5 New-ish Spuffy Writers (and their works)

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

It’s a new golden age for fans of good Spike/Buffy fic, much of it funny. There is a whole fresh crop of excellent writers dipping into the Buffyverse for the first time. Here are five that have found new things to say — in sparkling prose — about the pairing. In alphabetical order:

( Five outstanding in their field... )

Five New Contributors to Fandom

[baphrosia.livejournal.com]

Since rebcake stole part of my list (stole, I tell you!) as I was writing this, I had to modify it some.  In no particular order, here are five new contributors to fandom for whom I will drop whatever I'm doing and check out their latest work:

lady_sybyl, also known elsewhere as Dactylgirl and TerrusDacktellus (and SoulfulSpiketheKiller on Tumblr).  Dactylgirl gives good comic!fic, delivering wonderfully fun, in character, perceptive, touching, sometimes smutty, stories.  They are always well-written, and her character voices are amazing.  I highly recommend her Lost Continent series (Spuffy, S10).  She's also shown she can do angsty, serious storytelling in one of my new, personal all-time favorite fics: Empty Hearts and Heavy Hands (S5, Spuffy).  Even if Spuffy is not your favorite pairing, check that one out.  You won't be disappointed.

( Read more... )

Five Wonderful Willow Fics

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

I do this every year, so why break with tradition? Here are five amazing stories that feature Willow as a central figure.

1) Sewing the Seeds (missing scene from The Beating of the Bounds) (Willow, The Tailor) by sparrow2000: If all this does is get you to read the incredible The Beating of the Bounds, a Xander-centric AU of superlative depth and artistry, then my work is done. But this tale - featuring Willow - has its own brilliance and needs to be appreciated on its own terms. It's subtle and deceptively prosaic but look beneath its smooth surface and the depths are churning. Join me in ordering Sparrow to write more Willow. She has a knack for it.

( Click me for magic )

Five silly fics

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

I can't top the Narwhal!verse (how did I not now about this?) but here are five fics that made the crackfic fan in me grin like a loon this year.

Based on a True Story by Oxnate. Mayor Richard Wilkins III isn't afraid of anything... but his shadow. Of all the werecreatures in the world, here's a hole I haven't seen anyone poke their head out of before.

( Four more )

Five not-so-silly fics

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

To contrast the last post, here are five fics of varying degrees of seriousness that I liked.

What if? by mej_lj. The Council is very good at finding and training girls. What happens to all the ones who aren't chosen?

( Four more )

Five from dependable comms

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

So the fandom isn't as active as it once was, but there are still communities keeping up the good work. Here are a few challenge responses I liked this year.

spook_me
Unwrapping by brutti_ma_buoni. Spike has a rare birthday gift for Dru. She's very happy with it, especially as it's the last one. Spike/Dru.

( Four more )

Five MORE Wonderful Willow Fics

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

You didn't think I could stop at 5, did you?

Here are 5 more amazingly fab stories starring Willow.

1) Home is Where Your Heart Is (Willow, Xander, Sheila, Ira) by sandy_s: Another Spuffy legend tries her hand at Willow and once again does it exceedingly well. sandy_s gives us Willow's last visit with her parents but she also gives us a lovely evocation of the enduring friendship of Willow and Xander. A twofer that's twice as nice for that. This one has a core of sadness and resignation that really resonates. Oh, this one was written for whichwillow, as are the next two (and The Killer in Me, from my earlier list). That fest really inspires wonderful stories.

( More Magic if You Click the Cut )