Fic rec 'meme'

[mllelaurel]

(The reason 'meme' is in quotation marks is because I came up with the idea. Feel free to immitate or not, as you see fit.)

Once upon a time, I resolved to create a comprehensive Doctor Who fic recs list. And so, I did. I also resolved to keep updating it. And so, I, uh, didn't. This is for all of us fanbrats with questionable attention spans:

You can only rec five fics out of your entire fandom. Choose one of each for gen, het, slash and femslash, plus a bonus slot you can use as you like. If you don't read a particular category, replace it with a fic from another, but try not to have all five be from the same category.

(I quote my original recs wherever I can, cause I'm just that lazy.)


Gen
"Lost Luggage and Lost Souls," by Nemo the Everbeing

"Because listing bus stations as something you hate just begs writers to put you there. The Seventh Doctor and Ace join an odd cast of characters in time to get held hostage, and the Doctor remembers why he prefers saving worlds to smaller crises."

This fic boasts an ensemble of nuanced original characters, an honest-to-goodness plot, and Seven and Ace at their sparkling best.

Het
"Tiny Human Heads," by Kalima

Have you ever read "Hitchhker's Guide to the Galaxy?" In it, Douglas Adams describes the experience of drinking a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster as something akin to getting whacked in the head with a lemon slice wrapped around a gold brick. This fic had much the same effect on me. So you start out thinking it's going to be cute and sexy, with a dollop of angst. And it is. Except for when it *hits you over the head, breaks you into teeny tiny little pieces and makes you say 'thank you' when it's done*. Cause it's just that good. (Ten/Sarah)

Slash
"Survivor's Guilt," by Amberite

An attempt at persuading the Doctor for a friendly shag turns into something far darker. I read this fic having somehow missed the warnings and man, was I ever taken for a plunge. Yes, this is dark, and yes, it's fucked up, but the fic never descends into trite angst and the pain makes the hope at the end all the more rich for it. I'm now convinced that, if there's to be Nine/Jack fic that doesn't include Rose, *this* is something like what it should be. (Nine/Jack; ADULT, in more than just the usual 'here there be sex' meaning of the word)

Yes, I *am* noticing a pattern. What can I say? I like fics that take me for a wild ride and leave a very strong impression.

Femslash
This is a tough one. I've read some fun fics in this genre, but nothing that carried quite the same 'oomph' as the stories I'm reccing in the other categories. Recommendations welcomed muchly.

Free Slot 1
"blame the sun (no sun of mine)," by Nostalgia - Gen; some Ten/Yvonne

Ten. Yvonne. AU off "Army of Ghosts." Ten's worst nightmare, or at least damn close. This fic disturbed the hell out of me, and yes, I count that as a good thing. Bottled here is all the emotional, scary, intense potential "Army of Ghosts" had, and which "Doomsday" failed to live up to.

Free Slot 2
"Looked Up in Perfect Silence at the Stars," by Doyle - Gen

What if the Doctor had taken Sarah with him to Gallifrey? The girl reporter and the President Elect, in the final days of the Time War. This fic is quietly haunting, with keen insight on both Sarah and Romana, and the very quiet makes for all the greater a punch.

Comments

[fandom-me.livejournal.com]

I'm taking this. One of the big things I keep meaning to do is do a rec list and I keep failing entirely. Right now I've reached a point where *leaving feedback* is at the top of my list of things to do to be a good fan. I still want to do the recs list, but the ability to come up with something substantial kind of makes me flap my hands and flail. This is a good way to break it down and get it done.

aNd DAMMIT I'm up at 3 am again. *G*

[mllelaurel.livejournal.com]

We have *got* to stop meeting like this. *g*

I look forward to seeing your recs. It feels like I ran out of new good stuff to read a while back and dammit, I miss it.