girlpire.livejournal.com]

oh, thank you! *blushes* that's one of the most flattering recs i've ever gotten. :D

i've already read lyrstzha's story, which was wonderful, but i'll be sure to check out the other ones as well.

[shapinglight]

oh, thank you! *blushes* that's one of the most flattering recs i've ever gotten. :D

Really? Surely not. But anyway, it's a wonderful story and I hope you enjoy the others.

Someone had already recced Friday, I think, but I doubt I can resist reccing it again myself when I do another fic post.

[laisserais]

thanks for the rec, luv. that's very kind of you! :)

[shapinglight]

My pleasure. I think it's a wonderful story.