The Top 5 Fics that Made Me Go Woah

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

All these fics made me think outside the square, sit up and pay attention and/or get lost in a very, very well-written fic. And hopefully I'm also fulfilling some of the requests from the wishlist.

Item Title or Description: Could Times Infinity Plus One
Creator’s Name: doyle_sb4
Rating: R
Pairing: Fred/Anya
Link: http://www.livejournal.com/users/doyle_sb4/399389.html
Why I chose this: Do you like fics that try to predict and explain alternate universes and/or the afterlife? This is one fic that tries and yet doesn’t try, caught in an intriguing stream-of-consciousness and experimental way of writing and at the same time allowing two characters to remain pragmatic and romantic. Just a really amazing read.

Item Title or Description: Untitled/Halloween Fluff
Creator’s Name: spuffyduds
Rating: Mature
Warning: sexy stuff, bad language
Pairing: Jonathan/Harmony (kinda)
Link: http://www.livejournal.com/users/spuffyduds/3097.html#cutid1
Why I chose this: Ever wondered what happened on that fateful Halloween night (when the costumes became the people) to the other members of Sunnydale? This fic is sweet and hilarious exploring an implausible situation between Harmony and Jonathan. In most situations I need at least one of my utmost favourite characters to appear as a main character in a fic, but this story just persuaded me to think outside that sheltered square. Funny with a capital F.

Item Title or Description: Iowa Fields
Creator’s Name: trepkos
Rating: NC-17 overall (though starts off PG-13)
Warnings: m/m sex
Pairing: Spike/Riley
Link: http://www.livejournal.com/community/summer_of_spike/2005/07/25/
and http://www.livejournal.com/users/trepkos/68395.html
Why I chose this: Not having been conversant with the writer’s previous fics in the series and also being a smidge apathetic when it came to Riley could absolutely not stop me from enjoying this fic a whole megabunch. Eloquent, sharp, angsty and romantic the moment you step inside you’re engulfed in a world of extremely good writing. One of the best Spike voices I’ve read this year too. And a very good study of Riley and his own possible path to redemption.

Item Title or Description: Perfect Day
Creator’s Name: deborahmm
Rating: R
Warnings: Non-graphic m/m sex and Spike's language
Pairing: Spike/Wesley
Link: http://www.livejournal.com/users/deborahmm/265083.html
Why I chose this: Amazingly this fic caused a bit of a flutter in readers at the time because of the happy ending. Maybe we’re all just a little Jossed? :) In any case, this fic has wonderful, memorable language and imagery, starts of with a really imaginative premise from canon and follows Wesley around, as he ambles, ponders life and enjoys the company of Spike, on his perfect day.

Item Title or Description: Remember This
Creator’s Name: eloise_bright
Rating: R (but not quite NC17)
Pairing: Wes/Angel/Cordy
Link: http://www.livejournal.com/users/eloise_bright/70427.html
Why I chose this: Stories that carry on from episodes often have a lot to live up to in terms of maintaining the pathos, intensity, humour and/or deep grief evoked by watching the episode. And following such a memorable episode as You’re Welcome seems a hard act to follow. But this fic looms large in my thoughts as to become almost my canon for these three characters. I certainly hope that the events in the fic would have taken place off screen, because, boy, it hits romance, sweetness, angst and hotness and lives up to, if not excedes, the enjoyment of You're Welcome.

Comments

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

That's a great list with some very different pairings. Thanks for posting.

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

Thanks muchly! Yes, something for everyone hopefully. I think you'd especially like spuffyduds's fic, if you haven't already read it, because there's also a hilarious cameo by you-know-who and you-know-who. :)

[shapinglight]

Thanks so much for the rec, luv, and I'm so pleased to see trepkos's Spike/Riley get a mention. I do love that story and I'm sure lots of other people would too if they'd give it a chance.

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

No problem about the rec, "Perfect Day" was wonderful.
I had to really explain my own personal introduction to trepkos's fic as it *really* bowled me over, and as I mentioned I was pretty ambivalent to Riley and her fic made me care.

[shapinglight]

I usedn't to like him that much either but I find him a lot more interesting now and her story has helped that along enormously.

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

Well, that's exactly it, isn't it? A good writer can convince you of almost anything, as long as you're willing.

[spuffyduds.livejournal.com]

Eep! Thank you!

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

No problem! Hope other people can enjoy it too :)

[allegraconbrio.livejournal.com]

ahhh, I loved Deborah and Eloise's fics. Must read the other 3 - great list Ms. Lillian. *g*

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much. I hope you find something that you enjoy. And those 2 fics were great, weren't they? :)

[frimfram.livejournal.com]

Hee. I have Eloise's story on my list to rec as well. It's one of those fics that gets under your skin and stays with you long after it's over.

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

Well! That fic deserves loadsarecs so keep 'em coming :) It really does, doesn't it? And I remember seeing some icons and being taken back to that fic so it really qualifies as memorable.

[eloise-bright.livejournal.com]

*is really quite inordninately chuffed that you remembered this story and recced it*

Thank you so much. It was something I wanted to write for a long time, it felt like something was missing between the three of them in that ep.

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

No problem :)
It was something I wanted to write for a long time, it felt like something was missing between the three of them in that ep.
Absolutely. And you filled that gap so very, very well ::sigh::

[semby.livejournal.com]

Ooh. These all sound fascinating! *memories*

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

Heh :)
I hope you find something that you enjoy!

[twilightofmagic.livejournal.com]

Bookmarking this one too. I think there may even be ones by readers I regularly follow that I haven't read. Or could be my inability to remember titles. Thanks for your selection. I get lost in what's out there and recs are the only way to go.

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

Or could be my inability to remember titles.
Heee. That made me giggle a bit. This comm is certainly a strain on the brain cells :)
I get lost in what's out there and recs are the only way to go.
Absolutely! I'm glad you mentioned that because it really becomes like that after awhile doesn't it? And that's what the aim of this comm is.

[untitleddemo.livejournal.com]

This is just the kind of stuff I'm into lately. The only one I've read on the list is spuffyduds's, so it looks like I have 4 brand new fics to look forward to! Could Times Infinity Plus One looks especially intriguing to me. Thanks for sharing. *g*

P.S. Seattle was very fun!

[untitleddemo.livejournal.com]

Good lord! I just got done reading Could Times Infinity Plus One and was simply blown away by it. Perfectly gorgeous and so very, very unique. Sigh, is in a happy place now after reading such neato fic.

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

It was the most unique piece of writing I've read this year. In fact the femslash_minis community has really produced some great fics lately.

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

This is just the kind of stuff I'm into lately.
I'm glad :) Hope you find something you like. They're all equally good!
Glad you had a great time in Seattle. Hope you have a good New Year's too!

[untitleddemo.livejournal.com]

Eek! I forgot that yesterday was your New Years Eve. I hope you had a truly excellent one! :D

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

That's ok :) I'm sitting here on New Year's Day compiling my 2005 Fic Wrap-Up. The ninny that I am ;)

[yourlibrarian]

Great category and looks like some fun stuff to dig into.

[lillianmorgan.livejournal.com]

I hope you enjoy them when you do!
And yes the category was really appropriate for all the 'woah' moments ;)